Elder Statesmen: Analyzing Five Infielders/DH

All owners want to get the next top young player.  We look at the potential, at what the player could possibly develop into.  We are willing to take the risk and hope for the best.

But what about those chiseled veterans who have been there, done that?  I’m talking about players who are age 37 or older.  I know they aren’t the sexy names, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t help a fantasy roster. 

These are all players who have been superstars before, but are now on the downside of their career.

Can they return to glory?  Let’s take a look at five Infielder/DH types at least 37 years of age who could be on your fantasy radar for 2009:

Carlos Delgado - New York Mets - 37 years old
By June 2008, it appeared that Delgado’s long run of success was finally behind him.  He suffered from a bad 2007 season and hit just .248 in the first half of ‘08.

Without warning, Delgado suddenly was revitalized, looking like the player of old.  He hit .303 with 21 HR and 64 RBI, bringing out cries that he should be the league’s MVP.  Over the season’s final three months, he went:

• July - .357, 9 HR, 24 RBI
• August - .248, 7 HR, 24 RBI
• September - .340, 8 HR, 22 RBI

It was a stunning power explosion, though that August average should give some cause for concern.  It was great that he was on fire for two months, giving him the allure of a higher average. 

He actually did the same thing in ‘07, hitting .323 in July and .321 in September.  If those are the only months he hits for a good average, he’s not going to be much help there.

Also, can we expect the same type of power?  I find it doubtful.  He should be a decent slugger, but I wouldn’t expect a 35-40 HR campaign.

It was a tremendous renaissance, but duplicating it seems unlikely.  Without excessive power, Delgado is a stretch to help fantasy owners in 2009.

Chipper Jones - Atlanta Braves - 37-years old
He celebrated an unbelievable season, flirting with a .400 average deep into June and even early July (on 7/4, he was still hitting .390). 

Yes, his .364 came courtesy of a .388 BABIP, but his ability to hit for average has never been in question.  He is a .310 career hitter and has been .324 or better each of the past three seasons.

Jones’ problem has always his inability to stay on the field.  He hasn’t appeared in over 150 games in a season since 2003, and last season seemed to struggle with every injury under the sun. 

It certainly should make fantasy owners hesitant, and know that if you grab him you are in desperate need of a very good backup.

You also need to be at least a little bit concerned with the power, as just four of his 22 HR coming after the All-Star Break.  He’s never suffered that type of falloff before, so injuries were most likely the culprit.

Still, he’s only had one 30 HR season in the past seven, and even that was just barely.  He’s not an elite power option anymore, that’s for sure.

Still, he is an option that is worth eyeing, given his amazing ability to hit for an average.  He’s not a top option, and one that you need to protect, but he’s not someone that you should shy away from.

Jim Thome - Chicago White Sox - 39 years old
Thome continues to hit HR, even though it is not at the same pace it once was.  A threat to hit 45 HR at any time from 2001-2006, Thome has fallen off to the mid-30’s the past two seasons. 

In this day, when only two players hit over 40 HR in 2008 and only 10 hit over 35, that still means plenty of value.

A career .279 hitter, he struggled to a .245 average, though it did come courtesy of a .276 BABIP, a number that he is likely to improve upon.  Over the prior two seasons, his number was:

• 2006 - .329
• 2007 - .319

His BABIP tied him for the 15th worst in the major leagues last season, just further proving that his average is likely to rebound into the .270 range. 

With the power he still possesses, even with him being locked into your utility spot, he’s a player that is worth grabbing in mixed leagues.

Jorge Posada - New York Yankees - 38 years old
A shoulder injury ended his season in mid-July, after costing him all of May as well.  That makes it tough to look at his 3 HR, .268 performance and flat out declare his days as a top fantasy catcher completely behind him. 

Granted, pointing to his .338 average in 2007 would be a mistake as well, because we all knew the chances of him repeating that type of performance were slim to none.

No, I would look to his 2004-2006 block, when he hit around .270 with 20 HR and think that he could be able to return to that type of production. 

That would become even truer if he were to get his bat kept in the line-up as a DH, limiting the wear and tear catching brings to his body.

Is he a top 5 option?  Absolutely not, no catcher is going to be considered in that class at his advanced age. 

He still can hit, however, assuming he is completely recovered from the injuries that limited him last season.  If he’s healthy, he’s going to hold value even in one-catcher formats.

Jason Giambi - Oakland Athletics - 38 years old
After 7 years in New York, Giambi returns to Oakland, where he originally made a name for himself.  The steroid debacle behind him, Giambi proved last season that he still can hit for power, launching 32 HR in just 458 AB.  Is it repeatable?

His cross-country move could hurt his power a bit, though Jack Cust has shown an ability to launch the ball out of that ballpark. 

Last season, Giambi posted a FB% of 50.0% and a HR/FB of 18.0%, both numbers that he’s proven during his career that he can replicate.

His biggest problem is the average, which has been .253 or worse each of the past three seasons.  That significantly limits his value.

The RBI could also be in question, as it will really depend on how the A’s decide to construct their line-up.  With Matt Holliday and Cust in place, could Giambi hit sixth?

If he does, that is going to severely limit his RBI numbers, making a number in the 80’s quite possible.

If that were to happen, I would consider Giambi a player to avoid.  As it is, he is a player full of risk and one that I would recommend steering clear of.

So, what do you think about these five players?  Would you consider grabbing any of them?  Is there any other 37+ infielders that you like?  Dislike?