MLB Fantasy Baseball Rookie Watch: Can Chicago Cubs 2B Darwin Barney Have Value?

Initial thoughts were that Blake DeWitt would open the year as the Chicago Cubs’ starting second baseman, but that turns out not to be the case. While he could get the job somewhere down the line, according to Toni Ginnetti of the Chicago Sun-Times (click here for the article) Cubs manager Mike Quade “expects Barney and Jeff Baker to platoon some depending on the opposing pitcher.”

So far Quade appears to be sticking to his word for a platoon. Barney got the Opening Day start (2-4, 1 R), though it was Baker who started today in Game No. 2.

Baker has been around long enough to know exactly what he is. In 970 AB he has hit .270 with 30 HR, 130 RBI, 147 R and 8 SB. He’s a career utility player who, with regular playing time, will likely be exposed. He has a career strikeout rate of 26.2 percent. That alone tells you that the average is questionable, at best.

There could be something there, but right now it is far from enough to intrigue fantasy owners in the least. He’s a big risk, and one I wouldn’t take.

Barney made his Major League debut in 2010, hitting .241 with 0 HR, 2 RBI, 12 R and 0 SB in 79 AB. That seems intriguing, doesn’t it?

The 2007 fourth round draft pick also showed little speed (33 SB) and little power (10 HR) over his 1,546 AB minor league career. In the Pacific Coast League he hit just two home runs in 691 AB. Those numbers just further throw up a bit of a red flag.

Generally we like to have a player who brings something to the table in the way of counting stats. You want to see someone who can contribute with a few home runs or a few stolen bases. Heck, we’d take someone who was a lock to score some runs, but it is hard to imagine the Cubs batting him very high up in the lineup, especially in the early going.

However, those in deeper formats that need a middle infielder can pay a little bit of attention (albeit a small amount). Barney showed the potential to hit for a good average throughout his minor league career, hitting .286 (based on a BABIP of .323). He showed a good control of the strike zone, posting a strikeout rate of just 12.74 percent. Between 2009 and 2010 he spent 691 AB at Triple-A, with a strikeout rate of just 12.16 percent.

Is the potential to post a decent average (though unspectacular) enough to make fantasy owners take notice? No, not really. If you are in an NL-only league, then obviously he’s worth considering, but that may be about it. If you are so desperate for a middle infielder at this point, I’d much rather look at someone like the Mets’ Brad Emaus, who at least brings some power potential, as opposed to Barney.

What about you? What are your thoughts on Barney? Is there any way you see him as being a productive option in 2011?

Make sure to check out our other Rookie Watch columns:

Michael Pineda

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