Fantasy Baseball: Top 15 Buy-Low Candidates Heading into Week 8
Once again fantasy owners are finding different ways to win.
Whether it's two-start pitchers, newly found free agent production, or up and coming prospects, owners are continuing to find production in every cob-webbed corner.
Strategies like these are worthwhile, but often prove fatal when the quick offensive sparks wear down and leave managers scratching their heads.
Enter the rare patient fantasy owner.
While other teams are giving up on top of the line players like Billy Butler, Ubaldo Jimenez, and Derek Jeter--whether it's due to a lack of production or injury plagued starts--the cautious and well educated will soon benefit via trade.
As the fantasy baseball season gains speed heading into the latter months of the year, owners have begun to target significant players who can help them win down the road.
With no further speculation, here are the top 15 buy-low candidates heading into week eight, strictly based on overall production and fantasy league availability.
15. Jorge Posada, C, New York Yankees
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Following the past few days that've featured a public media battle between with the Yankees' organization about Posada's health and playing time, fantasy owners are searching for answers.
For the Yankees and Posada, the catcher's long-lasting relationship with the team will ultimately provide both sides with enough substance to move past this public debacle.
As far as fantasy baseball is concerned, Posada is everything a buy-low candidate can be.
While his average has dangerously dipped below .200, his six home runs and 15 RBI are evidence that he can still hit at the ripe age of 39.
Over the past week, throughout his last four games, Posada has been able to get on base and score runs with four hits, two runs, and three walks.
The Yankee great can still hit and under the management of a former catcher he'll be able to find at-bats no matter how publicly disgruntled he may get.
Don't give up a lot for Posada, but stealing him away from a manager that snarls at off-field distractions is something a smart owner should speculate heading into week eight.
14. Gavin Floyd, SP, Chicago White Sox
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Floyd's 2011 campaign continues to be a roller coaster ride, but the facts remains that he's been able to win games and limit base-runners.
The 28-year-old has had some bad starts over the past two weeks, going 1-2 while giving up 11 runs and 19 hits through 18 1/3 innings of work.
However, Floyd is still rocking a 1.18 WHIP and has struck 48 batters to only 14 walks.
He continues to be a fantasy baseball project, never being able to launch himself into the upper tier of starters, but has always been effective enough to be played on a weekly basis.
In the past, owners have been known to give up on Floyd at the first sight of mid-season struggling, opening a trade portal for patient and crafty buyers.
Floyd's recent struggles over his past few starts could prove to be enough ammunition for stealing him away via trade.
Grab Gavin as soon as possible because he's still capable of putting up 7IP/3ER/8K stat-lines on any day he takes the mound.
13. John Lackey, SP, Boston Red Sox
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There's not much to discuss here. John Lackey has been down right awful.
However, the Red Sox have said they still plan on sticking with the 32-year-old veteran as part of their rotation, so it's a significant sign to know that Boston still has confidence in Lackey where fantasy owners do not.
Lackey stands at 2-5 with a 8.01, giving up 17 runs on 19 hits through his last two starts.
Those are the kinds of stats that push fantasy owners away instead of attracting them, but his newly found windup could prove as an escape goat for his horrific display of pitching in 2011.
Lackey's next start comes Tuesday against Baltimore, so this week is the week to monitor Boston's pitcher and make a potential trade offer within your league.
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12. Alex Rios, OF, Chicago White Sox
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Rios is continuing to show signs of his former self from 2009, in which he batted .247 with 17 home runs, compared to his breakout year last season.
Over the past week, the 30-year-old has recorded only five hits over his past 27 at-bats, creating doubt about finding a way out of this early season slump.
For fantasy owners, especially the ones that drafted Rios among the top 15 outfielders in the league, his lack of production over the past month has created a need to find production from somewhere else.
However, the fact remains that Rios is still one of the best power-speed threats in the league and considering that Chicago is starting to hit like everybody thought they would, this is a clear-cut buy-low scenario.
Take a risk on Rios. Trading a No. 3 SP and a less productive OF may be the only thing it takes to acquire the White Sox dual-threat
11. Jose Tabata, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates
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After such an impressive start to the 2011 season, Tabata's lack of production over the past few weeks has knocked him off the face of the fantasy world.
The 22-year-old has recently struggled with extra-base hitting and base stealing, limiting Tabata's main source of fantasy points for owners.
However, Tabata has still been able to walk 21 times to only 25 strikeouts in 149 at-bats, making him a disciplined hitter who simply hasn't found his May stride.
He was a post-break hitter last year and could end up doing the same in 2011.
Owners have gone as far as dropping Tabata, so trading for him with little to nothing is not out of the question.
He still remains a solid outfield play on a weekly basis in mixed fantasy leagues.
10. Geovany Soto, C, Chicago Cubs
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Currently on the DL, Soto still possess enough ability to make an instant fantasy impact when he returns from his groin injury,
The Cubs have already said they feel confident that Soto will only have to stay on the 15-day DL for the mandatory time span, meaning he'll be ready to start once he's healthy.
The 28-year-old has struggled here and there so far in 2011, but still remains a top 10 hitting catcher in any fantasy league.
While owners have even dropped him in favor off hot hitting players like Nick Hundley and John Buck, the managers that held onto Soto will more than likely trade him.
His .226 average before his injury is nothing to brag about, and considering owners have found a replacement for Soto during his absence, letting go of him may be easier than ever.
If you can manage to buy-low on Soto before he comes off the DL and starts to hit, it could mean the different between first and second place.
9. Kelly Johnson, 2B, Arizona Diamondbacks
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What has happened to Kelly Johnson?
Currently batting .185, Johnson has already lost confidence from fantasy owners and possible suitors for his services.
However, the fact remains that Johnson is still on pace to hit 17 home runs with 25 stolen bases, cementing him as a top 15 second baseman when the season is all said and done.
Johnson has hit safely in six of his last seven games leading back to May 10th, so there are numerous signs in breaking out of this slump.
If your waiting for Chase Utley to return or sick of the struggles from Dan Uggla, buying the 29-year-old at a low price might be a savvy decision.
8. Scott Baker, SP, Minnesota Twins
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Baker has always been a starting pitcher that owners are willing to trade.
Similar to Gavin Floyd, he possesses enough ability and scoring potential to cement him on fantasy rosters, but his sometimes erratic starts make him a liability in the eyes of impulsive owners.
Currently 2-2 with a 3.71 ERA and 1.28 WHIP, Baker gave up five runs on six hits and five walks in his last start back on Wednesday.
Before that, Baker has looked like he's ready to reach up to his potential and finally make a long-lasting impression on fantasy teams.
However, when non-elite pitchers like Baker have bad outings that might have cost a team a win or two, those memories are always in the back of owner's minds when looking at a trade.
If Baker records one more loss or a lack-luster no-decision, owners may even drop the 29-year-old in favor of a two-start pitcher for week nine.
With that said, trading for Baker now is a smart move.
Joe Mauer is on his way back, Joe Nathan is prone to close again in 2011, and with 40 SO in 43 2/3 IP, Baker is striking batters out at a bigger rate than usual.
7. Chris Young, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
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Young has heavily struggled over the past week, making him an outstanding buy-low candidate.
Still capable of producing at an elite level with power and speed, Young has only recorded six hits over his last 28 at-bats.
Young still has eight home runs with 22 RBI on the season, so it's not like he isn't producing at all. It means you can get a top hitting outfielder at a low price.
Even with his inability to hit for power and drive in runs so far in May, the 27-year-old is still on pace to hit 34 home runs and 93 RBI, more than he did in 2010.
Keep an eye out for Young and get ready to watch him break out of this slump, whether or not your able to pry him away from an antsy owner.
6. Madison Bumgarner, SP, San Francisco Giants
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It's becoming more and more ironic that Bumgarner has the word "bum" in it because his stats are starting to portray him as one to impatient owners.
That is the way fantasy owners are starting to think, which has opened up the door to trade for the former top-prospect.
Bumgarner's numbers are simply lying.
While he's gone 0-6 to start out 2011, his 4.25 ERA and last four starts are proof that the 21-year-old is exactly that, 21.
He's going to have ups and downs early in his career and that is exactly what's conspiring.
Over his last four starts, dating back to April 27th, Bumgarner has only allowed five runs with six walks through 25 innings.
Just because Bumgarner isn't winning games doesn't mean he isn't pitching well.
He's the perfect buy-low candidate in any league that bases everything solely on statistics and not potential.
5. John Danks, SP, Chicago White Sox
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Danks has produced like the Bumgarner of the American League.
At 0-6, the 27-year-old has gone winless to start out the 2011 season.
With some of the best stuff around, Danks is more than capable in making a complete 180 in order to get back to his usual trustworthy ways.
Danks has struggled over his last few starts due to the inability to limit hits, but has been able to consistently limit walks.
Similar to Bumgarner, Danks can be had for fairly cheap, which makes him a huge buy-low candidate early in the fantasy season.
If all things go as planned, Danks will be able to regain his No. 2 SP ability and help out any owner who sticks with him or has the presence of mind to trade for him.
4. Buster Posey, C, San Francisco Giants
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Don't look now, but Posey could be the midst of an infamous sophomore slump.
After hitting .305 in his rookie season last year, the 24-year-old has taking a big step back.
Currently at .256, Posey has struggled to consistently get on base.
While the drop in his average is very alarming, the lack of doubles (only two) is even more crucial towards his lack of success early in 2011.
After recording a hit in his four games, now is the perfect time to make a move for Posey.
It will surely be hard to pry the potential best hitting catcher in the league away from a stubborn owner, but trying doesn't hurt.
3. Chris Carpenter, SP, St. Louis Cardinals
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Carpenter is an intriguing buy-low candidate heading into week eight.
Usually a top 15 fantasy option, Carpenter has fallen off the wagon since losing his rotation partner in Adam Wainwright, prior to the start of the season.
His Sunday start was a disaster, lasting only 6 1/3 innings while giving up seven earned runs on nine hits, culminating into his third loss of the year.
For Carpenter, who has given up a total of 42 hits in his last four starts, a lack of consistent punch-out ability has plagued him thus far.
His 1.46 WHIP is the highest it's been since 2001, in which he ended the season with 1.41.
Everybody knows that Carpenter still possesses enough potential to end the season as a top 20 fantasy pitcher, and he has significant run production with Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday on his side.
What's my advice?
Buy-low. Buy-high. Buy-now!
2. Billy Butler, 1B, Kansas City Royals
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Billy Butler is the best hitting buy-low option heading into week eight.
In some leagues he's even being dropped for players like Carlos Lee and David Ortiz.
The fact remains that Butler is still batting .292, showing that he remains one of the contact hitters in all of baseball.
However, his three home runs and 16 RBI are two reasons why fantasy owners are growing tired of the first baseman's services.
While his lack of power may lead to a lack of production, you have to realize who you're talking about.
Butler isn't a guy who's going to hit 35 home runs in a season, which is a reason why he didn't record more than four homers in any month during 2010.
His RBI are going to increase and his 25 walks to only 18 strikeouts are some of the best numbers around.
If you can get Butler for something cheap and even something valuable, the acquisition will pay off sooner rather than later.
1. Ubaldo Jimenez, SP, Colorado Rockies
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Ubaldo Jimenez is winless.
He's sporting an ERA over 6.50 and has walked 22 batters in only 29 2/3 innings.
The former 19-game winner hasn't lasted more than six innings in any start thus far, has only recorded one start with less than three earned runs, and hasn't struck out more than seven batters in any appearance in 2011.
While it seems that he's a buy-low candidate, it could also mean that he's in for one long season.
For now, view Jimenez as a must-have pitcher on any roster even while he continues to struggle with the worst of them.
His potential alone and the ability to win games around an offense like the Rockies makes a huge buy-low candidate going forward into week eight
However, because Jimenez's slump has lasted this long, giving up too much for the 27-year-old may cost any owner in the long run.
Trade for him now, but trade with caution.
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