MLB Fantasy Baseball Free-Agent Pool: 2011 RBI Guys Vol. 5

Ryan LesterJun 23, 2011

Are you hurting in the RBI category? Here are some reasonably available players that can help you out.

Carlos Peña, Chicago Cubs

He’s mostly likely gobbled up in ESPN leagues (70.9 percent ownership), but he may be available in Yahoo! ones (55 percent ownership). Over the past 15 days he’s hitting .234 with eight runs, six home runs and 11 RBI. On the year he’s hitting .220 with 31 runs, 14 home runs and 38 RBI. The batting average is the cross you have to bear by owning Peña, but he can help you in the power categories.

Ty Wiggington, Colorado Rockies

Wiggington is hitting .288 over the past 15 days with nine runs, four home runs, 11 RBI and a stolen base. On the year he’s hitting .266 with 26 runs, nine home runs, 27 RBI and four stolen bases. He has first base, second base, third base and outfield (Yahoo! leagues) eligibility. Ian Stewart’s eventual return could cut into his at-bats, but he’s a nice versatile option in the meantime. Wiggington is owned in 28 percent of Yahoo! and 39.7 percent of ESPN leagues.

Scott Rolen, Cincinnati Reds

Rolen is hitting .317 over the past 15 days with seven runs, a home run and 10 RBI. On the year he’s hitting .260 with 27 runs, three home runs, 30 RBI and a stolen base. Age is not on his side, but he can still help your fantasy team. Rolen is owned in 33 percent of Yahoo! and 24.5 percent of ESPN leagues.

Hideki Matsui, Oakland A’s

Time isn’t on Matsui’s side either, but he’s been swinging the bat well of late, hitting .278 with six runs, three home runs and 10 RBI over the past 15 days. He will pinch hit tonight and will likely do that again next week, but the A’s are committed to having his bat in the lineup during interleague play. On the year Matsui is hitting .220 with 20 runs, six home runs and 30 RBI. He is owned in less than 10 percent of fantasy leagues.

Seth Smith, Colorado Rockies

Smith is hitting .357 with nine runs, three home runs and nine RBI over the past 15 days. On the year he’s hitting .315 with 36 runs, eight home runs, 32 RBI and three stolen bases. He’ll likely sit against lefties, but he’s hitting (.337) against right-handed pitching. Smith doesn’t just rely on Coors Field as he is hitting .307 on the road. Granted, his power numbers are better at home. Smith is owned in 32 percent of Yahoo! and 47.1 percent of ESPN leagues.