2009 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers American League

Finding Waiver Wire Help for Your Fantasy Baseball Team

Mar 26, 2009

When you really need help and want someone with an upside, these players are available in more than half of both Yahoo and ESPN fantasy baseball leagues:

These are deep sleeper picks, but whether you are searching for a future star, or just need a last-minute injury replacement, these American League players could offer plenty of upside this season. Most importantly, each is currently available in more than 50% of all Yahoo and ESPN fantasy leagues.

All-Star Mark Teixeira’s departure from Anaheim left a huge hole for the Angels at first base, and Morales is manager Mike Scioscia’s top choice to fill the gap. The 25-year old switch hitter does not offer the type of power his size would suggest (6’1”, 225) but he could hit as high as fifth in a potent Angels lineup, which should offer plenty of RBI opportunities. First base is a deep position in most leagues, but playing everyday for the Angels, Morales has 20 HR, 80 RBI potential, making him an intriguing option.

Snider is a player that the Blue Jays are hoping can develop into a future star, and he will get a full-time opportunity to make an impression this season. Snider is young at only 21-years old, and looked impatient at the plate last September, striking out 23 times in 73 at-bats. A guaranteed spot in the starting lineup should calm him down, though, and Snider has already given the Jays a glimpse of his 30+ HR power this spring, smacking 3 HR in 39 at-bats. He may still be a year or two away from fantasy stardom, but grab him quick if he gets off to a hot start.

3. Jed Lowrie, SS Boston Red Sox

Lowrie has had a very strong spring, with a .400+ batting average and plenty of extra-base power. With Julio Lugo out for a month for knee surgery, Lowrie will enter the season as the Red Sox starting shortstop. Based on his stats over 260 at-bats last season (.258, 2HR, 46 RBI), Lowrie is not going to be the next Hanley Ramirez. He does get a lot of extra-base hits, though, and hitting every day in the Red Sox lineup, Lowrie could be a decent sleeper at a shallow position if he can keep hold of his job after Lugo returns. Multi-position eligibility only adds to Lowrie’s upside.

4. Clay Buchholz, SP Boston Red Sox

After throwing a no-hitter as a September call-up in 2007, Buchholz was heralded as a future star. The pressure was a bit much, though: Buchholz was inconsistent from the onset last year, and then the team decided to tweak his delivery during the season – not the best recipe for a young pitcher to find success. Despite his 2008 struggles, Buchholz continued to strike out almost a batter an inning, and after having the off-season to clear his head, he has impressed in spring training; Buchholz is 2-0 with a 0.46 ERA over 19 innings and has an excellent 15:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Buchholz will probably start the season in Triple-A, but starters Tim Wakefield and Brad Penny are injuries waiting to happen; as soon as one of them hits the DL, Buchholz should get the call. Once that happens, he could develop into a solid fantasy pitcher that will get strikeouts and wins without hurting any other categories.

Blalock is only 28 years old, yet is has been four seasons since he last topped 20 HR and 90 RBI. Injuries have been the big problem for Blalock; he has played only 123 games over the past two years. If he can manage to stay healthy, though, Blalock has a ton of upside: hitting in the middle of a home-run happy lineup in a home-run happy stadium, Blalock could easily return to the 25 HR 100 RBI level. He could be a steal off the waiver wire, but cut him loose immediately if he lands on the DL.

Butler has failed to show much pop in parts of two seasons with the Royals, but he figures to hit right in the middle of the Kansas City lineup behind incoming first baseman Mike Jacobs. Watch him closely, but playing at such a deep position, he will only really be useful for AL-only leagues or as an injury replacement.

As a catcher with 20 HR, 80 RBI potential, fantasy owners should be drooling over Clement. Unfortunately, Clement is stuck behind Kenji Johjima at starting catcher and Ken Griffey, Jr. at DH. In an effort to get him consistent at-bats, the Mariners may send Clement back to the minors. As soon as he returns, though, Clement instantly becomes a viable alternative at a shallow fantasy position and will disappear off the waiver wire quickly.

8. Jesse Litsch, SP Toronto Blue Jays

Litsch does not strike out batters. What he has done in two partial seasons, though, is turn in quality innings. Litsch improved in just about every category from his rookie to his sophomore year, and has kept his ERA under 3.81 for both seasons – not bad in the AL East. Fantasy owners sometimes get obsessed with strikeouts, but if the 24-year old Litsch continue to improve and limits the number of home runs he gives up, he could offer an owner a nice boost in Wins, ERA and WHIP without hurting elsewhere.

Sure, there are plenty of sleeper picks that get more attention, but if players like David Price and Matt Weiters have already been drafted, they cannot help your team. Keep a close eye on the sleepers left in your free agent pool (and put them on the watch list in your Yahoo league) and you will have an edge over the other owners in your league when you need an injury replacement, or when one of them starts to take off.

The copyright of the article 2009 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers American League in Fantasy Baseball is owned by Todd Butts. Permission to republish 2009 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers American League in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.