2009 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers: National League

After the Draft Waiver Wire Help for Your Fantasy Baseball Team

Mar 28, 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 starter or a last-minute injury replacement, these National League players could offer plenty of upside this season. Most importantly, each is currently available in almost 50% of all Yahoo and ESPN fantasy leagues.

Fontenot has looked impressive this spring battling Aaron Miles for the starting job at second base. Fontenot is by no means a home run hitter, but he has plenty of gap power, and all those doubles add up to a pretty attractive .SLG percentage, especially for a second baseman. Fontenot’s only downside is that he hits right-handers far better than left-handers, and that has limited his at-bats the past two seasons.

Cubs manager Lou Piniella says Fontenot will start at second base against righties, but if he stays hot at the plate, he could quickly become an everyday player hitting sixth in the Cubs lineup. In that role Fontenot could reach 18 HR and 75 RBI with a couple of stolen bases – a welcome addition at a shallow position.

The question is not whether Stewart can hit, but if he will play. Stewart is a third-baseman with plenty of pop, but the Rockies already have Garrett Atkins at the hot corner. Stewart was competing with a host of other candidates for the left field job, but fortunately for fantasy owners Rockies manager Clint Hurdle decided to give Stewart a shot to take the second base job away from Clint Barmes. If he wins the job, Stewart has a huge upside, offering 20+ HR power to a shallow position. For owners with problems at second base, Stewart becomes an immediate pickup if he wins the gig – and it might be worth stashing him on the bench now.

3. Khalil Greene, SS St. Louis Cardinals

Greene was just starting to realize his power potential coming out of 2007 – until he cleverly ended his 2008 season by punching a cabinet and breaking his hand. Greene has been red-hot this spring, and moving from pitcher-friendly Petco Park to St. Louis, both Green and manager Tony LaRussa are confident he can return to his 25 HR, 90 RBI 2007 form. Greene will not be a huge help when it comes to batting average, and he’s also not the best option in leagues that count OBP or SLG percentages, but with an everyday job in a lineup that features Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick, Greene could offer solid power and RBI numbers at a shallow position, and should bounce back nicely from last season.

Dukes has had his fair share of problems on and off the field, but there is no denying his potential. Outfield is a deep position, but Dukes has a guaranteed starting job in right field, and if he can stay healthy and out of trouble he is a serious 20/20 threat, maybe more. Right now, it looks like Dukes will be hitting fifth in the Nationals lineup between Nick Johnson and Adam Dunn – two guys who are great at getting on base – leaving plenty of opportunities to collect both runs and RBI’s. Dukes has been strong this spring, and if he can carry momentum into the season, he could provide 4-category help for a low price.

When a pitcher plays in Colorado, walks over 100 batters and still somehow manages to have a 3.99 ERA, he has to have good stuff - and Jimenez does. He’s got a live arm and a lock on the number two spot in the Rockies rotation, and if he can learn a little control, Jimenez is the type of pitcher that can not only produce 12-14 wins, but approach 175 strikeouts. Walks are a big problem; despite holding opposing hitters to a .245 average last season, his WHIP was still over 1.40. If Jimenez can find a little more control, he is the type of pitcher that can help in multiple categories.

In his natural position as an outfielder, Schumaker only has marginal value. Luckily for fantasy owners, Cards manager Tony LaRussa came up with the crazy idea this spring of converting Schumaker to a second baseman, and he is now slated to start the season in the St. Louis infield. Schumaker has a little pop and a little speed, and his upside comes not just from his position on the field, but also in the lineup; Schumaker will likely be hitting leadoff, and with Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick behind him, Schumaker should be a solid run scorer. He scored 87 runs last season, and batting leadoff the entire year could go as high as 100 runs with 10 HR and 15 SB at a tough fantasy position.

7. Jordan Zimmerman, SP Washington Nationals

Zimmerman is one of the National’s top pitching prospects, and while it is not clear whether the rookie will be a fantasy breakout, he is definitely worth watching. Zimmerman has four pitches to work with, and has been using them all effectively in spring training; Zimmerman has stuck out more than a batter an inning, does not give up many walks, and has only been scored on in one spring training start. Zimmerman will likely begin the season in Triple-A, but only until the Nats need a fifth starter in mid-April – watch him closely after that.

There are plenty of sleeper picks that get more attention, but if players like Cameron Maybin and Jason Motte 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: National League in Fantasy Baseball is owned by Todd Butts. Permission to republish 2009 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers: National League in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.