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The Atlanta Braves already found the relief arm they were looking for, but they may not be done searching for pitching prior to Wednesday’s trade deadline.

As noted by the team’s official Twitter account, the Braves dealt right-hander Cory Rasmus to the Los Angeles Angels for lefty reliever Scott Downs on Monday:

Downs has been tremendous this season (1.76 ERA in 44 appearances), but the Braves could use another arm after losing starter Tim Hudson (8-7, 3.97 ERA) to a season-ending ankle injury last week, per Kipp Adams of ESPN:

To replace Hudson, general manager Frank Wren has a short list of targets capable of taking his spot. But as he told Carroll Rogers of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the market is a little thin this year:

I’ve had years where I’ve had two legal pages written out of names of potential trade possibilities. This year I’ve got half a page of teams and names that really fit for us, so it’s a small number. The payroll is not going to be the issue for us; it’s going to be the talent we have to give up. It’s also understanding how much of an upgrade a particular player is for us. It’s a thin market. Are there pitchers out there that would make us better? Yes. The number of them is pretty low.

Still, Wren will be doing everything he can to find some extra help on the trade market, and Rogers suggested several potential options the Braves may be exploring.

Jake Peavy

Rogers believes Chicago White Sox right-hander Jake Peavy is at the top of Wren’s wish list, and it would make sense for the Braves to pursue a deal to acquire him.

As reported by Dan Plesac of the MLB Network, Peavy has been scratched from his Tuesday evening start, and the Braves are said to be an interested party:

That Peavy isn’t pitching Tuesday comes as no surprise. The White Sox don’t want to risk losing him to injury amidst trade negotiations, and he’s sure to bring back a hefty return should they decide to deal him before Wednesday’s deadline.

Several teams are said to be interested in the 32-year-old hurler, and the Braves will likely be looking at some stiff competition as the deadline draws near. If Wren is being cautious about what he gives up in return, Atlanta may have a hard time topping offers from teams like the Arizona Diamondbacks and Boston Red Sox.

Kyle Lohse

As noted by Rogers, the Braves have scouted Milwaukee Brewers starter Kyle Lohse, who has been absolutely terrific since the middle of June and would be a tremendous replacement for Hudson.

Since June 9, Lohse has posted a 6-1 record and currently boasts a 7-7 record with a 3.22 ERA. The Brewers probably won’t be looking to buy before the deadline, but it also seems they may not be looking to sell.

Per Brewers beat writer Tom Haudricourt, Milwaukee general manager Doug Melvin has no interest in trading Lohse:

Still, general managers never want to seem eager to deal their best assets. It’s hard to believe Melvin won’t part with Lohse if a suitor presents a tempting offer.

Again, the Braves probably aren’t looking to deal the kind of young talent Milwaukee would likely want in return, but with the way Lohse has been pitching lately, they may have to at least consider it.

Bud Norris

According to Jon Morosi, the Braves are actively pursuing Houston Astros starter Bud Norris:

While that’s certainly positive news, Atlanta isn’t the only party interested in the 28-year-old righty.

As Major League Baseball reported Tuesday, at least three teams are said to be in the mix for Norris, and the Pittsburgh Pirates are also a likely suitor, per Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports:

As is the case with Peavy, Norris has been one of the hottest names on the trade market of late. If the Braves want him, they’ll have to toss out a strong offer to acquire him.

On one hand, no trade target seems a likely candidate to join Atlanta before Wednesday. On the other hand, it only takes one big domino to fall to shake up the entire trade market.

Should Atlanta miss out on players like Peavy and Norris, the market may open up with a little more breathing room for Wren to strike a deal.

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Let’s be honest: Every hitter in the MLB All-Star Game is capable of a huge performance. No one made it to the Midsummer Classic without having already proven that time and again this season.

But every hitter is going to be facing some tremendous pitching in the game, and there’s a reason the American League and National League haven’t combined for more than eight runs in any of the last five All-Star Games.

For any player to put on an offensive show on Tuesday night, it’s going to take some truly elite skills at the dish.

Fortunately for fans looking for some offense, both lineups feature a few of those players, each capable of tearing up any hurler the opposition throws at him. Matt Harvey and Max Scherzer are phenomenal pitchers, but don’t expect either to make it through their outing unscathed.

Let’s take a look at the starting lineups for each team and highlight two players from each starting lineup poised for a massive performance on Tuesday night.

*Image courtesy of MLB Instagram.

American League

National League

Miguel Cabrera, 3B (AL)

Miguel Cabrera needs to introduction, but I’ll give him one anyway.

The Detroit Tigers third baseman and reigning Triple Crown winner hasn’t disappointed this season, hitting an incredible .365 with 30 home runs and 95 RBI through 93 games. The icing on the cake? He also boasts an on-base percentage of .458 and has walked nearly as many times as he’s struck out (60-64).

Forget the debate about whether Cabrera is the best right-handed hitter in baseball—he’s the best hitter in baseball.

But here’s the best part: Cabrera boasts a .350 batting average with 21 home runs and 70 RBI against right-handers this year. And, oh yeah, he’ll be facing one to start the game Tuesday night.

Harvey isn’t going to make life easy on Cabrera, but the hulking third baseman has no problem making hitting look all too easy. Expect the 30-year-old to continue his incredible season with another impressive performance on Tuesday, recording at least one extra-base hit with Harvey on the bump.

Chris Davis, 1B (AL)

Out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Even if Harvey gets through Cabrera without a problem, he’ll be forced to pitch to arguably the only player in the American League starting lineup with even more pop.

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis is on an historic home run-hitting tear this season, having already popped 37 before the All-Star break. Tack on 93 RBI and a .315 batting average (.345 against righties) and you have a hitter Harvey isn’t going to want to face.

Davis didn’t put that power on display in the Home Run Derby Monday night (12 homers), but what he’s done against live pitching this season isn’t even fair. On the biggest stage of his career, there’s no way Davis doesn’t find the outfield bleachers at least once in this game.

David Wright, 3B (NL)

The National League features some bigger bats than David Wright, but the New York Mets third baseman is playing in front of his home crowd, and he certainly has the offensive prowess to put together a quality performance at the dish.

The 30-year-old is a fan favorite who will have the home crowd on his side. Is that a thin argument for predicting his All-Star Game performance? Perhaps.

But consider this: Wright is hitting .304 with 13 home runs and 44 RBI this season on a team ranked 28th in batting average and 19th in runs scored. He hasn’t exactly been getting a lot of help from the rest of New York’s lineup.

Wright plays the game the right way, and he’s a guy fans love to watch night in and night out.

Stats don’t tell the whole story, and on Tuesday night, Wright is going to prove he’s capable of a monster performance well beyond his slightly above-average numbers this season.

Bryce Harper, CF (NL)

Two seasons, two All-Star appearances. Bryce Harper is going to do some big things in his big league career.

Harper got the nod to compete in his first Home Run Derby Monday night, and he decided to bring his dad along to pitch to him and enjoy the festivities. The Washington Nationals slugger didn’t win the Derby, but he came pretty close.

Harper juiced 24 pitches over the outfield fence Monday to finish second to Oakland Athletics phenom Yoenis Cespedes, his longest coming in at an estimated 471 feet. Say what you will about his pedestrian .264 batting average this season, but the kid knows how to hit the long ball.

At 20 years old, it would be easy for Harper to get caught up in just being selected as an All-Star Game starter. But as he proved Monday night, the lights aren’t too bright to keep him from standing out from the crowd.

Hitting in the nine-hole, Harper is likely to see some decent pitches from Scherzer and the rest of the American League pitching staff. If he sees one he likes, well, he’ll know what to do with it.

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You can have the NBA three-point contest and entire NFL Pro Bowl weekend. I’ll take the Home Run Derby.

Of all the exhibition events in sports, there isn’t anything quite as entertaining as MLB All-Star weekend’s marquee contest. Forget the game. People dig the long ball.

The All-Star game has its merits—especially with the added importance of determining home-field advantage for the World Series—but even with the changes, the game is still just an exhibition. You can’t paint a horse and call it a zebra.

There’s no mistaking this animal, though. The Home Run Derby is everything Major League Baseball markets it is. If you want to see eight mashers doing their best to knock the cover off some baseballs á la Benny “the Jet” Rodriguez in The Sandlot, you’ve come to the right place.

Need more incentive to watch the Home Run Derby? Let’s do it by the numbers.

41 – Bobby Abreu’s Home Run Total in 2005

Bobby Abreu wasn’t holding back in 2005 when he crushed 41 home runs in the competition. If for no other reason, fans should tune in to see if one of this year’s challengers can top that mark. My money is on Chris Davis.

28 – Josh Hamilton’s First-Round Total in 2008

Abreu holds the record for most dingers in a Home Run Derby, but Josh Hamilton put him to shame in 2008 with a first-round total of 28. The guy just couldn’t stop.

Hamilton went on to lose the contest that year in favor of Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, but his feat stands. Good luck topping that number this year, anyone.

33 – Chris Davis’ Regular Season Home Run Total this Year

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis has been on a torrid pace this season, already hammering home 33 long balls to this point. Facing batting practice pitches from a hurler of his choosing, it’s hard to expect Davis to not top that total in the Home Run Derby this year.

133 – Total Homers Hit By Seven Announced Participants this Season

Seven of the eight Home Run Derby participants have been chosen so far with the final American League spot still up in the air. The seven announced participants have tallied 133 home runs in the first half of 2013, including 24 from Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez.

Baseball Tonight tweeted the rosters for each squad following the selection:

488 – Mark McGwire’s Longest Shot at Fenway in 1999

Quantity is great, but don’t forget about quality.

In 1999, Mark McGwire put on a masterful display at Fenway Park, but none of his 13 first-round home runs compared to the shot he put over the Green Monster estimated at 488 feet.

Something tells me Prince Fielder will pop a couple shots like that this year.

519 – Frank Thomas’ Even Longer Home Run at Three Rivers in 1994

I’m still not sure anyone will ever come close to matching the power of the “Big Hurt.”

In 1994, Frank Thomas set out to knock a ball into the next county with a 519-footer out of Three Rivers Stadium that still hasn’t landed. Need another reason to watch this year?

$615,000 – Total Amount Donated to Charity Last Year

The Home Run Derby is simply a fun event that gets people excited about baseball. At its core, the contest is little more than an enjoyable competition that brings out the friendlier side of the sport.

Major League Baseball has done its best to market the derby as such, but the league also does its philanthropic duty in donating to the Boys & Girls Club of America.

Last year, the MLB donated $440,000 to the organization and another $120,000 to local youth organizations, donating $615,000 in total adding in other contributions, per MLB.com.

Between the family atmosphere, lighthearted fun and towering moonshots, there really isn‘t a reason to not watch the Home Run Derby.

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Baltimore Orioles fans have a lot to be excited about. Their team is just 2.5 games out of first place in the American League East, it just won its second consecutive game against the division-rival New York Yankees in dominating fashion and Chris Davis is doing some ridiculous things at the dish.

The 27-year-old first baseman is playing so well, in fact, that he joined some elite company Saturday in his team’s 11-3 win over the Yankees, as Rich Dubroff of CSNBaltimore.com noted:

Davis had two home runs and five RBIs. He now has 30 home runs, and is just the third American League player to hit that many before the end of June, according to Elias Sports. Only Babe Ruth and Ken Griffey did it before.

That Davis hit two home runs Sunday isn’t a surprise. Given his masterful 2013 campaign, there’s really nothing Davis hasn’t been capable of doing this season.

In 81 games this season, Davis is hitting a whopping .333 with an on-base percentage eclipsing the .400 mark (.408) and a staggering OPS of 1.133. If those stats weren’t enough, Davis has also driven in 79 runs to go along with his 30 home runs.

As ESPN Stats & Info also noted, Davis and second baseman Manny Machado are on pace to set another impressive record this season:

Davis has been a crucial part of Baltimore’s No. 2 offense this season. As a team, the Orioles have scored 395 runs and currently carry a run differential of plus-26—fifth best in the American League.

Davis’ success this season hasn’t come out of nowhere (he hit 33 home runs last season), but his career averages aren’t anywhere close to what the first baseman is doing in 2013. That statistical leap has caused some to point to performance-enhancing-drug use as the culprit, but as Bill Baer of ESPN points out, those people simply aren’t enjoying the game:

Regardless of Davis’ career numbers, he’s doing some special things this season. Not everyone can say they’re crushing the ball like Babe Ruth or Ken Griffey Jr.

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After missing the month of June with thoracic outlet syndrome that caused numbness in his pitching hand, Josh Beckett appears headed for the disabled list for the remainder of the season.

As Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reported, the right-hander will be shut down for the rest of the season as he undergoes surgery to relieve pressure in his neck causing the numbness:

Ken Gurnick and Austin Laymance of MLB.com reported on Friday that Beckett would begin a throwing program in an attempt to repair the issue without surgery. As it turns out, the program didn’t yield the results that Beckett or the Los Angeles Dodgers were hoping for.

When the 33-year-old began experiencing problems in early June, some questioned his ability to ever return to the mound. As Andrew Gastelum of the Los Angeles Times noted, Beckett was trying to avoid surgery at all costs:

Surgery is Plan F. You always want to avoid surgery if you can. We are going to try a lot of different things in the next four weeks to try to reassess things. There’s a lot of guys that have had this, and there’s a lot of guys who have had surgery who were successful. There’s a few guys it hasn’t been successful. We’re going to do everything we can to beat this thing without surgery. If we have to move that way, that’s what we’ll do.

Unfortunately, Beckett will now be forced to find out if he can return after said surgery. Given his poor performance this season (0-5, 5.19 ERA) and the Dodgers’ struggles, opting for a long-term fix may be the best option for both parties.

At 36-43, Los Angeles remains at the bottom of the NL West and 5.5 games behind the division-leading Arizona Diamondbacks. The team has made progress in recent weeks, posting a 7-3 record in its last 10 games, but the Dodgers still face some serious questions—starting with the health of some of their marquee players.

With Beckett’s season-ending surgery, the Dodgers now have one more hole to fill. While he hasn’t contributed in the last month, manager Don Mattingly will now have no choice but to consider long-term options to fill Beckett’s spot in the rotation for the rest of the season.

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It may be a while before the New York Yankees receive any contributions from third baseman Kevin Youkilis.

Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News reported on Monday that Yankees general manager Brian Cashman was concerned over Youkilis’ status following a lumbar strain the veteran sustained in the team’s 18-inning loss to the Oakland Athletics on Thursday.

Instead of good news, however, the Yankees learned Youkilis will need back surgery to repair a herniated disc and is expected to miss 10-to-12 weeks of action, as reported by Aaron Gleeman of NBC Sports:

Given the initial timetable for his return, Youkilis could face missing the remainder of the season after batting just .219 in 28 games with the Yankees thus far in 2013. Considering the team’s mounting list of injuries, even that subpar production will be missed from the lineup.   

Mark Teixeira is back on the disabled list, as reported by Feinsand, joining Curtis Granderson, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Eduardo Nunez and Francisco Cervelli. If the Yankees’ injury problems continue to pile up, they could be entering dangerous territory in a tight AL East race.

At 38-31, New York is three games back of the Boston Red Sox and just two games ahead of the fourth-place Tampa Bay Rays. In the middle of a recent 4-6 skid and with even more uncertainty at key positions, New York is facing an uphill battle to stay afloat in the division.

Youkilis signed with the Yankees last offseason on a one-year, $12 million contract in hopes of replacing some of Rodriguez’s production as he tries to get back into playing shape. Instead, the former Red Sox slugger tallied just two home runs and eight RBI this season.

His injury now leaves the Yankees with yet another hole to fill.

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The April 15 Boston Marathon bombings claimed the lives of three and injured several hundred more, but they also united America in a way that tragedies—and the resulting compassion and heroism—only can.

Some heroes go unrecognized, but there are special moments when a hero is both lauded for his or her courage and reunited with life forever changed by that act of bravery.

Carlos Arrendondo is one of those heroes, and he shared a special moment with the 27-year-old bombing victim he rescued on that tragic day, just before the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies took the field on Tuesday.

The pair was reunited to throw out simultaneous first pitches at the game.

Jeff Bauman lost both legs in the explosions that rocked the Boston Marathon finish line, and it was Arrendondo who sprung to action to save him. If not for his heroism—and the strength of Bauman to embrace his recovery and life after the bombings—we would be deprived of such special moments.

David Ortiz and Jarrod Saltalamacchia received the pitches as the crowd remained on its feet for an extended ovation. It was a special scene, especially for the city that was rocked hardest by the events that transpired April 15 and the days that followed.

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Fantasy baseball is one part luck, one part research and one part more luck. Luckily, research and smart drafting can negate some of the happenstance inherent to fantasy sports.

Having a sound drafting strategy is critical for fantasy baseball success, and creating a list of high-upside sleepers will go a long way toward winning your league.

There are several pitchers available to fantasy owners this year who have the potential to put together quality seasons, and we’ll provide a few of those names in this article.

“Sleeper” is a subjective term, but using the average draft position numbers from ESPN, we’ll do our best to quantify these players as sleepers potentially available in the later rounds of your draft.

Jeff Samardzija: Chicago Cubs (ADP 152.7)

Samardzija made the move to the starting rotation for the Cubs last season, putting up respectable numbers in his 28 starts. An ERA of 3.81 and a WHIP of 1.22 in 2012 were positive signs, but it was Samardzija’s strikeout numbers that really stood out.

The 28-year-old hurler fanned 180 batters in 174.2 innings pitched, and his strikeout-to-walk ratio was also encouraging (3.2/1). With a full season as a starter in the books, he is poised for a breakout year in 2013.

According to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times, Samardzija has been named Chicago’s opening-day starter. With an average draft position of 152.7 in ESPN leagues, there’s a good chance he’ll be available beyond the 14th round. Any chance to acquire a No. 1 starter that late in the draft should be exploited.

Trevor Cahill: Arizona Diamondbacks (ADP 218.6)

After going 18-8 in Oakland in 2010, Cahill had a disappointing 2011 season and landed in Arizona as a 24-year-old hurler in need of a bounce-back season.

He posted a 3.78 ERA in 32 starts with the Diamondbacks last season, and there’s reason to believe he can pitch even better in 2013.

Cahill hasn’t thrown fewer than 200 innings in the last two seasons, and his 2.97 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 2010 prove he is capable of big things. Entering his fifth big-league season, Cahill may be one of the most underrated pitchers in fantasy baseball.

None of Cahill’s numbers really jump off the stat sheet, but he’ll be a consistent option who should surpass 200 innings again this year. Expect to get 14 or 15 wins and an ERA in the low 3.00-range from the Arizona starter in 2013.

Justin Masterson: Cleveland Indians (ADP 227.4)

Masterson lost his command in 2012, resulting in an awful season as the Indians’ No. 1 starter. He went 11-15 with an ERA of 4.93 and a WHIP of 1.45 in 34 starts, but don’t expect more of the same from him this year.

Masterson has pitched well in spring training, seemingly regaining command of the dominant sinker that made him a highly-coveted target for the Indians in 2009. With Terry Francona at the helm and a bolstered offense due to offer a lot more run support in 2013, Masterson won’t be under as much pressure to be lights-out in the front-end of the rotation.

Even if Masterson doesn’t put up No. 1 starter numbers, he’s still a steal with an average draft position of 227.4. His ceiling isn’t especially high, but a mid-3.00 ERA and 15-plus wins isn’t out of the question in 2013. He’s certainly worth a late-round flyer. 

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Some people prefer to play exhibition games and others like to build franchises and control the operational side of things, but any way you slice it, player ratings in sports video games are a fun topic for debate.

Skill and talent level are completely subjective measures. Balancing statistics with personal observations isn’t an easy task, and we can’t really fault 2K Sports for any ratings we dislike in MLB 2K13. Still, ratings have a widespread effect on overall gameplay in every game mode, so there are going to be some strong opinions on the matter.

Let’s take a look at some of the players with questionably low ratings. Some will agree and others will disagree, but like 2K Sports, we’re all entitled to our own opinions on player evaluation.

*Ratings courtesy of OperationSports.com.

Hanley Ramirez: Los Angeles Dodgers (83)

Ramirez didn’t hit better than .257 either of the last two seasons, but prior to that span, the 29-year-old shortstop hadn’t batted under .300 since 2006 (.292). In 2009, Ramirez compiled a .342/24/106 season, and I don’t think his talent level has declined so much that he can’t at least match those home run and RBI totals this season.

Now that the turmoil in Miami is behind him, Ramirez is in a position to put together a strong campaign this year. One of the best five-tool players in the league, MLB 2K13’s 83 rating for the infielder is a little confounding.

It’s understandable that a lot of ratings are reliant on statistics from prior seasons, but Ramirez hasn’t declined enough to warrant such a low rating. He’s still one of the top shortstops in the league, and it seems like a 90-plus rating would be much more appropriate.

Josh Johnson: Toronto Blue Jays (83)

Another victim of Miami’s terrible front-office management, Johnson was dealt to the Toronto Blue Jays this offseason in a package that included Jose Reyes and Mark Buehrle. In return, Toronto sent the Marlins a box of baseballs and a thank-you card.

Almost no one played well in Miami last season, and Johnson’s 8-14 record surely played a part in his subpar rating in the game. Still, he won 26 games in 2009 and 2010 combined, and his ERA (2.30) and WHIP (1.11) in 2010 are nothing to sneeze at.

With a strong rotation and a ton of firepower in its lineup, Toronto looks like one of the best teams in the majors this year. Johnson won’t have to be “the guy” at the front end of the rotation, and I don’t expect him to tally anything less than 15 wins in 2013. A sub-3.00 ERA isn’t out of the question, either.

Jason Kipnis: Cleveland Indians (78)

It’s not so much that Kipnis deserves a 90-plus rating, but 78 is a little low. His rating also proves how off-base Ramirez’s grade is.

The Indians’ second baseman broke onto the scene in 2012, putting together one of the best first halves of any middle infielder in baseball. Kipnis tailed off considerably in the second half, but his finals stats don’t accurately represent his talent.

With only one full season at the MLB level, there’s reason to believe Kipnis can be a perennial All Star at his position.

The 25-year-old didn’t finish the 2012 season with a high average (.257), but 14 home runs, 76 RBI, 22 doubles and 31 stolen bases are quality stats from a middle infielder who also gets it done with his glove.

I can’t fault 2K Sports for rating Kipnis based on his one season in the majors, but his stats didn’t accurately represent his talent. A rating in the mid-80s would have been more appropriate.

Albert Pujols: Los Angeles Angels (93)

Call me crazy, but there’s no way Pujols should be rated anything less than a 97.

After moving to Los Angeles prior to last season, Pujols struggled to find his rhythm in the American League. One slow start and a quality finish later, Pujols ended the year with a .285/30/105 stat line.

Excluding 2012 and 2011 (.299), the best right-handed hitter in baseball never hit less than .312, and he never drove in fewer than 103 runs. At 33 years old, it’s hard to believe Pujols is anywhere close to declining.

This seems like an overreaction to a couple down years, but down years for Pujols are All Star-caliber seasons for anyone else. He’ll bounce back in 2013 and prove once again he is the best first baseman in the game. There’s a good chance at least one midseason update will hold a major ratings increase for Pujols.

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When it comes to fantasy sports, it’s often the decisions made in the later rounds of the draft that make all the difference between playoff contention and a title shot.

Unless you play in a 16-team league, there’s a good chance a handful of quality young bats will be available in the mid-to-late rounds of the draft. When the superstars are off the board, selecting the right players becomes a practice of intuition and value.

Let’s take a look at some of the top sleepers who may still be available in the later rounds of the draft. Each are poised to contribute in a big way this season, and stashing one or two away could prove to be the difference between winning and losing this fantasy baseball season.

Lonnie Chisenhall: 3B, Cleveland Indians

Lonnie Chisenhall is one of Cleveland’s top prospects, but he only saw significant time in the majors when the Indians were out of contention in 2011 and 2012.

The 24-year-old third baseman played 43 games with the Indians last year, but he displayed a good deal of potential. Chisenhall got his first at-bat of 2012 last May, and a deep home run into the right field bullpen put the exclamation mark on his arrival.

With Jack Hannahan now a member of the Cincinnati Reds, Chisenhall assumes the role of starting third baseman for the Indians this season. He won’t be fighting for at-bats any longer.

While his 2012 stats weren’t all that impressive (.268 average, five home runs and 16 RBI in 142 at-bats), there’s plenty of reason to believe he can play a significant role for the Indians this summer.

Cleveland hit the free agent market hard this offseason, adding veteran sluggers Mark Reynolds and Nick Swisher, as well as speedy center fielder Michael Bourn. With Carlos Santana, Michael Brantley, Jason Kipnis and Asdrubal Cabrera already in the lineup, Chisenhall should have a lot of protection in the batting order.

With his first full season ahead of him, Chisenhall has a chance to be a quality corner infielder and solid bat for the Indians. Expect him to hit .270/20/80 starting at third this year.

Anthony Rizzo: 1B, Chicago Cubs

Anthony Rizzo isn’t flying under the radar, but he isn’t exactly a top draft selection either. With so many good options at first base, the 23-year-old slugger will likely be available beyond the 10th round in most formats.

In 87 games with the Cubs last season, Rizzo hit .285 with 15 home runs and 48 RBI. Given a full season at the position, there’s a good chance he closes in on 30 home runs and 100 RBI this year.

Offensive production can come from anywhere in fantasy baseball, but there’s still something to be said for loading up on corner-infield power bats. Mark Teixeira will probably be off the board well before Rizzo in most drafts, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Rizzo has a better all-around year.

For leagues with a utility spot or two, doubling back in the draft for a young corner infielder like Rizzo could make a big difference by the end of the season.

Starling Marte: OF, Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates haven’t put together a winning season in 20 years, but this year could finally end the drought.

The Pirates had a busy offseason, and their improved 2013 squad is full of young talent and seasoned veteran leadership. As surprisingly strong at their entire roster has turned out, it’s the Pirates’ outfield that stands to do the most damage from the dish.

Andrew McCutchen has stolen the headlines (and a high fantasy draft position), but don’t expect him to be the only outfielder making a splash in 2013.

Starling Marte is Pittsburgh’s top position prospect, and he’ll start in left field for the Pirates this year. According to Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, manager Clint Hurdle plans to start Marte in the leadoff role regularly during spring training.

In 47 big-league games last season, Marte hit just .257 with five home runs and 17 RBI. He did manage to swipe 12 bases, though, and if he can lock down the leadoff role for the regular season, don’t be surprised if Marte challenges for the base-stealing title in 2013.

There are plenty of quality outfielders available this year, but with so many spots to fill in a fantasy lineup, there’s always room for a young outfielder with a ton of upside. If your team is looking a little thin at the position in later rounds, Marte is a smart pick. He has the chance to have a breakout season in 2013.

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