Any average fantasy player can rattle off the names of the top-tier first round picks. But you didn’t come to this site to be an average fantasy player. It’s the late-round sleepers that can push your team from average to championship caliber. Without further delay, here is an early list of sleepers that could make your 2011 Fantasy Baseball season a memorable one.
Jeremy Hellickson — Hellickson’s talent was showcased with a brief stint on the big stage for the Rays in 2010. After dominating in AAA with a 2.45 ERA and 9.4 K/9, he finally was rewarded with a chance to pitch in the bigs and he certainly took full advantage. He gave up no more than three earned runs in any of starts and won three of his first four starts.
Hellickson did not fare as well as a reliever upon his September call up, but with a possible trade of Garza, all signs point to him having a spot in the rotation. An ADP of 217 (Mockdraftcentral) leaves him in the 18th round, which is well worth the risk for this kind of talent.
Mike Stanton — Nobody can doubt that Stanton’s power gives him home run upside that few outfielders can match. His mammoth blasts have even made him a YouTube sensation. But his batting average and alarming strikeout rates make Stanton a player some fantasy owners might avoid. Don’t be one of them. A .316/8/19 September shows a player who started to figure out pitching at the big league level. Don’t rule out a 40-homer campaign.
JP Arencibia — As a catcher of just 24 years of age, some might think Arencibia is not ready for the big leagues. But in a short stint with the Jays he in 2010 he showcased the tools that made him the 21st overall pick. He homered twice in his debut alone and collected four hits.
While it was certainly a small sample size he will likely get the chance to build on those numbers with Toronto clearly in rebuilding mode. Arencibia posted a more than respectable .301/32/85 in AAA last year and as a catcher anything close to that production will give him significant fantasy value.
Domonic Brown — Much has been made about Philadelphia’s pitching acquisition this offseason and rightfully so. But if the Phillies want to win they are going to have to account for the loss of Jayson Werth. Part of the reason Werth was allowed to walk was the undeniable talent of Brown. Brown under whelmed in his brief stint with the Phillies but they still thought highly enough of him to place him on the post season roster. Batting in a potent lineup, Brown could prove to be a steal as a late round flier. At the very least his speed, 17 SB in under 400 AB, make Brown a likely candidate to run and score plenty.
Aaron Hill — Hill will be atop many Don’t Draft Lists after blowing up in the face of owners who deemed it wise to spend an early round pick on the breakthrough second baseman. However, by many accounts he was unlucky, as he was bad in 2010. Hill was consistently a player that was said to be a good add after unhappy owners cut bait.
This was in large part due to his unusually low BABIP. It was something that most fantasy analyst thought was due for a turnaround in the later half of the season. The brighter days never came for Hill in 2010. But 2011 could be a different season and he could come at a very reduced price.
Johan Santana — Seems strange to call a two-time Cy Young Award winner and former fantasy ace a sleeper, but based on rankings that’s exactly what he is. Clearly Santana’s skills are slowly eroding as evident by his falling strikeout total for the fourth consecutive year.
But his ERA actually dropped under 3.00 and his WHIP fell to 1.17. Santana’s ranks among starting pitchers of 85 (CBS), 68 (ESPN-Cockcroft) puts him among Bronson Arroyo and the consistently inconsistent James Shields. Take your chances with the future hall of famer.
Jordan Zimmerman — As a second round pick the Nationals had delusions of grandeur of Strasburg and Zimmerman as a formidable 1-2 punch. Half of that tandem certainly will not be ready to go to start the 2011 season. But Zimmerman has shown promise in all of his major league stints. His ERA/WHIP leave much to be desired but the 119 K’s in 122 IP in the big leagues show a pitcher with big time capability. Zimmerman’s is a classic post hype sleeper that could prove big dividends as a late round starter for your team.
Ted Lilly — Obviously Lilly has little upside yet to be uncovered at the age of 34. But he has resigned with the Los Angeles, which proved to be a kind city to Lilly after a mid-season trade. He is a pitcher that rarely issues a walk and is huge plus for any teams WHIP. On top of that his ERA/WHIP/BAA all dropped after the move to the Dodgers. Look for Lilly when others don’t if you need a reliable third or fourth starter.
B.J. Upton — THIS IS FINALLY THE YEAR…no not really. Bossman Junior has solidified himself atop my Do Not Draft list and I recommend him to be on yours too. Don’t get fooled by potential again. No passion, no hustle…no thanks.
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