The Toronto Blue Jays placed outfielder Rajai Davis on the 15-day DL on Monday with a right ankle injury.
The 30-year-old speedster has stolen 92 bases since 2009, so he presence in fantasy lineups won’t be easy to replace. Fortunately, there are a few short-term options that can offer cheap steals.
Willie Bloomquist (3B, SS, OF—Ari)
Bloomquist filled in for the injured Stephen Drew at shortstop to start the season, posting surprising results. Through eight games this season, the 33-year-old is batting .368 (14-for-38), and is second in all of baseball with six steals.
Since Drew has returned to the lineup, the Diamondbacks have found room for Bloomquist in left field. The career .266 hitter might be this year’s Emilio Bonifacio, but his hot streak is worth riding while it lasts.
Currently owned in just 66 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Sam Fuld (OF—TB)
Fuld went 4-for-6 on Monday against the Red Sox, raising his season average to .321 (9-for-28) with five steals. Given the current state of Tampa Bay’s lineup, Fuld should continue to see time in left and right field. In six minor league seasons, the 29-year-old hit .285 and stole 44 bases over the last two seasons at Triple-A.
Currently owned in just four percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Coco Crisp (OF—Oak)
The oft-injured Crisp is hitting just .236 (9-for-38) thus far, but he’s stolen four bases in as many attempts. Despite missing an average of 51 games per season since 2004, the 31-year-old center fielder has averaged 21 steals a year during that time frame.
Currently owned in just 43 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Cameron Maybin (OF—SD)
The 24-year-old Maybin appears to be benefiting from a change of scenery this season, batting .258 (8-for-31) with two homers and three steals through nine games. The former Detroit and Florida farmhand was originally thought to possess 30/30 potential. He’s still too young and plays in too large of a park to produce that kind of power output, but 20-30 steals isn’t out of the question this season.
Currently owned in just 17 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
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