In an effort to help clinch a playoff spot in the final week of the 2016 regular season, the San Francisco Giants acquired infielder Gordon Beckham from the Atlanta Braves Tuesday. 

Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle was the first to report that the deal was close. MLB.com’s Mark Bowman later confirmed the news and added that Atlanta will receive cash as part of the trade.

Since the waiver trade deadline has passed, Beckham will not be eligible for the Giants’ postseason roster should they make it.

The 30-year-old Beckham is hitting .217 with five home runs and 30 RBI this season and has seen playing time at second base, third base and shortstop.

After starting third baseman Eduardo Nunez left San Francisco’s loss to the San Diego Padres Sunday with a hamstring injury, San Francisco bolstered its infield depth Tuesday.

Beckham is likely to combine with Conor Gillaspie, Ehire Adrianza and Kelby Tomlinson over the next week to fill in for Nunez if he is unable to play.

The Giants enter play Tuesday with a one-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals for the second and final wild-card spot in the National League.

San Francisco has a penchant for winning the World Series every other year, and if it can get into the playoffs and continue that trend, Beckham will get a World Series ring despite not being permitted to play in the postseason.

Considering he was dealt from the NL’s worst team with a record of 63-92, the trade-off is a good one for the eight-year veteran.

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The Atlanta Braves will be without their top utility man for at least the next two weeks, as Gordon Beckham was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday.

Continue for updates.

Beckham Nursing Hamstring Injury

Thursday, June 2

The team announced the 29-year-old is dealing with a left hamstring strain and that infielder Brandon Snyder was called up to take his spot on the 25-man roster.

Beckham has appeared in 31 games for the struggling Braves this season, making starts at second base, third base and shortstop.

The veteran infielder has been among the team’s most consistent hitters with a .284 batting average, .382 on-base percentage, two home runs and 16 RBI.

While his numbers don’t jump off the page, his contributions are significant for a Braves team that ranks last in Major League Baseball with a .228 batting average.

With the former Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Angels player on the shelf, Atlanta will be forced to rely on myriad players to replace him.

Along with Snyder potentially playing some third base, Kelly Johnson, Daniel Castro and Adonis Garcia figure to see added playing time on the infield.

The Braves aren’t going anywhere in 2016 with a National League-worst record of 16-36, but losing Beckham could hurt in terms of keeping things respectable.

Beckham was also starting to establish himself as a possible trade candidate to a contender due to his versatility, but if his injury turns out to be a long-term issue, Atlanta may not be able to get any value in return for him.

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For the Chicago White Sox, the return of Gordon Beckham from a rehab stint with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights cannot come soon enough.

Beckham, who has been the Opening Day second baseman for the White Sox for the past four seasons, is nearly recovered from a surgery to remove the hamate bone in his left hand.

And from every indication, he appeared to be ready very soon. Then, word came from the White Sox that Beckham had suffered a setback:

Prior to the soreness the team reported, he had been on a roll.

Following Thursday night’s game for the Knights, Beckham was hitting .318 with five runs scored and a .375 OBP. He has also started one game at shortstop and has been the designated hitter.

While MLB.com’s Ethan Asofsky noted that Robin Ventura downplayed the significance of his time at short, it may be an indication of which direction the White Sox want to head with the 25-man roster when Beckham is activated.

That segues nicely into the next topic: Whose spot will Beckham take?

With pitching at a premium on the South Side, the decision will likely come down to a choice between Casper Wells and Tyler Greene.

An interesting case could be made for both men.

Wells is considered to be an above-average outfielder who can play all three positions, and he hits left-handed pitching very well, per Steve Adams of MLBTradeRumors. With four other outfielders on the roster, though, keeping a fifth one may be a luxury the Sox cannot afford.

Wells is also out of options, and should the White Sox decide that Beckham will take his spot, he would have to be designated for assignment and clear waivers before being optioned.

Greene, on the other hand, is much faster than Wells, has some value as a platoon infielder and can be a pinch runner in late-inning situations.

Tim Dierkes of MLBTradeRumors noted that unlike Wells, however, “the White Sox can control Greene for a while if he proves useful.”

Couple Greene’s contract situation with Beckham’s recent re-acquaintance to the shortstop position, and his demotion to Triple-A will be the most likely decision for general manager Rick Hahn.

Had Jeff Keppinger been able to get off to even a mediocre start, Beckham’s return would not be as highly anticipated. But after beginning the season with a .204 average and one home run, Keppinger has made Beckham’s value to the team palpable.

He will immediately improve the defense, which has been a surprise shortcoming for the White Sox thus far. Turning a double play will become routine, and hitting the cut-off man will not be such an adventure.

Beckham will also provide some unexpected stability to the bottom of the order.

How times have changed.

If someone would have said when the 2013 season began that the White Sox would miss Beckham’s presence as much as they have, I would have scoffed, chuckled or flat-out laughed.

Well, the humble pie is served, and the tune has changed.

And even though Beckham suffered a setback, his arrival cannot come soon enough.

The White Sox need him.

Follow @MatthewSmithBR

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Gordon Beckham was supposed to be the face of the White Sox franchise after they selected him in the first round of the 2008 amateur draft out of Georgia.  This highly touted prospect sped through the White Sox farm system and made his major league debut with the team in June of 2009, less than one year after being drafted.

That rookie season for Gordon saw him showcase why he was considered a steal at the eighth pick in the draft, hitting .270 with 14 home runs and 63 RBI; good enough for fifth in the Rookie of the Year voting. 

What made this even more impressive was Beckham, a shortstop in college, had to learn a new position (he was moved to third base) against the toughest competition he had ever faced.

It appeared that the White Sox had found their franchise player in Beckham. But the 2010 season was not kind to Gordon. He began the season mired in a hitting slump that saw his average drop below .200 multiple times and had Sox fans wondering what was happening to their superstar in waiting.

A respectable second half of the season made the back of his baseball card look respectable.  He managed to bring his average up over .250, but his home run and RBI total had dropped from his impressive rookie campaign.

Some of his defenders chalked it up to the legendary sophomore slump that pro athletes are accustomed to suffering while others said it was the second positional move in two years, from third to second base, that caused Beckham to struggle.  They cited his improved offense in the second half of the season as him being comfortable in the field and being able to concentrate solely on hitting.

The first week-and-a-half of 2011 started off like gangbusters for the White Sox second sacker.  He was holding down the two-slot in the batting order, hitting over .300 with a couple long balls and a handfull of runs driven in.  He was getting on base, scoring runs and helping the Sox win some ball games.

Then, out of nowhere, he started to slump again, and has yet to recover…and again Beckham’s defenders came to his rescue by pointing out that he is one of the best defensive second basemen in all of baseball. 

The realization of what Gordon Beckham was supposed to be and what Gordon Beckham is are going in opposite directions.  He went from being the rumored centerpiece of the rumored Adrian Gonzalez to the White Sox deal before the 2010 season to just another guy that plays good defense. 

He was as close to untouchable as it came for a prospect; a middle infielder with 20-plus home run potential that plays good defense and has great baseball instincts.  His immeasureables were off the charts and it was only a matter of time until he made his first of many all-star teams.

Now we’re left to wonder if Gordon Beckham will ever realize his potential or fall into the seemingly bottomless pit of the failed “can’t miss” prospects the White Sox organization has been parading in front of their fans for years.

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The headache was more like a jackhammer slamming around in my skull. I could barely walk, barely think, as I stumbled into Wal-Mart to find some relief. The first pain reducer I came to was Aleve. A 100-count bottle of 220 mg pain-fighting assistance.

I grabbed them, coughed up the $8.38 plus tax and popped a pill as soon as I got to the car.

My next headache came three days later, when I realized that Wal-Mart sold generic Naproxen Sodium in 100-count bottles at the same dosage for $3.30. I paid more than double what I should have.

On draft day, you don’t want to be that guy that overspent on a perceived stud when there are great values in the later rounds. Some of my personal value guys this year at second base include:

Ian Kinsler, TEX

Kinsler is currently being drafted, on average, in the fourth to fifth round. When you consider he has first-round talent, the value here is apparent.

However, the elephant in the room is his injury-riddled 2010 season, where he finished with just nine homers and 15 stolen bases in 291 at-bats.

So, taking Kinsler presents a risk. Current signs from Texas suggest Kinsler should be ready and raring to go this season. Recent news mentions that Kinsler will be batting leadoff for the Rangers this season, which is where he hit during Thursday’s intrasquad game.

On the surface, this should indicate a bounce-back season from a speed standpoint as long as Elvis Andrus stays at the No. 2 slot. It should also boost Kinsler’s runs scored.

At this point, I’d take Kinsler at the current ADP on the chance that he stays healthy for most of 2011. However, watch his stock this spring. If he shows he is on track health-wise during spring training, owners may get a little bolder on draft day and take him higher.

Aaron Hill, TOR

That pitiful .205 batting average over 528 at-bats is killing Hill’s fantasy draft stock in 2011.

That, for we sneaky ninjas, is a good thing. Even during his “off year,” he still hit 26 homers. He also had an MLB-low .196 BABIP, suggesting he was excessively unlucky during the 2010 campaign. That is something that should definitely change over time. For more on his BABIP and longer terms stats, check out my second base rankings.

The key here for Hill, and for all of us fantasy value seekers, is that he’s being drafted on average in the late, late rounds. Much later than a proven power hitter should fall. There is little doubt in my mind that he’ll be a solid value selection in 2011 drafts.

Gordon Beckham, CWS

Want a good way to find possible sleeper/value players? Look for young guys with tons of talent who’ve dealt with there share of growing pains.

Beckham is one such player. Just 24, he has plenty of major league career in front of him. This season, he’s hitting in front of both Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko. A perfect spot to be in a hitter-friendly environment.

On top of that, Ozzie Guillen recently mentioned that he wants Beckham to run more. To be a threat on the basepaths. While he has accumulated just 11 steals in two partial seasons, Beckham was pretty adept at swiping bags while in college at Georgia.

Considering Beckham is falling into the final rounds (and not even drafted in some leagues), he is so worth a flyer based on potential alone.

For more on second base rankings, check out my comments and current list. And don’t miss our solid commentary on second base ADP rankings.

My full positional rankings include: C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF | SP | RP

My other value players, sleeper picks at other positions so far: C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF | SP | RP

For all your hard-hitting fantasy baseball and fantasy football advice, go to www.chinstrapninjas.com

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It was a tale of two halves last season for Chicago’s Gordon Beckham.

Last year, Beckham was coming off a very successful rookie season where he batted .270 with 14 home runs, 63 RBI and seven stolen bases in just 103 games. He was barely 23 years old and he was already knocking on the doors of top 50 status if you stretched his stats over a full season. You can imagine how excited we all were come draft day in 2010—I targeted, and drafted, him with my first selection (sixth round) in my keeper league despite already having Ian Kinsler as one of my five keepers. Boy, did I regret that decision.

To say Beckham started off 2010 slowly would be the understatement of the decade. In April, he hit just .235 with five extra-base hits (one HR) and just four RBI over 81 at-bats. He went on to hit just .159 in May and posted more strikeouts (19) than hits (13). June came and went while Beckham continued to struggle. His batting average improved a bit (.233), but his 17:2 K:BB ratio showed he was still lost at the plate. All of this added up to a .216 batting average with 35 runs, three home runs, 22 RBI and four steals in 273 at-bats prior to the All-Star break.

However, Beckham spent those three days off, it worked as he came back a completely different hitter in the second half.

Over the next two months, Beckham roared back on the scene with a .331 batting average that even Ichiro Suzuki would be proud of. Beckham’s power also returned as he hit seven home runs and added on 13 doubles and one triple. In September, he battled hand issues and only amassed 32 at-bats, batting just .188 to close out the season.

This offseason, Beckham is saying a doing all of the right things. He has reportedly added 10-15 pounds of muscle and White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen has said that Beckham will bat second. This would be a huge boost to his value after spending most of 2010 shuffling around the bottom of the order. At the top of the White Sox lineup you can expect more runs out of the third-year player and quite possible more stolen bases.

What 2010 did to Beckham was make him a low-risk, high-reward player and someone fantasy owners should target in the middle rounds of drafts. If you haven’t heard of the term post-hype sleeper, it’s time you become familiar with it because Beckham is just that.

2011 Fantasy Projection

.283 AVG | 89 R | 18 HR | 65 RBI | 10 SB

Be sure to check out our 2011 Fantasy Baseball Rankings:

• Top 30 Catchers
• Top 30 First Basemen
• Top 30 Second Basemen
• Top 30 Third Basemen
• Top 30 Shortstops
• Top 60 Outfielders
• Top 60 Starting Pitchers
• Top 30 Relief Pitchers

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Once one of the weaker positions in the league, second base has seen an increase in talent in recent years and there is more talent yet to come. 

Let’s take a look at how the rankings currently stand, though by year’s end there is the potential that the list will look drastically different:

1. Robinson Cano – New York Yankees
2. Chase Utley – Philadelphia Phillies
3. Dustin Pedroia – Boston Red Sox
4. Ian Kinsler – Texas Rangers
5. Dan Uggla – Atlanta Braves
6. Brandon Phillips – Cincinnati Reds
7. Martin Prado – Atlanta Braves
8. Rickie Weeks – Milwaukee Brewers
9. Ben Zobrist – Tampa Bay Rays
10. Aaron Hill – Toronto Blue Jays
11. Brian Roberts – Baltimore Orioles
12. Kelly Johnson – Arizona Diamondbacks
13. Gordon Beckham – Chicago White Sox
14. Howie Kendrick – Los Angeles Angels
15. Chone Figgins – Seattle Mariners

Thoughts:

• I recently gave my thoughts on Gordon Beckham, which you can check out by clicking here.  The bottom line with him is that there is some risk involved, but he came on strong in the second half and should be a good buy as a middle infielder or low-risk option.
• On mlb.com (click here for the article), the Brewers’ new manager, Ron Roenicke, was recently quoted as saying, “At times, you’re going to say, ‘Why are you running so much? Why are you getting thrown out trying to take extra bases?’”  That brings hope for Rickie Weeks potentially reaching the 20/20 plateau, something that was basically impossible under the old regime as they rarely were active on the base paths.  It certainly gives him a boost up in our rankings.
• Since the last time I did the rankings, Uggla has been dealt to Atlanta.  It certainly doesn’t change his value much in either direction.  Joining Brian McCann and Jason Heyward in the middle of the order, it’s very possible he will exceed 30 home runs for the fifth straight season (almost a given) while going 90/90 as well.
• Speaking of Atlanta, Martin Prado will be shifting to the outfield while maintaining his eligibility at 2B and 3B (and 1B if you play in a league that only requires 5 games played for eligibility).  You have to love that type of flexibility.
• There are several young second basemen who could make an impact in 2011 including Dustin Ackley (click here for my thoughts), Brett Lawrie (click here for my thoughts) and Jason Kipnis (click here for my thoughts).

What are your thoughts on the rankings?  Who’s too high?  Who’s too low?

**** Make sure to pre-order your copy of the Rotoprofessor 2011 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide, selling for just $5, by clicking here. ****

Make sure to check out our 2011 rankings:

• Top 15 Catchers
• Top 15 First Basemen
• Top 15 Third Basemen
• Top 15 Shortstops
• Top 30 Outfielders
• Top 20 Starting Pitchers
• Top 15 Closers
• 2011 Fantasy Draft First Round Breakdown

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Heading into 2010 fantasy owners wanted to believe that the Chicago White Sox’ Gordon Beckham would mature into a must-use second base option.  He was coming off an impressive rookie season as a third baseman (.270, 14 HR, 63 RBI, 58 R in 378 AB) with a line that certainly would play well at second base especially when projected over a full season.

Unfortunately a repeat performance was not in the cards as Beckham struggled:

444 At-Bats
.252 Batting Average (112 Hits)
9 Home Runs
49 RBI
58 Runs
4 Stolen Bases
.317 On-Base Percentage
.378 Slugging Percentage
.297 Batting Average on Balls in Play

There was no one problem that caused his struggles.  Instead, there are many things that we can point to that showed a general regression, leading to his sophomore slump.

First was his ability to make contact.  In his rookie year he posted a strikeout rate of 17.2 percent.  Last season that number rose to 20.7 percent.

Over his brief minor league career (just 233 AB) the 2008 first-round draft pick struck out just 33 times (14.16 percent).  Yes, it is a rather small sample size but when you couple it with his 2009 performance you get the feeling that he is significantly better than what he showed last season.  An improvement there would go a long way in him improving his average.

His power metrics also took a hit:

• 2009: 43.0 percent fly-ball rate; 10.4 percent HR/FB
• 2010: 37.0 percent fly-ball rate; 6.9 percent HR/FB

There certainly is reason to believe that there is a lot more power in his bat than he showed last season.  Prior to the 2009 season Baseball America, who ranked him as the White Sox’s No. 1 prospect, said:

“He doesn’t have a classic stroke but has strong forearms and quick wrists, generating impressive bat speed. Though he isn’t built like a power hitter, he centers the ball well and the ball jumps off his bat. He led the Cape Cod League with nine homers in 2007, suggesting that his power comes from more than a metal bat.”

That certainly brings hope that he can at least rediscover the power he showed in 2009 and maybe take a small step forward as well.  It wouldn’t be a big surprise to see him approach the 20 HR mark, given his history and what he showed at the major league level in 2009. 

In 2010 he spent the majority of his time hitting ninth (273 AB), which certainly makes it more difficult to both drive in and score runs.  Moving up in the order, which is a good possibility, will certainly help him improve on those numbers as well.

The bottom line with Beckham is that, despite his struggles in 2010, there are a lot of reasons to like his potential to improve significantly.  I wouldn’t draft him as my starting second baseman, but as a middle infielder or a depth option he’s a tremendous pick.  He’s not going to provide speed, so if that’s what you are looking for you should keep looking, but with power upside he’s going to have significant potential value.

I would consider him a fairly low-risk, high-reward player making him a great selection for 2011.

What are your thoughts on Beckham?  How good could he be in 2011?  Would you target him on draft day?

**** Make sure to pre-order your copy of the Rotoprofessor 2011 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide, selling for just $5, by clicking here. ****

Make sure to check out some of our 2011 projections:

• Buchholz, Clay
• Butler, Billy
• Choo, Shin-Soo
• Ethier, Andre
• Freese, David
• Hughes, Phil
• Jaso, John
• Morrow, Brandon
• Reyes, Jose
• Willingham, Josh
• Young, Michael

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Alex Anthopoulos is ready to prepare his Blue Jays for the 2011 season.  His coaching staff has all been assembled and it is an interesting mix of old and new.  Now it is time for Anthopoulos to work on the team he is going to field in the coming season.

One of the issues that must get dealt with sooner or later is Jose Bautista’s new contract, or whether he will just get a raise through arbitration.  

The outfielder and third basemen just won the Silver Slugger for the right field position, making him the third Blue Jay in two years to win the award.

There is a good chance that the GM will wait until part way through the season to see whether the slugger can keep up his record breaking numbers, then work up a contract based upon his performance.

After letting Edwin Encarnacion be claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics, the Blue Jays could be looking for a new third baseman, or slotting Bautista into that spot. Bautista’s arm is highly valued in right field, so there is a chance they will keep him there and look for a more permanent solution in third.

A couple of options could be the Kansas City Royals Alex Gordon or the Chicago White Sox’s Gordon Beckham.  The Toronto Sun was reporting that the Blue Jays were talking with Kansas City about their former first round pick, as well as their Cy Young winning pitcher Zack Greinke.  

It seems unlikely that they would pry Greinke away from Kansas since they seem hesitant to deal their primary starter, also due to the costs for the Jays to acquire him and the options they already have for starting.  

Both the Jays and the Red Sox have inquired about Greinke, who has a partial no-trade clause with two years and $27 million remaining on his contract.  

Gordon is a much easier target, once a highly regarded prospect, his stock has fallen after struggling to make it at the big league level.  His defense was rather weak when he played at third, so he has since been moved to the outfield.  Gordon is rather injury prone, but could develop into a hitting star if given the proper guidance and at-bats.

MLB trade rumors has been discussing that the White Sox have thought about dealing Beckham, and listed the possible suitors for the young infielder.  His experience at third base, combined with his youth and potential seem like a prime option for Anthopoulos to pursue.

The same site is also reporting that the Florida Marlins talks with Dan Uggla have stalled, both sides in disagreement after the Marlins 4-year, $48 million contract extension was rejected.  ESPN’s Buster Olney mentioned that two executives both said that Toronto would be their best guess for a possible trade destination for the second baseman.  

Whether that would mean that Aaron Hill or Dan Uggla would be moved to third base remains to be seen, but this is all still speculation.

On ESPN, a survey by the analysts of the top free agents and their possible destinations mentioned two names for the Blue Jays, Manny Ramirez and Magglio Ordonez.

 Both sluggers are nearing the end of the careers and don’t seem like a long term option for the Jays, so it seems unlikely Anthopoulos would bite on adding either of these two to his roster.

In other waiver news, both Brian Tallet and DeWayne Wise refused their assignment to Triple-A, which makes them free agents now.

Finally, since Tallet leaving creates an opening in the left handed long relief role, a possibility to fill that role is Marc Rzepczynski, who is currently working on his game in the Arizona Fall League.

 Rzepczynski was just named one of the two Players of the Week, and in three starts so far has gone 1-0, with a 1.29 ERA, nine strikeouts and seven walks.

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Dome catwalks, bad umpiring, and opponents forgetting how to play, oh my.

The Chicago White Sox have won seven out of their last eight games and have lost half a game in the American League Central division standings, sitting 4.5 back with 24 games remaining. A yellow brick road is nowhere in sight and mix the above three with the Minnesota Twins and you have yourself a done-for Dorothy, getting no help.

No scarecrow, no tin man, no lion. The White Sox are on their own.

What can’t be added to the fairytale-turned-nightmare is injuries to the White Sox.

Gordon Beckham was hit in the hand Aug. 30, against the Cleveland Indians. On Tuesday, Beckham said the pain was the most intense and that he couldn’t hold a bat. Beckham went on to claim it feels like it hurts in a different place every day.

Not good.

Beckham was scratched from Tuesday’s game against the Detroit Tigers and manager Ozzie Guillen plans to shut him down for a couple days. Beckham hit .354 in July and .309 in August. 

Paul Konerko sat out for the second consecutive day Tuesday due to lower back issues. Konerko said he felt discomfort in the second game of the doubleheader on Saturday. He played in Game 2, but was taken out later in the game.

This injury is not expected to be serious, but the White Sox can’t afford to have their MVP, and at least a top five MVP candidate for the American League in any intelligent sports follower’s eyes (Jayson Stark, if you’re reading…), sit out any games.

This was all before Tuesday’s game.

You’re already looking at having to play Omar Vizquel and Mark Kotsay for Beckham and Konerko. Now the White Sox may need to find another pitcher.

Freddy Garcia had to leave in the second inning of Tuesday’s game due to a sore back, which caused the starter to leave a start last week after four innings.

Garcia has been an unexpected horse this year, and logic says he’s due for an injury. Unfortunately, this is the worst time, especially with Jake Peavy being gone for the season.

The White Sox may have to start thinking of using a four-man rotation rather than wasting every fifth start on a guy like Carlos Torres.

It’s that time of year where logic doesn’t make sense.

And to cap off an injury-filled night, Manny Ramirez left after getting plunked for the second time of the game. Ramirez took a fastball from Tigers’ Robbie Weinhardt after taking a ball in the elbow from Justin Verlander earlier in the game.

Ramirez is thought to be OK, but once again, this is no time for “OK” to mean “be back in a couple games.”

The White Sox are running out of time, while running out of players as well.

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