Fantasy Baseball Sleepers: Round 1

Naturally, I won’t be divulging all of my fantasy sleeper picks considering 50% of my audience is in my fantasy baseball league, but each week leading up to the draft I will throw three names out there in an attempt to stir up some debate regarding their actual fantasy value for 2011.

SS, Starlin Castro – Chicago Cubs

In my opinion, this guy got glossed over a bit for the NL Rookie of the Year award primarily because his team was non-competitive for most of the season. While the Cubs aren’t likely to be any better as a whole, Starlin Castro is one of the few bright spots left in the organization. In 2010, the 20 year old Castro played 125 games and managed to his .300. He lacks power and, surprisingly, speed but he could still be an incredible value as a cheap player that can get you 80+ runs, and maybe 70 RBI. In the minors, he averaged about 26 steals so I think you’ll see that number jump up a bit, but the Cubs will never be a real aggressive base running team. There have been some questions as to his effort (ala Hanley Ramirez), but hopefully he rights the ship and gets his head screwed on straight. Considering the drop-off at SS after guys like Hanley and Tulowitzski, Castro might be have solid value in later rounds of any draft. I have a feeling that within a few years, you may be looking at the next Jimmy Rollins.

OF – Mike Stanton – Florida Marlins

This guy could very easily be the next Mark Reynolds. Whether that is good news or bad news is up for discussion… But as a 21 year old, Stanton launched 22 homeruns in just 100 games. That number projects out to 36 bombs and 96 RBIs over a full season. With the Marlins losing Dan Uggla, Jorge Cantu, and Cody Ross over the last year, Stanton will be their #1 power threat. His defense in right field is good enough that he will see every day playing time even if he strikes out a lot. Personally, though, I think his K rate will go down the more he gets used to major league pitching. He’s probably not your number 1 or 2 outfielder, but if you can grab him as your number 3, I think you’ll be incredibly happy with the numbers he puts up across the board (some early season mock drafts have him as high as the 15^th overall OF taken).

C – Matt Wieters – Baltimore Orioles

I say this every year, but this is going to be Matt Wieters’ year. The Orioles have flown under the radar as one of the teams with the most impressive offseasons. I would even go as far as to say they have the strongest projected lineup in the division after the Red Sox. The only drawback is that Wieters might be stuffed pretty far down in the lineup. But, Wieters will have no one significant to share time with and all reports say that he’s fully healthy coming into the spring. He cut his K:BB rate almost in half last year and batted a very solid .288. I think 20 HRs, 60 Runs, 75+RBI is a very solid possibility. After the first five catchers are drafted, everyone else is a crapshoot. Young guns like Buster Posey and Carlos Santana will be on everyone’s top watch list, but I think 24 year old Wieters will easily be a top 10 candidate.