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Week 9 Fantasy Baseball Buy-Sell – Reynolds, Santana, Donaldson

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Mark Reynolds, Washington Nationals

Washington Nationals 3B Mark Reynolds is known for his power, and a lot of strikeouts. Andy says buy him and use him now while Ryan Zimmerman is sidelined and Reynolds is on a monster hitting streak.

We are about one-third of the way through baseball season. There is still plenty of time left and things to stay on top of managing your fantasy baseball team, including identifying players to acquire or to try to move off your squad. Here are my thoughts on three key guys in week 9 fantasy baseball buy-sell.

1B Mark Reynolds, WSH

This guy is amazing. He signs late with the Washington Nationals after a hugely productive year with the Colorado Rockies, and in 44 at bats he’s hit six home runs and driven in eight. Oh and he’s also scored 10 runs. He’s always been able to hit, it’s just a matter of can you handle the high strikeouts he’s going to give you as well. He may fit into a similar category of a Billy Hamilton (speed and not much else). In Reynolds case, power but not much else, but at least power contributes to three categories.

According to cbssports.com, Ryan Zimmerman is supposed to come back, “in a few days.” However with Reynolds production so far and the fact the Nats are half a game behind the surprising Atlanta Braves, I think manager Dave Martinez will ride the hot hand, making sure Zimmerman is at 100%, before making any moves.

Fantasy Advice – Buy

If for no other reason than to ride his hot hitting streak until Zimmerman gets back. He may split time with Matt Adams but Reynolds is the better play right now.

OF Domingo Santana, MIL

Here is one of my, “I truly don’t know what to do with him,” guys. He had a monster season last year hitting 30 homers, driving in 85 and stealing 15 bags. This year Santana isn’t even close to those numbers. Granted it’s early but he has three homers, 17 RBI and one stolen base, with an OPS 100 points less than his career average. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/santado01.shtml

The fact the Brewers have four legit outfielders in Ryan Braun, Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain may be putting pressure on Santana to perform for regular at bats. Although, manager Craig Counsel has played Braun at first base several games getting Santana into the outfield. He is getting his chances to turn things around.

I may have been drinking the Kool-Aid drafting Santana in the middle of my draft but I truly thought he would pick up where he left off from last year. I was wrong. However, I’m not ready to give up on him. I think two months into the season isn’t enough time to say whether or not he was a bust. They say that success breeds success and the Brewers are atop the NL Central. With the lineup he’s in, he’s bound to snap out of it. He’s too good not to.

Fantasy Advice – Buy

If you can get him, do it. I realize I am kicking myself for taking him in the middle rounds but with that lineup, he has a good chance to snap out of it. One week of solid at bats and he’s a hot player again.

3B Josh Donaldson, TOR

Josh Donaldson fits in the same category as Santana in that one, I regret drafting him, and two, I don’t know what to do with him because he is too valuable to drop outright. When healthy, he’s an MVP candidate. Lately however, owning him gives you a rotten feeling in the pit in your stomach.

I love Donaldson’s passion for the game, hitting and life in general but that doesn’t help me win. He’s been battling calf injuries the past two seasons which has greatly impacted his production. As of writing this, he’s hitting .234 with five home runs and 16 RBI.

This shouldn’t last and I suspect he’ll get hot at some point. It’s just a matter of time, but my patience is running thin. I think Donaldson will be gone from the Blue Jays by July 31 and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will be the Jays regular third baseman. They aren’t catching the Boston Red Sox or the New York Yankees, and that division is so tough they aren’t going to make up a ton of games, so keeping Donaldson isn’t benefiting him or the Jays.

Fantasy Advice – Sell

If the Jays continue to hold down Vlad Jr. there may be an outcry for renegotiating the service time portion of the collective bargain agreement. How Donaldson responds to a trade, or gets over his calf problems, is anyone’s guess. Flip him for a player that helps you now instead of holding and hoping for another two months.

Extra Innings

How good is Justin Verlander? A few years ago, there was talk about Verlander hanging it up because he had lost his stuff. Heading into the weekend, he’s 7-2 with a 1.11 ERA and has 98 strikeouts in 80 plus innings. With Verlander followed by Charlie Morton, Gerrit Cole and former Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel, we may be witnessing one of the best starting rotations in recent memory.

Fantasy Baseball Stock Watch – Francoeur, Bay, Sandoval, Cuddyer

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Stock Up

Jeff Francoeur, OF, KC – Jeff Francoeur made an appearance here earlier in the season and his renaissance season continues. No, he’s not putting up big numbers like he did in his first few seasons in the league, but he’s earning his pay. Over the last two weeks Frenchy is hitting .318 with three home runs, and 12 RBI while scoring 10 runs and even stealing four bases. There is no way he will continue at this level, but if he can contribute in all five categories, he’s well worth rostering to start the second half.

Jason Bay, OF, NYM – Ever since signing his mega-deal with the Mets, Bay has been a bust with underwhelming play mixed in with a lot of time off due to injuries. Over the last two weeks, he’s put up .326/3/13/8/2. There’s no telling how long this will continue, so enjoy the ride.

Pablo Sandoval, 1B/3B, SF – Sandoval got off to a quick start to his career with a nice splash in 2008 and a big rookie campaign in 2009, but he struggled mightily in 2010 and was often benched during last season’s playoffs since his bat was allergic to baseballs. Panda is a streaky player and he is in the middle of one of those hot streaks right now (.351/3/12/8/1), so grab him and go with it.

Freddie Freeman, 1B, ATL – Freeman isn’t supposed to have a lot of homer power, so the five dingers over the last two weeks is a bit of a surprise. Still, that kind of hot streak is something worth a look to see if it can help your fantasy team before he comes back down to reality.

Danny Valencia, 3B, MIN – Valencia is more of a glove-man at the hot corner than a big stick, but with all the injuries you might be stuck with a try at anyone available. A solid average with no power is the expectation here, but the three homers and 12 RBI over the last two weeks are a great boost to your team. See if this can continue past the break if you are in need of help.

Michael Cuddyer, 1B/2B/3B/OF, MIN – The Twins as a team have been hot, so it is not surprising to see another player on this list. Cuddyer’s position flexibility is reason enough to roster him, but the hot streak is reason to start him anywhere you have an opening. Over the last two weeks, Cuddyer has posted .316/3/10/8 and this is the kind of help that can get you through the tough injuries or cold streaks during a long season.

Dan Uggla, 2B, ATL – Uggla’s average is ugly, but this guy’s game is power. His average may never be what you want, but he’s hit four homers and 10 ribbies over the last two weeks, so ride the power surge as he looks to be figuring it out right now.

 
Stock Down

Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, WAS – Zimmerman missed more than two months due to injury and still doesn’t seem to be back to full strength. He’s hitting .229/2/7/3 over the last two weeks, so sit him if you have a better option and hope for better results after some rest during the All Star Break.

Kevin Youkilis, 1B/3B, BOS – Youkilis is also struggling right now to the tune of .258/1/5/4 despite the rest of the Red Sox crushing it. In the middle of a high powered offense like the BoSox, he’s likely to catch the fever too, so hang on to him and play him unless you have a much better option to start until Youk gets hot again.

Adam Dunn, 1B, CWS – If you haven’t already done so, cut bait on Dunn. His bat has been awful and doesn’t look to recover.

Derek Jeter, SS, NYY – The excitement of watching just the 23rd player in baseball history get to 3,000 hits is big stuff, but watching Jeter get there is painful. First we had to wait through the injury, now the anemic performances. He’s just 3-for-13 since his return and hopefully you’ve got someone else to play until after the break.

Rickie Weeks, 2B, MIL – Weeks is currently struggling (.170/1/2/8/0) and has been wrangled into the Home Run Derby during the All Star festivities. This event is usually detrimental to a player’s game swing for some time after the event, so finding a place on your bench for Weeks over the next few weeks might be a good decision.