LestersLegends.com

Several veteran players have found new homes the past few days.

Ben Sheets finds himself pitching in Oakland. The deal is for $10 million. It’s a risk for the A’s, but it’s the kind of calculated risk a small market team needs to make to compete with the big boys.

Sheets turned heads in his throwing session, routinely hitting 92 mph with his fastball. If he can stay healthy, he has the tools to be a high-end SP option. He does come with baggage and plenty of risk. Take a chance on him towards the end of the draft. He he busts, it won’t hurt too bad.

Jim Thome has made a career of eating up Twins’ pitching. They followed the Vikings’ footsteps by signing their nemesis. I don’t see Thome having the impact of Brett Favre though. His best days are behind him, and the Twins already have a DH in place. Jason Kubel could spend more time in the OF (especially against righties), but it will come at Delmon Young’s expense. Plus,  the Twins used Joe Mauer at DH 28 games last year. He’s going to need a break from catcher. Surely, Mauer’s bat is preferred over Thome’s. They say he’s going to be a bench bat, but he did not excel in that role with the Dodgers last year. Perhaps the Twins will attempt to move Delmon so Kubel can play LF and Thome can DH. Unless that happens, Thome has minimal fantasy value.

The Yankees signed Randy Winn, which all but signifies the end of Johnny Damon’s run with the Bombers. Winn will be no more than a platoon player with Brett Gardner, rendering both of them mostly useless for fantasy owners.

Jon Garland signed with the Padres. Playing in pitcher-friendly PETCO Park, Garland could be a sneaky late round option to lower your ERA & WHIP.

Miguel Tejada returned to Baltimore. He’s sliding over to third base for the O’s. He still has some life in that bat, but he could struggle as he adjusts to a new position.

The Cubs signed Xavier Nady. He’s going to be their fourth OF so don’t worry about keeping tabs on him at this point.

Johnny Damon – Damon had a great year for the Yankees (.303, 95 R, 168 H, 17 HR, 71 RBI, 29 SBs).  At 35 you expect him to slow down at some point.  I don’t expect him to completely drop off the map, but I’m putting him on a .290, 95 R, 14 HR, 65 RBI, 20 SB year.  Solid numbers, but there will be better values.

Ryan Ludwick – Ludwick came out of nowhere to hit .299 with 104 Runs, 161 Hits, 40 Doubles, 37 HRs, and 113 RBI.  Granted he played just 224 games, but from 2002-2007 he had 80 Runs, 160 Hits, 38 Doubles, 28 HRs, and 96 RBI.  He did have 14 HRs in 303 At Bats (21.6 AB/HR) in 2007, however that number dropped to 14.5 (37 HRs in 538 ABs) in 2008.  That’s quite a decrease.  I’m guessing he finds himself somewhere in between those numbers in 2009.  I’m seeing a .285, 85 R, 160 H, 32 Double, 28 HR, 100 RBI season for  him.  Not bad, but not in the elite company he shared last year. 

 

Bucs – 89 games, 327 ABs, .330, 50 R, 108 H, 26 2B, 13  HR, 57 RBI
Yanks – 59 games, 228 ABs, .268, 26 R, 61 H, 11 2B, 12 HR, 40 RBI

He’s going to have to share ABs with Nick Swisher, which will limit his production.  I’m predicting .280, 70 R, 130 H, 25 2B, 18 HR, and 75 RBI.

 

Jack Cust - Cust has smashed a lot of HRs the past couple of seasons.  He has 59 in 876 At Bats (14.85 AB/HR).  The addition of Jason Giambi could cut into Cust’s At Bat totals, especially if he is the primary DH with Daric Barton manning First Base.  I’d be surprised to see Cust hit more than 20 bombs.

Photos courtsey of Icon SMI