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Contrary to popular belief, the outcome of most fantasy leagues are not solely determined by the early rounds on draft day. Instead, the difference between a competitive team and a first place one is largely a result of key late round and waiver wire pickups. Who will be this year's Preston Wilson, Carlos Lee, Esteban Loaiza or Johan Santana?
Below is a list of sleeper picks to consider in the later rounds of your draft or to keep a close eye on during the course of the 2004 season: (ESPN's Top 200 Rankings are included in parentheses)
Matt LeCroy, C/1B, Twins (No. 157): LeCroy, a DH with catcher eligibility, hit .287 with 17 HRs and 64 RBIs in only 345 at bats last year. This year he won't be fighting for playing time, as manager Ron Gardenhire has already penciled in LeCroy as Minnesota's everyday designated hitter. As a result, LeCroy should be good for 25 HRs and 85 RBIs this season, which would make him a great value pickup in a relatively weak catcher position.
Brett Myers, SP, Phillies (166): Myers quickly emerged as one of the brighter young pitchers in all of baseball last year, posting 9 wins with a very respectable 3.65 ERA and 1.23 WHIP for the first half of 2003 season. However, Myers seemed to hit the proverbial rookie wall after the All-Star break, generating only 5 wins with a 5.72 ERA and 1.82 WHIP. After having a full season under his belt, look for Myers to bounce back nicely as the Phillies' fourth or fifth starter, posting 16-18 wins with an ERA and WHIP closer to the numbers he generated in the first half of last season.
Paul Konerko, 1B, White Sox (171): Konerko endured his worst season since becoming an everyday player in 1999, hitting just .234 with only 18 HRs and 65 RBIs. However, he showed some signs of life throughout the second half of the 2003 season, hitting .275 with 13 HRs and 43 RBIs. Konerko should be able to carry over that success and regain his potent, run producing stroke in the 2004 campaign, batting behind Frank Thomas, Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Lee.
Cliff Floyd, OF, Mets (180): During an injury riddled 2003 season, Floyd still managed to hit .290 with 18 HRs, 68 RBIs and 57 runs in only 365 at bats. Floyd, no longer saddled with an Achilles' injury that required surgery last August, will have the luxury of batting behind the electrifying talents of Kazuo Matsui and Jose Reyes in addition to a healthy Mike Piazza. This should all result into a potential monster year for Floyd and a nice steal for fantasy owners.
Alex Cintron, 2B/SS/3B, Diamondbacks (181): If you're looking for a solid sleeper with the flexibility to fill multiple infield positions, well then Alex Cintron is your man. Cintron earned a promotion to the big leagues last season when Matt Williams went down in early May, and turned many heads within the organization by hitting .317 with 13 HRs and 51 RBIs while producing 70 runs. Look for Cintron to build upon his impressive rookie year during the 2004 campaign.
Joe Nathan, CL, Twins (189): Nathan ended the 2003 season as one of the most dependable middle relievers in baseball, holding opponents to a .186 average en route to a 12 win season. This year he will be able to showcase his filthy stuff, by replacing Everyday Eddie Guardado in the closer's role for a Twins team that has won at least 90 games in the past two seasons. Nathan should have ample opportunity to finish with at least 35 saves and has the makeup to be among this year's most pleasant surprises.
Jay Gibbons, OF, Orioles (192): Gibbons has served as Baltimore's major power threat and run producer over the past two seasons, but has never been surrounded with such talented veterans as he will this upcoming season. Gibbons should flourish in a supporting role batting behind Miguel Tejada, Rafael Palmeiro and Javy Lopez, the team's three key free agent acquisitions. A 30 HR, 100 RBI season is most certainly not out the question.
Cliff Lee, SP, Indians (NR): Lee, who is touted as Cleveland's top prospect, quickly moved up the organization last season from Class-A Kinston all the way up to the big league club in mid-August where he flashed his talents, holding opponents to a .220 average. Even though Lee only managed three wins in his nine starts, he impressed with a 3.61 ERA and 1.17 WHIP, in addition to striking out 44 batters in 52.1 innings pitched. At only 25 years of age, Lee has the makeup to be among one of the brightest young pitchers in the game and makes for a great sleeper pick in keeper leagues. However, don't expect him to win too many games this season as he's pitching for a fairly young and impotent offensive team.
Jorge DePaula, SP, Yankees (NR): Does anyone really think that the Yankees rotation, which includes Kevin Brown, Jon Lieber and Jose Contreras, will actually hold up for 162 games? Of course not, which is why DePaula makes for an excellent sleeper candidate, as he is currently the insurance policy for New York's injury-prone rotation. Jorge flashed his potential in a brief stint with the team late last season, and would be given plenty of run support in the Yankees' star packed lineup. However, this all could be a moot point once Mr. Steinbrenner demands GM Brian Cashman to acquire an experienced starting lefty that the team will need come the postseason.
Other Sleepers To Consider:
Jody Gerut, OF, Indians (NR): Gerut, who was overlooked by many in a very deep rookie class last season, managed to bat .279 with 22 HRs and 75 RBIs, and has all the tools to be a great player in this league.
Brian Lawrence, SP, Padres (NR): Lawrence finished a disappointing 2003 campaign strongly, posting a 5-2 record with a 2.66 ERA during the final two months of the season. Look for Lawrence to carry this momentum into the 2004 season, as he throws in San Diego's new pitcher-friendly Petco Park stadium.
Eric Milton, SP, Phillies (NR): Milton has become a forgotten man after missing the bulk of the 2003 season with a major knee injury. However, he should be able to post double digit wins serving as the Phillies fourth or fifth starter this year.
Tike Redman, OF, Pirates (NR): Could be a poor man's version of Scott Podsednik this season, if only he wasn't playing for those lowly Pirates.
Sean Burroughs, 3B, Padres (NR): Burroughs, who has the potential to win a batting title one day, should see plenty of good pitches and scoring opportunities leading off for a more potent Padres offense featuring Brian Giles, in addition to a healthy Ryan Klesko and Phil Nevin.
Edwin Jackson, SP, Dodgers (NR): Jackson, who has secured the fifth spot in the Dodgers' rotation, is a 20-year-old flame-thrower that has been compared by many to a young Dwight Gooden.
Jerry Hairston Jr./Brian Roberts, 2B, Orioles (NR): The winner of this positional battle should make for a great sleeper pick for owners looking for runs and steals.
Shingo Takatsu, MR/CL, White Sox (NR): Takatsu, who is the all-time saves leader in the Japanese Central League, could emerge as Chicago's new closer over the highly undependable Billy Koch.
Below is a list of sleeper picks to consider in the later rounds of your draft or to keep a close eye on during the course of the 2004 season: (ESPN's Top 200 Rankings are included in parentheses)
Matt LeCroy, C/1B, Twins (No. 157): LeCroy, a DH with catcher eligibility, hit .287 with 17 HRs and 64 RBIs in only 345 at bats last year. This year he won't be fighting for playing time, as manager Ron Gardenhire has already penciled in LeCroy as Minnesota's everyday designated hitter. As a result, LeCroy should be good for 25 HRs and 85 RBIs this season, which would make him a great value pickup in a relatively weak catcher position.
Brett Myers, SP, Phillies (166): Myers quickly emerged as one of the brighter young pitchers in all of baseball last year, posting 9 wins with a very respectable 3.65 ERA and 1.23 WHIP for the first half of 2003 season. However, Myers seemed to hit the proverbial rookie wall after the All-Star break, generating only 5 wins with a 5.72 ERA and 1.82 WHIP. After having a full season under his belt, look for Myers to bounce back nicely as the Phillies' fourth or fifth starter, posting 16-18 wins with an ERA and WHIP closer to the numbers he generated in the first half of last season.
Paul Konerko, 1B, White Sox (171): Konerko endured his worst season since becoming an everyday player in 1999, hitting just .234 with only 18 HRs and 65 RBIs. However, he showed some signs of life throughout the second half of the 2003 season, hitting .275 with 13 HRs and 43 RBIs. Konerko should be able to carry over that success and regain his potent, run producing stroke in the 2004 campaign, batting behind Frank Thomas, Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Lee.
Cliff Floyd, OF, Mets (180): During an injury riddled 2003 season, Floyd still managed to hit .290 with 18 HRs, 68 RBIs and 57 runs in only 365 at bats. Floyd, no longer saddled with an Achilles' injury that required surgery last August, will have the luxury of batting behind the electrifying talents of Kazuo Matsui and Jose Reyes in addition to a healthy Mike Piazza. This should all result into a potential monster year for Floyd and a nice steal for fantasy owners.
Alex Cintron, 2B/SS/3B, Diamondbacks (181): If you're looking for a solid sleeper with the flexibility to fill multiple infield positions, well then Alex Cintron is your man. Cintron earned a promotion to the big leagues last season when Matt Williams went down in early May, and turned many heads within the organization by hitting .317 with 13 HRs and 51 RBIs while producing 70 runs. Look for Cintron to build upon his impressive rookie year during the 2004 campaign.
Joe Nathan, CL, Twins (189): Nathan ended the 2003 season as one of the most dependable middle relievers in baseball, holding opponents to a .186 average en route to a 12 win season. This year he will be able to showcase his filthy stuff, by replacing Everyday Eddie Guardado in the closer's role for a Twins team that has won at least 90 games in the past two seasons. Nathan should have ample opportunity to finish with at least 35 saves and has the makeup to be among this year's most pleasant surprises.
Jay Gibbons, OF, Orioles (192): Gibbons has served as Baltimore's major power threat and run producer over the past two seasons, but has never been surrounded with such talented veterans as he will this upcoming season. Gibbons should flourish in a supporting role batting behind Miguel Tejada, Rafael Palmeiro and Javy Lopez, the team's three key free agent acquisitions. A 30 HR, 100 RBI season is most certainly not out the question.
Cliff Lee, SP, Indians (NR): Lee, who is touted as Cleveland's top prospect, quickly moved up the organization last season from Class-A Kinston all the way up to the big league club in mid-August where he flashed his talents, holding opponents to a .220 average. Even though Lee only managed three wins in his nine starts, he impressed with a 3.61 ERA and 1.17 WHIP, in addition to striking out 44 batters in 52.1 innings pitched. At only 25 years of age, Lee has the makeup to be among one of the brightest young pitchers in the game and makes for a great sleeper pick in keeper leagues. However, don't expect him to win too many games this season as he's pitching for a fairly young and impotent offensive team.
Jorge DePaula, SP, Yankees (NR): Does anyone really think that the Yankees rotation, which includes Kevin Brown, Jon Lieber and Jose Contreras, will actually hold up for 162 games? Of course not, which is why DePaula makes for an excellent sleeper candidate, as he is currently the insurance policy for New York's injury-prone rotation. Jorge flashed his potential in a brief stint with the team late last season, and would be given plenty of run support in the Yankees' star packed lineup. However, this all could be a moot point once Mr. Steinbrenner demands GM Brian Cashman to acquire an experienced starting lefty that the team will need come the postseason.
Other Sleepers To Consider:
Jody Gerut, OF, Indians (NR): Gerut, who was overlooked by many in a very deep rookie class last season, managed to bat .279 with 22 HRs and 75 RBIs, and has all the tools to be a great player in this league.
Brian Lawrence, SP, Padres (NR): Lawrence finished a disappointing 2003 campaign strongly, posting a 5-2 record with a 2.66 ERA during the final two months of the season. Look for Lawrence to carry this momentum into the 2004 season, as he throws in San Diego's new pitcher-friendly Petco Park stadium.
Eric Milton, SP, Phillies (NR): Milton has become a forgotten man after missing the bulk of the 2003 season with a major knee injury. However, he should be able to post double digit wins serving as the Phillies fourth or fifth starter this year.
Tike Redman, OF, Pirates (NR): Could be a poor man's version of Scott Podsednik this season, if only he wasn't playing for those lowly Pirates.
Sean Burroughs, 3B, Padres (NR): Burroughs, who has the potential to win a batting title one day, should see plenty of good pitches and scoring opportunities leading off for a more potent Padres offense featuring Brian Giles, in addition to a healthy Ryan Klesko and Phil Nevin.
Edwin Jackson, SP, Dodgers (NR): Jackson, who has secured the fifth spot in the Dodgers' rotation, is a 20-year-old flame-thrower that has been compared by many to a young Dwight Gooden.
Jerry Hairston Jr./Brian Roberts, 2B, Orioles (NR): The winner of this positional battle should make for a great sleeper pick for owners looking for runs and steals.
Shingo Takatsu, MR/CL, White Sox (NR): Takatsu, who is the all-time saves leader in the Japanese Central League, could emerge as Chicago's new closer over the highly undependable Billy Koch.
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