Every Monday we'll take a look at the Fantasy Baseball gainers and decliners in our Fantasy Stockwatch.
This week's potential 'Buy Guys'
 | 1B Chris Davis, TEX 
Somehow top prospect hype has skipped over this future masher. Davis has homered in each of his first two starts after the team gave him a call-up last week amid Hank Blalock's (wrist) latest setback. They said Davis would be around temporarily, but this huge bat is good enough to stick around for good. The next Mark Teixeira strikes out once a game like many young sluggers, but he had hit a combined .333 with 23 homers, 73 RBI, 68 runs, seven steals, a .386 OBP and a .643 SLUG in 297 at-bats between Double- and Triple-A. Start him in all AL-only leagues and take the flier in any mixed league immediately. It might be too late. |
 | SP Chris Young, SD
It was thought Albert Pujols might have knocked him out for the year, but now Young is looking at being able to return after the All-Star break. The Padres don't figure to score a lot of runs or win enough games to make him much more than a .500 pitcher, but Rotisserie leagues will like his steadiness. His ownership will steadily rise from his season-low 37 percent currently to around 90 percent once he returns. |
 | OF Jason Kubel, MIN
Amid the Twins' surprising run in the AL Central is the long overdue development of Kubel as a Fantasy gem. He doesn't figure to become the .300-30-100-100 player we once thought he was capable of being, but his strong June (.329-6-15-21) has him on pace for .268-23-82-81. That makes him useful in most mixed leagues now, especially amid this hot stretch. He is far too talented and hot to be owned in just 36 percent of CBSSports.com's leagues. |
 | 3B Evan Longoria, TB
Remember when this Fantasy scribe suggested dealing Jay Bruce when he was hot for this Rays rookie? No? Your bad. Longoria is mashing away right now, going .309-8-19-19 in June, and making those Arizona Fall League scouts who said he would hit 30 homers this season look brilliant. Scouts are always way smarter than a Fantasy player and even the writers, so we all would be wise to listen to them. Longoria is a must-start in all leagues right now. |
 | OF Jeff Francoeur, ATL
Yes, we can read the stat sheet. Frenchy is lost right now. But we think this presents you with a unique opportunity to get him on the cheap. Reports of his vision problems -- he apparently is using a contact in one eye at night -- might be related to his struggles, but we are blind supporters of this potential star. Take a chance on him while he is cheap. |
Some more 'Buy Guys' we couldn't fit in: SP Kevin Slowey, MIN; SP Carlos Carrasco, PHI; SP Josh Johnson, FLA; 3B Dallas McPherson, FLA; OF Jeremy Hermida, FLA; OF Moises Alou, NYM; SP Collin Balester, WAS; OF Elijah Dukes, TB; OF Roger Bernadina, WAS; OF Austin Kearns, WAS; OF Brett Gardner, NYY; SS Rafael Furcal, LAD; OF Andruw Jones, LAD; OF John Bowker, SF; 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff, SD; 1B Todd Helton, COL; OF Brad Hawpe, COL; 2B Alexei Ramirez, CHW; DH Jim Thome, CHW; SP Jonathan Sanchez, SF
This week's potential 'Goodbye Guys'
 | SP Pedro Martinez, NYM 
The velocity is topping out around 90 mph, which is actually extraordinary news for the future Hall of Famer, but Peedy is looking like a Fantasy waste right now. There are reports he is tipping his pitches, namely his once immeasureable changeup, but until he posts a string of quality starts in a row, he is a candidate to sell. His name should generate interest at least, because there could be someone who expects him to be a consistent winner in the second half. We just can't see it right now. |
 | SP Brett Myers, PHI
Mr. Myers, careful what you wish for. Myers came into spring saying he would have preferred to remain a reliever. Now he might get his wish, but as little more than a setup man. The only reason the struggling Myers is still starting is the fact the Phillies just don't have a viable rotation replacement. Now, with old setup man Tom Gordon struggling and uttering the words dead arm, the Phillies are certainly tempted to make Myers a setup man. That would all but ruin Myers in Fantasy leagues. Pitchers who don't start or close just don't have much Fantasy value outside of the deepest of Rotisserie leagues. |
 | OF Nate McLouth, PIT
Hey! Remember when McLouth was the No. 2 player in Fantasy behind Lance Berkman? Remember, too, that same time we had him as the No. 1 "Goodbye Guy?" And remember all you know-it-alls who e-mailed this writer to call him crazy for it? Well, you were 50 percent correct. This writer is crazy, but McLouth was due for a fall and is now looking more like the Fantasy outfielder his career path suggested he would be. Continue to sell; he is not a buy-low candidate. |
 | OF Juan Pierre, LAD
Just when Fantasy owners were happy to have the slap-hitting, but base-stealing, Pierre again, he goes and bangs up his knee and needs his first DL stint of his career. You had to figure he would need some kind of cooling off period. Basestealers 30 years old and over are obvious injury risks, and now Pierre has a bum wheel that will sideline him for weeks. Also, it might limit him even when he can return come August. Also, and we realize he stinks at the plate but he has a great glove, Andruw Jones will be back once Pierre is ready to play again. That means Pierre won't return to full-time duty necessarily. He will have to fit into a 4-for-3 spots rotation with Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp and Jones. |
 | RP Trevor Hoffman, SD
While we list Hoffman's stock down (no kidding?), we will give you a number of ways to still get something for baseball's all-time saves leader. OK, that latter point is one reason someone might still buy. Further, the return of Jake Peavy and anticipated post-break return of Chris Young, along with the arrival and development of Chase Headley, should help Hoffman get more save chances in the second half. Even with all that said, we still would sell Hell's Bells. |
Some more potential 'Goodbye Guys' we couldn't fit in: 3B Chipper Jones, ATL; OF Wily Mo Pena, WAS; OF Eric Byrnes, ARI; UTL Jeff Baker, COL; OF Angel Pagan, NYM; SP Jamie Moyer, PHI; SP Darrell Rasner, NYY; RP George Sherrill, BAL; SS Clint Barmes, COL; OF Michael Cuddyer, MIN.
Stock advisor
Allan (self-proclaimed genius) Tamarkin: Gentlemen, looks like you missed the boat on Chris Davis, Rangers. For two reasons (1) He has been pounding the ball at Double- and Triple-A. (2) Of all the pounders he was the mostly likely to be called up compared to other pounders like Matt LaPorta and Matthew Gamel. I picked him up last Monday.
Emack: Good work Allan, but why don't you read the Prospects Report? Davis has been oft-mentioned there.
Mike Connolly, Old Bridge, N.J.: I was thinking about picking up Aubrey Huff and dropping Todd Helton in my 10-team Head-to-Head league. You have Huff on the upside and my team needs more offense, but I keep holding on to Helton thinking the hits will start to fall and he will at least get closer to his career .330 average. What do you think?
Emack: Helton can hit .300, but with only 15 homers on the high end now. Huff is much better in the power categories and likely to outscore Helton if your league doesn't penalize strikeouts and/or give points for walks. One recent note on Helton, though: He has been moved back up to the two-hole, so he will get a lot more pitches to hit with Matt Holliday lurking on deck. That might be the coziest batting spot in baseball, because it is Holliday and Coors Field. Everything considered, give Helton a look while he is in the two-hole. If he doesn't come around by the All-Star break, go to Huff or some other flavor of the week. In your small league -- just 10 teams -- losing Helton or Huff should not be a big deal.
You can e-mail Emack your Fantasy Baseball Stockwatch questions to DMFantasyBaseball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Stockwatch in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state. Be aware, due to the large volume of submissions received, we cannot guarantee personal responses to all questions.
