2010 Fantasy outlooks: Philadelphia Phillies
By Eric Mack | Senior Fantasy Writer Follow EricFollow CBS Fantasy Baseball
The Phillies remain one of the most popular places for Fantasy owners to find their superstars and we don't see that stopping this year. It is likely to get better all around before it gets worse, in fact.
The addition of Roy Halladay should make him perhaps the No. 2 overall Fantasy starting pitcher behind Tim Lincecum, while the sluggers still have that great home hitter's park to pound out huge numbers.
Amid all this story of success and wonder, though, you might have a hard time getting your hands on these guys.
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Breakout: None
Here is the thing in Fantasy about a veteran team that is an annual contender: They have a lot of guys highly sought on Draft Day. They also have a lot of players who have already peaked. We see a team full of players who have already broken out, like Jayson Werth did a year ago. We don't see a single player who can go from good to great here, save for a rebound from Cole Hamels or a huge season out of whomever fills the shaky closer's spot. You could say their NL Rookie of the Year candidate starter of last season could be a breakout candidate, perhaps, but we see him more as a potential ...
Bust: J.A. Happ, SP
Happ was a hot commodity last season as a surprise ROY contender. He also was one of those gems that qualified as a reliever and was invaluable as a relief-eligibile starting pitcher in Fantasy, especially in those two-start weeks. Many times Fantasy owners jump on a breakthrough rookie expecting continued improvement in Year 2, but we suggest you don't with Happ. For one, we don't believe he is as good as he showed -- a sub-3.00 ERA from a lefty starter is reserved for the elite of baseball. Two, while he might look potentially elite, he really wasn't touted that way. Scouts saw a middle of the rotation guy, not an ace. And third, Happ's Draft Day price is going to be high and tough to outperform, even with a decent year. He is a bust pick not because he isn't good, but because he just isn't going to be great.
Sleeper: Brad Lidge or Ryan Madson, RP
Lidge went from perfect to untrustworthy as fast as Tiger Woods last year. His injury-plagued and disastrous year does actually do something good for his potential Fantasy owners, though: He is far more affordable on Draft Day. The Phillies remain one of baseball's elite contenders that should generate more than ample save opportunities in a given week, so whoever serves as the closer is a potential gem for all leagues. Lidge is still hoping to be ready for the season after knee surgery in early January, but Madson was going to push for the closer's role even if Lidge was healthy. Lidge was just so bad last year, leading baseball in blown saves after not blowing one through the 2008 season and postseason. Madson has late-round value in Fantasy as a setup man, but he could be a 30-plus save steal if he can take the job and run with it.
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| | Pos. | | |||
| 1 | Jimmy Rollins | SS | 1 | Roy Halladay | RH |
| 2 | Placido Polanco | 3B | 2 | Cole Hamels | LH |
| 3 | Chase Utley | 2B | 3 | Joe Blanton | RH |
| 4 | Ryan Howard | 1B | 4 | J.A. Happ | LH |
| 5 | Jayson Werth | RF | 5 | Jamie Moyer | LH |
| 6 | Raul Ibanez | LF | Alt | Jose A. Contreras | RH |
| 7 | Shane Victorino | CF | Top bullpen arms | ||
| 8 | Carlos Ruiz | C | CL | Brad Lidge | RH |
| Top bench options | SU | Ryan Madson | RH | ||
| R | Ben Francisco | OF | RP | J.C. Romero | LH |
| R | Greg Dobbs | 3B | RP | Danys Baez | RH |
| R | Brian Schneider | C | RP | Chad Durbin | RH |
| Rookies/Prospects | Age | Pos. | 2009 high | Destination | |
| 1 | Domonic Brown | 22 | OF | Double-A | Double-A |
| The Phillies are set right now, but this speed-and-power talent could arrive and star before 2011. | |||||
| 2 | Phillippe Aumont | 21 | RH SP | Double-A | Double-A |
| Aumont, acquired in the Cliff Lee deal, is going to stretch out to start again, but he is real raw right now. | |||||
| 3 | Joe Savery | 24 | LH SP | Triple-A | Triple-A |
| He has fallen out of favor with scouts and Baseball America, but we aren't inclined to give up yet. | |||||
| 4 | Trevor May | 20 | RH SP | Low Class A | High Class A |
| His first season as a pro was a productive one. He is still a year or two away from being ready for Philly. | |||||
| 5 | Tyson Gillies | 21 | OF | High Class A | Double-A |
| Speedy outfielder doesn't figure to arrive this season, but he could be a Rotisserie gem when he does. | |||||
| Best of the rest: Antonio Bastardo, SP; Andrew J. Carpenter, RP; Anthony Gose, OF; Sebastian Valle, C; Anthony Hewitt, 3B; Jarred Cosart, SP; Jonathan Singleton, 1B; Jonathan Villar, SS; Domingo Santana, OF; J.C. Ramirez, SP; Freddy Galvis, SS; Drew Naylor, SP; Leandro Castro, OF; Zach Collier, OF; B.J. Rosenberg, RP; Kelly Dugan, OF; Kyrell Hudson, OF; Adam Buschini, 2B; Matt Way, SP; Vance Worley, SP; Edgar Garcia, SP; Travis Mattair, 3B; Mike Stutes, SP; Julian Sampson, SP; Sergio Escalona, RP; Pat Overholt, SP; Mike Cisco, SP; and Quintin Berry, OF. | |||||
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