Feb. 12, 2010

2010 Fantasy outlooks: Detroit Tigers

By Eric Mack | Senior Fantasy Writer
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The Tigers made over their team this offseason, dealing Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson and allowing Placido Polanco and closer Fernando Rodney to leave via free agency. The franchise cornerstones are still in place, though, Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera. The new additions give the organization a lot more depth, make the team younger and provide for a bunch of potential sleepers for Fantasy owners.

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It will make for an interesting spring, especially in a deep battle for the two rotation spots behind young aces Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello.

Breakout: Scott Sizemore, 2B

The Tigers lose Placido Polanco via free agency and plan to hand the second base job to Sizemore, who has speed and power. We would have considered him a sleeper candidate, but in CBSSports.com's AL-only analyst league, he drew a whopping $19 bid. That makes him more of a breakout than sleeper, we suppose. Few will sleep on this AL Rookie of the Year candidate after he combined for a .308 average, 17 homers, 66 RBI, 88 runs, 21 steals, a .389 OBP, a .500 SLUG (39 doubles) in 520 at-bats in Double- and Triple-A last season. Consider him a nice fall-back pick at the steadily improving second-base position in the latter rounds of mixed leagues, if he slips that far.

Bust: Brandon Inge, 3B

It has to be the former catcher eligibility, but we cannot figure out why Fantasy owners keep putting Inge on their teams. Sure, he is a scrapper and a fan favorite, but he frankly stinks for a corner infield option. You are best off avoiding him in all leagues. He will go for too much even in AL-only formats, most likely.

Sleeper: Ryan Raburn, OF

Raburn is one of those guys that keeps getting overlooked in Fantasy and by his own major league organization. The converted second baseman -- might he compete with Sizemore this spring? -- has pop in his bat, hitting 16 homers in 261 at-bats last year. The Tigers are finally ready to give him a significant amount of at-bats in the outfield or around the infield. In fact, we wouldn't be surprised to see him starting for Inge or Sizemore at third or second before the end of the year. Consider him a great option in AL-only formats and a potential waiver pick-up in mixed leagues if he regains eligibility in the infield.

Detroit Tigers Outlook
	Projected lineup	Pos.		Projected Rotation
1	Johnny Damon	LF	1	Justin Verlander	RH
2	Scott Sizemore	2B	2	Max Scherzer	RH
3	Magglio Ordonez	RF	3	Rick Porcello	RH
4	Miguel Cabrera	1B	4	Jeremy Bonderman	RH
5	Carlos Guillen	DH	5	Armando Galarraga	RH
6	Brandon Inge	3B	Alt	Nate Robertson	LH
7	Austin Jackson	CF	Top bullpen arms
8	Gerald Laird	C	CL	Jose Valverde	RH
9	Adam Everett	SS	SU	Joel Zumaya	RH
Top bench options			RP	Ryan Perry	RH
R	Alex Avila	C	RP	Phil Coke	LH
R	Ryan Raburn	OF	RP	Dontrelle Willis	LH

	Rookies/Prospects	Age	Pos.	2009 high	Destination
1	Casey Crosby	21	LH SP	Low Class A	High Class A
Tommy John survivor is older than Porcello, so the Tigers very well could push him to the majors in 2010.
2	Austin Jackson	23	OF	Triple-A	Majors
He'll compete to start in center and will impact leagues initially with his steals potential; the power will come.
3	Scott Sizemore	25	2B	Triple-A	Majors
Coming off a broken ankle, but the Tigers are still expecting him to start and play every day at second base.
4	Alex Avila	23	C	Majors	Majors
He'll start in a timeshare with Laird, but we see him breaking out and showing pop for most mixed leagues.
5	Wilkin Ramirez	24	OF	Majors	Triple-A
Speed-and-power threat could be an impact June 1 call-up candidate, if he doesn't win the LF job outright.
Best of the rest: Jacob Turner, SP; Andrew Oliver, SP; Ryan Strieby, 1B; Daniel Schlereth, RP; Gustavo Nunez, SS; Daniel Fields, SS; Cody Satterwhite, RP; Cale Iorg, SS; Alfredo Figaro, SP; Casper Wells, OF; Casey Fien, RP; Brooks Brown, SP; Luis Marte, SP; Brent Dlugach, SS; William Rhymes, OF; Jon Kibler, SP; Scott Green, SP; Zach Simmons, RP; Rob Weinhardt, RP; Wade Gaynor, 3B; Edwin Gomez, SS; Austin Wood, SP; Billy Nowlin, DH; Adam Wilk, SP; Brandon Douglas, 2B; Brandon Hamilton, RP; Danny Worth, SS; and Michael Hollimon, SS.

You can e-mail us your Fantasy Baseball questions to DMFantasyBaseball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Team outlooks in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state.

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injury

Bonifacio out 4-6 weeks
Emilio Bonifacio, CF, MIA
5/24/2012

News: Marlins outfielder Emilio Bonifacio, already on the 15-day DL, will miss an additional 4-6 weeks since he will have thumb surgery on Friday.

Analysis: This is a terrible development for the Marlins and Fantasy owners. Bonifacio was hitting .394 in his previous nine games before going on the DL and was a valuable source of steals for Fantasy owners. He is now out until late June at the earliest, so continue to stash him in Fantasy. Bryan Petersen will continue to start in center field in Bonifacio's absence.

Kearns placed on disabled list
Austin Kearns, LF, MIA
5/24/2012

News: The Marlins put outfielder Austin Kearns on the 15-day disabled list on Thursday, retroactive to May 23. Kearns sustained a strained right hamstring while running the bases in Tuesday's game against the Rockies. He was replaced on the Marlins' active roster by outfielder Kevin Mattison, who was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans.

Analysis: Kearns had been on fire at the plate, and he was the main playing time beneficiary of Gaby Sanchez's demotion to Triple-A, as Logan Morrison vacated left field to play first base. When Kearns returns, it could be to a reserve role, so owners looking to clear a DL spot should monitor the Marlins' outfield situation over the coming weeks. It may not be worthwhile hanging on to Kearns while he recovers from his injury.

Freeman still having eye trouble
Freddie Freeman, 1B, ATL
5/24/2012

News: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman is still dealing with a dry-eye issue that kept him out of a game last week. Freeman had a procedure to plug his tear ducts, but that, along with eye drops and contact lenses, have not completely eradicated the problem. Freeman was out of the Braves' starting lineup for Thursday's game at Cincinnati, though it has not been reported as to whether his absence was related to his eye problem. Eric Hinske got the start at first base in Freeman's place.

Analysis: It had appeared as if Freeman had put this medical issue behind him, so this latest report is something that should concern his Fantasy owners. Given that Freeman's absence from the lineup may not be related to his eye problem, there may not be any need for owners to take action, but it is certainly a situation worth following. When he is healthy enough to play, Freeman is worth starting in virtually all formats.

Bad first impression for Reed
Addison Reed, RP, CHW
2:44 AM

News: Newly-named White Sox Closer Addison Reed was not pitching in a save situation on Thursday, however the team did turn to him to pitch the 10th inning of a five-run game against the Twins. Reed struck out two in the inning, however he was hit hard, giving up two runs on a home run off the bat of Justin Morneau. He finished with those two earned runs and strikeouts in one inning, as the White Sox won, 11-8.

Analysis: It was not a save situation, but that was not a good first impression for the Fantasy owners who picked him up today after hearing the news. Reed had four saves in his last six appearances before Thursday, and he has allowed runs in just two of his 18 appearances this season. He should still be added in many mixed Fantasy leagues, however this was certainly not a good outing for him.

Haren masterful in complete game
Dan Haren, SP, LAA
1:11 AM

News: Angels starting pitcher Dan Haren had yet to find his way in the 2012 season prior to Thursday’s game against the Mariners, however he looked as good as he ever has in the game, picking up his sixth career complete-game shutout to lead the Angels to a 3-0 win. Haren allowed just four hits in the game while establishing a new career-high in strikeouts with 14, as he mowed through the Mariners offense with ease. Haren allowed just three runners to reach second base, two of them on stolen bases, but was never in any real trouble, as he picked up just his second win of the season. Haren needed 126 pitches to finish the game, tossing first pitch strikes to 22 of the 31 batters he faced, as he was in control all night.

Analysis: Haren has typically been a much stronger first-half player than a second-half player, so the fact that his ERA was standing at a fairly robust 4.37 before this game was something of a surprise. After just one start, Haren lowered that number to 3.76, while simultaneously putting to rest any doubts about a possible decline in skills in his age-31 season. With the exception of an ugly 2-5 record, Haren’s starts are largely where we expected them to be this season, as he has struckout more than four batters for every one he has walked through 64 2/3 innings. He is set to face a tough Yankees lineup in his next start, on Tuesday during Week 9 (May 28-June 3), however he has put up a 5-1 record with a 3.43 ERA against them in 10 career starts, so consider him a solid Fantasy option in all formats.

Betancourt begins rehab
Yuniesky Betancourt, SS, KC
1:43 AM

News: Royals shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt was back on the field on Thursday, as the designated hitter for Double-A Northwest Arkansas, as he began his rehab assignment while recovering from his ankle injury. Betancourt went 2 for 5 in the game, with a pair of strikeouts and RBI.

Analysis: Betancourt is getting closer and closer to getting back on the field for the Royals,but he will need at least a week of rehab, first in Double-A and then Triple-A, before he is ready to return to the majors. Betancourt's last game before the injury was back on May 1 at Detroit and the shortstop has a .280 batting average on the season with a homer and three RBI over 50 at-bats. When healthy, Betancourt should be considered merely an AL-only option.

Rollins returns from paternity leave
Jimmy Rollins, SS, PHI
1:39 AM

News: Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins returned from the paternity list on Thursday, after missing the team’s previous three games to be with his wife while she gave birth. Rollins went 2 for 6 in the game with a strikeout, as the Phillies defeated the Cardinals, 10-9. it was Reyes’ 11th multi-hit game of the season.

Analysis: Reyes has struggled to start the season, and unlike most of the other players on the Phillies’ roster, he has not begun to show signs that he is bouncing out of it, as he has been hitting just .222 in the month of May after a .235 April. He remains a solid bounce-back candidate given his past production, and should be kept active in most formats, despite his troubles.

Adjustment for A-Rod pays off
Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NYY
5/24/2012

News: The New York Post reports that Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has made adjustments to his batting stance, and he credits his strong performance on Wednesday against the Royals to the changes. Rodriguez told reporters after Tuesday's win, "I feel like I’m about to go off.," after widening his stance and shortening his leg kick in his last at-bat in the game. He carried the changes over into batting practice on Wednesday and into the subsequent contest, in which he went 2 for 4 with a pair of homers and three RBI.

Analysis: Time will tell if Rodriguez's tweaked stance will translate into better production. He had been hitting flyballs at a much lower rate this season, which had led to fewer extra-base hits. It's a trend to watch in the coming days and weeks. Even if A-Rod's power spike is short-lived, he still has enough power that he is worth starting in nearly all formats.

Report: Jennings could get the call
Dan Jennings, RP, MIA
1:34 AM

News: The Marlins sent down relief pitcher Mike Dunn to Triple-A after Thursday's game against the Giants, leaving them with a need for a left-handed reliever that the Sun Sentinel reports will likely be Dan Jennings, currently pitching for Triple-A New Orleans.

Analysis: Jenings was previously with the team, making just two appearances before going back down again. If he gets the call, it will likely just be for middle relief and situational usage, so he is not worth adding in any Fantasy formats.

Ruiz rolls right through injury
Carlos Ruiz, C, PHI
1:29 AM

News: Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz took a pitch off his wrist on Wednesday but played through it on Thursday and continued his incredible start to the season, going 3 for 5 with a run scored as the Phillies defeated the Cardinals, 10-9. Ruiz is now hitting .366 for the season, good for fourth in the majors.

Analysis: Ruiz has been rolling all season long, and he is showing no signs of slowing down, with a .452 batting average over the course of the last 10 games, with six RBI. He is playing at an impressive level right now, and should be active in all formats.

More Updates

1	Miguel Cabrera, DET, 3B
2	Albert Pujols, LAA, 1B
3	Joey Votto, CIN, 1B
4	Adrian Gonzalez, BOS, 1B
5	Carlos Santana, CLE, C
6	Prince Fielder, DET, 1B
7	Mark Teixeira, NYY, 1B
8	Mike Napoli, TEX, C
9	Joe Mauer, MIN, C
10	Michael Young, TEX, DH
All Rankings

1	Dustin Pedroia, BOS, 2B
2	Robinson Cano, NYY, 2B
3	Ian Kinsler, TEX, 2B
4	Ben Zobrist, TB, RF
5	Rickie Weeks, MIL, 2B
6	Brandon Phillips, CIN, 2B
7	Dan Uggla, ATL, 2B
8	Chase Utley, PHI, 2B
9	Howard Kendrick, LAA, 2B
10	Ryan Roberts, ARI, 3B
All Rankings

1	Miguel Cabrera, DET, 3B
2	Jose Bautista, TOR, RF
3	Evan Longoria, TB, 3B
4	Hanley Ramirez, MIA, 3B
5	Adrian Beltre, TEX, 3B
6	Kevin Youkilis, BOS, 3B
7	Ryan Zimmerman, WAS, 3B
8	David Wright, NYM, 3B
9	Michael Young, TEX, DH
10	Pablo Sandoval, SF, 3B
All Rankings

1	Troy Tulowitzki, COL, SS
2	Hanley Ramirez, MIA, 3B
3	Jose Reyes, MIA, SS
4	Starlin Castro, CHC, SS
5	Asdrubal Cabrera, CLE, SS
6	Jimmy Rollins, PHI, SS
7	Elvis Andrus, TEX, SS
8	Emilio Bonifacio, MIA, CF
9	Derek Jeter, NYY, SS
10	Erick Aybar, LAA, SS
All Rankings

1	Carlos Santana, CLE, C
2	Alex Avila, DET, C
3	Brian McCann, ATL, C
4	Mike Napoli, TEX, C
5	Joe Mauer, MIN, C
6	Miguel Montero, ARI, C
7	Buster Posey, SF, C
8	Matt Wieters, BAL, C
9	Russell Martin, NYY, C
10	Jesus Montero, SEA, DH
All Rankings

1	Jose Bautista, TOR, RF
2	Matt Kemp, LAD, CF
3	Ryan Braun, MIL, LF
4	Jacoby Ellsbury, BOS, CF
5	Curtis Granderson, NYY, CF
6	Justin Upton, ARI, RF
7	Carlos Gonzalez, COL, LF
8	Andrew McCutchen, PIT, CF
9	Josh Hamilton, TEX, CF
10	Matt Holliday, STL, LF
All Rankings

1	Roy Halladay, PHI, SP
2	Clayton Kershaw, LAD, SP
3	Justin Verlander, DET, SP
4	Cliff Lee, PHI, SP
5	CC Sabathia, NYY, SP
6	Felix Hernandez, SEA, SP
7	Jered Weaver, LAA, SP
8	Cole Hamels, PHI, SP
9	Zack Greinke, MIL, SP
10	Tim Lincecum, SF, SP
All Rankings

1	Craig Kimbrel, ATL, RP
2	Drew Storen, WAS, RP
3	Heath Bell, MIA, RP
4	John Axford, MIL, RP
5	Matt Moore, TB, SP
6	Jonathan Papelbon, PHI, RP
7	J.J. Putz, ARI, RP
8	Mariano Rivera, NYY, RP
9	Cory Luebke, SD, SP
10	Brian Wilson, SF, RP
All Rankings