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With an early start to the 2008 Major League Baseball season, many league drafts are already in the books -- time to sit back, relax and watch a little college basketball, right?
Not exactly....
While many shifted their focus to the East, South, Midwest and West, a group of extremely knowledgeable and alert fantasy baseballers are already working the waiver wire and bolstering their teams for the six-month marathon that starts in eight days.
Three potential impact players sit available in many leagues; so put down the printed off bracket and pencil, head over to your league commissioner service and see if you have room for the following springtime movers.
All Average Draft Position (ADP) data is taken from 30 satellite league drafts run by the National Fantasy Baseball Championship (NFBC) which include 15 teams, 30 rounds and standard 5x5 rotisserie rosters and scoring.
Johnny Cueto, Starting Pitcher, Cincinnati Reds
The hard-throwing 22-year-old has been the talk of Reds camp, allowing one run and striking out eight batters in nine exhibition innings. Cueto has been so dominant that veteran-friendly manager Dusty Baker has suggested that Mock Draft Central`s No. 24 ranked prospect could open the season in the Cincinnati rotation.
In three minor league stops last season, Cueto won 12 games and put up a 3.07 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 170 strikeouts in 161.1 innings pitched -- his spring success isn`t a fluke, the guy can pitch.
Cueto has been selected in 83.3 percent of NFBC drafts with an ADP of 398.77.
Elijah Dukes, Outfielder, Washington Nationals
The immensely talented Dukes now has a full-time spot in the Nationals lineup after Wily Mo Pena strained an oblique muscle that will most likely sideline him for a month.
Dukes flashed plenty of potential in 184 at-bats with the Tampa Rays last season, hitting 10 home runs while displaying double-digit steal speed.
Of course, it`s the off-field issues that will determine how far the 24-year-old can go. If he has his head on straight -- a huge if -- Dukes could easily be a valuable three- or four-category waiver wire contributor.
Dukes` ADP currently sits at 399.63, though all eligible drafts took place before Pena`s injury.
Manny Parra, Starting Pitcher, Milwaukee Brewers
With Yovani Gallardo on the shelf and Chris Capuano picking up right where he left off in 2007, Parra picked the right time to step up his game. On the spring, the 25-year-old has been dominating, striking out 15 while allowing one run over 14 innings.
The exhibition numbers aren`t too surprising, though, since the lefty pitched well last season. In 26.1 innings with the Brewers, Parra whiffed 26 big leaguers and posted a 3.76 ERA. He was just as effective in the minors, with 10 victories, a 2.45 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 106 strikeouts in 106.2 innings pitched between Double- and Triple-A.
Parra has been selected in all 30 NFBC drafts with an ADP of 362.60.
Three more who are free: Kazuo Fukumori, Relief Pitcher, Texas Rangers (ADP: 437.60); Jonathan Sanchez, Starting Pitcher, San Francisco Giants (ADP: 419.13); Carlos Villanueva, Starting Pitcher, Milwaukee Brewers (ADP: 355.37).
Not exactly....
While many shifted their focus to the East, South, Midwest and West, a group of extremely knowledgeable and alert fantasy baseballers are already working the waiver wire and bolstering their teams for the six-month marathon that starts in eight days.
Three potential impact players sit available in many leagues; so put down the printed off bracket and pencil, head over to your league commissioner service and see if you have room for the following springtime movers.
All Average Draft Position (ADP) data is taken from 30 satellite league drafts run by the National Fantasy Baseball Championship (NFBC) which include 15 teams, 30 rounds and standard 5x5 rotisserie rosters and scoring.
Johnny Cueto, Starting Pitcher, Cincinnati Reds
The hard-throwing 22-year-old has been the talk of Reds camp, allowing one run and striking out eight batters in nine exhibition innings. Cueto has been so dominant that veteran-friendly manager Dusty Baker has suggested that Mock Draft Central`s No. 24 ranked prospect could open the season in the Cincinnati rotation.
In three minor league stops last season, Cueto won 12 games and put up a 3.07 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 170 strikeouts in 161.1 innings pitched -- his spring success isn`t a fluke, the guy can pitch.
Cueto has been selected in 83.3 percent of NFBC drafts with an ADP of 398.77.
Elijah Dukes, Outfielder, Washington Nationals
The immensely talented Dukes now has a full-time spot in the Nationals lineup after Wily Mo Pena strained an oblique muscle that will most likely sideline him for a month.
Dukes flashed plenty of potential in 184 at-bats with the Tampa Rays last season, hitting 10 home runs while displaying double-digit steal speed.
Of course, it`s the off-field issues that will determine how far the 24-year-old can go. If he has his head on straight -- a huge if -- Dukes could easily be a valuable three- or four-category waiver wire contributor.
Dukes` ADP currently sits at 399.63, though all eligible drafts took place before Pena`s injury.
Manny Parra, Starting Pitcher, Milwaukee Brewers
With Yovani Gallardo on the shelf and Chris Capuano picking up right where he left off in 2007, Parra picked the right time to step up his game. On the spring, the 25-year-old has been dominating, striking out 15 while allowing one run over 14 innings.
The exhibition numbers aren`t too surprising, though, since the lefty pitched well last season. In 26.1 innings with the Brewers, Parra whiffed 26 big leaguers and posted a 3.76 ERA. He was just as effective in the minors, with 10 victories, a 2.45 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 106 strikeouts in 106.2 innings pitched between Double- and Triple-A.
Parra has been selected in all 30 NFBC drafts with an ADP of 362.60.
Three more who are free: Kazuo Fukumori, Relief Pitcher, Texas Rangers (ADP: 437.60); Jonathan Sanchez, Starting Pitcher, San Francisco Giants (ADP: 419.13); Carlos Villanueva, Starting Pitcher, Milwaukee Brewers (ADP: 355.37).
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