Did you know that Manny Ramirez is still owned in 5.7 percent of FOXSports.com leagues? Next time you want to complain about one of your fellow owners being inactive, remember that it could be worse. Unless, that is, one of your fellow owners owns Manny now. And now, without further ado, below are 10 free agents owned in less than 75 percent of FOXSports.com leagues, starting with the third player below the threshold, and including three rookies that qualify at second base.
Please note that no players will be repeated within any four-week period.
Ryan Roberts, 2B/3B, Diamondbacks (74.9 percent owned)
Sixteen home runs, 14 stolen bases and 71 runs scored? And he qualifies at second base? Raise your hand if you picked Roberts up a couple of months ago, and use that hand to give yourself a big pat on the back. If you’re in one of those leagues where he’s still available, would you get him already?
Mark Trumbo, 1B, Angels (46.8 percent owned)
When Kendrys Morales’ injury proved to be worse than originally feared, most analysts thought the Angels were dead. Trumbo was a mixed-league non-entity, and went at the tail end of my AL-only auction. Now, his 22 home runs rank him ninth among first basemen, and his eight stolen bases tie him for first (if you don’t count Howie Kendrick, anyway). Trumbo’s terrible on-base percentage will keep him from becoming a star, but he’s perfectly useful in most fantasy formats.
Justin Morneau, 1B, Twins (45.6 percent owned)
Morneau had 18 home runs and 56 RBI when he suffered a concussion at midseason in 2010, and hasn’t done much since. After two months on the DL, he was reactivated last Friday. Do you trust him? I don’t, but I’d give him a chance if I needed a first baseman.
Madison Bumgarner, SP, Giants (39.4 percent owned)
Bumgarner’s win-loss record is 7-11, but a 3.49 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP isn’t bad, right? Also, do you know how many starters have better strikeout-to-walk ratios than Bumgarner? Eight. Their names are Roy Halladay, Dan Haren, Cliff Lee, Justin Verlander, Cole Hamels, Jordan Zimmermann, Clayton Kershaw and Josh Tomlin (???). That’s pretty good company. Bumgarner is a stud.
Dustin Ackley, 2B/OF, Mariners (26.5 percent owned)
When he got promoted in June, the book on Ackley was that he could be a future batting champion, but didn’t have the power or speed to be a big fantasy asset. Ackley is batting .291 with five homers and an .858 OPS in 49 games, and has 14 homers with nine steals between the minors and majors this season. I don’t know why he qualifies as an outfielder, but I’d be happy to grab him as my second baseman in a mixed league. Over the last month, there haven’t been a dozen better players at the position.
Javy Guerra, RP, Dodgers (18.6 percent owned)
A closer is a closer is a closer, right? Jonathan Broxton will probably be out until late September if he returns at all, and Guerra has eight saves in the last five-and-a-half weeks. He’ll help you in saves as much as any other free-agent reliever.
Brett Lawrie, 2B, Blue Jays (12 percent owned)
Canada’s newest hero is batting .343 with three home runs since his recent promotion. Lawrie will qualify at third base soon enough in most leagues, but for at least a few more days he’s a second baseman only at FOXSports.com. That’s good, and Lawrie’s good, though he’s only 21. He had 18 homers and 13 steals in 69 games at Triple A this season, and while the hitter’s haven of Las Vegas was a factor, those numbers can’t be ignored.
Rick Ankiel, OF, Nationals (4.1 percent owned)
As a real ballplayer, Ankiel isn’t very good. He’s got a career on-base percentage of .312, for crying out loud. However, like his kindred fantasy spirit Jeff Francoeur of the Royals, Ankiel brings a modest power-speed package to the table that can help you out. The former pitching phenom has seven home runs and 10 stolen bases for the season, with four of those taters coming since the beginning of August. Ankiel is worth a shot if you’re looking to fill an outfield hole.
Chris Sale, RP, White Sox (1.3 percent owned)
Sale has a couple of saves this month, and Ozzie Guillen said Sunday that Sale would share opportunities with Sergio Santos. That doesn’t make him a full-time closer, but if you’re saves-hunting at this time of year, half a closer is better than nothing.
Johnny Giavotella, 2B, Royals (0.7 percent owned)
Having grown up in the Italian enclave of Staten Island, N.Y., my first reaction upon hearing Giavotella’s name this season was, “Did I go to high school with him?” Then I realized he was almost 20 years younger than me. Anyway, Giavotella will be the Royals’ starting second baseman for the rest of the season, and with nine homers and nine steals in 110 Triple-A games before his promotion, his fantasy skills are pretty solid.
