By Dalton Del Don – Senior Writer
As early as it is, it’s never too soon to be working the phones and trying to hammer out deals. One good game can make that target of yours who is hitting .230 all of a sudden a .300 hitter, so act now.
Sell High
Akinori Iwamura – He flashes skills with the glove and is currently batting a cool .500 on the year. Not only does he have two stolen bases so far, he’s also been caught once as well, so he’s certainly trying to reach his spring prediction of 40 steals. Hitting at the bottom of Tampa Bay’s order, however, will suppress his counting stats. Also, the power he displayed in Japan is highly unlikely to translate here in the states, so don’t expect anything more than 18-20 homers. If he keeps maintaining this plate discipline, there’s no doubt he could hit .290-.300, and if he does contribute 20 steals, he’d be a top-10 third basemen, so don’t give him away. Just see how much that 1.300 OPS can net you right now.
Don’t Sell High
Miguel Cabrera – Here are Cabrera’s OPSs for the first four years of his career: .793, .879, .947, .998 – see a trend? He’s also decreased his strikeouts and increased his walks each campaign as well. The lack of home runs last year was nothing more than a fluke, as he also clubbed 50 doubles. Do you realize that he’s 23 years old? The only reason I wasn’t higher on Cabrera entering the year was because third base was so deep, but there’s at least a decent chance that he enters next season at the very top of many drafts boards.
Buy Low
Brett Myers – Pitching in Philly figures to mean homers will be a problem, but Myers’ ability to miss bats should curtail that somewhat. Currently sitting with a 6.75 ERA after last season’s so-so 3.90 mark, it’s possible Myers’ owner doesn’t realize what he has in the young ace. He posted a tiny 1.17 WHIP with 107 punch outs over 100 second half innings last year. He’s already struck out 15 over 12 innings this season. Since he also doesn’t walk many batters, a much lower ERA is sure to follow. With the potent Phillies’ lineup behind him, a strong win total should be attainable as well. Go get him.
Don’t Buy Low
Chris Carpenter – This may seem Captain Obvious, but as a fellow Carpenter owner, I’m officially a couple of steps beyond worried. Arthritis in his elbow? I’m no doctor, but I did stay at a Holliday Inn Express last night, and I don’t like the sound of that. Even though the recent MRI result is supposedly moderate to good news, be afraid. If you can get Brett Myers for him, do it.
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