This article is part of our The Daily Duel series.
Values
Here are some guys who are good additions to your team who are currently out-producing their value. Keep in mind that these prices can change daily, so take advantage of them while you can.
Newbies
Here is a combination of players coming off the DL or being called up from the minors who have or are looking to make an impact. Keep in mind some of these players are mentioned just as a reminder that they're available; they might be undervalued or valued appropriately.
Giancarlo Stanton, OF, MIA, $4000 - The mammoth slugger returned to the Marlins lineup Tuesday night, going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. When completely healthy, he is one of the better power hitters in the game; it's just unfortunate he doesn't get to face Jamie Moyer every night. His power was on display Wednesday night, when he hit two home runs, suggesting his knee is feeling much better. Getting back to him crushing left-handed pitching, even with the 0-for-3 factored in against Jon Niese, Stanton has a 1.047 OPS (six home runs in 80 at-bats) vs. left-handed pitching compared to a .847 OPS vs right-handed pitching. This shows you in a daily format when it's the best time to use him, although he's still a good option against righties.
Evan Longoria, 3B, TB, $3400 – Longoria made his long-awaited return from the DL and went 1-for-3 with a sacrifice fly. I don't think Longoria is close to being 100 percent, but it was a good sign that his sacrifice fly was an opposite field shot to the warning track. Longoria won't be a regular for the next few weeks and should be expected to produce approximately 65 to 75 percent of the normal production we've come to see out of him. As a result his price could drop drastically, which is when you should consider using him.
Jean Segura, SS, MIL, $2200 – The key piece to the Zack Greinke deal, the Brewers have wasted no time bringing up Segura and making him their everyday shortstop. Segura has a ton of speed (37 steals in the minors this season) and also has some pop (seven home runs) at a fantasy position that has underachieved this season. The most appealing aspect of Segura right now is his price tag, which allows you to spend your budget elsewhere. It would be nice to see him hit higher in the lineup but for now take advantage of him while he's cheap.
Ryan Lavarnway, 3B, BOS, $2600 – It's a little bit surprising Lavarnway isn't a catching option considering that's where he's played the most in the minors. He likely won't be an everyday player once Will Middlebrooks is completely healthy, but should work his way into the lineup a few times each week. Lavarnway had a .815 OPS at Triple-A Pawtucket which is solid considering it's the International League and not the PCL. Keep an eye on him to see if his eligibility switches to catcher, which would make him a more attractive option.
Adeiny Hechavarria, SS, TOR, $2200 – A second cheap option at short who was just called up to the majors, the young Cuban will look to build on his Triple-A success with the Jays. Hechavarria had a .312 batting average at Las Vegas but that needs to be taken into context considering they play in the PCL. He could find himself heading south once Brett Lawrie is completely healthy, so there's likely a small window of time to use him if you want an inexpensive option.
Nate McLouth, OF, BAL, $2400 – Remember that Pittsburgh Pirate who had a 26-home run, 23-stolen base season back in 2008? This is the same McLouth who did that but isn't close to being the same player. He was only hitting .244 at Triple-A Norfolk after fizzling with the Pirates for a second go-around. McLouth did have 10 home runs at Norfolk (180 at-bats) and considering he'll play half his games at Camden Yards, there is an iota of upside here.
Derek Norris, C, OAK, $3000 – The trade of Kurt Suzuki to the Washington Nationals opens up a spot for Norris to get semi-regular playing time for the Athletics. While Oakland isn't exactly a hitter's paradise, Norris has solid pedigree and has enough pop in his bat to be a relevant fantasy option. He has four home runs in 98 at-bats this season in Oakland, which is why his price is a little inflated right now. Norris is a good player to use if he's on the road in a more favorable hitting environment and, of course, if his price drops over the next few weeks.
Nick Green, SS, MIA, $2400 – Green was called up with the news that Emilio Bonafacio could miss the rest of the season with his current injury. Donovan Solano and Green will likely split time at third with Hanley Ramirez now playing in Los Angeles. It's hard to get overly excited about Green given he's 33 and has done little until this season. The ray of hope here is that he had a .996 OPS at Triple-A New Orleans which included 12 home runs in 212 at-bats.
Jerry Sands, OF, LAD, $2600 – After an unsuccessful stint with the Dodgers earlier this season, Sands may be in line for redemption after getting called up this week. He's going to need to shed the "Quad-A" player label to become a legit fantasy option for owners. The good news is that he has raked at Triple-A Albuquerque since the end of June, hitting .347 with 10 home runs. He's another guy that won't be a daily fixture but can provide value when he's in the revamped Dodger lineup.
Tip Of The Week
Fanduel has done an excellent job of keeping up with the rookies and there are going to be several call-ups for the next four weeks while teams evaluate their players in the minors. A great example is the Chicago Cubs, who called up outfield prospect Brett Jackson and third baseman Josh Vitters on the same day. Other players -- Matthew McBride, for example -- are also seeing regular playing time but haven't been put in the Fanduel system yet. These are the type of players I'll discuss next week since I always wait until they're actually put in the player pool. The takeaway here is that before I talk about these players with their outlook and some analysis this time next week, they'll be available for you to use before then. Stay on top of the call-ups (especially when September 1 rolls around), and don't be afraid of a player just called up. Chances are without any track record in the majors, they'll come at a discounted price.
The Elite 100
The Elite 100 is FanDuel's newest tournament, with $100,000 in prizes.
This $100,000 fantasy MLB tournament is limited to just 100 players: time to prove you're an elite FanDuel'er! Here's everything you need to know about this huge event:
- $100,000 prize pool! You read that right, the Elite 100 will pay out a total of $100,000 in the 100 seat final This is the biggest fantasy baseball tournament remaining in 2012.
- Qualify via satellites as low as $2 or buy in for $1,070 directly.
- We'll be running satellite qualifiers starting at $2 and going up to $285. Win one of these satellites, and a seat in the $1,070 final is yours! This is your chance to win a seat in our biggest remaining MLB tournament of the year for as low as $2.
- You'll also be able to buy into the Elite 100 directly for $1,070. This option will be available after we have finished running satellite qualifiers.
- Capped at 100 players only. If you prefer smaller fields, this is the tournament for you. You won't have to fight your way through thousands of other players – just the elite.
- Final will run online on August 31st.
The Elite 100 is the biggest fantasy baseball event you can enter today. 100 players fighting for their share of $100,000. Time to prove you're Elite!
