Updated weekly, the market watch will keep an eye on the 'stock' of MLB players based on their recent performance. Check back each weekend to find the latest bargains or duds.
(Updated 7/17/07)
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Bobby Abreu (NYY) has rediscovered his home run stroke since the All-Star break with 2 home runs. His career numbers are too good to ignore. He's been very inconsistent this year, and while there is no indication that he will return to his career norm, you can buy him very cheaply right now and he's worth the risk. Just don't expect a ton of home runs.
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Alex Gordon (KC) was everyone's ROY candidate in the AL coming into the season, and while he's done nothing at the major league level to earn that reward so far this season, he's showing some signs of becoming a solid fantasy contributor with 3 walks and only 3 strikeouts in his last 18 at bats vs. 74 k's in his first 286 at bats.
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Billy Butler (KC) is another KC rookie cutting down on his strikeouts. In his last 15 at bats, he has only 1 strikeout vs. 18 k's in his first 84 at bats. Butler projects to put up better power numbers than Gordon down the road and seems to be adjusting to major league pitching quicker than Gordon has. His walk rate (4 in 99 at bats) is disappointing, but his power numbers (10 EBH's in 99 at bats) are very good for his rookie year.
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C.C. Sabathia (CLE) has had a couple disappointing starts in a row, giving up 13 earned runs in his last 11 innings. Now is a good time to buy low if you can. Some owners may be worried that this is a sign of bad things to come in the 2nd half, but his 9 k's and only 3 walks in those 11 innings signify to me that he will be fine during his next start.
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Travis Hafner (CLE) normally puts up similar numbers to David Ortiz, but so far in 2007 his average hovering in the .260 range and he has 'only' 15 home runs. Lately though, Hafner has been picking it up, hitting .333 in July with 3 home runs and 2 doubles. He put up top-20 numbers the past 2 years, so if you can buy low on him, now might be your last chance to do so.
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Boof Bonser (MIN) hasn't received much attention pitching in Minnesota this year, mainly due to either Johan Santana's brilliance, or the rest of the staff's lack of brilliance. Check out his strikeouts though - he has 101 k's in 109.2 innings. While his walks and hits allowed are a concern, at age 25, Bonser will turn it around soon. It may not be until 2008, but it could start in August.
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Nick Markakis (BAL) has been heating up lately. It hasn't translated into a bunch of home runs (yet), but he is hitting .404 since July 2nd with 7 extra base hits (in 47 at bats) and 7 walks. He put up big numbers in the 2nd half of 2006 as well, so this could quickly become his MO. In 2006 he hit .311 with 14 home runs after the All-Star break. I expect similar production this year.
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Curtis Granderson (DET) is having a very solid breakout year this season with a ton of extra base hits (52) and a nice amount of steals (10), but he's being overshadowed by either/both Magglio Ordonez or Gary Sheffield. Granderson is one of the top power/speed combo outfielders on the market today - if you can still buy cheap make sure you target him.
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Coco Crisp (BOS) has been a poor man's Curtis Granderson since June 1st. In case you missed it, he has hit .315 (in 130 at bats) with 11 extra base hits (3 home runs) and 7 steals. He has also walked 11 times (vs. 14 k's) during this time. He's not going to hit 30 home runs, but he is a solid 20/20 option when he's on the top of his game. He had a very poor first season in Boston, so many fantasy owners may have written him off after his slow start this year as well.
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Brandon Webb (ARI) was the NL Cy Young winner only a year ago, but with 'only' 178 k's, he wasn't as dominant as fantasy owners would have liked. In 2007, he's increased his strikeout rate to his highest level since his rookie year (8.6 k/9), but has seen his walk rate almost double from 2006 (3.2 vs. 1.9). The strikeouts are a good sign, and some owners may be frustrated by his 8-7, 3.42 ERA and 1.32 WHIP. A good time to buy.
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Brendan Harris (TB) started the season very well, hitting .309 with 3 home runs in the first 2 months of the year. During that time though, there were warning signs. He had only 11 walks vs. 28 k's in his first 149 at bats while hitting for extra bases only 11 times. Since June 1st however, he has maintained his batting average, hitting .303 in his next 152 at bats, but he increased his power (18 extra base hits), and walks (16) while cutting down on his strikeouts with only 27 (ok - that's only one less). He's struggled a bit lately, going 3 for his last 17, but during that time he has only 1 strikeout vs. 5 walks. He's shown improvement in every area of his game.
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Dan Haren (OAK) is a Cy Young candidate and was selected to start the All-Star game for the American League. Do you think his stock will get higher than this? Yes, he could win the AL Cy Young, but with a 6.9 k/9 and a bb/9 of 2.3, that doesn't seem likely. Haren is a quality pitcher, but he's a #2 or #3 fantasy pitcher and right now you should be able to get top dollar in a trade. Sell High.
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Chone Figgins (ANA) went on a tear from May 31st through June 30th, hitting .471 and stealing 16 bases. After all that, his average still is sitting 'only' .307 due to his horrendus May, during which time he was 11 for 86 (.128). He has hit over .300 once in his professional career (while playing in the PCL - a renowned hitter's league) and is unlikely to do so this year. He's great on the basepaths, and has nice positional versatility, but trade him now while his value is as high as it will ever be.
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Edgar Renteria (ATL) is a solid shortstop. He always has been. He even hit .330 back in 2003, but that year he struck out only 9.2% of the time. In 2007, he's striking out even higher than his career average (15.5% vs. 14.1%). Expect his average to drop in the 2nd half.
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Hunter Pence (HOU) has been one of the top fantasy performers so far this season, but there are warning signs. In his 291 at bats, he has only 11 walks. I think Pence is a great keeper league option, but his lack of plate discipline will catch up with him in the 2nd half - expect his average to plummet as pitchers start to pitch around him more. His saving grace is Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee who both hit behind him, but I still think pitchers will find ways to pitch to him.
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Eric Byrnes (ARI) has been one of the best outfielders in baseball during the 1st half of the year and that is just an extension of the numbers he put up in 2006. That being said, his .307 seems destined to drop. He's a career .268 hitter and while putting up his .307 average this year it's been mostly due to luck. His strikeout rate of 17.1% is in line with his career numbers (17.3%) and is actually up from 2006 (15.7%) during which time he hit .267. His extra base hit percentage is actually down from last year - 9.3% vs. 11.7%. In the end, I think he'll continue towards a 25/25 season, but his average won't end up on the right side of .300. Trade him now while his value is high.
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Delmon Young (TB) along with Alex Gordon were expected to contend for the AL Rookie of the Year, and while Young is still in the running, he hasn't had the impact that was expected. Young isn't someone that is going to be a consistent hitter at this stage of his career. So far he has a total of 15 walks on the year and while he has been hot lately, hitting over .300 since the middle of May, he's not someone you can count on in a fantasy lineup.
Prior Market Editions
May 16th 2007
May 28th 2007
June 10th 2007
July 10th 2007