Top 10 Twins fantasy players
02/16/2006
If you're a Minnesota fan, and want a fantasy team chock full of Twins this spring, here are 10 players who you should be keeping an eye on at your draft. Winding up with all of these guys is very unlikely, but for those of you who will be miserable all summer if you don't have at least a handful of Twins, make sure to target the 10 names below:
Name Position Dollar value
1. Johan Santana SP $35 The elite pitcher in baseball at the moment, who not only dominates but finishes with a flourish; he has posted a sub-2.00 ERA in the second half over the last two seasons. He just missed an ERA title, was tops in the AL in strikeouts and was first in batting average against. He's in his prime and is the first pitcher off the board in any draft.
2. Joe Nathan RP $29 Nathan may not possess the flash and dash of some of the other top firemen in baseball, but he's proven to be a reliable, dominant force at the end of ballgames. Since taking over the closer job for the Twins in 2004, Nathan has converted 87 of 95 save opportunities, has whiffed 183 batters in 142 1/3 innings and has allowed opponents to hit a measly .185. Those numbers speak for themselves, and you can expect another top-notch performance from the right-hander in 2006.
3. Joe Mauer C $20 Mauer could be the breakout star among catchers in 2006 after turning heads during his first full season. The lefty will turn 23 in early April, but he already has a good idea at the plate, as his .294 batting average and .372 on-base percentage can attest. Mauer has yet to show true home run power, but he has the stroke to be a doubles machine while he continues to develop strength. In an improved Twins lineup, Mauer could drive in 80 runs even if he does not hit more than 15 home runs, and he is also a good bet to hit over .300.
4. Torii Hunter OF $19 Hunter was well on his way to a 20-homer, 30-steal season before breaking his ankle in late July on an acrobatic attempt to make a catch. In four months of play, the center fielder provided a great combination of power and speed while growing more selective at the plate. Unfortunately, the season-ending injury appeared to rob Hunter of his best season, and now raises the question of whether his acceleration and stolen base skills will return to form. If his ankle permits it, the athletic Hunter could go 20-20, along with an unexceptional batting average, en route to playing for a new contract.
5. Brad Radke SP $14 Radke posts some extreme numbers. He logged a ridiculously low 23 walks in over 200 innings, which led him to post his usual stellar ratio. There is also the fact that Radke had huge problems with the first inning last year, giving up a .987 OPS in that frame, more than 200 points higher than what he did from the second inning on. Once he got past the first, he usually settled down pretty well, but that was a strange statistical anomaly. Radke gutted it out in the second half despite a very sore neck and shoulder, and remains a solid pick in AL-only play and deeper mixed leagues.
6. Luis Castillo 2B $13 Castillo will make his American League debut in 2006 after being traded to the Twins by the Marlins in the offseason. He battled a leg injury all season in 2005, and it affected his stolen base totals (10 in 2005 vs. 21 in 2004). While his steals have been on the decline since he swiped 48 in 2002, he's quite consistent on the basepaths -- he could see 20-30 steals if he's healthy -- and at the plate. His value in AL-only leagues is higher than in mixed leagues, but he should be useful regardless.
7. Carlos Silva SP $11 Carlos Silva makes Radke look like a walk machine, issuing just nine free passes in 188 innings, one of the great control performances in Major League history. It says something that hitters know strikes are coming, but still aren't able to tee off with regularity. He gives up his share of homers, but the lack of free passes often minimizes the damage. Still, this season was likely a statistical outlier in many respects. That doesn't mean he can't post an ERA around 4.00, another quality ratio, some wins and a nice value in 4x4 play.
8. Justin Morneau 1B $10 The Twins' young power prospect was all the rage at fantasy drafts last year, with some experts forecasting 40 homers. It didn't quite work out, though, as elbow problems limited Morneau to 22 home runs and a .239 average. A postseason MRI revealed no structural damage, but he opted not to have surgery to remove a bone spur, which sends up a considerable red flag. The kid definitely has 30-homer power, but his lengthy injury history should give you pause.
9. Juan Rincon RP $8 Rincon has an explosive fastball and slider, and would likely have plenty of success closing if called upon to do so. Of course, the Twins have All-Star Nathan entrenched at the position, so that won't be happening anytime soon. Nonetheless, Rincon possesses the kind of value that makes him a worthwhile bullpen addition in the late rounds of mixed-league drafts, and you can expect him to produce another season with a sub-3.00 ERA and more than a strikeout per inning.
10. Rondell White OF $6 White is capable of hitting for both average and power, and will deliver some of the hardest-hit line drives you'll ever see. Unfortunately, he never seems to stay in the lineup long enough to produce any significant numbers. Because he has a recognizable name, White is likely to be grabbed in the late rounds by someone in your draft. Ideally, though, he's the kind of player who should be left on the waiver wire until he goes on one of his hot streaks.
Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/
If you're a Minnesota fan, and want a fantasy team chock full of Twins this spring, here are 10 players who you should be keeping an eye on at your draft. Winding up with all of these guys is very unlikely, but for those of you who will be miserable all summer if you don't have at least a handful of Twins, make sure to target the 10 names below:
Name Position Dollar value
1. Johan Santana SP $35 The elite pitcher in baseball at the moment, who not only dominates but finishes with a flourish; he has posted a sub-2.00 ERA in the second half over the last two seasons. He just missed an ERA title, was tops in the AL in strikeouts and was first in batting average against. He's in his prime and is the first pitcher off the board in any draft.
2. Joe Nathan RP $29 Nathan may not possess the flash and dash of some of the other top firemen in baseball, but he's proven to be a reliable, dominant force at the end of ballgames. Since taking over the closer job for the Twins in 2004, Nathan has converted 87 of 95 save opportunities, has whiffed 183 batters in 142 1/3 innings and has allowed opponents to hit a measly .185. Those numbers speak for themselves, and you can expect another top-notch performance from the right-hander in 2006.
3. Joe Mauer C $20 Mauer could be the breakout star among catchers in 2006 after turning heads during his first full season. The lefty will turn 23 in early April, but he already has a good idea at the plate, as his .294 batting average and .372 on-base percentage can attest. Mauer has yet to show true home run power, but he has the stroke to be a doubles machine while he continues to develop strength. In an improved Twins lineup, Mauer could drive in 80 runs even if he does not hit more than 15 home runs, and he is also a good bet to hit over .300.
4. Torii Hunter OF $19 Hunter was well on his way to a 20-homer, 30-steal season before breaking his ankle in late July on an acrobatic attempt to make a catch. In four months of play, the center fielder provided a great combination of power and speed while growing more selective at the plate. Unfortunately, the season-ending injury appeared to rob Hunter of his best season, and now raises the question of whether his acceleration and stolen base skills will return to form. If his ankle permits it, the athletic Hunter could go 20-20, along with an unexceptional batting average, en route to playing for a new contract.
5. Brad Radke SP $14 Radke posts some extreme numbers. He logged a ridiculously low 23 walks in over 200 innings, which led him to post his usual stellar ratio. There is also the fact that Radke had huge problems with the first inning last year, giving up a .987 OPS in that frame, more than 200 points higher than what he did from the second inning on. Once he got past the first, he usually settled down pretty well, but that was a strange statistical anomaly. Radke gutted it out in the second half despite a very sore neck and shoulder, and remains a solid pick in AL-only play and deeper mixed leagues.
6. Luis Castillo 2B $13 Castillo will make his American League debut in 2006 after being traded to the Twins by the Marlins in the offseason. He battled a leg injury all season in 2005, and it affected his stolen base totals (10 in 2005 vs. 21 in 2004). While his steals have been on the decline since he swiped 48 in 2002, he's quite consistent on the basepaths -- he could see 20-30 steals if he's healthy -- and at the plate. His value in AL-only leagues is higher than in mixed leagues, but he should be useful regardless.
7. Carlos Silva SP $11 Carlos Silva makes Radke look like a walk machine, issuing just nine free passes in 188 innings, one of the great control performances in Major League history. It says something that hitters know strikes are coming, but still aren't able to tee off with regularity. He gives up his share of homers, but the lack of free passes often minimizes the damage. Still, this season was likely a statistical outlier in many respects. That doesn't mean he can't post an ERA around 4.00, another quality ratio, some wins and a nice value in 4x4 play.
8. Justin Morneau 1B $10 The Twins' young power prospect was all the rage at fantasy drafts last year, with some experts forecasting 40 homers. It didn't quite work out, though, as elbow problems limited Morneau to 22 home runs and a .239 average. A postseason MRI revealed no structural damage, but he opted not to have surgery to remove a bone spur, which sends up a considerable red flag. The kid definitely has 30-homer power, but his lengthy injury history should give you pause.
9. Juan Rincon RP $8 Rincon has an explosive fastball and slider, and would likely have plenty of success closing if called upon to do so. Of course, the Twins have All-Star Nathan entrenched at the position, so that won't be happening anytime soon. Nonetheless, Rincon possesses the kind of value that makes him a worthwhile bullpen addition in the late rounds of mixed-league drafts, and you can expect him to produce another season with a sub-3.00 ERA and more than a strikeout per inning.
10. Rondell White OF $6 White is capable of hitting for both average and power, and will deliver some of the hardest-hit line drives you'll ever see. Unfortunately, he never seems to stay in the lineup long enough to produce any significant numbers. Because he has a recognizable name, White is likely to be grabbed in the late rounds by someone in your draft. Ideally, though, he's the kind of player who should be left on the waiver wire until he goes on one of his hot streaks.
Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/
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