Small Signings
We are heading towards the end of the free agency period in the MLB, well at least the end of the significant signings. I would actually argue that the signings over the last few weeks have all been insignificant. There are still a few guys out there who could land a significant fantasy role; however, this week did not involve one of those players. The key signings this week were Brett Tomko signing on with the Royals and Octavio Dotel signing a multiyear deal with the White Sox. I’ll even throw in the Jason Jennings to Texas signing.
I’ll start off with discussing Brett Tomko and his fantasy value in Kansas City. A year ago the Royals made a big splash by overpaying a highly talented starting pitcher who up until that point had not lived up to the hype. That was Gil Meche, this is Brett Tomko. At least Meche had showed signs of not being a bum before signing with the Royals. The best part of this deal is that it was only a one year contract. Tomko has only had one year that he lived up to what he could have been, that was 2004 with the Giants and he still had a 4.04 ERA. Tomko should have little to no value in fantasy leagues, he won’t get wins, he won’t have a good ERA, and he won’t get very many strikeouts. File this move under the “who cares” file.
Octavio Dotel going to the White Sox has much more real life value than it does fantasy value. In real life Dotel will help what could be the best bullpen in their division this season. With the addition of Linebrink and Dotel to the steady arm of Bobby Jenks this team could have a very nice 7-8-9. Problem is, Linebrink is coming off a bad year, and Dotel like always was injured the previous year. For those of you in leagues that count the hold stat, Dotel might be worth a flier late in the draft, but odds are Linebrink will be the primary set up man. I doubt that with Dotel’s inconsistency on the mound, that he will be put into the primary set up role when they have someone more consistent like Linebrink. However, if Linebrink’s struggles from last season are still there, Dotel may get a shot.
Jason Jennings moving from Houston to Texas is probably a move for the worse in the fantasy world. Houston was a hitter’s park in the NL, and Texas has a hitter’s park in the AL. The move to the AL alone will cause Jennings’ ERA and WHIP to rise. Throw in the fact that he will be with a Rangers team that is likely to finish in the bottom of the AL West (they will fight with Oakland for last), and there really is no value in having Jennings on your roster. He is not a big strikeout guy, will have high ERA and WHIP coupled with low win totals.
- Latest rumor has Erik Bedard and Brian Roberts being shipped to Chicago in a deal that would likely land the O’s top prospect Felix Pie. Prior to this deal catching wind, Roberts was reportedly already headed to Chicago for Sean Marshall, Sean Gallagher, and possibly Ronny Cedeno. I’d look for those guys to still be involved in this deal as well. Word is Rich Hill might be available if Bedard was part of the deal.
- Rumor has it that the team most likely at this point to land Johan Santana is the New York Mets, as a package with outfielder Fernando Martinez seems to be at the top of the Twins’ list.
I’ll start off with discussing Brett Tomko and his fantasy value in Kansas City. A year ago the Royals made a big splash by overpaying a highly talented starting pitcher who up until that point had not lived up to the hype. That was Gil Meche, this is Brett Tomko. At least Meche had showed signs of not being a bum before signing with the Royals. The best part of this deal is that it was only a one year contract. Tomko has only had one year that he lived up to what he could have been, that was 2004 with the Giants and he still had a 4.04 ERA. Tomko should have little to no value in fantasy leagues, he won’t get wins, he won’t have a good ERA, and he won’t get very many strikeouts. File this move under the “who cares” file.
Octavio Dotel going to the White Sox has much more real life value than it does fantasy value. In real life Dotel will help what could be the best bullpen in their division this season. With the addition of Linebrink and Dotel to the steady arm of Bobby Jenks this team could have a very nice 7-8-9. Problem is, Linebrink is coming off a bad year, and Dotel like always was injured the previous year. For those of you in leagues that count the hold stat, Dotel might be worth a flier late in the draft, but odds are Linebrink will be the primary set up man. I doubt that with Dotel’s inconsistency on the mound, that he will be put into the primary set up role when they have someone more consistent like Linebrink. However, if Linebrink’s struggles from last season are still there, Dotel may get a shot.
Jason Jennings moving from Houston to Texas is probably a move for the worse in the fantasy world. Houston was a hitter’s park in the NL, and Texas has a hitter’s park in the AL. The move to the AL alone will cause Jennings’ ERA and WHIP to rise. Throw in the fact that he will be with a Rangers team that is likely to finish in the bottom of the AL West (they will fight with Oakland for last), and there really is no value in having Jennings on your roster. He is not a big strikeout guy, will have high ERA and WHIP coupled with low win totals.
- Latest rumor has Erik Bedard and Brian Roberts being shipped to Chicago in a deal that would likely land the O’s top prospect Felix Pie. Prior to this deal catching wind, Roberts was reportedly already headed to Chicago for Sean Marshall, Sean Gallagher, and possibly Ronny Cedeno. I’d look for those guys to still be involved in this deal as well. Word is Rich Hill might be available if Bedard was part of the deal.
- Rumor has it that the team most likely at this point to land Johan Santana is the New York Mets, as a package with outfielder Fernando Martinez seems to be at the top of the Twins’ list.
