For the rest of the season now, many of us will be scouring the free agent pool looking for the guy who will solidify our roster after an injury, or after we finally came to grips with that guy we were sure would break out….ain’t goin’ to do it. These are guys that I would stay away from.

Carlos Delgado, 1B, NYM. Delgado had himself a great weekend against the Yankees, but don’t let that hide that he has pretty much stunk the rest of the year. Delgado had three homers and ten RBI in four games against the Yanks, but don’t forget that two of the homers and nine of the RBI were in one game. Delgado is still hitting just over .230 and has only 45 driven in (10 game in two games!). There is some temptation to grab him, but I compare him to Todd Helton, his days as a dominant fantasy hitter are behind him. Don’t fall for the trap of name recognition.

Luis Castillo, 2B, NYM. We are always looking for an option in the middle infield as those positions are traditionally weak. Castillo was another Met who had a good series against the Yankees, and could be someone you are looking at. DON’T DO IT! Castillo is a broken down old man, and isn’t even an everyday player. He steals some bases, but not enough to go with the nonexistent power, and average in the .260s. I know he looked like the Castillo of old, but he is just that, OLD.

Marcus Thames, OF, DET. Thames went through a week where he was hitting homers like it was going out of style. He hit eight homers in eight games, and grabbed the attention of almost all fantasy players. Two things to consider with Thames. One, he is 31 years old. If he was this good, don’t you think someone would have figured it out by now? Second, which kind of goes with the first, he has been a part time player his whole career, all of a sudden he is a monster home run hitter? I don’t see it, unless you are desperate for power, leave him alone.

Jim Edmonds, OF, CHC. Edmonds has hit five homers in the past week, and driven in eight runs. But, the Cubs didn’t sign him to be their everyday centerfielder, and the Padres didn’t cut him to be nice so he could join a contender. Edmonds’ best days are long behind him, and this power surge is nice, but it definitely won’t last.

Joe Blanton, SP, OAK. One of the prize trade targets in the offseason, he was the only guy that Billy Beane didn’t trade. Boy, would he like a mulligan. Not only do the A’s never score many runs, which doesn’t help his win-loss record, but Blanton has been pretty awful himself. His ERA is nearly 5.00, he is striking out less than one batter every other inning, and he has walked nearly as many as he struck out. Don’t wait for him to turn it around, it isn’t coming.

Brett Myers, SP, PHI. I gotta figured he’s been dropped in most leagues by now, and I can’t recommend picking him up. Myers has been AWFUL in his last four starts. Myers has allowed at least four runs in each of those starts, and his last time out he only lasted two innings. There are rumblings that he is going back to the bullpen, but this time it won’t be as the closer, we are talking long relief duty. Unless you see him throwing gas in the pen for a few weeks, leave him alone, this is another one of the name recognition traps.

Jeff Francis, SP, COL. A 17 game winner in 2007, he is closer to losing 17 games in 2008. Francis is 3-7 this year, and his ERA is 5.67, a far cry from last season. Francis hasn’t been helped by the fact that the Rockies have not been the offensive force that they were last year, and their magical run to the World Series last season seems like it was years away. I have more hope that Francis will turn it around than others on this list, but I wouldn’t be picking him up right now either.

Eric Gagne, RP, MIL. Gagne was activated from the Disabled List on Monday, but he will not regain his closer’s duty. Salomon Torres who was a perfect 12-for-12 in save chances while Gagne was hurt will remain closer. Even if Gagne is put back in the closer’s role, I would still stay away. He is so inconsistent, as well as injury prone, and even if the Brewers show confidence in him, don’t make the same mistake, Gagne will disappoint you again and again.

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