What to expect from the Newcomers for LAA
The Angels made a big splash in Free Agency once again this offseason, landing a few big names such as Josh Hamilton, and Tommy Hanson, as well as solid end of the rotation guys like Joe Blanton and Jason Vargas. Although Hamilton is now hitting in the 25th best HR hitting park, as opposed to the 7th ranked, don't expect a dramatic slip in numbers. Hamilton moves to RF, taking somewhat of a defensive load off of his back. Additionally, he stayed in division, keeping him familiar with the pitchers and the ball parks. With an ADP putting him 4th among position players on our draft board, he has high expectations, but considering he has a lot of protection around him and a team primed for a deep postseason push, he should live up to the first-round hype. Hanson is coming off another lackluster season, posting an ERA of 4.48, the worst of his career. A reported 3mph drop in velocity draws even more concern that his shoulder isn't healthy. In the AL West, he may be able to hush some of his critics, but expect another roller coaster season for Hanson as he will have to work through his drop in velocity and working with new teammates, Chris Iannetta and Hank Conger.
Can Iannetta be "the guy" for Mike Scioscia?
Catcher situations are always a headache for fantasy baseball owners. Whether it be a platoon or mid-season fatigue, there seems to always be an issue. The question of significance here is whether it is worth it to take a flyer on a guy like Chris Iannetta to fill your catcher slot? Will he get enough at-bats to make an impact? After never really finding his groove in Colorado, Iannetta came to the Angels last year and performed as anticipated, mediocre. But after being awarded a 3-year extension on his contract, expect a motivated Iannetta coming out of the gate. At age 29, he will be desperate to prove he can start consistently in this league, and with so much star power around him, there will be plenty of opportunities to drive in runs. The once highly-touted backstop isn't even ranked top 30 among catchers, so he will slip through the woodworks in most drafts. If you are looking for a late round steal at catcher, Iannetta could fit the bill. Follow him closely this spring training to see how he meshes with the pitchers as well.
Can Matt Harvey and Travis D'Arnaud make fans forget?
After the Mets traded Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey for No. 3 MLB prospect Travis D'Arnaud, they added to the already young core they are slowly starting to build in Flushing. D'Arnaud isn't projected to start the season on the big league roster, but it isn't unrealistic to think he'll be a May or June call up, similar to what the Angels did with Mike Trout last year. D'Arnaud has an MLB-ready bat and should jump right into the starters role upon his arrival. He shouldn't be drafted considering we don't know exactly how long he will stay in the minors, but he is definitely a guy to jump on once he gets called up. As for Matt Harvey, he has a rotation spot locked up already and even though his sample size is small (10 starts in 2012), his strikeout totals (70 Ks in 59 IP) and 2.73 ERA more than backup the argument for him to be drafted in the 12th-15th round range.
Terry Collins' Outfield Situation
To be honest, its hard to find an outfield with as little credentials and MLB experience as the bunch the Mets will throw out there in 2013. Kirk Nieuwenhuis (104th ranked OF), Mike Baxter (114th), and Lucas Duda (77th) are the preseason favorites to start, but considering the youth and inexperience, expect Collin Cowgill (184th), Andrew Brown (155th) and veteran Marlon Byrd (147th) to have their chances to steal a spot during Spring Training. Duda has the most upside of the bunch, hitting 15 HR in 2012, but with a K/AB ratio above 25 percent, he isn't someone I would want to consistently rely on to produce. In short, the outfield is a train wreck and it would be smart to stay away from any Mets outfielders in this years draft.
Why you Should Avoid Scott Diamond
Diamond put together a solid 2012 campaign, finishing with a 3.54 ERA and 12 wins in 27 starts. He was a welcome addition to any fantasy team, especially as a mid-season pickup. But there are some red flags that should be raised before you go back and scoop him up in 2013. His walks were low (31), which masked the fact that he had a BAA of .274. He also gave up more than a hit per inning, which doesn't usually add up to a stellar season, so expect that ERA to sit around 4.20 if he pitches similarly this season. Also, Diamond surrendered 17 long balls in his 27 appearances, a staggering rate for a pitcher with as much success as Diamond had last season. Fantistics projects Diamond as the 160th ranked pitcher, which is enough of an argument in itself to stay away.
The Enigma that is Trevor Plouffe
Its hard to fathom how a player can go from being completely inept at the plate to hitting 11 home runs in one month, but Plouffe (28th ranked 3B) pulled it off. With no real threat behind him, Plouffe has the starting 3B job, but considering there were three separate months where Plouffe hit under .200 last season, nothing is certain with the 26-year old California native. Its hard to see Plouffe as more than a mid-season pickup, but he could prove valuable if you can scoop him in midst of one of his home run barrages. Don't consider drafting him unless your league is very deep, but do keep an eye out because he is capable of carrying your team for weeks at a time if this pattern keeps up.
