Even if you draft one or two outfielders in the top 100 (which you should), you’ll still need to identify some late bargains. The top 20, 40, 60 and 80 outfielders for 2011 fantasy baseball can be found under the 2011 fantasy baseball rankings. This is by no means all the outfielders I’d draft for one of my teams. This is a list of guys that will go after the top 200 and could provide some healthy returns. Where applicable, click on the player’s name to read more about them and to see their 2011 projections. Anyway, here’s some outfielders to target for 2011 fantasy baseball:
Julio Borbon – I don’t want to toot my own horn — well, actually I do, but can’t reach — but last year this outfielder to target post had Bruce, Rasmus, Corey Hart, Jason Heyward, Austin Jackson and Julio Borbon. Okay, Borbon was a year too early. Fair enough, fair enough. What makes Borbon enticing is his potential for 5 to 7 homers and 20 to 30 steals. The parade rain is his potential to sit on the bench and watch David Murphy play. One injury to the Rangers outfield — that could never happen with Hamilton and Cruz! — and Borbon will be a great bargain.
Tyler Colvin – Same deal as Borbon as far as playing every day goes.
Jose Tabata – ESPN has him at 253. I have him ranked at 82 overall. That might be the biggest gap for any player that doesn’t spell his last name with a P, R, A, D and O. I’m not sure I understand why they’re so down on Tabata in the non-sexual way, but if I try to figure out their logic, my brain hurts.
Logan Morrison – His upside is small and his downside is small. She says she likes the ocean. Yeah, I rhymed small and small. Sue me for the twelve seconds it took you to read it. Because of Morrison’s propensity to take a walk, I can’t imagine he falls on his face, but he also might only match James Loney-type numbers. For what it’s Wuertz, Rudy and I just drafted Morrison in our LABR league, hoping he breaks on through. In deep leagues like that, I love Morrison. About as safe as you can get while also being upsidey.
Garrett Jones – You almost definitely have to platoon him out, but he’s on the strong side of the platoon, going against righties. If you can work in a hot hitter when Jones is sitting and get Jones for his 20+ homers and 7 steals, it’s not too bad.
Andres Torres – Currently has the ADP of 234 at Mock Draft Central. I see no reason why he can’t repeat last year, assuming he stays healthy. That’s not as easy for him as it would seem, but it’s worth more than the 234th spot.
Angel Pagan – Another guy who’s very low according to MDC. Honestly, I don’t know how accurate that ADP list is, but Pagan shouldn’t be at 243.
Travis Snider – Here’s what I said last October, “(Snider) hit .155 in April and nearly lost his starting job. Where the OBP was solid in the minors, it abandoned him. Nothing was working. Then in May, he turned things around hitting .378. Gaston giveth time, Snider giveth power and OBP until he hurt his wrist and went to the 15-day DL for 62 days. Wrist injuries can be tricky things. Maybe when he returned in August with little power he was still nursing it? Maybe his power didn’t really return until the last week of the season when he hit four homers in 6 games? Maybe Green Day’s been singing the same two songs for the last fifteen years, one fast and one slow? I do not have the answers to these questions. I’d like to think all three are answered in the affirmative.” And that’s me quoting me!
Dexter Fowler – I could just say SAGNOF at this point because I’ve been touting Fowler for two years. Old habits yadda3. To reaffirm what I’ve been reaffirming on top of my affirmations, Fowler could easily be as valuable as Victorino one hundred spots later in a draft. He’s Feign Victorino, ya’ll!
Cameron Maybin – I almost left Maybin off the list entirely and would hesitate to draft him outside of NL-Only leagues. Couple of things bother me: A) His upside may only be The Big FraGu. B) His move to Petco doesn’t help at all. C) There’s no C.
Manny Ramirez – Well, there’s an exciting name! What, no Raul Ibanez? Cute, random italicized voice. Sure, Manny’s no longer exciting, but he’ll have the DH spot to snuggie himself into and he’s never… wait, let me say it again in big letters… NEVER been unproductive when healthy. I doubt he hits .395 and 35 homers, but 25 homers and a .290 average doesn’t seem out of the realm of possibility. He shouldn’t be on the list because he’s only ranked 195 overall at ESPN, missing that magical cutoff of 200, but it’s my list and I can make the magical cutoff disappear when I want.
Peter Bourjos – He may sit here and there because of Vernon Wells, but never underestimate the Sciosciapath’s defensive-minded leanings.
Michael Brantley – This guy is so off the fantasy radar… How off is he?! How come whenever I say something is so something that stupid Match Game refrain plays in my head. Brantley is off the radar; leave it at that. Brantley might be the best name on this list or the worst. (I guess he could also be somewhere in the middle like Monie and Malcolm, but what kind of hyperbole is that? Brantley’s the most middlest! That’s stoopid.) In the minors, Brantley showed a good eye so a decent average is possible while also stealing 30 bases. Or the Indians demote him in April because they’re dopey. Really could go either way.
Lorenzo Cain – I recently received this letter in the mail, “Grey, hola from Caracas! Big fan of Razzball and your machismo. Let me ask you a pregunta that is plain and simple like my cousin Juan Carlos del Flores. Who’s the number one added outfielder in April that no one is currently drafting? Yours, Juan Francisco del Flores (not to be confused with Juan Carlos del Flores).” Thanks for writing in, Juan Carlos del Flores. It’s a great question. My money’s on Lorenzo Cain. Has speed, some slight power and no one, not even anyone in Lorenzo Cain’s family, is drafting him.
