Dontrelle Willis
We remember it fondly, the high leg kick, the youthful smile; gone is that childlike image of Willis when he burst onto the Major League stage in 2003. That year he went 14-6 with a 3.30 ERA while earning National League Rookie of the Year honors with the Florida Marlins. Since, Willis has had just one season with a winning record. Over the weekend, Willis was designated for assignment by his current club, the Detroit Tigers. Trade talks have been rumored with the Diamondbacks, Marlins, Mets, and Brewers, with the Diamondbacks seeming to be the front-runner. Wherever Willis lands I will be watching him closely. If he uses this change of scenery to his benefit he could become relevant in deeper mixed formats, assuming he can tap into his immense potential as evidenced by his 2003 and 2005 campaigns.
Stephen Strasburg
It's official. Strasburg will make his long-awaited Major League debut June 8th, one week from today. In 10 Minor League starts, Strasburg has gone 6-2 with a 1.43 ERA. That stat line has fantasy owners salivating as they prepare for the arrival of a future ace. Strasburg's pedigree as a former No. 1 overall draft pick and his minor league performance make him a must-start option upon arrival. He draws a good matchup, facing the lowly Pirates in his MLB debut.
Oliver Perez
The struggling Mets pitcher has refused a minor league assignment. Perez, once a competent starter for the club, has been relegated to long-relief duty in the bullpen this season. Perez's contract allows him to refuse to enter the minor league system, but right now he is dead weight on the Mets roster. He is far from an ideal relief pitcher, but it seems the Mets will continue to roster him. Perez has allowed 90 walks in 102 innings since signing a contract extension. He is owned $20.2 million through the 2011 season. Hopefully the Mets will be smart enough to cut him or designate him for assignment so that they can get his massive salary off of their books.
Feel free to email me at sandlotsabermetrics@gmail.com with fantasy questions to feature in my weekly Help Me Help You blog.
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