This is an interesting time of season for baseball fans. We are right in the thick of the first half, about a month out from the All-Star Break, and the casual fan is "bored" with baseball.
This isn't the most newsworthy time of the season: teams have already jockeyed for early positioning within their divisions, we aren't quite at the time when All Star voting really heats up, and we are months away from the trade deadline and the ultimate push for the playoffs.
Thus, the casual fan is "bored" with the game. But for serious fans and fantasy owners this is an intriguing time. During this stretch, we can analyze who will have a monster second half, what teams will be looking to buy versus sell players, and which prospects and players will be on the move.
The Diamondbacks started the summer trading early by shipping first baseman turned outfielder, Conor Jackson, to the Oakland A's. Jackson was batting a measly .238 with Arizona and had just one homer on the season.
The trade of Jackson, once seen as a future cornerstone of the franchise, could mark the start of a fire sale by Diamondbacks brass. Rumors hold that the Arizona club will listen to offers on anyone not named Justin Upton or Ian Kennedy. That could signal a trade of veteran All-Stars Kelly Johnson and Dan Haren for the right offer.
Haren could be the hottest pitching commodity on the market this summer, rivaled only by Houston's Roy Oswalt and Seattle's Cliff Lee. Other players whose names have come up in trade talks are Oakland's Ben Sheets, Texas' Rich Harden, Boston's Mike Lowell, and Houston's Lance Berkman.
Most of these veterans will have some control over where they land, so don't expect to see deals to teams without a legitimate shot at making it deep into the playoffs.
Personally, I find this part of the season to be one of the most exciting months. Championships may be won in October, but the final pieces are added to championship teams in the heat of the summer. Look for contending teams to get in on the action soon after the All-Star break.
Feel free to email me at sandlotsabermetrics@gmail.com with fantasy questions to feature in my weekly Help Me Help You blog.
Written by:
