FanNation

Prey On The Vulnerable

The Fantasy Sports Forum.com

We're now a month into the baseball season and it's time to scan the rosters of the teams in your league to find some underachieving stars who can be acquire on the cheap.  The strategy is to find a vulnerable owner who is tired of carrying the dead weight of such a player, and whose stats are bringing down the rest of his team.  Not all owners are impatient or have a quick trigger finger on making deals, but if you look hard enough you'll find at least one - and all it takes is one.  This owner has likely become frustrated and is probably looking to "shake things up".  If you have something he likes, then you'll be able to acquire an established talent for a bargain.  Below is a list of some players at every position who have had a terrible April, but could get close to posting their customary numbers.  Many of these players have a level of risk attached to them for various reasons, but if the value exchange is right for you in a deal - and there is a fit within your team - then the upside should top the potential downside.   

Catcher
Ramon Hernandez, Baltimore
Hitting just a paltry .181 with just 2 homers, the time to get him cheap is now.  He's still capable of hitting about .280 with 17-20 homers and 80-85 RBIs.  This is a tough position to find value, so if you need a catcher, find out if he's available.

First Base
Carlos Pena, Tampa Bay
While he does have 6 home runs, his average continues to hover around .200.  The power is still there and the average should at least get to .250,  so if you're looking for a big bat, he's probably available in the right deal.

Second Base
Robinson Cano, Yankees
Hitting a shocking .158 with just 1 HR and 5 RBIs.  He went through a similar period last season and finished the year scorching hot.
Placido Polanco, Tigers
His one strength is hitting for high average, so his surprising .174 mark currently makes him almost worthless.  And that means now is the best time to get him and watch his average soar to over .300.

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