Fantasy Baseball 2012: Roster Moves Prior to Opening Day

Within minutes of every draft wrapping up there are moves made.  Sometimes its because you missed the beginning/middle/end of the draft and the computer auto drafted someone that you are not fond of, or was a 3rd shortstop.  Other people look back at their draft and say what the hell was I thinking?!  Well thankfully the waiver wire is always full of talent before the season begins.  Below are the top players from last season that are less than 75% owned in Yahoo leagues.  If you are still looking to improve your roster before the season really begins, take a look!

Fantasy Points are based on the following scoring system:

Hitters:

Singles - 1pt

Doubles - 2pts

Triples - 3pts

Homeruns - 2pts

RBI - 2pts

Runs Scored - 2pts

Walks - 1pt

Stolen Bases - 1pt

Pitchers:

Win - 10 pts

Innings Pitched - 2 pts

Earned Runs Allowed - (1pt)

Strike Outs - .5pt

Player	% Owned	H/AB	R	1B	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	Fan Pts
Torii Hunter (LAA - OF)	74%	152/580	80	103	24	2	23	82	5	62	594
Gaby Sanchez (Mia - 1B)	62%	152/572	72	98	35	0	19	78	3	74	583
Carlos Pena (TB - 1B)	55%	111/493	72	53	27	3	28	80	2	101	579
Josh Willingham (Min - OF)	66%	120/488	69	65	26	0	29	98	4	56	569
Ryan Roberts (Ari - 2B,3B)	73%	120/482	86	74	25	2	19	65	18	66	554
Austin Jackson (Det - OF)	61%	147/591	90	104	22	11	10	45	22	56	549
Danny Espinosa (Was - 2B)	61%	135/573	72	80	29	5	21	66	17	57	545
Dexter Fowler (Col - OF)	63%	128/481	84	73	35	15	5	45	12	68	536
Juan Pierre (Phi - OF)	5%	178/639	80	155	17	4	2	50	27	43	535
Matt Joyce (TB - OF)	65%	128/462	69	75	32	2	19	75	13	49	533
Kelly Johnson (Tor - 2B)	64%	121/545	75	66	27	7	21	58	16	60	525
Raul Ibanez (NYY - OF)	15%	131/535	65	79	31	1	20	84	2	33	517
Seth Smith (Oak - OF)	11%	135/476	67	79	32	9	15	59	10	46	508
Yunel Escobar (Tor - SS)	70%	149/513	77	111	24	3	11	48	3	61	504
Danny Valencia (Min - 3B)	18%	139/564	63	94	28	2	15	72	2	40	498
Bobby Abreu (LAA - OF)	5%	127/502	54	88	30	1	8	60	21	78	494
Angel Pagan (SF - OF)	45%	125/478	68	90	24	4	7	56	32	44	488
Hideki Matsui (Oak - OF) NA	1%	130/517	58	90	28	0	12	72	1	56	487

There are no catchers on this list.  Clearly that position is super weak and all of the "good" one get drafted.

First base is a super deep position, but Gaby Sanchez and Carlos Pena are extremely valuable in certain league types.  Obviously Sanchez is going to have the better all around game, but Pena is returning to his roots in TB and they are a much better offensive team than the Cubs were last season.

Second base has 3 decent options here with Ryan Roberts leading the way with his multi position eligibility.  Espinosa and Johnson are guys who could provide 20 HRs from the 2bl position, which was only done by 6 others.  None of these guys will provide a good batting AVG though.

At the hot corner, Ryan Roberts and Danny Valencia provide top 10 third base talent from last season, if you remove Jose Bautista, Albert Pujols and Neil Walker from the list. 

Shortstop is another weak position that rarely gets any help from the waiver wire.

There are 11 outfielders on that list lead by Torii Hunter who was a top 30 OF last season.  Juan Pierre, Raul Ibanez, and Bobby Abreu are the only guys I would be upset with on my roster.  Hideki Matsui is not currently on a roster.

Player	% Owned	IP	W	ER	K	Fan Pts
Justin Masterson (Cle - SP)	73%	216	12	77	158	554
Randy Wolf (Mil - SP)	8%	212.1	13	87	134	534.67
Colby Lewis (Tex - SP)	68%	200.1	14	98	169	527.17
Javier Vázquez (Mia - SP) NA	6%	192.2	13	79	162	517.33
Mark Buehrle (Mia - SP)	46%	205.1	13	82	109	513.17
Trevor Cahill (Ari - SP)	57%	207.2	12	96	147	512.83
Joe Saunders (Ari - SP)	3%	212	12	87	108	511
Edwin Jackson (Was - SP)	55%	199.2	12	84	148	509.33
Ryan Vogelsong (SF - SP)	56%	179.2	13	54	139	504.83
Matt Harrison (Tex - SP)	28%	185.2	14	70	126	504.33
Kyle Lohse (StL - SP)	26%	188.1	14	71	111	501.17
Wandy Rodriguez (Hou - SP)	67%	191	11	74	166	501
Ted Lilly (LAD - SP)	63%	192.2	12	85	158	499.33
Jhoulys Chacin (Col - SP)	67%	194	11	78	150	495

Justin Masterson only allowed 77 earned runs in 216 innings pitched!  How is this guys just 73% owned?

Javier Vazquez might retire so dont even think about picking him up.

Guys like Mark Buehrle, Trevor Cahill, Joe Saunders, Edwin Jackson, and Jhoulys Chacin are all guys that can help your fantasy team.