2013 Fantasy Baseball: Deep Sleepers

The co-hosts of the RotoInfo.com Fantasy Baseball "Box Score Baseball"podcast combine forces to provide you with a slew of Fantasy Baseball insight. In this article the fellas provide you with a few players who could surprise, and out perform their very low average draft positions. (Items in blue/purple are links).

Michael Pichan’s Choices:

Athletics 1B Brandon Moss

Brandon Moss quietly put together a solid last month or so hitting six home runs, scoring 19 runs, hitting in 18 RBI with a .370 average, .436 on-base percentage, and a .704 slugging percent, in just 94 plate appearances the last 30 days of the season. You can argue small sample size, but these are the things that you look for when trying to identify possible breakout players. The six home runs were the fourth most, in that time span and his .370 batting average was tops amongst qualified American League first baseman. In additional factor benefiting Moss’ value going into 2013 is that his playing time will increase with the departure of his platoon partner Chris Carter to Houston. Although the left-handed hitting Moss predominantly faced right-handed pitching last season, his splits were about equal: .293 BA vs LHP in 62 PA and .290 BA in 234 PA vs RHP. If the last month or so of the 2012 season and his respectable splits are any indication this could be Brandon Moss’ breakout season in Oakland.

Braves SS Andrelton Simmons

Simmons was fast tracked through the Braves system having spent the part of just three seasons in the minor leagues before being called up in 2012. Simmons was holding his own before fracturing his right hand about a month after being given the starting shortstops’ job. He returned to the lineup around the All-Star break finishing the second half of the season hitting a respectable .275 with a .333 OBP while batting at the bottom of the Braves order. The good news going into this season is that Simmons’ Fantasy value may get a huge boost as he may bat atop the potent Braves 2013 lineup, making him an attractive end game selection on draft day.

Wayne Bretsky’s Choices:

Marlins OF Justin Ruggiano

Ruggiano put together a stellar run in 2012 for the Marlins, piling up 13 home runs and 14 steals in just 288 at-bats for the fish. The journeyman also posted a very nice .909 OPS that represents the 16th best number among players with 250+ plate appearances last season. An injured back has slowed Ruggiano early in spring training and will reportedly have to compete for his starting job in center. Still, the skills remain for Justin to be a solid contributor if the dominoes fall right and he can likely be had on the cheap at you draft table.

Cubs RP Carlos Marmol

All we’ve heard all off-season is about how erratic Carlos Marmol is and what a tentative hold he has on the role with Japanese reliever Kyuji Fujikawa now in town. Wildness, trade rumors, demotions, Carlos has seen it all. But we’ve also seen electric upside. Marmol’s strikeout ability rivals that of even Craig Kimbrell and Aroldis Chapman and he holds the ability to perform as a top-5 closer. As recently as 2010, Marmol put up an elite season, saving 38 games for the Cubbies while registering a 2.55 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 138 strikeouts in just 77.2 innings pitched. In fact, you don’t even need to dig that deep to find this type of production from the 30-year-old hurler, just take a look at the 2.09 ERA that Marmol posted from June 13 on last season as he struck out 55 batters in 38.2 innings pitched and converted 18-of-19 save chances.

Remember, to keep up with all player news, all the time, be sure to bookmark RotoInfo.com and follow them on twitter @RotoInfo_com and follow Wayne here: @BretskyBall and Michael here:@FantasyNomad

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Link to iTunes: Box Score Baseball Podcast