Here is the fifth article in the series of 2012 fantasy baseball sleepers. Most fantasy baseball players have a wide range of feelings on the term sleepers with so much information now available on the internet. Whether you want to use the term “sleeper” or a value selection or profit performer, these players can provide you good value or better than expected value based on where they will be drafted. Here is a look at the 2012 fantasy baseball sleepers for the National League Central.
Bryan LaHair (CHC) – Carlos Pena left as a free agent and recently acquired Anthony Rizzo will likely start at Triple-A to fix holes in his swing leaving LaHair as the starting first basemen for the Cubs. He had been stuck at Triple-A since 2003 without ever getting a real shot in the major leagues. He has 195 career big league at bats with five home runs and 16 RBI and a .262 average. He has hit 89 home runs over his last three seasons in AAA, including 38 last season, so he has legit power. Definitely has value in NL-only leagues and I would be willing to use a reserve pick on him in mixed league formats.
Jimmy Paredes (HOU) – has Chris Johnson to compete with and also possibly former top prospect Brett Wallace who is now working out at third base which may push him down in drafts a little. Plays third base but has the skill set of a second basemen with little power and decent speed. Stole 50 bases in 2010 and 29 in 2011 in the minor leagues and has a 77% success rate for his minor league career. On the downside, he made the jump from Double-A so he may have some growing pains and he needs better plate discipline with nine walks and 47 strikeouts in 168 at bats. Worth targeting late in NL-only drafts if you need steals.
Alex Presley (PIT) – expected to start in left field and should be good for 8-10 home runs and 18-20 stolen bases. Hit .291 in his minor league career, but still needs work on his plate discipline and base running as he was successful just 66% of the time on stolen base attempts. His competition of Garret Jones and Nate McLouth hit left-handed like he does so he should not have to worry about falling into a platoon with them.
Mat Gamel (MIL) – the loss of Prince Fielder leaves a big hole at first base that Gamel has first shot at. He has struggled to hit in small trials at the major league level with a .222 average in 171 at bats with 67 strikeouts. For his minor league career he has hit .304 and he hit .310 last season at Triple-A with 28 home runs and 96 RBI. He will likely qualify at a utility spot in most leagues because he played a total of eight games in the field in 2011.
Shelby Miller (STL) – will start the season at Triple-A but I expect him to be up at sometime this season, possibly by the All-Star break. Between Chris Carpenter’s and Adam Wainwright’s injury history and Jake Westbrook’s ineffectiveness, I think Miller will find himself in St. Louis sooner rather than later. He has posted a 3.17 ERA in the minor leagues with a 1.22 WHIP and he has struck out 312 in 247 innings.
For more information on these players and to get their 2012 fantasy baseball projections, check out the 2012 Fantasy Baseball Guide which is on sale now.
