Here is the sixth 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 West.
Willie Bloomquist (ARI) – goes back to a reserve role in 2012 with Stephen Drew returning at shortstop. Value is in NL-0nly leagues where his 15-20 bases plus position flexibility makes him worth an extra dollar or two at the end of auctions. Qualifies at shortstop and in the outfield in 2012 and should see around 300 at bats.
Casey Blake (COL) – the 38-year-old Blake is expected to win the third base job over Chris Nelson and Jordan Pacheco as he keeps the hot corner warm for prospect Nolan Arenado. While Blake is not a sexy name in fantasy baseball, at the end of an NL-only draft or auction when you are looking for a guy that can get you 300 at bats and hit 10 home runs, he is someone that can fit that need.
Kenley Jansen (LAD) – Javy Guerra is expected to start spring training as closer, but Jansen has the better stuff and that will win out in the end, assuming of course that he can stay healthy. Jansen missed almost two months with a bad shoulder last season and also was on the disabled list for an irregular heartbeat. When he did pitch, he posted a 2.85 ERA with a 1.04 WHIP and 96 strikeouts in 53 2/3 innings.
Nick Hundley (SD) – he seems like a sleeper every year because he has yet to reach 300 bats in a season. Missed around two months in 2009 and 2011 due to injuries. If he ever gets 400 at bats, he can hit 13-15 home runs in a season with a batting average in the .250 to .260 range.
Ryan Theriot (SF) – an under the radar signing by the San Francisco Giants who prefer the grizzled veterans in most instances. His value is tied to his stolen bases and he only had four in 2011 as he battled through a litany of injuries. He had stolen 20+ bases in each of the previous four seasons so I would expect a bounce back a little bit. Finding a middle infielder at the end of an NL-only draft or auction that can steal 10+ bases can often times get you a point or two in the standings for that category.
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.
