With many top players going down to injury this week already as well as some rookie call ups, here is a look at some players that should be on your fantasy baseball buy or sell list via trade or free agent pickups in week 18.
Buy:
Rick Ankiel – has started all four games in the outfield for Atlanta since coming over from the Kansas City Royals in trade. The batting average can hurt you but if you are looking for some home runs late in the year, he is one guy that still might be out there on the waiver wire.
Danny Valencia – fantasy baseball owners are just starting to pick him up in mixed leagues at third base as his batting average continues to sit above .350. He has not shown any power with one home run in 114 at bats but if your team needs a batting average boost over the last two months, he is definitely someone to try to add to your roster
If you are looking for a third basemen with a little more power, then check out Chris Johnson of the Houston Astros. Johnson hit his fifth home run Wednesday night and is now hitting .352 with five home runs and 28 RBI in 142 at bats. I am not buying the average for a minute as his career minor league average was just .272, but he has some pop on his bat. Also working against him in the batting average department is his strike zone judgment with just six walks and 30 strikeouts.
Jeff Keppinger – the trade of Lance Berkman has propelled Keppinger into the number three or five hole in the batting order, giving him a chance for more RBI opportunities. With a .291 batting average and multi-position eligibility, he is good guy to own in the middle infield.
Chris Heisey - Heisey has been quietly producing in limited at bats and now is getting a longer look in center field because of it. His batting average is up to .306 for the season with seven home runs in 98 at bats. Though he has not stolen base yet, keep in mind he does have some stolen base potential with a 84% success rate in the minor leagues.
Sell:
The call up of rookie center fielder Peter Bourjos (buy) means Juan Rivera and Hideki Matsui will see a drop in at bats going forward. Rivera was out of the line up Tuesday and Matsui sat Wednesday night with a left-hander on the mound. Matsui is hitting only .179 against southpaws this season and is looking at a platoon the rest of the way.
John Buck – was just placed on the 15-day disabled list and with catching prospect J.P Arencibia (buy) called up from Triple-A where he was hitting .303 in 379 at bats with 31 home runs, Buck might not see the field much the rest of the season.
