Mets Fantasy Baseball Burning Questions

Written by: Andrew Vazzano on 3rd April 2009

Mets Fantasy Baseball Burning Questions | read this item

I recently got the opportunity to ask a few questions to Roger Rotter, a fantasy baseball expert from FOX Fantasy Baseball.

I asked him about some of the Mets players and their possible fantasy implications for 2009. Here’s what he had to say:

BD: Jose Reyes is often called the “most exciting player in baseball.” Does this hold true in fantasy baseball?

RR: He belongs among the fantasy elite for his ability to bat .300 and lead the majors in runs and stolen bases. If he can add 20 homers, his stock rises even more.

BD: How do you see David Wright performing this season?

RR: He’s fantasy’s best third baseman and a top five pick overall. Few can match his ability to contribute excellent stats in five categories by batting .300, slugging 30 homers, competing for the league title in RBI, scoring 100 runs and stealing 20 bases in the same season.

BD: Johan Santana‘s first year in the NL was nothing short of spectacular. Will we see more teams challenging him since they now have a year of Santana under their belt?

RR: Batters have been challenging him since he’s been in the majors, and he’s succeeded wildly despite the pressures. In fact, Santana produced three straight seasons of 238-plus strikeouts and a sub-3.00 ERA with Minnesota against tougher American League hitting. At just age 30, expect another season of an ERA below 3.00, 200 K’s and a bid for 20 wins.

BD: Francisco Rodriguez ability is said to be declining. Still a worthwhile pickup for fantasy owners, and more importantly, the Mets?

RR: He’ll still be one of the top closers even if he regresses. He’s a big upgrade from last year’s replacements for Billy Wagner. They had little choice but to upgrade this crucial position. Fantasy-wise, the Mets’ potent lineup will help give him many opportunities to close, so he’ll have value even if his ERA and WHIP increase.

BD: Carlos Delgado had a monster second half in 2008 and is now in a contract year? Big year or big bust in 2009?

RR: Expect him to record his 10th season of at least 30 homers and 100 RBI, making him a bargain in many drafts. He’s an excellent choice to man the corner infield slot on fantasy squads.

BD: Luis Castillo has been one of the most embattled players on the Mets for the last 1.5 years. Any chance he performs well for the Mets and possibly (crazy) fantasy owners?

RR: He’ll help the Mets more than he assists fantasy squads. He can bat .300 again, but it’s unlikely he’ll score 100 runs or steal 30 bases, especially given that he’s fragile. There’s a long list of no-power, speedy second basemen that can be found on the waiver wire in mixed leagues. However, NL-only leagues will find that his 20 steals will help more.

BD: Daniel Murphy only has 151 at bats in the major leagues, but it looks like he’ll be the Mets starting LF. Is he worth a pick-up?

RR: He’s worth looking at in NL-only leagues that start five outfielders, but there’s little chance he’ll be a fantasy factor in mixed leagues. He hit 13 homers with 67 RBI, a .308 average, 14 steals and 56 runs in 95 games at Double A last year. He’ll be hard-pressed to duplicate those stats in a full season at the majors this season. This year will help determine if he can become a worthwhile fantasy player down the road.

BD: Thanks, Roger.

2009 FOX Fantasy Baseball is 100% free and features live scoring and custom setup options. It also offers a fantasy draft guide with expert analysis, team previews and positional rankings.

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