The fantasy sports junkie that resides under my calm exterior is itching for the new season to start. Every off-season move gets dissected in my brain in order to figure out what ramifications it will have for the fantasy community. Every trade, every signing, no matter how insignificant it seems has an effect on fantasy play.  In case you’ve been hibernating these past few months, here are some of the bigger moves made this offseason: Derek Lee will be downing crab cakes in Baltimore, Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez have shipped up to Boston, and Jayson Werth is now playing in Presidents Barack Obama’s back yard.

Before I jump into my American League East sleepers for 2011, I want to give a big shout out to the excellent job by our fantasy baseball columnist Christopher Wenrich for the work he has done over the past few months. While I was busy pursuing my acting career and relishing in the M.V.P campaign of Kevin Love for my fantasy basketball team, he has been providing smart and informative fantasy baseball coverage through his writings. Thanks Chris, and I think I speak for all of us fantasy nuts when I say that I look forward to reading your coverage throughout the 2011 baseball season.

There are still a boat load of players and trades that will rock the fantasy world before the San Francisco Giants hoist their championship banner in a few months. Until then, I plan on breaking down each division in both leagues to provide a list of ball players that I feel are sleepers this upcoming season.

American League East 2011 Sleepers

Baltimore Orioles

Brian Matusz: It’s not going to be long before we start associating Mr. Matusz’s name with the annual American League CY Young award. He has a divesting changeup and pitched extremely well down the stretch under new manager Buck Showalter, tallying five wins in his last six starts. The overall numbers were pedestrian (10-12/ 4.30/ 143 K’s) but he’s just getting started and  let’s not forget the cosmetic overhaul of the O’s lineup with the addition of Mark Reynolds, JJ Hardy, and Derek Lee.

Saves: Place all the members of their bullpen in a hat and whoever you pull out could be the O’s saves leaders in 2011. With Alfredo Simon’s legal troubles in the Dominican Republic, it’s a roll of the dice who Showalter will put in the game to nail down the ninth for the duration of the season.  Mike Gonzalez is still a sexy name, but his injuries and numbers the past few seasons have no place on your roster.

Matt Wieters: It’s tough for me to call Wieters a ‘‘sleeper’’ when everyone knows his name, but this is the season that you’ll want this cat patrolling your fantasy backstop. Enough can’t be said about the affect that the addition of Buck Showalter will have on every single one of Baltimore’s players which will have a ripple effect to Wieters offensive stats.

Derek Lee- How quickly we all forget the numbers Lee put up for years with the Cubbies. His draft day value will be very low because of last seasons miscue, but the man hit 35 homeruns and knocked in 111 during the 2009 season, a fact you should keep in mind.

Adam Jones- His sixth big league season will be his best and he has the tools to hit homeruns and steal bases for your fantasy team in 2011. Everyone in the fantasy community has been waiting for Jones to breakout and this is the season for that.

Tampa Bay Rays

Jeremy Hellickson- Draft him! It’s as simple as that. Hellickson will win the 2011 A.L. Rookie of the Year Award, will be an All-Star, and will help your team compete for a fantasy baseball world championship. He’s a beast.

Saves: Your guess is as good as mine. Wheeler, Soriano, and Balfour have all departed for greener pastures. I wouldn’t touch Kyle Farnsworth with a ten foot pole and suggest you hold off on drafting any Ray’s relievers till Madden tips his hand. The most likely predecessor to Soriano will be a guy you can fish out of the Waiver Wire Abyss at some point during the campaign.

Desmond Jennings: Carl Crawford 2.0?  Let’s slow down on that comparison for the time being, but this youngster is a cheetah on the base paths. I’d draft him, stash him, and if he blows up, start him. He has the type of speed which, if utilized correctly, can win you stolen bases each and every week.

New York Yankees

Derek Jeter: The captain? A sleeper? Arguably one of the most overrated fantasy players in a lot of owner’s eyes. Jeter is coming off his worst season as a big leaguer, but still compiled 111 runs and 18 stolen bases.  A bounce back campaign is in the works and for the first time in his story book career, you can draft him at a discount.

“I think 2010 was a challenging season for Jeter. He’s not used to having asubpar season, but that’s the way he has described his 2010. I don’t think Jeter is a.270 hitter, but it will be interesting to see what kind of a hitter he is in 2011.  If hestarts slowly, he will be forced to answer questions about whether 2010 has bled into 2011.  I find it relevant that Jeter decided to work with Kevin Long in the off-season.That’s the first time he’s done that. Obviously, he felt that he needed to make some changes”.

—Jack Curry, Yes Network.

Jesus Montero- Here’s what we know: Montero is a top prospect in baseball, every general manager covets him, Jorge Posada is the Yankees full-time designated hitter in 2011, and former Dodger All-Star Russell Martin has been added to the roster. What does this all mean? Time will tell, but if he breaks camp with the Bombers he needs to be on your roster. He is projected as a number three or four hole hitter and the ceiling is limitless. Of course, he may make his bones and score your team fantasy points as a member of a different club if Brian Cashman feels left out of the offseason party and makes a splash via trade.

Jorge Posada- A member of the elusive core-four which includes Jeter, Rivera, and Pettitte, Jorge has been nothing more than pedestrian for the past few seasons. A lot is being said of Posada’s move to designated hitter this season as a relief to his aging body but I’m not buying it. Sure, he gets banged up with the wear and tear at the grueling position, but an injury prone player finds ways to spend time on the disabled list no matter what position he plays. I recommended passing on him draft day 2011.

“Moving to DH should actually help Posada’s value for the short-term, as he’ll still enjoy catcher eligibility this year but won’t have tohandle the wear-and-tear of playing the position every day.  Although he battled injuries last year, his rate stats last year were not too faroff from his career marks, so DH’ing this year should presumably allow him to remain healthy and in the lineup with a little more frequency, and therefore also be more productive.  He’s not a player I would target, but I’d be satisfied with him as my catcher in any AL-only or two-catcher league.”

—Cory Schwartz, MLB Network-Fantasy 411.

Toronto Blue Jays

Kyle Drabek- His spot in the rotation is in question at the moment and Blue Jays ownership may want Drabek to start the year polishing his craft in Las Vegas. Either way, he needs your attention on draft day. He has all the tools to be a stud starter and if he himself floating in the Waiver Wire Abyss post draft, monitor his situation while you sleep.

Saves- Dotel, Cordero, and Rauch headline a who’s who of potential closers this up coming baseball season. I’d put my money on Rauch landing the job out of camp and was very impressed with how he handled the ninth inning job with the Twinkies last season.

Travis Snider- He’ll be floating in the Waiver Wire Abyss following your draft and if he starts off the year strong, pounce. He finished 2010 strong and was playing well to start the year before a long stay on the disabled list.

Boston Red Sox

Jarrod Saltalamacchia- I may be on my own island on this one, but I think Salty is going to have a fine year calling Fenway Park home and having an All-Star team in front of him. I’m not saying I think he should be your number one catcher in 2011, but I do feel he will put up solid numbers as an injury filler or second catcher opinion. Plus, don’t you want to see that tremendous last name on your computer screen every time you stare at your roster.

“Why should this year be any different than any year with a good Texas lineup and good hitting park? Recovering from thumb surgery and a good year is .250 BA   12- 15 HR   65 RBI.’’

—Lenny Melnick, Fantasy Pros 911.

Josh Beckett- His 2010 was a wash, which will leave owners hesitant to click their mouse’s on his name come draft day. Poppy cock! If healthy, Beckett is the ace of a ball club with a revamped bullpen that’s well on it’s way to winning 100 games. You don’t want this guy on your opponent’s squad.

Jay Ferraro is the Fantasy Baseball Editor for Baseball Digest.com. He also hosts Pigskin Pundits and The Waiver Wire Abyss on blogtalkradio.com. You can reach Jay at fantasylife@juno.com

LISTEN LIVE OR DOWNLOAD ARCHIVE HERE

Every Wednesday from 11:00am-1:00pm EDT, Baseball Digest presents “Baseball Digest LIVE“, a weekly internet radio program that covers the American Pastime from every angle.

Hosted by Baseball Digest Online Editor Mark Healey, each episode features some of the biggest names in MLB and beyond.

Crafted each week by the show’s producer and BD’s Fantasy Baseball expert Jay Ferraro, listeners of “Baseball Digest LIVE” will hear Fantasy Baseball advice, historical perspectives with interviews of former MLB players and award winning authors, as well as the lowdown the day-to-day action of MLB baseball with the country’s top baseball writers and anaylsts.

Jay Ferraro is the producer of Baseball Digest LIVE , Gotham Baseball LIVE and Pigskin Pundits.  He is also the Fantasy Editor for Gotham Gridiron and Baseballdigest.com. As well as a columnist for Baseball Digest Magazine and Assignment Editor for Gothambaseball.com. You can reach him at Jay_Ferraro@Juno.com , follow him on Twitter , add him on Facebook and check out his Official Website.

Admittedly, I  made  a mistake. In 96 at bats, Beltran is batting .219 with 4 runs scored, 1 homerun, and 9 RBI. Yesterday morning, I sent Beltran into the Waiver Wire Abyss and will not be upset if he starts hitting on someone else’s ball club. I couldn’t stand looking at his name penciled into my lineup during those 96 meaningless at bats. There is no doubt in my mind that he will be claimed off waivers by one of my competitors within the next few days.

Every year during drafts there are a few all star players who will begin the season on the disabled list. In 2010, those players included Carlos Beltran, Brandon Webb, Eric Bedard, and Brian Roberts. With the status of their injuries unknown to fantasy team owners, these sexy draft choices fall to the later rounds, leaving owners with itchy trigger fingers to try to be the winner of the fantasy lottery.  You can’t win if you don’t play the game, but thus far in 2010 it looks like all of the owners who drafted these injured players may have lost. My days of rolling the dice with injured players on draft day has come to an end thanks to the Mets centerfielder.

Jay Ferraro is the Executive Producer of Baseball Digest LIVE and Gotham Baseball LIVE.  He is also the Fantasy Editor for Gotham Gridiron and Baseballdigest.com. As well as a columnist for Baseball Digest Magazine and Assignment Editor for Gothambaseball.com. You can reach him at Jay_Ferraro@Juno.com , follow him on Twitter , add him on Facebook and check out his Official Website.

Jay and Hawk are more than just New York baseball! They cover all of Major League Baseball’s hot topics in the “Teepee Talk” segment, all New York City sports on their “Around The Apple” segment, and what it all means for your fantasy teams in “The Waiver Wire Abyss.”

Please click the link to listen live or to past shows: Gotham Baseball LIVE

Jay Ferraro is the Executive Producer of Baseball Digest LIVE and Gotham Baseball LIVE.  He is also the Fantasy Editor for Baseballdigest.com and the Gotham Gridiron. As well as a columnist for Baseball Digest Magazine and Assignment Editor for Gothambaseball.com. You can reach him at Jay_Ferraro@Juno.com , follow him on Twitter , add him on Facebook and check out his Official Website.

LISTEN LIVE OR DOWNLOAD ARCHIVE HERE

Every Wednesday from 11:00am-1:00pm EDT, Baseball Digest presents “Baseball Digest LIVE“, a weekly internet radio program that covers the American Pastime from every angle.

Hosted by Baseball Digest Online Editor Mark Healey, each episode features some of the biggest names in MLB and beyond.

Crafted each week by the show’s Executive Producer and BD’s Fantasy Baseball expert Jay Ferraro, listeners of “Baseball Digest LIVE” will hear Fantasy Baseball advice, historical perspectives with interviews of former MLB players and award winning authors, as well as the lowdown the day-to-day action of MLB baseball with the country’s top baseball writers and anaylsts.

Jay Ferraro is the Executive Producer of Baseball Digest LIVE and Gotham Baseball LIVE.  He is also the Fantasy Editor for Baseballdigest.com and the Gotham Gridiron. As well as a columnist for Baseball Digest Magazine and Assignment Editor for Gothambaseball.com. You can reach him at Jay_Ferraro@Juno.com , follow him on Twitter , add him on Facebook and check out his Official Website.

Fantasy Football is just around the corner and the guys tackle player rankings, position battles, sleepers, hot rookies and the AFC East.

Please click the link to listen live or to past shows: Gotham Baseball LIVE

Jay Ferraro is the Executive Producer of Baseball Digest LIVE and Gotham Baseball LIVE. He is also the Fantasy Editor for Baseballdigest.com as well as a columnist for Baseball Digest Magazine and Assignment Editor for Gothambaseball.com. You can reach him at Jay_Ferraro@Juno.com , follow him on Twitter , add him on Facebook and check out his Official Website.

Jay and Hawk are more than just New York baseball! They cover all of Major League Baseball’s hot topics in the “Teepee Talk” segment, all New York City sports on their “Around The Apple” segment, and what it all means for your fantasy teams in “The Waiver Wire Abyss.”

Please click the link to listen live or to past shows: Gotham Baseball LIVE

Jay Ferraro is the Executive Producer of Baseball Digest LIVE and Gotham Baseball LIVE. He is also the Fantasy Editor for Baseballdigest.com as well as a columnist for Baseball Digest Magazine and Assignment Editor for Gothambaseball.com. You can reach him at Jay_Ferraro@Juno.com , follow him on Twitter , add him on Facebook and check out his Official Website.

Jeff Niemann and Wade Davis are both banged up, but the Rays rotation continues to plug along smoothly thanks to the glove of a youngster named Jeremy Hellickson.  The right hander has been called up from the farm once before, but unlike last time, this won’t be a one game visit. He has torn through the Rays minor league system and is on track to become the next fantasy beast in the Ray’s Rotation.  After his August 2^nd debut against the Twins, Hellickson is here to stay and is a must add in all formats across the fantasy community with debut numbers of 7IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 6 K.

It may be difficult to locate Hellickson swimming in the waiver wire abyss because keen fantasy owners have been watching his every move since double-A, or at the very least, have snatched him up following his start against theTwins.  He will be facing a banged up Tigers lineup at home tonight, so except him to pitch very well. If you don’t own him in any of your leagues and he gets shelled tonight, try and pry him away from his current owner.  Jeremy Hellickson is a beast. Period.

Jay Ferraro is the Executive Producer of Baseball Digest LIVE and Gotham Baseball LIVE.  He is also the Fantasy Editor for Gotham Gridiron and Baseballdigest.com as well as a columnist for Baseball Digest Magazine and Assignment Editor for Gothambaseball.com.You can reach him at Jay_Ferraro@Juno.com , follow him on Twitter , add him on Facebook and check out his Official Website.

LISTEN LIVE OR DOWNLOAD ARCHIVE HERE

Every Wednesday from 11:00am-1:00pm EDT, Baseball Digest presents “Baseball Digest LIVE“, a weekly internet radio program that covers the American Pastime from every angle.

Hosted by Baseball Digest Online Editor Mark Healey, each episode features some of the biggest names in MLB and beyond.

Crafted each week by the show’s Executive Producer and BD’s Fantasy Baseball expert Jay Ferraro, listeners of “Baseball Digest LIVE” will hear Fantasy Baseball advice, historical perspectives with interviews of former MLB players and award winning authors, as well as the lowdown the day-to-day action of MLB baseball with the country’s top baseball writers and anaylsts.

Jay Ferraro is the Executive Producer of Baseball Digest LIVE and Gotham Baseball LIVE.  He is also the Fantasy Editor for Baseballdigest.com as well as a columnist for Baseball Digest Magazine and Assignment Editor for Gothambaseball.com. You can reach him at Jay_Ferraro@Juno.com , follow him on Twitter , add him on Facebook and check out his Official Website.

Adam Ronis of  Sirius XM Fantasy Sports Channel chats about fantasy baseball.

The trade deadline has gone and past. We break down the winners and losers with Gregg Synder of Doublegsports.com

Baseballinsider.com columnist, Kevin Orris weighs in all the hottest topics around Major League Baseball.

The biggest surprise in baseball are the Padres and Dan Hayes explains why the Padres aren’t going away anytime soon.

Josh Landsburg talks about the recent Roy Oswalt trade and what the Phillies need to do in their defense of back-to-back National League pennants.

LISTEN LIVE OR DOWNLOAD ARCHIVE HERE

Every Wednesday from 11:00am-1:00pm EDT, Baseball Digest presents “Baseball Digest LIVE“, a weekly internet radio program that covers the American Pastime from every angle.

Hosted by Baseball Digest Online Editor Mark Healey, each episode features some of the biggest names in MLB and beyond.

Crafted each week by the show’s Executive Producer and BD’s Fantasy Baseball expert Jay Ferraro, listeners of “Baseball Digest LIVE” will hear Fantasy Baseball advice, historical perspectives with interviews of former MLB players and award winning authors, as well as the lowdown the day-to-day action of MLB baseball with the country’s top baseball writers and anaylsts.

Jay Ferraro is the Executive Producer of Baseball Digest LIVE and Gotham Baseball LIVE.  He is also the Fantasy Editor for Baseballdigest.com as well as a columnist for Baseball Digest Magazine and Assignment Editor for Gothambaseball.com. You can reach him at Jay_Ferraro@Juno.com , follow him on Twitter , add him on Facebook and check out his Official Website.

On today’s “TGIFantasy Baseball & Football” edition of Gotham Baseball LIVE, the guys discuss who to pitch or ditch, prospects on the farm, who is hot or not and buy/sell candidates.

Fantasy Football is just around the corner and the guys tackle player rankings, position battles, sleepers, hot rookies, and the AFC West with GBL’s Fantasy Football insider Cory Parson of Sirius/XM Fantasy Sports Radio.

Jay and Hawk are more than just New York baseball! They cover all of Major League Baseball’s hot topics in the “Teepee Talk” segment, all New York City sports on their “Around The Apple” segment, and what it all means for your fantasy teams in “The Waiver Wire Abyss.”

Please click the link to listen live or to past shows: Gotham Baseball LIVE

Jay Ferraro is the Executive Producer of Baseball Digest LIVE and Gotham Baseball LIVE. He is also the Fantasy Editor for Baseballdigest.com as well as a columnist for Baseball Digest Magazine and Assignment Editor for Gothambaseball.com.You can reach him at Jay_Ferraro@Juno.com , follow him on Twitter , add him on Facebook and check out his Official Website.

Paul Grecco of  Sirius XM Fantasy Sports Channel chats about fantasy baseball.

The rumor mill is buzzing, Jason Lempert of The Bleacher Report and CBSsports.com gives us the latest updates.

Gotham Baseball columnist, Jesse Paguaga weighs in all the hottest topics around Major League Baseball.

Author Steven Selzer joins us to chat about his latest book “Meet the Real Joe Black”.

LISTEN LIVE OR DOWNLOAD ARCHIVE HERE

Every Wednesday from 11:00am-1:00pm EDT, Baseball Digest presents “Baseball Digest LIVE“, a weekly internet radio program that covers the American Pastime from every angle.

Hosted by Baseball Digest Online Editor Mark Healey, each episode features some of the biggest names in MLB and beyond.

Crafted each week by the show’s Executive Producer and BD’s Fantasy Baseball expert Jay Ferraro, listeners of “Baseball Digest LIVE” will hear Fantasy Baseball advice, historical perspectives with interviews of former MLB players and award winning authors, as well as the lowdown the day-to-day action of MLB baseball with the country’s top baseball writers and anaylsts.

Jay Ferraro is the Executive Producer of Baseball Digest LIVE and Gotham Baseball LIVE.  He is also the Fantasy Editor for Baseballdigest.com as well as a columnist for Baseball Digest Magazine and Assignment Editor for Gothambaseball.com. You can reach him at Jay_Ferraro@Juno.com , follow him on Twitter , add him on Facebook and check out his Official Website.

Slide Pettitte into your DL spot if you still have one and drop Pelfrey and Burnett into the abyss. While you’re in the abyss, I suggest you snag a few starters that can give you some quality innings while you wait for injured players to return.  Get those fantasy football thoughts out of your head. Yes, Ryan Matthews is a beast, but you have to stay focused on baseball for the moment.

Brett Cecil: 8 wins, 68K’s, 3.99 ERA

The only hiccup in Cecil’s 2010 campaign was in mid June during Interleague play verses the Phillies,  Cardinals, and Padres. He is quietly having a strong season which is getting no respect from the fantasy community.  Add him to your roster, however pay close attention to matchups for the rest of the season.

Freddy Garcia: 9 wins, 61K’s, 4.37 ERA

If someone tried telling me before the season that Garcia would have 9 wins coming out of the All Star break, I would have called them a fool. Garcia has surprised fantasy owners that have been riding the wave and luckily for them, it may not crash until the end of the season.  He isn’t the greatest option but,  just like Cecil, can give you quality starts if you pay close attention to matchups.

Derek Lowe: 10 wins, 75K’s, 4.39 ERA

Lowe has been up and down all season but has solid numbers and plays on a first place ball club. He also has a solid pen locking down the eighth and ninth innings and has historically always pitched well in the second half of seasons.  Grab him quick because a strong second half is upon us and the win total will be high with Braves GM, Frank Wren, having brought on the offensive glove of Alex Gonzalez.

Ben Sheets:  4 wins, 84K’s, 4.53 ERA

I have been calling on Sheets all season long as a second half stud. He will be playing for the Mets, Phillies, or Cardinals and will pitch like the beast he once was. I sound like a broken record and have already snagged him on all of my leagues across the board. If he lands in an American League rotation, please disregard all of this praise.

Rick Porcello: 8IP, 1 ER, 6 K, 0 BB (July 17^th vs Indians)

Guess who’s back? Porcello returned to the big leagues with a vengeance and stomped his foot on the Cleveland Indians teepee’s.  He has the pedigree to turn things around on a puzzling 2010 season and it will only take one more solid start for fantasy owners to scoop him out of the abyss.

Jay Ferraro is the Executive Producer of Baseball Digest LIVE and Gotham Baseball LIVE.  He is also the Fantasy Editor for Baseballdigest.com as well as a columnist for Baseball Digest Magazine and Assignment Editor for Gothambaseball.com. You can reach him at Jay_Ferraro@Juno.com , follow him on Twitter , add him on Facebook and check out his Official Website.

On today’s “Waiver Wire Abyss” edition of Gotham Baseball LIVE, the guys discuss who to pitch or ditch, prospects on the farm, who is hot or not and buy/sell candidates with special guest Lenny Melnick of Sirius/XM Fantasy Sports Radio “The FantasyPros911 Show on XM 147/Sirius 211.

Fantasy Football is just around the corner and the guys tackle player rankings, position battles, sleepers, and hot rookies with Cory Parson of  Sirius/XM Fantasy Sports Radio.

Jay and Hawk are more than just New York baseball! They cover all of Major League Baseball’s hot topics in the “Teepee Talk” segment, all New York City sports on their “Around The Apple” segment, and what it all means for your fantasy teams in “The Waiver Wire Abyss.”

Please click the link to listen live or to past shows:  Gotham Baseball LIVE

Jay Ferraro is the Executive Producer of Baseball Digest LIVE and Gotham Baseball LIVE.  He is also the Fantasy Editor for Baseballdigest.com as well as a columnist for Baseball Digest Magazine and Assignment Editor for Gothambaseball.com. You can reach him at Jay_Ferraro@Juno.com , follow him on Twitter , add him on Facebook and check out his Official Website.

The All Star Break is the key time to reevaluate your team and makes moves that will allow you to hold on to a playoff spot, make a serious run at a world championship, or try to crawl back from the depths of hell. No matter where your team stands, moves should be made. If your team has held first place in the first half, don’t rest on your laurels; Fantasy Baseball championships are won and lost in the second half. There are plenty of “sell high, buy low” candidates that can help you get to the home stretch.

Matt Capps: Sell High

The Nationals struck gold this year by signing Matt Capps in the offseason, a move that had a huge payoff for fantasy owners who took a flier on him in the late rounds. He has tallied 23 saves and has started to draw interest from many clubs in need of bullpen help. Once traded to a contender, he will be used as a set man and save very few games, if any. With the Nationals in the basement of the National League East and Drew Storen waiting in the wings, it is time to say thank you and goodbye to Capps.

Ben Sheet: Buy Low

First things first: Toss his first-half stats in the garbage. In some leagues he may be floating around in the waiver wire abyss, in which case I recommend scooping him up ASAP. Come July 31^st,  Sheets is going to be toeing the rubber for a National League squad who is in the playoff race. Once he returns to the junior circuit, he will be facing lineups that are much weaker and include pitchers, not to mention he will have a much stronger offense behind him than he does in Oakland.  When Matt Holiday was traded out of town on the last trade deadline, his fantasy value sky rocketed and Sheets is on the same path.

Phil Hughes: Sell High

11-2 / 3.65 ERA / 91 K

These numbers are very sexy. He plays for a team with the best record on the planet, has Mariano Rivera as his closer, and an infield destined for the Hall of Fame. However, between the newly anointed “Hughes Rules”, never surpassing 86.0 innings in his career (101.0 as of the All Star break), and a possibility of a return to the bullpen if Brian Cashman finds he can’t address the Yankees issues via the trade market, Hughes is very questionable for the second half. It’s time to cut ties with Hughes and try to get a strong return on his first half performance.

Jason Frasor: Buy Low

Fish him out of the waiver wire abyss and store him on your bench if you need saves moving forward in the second half. A Kevin Gregg trade is imminent and Frasor saved 11 games for the Blue Jays in 2009. During spring training, Jays manager Cito Gaston  named Frasor the closer and will do so again very soon.

Ted Lilly: Buy Low

Toss Lilly’s first half numbers in the garbage next to Ben Sheets because a change of scenery is on the horizon. Lilly has always been a reliable and serviceable fantasy option, but he has been surrounded by an awful Cubs team whose only excitement comes from Carlos Zambrano’s tirades. Buy low and reap the benefits of Ted Lilly, starting pitcher for the New York Mets or St. Louis Cardinals.

Jay Ferraro is the Executive Producer of Baseball Digest LIVE and Gotham Baseball LIVE.  He is also the Fantasy Editor for Baseballdigest.com as well as a columnist for Baseball Digest Magazine and Assignment Editor for Gothambaseball.com. You can reach him at Jay_Ferraro@Juno.com , follow him on Twitter , add him on Facebook and check out his Official Website.

And that got me thinking… what a boring Hall of Fame class! In this past voting both Bert Blyleven and Roberto Alomar fell just short of the 75% needed to be enshrined in Cooperstown. Blyleven got 400 votes (74.2 percent) and Alomar got 397 votes (73.7 percent). Both are likely to get in on the 2011 ballot which will also feature names such as: Jeff Bagwell, Kevin Brown, John Franco, Juan Gonzalez, Al Leiter, Tino Martinez, Rafael Palmiero, Benito Santiago, and Larry Walker. All were great players, but none are hall of famers in my book

Click Here To Read More At Gotham Baseball.

Click Here To Read More At Gotham Baseball.

Today’s lineup of guests include: Howard Megdal, who writes for SNY.tv, Capital New York, MLBTradeRumors.com, NYBaseballDigest.com and is running for GM of the New York Mets. WFAN columnist Jason Keidel gives us his two cents on where “The King” is going to land. And  the YES networks Bob Lorenz weighs in on the Yankees recent road trip and the Yankees headed to the All Star Game.

Jay and Hawk are more than just New York baseball! They cover all of Major League Baseball’s hot topics in the “Teepee Talk” segment, all New York City sports on their “Around The Apple” segment, and what it all means for your fantasy teams in “The Waiver Wire Abyss.”

Please click the link to listen live or to past shows:  Gotham Baseball LIVE

Jay Ferraro is the Executive Producer of Baseball Digest LIVE and Gotham Baseball LIVE.  He is also the Fantasy Editor for Baseballdigest.com as well as a columnist for Baseball Digest Magazine and Assignment Editor for Gothambaseball.com. You can reach him at Jay_Ferraro@Juno.com , follow him on Twitter , add him on Facebook and check out his Official Website.

On today’s “TGIFantasy Baseball And Football” edition of Gotham Baseball LIVE, the guys discuss who to pitch or ditch, prospects on the farm, who is hot or not and buy/sell candidates with special guest Lenny Melnick of Sirius XM Fantasy Sports Radio’s “The FantasyPros911 Show on XM 147/Sirius 211

Fantasy Football is just around the corner and the guys tackle player rankings, position battles, sleepers, and hot rookies with Cory Parson of  Sirius XM  Fantasy Sports Radio.

Jay and Hawk are more than just New York baseball! They cover all of Major League Baseball’s hot topics in the “Teepee Talk” segment, all New York City sports on their “Around The Apple” segment, and what it all means for your fantasy teams in “The Waiver Wire Abyss.”

Please click the link to listen live or to past shows:  Gotham Baseball LIVE

Jay Ferraro is the Executive Producer of Baseball Digest LIVE and Gotham Baseball LIVE.  He is also the Fantasy Editor for Baseballdigest.com as well as a columnist for Baseball Digest Magazine and Assignment Editor for Gothambaseball.com. You can reach him at Jay_Ferraro@Juno.com , follow him on Twitter , add him on Facebook and check out his Official Website.

The rumor mill is buzzing and Jim Bowden, the co-host Inside Pitch on MLBNetworkRadio (Sirius 210/XM 175) 2pm-6pm EDT) gives us all the latest chatter.

Phillies editor for BD.com Josh Landsburg, who’s also the host of The Second Shift on 1490 WBCB AM and WBCB1490.com weighs in all the hottest topics w the Phils and Major League Baseball.

LISTEN LIVE OR DOWNLOAD ARCHIVE HERE

Every Wednesday from 11:00am-1:00pm EDT, Baseball Digest presents “Baseball Digest LIVE“, a weekly internet radio program that covers the American Pastime from every angle.

Hosted by Baseball Digest Online Editor Mark Healey, each episode features some of the biggest names in MLB and beyond.

Crafted each week by the show’s Executive Producer and BD’s Fantasy Baseball expert Jay Ferraro, listeners of “Baseball Digest LIVE” will hear Fantasy Baseball advice, historical perspectives with interviews of former MLB players and award winning authors, as well as the lowdown the day-to-day action of MLB baseball with the country’s top baseball writers and anaylsts.

Jay Ferraro is the Executive Producer of Baseball Digest LIVE and Gotham Baseball LIVE.  He is also the Fantasy Editor for Baseballdigest.com as well as a columnist for Baseball Digest Magazine and Assignment Editor for Gothambaseball.com. You can reach him at Jay_Ferraro@Juno.com , follow him on Twitter , add him on Facebook and check out his Official Website.