Hold back your tears and contain your disappointment, but this is the final post in our pre-draft series on fantasy baseball sleepers for the 2010 season.
We’ve given you sleepers at catcher, infield sleepers and outfield sleepers, and even alerted you to starting pitcher sleeper picks that you need to be aware of on draft day.
Today, we round out our trip around the diamond by going to the bullpen and providing you with two can’t-miss names for 2010 who are primed to produce value higher than where you draft them: 2010 surprise Andrew Bailey and new Rays’ closer Rafael Soriano.
Fantasy Baseball Sleeper Pick: Closer Andrew Bailey, Oakland A’s
- #10th Drafted Closer – ADP 124(High/Low)
- Category: Primed for PrimeTime
I think Bailey is the next dominant closer to threaten Papelbon, Rivera, Nathan, Broxton. His stuff is downright nasty and should only get better.
The A’s pitching staff last year was very young, so one more year under their belt – plus a better Oakland offense should provide more Save Ops for Bailey in 2010. The home splits are Papelbon/Nathan esque.
I can see him delivering on an ADP 75 value and you are getting him at 125.
Fantasy Baseball Sleeper Pick: Closer Rafael Soriano, Tampa Bay Rays
- #18th Drafted Closer – ADP 155 (High 115 / Low 183)
- Category:Forget Me Not
The only thing that Tampa has been missing in the past 2 years in a shutdown closer. Their bullpen has been solid, but Troy Percival has seen better days and they really didn’t have anyone who could step up and be in that closer role.
The deal that brought Soriano to Tampa could end up being one of the best offseason moves.
Guys who have 10+ K/9 rates usually end up being great closers and I see no exception here. Soriano could easily be a top 10 closer this year and a prime example of why you DON’T pay for saves.
Make sure to check out the other posts in our sleeper series:
- Fantasy baseball sleepers: catcher
- Fantasy baseball sleepers: infielders
- Fantasy baseball sleepers: outfielders
- Fantasy baseball sleepers: starting pitchers
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* – Andrew Bailey photo credit: The Ghost of Moonlight Graham
