Mostly MLB Notes: Albert Pujols’ decline, Carlos Santana’s emergence and examining David Price

Source: Roto Arcade by Dalton Del Don

We held a mid-season draft Monday, and I ended up taking Albert Pujols with the 19th pick. Judging by Yahoo’s updated rest of season rankings, I guess this could be considered something of a reach. I’m not necessarily going to argue against that, but it’s remarkable someone who was a unanimous top-three pick last year and was generally considered a top-10 pick this year is now a

Shuffle Up: Carlos Gomez, the real deal

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

When it comes to fake baseball, the outfield is where the fun is. The first couple of rounds will always include some of these stat-grabbing giants, and yet the waiver wire in an average mixer consistently offers something for the discerning shopper. Add it all up and there's a lot to digest.

The prices you see in this piece are roughly how I rank the roto-eligible outfielders going forward. What we've seen to this point is merely an audition; if you want a list of the top players to this point, there are plenty of places you can access that.

Don't obsess over the prices in a vacuum: what really matters is how the players relate to one another. Assume a 5x5 scoring format, as always, and players at the same price

Shuffle Up: Carlos Gomez, the read deal

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

When it comes to fake baseball, the outfield is where the fun is. The first couple of rounds will always include some of these stat-grabbing giants, and yet the waiver wire in an average mixer consistently offers something for the discerning shopper. Add it all up and there's a lot to digest.

The prices you see in this piece are roughly how I rank the roto-eligible outfielders going forward. What we've seen to this point is merely an audition; if you want a list of the top players to this point, there are plenty of places you can access that.

Don't obsess over the prices in a vacuum: what really matters is how the players relate to one another. Assume a 5x5 scoring format, as always, and players at the same price

Week Four Waiver Report

Source: Fake Teams by AnthonyCalanni

Week Three Results

Jason Vargas - 3.3 IP, 9 hits, 5 ER, 2 BB, 0 Ks, Loss

Tommy Hanson - 6 IP, 6 hits, 0 ER, 4 BB, 2 Ks, Win

Ross Detwiler - 7 IP, 7 hits, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 Ks, Win

Chris Capuano - 2 IP, 5 hits, 5 ER, 2 BB, 0 ks, Loss

Conor Gillaspie - 2-17

A.J. Pollock - 7-23, 2 RBI, 2 runs, 1 SB

Nate Schierholtz - 4-19, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2 runs, 1

2013 Rankings: Outfielders

Source: Fantasy Baseball 365

You can find a bit of everything in the outfield. There are players who contribute across the board, and others who make waves in single categories. There are established veterans with lengthy track records, and young players on the cusp of becoming superstars. Oh, and the position is also home to two players who are going one and two overall in many fantasy drafts.

Rank First Name Last

Nate Schierholtz (OF-CHC)

Source: TG Fantasy Baseball

Cubs | Nate Schierholtz expected to see time in RF. Chicago Cubs OF Nate Schierholtz is expected to get most of the playing time in ... Source: http://www.kffl.com

Winter Meetings Wrap Up

Source: Baseball Guys by Ray Flowers

There were plenty of big names thrown around town, chief among them Josh Hamilton and Zack Greinke, but in the end there were no earth shattering moves at the Baseball Winter Meetings. There were a handful of moves involving useful players however, so let’s take a moment to wrap up the meetings, and the week, by looking at some of that movement.

Joe Blanton, who I’ll have a write up on in the coming days, signed a two year, $15 million

Nate Schierholtz: One-Year Deal With Cubs

Source: RotoWire.com MLB

Nate Schierholtz: Schierholtz agreed to a one-year deal with the Cubs on Wednesday, Jerry Crasnick of MLB.com reports. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

Nate Schierholtz inks one-year deal with Cubs - Nate Schierholtz | PHI

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reports that the Cubs have signed Nate Schierholtz to a one-year contract.

Yanks front-runners to sign Nate Schierholtz - Nate Schierholtz | PHI

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

ESPN's Buster Olney reports that the Yankees are the early front-runners to sign free agent outfielder Nate Schierholtz.

Nate Schierholtz: (Toe) Placed on 15-Day DL

Source: RotoWire.com MLB

Nate Schierholtz: Schierholtz (toe) has been placed on the 15-day DL, csnphilly.com reports. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

Schierholtz placed on DL with fractured toe - Nate Schierholtz | PHI

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

Phillies placed OF Nate Schierholtz on the 15-day disabled list with a fractured big toe.

Hitter Ranks: Fresh starts

Source: Sporting News Fantasy Source Baseball

A few players were affected by this week's trade deadline whether they changed teams or not. Here are the movers in the latest set of hitter rankings:

3 UP

Domonic Brown, OF, Phillies. With Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence both gone, there are plenty of at-bats up for grabs in Philly's outfield. Brown, a former top prospect, figures to get the chance to sink or swim as the Phillies evaluate their options for the future. Although Brown has struggled in the majors (and even this year at Triple-A), he still has intriguing power/speed

Dodgers And Giants Glasses Are Half Phil’d

Source: Razzball by grey@razzball.com (Grey Albright)

Shane Victorino has long been a benchmark for many other players’ production here at Razzball.  Dexter Fowler is Feign Victorino; Alejandro De Aza is Should-Hit-The-Gym-And-Train Victorino; Ryan Zimmerman is Bane of my Existence-rino.  I look at Victorino like a proud papa.  Back in 2008, when people wanted to drop him after he started losing time to Geoff Jenkins, I told them to hold tight, he’ll be fine.  (BTW, the week Victorino lost his job for about 3 days to Geoff Jenkins, elsewhere Tulowitzki was hurt.  The more things change, the more whatever that cliche is.)  Victorino went on to have a 14/36 season in 2008 and a Razzstar was born.  When he was hurt, we were crying for the Hawaiian.  When he was

Ricescapades: Day of the Hunter

Source: Fake Teams by Paul Rice

The trading deadline has come and gone, and the eleventh hour craziness we were all looking forward to certainly didn't disappoint. Oh, what a time to be an obsessive Twitter junkee. Among the major moves this morning, the Phillies traded outfielder Hunter Pence to the Giants for fourth outfielder Nate Schierholtz and two minor leaguers. This marks the second year in a row that Pence has been dealt at the deadline, and his acquisition is intended to provide a

Trade Deadline: Dempster to Texas

Source: Sporting News Fantasy Source Baseball

DEMPSTER TO RANGERS. After flirting with seemingly every contender in baseball, the Chicago Cubs traded Ryan Dempster to the Texas Rangers.

The veteran pitcher is enjoying a career year with a 2.25 ERA and 1.04 WHIP, and the move to Texas should give him a chance for more wins.

That is, if he can handle the pressure. The Rangers clearly are looking for a pitcher they can trust in the postseason, and Dempster has pitched in just two postseason games, both during his time with Chicago.

It's better to gauge what Dempster can give owners for the next two months. A look at his line over the past three years in August (9-5, 3.47 ERA, 99 Ks) and September (6-7, 3.42 ERA, 95 Ks) suggests he'll

Trade Deadline: Pence to Giants

Source: Sporting News Fantasy Source Baseball

The Fantasy Source will be keeping tabs on all the major fantasy moves through Tuesday's trade deadline. Follow along here:

REDS BOLSTER 'PEN WITH BROXTON (3:30 pm). Jonathan Broxton is headed to Cincinnati, according to Ken Rosenthal. Broxton will likely take over as the Reds' primary righthanded setup man, but it would be surprising if he challenged incumbent closer Aroldis Chapman for saves.

The ninth-inning situation in Kansas City is a little cloudier. Greg Holland is the most obvious option to take over as closer, as he's posted a solid 2.70/1.00 line with 12 Ks in 10 innings since the All-Star break, but both Aaron

Nate Schierholtz (OF-PHI)

Source: TG Fantasy Baseball

Phillies trade Hunter Pence to Giants but still have his bobblehead day scheduled for Aug. 21 (Big League Stew) - One year after acquiring him from the Houston Astros, the Philadelphia Phillies are sending Hunter Pence to the San Francisco Giants in a deadline day deal. That's good news for the cost-cutting Phillies, but for one major problem: The team still has a Hunter Pence bobblehead day scheduled for Aug. 21. Phillies.com was still touting  the giveaway as of Tuesday afternoon. And it says a bobblehead will go to "all fans" at Citizens Bank Park, which likely means they've stockpiled about 45,000 of these babies in south Philly. So with Pence headed west, what are their options? Adding a bonus pack of orange-and-black

Philadelphia Freedom: Shane Victorino traded to Dodgers, Hunter Pence to Giants

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

The final two hours of the Trade Deadline are open, could belong to anyone. But without question Phillies GM Ruben Amaro was the mover and shaker of the morning round. Everything that's not tied down in Philadelphia must go, and it must go now. (Does anyone have the contract details for Frank Reynolds? That organization needs to get cheaper and younger, too.)

Amaro recharged his phone overnight and quickly put it into action Tuesday. The Phillies shipped Hunter Pence to San Francisco and parceled Shane Victorino to Los Angeles. If you've got outfield (or even short field) experience, please meet up with Charlie Manuel at the sandlot, show him what you've got.

Victorino's roto value

Hunter Pence: Officially a Giant

Source: RotoWire.com MLB

Hunter Pence: Pence has officially been traded to the Giants along with cash considerations for Nate Schierholtz, Tommy Joseph and Seth Rosin, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia reports. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

Trade Day Diary

Source: Baseball Guys by Ray Flowers

The 2012 MLB Trade Deadline is upon us. At BaseballGuys.com there’s no way we could sit out the action which figures to be hot and heavy. We’ll be checking in throughout the day with some thoughts on all of the moves that you need to be made aware of as teams begin to set themselves up for the push for the playoffs.

RUMORS

JUSTIN UPTON/MATT GARZA: According to

Closing Time: Travis Snider takes his post-hype file to Pittsburgh

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

Monday wasn't a big day on the Trade Deadline front, but I have an idea we'll see a good chunk of action over the next five hours. Let's do a quick lap around the sandlots first, then bunker down for the stretch run.

• The key number to remember with Travis Snider is 24 — that's his age. Despite all the hype with this guy, the trips up and down the Toronto system, the hits, the strikeouts, the setbacks … he's still on the escalator, a young player who's still capable of fulfilling the stardom everyone expected a few years ago.

The Pirates added Snider on Monday, sending pitcher Brad Lincoln to the Blue Jays. It's an interesting swap of 2006 buzz babies;

Daily Joust: The Weekend Ahead

Source: Baseball Guys by Ray Flowers

It’s Friday, and that means a couple of things. One, it’s about time to cut loose and have some fun (and don’t think I’m not going to this weekend given that I will be in The Vegas. That’s right, The Oracle in Vegas… only good things can happen given that setup, right?). Two, I’ll be giving some plays for Friday and Saturday that would seem to be in prime position to succeed.

CONTEST

Like Bond’s Martini, Jon More Shaken, Lestered

Source: Razzball by grey@razzball.com (Grey Albright)

It’s not easy to give up 11 runs in 4 innings.  You have to have the faith of your manager, first of all.  Second of all, why does Jon Lester have the faith of his manager?  Or anyone, for that matter.  After today, his ERA is at 5.46 and WHIP is 1.46.  Symmetry is about all he has going for him.  You don’t get near August with a WHIP and ERA that bad with one or two shaky outings.  He’s been terrible all season.  People were saying he’s throwing to more contact this year, hence the drop in K-rate.  Yeah, a pitch-to-contact approach is great for the hitters he’s facing.  You know who else pitches to contact?  A batting practice pitcher.  Also, who’s bright idea was it for him to pitch to contact

Shuffle Up: Adam Jones makes the leap

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

Another week, another shuffle. Today's assignment is the outfield. You won't find Miguel Cabrera, Cliff Lee or Fernando Rodney on this list: those cats aren't outfielders. And this list does not include players currently on the DL; because injured played have largely-relative values, I dont' see the point of ranking them in this exercise. Do what you like. Slot them however you feel comfortable.

Here's how the shuffle process goes down this year. First, I rank the position in question, from scratch. I don't look at preseason ranks, I don't look at last month's ranks - those collections are dead to me. All I'm trying to do is figure out how I arrange the commodities from

Nate Schierholtz (OF-SF)

Source: TG Fantasy Baseball

Fan's View: Does Gregor Blanco Deserve Starting Gig in Right Field for Giants? (Yahoo! Contributor Network) - For the time being, Gregor Blanco is officially the starting right fielder for the San Francisco Giants ahead of Nate Schierholtz. The move makes complete sense when taking into account recent performances from both players. Melky Cabrera is the only outfielder currently performing better than Blanco. Without a doubt, he deserves an extended chance to show what he can do. The results so far look pretty good after all. Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com

Tony Gwynn (OF-LAD)

Source: TG Fantasy Baseball

Dodgers beat Giants 6-2 to win series (The Associated Press). LOS ANGELES (AP) Pinch-hitter Tony Gwynn Jr. hit a go-ahead three-run triple off Tim Lincecum, one inning after San Francisco's Nate Schierholtz ran into a critical out that helped kill a Giants' rally and the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers went on to a 6-2 victory Wednesday night. Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com

Closing Time: Ubaldo Jimenez bottoms out; Heath Bell and Javy Guerra rally

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

More often than not this column is about who to pick up, who to believe in, who's on the rise. But today, we're going in the other direction, we're getting mean, we're writing out a pink slip.

Today, I implore you to drop Ubaldo Jimenez. Cut the cord. Write out the pink slip. Kick him to the curb. Move on with your life, give another pitcher a chance.

Jimenez had another messy start in Tuesday's loss at Chicago, allowing eight hits and seven runs (four earned) over 4.2 messy innings. What's more of an indictment: walking six against just one strikeout, or giving up three hits (including a homer) to Gordon Beckham? You decide.

The stats and the scouts are all in agreement on

Sheer Holtzanity for the JuggerNate

Source: Razzball by grey@razzball.com (Grey Albright)

In the doubleheader, Nate Schierholtz went 6-for-10 with a homer, 2 runs, 3 RBIs, steal and back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-etc. starts from Bochy, go ahead with your big head self!  “This is the year Schierholtz breaks out!  And fill up my Merlot!”  That’s every Giants fan for the last three years.  Then within a few weeks, he’s usually hurt.  If Schierholtz is indeed German for pantyhose, he sure gets rips in them quickly.  Maybe he should bathe in clear nail polish.  (See, ladies, Grey doesn’t forget about you.)  Schierholtz has power, he just needs to stay healthy.  For now, I’d pick him up in all leagues.  Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:

Tim

Shuffle Up: Josh Hamilton makes his pitch; a nation pines for Corey Hart

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

It didn't take long for the roto gods to start taking shots at our outfielders. Get well soon, Jacoby Ellsbury. You're breaking my heart, Chris Young (you had "this year's Granderson" written all over you). We'll miss your speed (and your handy defense), Brett Gardner. With the disabled list cranking things up, this seemed like the natural position to attack as we start the serious in-season shuffling.

Below you'll find how I price the outfielders for the rest of the roto season. What's happened to this point is merely an audition; I'm trying to set up a list that would make sense if I had a fresh draft or auction tonight. Don't obsess over the prices here; what matters

Shuffle Up: Land mines in the outfield

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

It didn't take long for the roto gods to start taking shots at our outfielders. Get well soon, Jacoby Ellsbury. You're breaking my heart, Chris Young (you had "this year's Granderson" written all over you). We'll miss your speed (and your handy defense), Brett Gardner. With the disabled list cranking things up, this seemed like the natural position to attack as we start the serious in-season shuffling.

Below you'll find how I price the outfielders for the rest of the roto season. What's happened to this point is merely an audition; I'm trying to set up a list that would make sense if I had a fresh draft or auction tonight. Don't obsess over the prices here; what matters