Could Cleveland’s Additions of Duncan & Kearns Matter To Fantasy Owners?
The Cleveland Indians have a potential void in left field, depending on whether they want to turn things over to Michael Brantley or not. They also could potentially use help at the DH, if Travis Hafner gets hurt once again, or struggles to find his old form.
The team made a pair of moves in recent days to give themselves plenty of depth options, signing both Austin Kearns and Shelley Duncan. Both have the potential to make an impact, but which is the better bet? Which should fantasy owners care about more?
Duncan has always shown plenty of power at Triple-A, certainly making him an alluring option, he’s just never been given a true opportunity by the New York Yankees. Since 2007 he’s had 993 at bats at Triple-A, hitting 67 home runs. He’s had eight home runs in his limited, 146 AB run with the Yankees over the past few years, so he certainly has proven that the power can translate.
His average may not be the best, with a minor league career mark of .258 and a strikeout rate over 24%, a number that could grow even bigger in the Major Leagues. That certainly makes a usable average in doubt. Still, think Jack Cust. If the power is there, he’s going to have potential low-end value for fantasy owners.
Kearns is a little bit of a different story. He’s had success in the major leagues in the past, but that came mostly in Cincinnati. Since his 2004 outburst, when he hit 24 home runs, he’s done little to impress. Throw in that he’s just a career .256 hitter with little speed, and you really don’t get much makeup for a fantasy stud, or even a fantasy depth option, do you?
To me, Shelley Duncan is clearly the better option and the one I’d be keeping a closer eye on. What about you? Who do you think has a better chance of contributing for fantasy owners in 2010? Do you think either could produce in 2010?
Previous Fantasy Impacts of Recent Transactions:
- Hermida to Boston
- Teahen for Fields & Getz
- Iwamura to Pittsburgh
- Hardy for Gomez
- Shoppach to Tampa Bay
- Wagner to Atlanta
- Polanco, Scutaro, Fox & Zaun
- Granderson-Scherzer-Jackson Blockbuster
- Millwood, Harden, Wolf & More
- Figgins, Lowell & More
- Lackey to the Red Sox
- Matsui, Cameron & Pierre
- Halladay/Lee Blockbuster
- Javier Vazquez to the Yankees
- Beltre to Boston
To be honest, as a Tribe fan, I’d actually love to see Manny Acta throw caution to the wind and give Michael Brantley (Please Manny? - I have him in my AL-Only keeper league!) and Matt LaPorta huge doses of playing time. After all, this team isn’t going anywhere.
Realistically, however, with Grady Sizemore and Shin-Soo Choo manning two-thirds of the OF, only two of four guys - injuries notwithstanding - will end up having a solid chance to get playing time.
Given the Tribe’s history, Kearns will get the first shot. Then, Trevor Crowe will get yet one more chance. LaPorta (if he’s positioned as an OF and if he’s healthy - arthroscopic surgery on his left hip and left big toe in October) will come next. Brantley will follow behind.
Personally, I disagree with this order and would go LaPorta, Brantley, Kearns, then Crowe. Crowe has had his chances. He hasn’t delivered much of value, and, frankly, I no longer expect that he can.
For me, I can stomach the signing of Kearns. Of course, his former hot prospect status is more than a distant memory, but, as a 4th-5th OF, I hope that he can find a way to become reasonably healthy and modestly productive. Maybe the change of scenery will be the ticket that he needs. Of course, he’s reunited with Acta, so who knows if that is good or bad?
The signing of Shelly Duncan astounds me, though. To be honest, they already had him on the roster in the form of Andy Marte. Why did they need his clone? Oh, maybe because Marte is a minor league wonder - but MLB hacker - too. Two is better than one? If this team ends up being in such awful shape that Shelly Duncan gets a solid shot of PT, it is going to be another LONG Cleveland summer.
In the end, I wouldn’t count on Kearns or Duncan having much more than AL-Only league value.