Here we aren’t even a month into the 2014 season and you have already been contemplating players to get rid of via trade or by dropping for another guy who came out the gate blazing. Here are some names that have come out the box a little slow this season, but that you want to hold too. After all, you don’t want the guy you let go of in April knocking you out of the playoffs in August.
Edwin Encarnacion, Tor 1B/3B
Edwin might be of to a slower start than usual, but that is no cause for concern. We’re talking about a guy who has hit over 35 long balls and batted in over 100 of his compadres the last couple seasons in Toronto’s powerful line up. Those aren’t numbers you easily quit on early in a long season. He has looked better as of late and we should witness his first home run of the campaign any day now. Fantasy owners can expect here to be a lot more where that came from.
Jhonny Peralta, StL SS
In his first year in the National League, the 31-year-old shortstop has had less than the ideal start with just six hits in his first 40 at-bats (.150 batting average). He is more than capable of going on a tear and bringing all of his numbers up to par. Peralta is a career .266 hitter that bats in 50+ RBI’s and gives you somewhere in the teens for long balls each year. Those are fair to good numbers for a position that usually doesn’t provide too much fantasy production. Stick by Jhonny, something tells me that by seasons’ end he will be closer to the guy he was in Detroit who hit .303 in 2013.
Hunter Pence, SF OF
Last season was a year to forget for the Giants, but one to remember for Pence who gathered career highs in long balls (27) and stolen bases (22). It was also the first time he had ever played in all 162 games in a season. With that said, 2014 has been rough for the veteran right fielder as his batting average is below the Mendoza Line to go with a lone home run. If history is any indication, Hunter will be batting .280 with 20+ homers and close to 100 RBIs because there haven’t been many players more consistent over the past few seasons, which is just all the more reason to keep him around.
Dan Uggla Atl 2B
For those owners in deep category or rotisserie leagues, Uggla makes for a nice source of power. There is no denying that when he’s hot, pitchers should beware of his ridiculous power. He has never been a high average or on-base percentage guy, but what he has been is a 25+ long fly, 75+ RBI guy. From month to month, it seems like you get a completely different player because how much of a roller coaster his hot and cold streaks can feel like as an owner. But when August rolls around and you look at his power numbers, they always manage to up there among the tops of all 2B.
