Here are five fantasy baseball sleepers that you can get in late rounds or even on the waivers in some leagues for the 2016 season. These players can help you get ahead and become a fantasy baseball champion, so keep an eye out for them.
Top 5 Late Round Fantasy Baseball Sleeper
1. Carlos Martinez, StL SP
When looking at the Cardinals starting rotation, most will go for Adam Wainwright, Michael Wacha or the talented but often-injured Jaime Garcia. But Martinez averaged more than a strikeout an inning, totaling 184 in his first season as a starter with an ERA that just missed being under 3.00, finishing at 3.01. This spring training he has continued his last season success and might be the best projected fifth starter in all of baseball. Only 24 years old, he has potential to improve from a successful 2015 campaign.
2. Maikel Franco, Phi 3B
He only played about half a season in 2015, and still hit 14 homeruns and had 50 RBIs. He plays on a terrible team and isn’t going to get the extra at-bats other players get, but the Phillies were terrible last year and he still produced. Given a full season, he could hit around 25 homeruns and 90 RBIs.
3. Tyler Clippard, Ari RP
He may be stuck behind Brad Ziegler, who had a great season as Arizona’s closer, but Ziegler is 36 years old and the Diamondbacks have improved greatly in the offseason. As Arizona’s best setup man, he will get chances to close when the Diamondbacks give Ziegler a day off and if Ziegler isn’t able to replicate his 2015 season. Clippard should have another productive sub 3.00 ERA year once again.
4. Jonathan Schoop, Bal 2B
After showing power but struggling with his batting average his rookie year, Schoop was having a much-improved 2015 until he got injured. He is in a power-hitting lineup, in a hitters ballpark, and is only 24 years old. If his spring is any indication that he can replicate his shortened 2015 season, Schoop will be a bargain drafted in a late round.
5. Trayce Thompson, LAD OF
Not having the spring he would have liked, Thompson still has upside and a lot of potential. He showed the ability to hit for average and power when he got called up to the majors late in 2015. With Andre Either out with a leg injury and Scott Van Slyke not offering much as a backup, Thompson has a chance of getting some at-bats. The younger brother of Golden State Warriors all-star Klay Thompson, comes from an immensely talented family and is still only 25 years old. The once highly-regarded prospect should be considered near the end of the draft or on waivers.
If you have any fantasy baseball questions, don’t hesitate to hit us up on Twitter @fantasycouch. I wish you all good luck in this year’s draft.
