2015 Category Sleepers: SB
The following is Week 6 of the 10-part series of sleepers for each 5x5 roto category (BA, HR, RBI, R, SB, W, ERA, WHIP, K, SV). The first five weeks have featured categories more dependent on skill than opportunity. Now that we are onto the categories that are more playing time and lineup opportunity based, I’ll mention more names for you to stow away as you prepare for your drafts. With offseason movement still rampant, the opportunity for many of these players is still very much to be determined.
Before reading any further, it’s important to note the definition of a sleeper. In this case, it’s a player who will exceed draft day ADP AND projections in a particular category.
Mookie Betts, OF, Red Sox
Betts closed out the year as Boston’s starting center fielder hitting leadoff, and that arrangement would certainly be a boost to his value in 2015. As of now, Betts will need to win a job in spring training, with the most likely scenario being a head-to-head competition with Rusney Castillo (listed below). Betts swiped seven bases in 52 games last season with the Red Sox, and added 33 steals in 99 minor league games. That marks the second consecutive season he’s swiped more than 30 bases, and he’s certainly a mixed league value with regular at-bats.
Ryan Brett, 2B, Rays
The Rays go into next season with Nick Franklin slated to take over at second base full-time, but Brett provides a potential fallback option. The former third-round pick is a prototypical second baseman offensively, regularly hitting .300 with 20-plus steals in the minors. Brett lacks any Triple-A experience, and is likely to get at least a half season of seasoning at that level. However, he could have some single-league steals value in the second half.
Billy Burns, OF, Athletics
The return for Jerry Blevins from the Nats last offseason, Burns swiped three bases in September after a disappointing offensive season in the minors. Despite hitting .237 with a .315 OBP between Double-A and Triple-A, Burns still managed 54 steals in 60 attempts. He was a far better on-base threat in the lower minors, but could use another year to get his bat in order. Otherwise, he profiles as a fifth outfielder and cheap speed for single leagues.
Rusney Castillo, OF, Red Sox
Castillo signed a seven-year, $72.5 million contract with the Red Sox late last season out of Cuba, and found his way to Boston almost immediately. He swiped three bases in 10 games with the Red Sox. Castillo was slated to play in the Arizona Fall League and Puerto Rican Winter League, but a thumb injury has limited his work. Castillo’s speed makes him a potential 30 steal player, especially as a leadoff candidate, but he will have to beat out Mookie Betts for the center field job in spring training first. His ADP will be extremely interesting heading into 2015.
Delino DeShields, OF, Rangers
DeShields was selected in the Rule 5 draft by Texas last week from Houston after a poor year at Double-A. He hit well in 2012-13, but just .236 last season. Fantasy owners still see 101 steals in 2012, and over 50 in each of the last two seasons. The skillset is quite similar to his father, with great speed, a decent walk rate, and sub-par defense. We should keep in mind that DeShields was shifted over to the outfield from second base last season, so maybe the adjustment wore on him at the plate. Regardless, the Rangers are required to retain DeShields on the 25-man roster this season if they want to retain him without giving up compensation, and that scenario would provide cheap steals in AL-only leagues.
Adam Eaton, OF, White Sox
You will have to pay up for Eaton just to get last year’s stats, but it’s important to note that he fought through some issues that could have sapped his speed. Among them were a hamstring injury suffered in May and an oblique in August. He was successful only 15-of-24 attempts, but swiped 30-plus bases twice in the minors. There is some legitimate concern that Eaton is just too injury prone to rely on with significant time missed in consecutive years, but those owners wanting to spend extra to obtain him on draft day are backed up by his speed potential and .347 batting average during the second half.
Terrance Gore, OF, Royals
Gore deserves mention for his one skill, though I actually doubt he will be in the majors much this season. The Royals brought him up during their playoff push for his speed, and Gore stole five bases in 11 games during the regular season and three more in six games of the postseason. That’s the good. Unfortunately, he hit only .221 at High-A last season with almost no power in 106 games. For his minor league career, Gore is a .237 hitter, albeit with a decent .343 OBP. Still, if he makes it as a fifth outfielder, it won’t be for his hitting prowess.
Anthony Gose, OF, Tigers
Gose is expected to be Detroit’s new starting center fielder after being acquired from Toronto. It might be telling that the Blue Jays moved him even after potentially losing Colby Rasmus to free agency, or just a ringing endorsement of top prospect Dalton Pompey (listed below). He has shown terrific speed, with 34 steals in 202 games thus far. Gose should help improve the Tigers defense, but he is just a .259 career minor league hitter and has struggled to make contact in the majors. Detroit still has Rajai Davis as a fallback option, but it sounds as if Gose will get the first crack at the center field job in spring training. Even with a likely spot at the bottom of the batting order, he’s a potential 30-plus steals for AL-only leagues.
Micah Johnson, 2B, White Sox
With Marcus Semien off to Oakland, Johnson will battle Carlos Sanchez for the second base job entering spring training. Johnson was only 22-for-35 in stolen base attempts last season between Double-A and Triple-A, but he fought through hamstring issues for most of the season. He looks far more attractive for fantasy owners when we consider that he swiped 84 bases in 2013, and he’s a .297 career minor league hitter. There is significant fantasy potential if Johnson wins the second base job in spring training, or whenever he arrives to the majors. If healthy, 40-50 steals over a full season makes Johnson a possible stash in mixed leagues.
Jose Peraza, 2B, Braves
Already mentioned as a batting average sleeper, Peraza also fits the definition of a steals sleeper. The Braves signed Alberto Callaspo this week, though he will be only a minor obstacle if Peraza catches fire in spring training. Much of Peraza’s all-around talent was already discussed in the batting average piece, but he is a potential 60 steal player in the future if his batting average holds up in the majors after accomplishing that feat in consecutive minor league seasons. Fantasy owners in all leagues searching for stolen bases should consider stashing him.
Jace Peterson, SS, Padres
Some struggles in Peterson’s major league debut overshadow a truly solid prospect. The former first-round pick has a good shot at beating out Clint Barmes for San Diego’s shortstop job after the team let Everth Cabrera walk, and the minor league numbers indicate a strong future. Peterson is a career .287 hitter in the minors with an excellent walk rate, and he’s swiped 40-plus bases twice in his career. He stole only 12 bases in 68 games at Triple-A El Paso last season, but still produced an .870 OPS at the hitter-friendly ballpark. If Peterson wins the shortstop job, 20-plus steals are realistic.
Dalton Pompey, OF, Blue Jays
The Blue Jays have shown bias toward Canadian-born players in recent years, and Pompey is their next one on the horizon. He already made his major league debut in September, and swiped one base in 17 games. After moving Anthony Gose, Pompey appears to be the Jays’ starting center fielder entering 2015 unless they make more moves. He’s certainly considered their center fielder of the future, but has played only 31 games at Double-A and 12 games at Triple-A. He had a great minor league season in 2014 between three levels, hitting .317-9-51 with 43 steals. It’s a lot to ask of the 22-year-old to start in center field come Opening Day, but not out of the question. He would likely have some growing pains, but has 20-30 steal ability immediately.
Jose Ramirez, SS, Indians
It’s been assumed for several years that Francisco Lindor would take over at shortstop, but Ramirez could continue to keep the seat warm if Lindor isn’t ready. Ramirez is a fine prospect, and performed relatively well with regular at-bats in the last two months of the season. He hit .283 during the second half, and added 10 steals in 57 games. The solid hitting allowed Ramirez to hit in the No. 2 hole during September, and his base stealing efficiency (10-for-11) is a nice development with only a 68 percent minor league success rate in the minors. Lindor struggled offensively between Double-A and Triple-A last season, so it’s very possible that Ramirez will hold onto the shortstop job for a while.
Michael Taylor, OF, Nationals
Washington’s outfield depth is certainly a strength, with three solid starting outfielders along with Steven Souza on the bench and Taylor on the farm. Taylor had a huge breakout season at Double-A Harrisburg, hitting .313-22-61 with 34 steals in only 98 games. He looked like a fringe regular until last season, but still showed promising speed previously and swiped 51 bases in 2013. The Nationals will likely give Taylor a full year at Triple-A after bringing back Denard Span, but Taylor still stands a possibility of seeing playing time at some point with the team’s entire starting outfield facing injuries in the past. Taylor is a no-brainer to stash in keeper leagues, and a decent NL-only stash in preparation for the second half.
