5 Free Agents To Avoid This Week
Each week of the fantasy baseball season, owners rush to raid the free agent pool. Unfortunately, not every free agent pick up is a winner. To help you sort through the mess this week, here are five players to avoid picking up in Week 3 of the fantasy baseball season.
5. 1B Garrett Jones, Miami Marlins
5. 1B Garrett Jones, Miami Marlins
Jones is currently riding a four-game hitting-streak. He has clubbed two homers during the streak and drove in three runs. However, his hot-streak has only raised his average up to .230. He has a career .254 batting average and has never been a reliable fantasy contributor.
4. 2B Danny Espinosa, Washington Nationals
4. 2B Danny Espinosa, Washington Nationals
Espy was once a highly-touted fantasy prospect, but he posted an embarrassing .158 batting average last season. Espinosa is currently starting at second with Ryan Zimmerman’s injury, but the team’s infield is already set for the foreseeable future. Espinosa doesn’t factor into the team’s long-term plans and will be back to the bench when the rest of the team is healthy. Fantasy fans should look for a more long-term option this week.
3. OF Jason Kubel, Minnesota Twins
3. OF Jason Kubel, Minnesota Twins
Kubel hit just five homers in 97 games last season, but he has already hit one long ball and drove in seven runs this season. Kubel has become a popular waiver wire option this week, but Kubel's early-season numbers are simply too good to be true. Let someone else waste their time with the veteran outfielder.
2. SP Garrett Richards, Los Angeles Angels
2. SP Garrett Richards, Los Angeles Angels
Richards has been dealing all season long. He owns a flawless 2-0 record to go along with a sizzling 2.84 ERA. However, the right-hander has amassed a miserable 4.30 ERA and 1.41 WHIP throughout his career. The veteran’s early-season numbers are obviously a fluke and the fireballer will come down to earth very soon.
1. SP Tim Lincecun, San Francisco Giants
1. SP Tim Lincecun, San Francisco Giants
Lincecum was a fantasy superstar when he won back-to-back Cy Young Awards in 2008 and 2009. Unfortunately, Lincecum has fallen apart in recent seasons. He recorded a 5.18 ERA in 2012 and followed it up with a nasty 4.37 ERA in 2013. Lincecum’s ERA has already ballooned up to 7.20 this year and he seems to once again be destined for the pen. He is still available in over 45% of ESPN leagues and should be avoided like the plague this week.