Kuzul

Baseball is a great sport for fantasy owners because everything can be quantified. Every at bat is an individual event and can be meticulously scrutinized to the point where we can use sabermetric statistics to predict future success or failures. Using some of these principles, we’re going to look at two players that are good “buy low” candidates and two pitchers that are good “sell high" candidates.Begin Slideshow

This is sort of like last minute Christmas shopping. Here is one final tip for you before you have your fantasy baseball league draft. Sorry but I can't stop you from picking a bunch of stiffs. What I can do is give you a few ideas as to which "sleepers" might be able to help your team in spite of your other draft picks.There have been a ton of injuries this Spring, so some of these sleepers may get an early start. I have my own draft on Sunday, so I'll be reading this too when I'm done writing it. I've heard the phrase, "maybe you should take your own advice" before, so I just may have to do that.None of these guys are Rumpelstiltskin sleepers, but they will probably go late in your draft and a few maybe not at all. I listed the teams by division starting with ...

When thinking of pitching rotations with a lot of depth, the Phillies, Red Sox and Giants are—rightfully so—the first teams to come to mind. However, one could argue that the Los Angeles Dodgers rotation is underrated and belongs in that discussion. The biggest distinction between the Dodgers and the other three teams may be the perceived lack of a true ace. We all know that the Phillies have two premier aces in Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, the Sox have Jon Lester, and the Giants have Tim Lincecum, but the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw has not yet achieved that true “ace” perception. Is it time he should? There is no doubt that Kershaw is an elite strikeout pitcher. In his first two full seasons, he struck out well over a batter per inning. His ability to miss that many bats (combined with a nice home ballpark for pitchers) has also helped him post an ERA ...

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been busy this offseason, locking up several players already and in the hunt for even more. General manager Ned Colletti has been aggressive following a disappointing fourth-place finish for the Dodgers in the NL West. The team, picked by many to win the division, managed only an 80-82 record and was never really in the hunt for a playoff spot. Colletti is determined to change that, building a roster around young studs Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier.But will the new additions be enough to vault the Dodgers past the defending world champions, the San Francisco Giants? Here's an early look at what the Dodgers have done so far and a grade for each of their moves. Begin Slideshow

Is anyone else a little skeptical of one of the latest releases on the Dodgers' website? According to General Manager Ned Colletti, the Dodgers are actually planning on increasing the $93 million payroll from 2010. The Dodgers still have seven players eligible for free agency (not counting the recently signed Lilly or retiring Ausmus). While it is understandable the Dodgers would like to bring back players like Vicente Padilla, Rod Barajas and Scott Podsednik, the looming ownership divorce is the Debbie Downer in the organization. The article, written by MLB.com writer Ken Gurnick, outlines the Dodgers' needs based on observations from Colletti, and it is a pretty tall order. Starting pitching is obviously tops on the GM's list. He plans to resign at least one of the two remaining starters from 2010, either Vicente Padilla or the more expensive Hiroki Kuroda. Those two pitchers combined for over $20M last season, a very large portion ...

Starting pitcher Ted Lilly has signed a three-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports has also been reporting on Lilly's new deal. The dollar amount for the three-year contract has not yet been disclosed. After being acquired from the Chicago Cubs just before the 2010 trade deadline, Lilly recorded a 7-4 record for the Dodgers while posting a 3.52 ERA and a 9.0 K/9 ratio. While pitching for the Cubs in 2010, he went 3-8 with a 3.69 ERA. Lilly was projected to be a Type-A free agent, and was assumed to be one of the best available starters on the market this offseason. Lilly was expected to be courted by most of the clubs in need of starting pitching, and was expected to sign a two or three year deal worth at least $10 million annually. Starting pitching is one of ...

While the playoffs are now on the front burner, in the back of every baseball fan's mind, or the front if your team has been eliminated from contention, is what moves the team will make this offseason. Free agency is always a hot bed for debate, and every year there will be a fair share of diamonds in the rough as well as big time busts. Often times, contracts are a sign of the free agent class as a whole and not necessarily what the player is worth. Once the top tier guys start to get signed, teams that missed out often overpay for second tier guys, and so on. So here are 10 players that I think have set themselves up to earn a big payday this off seasons, thanks to big seasons in 2010, or simply for lack of better options at their position, but will fall short of expectations ...

The Los Angeles Dodgers, hoping to somehow come back next season with a decent team, will try to re-sign left-handed pitcher Ted Lilly this winter. Lilly was acquired from the Chicago Cubs in a trade deadline deal that also moved Ryan Theriot to L.A. as well.With the Dodgers, Lilly has posted a 5-3 record and a less than stellar 4.12 ERA. During the waiver period, it was also noted the New York Yankees were also trying to re-acquire the 34 year old. If Lilly were to test free agent waters, the Yankees may want to go after him too in case Andy Pettitte retires after this season.Do not expect the Dodgers to go all out in a bidding war, since money is tight right now in within the organization due to the McCourt family divorce.Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Amidst a failing 2010 campaign, a messy divorce between owners, and uncertainty regarding funds for next season, the Los Angeles Dodgers have several key players that will be eligible for free agency next season.Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti has said that, given a likely lack of funds stemming from the McCourt divorce, he is uncertain regarding the approaching free agency period.Given the circumstances, here are possible outcomes for all of the possible 2011 Dodgers free agents.Begin Slideshow

Inconsistent. To sum up the Chicago Cubs of 2010 in one word, that word is the clear choice. Until a seven-game skid from late July into early August, the team had not won or lost more than four games in a row all season. They have played 31 games decided by six or more runs, going 11-20. In their 47 one-run games, they are 17-30. It is somewhat unfair, however, and certainly not constructive, to simply dismiss Chicago as having had a bad team. That is not the case. In the first half of the season, Chicago could not score enough to win. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez, the team's offensive superstar, stood at a miserable .178/.243/.296 at the end of play on July 5th. First baseman Derrek Lee, a former batting champion and the team's premier slugger in 2009, struggled to a .227/.326/.367 line through the games of that day. Despite strong (but largely unspectacular) starts ...