So, I’m back from the All-Star Break: tan, rested, and ready to help you out. Actually, I’m closer to pasty-white than tan, and with a two-month old daughter at home, I’m not really rested either. But I am ready!

You know who is not ready? Adam Loewen. I referenced him in a previous column, saying he could be good if he could only stay healthy. Unfortunately, it has now been determined that his shoulder injury (injuries?) is so severe that his pitching career is over. The option of him pulling a Rick Ankiel, however, is possible, as the Orioles will try to convert Loewen to an outfielder. He’s probably at least a year or more away from contributing at the major league level.

This brings up an important element in keeper leagues, one which I want to discuss —injured players.

If your keeper league has slots (or even just one) for DL players, you should always have them filled. There is absolutely no reason not to do so. There are two best case scenarios: a) the injured player recovers and becomes a valuable contributor to your team or b) you are able to trade said injured player for someone else that contributes to your team. Worst case scenario is that the injured player fails to heal and you either a) drop him and pick someone else up or b) just burn a DL slot on your roster. Who cares? It is not like it costs you anything to keep him in your DL slot!

Of course, the best and worst case scenarios above apply to non-keeper leagues also. But in keeper leagues, these players become infinitely more valuable. Suppose you have a team contending for the title, and you’ve got Yovani Gallardo (8.23 K/9 and 3.68 ERA in 2007) stashed in your DL slot. You don’t think a team playing for next year might be interested in Gallardo? Or suppose you’re out of it, and you’ve got Frank Thomas (insert your own “Big Hurt” punchline here) sitting in your DL slot. An owner looking for someone cheap to help down the stretch might easily be interested in Thomas and .895 OPS and 29 HR potential (his 3 year averages), right? Or suppose you don’t trade either player. Would it be so bad to go into 2009 with either of those guys on your roster?

With that in mind, let's look at some possible DL players that, assuming they’re available, you should grab and stash on your DL right now. I have not included everyone on the DL, but I’ve tried to span the spectrum of useful players. For fun and to make this list less “painful” for those of you whose keeper league DL has been picked clean, I’ve included a related pop culture quote for each category. Try to name the source (they’re fairly easy). Answers will be in the next column.

“Put me in Coach. I’m ready to play...”
These players are coming off the DL very soon, and you need to grab them.

Fausto Carmona, SP, CLE: He’s coming back and soon, possibly this weekend against the Twins. A pitcher with a 3.10 ERA is worth considering, right?

Aaron Harang, SP, CIN: He is the ultimate buy-low candidate. He’s been the definition of unlucky this year (lack of run support, high BABIP), and the injury might explain some of his bad stats. He could be ready to play in a week. Even if he doesn’t help you this year, expect big things for him next year.

Roy Oswalt, SP, HOU: If there is any one pitcher on this list who probably isn't available, it's Oswalt. However, his DL stint might have been the final straw for his owner, who has likely become sick of this guy's 4.56 ERA and sub-500 record. Oswalt has had some problems with the long ball this season, but his strikeout and walk ratios are actually better than they were last year. He’s expected to come off the DL and start July 28 vs. the Reds. If he is available, go get him.

Frank Thomas, DH, OAK: He might be back next week, or maybe the week after that. See above for reasons to grab him.

Chris Young, SP, SD: Coming back from a visually horrific injury, but he does play in Petco. And he’ll be activated this week. A 3.12 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP in 2007 should be enough of a reason to spark interest.

“You're mine, Bender. For two months, I've gotcha.”
For August and September, these guys might help you.

Eric Bedard, SP, SEA: He’s a Jaguar. He can be absolutely impressive (1.09 WHIP, 3.16 ERA, and 221 K in 2007), if he could just stay out of the repair shop. When he comes back in mid August, he could immediately provide a couple of quality starts.

Chris Carpenter, SP, STL: I’ll admit it, sometimes I don’t follow my own advice. I was planning to pick him up in one of my keeper leagues. Of course, by the time I finally got around to it on Tuesday, he was already gone, snagged from the waiver wire just a few hours before. Learn from my mistakes and grab him now. He had a 7.7 K/9 ratio over his last two full seasons combined, not to mention an ERA below 3.00 and a WHIP of less than 1.07. His return date is unclear, but expectations are that he'll return some time in August.

Phil Hughes, SP, NYY: Due back in mid to late August, he is the prize possession of the Yankees farm system. Hughes struck out more than a batter an inning at every single level of the minors. He should be on the radar of every keeper league owner.

Take a quick look and see if anyone gave up on Victor as when healthy he will help. Photo Credit: aturkus

Victor Martinez, C, CLE: He’s been worthless this year, but he could be coming back in August. You don’t need me to tell you that he was one of the best catchers in the game before the injury. That’s obviously worth a gamble.

Justin Upton, OF, ARZ: The quintessential keeper league player. He has not done much this year, but his upside is limitless. He should be off the DL by August. Either grab him now for next year, or grab him as trade fodder to get you that one player to ensure a championship.

Adam Wainwright, SP, STL: Is Wainwright available in your league? Go grab Wainwright right now. Do not pass GO, do not collect $200. Do it NOW. I’ll wait…Okay. Good, you’re back. Here’s why you should grab Wainwright; he had a 3.14 ERA and 1.09 WHIP before he hit the DL. He should be back my mid-August. Just enough for a nice push toward your title run.

“Wake me up when September comes…”
These players probably won’t help you until September, but they might be worth owning for the one month return.

Elijah Dukes, OF, WAS: You look at his numbers for the year, and they’re very uninspiring. Now look at his numbers for the last five weeks before he was injured: a .304 BA in June and July (combined), 6 HRs, 7 SBs, and an OPS approaching .900. Unfortunately, he won’t return until late August and might even be done for the season. But he is keeper league gold.

Travis Hafner, DH/1B, CLE: He’ll probably miss most of August, if not more. Hafner was the topic of a recent discussion amongst the staff here. And nearly all agreed, you can dump him in a redraft league, but if it only costs you is a DL slot, he’s worth taking the risk in a keeper league.

Shawn Hill, SP, WAS: Okay, so I’m over-indexing on Nationals players. But Hill has gobs of potential, as attested by his 3.42 ERA and 1.14 WHIP last year. I just have this gut feeling about him for next year.

“I got no more use for this guy.”
These guys are done for the year but might be quite valuable next year.

Eric Byrnes, OF, ARZ: He’s probably done for the season. But 50 SB seasons don’t grow on trees. Even if you don’t believe, someone in your league probably does.

Yovani Gallardo, SP, MIL: See above.

Noah Lowry, SP, SF: He’s out this year, but he’s young, he's talented (see 172 Ks in 2005), and he plays in one of the best pitcher’s parks in MLB.  Isn’t that the kind of SP you want to own in your keeper league?

Chien-Ming Wang: He’s done for the season. But any Yankee pitcher that can pitch into the sixth inning is worth owning.

Next Week: Are you a Man or a Mouse?

Mark Strausberg will tell you that his favorite keeper of all time is Tony Meola. Whether you understand that or not, want keeper advice, or want to tell Mark to “keep” his thoughts to himself, email him at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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