Brian Dozier, 2B, Minnesota Twins -- Dozier finished 1-for-3 with an RBI yesterday which proved to be the game winner. It was Dozier's 62nd RBI of the season in what was his first year as the everyday 2B for Minnesota. And after a shaky first half of the year, Dozier has put together a very respectable .253/.312/.462 slashline along with a 3.6 WAR. For a second baseman, owners have to be happy with his power as he's hit nine homers since the ASB (225 AB) and 17 overall. Entering 2014, Dozier will turn 27 and have a full season starting under his belt. How he's ended the season definitely raises his value heading into next year and he could be a mid-round low risk sleeper considering he will most likely be overlooked on a below average Minnesota roster. Do take note that he is dead last in average (.244) among second basemen with over 400 AB this season.
Jason Vargas, SP, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim -- Vargas had another underwhelming performance, allowing four earned over six innings in Oakland Wednesday. Since returning from the DL in mid-August, Vargas has not been roster worth in any format, posting just two wins in eight starts with a 5.64 ERA (27 earned in 43.1 IP) and an team-ERA killing 8.51 ERA in the final and most important month in fantasy baseball. He has struck out batters at a higher rate since his comeback (38 K in 43 IP), but it comes at the cost of a .321 BAA. He was one of the more helpful free agent pickups in mixed leagues for the first half of the season, but he should be off all teams at this point and should be considered an borderline roster player going into 2014.
Yoenis Cespedes, OF, Oakland Athletics -- Cespedes recorded two hits in five at-bats, including his 24th home run of the season and his fourth of this month. After a very disappointing first five months of the season, Cespedes has dialed it up in September in hopes to salvage as season where compared to 2012, he's been worse in every statistical category to date besides HR, in which he's hit one more than last year and runs (71), in which he has surpassed last seasons total by one as well (keep in mind he already has 14 more AB this year than he did last season). In the final month of the year, the Cuban born outfielder is batting 365. with 9 runs, 4 HR, and 15 RBI in 63 ABs. For a guy who was ranked in the top 30 prior to the season, he has performed way below expectations and will definitely hold less value going into next season, but this month has to be a morale booster for Cespedes and could mean a lot for his confidence going into 2014. He is a risky guy to hold onto in keeper and dynasty leagues, especially with his decline in base stealing this year (16 SB in 2012, 7 SB in 2013).
Josh Hamilton, OF, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim -- Hamilton hit his 21st homer and drove in three in Los Angeles' win yesterday. Similar to Cespedes, Hamilton is another guy who was considered around a top 30 player, but has really taken a step back in a big way since receiving his monster contract from the Angels. The 32-year old has declined in every major statistical category compared to last season and holds the worst BA (.245) and OBP (.303) of his seven-year career. It doesn't come as a huge surprise that Hamilton has declined in LA; Texas plays in a hitters park and Hamilton body is just getting more worn down. But nobody could have predicted he would be on pace for 77 runs and 77 RBI come September. Unfortunately for those who own him in dynasty and keeper leagues, his value has dramatically dropped this season, but it's hard to think he'll be THIS bad next year. Still consider him a top 60 player with moderate upside going into 2014.
Salvador Perez, C, Kansas City Royals -- Perez's only hit of the night was a big one, driving in a pair and scoring twice in KC's big win over Cleveland yesterday. Perez got off to a slow start by fantasy standards this season, posting just a .284/.314/.396 slashline with four homers and 38 RBI prior to the ASB. But since the Midsummer Classic, Perez has settled into the big leagues nicely, batting .303 with nine long balls and 35 RBI, even though he has 110 less at-bats in the 2nd half (175) than he had in the first half (285). Add that to the fact that he barely strikes out (58 times in 460 ABs), it gives you a guy who will just improve on his run production as he gets older. At just 23-years old, he is a top 5 fantasy catcher going into 2014 and a must keep in Keeper/Dynasty leagues. This is the type of guy you could also consider selling high in those long-term leagues as catchers normally break down quickly. At such a young age though, it could be worth it to hang onto him for a few seasons as he could put up Joe Mauer type numbers, or dare I say, even better.
