It's time to dust off the old value machine and get cracking for the impending fantasy baseball season. Here at Fantasy FanHouse, we plan on providing a quality -- and free, of course -- draft kit for fantasy baseball, and you can expect a drastic uptick in coverage before pitchers and catchers report next month. By the time the season rolls around, we'll be covering fantasy baseball with the same fervor, tenacity, and accuracy as we did in football season. What we'll do today to get the ball rolling is run through the major players who have changed teams and examine if their value -- compared to last season -- has dropped or risen. We'll be using those cool red and green arrows.
CC Sabathia, Yankees
Just hear me out, please. The reason his value has taken an ever-so-slight hit is because it can't get any higher. He'll be facing tougher lineups in the American League East than he did down the stretch in the NL Central as well. He's probably going to be the top pitcher off the board in any draft, and I won't argue with the pick. I'm just saying that his move to the Bronx has not increased his value.A.J. Burnett, Yankees
What you have to remember about value in fantasy baseball is that it's largely a response to buzz. If people are falling over themselves about Burnett because he's now wearing pinstripes, he's overvalued. You can expect a repeat of last season in the absolute best-case scenario. He won 18 games with a 4.07 ERA, so it's not like there's a huge increase in run support coming. He struck out 231 guys in a career-high 221 1/3 innings pitched. Those numbers are coming down, even if the wins stay the same and the ERA improves. Mark Teixeira, Yankees
He didn't hit in a lineup near as potent last season as the one he's in now. He may start slow, but he's gonna be a machine by the end of the year. Francisco Rodriguez, Mets
He's not saving 62 games again. No matter how much you ground yourself, he's going to go way too high in drafts. Matt Holliday, A's
His career splits are quite drastic, and they show us something really glaring. He's a good player away from Coors Field, and an elite player in it. Well, he just went from 73 games in Coors to zero. J.J. Putz, Mets
You don't need me to tell you that he's been decimated fantasy-wise. Moving from closer to setup kills value in the overwhelming majority of leagues. Brian Fuentes, Angels
Headed back to his closing role, he now gets to play on a winning team -- the Rockies only really won when he was in the setup role -- in a ballpark that's not thin-aired (and yes, Coors Field is still one of the best hitters' parks in the majors -- humidor or not). Kerry Wood, Indians
This is a gut feeling. I think the Tribe made a good signing here, but I'm clouded with bias when it comes to Woody. So we'll swing to the opposite and say the league switch causes a slight downturn. Milton Bradley, Cubs
There's already enough of a stigma attached to him that you can get him really low. If you play in leagues with a bench, just take him and make sure to grab three other solid outfielders -- so you can replace his production when he inevitably misses games. Randy Johnson, Giants
He's not gonna get much run support, but he'll strike guys out and I love his ERA and WHIP potential in that ballpark. Pat Burrell, Rays
Very, very slight downgrade. He was a good signing and he'll play well in Tampa. The league switch is the only reason I put down. He could very well be the exact same (I should use an "equals" sign, shouldn't I?)Mark DeRosa, Indians
I would have said this if he was still on the Cubs. He had a career year at age 33, setting highs in runs, home runs, RBI, stolen bases and OPS. If you want to draft him, expect his 2006 and 2007 numbers. Raul Ibanez, Phillies
Definitely gets a boost here. He goes from a terrible offense in a pitchers' park to a hitters' park in the NL in a lineup with major star power. Jason Giambi, A's
Oakland's actually building a nice lineup, but he loses the benefit of the short porch in right field like he had in New York. Edgar Renteria, Giants
That was an unmitigated disaster last year. He's only 33, though, and four of his last five seasons in the NL have seen great production. The ballpark and lineup won't help, but he's a much better player than he showed last year. Khalil Greene, Cardinals
San Diego kills power, so he's free. He kills you in other categories, but if you want cheap power from shortstop, here you go. Javier Vazquez, Braves
The Cell is one of the best hitters' parks in baseball, so leaving there certainly won't hurt. I also think he'll deal with Bobby Cox a bit better than Ozzie Guillen. Scott Olsen, Nationals
He's inconsistent, doesn't strike anyone out, and he's leaving a major pitchers' park. Josh Willingham, Nationals
His power will return in Nationals Park. Mike Jacobs, Royals
He hit 32 home runs last season in the power-killing Dolphins Stadium. Keep an eye on him in the late rounds as a nice corner infielder option. I like the potential of the young Royals' lineup.
