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Target slow starters for run

Adam Ronis | FANTASY BASEBALL

July 20, 2008

The major league baseball trading deadline is less than two weeks away and the trading deadline for most fantasy baseball leagues is approaching, too. Often times, a trade has propelled me to a championship.

Acquiring a player that struggled in the first half for a discount with strong indications for a bounce back in the second half also can help.

Here are some players that could perform very well in the second half:

Curtis Granderson (Tigers), OF: It took some time for Granderson to get going after starting the season on the disabled list with a broken finger. He struggled in May, hitting as low as .225 on May 16, but hit .364 in June to go into the All-Star break with a .292 average, 10 home runs and 33 RBIs. Before the injury, Granderson was projected as a second- or third-round pick and he has failed to live up to those expectations. He has just six steals in 10 attempts, but he is capable of helping in that category. He had 38 doubles, 23 triples, 23 home runs, 74 RBIs and 26 stolen bases last season. Expect him to play more like the player we saw last season in the second half.

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A.J. Burnett (Blue Jays), SP: He's definitely inconsistent and an injury is always a concern. He still has 10 wins, 127 strikeouts, a 4.96 ERA and that's with five starts in which he has allowed at least six earned runs. He has seven starts in which he has pitched at least seven innings and allowed three earned runs or fewer. His BABIP is high at .331 and he's allowed only 11 home runs in 127 innings and it shouldn't cost you much to acquire him.

Justin Verlander (Tigers), SP: A 7-9 mark with a 4.15 ERA isn't impressive for someone that was drafted among the top 15 pitchers. He has pitched much better since a terrible start, but emphasize his overall poor numbers if you are trying to trade for him. In his last 78 innings, he has allowed 61 hits, 24 earned runs, 30 walks, and struck out 64. He is 6-3 in that span.

Javier Vazquez (White Sox), SP: He was drafted as the White Sox's top starting pitcher and has failed to pitch like it, being outperformed by John Danks, Gavin Floyd and Mark Buehrle. He had a 3.30 ERA on May 5, but had a terrible June and went into the break with a 7-7 mark and a 4.61 ERA. He has great stuff but has been inconsistent during his career. Two things bode well for a turnaround, however. He has a high .336 BABIP and an excellent K/BB ratio of 117/34.

Edwin Encarnacion (Reds), 3B: He already has matched last year's home run total of 16 and it's not a product of the favorable home ballpark. He has hit better on the road. An awful May in which he hit .172 has made his numbers look worse than they are.

Miguel Cabrera (Tigers), 3B: You better hurry up and get him. His owners have to be disappointed considering many people thought he was in store for a huge year in what was expected to be a potent Tigers lineup. Some even drafted him No.1 overall. At the end of June, he had just 11 home runs and 48 RBIs and was outperformed by Ryan Ludwick and Nate McLouth. He has five home runs in July and should have a huge second half.

Nick Swisher (White Sox), OF: Many expected a breakout season from Swisher, but it hasn't happened. He hit .213 in April and .176 in May and many gave up on him. He hit .315 in June with seven home runs and 23 RBIs. Still, his overall numbers aren't good and you should be able to get a guy who is capable of hitting 15 home runs in the second half for a cheap price.