Part-Timers: Fantasy Baseball Players You May Have Missed

By Chris McBrien
Updated: May 18, 2012

When looking for players to fill your fantasy baseball roster from free agency or the waiver wire in your league, one of the first things many owners look for is performance, and rightly so.

If a player is receiving every day playing time, he is more likely to help your fantasy team, after all, right? Maybe not. Think about it… is it better to have a player who plays every day but only hits a weak .250 with no power or speed? The good news is that there are many options among players who are part-timers who may just help your team. Best of all, your fellow owners probably have overlooked these guys because of their lack of at bats.

Part-timers to consider are:

Raul Ibanez (New York Yankees)

Ibanez is a left-handed hitter who does not play when the Yankees face a left-handed

: Raul Ibanez is a part-timer worthy of a spot on a fantasy roster.

pitcher. That is perfectly OK and no reason to overlook him. Your team is better off having Ibanez on the bench than it is having an 0-4 day at the plate. He is being used in a situation he is more likely to see success and that is great news for your fantasy roster. If he does get an at bat against a lefty, don’t panic. He may have hit only .211 against LHP in 2011, but he holds a career .266 mark against southpaws, so all is not lost.

Rajai Davis (Toronto Bluejays)

Davis has become somewhat of a forgotten man in Toronto. Although he rarely gets into the starting line-up, Davis is used quite a bit off the bench in late innings as a pinch runner. This means he can be a great source of cheap steals for your fantasy squad. Your team is better off getting a chance at some steals with Davis pinch-running than it is with him going 0-4 at the plate and killing your batting average.

Mark Trumbo (Los Angeles Angels)

Due mainly to a crowded roster, the Angels had Trumbo riding the pine a lot during the opening month of the season. Even with multiple position eligibility, Trumbo had trouble gaining an everyday role with the team. Don’t let that fool you. The big man has done nothing but hit, hit and hit some more this season and will soon muscle his way into everyday status on the roster. The on-base percentage woes of his 2011 rookie campaign seem behind him as well. This is an offensive force.

Gerardo Parra (Arizona Diamondbacks)

Always seeming to have to fight for his at-bats, Parra has made the most of his chances in 2012. With an injury to Chris Young, Parra has played well and displayed some decent speed. He has bounced up and down the Diamondbacks line-up, but he is definitely worth a look.

Juan Pierre (Philadelphia Phillies)

Pierre still isn’t seeing everyday full-time duty with the Phillies, but he is making the most of his opportunities. He has hit above .300 and is stealing bases, showing that his detractors from last season may have written him off a little early at age 34. Not known for his power, Pierre is “muscling” his way into more playing time in Philadelphia than anyone thought prior to the start of the year.\

Don’t let playing time be the only thing you consider when determining options in fantasy baseball. You just might get a surprise or two from the part-time help.