GAH! Will Carlos Lee ever stop vexing me?
↵I hate to admit it, but when I saw this ranking of first baseman over at The Hardball Times, my first reaction was "Where's Carlos Lee?"
↵Yes, it's come to that. Carlos Lee is a fantasy sleeper.
↵See, he actually had a pretty good season in 2011, not only in the field but at the plate. His batting average rebounded and he will be one of the few run producers in the Astros lineup (aka he'll be in position to get RBIs).
↵The only problem here is that flagging home run power. Since 2007 (his first in Houston), Lee's homer total has fallen every season. It was down to 18 last season and, in his Age 36 season, that number is not likely to rise much. First base is a position where power is necessary more than anything.
↵So, where does Lee fit? If he's still got some outfield eligibility, he's going to be a late-round buy low candidate. He can add bench depth and may be a good stopgap for someone who also drafts Ryan Howard. Start Lee until the big Philly first baseman is healthy and then put Lee on the bench or in the outfield.
↵Either way, there should be some value there. As much as I hate to admit it...
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