A few weeks ago, I told someone at a draft that this had been a pretty good spring without too many bad injuries. Since then, it feels like guys are going down left and right. Here are some tiers of which players may be worth stashing, particularly at a discount, and which ones are not.
Fantasy Baseball Injury Stashes
Back Soon
- Corey Seager: Seager may actually be ready for opening day, which is great news.
- Nathaniel Lowe: Starting the year on the IL, but should only miss a couple of weeks.
- Kevin Gausman: Dealing with a shoulder issue but is expected to throw in Spring Training soon.
- Nick Lodolo: Coming off of a lost season, but has looked good so far.
- Sonny Gray: Dealing with a hamstring injury but should be ready soon.
- Justin Verlander: Verlander probably misses Opening Day, but he could be ready shortly after that as he is ready to face live hitters again.
- Kenley Jansen: Dealing with a back issue, but expects to be ready for Opening Day.
- John Means: Behind in his prep but should be back soon.
Worth The Wait
- Jhoan Duran: Out with an oblique injury, will probably miss 4-6 weeks.
- Walker Buehler: Starting the year on the IL, but has looked great in bullpens.
- Lars Nootbaar: Broken ribs but could return in May.
- Max Scherzer: Back injury, but will pitch this summer.
- Clayton Kershaw: Will pitch this summer.
- Taj Bradley: Pectoral injury, probably out until May.
- Josh Lowe: Starting the year on the IL with an oblique injury, but should only miss about a month,
- Vaughn Grissom: Grissom had a setback with his groin injury and is not expected back until mid-to-late April, according to the Red Sox.
Probably Not Worth It
- Shane Baz: Probably out until May and then managed.
- Gerrit Cole: Out 1-2 months with elbow pain, may end in Tommy John surgery.
- Kodai Senga: Not pitching for the next 7-10 days after already being out for three weeks.
- TJ Friedl: Broken wrist and out for 10 weeks. Wrist injuries often sap power so I would pass here.
- Kyle Bradish: Working his way back from an elbow injury, probably ends in TJ surgery.
- Gavin Williams: Dealing with an elbow issue, which may end in TJ.
- Eury Perez: Elbow pain. Getting an MRI but may end in TJ surgery.
Definitely Not Worth The Wait
- Danny Jansen: Broken bone in his wrist and wrist injuries often sap power, so I would pass here.
- Jasson Dominguez: Recovering from TJ surgery and out until the summer.
- Tommy Edman: Had offseason wrist surgery and setbacks this spring, so I would pass here.
- All TJ Surgery Returnees: These guys almost always struggle with command and control in their returns.
Expert Fantasy Baseball Draft Advice
- The Welsh’s Must-Have Players (Premium)
- Joe Pisapia’s Must-Have Players (Premium)
- Justin Mason’s Must-Have Players (Premium)
- KC Bubba’s Must-Have Players (Premium)
- Blake Meyer’s Must-Have Players (Premium)
- Mason’s High-Stakes Leagues Draft Strategy (Premium)
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