ARod replacements

 Alex Rodriguez’s surgery was successful but he’s still out until mid-May so all you Arod owners (including me) need to replace him with someone for now.  

For mixed league owners: 

Hank Blalock (14.6% owned in ESPN leagues) – If he’s healthy Blalock should be owned in every league. Combine 07 and 08 – that’s over 460 ABs – Blalock is hitting over .290 with 22 homers and he’s hitting right in the middle of the best lineup in baseball. He qualifies at third and is the obvious choice to pick up if available. 

Ian Stewart (9.1% owned in ESPN leagues) – When you lose Alex Rodriguez for a month you need some power and it doesn’t get too much better than this guy. If he grabs a starting spot he has real power and plays in Coors. Bad BA, but in like 50-100 ABs that’s not going to kill you. 

Ty Wiggington (6.7%) – .280/20 production and he’s not getting drafted in most leagues. 
The third basemen for the White Sox (0.1% owned in ESPN leagues) – Whoever it is. Fields, Betimit, or Viciedo. All guys with great bats, and one of them will get their first starting job (or second for Fields). 

For AL only owners:

Cody Ransom (0.1% owned in ESPN leagues) – Ransom is a 30 year old career minor leaguer, but one who happens to have 20 homer pop and a starting job. I fully expect him to suck but in an AL only league getting a starting guy with some power playing in a good lineup… well that’s ok. 

Going into the year my projection for Arod was in the .300/40 range with maybe 20 steals. Now I’m thinking .300 (or a bit lower) with maybe 35 homers and 10-15 steals. Personally I still think he’s a (risky) early second rounder with those numbers. If I’m drafting in the second half of the first round in a straight daft I grab Arod on the way back (if I can) and then one of these above guys (or another late round 3B), the combination of which will probably add up to high first round type numbers.