Roto Riteup: April 1, 2013

Today’s Roto Riteup starts out with a top prospect alert! No fooling.

On today’s agenda:
1. Jose Fernandez makes the Marlins
2. Logan Morrison hits the 60-day DL
3. Hiroyuki Nakajima heads to DL
4. Justin Sellers to start for Dodgers

Jose Fernandez makes the Marlins
After a series of unfortunate events, Miami’s top prospect will start the season on the major league roster. Presumptive starters Nathan Eovaldi and Henderson Alvarez both hit the DL, opening up a spot for the young right-hander. Fernandez has yet to make a start in either Double-A or Triple-A, so a move to the majors means a huge jump in the level of competition. However, Fernandez has elite stuff, though he still needs time to learn how to harness it all and use it effectively. The Marlins aren’t going to push Fernandez too hard, as they’re limiting the 20-year-old anywhere between 150 and 170 innings. If Fernandez is struggling mightily, those innings could come at the minor league level when Eovaldi and Alvarez heal. Grab Fernandez in your keeper league if he wasn’t, as he’ll provide you with a low-cost asset who’ll be great for years to come, even if he isn’t in 2013.

Logan Morrison hits the 60-day DL
Some hoped he’d be ready to start the 2013 season, but LoMo has been placed on the 60-day DL by the Miami Marlins. LoMo had surgery on his knee last September after a season with a WAR below 0.0. During his time in the bigs, Morrison has flashed power and patience at the plate to the tune of a .341 wOBA, but his batting average has held him back from relevance in standard mixed leagues. With Morrison away from the field, the Marlins are set to use Placido Polanco as their cleanup hitter, killing the value of any player not name Giancarlo. Feel free to stash LoMo on the DL for the next couple of months if you play in an NL-OBP league.

Seriously, the Marlins are letting Polanco bat cleanup. That’s a thing that’s happening.

Hiroyuki Nakajima heads to DL
The Japanese import has been forced to the DL due to a left hamstring issue. Nakajima struggled in Spring Training, and with the acquisition of Jed Lowrie from the Astros, Oakland has the ability to weather his absence. Lowrie will be playing short for the A’s, with Scott Sizemore and Eric Sogard starting at second and Josh Donaldson starting at third. If he can work his way out of the platoon, Sizemore is a very interesting grab in deep or AL OBP leagues due to his raw power and patience at the plate. Nakajima may be worth keeping on the DL in deep leagues, but his transition to MLB has just gotten that much harder.

Justin Sellers to start for Dodgers
Once a highly thought of prospect, Sellers gets the chance to start in place of the injured Hanley Ramirez in LA. Sellers has some pop in his bat, and he’s not afraid to take a walk. He’s an excellent short-term sleeper candidate in NL-only leagues.