AL DL Replacements

BAL: Jef Conine, Chris Gomez
NYY: Andy Phillips, Bubba Crosby, Miguel Cairo
BOS: Adam Stern
TB: Damon Hollins, Ty Wigginton, Russel Branyan
TOR: None

CWS: Pablo Ozuna, Ross Gload, Alex Cintron
MIN: Terry Tiffee
CLE: Eduardo Perez, Jason Dubois
KC: Aaron Guiel, Chip Ambres
DET: Marcus Thames

LAA: Macier Izturis, Robb Quinlan, Edgardo Alfonzo
OAK: Bobby Kielty, Antonio Perez, Marcus Scutaro
SEA: Mike Morse, Willie Bloomquist
TEX: D'Angelo Jiminez

This list of possible DL replacement players is a little more extensive because I find it difficult to cull the $1 end-of-draftees from the undrafted players. Chip Ambres andD'Angelo Jiminez are two sleeper players I have mentioned a couple/few times this off-season, but does that mean they go for $1 or does a bad srping (Ambres) and no job (Jiminez) keep them off the draft radar?

One factor that did contribute is the perception of available playing time. In New York, Andy Phillips should get drafted and get drafted for a few dollars. Bernie Williams is the 4th OF which will free-up DH ABs for Giambi which will put Phillips at 1B more frequently than anticipated. However, this may not be as well-known which could leave Phillips undrafted in favor of a player who looks like he will get more PT or a better chance to compete.

The perceptual factor also applies to Damon Hollins who had an awesome pool pick-up season in 2005 and leads the spring with 8 steals, but he has nowhere to play in TB and is lost in all the super prospect hype.

This is also the reason I have Bobby Kielty and Antonio Perez listed. The A's have an abundance of 1B/DH types with Frank Thomas, Dan Johnson and Nick Swisher. All will get ABs with Swisher going to the OF while Thomas DHs and Johnson plays 1B. Pushed out of playing time is Jay Payton, a more accomplished major leaguer, and Bobby Kielty.

Antonio Perez had a very good season as a utlity player with the Dodgers but he has nowhere to play behind Chavez, Crosby and Ellis. He is sort of the Miguel Cairo of the AL West.

Perez' top contender for that title is D'Angelo Jiminez who would have to back-up Hank Blalock, Michael Young, and Mark Texeria. It is only the presence of a rookie at 2B, Ian Kinsler, that keeps Jiminez away from the crown.

In both players' favor in going undrafted is the fact they came over from the NL. In AL-only leagues, this keeps them under the radar more so because neither started for their NL clubs.

As a result, this list looks a lot better. If not for those, Marcus Thames, Terry Tiffee, Eduardo Perez and Jason Dubois would top the list with Pablo Ozuna's SB and postional flexibility putting him there.