2009 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

He won 19 games in 2006 and 2007 and missed most of last season. But it was an ankle injury that sidelined him, not a more problematic shoulder or elbow. He's throwing well this spring. So why is he undervalued? Because he isn't a strikeout machine. He'll go lower than new teammates CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. But my money says that Wang, throwing in the No. 3 role (against a lesser pitcher, especially early in the season), will win more games than either of the higher-priced free agents.

Carpenter is two years removed from Tommy John surgery, which is typically when the results come back. He won't go until late in your draft because of his injury issues - after all, he has thrown in a total of five games since 2006. But in 2005, Carpenter won the Cy Young Award, and all signs point to him being healthy this season. Yet his draft value is 20th round or lower in most leagues, if he's picked at all. He could be this year's Cliff Lee.

Another quality starting pitcher who will slide because the average fan has no idea who he is. And in the second half of the season, there were a precious few who were better than Nolasco. In his last 19 starts, he had a 2.95 ERA and struck out 143 while walking just 16. His total numbers: 15-8 with a 3.52 ERA, point to a guy who should go in the 10th round. But I bet he's there in the 15th or later.

CBS Sports calls Slowey the 52nd best fantasy starting pitcher, by his average draft value. That translates to the later rounds, and he'd be a steal there. He falls because few people outside the Twin Cities has heard of him (and the name Slowey sounds like a guy who just lobs the ball up there). He went 12-11 last season, with a stellar 1.15 WHIP and and ERA under four last season. His bulldog temperament has received raves from managers and analysts, and he strikes out more people (123 in 160 IP last season) than you think.

He's not Hanley Ramirez or Jose Reyes, but Aviles hit .327 last season with good power numbers for a shortstop (10 homers, 51 RBI). And in many leagues, he'll qualify both at second base and shortstop, and it always helps to be versatile. His numbers were a big surprise last season, and he wasn't one of those can't-miss guys coming through the minors. But when you're looking for a backup infielder in the late rounds (or if you've ignored shortstop while getting pitching), Aviles is likely to be on the board.

With fantasy outfielders, you want a guy who has the potential to produce in a lot of categories. And Jones can be that guy off your bench. He won't go until the later rounds, so pick some more established players as starters. But .280, 30 steals and 15 homers is a reasonable expectation for the Orioles' second-year center fielder. He needs to raise that on-base percentage a bit, but he is only 23.

He has just 44 career saves in six seasons, but has closer stats (10.47 strikeouts per nine innings, a 1.23 WHIP, 157 hits in 206 IP). And he'll almost certainly be the guy in Atlanta this season, and primed for a breakout year, two years after Tommy John surgery. And he won't go until very late in your draft. When you need that third closer on a week when you have a few starters on your bench because of bad matchups, Gonzalez could be your guy.

He's 25, and toils in relative anonymity in Seattle. Some owners will think he's a one-year wonder (.297, 17 HR, 89 RBI in 2008), and that's why he'll slide a bit. No, he's not Dustin Pedroia or Chase Utley, but there are few second basemen who will provide as much power at a non-power position. He hit 41 doubles last season as well. You can concentrate on other spots early in the draft, then grab Lopez in the middle rounds as solid value at second base.

Maine won 15 games in 2007, which made him a middle-round pick last season. Then he got hurt (shoulder), and that's going to make many fans forget him this spring. But he seems to be healthy this season, and will get the ball every fifth day for a team that's going to win more games than it loses (at least until September). Maine is also a good WHIP guy (1.31 in his career) and had 180 strikeouts in 2007. Don't start thinking about Maine until the 18th round or so, but if he returns to his 2007 form, you will remember Maine on a winning fantasy team.

When you're looking for a backup catcher, one of the best attributes will be a guy who is actually playing. And Suzuki plays, every day. He played in 148 games last year - very high for a catcher - and his numbers are respectable (.279, seven homers). He's only 25, so there's upside potential there. He's not Brian McCann or Victor Martinez, but he'll help you a lot more than Jason Varitek would. And it's almost a guarantee that Varitek will be off the board before Oakland's everyday catcher will be taken.