Josh Anderson - Fantasy News & Updates
Josh Anderson - Fantasy News & Updates
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While Anderson’s speed is unquestioned, he doesn't reach base enough to warrant regular playing time. Should the Royals decide to pick up Coco Crisp’s option, Anderson’s chances at an increased role would be further compromised. Mitch Maier also figures to see his fair share of at-bats in the Royals outfield.
It was the first home run of the season for the speedy outfielder, who is batting .241 on the year with a measly 23 RBIs.
Anderson's speed makes him an intriguing cheap-steals pickup, but his limitations in just about every other facet -- witness his .245/.282/.296 splits -- hurts his value. He'll likely see regular time over the rest of the season with Jose Guillen done for the year, but Anderson has yet to show that he'll hit enough to help fantasy owners, even with regular playing time.
Guillen missed five weeks with a knee injury, then left the game early on Sept. 2 with tightness in his hamstring. It's a frustrating end to a frustrating season for Guillen, who battled injuries all year and finished with a .242-9-40 line in 286 at-bats. His slugging percentage has dropped from .460 to .438 to .367 over the last three years, but he could be worth an end-of-the-draft flier in AL-only leagues next year. Guillen's defensive issues had made him more of a DH this season, and Mike Jacobs will likely pick up the slack at that spot in Guillen's absence. Josh Anderson and Mitch Maier also seem locked in for at least semi-regular roles in the outfield for the rest of the season.
Anderson's six-game hitting streak was halted with the hitless effort, although it's notable that he still reached base. He's made it to the basepaths at least once in 10 of his last 11 starts, so the outfielder can be of use in AL-only leagues.
A day after manager Jim Leyland said Guillen felt like he was "about ready to go out in left field," Guillen said he thinks he can be out there by the end of the week, a move that would give Detroit a chance at more flexibility. The Tigers lost a left-handed hitter when they dealt Josh Anderson to the Royals earlier in the week, leaving Clete Thomas as the only left-handed bat as a corner outfielder. For the most part, Marcus Thames and Ryan Raburn have been platooning in left.
Anderson brings some much-needed speed to Kansas City and the ability to play center field, holes the club has struggled to fill since Coco Crisp underwent season-ending surgery earlier in the season. With Crisp gone, the Royals have gone with Mitch Maier and, more recently, Willie Bloomquist in center, but that could change with Anderson on board. "Historically, he's been a solid on-base guy throughout the Minor Leagues and in limited Major League time," Royals GM Dayton Moore said of the 26-year-old. Reaching base has been a problem this year for Anderson, who sports a .242 average in 165 at-bats with 13 steals. Ultimately, Anderson's playing time and fantasy value will be dictated by how much he gets to first.
Anderson, who hit .242 with 22 runs and 13 steals in 165 at-bats for the Tigers, was designated for assignment July 24. The Royals were not certain when Anderson will report because his wife is expecting a child. When he does join the team, he’ll likely replace Mitch Maier or Ryan Freel as a solid defensive outfielder with speed off the bench.
Guillen, who hit .200 with six RBIs in 24 games earlier this year, is still hampered by the right shoulder inflammation that sidelined him since May 4. For now, the switch-hitter will only bat left-handed and will be limited to a DH role. He’ll spit time there with Marcus Thames, who will begin playing more left field in place of Ryan Raburn. Anderson hit .242 with 16 RBIs and 13 steals in 74 games for the Tigers.
A Cliff Lee fastball in the fifth inning found Anderson's right tricep, although the outfielder is listed as day-to-day. He had been filing in for Granderson, who was given a customary day off. Expect Granderson back in a starting role on Saturday.
Anderson made the most of his first start in nearly two weeks, knocking in his first runners since June 20 when he also plated a pair. Anderson's main weapon continues to be his aggressive nature on the basepaths (12 steals on the year) but his impact should be limited as long as he continues to find himself tethered to the Tigers' bench, as he's found himself for 32 of his 65 games played this season.
Even with Magglio Ordronez back in the fold, this is the kind of clutch performance that ought to buy Raburn some extra playing time, possibly at the expense of Josh Anderson. The long ball was his fifth, and it gives him a .235 average, 16 RBIs and a .457 slugging percentage on the season.
Anderson started in right field, in place of the benched Magglio Ordonez, and turned in a pretty good Magglio-style day. Anderson's speed has been his hallmark in both fantasy and on-field baseball, but he has never hit quite well enough to become a real fantasy contributor. He'll get his shot with Magglio on the bench, and is worth keeping an eye on. That .301 on-base percentage will need to come up some before he's worth owning in fantasy, though.
Thomas, who entered Sunday's game as a pinch-runner for Miguel Cabrera, sorely needed Sunday's jolt to snap him out of a 1-for-18 start to June. While Thomas has found his way into the starting lineup 27 times this year, the continued presence of Josh Anderson and Ryan Raburn, combined with the reutrn of Marcus Thames, puts a serious damper on his fantasy potential.
Maybe the season-high four singles will help kick Anderson's bat into gear. He entered Wednesday batting just .200 in May, resulting in less playing time in the Tigers outfield and more for Ryan Raburn and Clete Thomas.
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