Just because a guy has been a star in the past doesn't mean he deserves a spot on your fantasy baseball team. Players break down, and you need to make sure you don't have them on your team when they do.
So, let's take a look at five guys who are going to have horrible years in 2012. Don't draft these guys, or they are going to sink your team.
- Adam Dunn, 1B/DH, Chicago White Sox – Dunn has clearly forgotten how to hit. He’s hitting .163 in 367 at-bats this season. I’m pretty sure I could hit .163 in the Major Leagues (I’m kidding, but it’s still a horrible average). The move to the American League changed Dunn for the worse, and if he doesn’t get traded back to the NL, I don’t want any part of him in 2012.
- Dan Uggla, 2B, Atlanta Braves – Despite his 30+ game hitting streak earlier this year, Uggla is still only batting .232. Don’t count on long hit streaks for him every season, so expect a decline in average next year. He’ll still put up good power numbers, but it won’t be worth the hit to your batting average.
- Justin Morneau, 1B, Minnesota Twins – Morneau’s battle with a concussion and a neck injury has made him a much worse hitter than he was in the past. He’s only hitting .227 this season, a far cry from his MVP season. He looks lost at the plate, and I don’t want him to be trying to sort it out while he’s on my roster next season. Don’t draft this guy unless you have an open bench spot to use for him.
- Alex Rodriguez, 3B, New York Yankees – A-Rod can’t stay healthy lately. He’s had several surgeries and rehabs and is just a shell of the player he was in his heyday. His days as a top-20 fantasy pick are done, and I wouldn’t want him anywhere near my team in 2012.
- Nelson Cruz, OF, Texas Rangers – Cruz’s hamstring is really worrisome. It seems that if he doesn’t hit a home run, he hurts his hamstring running the bases at full speed. He’s super-productive when he’s in the lineup, but he tends to get injured at bad times for fantasy owners. He’s on the DL right now, just in time for the start of the fantasy playoffs.
