Despite traditionally harnessing a power-packed swing, Alfonso Soriano's physical deterioration is driving down his keeper value.
Well, there might be a touch of hyperbole in the headline, but isn’t that what headlines are for? My story in today’s amNew York looks at four MLB players who should no longer be considered keepers in standard formats (12 teams, 5×5 scoring, five or fewer keepers).
There could be a very good argument made for every one of these guys that their non-keeper status extends beyond just standard formats. The basis for the story is that as sports fans, we tend to get tied to a player’s name even when his level of play takes a precipitous fall.
Take one example from the story: Alfonso Soriano. Fantasy owners might want to believe that Soriano still has the tools to go for his fifth 30/30 season in 2010, but all the evidence points to the contrary. His most glaring flaw is his inability to stay off the DL. There’s a point in time when various injuries such like what Soriano has experienced (inflamed knee, broken finger, strained calf) become more than just a coincidence. They become the most evident signs that a player is moving to a different phase of his career. The injuries he’s accumulated to his legs will prevent him — and his manager — from attempting to steal bags like he did in the past. He might never again reach 20 stolen bases. He also slugged at a career-low rate (.423), which could be due to his inflamed knee sapping his ability to create weight leverage and drive the ball.
Anyway, if I didn’t completely depress you, go ahead and read the three players in addition to Soriano who I advise throwing back into your league’s free agent pool.
KyleStack.com 
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