The Matt Holliday trade that went down on Monday, the one that surprised most and shocked many, has served as the match to ignite baseball’s hot stove. The deal won’t be the last surprise we get, and it may not even be the biggest. As prime free agents are set to negotiate and teams look to rebuild, the offseason flurry is only now about to begin.

On one end are the impact free agents available to the highest bidders. To the surprise of none, CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira and Manny Ramirez are 1-2-3 on the list, all three of which figure to land in the lineups of large-market contenders. Read more »

Every season it happens. At least one player goes on such a tear through the postseason, gets so much attention that his fantasy stock soars the following season. That kind of buzz, of course, factors into a player’s value on draft day, but does a breakout playoff performance really change who that player is? The answer, in my opinion, is: sometimes.

Two types of players can grow from playoff experience to the point where a career season will immediately follow. Others can use good postseason play to cash in via free agency — Carlos Beltran, then with Houston, and Jeff Suppan, then with St. Louis, are recent examples — but they fool fantasy owners into thinking their games have changed. Read more »

Over the course of a 162 game season, Major League teams change their lineups countless times, promote prospects from the minor leagues, make trades, and face constant struggles about what to do with certain players. Fantasy owners are no different.

Injuries, slumps, and platoons have owners throwing fits over the course of a season. Players get benched, get traded and catch fire. Through hot streaks and slumps, good games and bad, fantasy owners are there to stomach it all.

Beginning on draft day, fantasy managers have tough decisions to make. When do you draft your first closer? Should you take a risk on that rookie or go with the proven veteran? How do you avoid getting stuck with weak players at the shallow positions? ImaginaryDiamond.com is here to address some of the lessons you should have learned regarding these situations and more in 2008. Read more »

Smell that cooking in the distance? Yep, that’s October baseball just right around the corner. Eight teams are still mathematically eligible for the playoffs, as of the start of play on September 23, and each team still feels that it has a chance to make the postseason.

We’ve seen a lot happen this season, from the emergence of the Rays to the Mets changing managers and collapsing once again when the calendar changed to September. The Angels are kings of the AL West again, while the Cubs repeat as champions in the NL Central. Read more »