Ah, the rookie. The most tantalizing, and frustrating, group of players in fantasy. Hard evidence suggests that a very select few will make an impact in their first seasons, but owners still can’t help but go nuts for them in their quests for cheap upside.

To find value in our fantasy rookies, we look for a collection of three attributes:

1.) Talent, obviously. And not only talent, but in what areas does it project in fantasy? A couple of premium tools, say power and baserunning, generally allow a prospect to overcome inexperience and produce early.

2.) Polish. Often, this trumps overall talent, in terms of making an immediate impact. Mature rookies, especially those who have spent several seasons in the minors, adjust quickly and produce with consistency.

3.) Opportunity. All the talent in the world means very little if there are no jobs to fill. The first step for a prospect is grabbing a roster spot. The next is earning enough confidence from his manager and prominent roles on his team. Read more »

Well, all this Roy Halladay talk is becoming OFFICIAL, finally. Halladay is going to the Philadelphia Phillies; Cliff Lee is going to the Seattle Mariners; and a slew of prospects are being shipped all across the continental United States.

A complete recap of the deal, most of which is courtesy of the Philadelphia Daily News:

Philadelphia Phillies receive:
Halladay and cash from Toronto
RHP Phillippe Aumont from Seattle
RHP Juan Ramirez from Seattle
OF Tyson Gillies from Seattle

Toronto Blue Jays receive:
RHP Kyle Drabek from Philadelphia
C Travis d’Arnaud from Philadelphia
INF Brett Wallace from Oakland

Seattle Mariners receive:
LHP Cliff Lee from Philadelphia

Oakland Athletics receive:
OF Michael Taylor from Philadelphia by way of Toronto Read more »

Oakland Athletics’ general manager Billy Beane recently discussed the organization’s approach to filling open positions, and like in past seasons, the approach should be to fantasy owners’ liking. Beane’s propensity to look within the organization for cheap, young help often yields intriguing prospects in fantasy drafts. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, that will again be the case in 2010.

The Chronicle talks about seeking the position player equivalent of the next Andrew Bailey - the reliever who came out of nowhere last season to make the All-Star team and win the American League Rookie of the Year Award. Two players were mentioned specifically as those with chances to make an impact next season - corner infielders Brett Wallace and Chris Carter. Read more »

One player’s injury is another’s opportunity. Sensitivity be damned, fantasy owners have to process that information, make decisions and take advantage of the new-found chance a player has.

On Thursday, St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Troy Glaus, a fine player in his own right, made the decision to undergo surgery on his right shoulder. The procedure could cost Glaus up to three months, while opening the door for a young player in the organization to claim an everyday job. Read more »