Making the right free agent acquisitions in a fantasy baseball league can make the difference between winning a fantasy championship and missing the playoffs. This season, like any other, you will need to keep an eye on the free agents and create a “watch list” that will fill your teams holes.
Players to Watch
Ben Revere (CF, OF)- Minnesota Twins
Available in 95.4% of ESPN standard leagues.
Ben Revere may be one of the three Minnesota Twins players I would take on my team; other two being Joe Mauer and Josh Willingham. Ben Revere is not in the starting lineup as of opening day but he is still going to get at-bats and playing time. Revere is a straight steals guy and could be used quite a bit late in games. I like Revere a lot, he is the first guy in line to take a starting spot if an injury occurs; also, if Denard Span does not perform Revere could take the starting centerfield spot from him. I project Ben Revere to hit .283 with 42 steals and around 71 runs scored.
Jason Bourgeois (LF, CF, RF, OF, 2B)-Kansas City Royals
Available in 95.6% of ESPN standard leagues.
Bourgeois was traded to the Kansas City Royals mid-way through spring training. As of right now he is the fourth outfielder on the roster. However, Manager Ned Yost said that both Lorenzo Cain and Jeff Francouer must perform in order to keep their spots. He later went on to say that Jason Bourgeois reminds him a lot of Bill Hall, who was a great guy to have because he was a fantastic pinch hitter and could do many things. With that being said, I expect Ned Yost to utilize Bourgeois at 2B (never started a game there before) because the Royals have not had anyone step up to the plate from that position. Bourgeois is another steals guy who could provide a better average than Revere. Last season, he stole 31 bags in only 283 at-bats. If you translate that to 400 at-bats, he will be a steal in your fantasy league… no pun intended.
Mat Gamel (1B, 3B)-Milwaukee Brewers
Available in 21.1% of ESPN standard leagues.Mat Gamel will be the Brew Crew’s starting first baseman on opening day due to Prince Fielder’s departure. Most likely Gamel will not be providing a .320 average 40 home run season like Prince Fielder has done in the past, Gamel has some upside. Gamel is a power-hitter and will be batting behind Ryan Braun who had a .332 batting average and a .397 on-base percentage last season. I still expect the Brewers to score a lot of runs this year and Gamel will help provide some power in that lineup. He should hit 20+ long balls and roam somewhere around 90 RBI.
Jose Altuve (2B)-Houston Astros
Available in 71.3% of ESPN standard leagues.
There aren’t many bright spots for the Houston Astros… if any. But Jose Altuve is still available in many standard 12 team leagues. He does not provide much pop and won’t score many runs via hitting in a depleted lineup but there is much upside to Altuve. He is only 21 years old and is on the rise, a .301 batting average and 22+ steal season is very much attainable. The only major downfall to Altuve is that he is only eligible at 2B, but, second base may be the thinnest position fantasy-wise so he could be a great pick-up.
Felix Doubront (SP)-Boston Red Sox
Available in 98.1% of ESPN standard leagues.
Felix Doubront is not a household name by any means, but he has been deemed the number four starter in the Red Sox rotation. Doubront is a lefty that has the ability to pitch late into games. Pitching in Boston should get Doubront a good amount of wins given the fact that the offense provides. If you are in a league that categorizes quality starts Doubront has potential to be one of the upper-tier guys. He will not knock your sox off with the his strikeout numbers, but he should get somewhere around 12-14 wins and a reasonable ERA.
Must-Have Guy
Dexter Fowler (CF, OF)-Colorado Rockies
Available in 73.1% of ESPN standard leagues.
The Rockies starting centerfielder is a guy that I have been big on throughout his whole career. Once again, he is another steals guy so if you need steals I would go after Fowler before any other free agent. There is a lot to like about Fowler, he is batting second (in front of Carlos Gonzalez & Troy Tulowitzki) and this is his ultimate chance to have a breakout season. Last year, Fowler was sent down to Colorado Springs (AAA) in order to work on his mechanics. In the off-season Fowler fine-tuned his swing and added 7 lbs. of muscle; in a spring training interview, a reporter asked him how he felt. Fowler said he feels great and that the ball flies off his bat now. Fowler could be a 19 home run, 52 steal, 90+ runs scored player. If he is a free agent in your league, I advise you to pick him up.
Notable Mentions
SS-Sean Rodriguez-Tampa Bay Rays
Key Attribute: Versatility, a starter that is eligible at SS, 2B and 3B.
SP-Corey Luebke- San Diego Padres
Key Attribute: Quality pitcher that is in a friendly ballpark; should post a low WHIP.
1B-Byan LaHair-Chicago Cubs
Key Attribute: Power, could hit all the home runs that Anthony Rizzo was expected to hit.
Seattle Mariners– 
Los Angeles Angels– Mark Trumbo struggles to get implemented/ keep his spot in the lineup (1B, 3B, DH, OF). He won’t even hit 19 home runs and he won’t be able to keep his average above .240. On a positive note, Kendrys Morales will stay healthy for the most part and knock out 26 home runs while C.J. Wilson gets a team-high 24 wins.
Texas Rangers– Mike Napoli ends up getting moved, again, at the trade deadline. Neftali Feliz has an impressive 13-8 record as a starter. Joe Nathan gets hurt (not bold) and Alexei Ogando becomes the closer getting 33+ saves.
Oakland Athletics– Yoenis Cespedes scorches 37 doubles and leads the team with 22 home runs and 89 RBI. Pitcher, Brandon McCarthy, makes the All-Star team and finished the season with 14 wins and a 2.96 ERA with a sub-1 WHIP. Manny Ramirez also takes the DH spot from Jonny Gomes after serving his 50-game suspension and he hits 13 dingers.
Detroit Tigers– Alex Avila struggles on offense while the rest of the Tigers do not. Austin Jackson finally proves that the Tigers made the right choice in trading Curtis Granderson for him and company. Jackson steals 34 bases and hits a career-high .294.
Cleveland Indians– Josh Tomlin leads this team in wins with only 12. Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore miss over a combined 210 games. Ubaldo Jimenez still can’t find his groove in Cleveland.
Minnesota Twins– Bottom-dwellers of the AL Central and the league for that matter, which ends up being the worst division in the MLB. Mauer does play, and hits .318, but it doesn’t help the team. Ben Revere ends up taking Denard Span’s CF spot and steals 51 bases.
Kansas City Royals– Royals finish second in division with 88 wins. Eric Hosmer wins the AL MVP despite not making the playoffs. He bats: .330, 29 long-balls and 117 RBI. Mike Moustakas hits 26 home runs and Tim Collins makes the All-Star team as a setup man.
Chicago White Sox– Jake Peavy finally makes a comeback, dealing out a team-leading 14 wins. Matt Thornton finishes the season as the closer but not a good one and Konerko is the only player on the team to bat over .300.
Boston Red Sox (World Series Champs)– Mark Melancon was brought in to be a setup man but he ends up leading the club in saves (28). 
New York Yankees– Ivan Nova becomes the most consistent pitcher. Curtis “The Grandy Man” Granderson hits 
Toronto Blue Jays– 
Tampa Bay Rays– Ben Zobrist hits 24 home runs while snatching 26 bases and he will start games at 2B, 1B, LF, RF and DH. Desmond Jennings hits a shocking 26 HR and B.J. Upton gets traded to Houston.
Baltimore Orioles– Mark Reynolds moves to 1B, Brian Roberts comes back and Robert Andino plays most of the year at 3B. Jake Arietta wins only 9 games but has a 3.20 ERA. Adam Jones gets traded so Baltimore can stockpile on prospects… I don’t know why they want to though.
Arizona Diamondbacks (Lose in World Series)– Trevor Cahill shows he misses pitching at the Coliseum and gets rocked. Ian Kennedy doesn not have the same type of season as last year. 
San Francisco Giants– Freddy Sanchez hits only .263, no one on the team hits over 23 home runs and Lincecum has a 3.49 ERA. Brian Wilson is lights out this year but he will have no save opportunities, only gets 31 saves.
Colorado Rockies– Dexter Fowler becomes a superstar. Jamie Moyer gets 13 wins, Tulowitzki wins NL MVP and Jordan Pacheco hits 24 home runs from the hot corner. Helton and Giambi both announce they will retire at end of season, freeing up first base for 3B prospect Nolan Arenado who will move to 1B.
San Diego Padres– Carlos Quentin hits only 16 home runs. Cameron Maybin leads the team with 26 bombs and 38 steals. Edinson Volquez and Corey Luebke both tie with 15 wins but the Padres still struggle.
Los Angeles Dodgers– Dee Gordon hits well over .300 but Andre Ethier becomes the team’s MVP. Ethier his .328 and knocks in 108 runs while Kemp struggles to hit 25 home runs and doesn’t even reach 100 RBI. Kershaw wins Cy Young by a landslide.
Houston Astros– Jordan Lyles leads the team in wins with 13 and Jordan Schafer robs 23 bases. Unfortunately, a bunch of prospects get called up too early and end up having terrible numbers.
Chicago Cubs– Anthony Rizzo is a disappointment, hitting less than five home runs. Marmol gets traded along with Matt Garza (separate deals), leaving Jeff Samardzija to have the best season as a Cubs pitcher in 2012.
Cincinnati Reds– Aroldis Chapman eventually becomes the closer and strikes out over 100 as a reliever. Votto has a bad year after signing a monster contract, 20 HR and bats only .289. Chris Heisey leads the team as a platoon OF with 27 HR.
Milwaukee Brewers– Mat Gamel provides some pop with Prince Fielder gone. Braun has another 30/30 season, K-Rod gets traded and George Kottaras becomes everyday starting catcher.
Pittsburgh Pirates– McCutchen becomes elite, hitting 31 home runs and getting 34 steals, he earns the highest WAR (Wins Above Replacement). Erik Bedard doesn’t even start 21 games and James McDonald gets 197 K’s.
St. Louis Cardinals– Jon Jay has a breakout season and Wainwright gets 18 wins. David Freese loses his spot in the lineup and Matt Holliday only hits 18 homers. Jason Motte blows a bunch of saves and Fernando Salas takes over.
New York Mets– Jason Bay is back and hits 22 home runs. David Wright knocks 19 out of the park before getting traded to the Chi-Sox in exchange for Gavin Floyd and Alexei Ramirez.
Atlanta Braves– Michael Bourn hits an abysmal .268 but still steals 59 bases and scores 99 runs. Jason Heyward stays healthy all season and knocks out 38 home runs and wins the Home Run Derby.
Miami Marlins– Hanley Ramirez is runner-up for the NL MVP Award, hitting 33 home runs and knocking in 114. Ricky Nolasco rings up 132 batters and gets 16 wins. Miami Marlins win the division. Oh yeah, Giancarlo (formerly Mike) Stanton leads the MLB with home runs, dropping 48.
Philadelphia Phillies– As Chase Utley comes back, Jimmy Rollins gets hurt, leaving Freddy Galvis in the lineup and moving him back to his natural shortstop position. Hunter Pence is the unsung hero and hits a quiet 30 home runs.
Washington Nationals– 
AlexFarnworth 