Fantasy Baseball: Ranking the Yankees – No. 4, OF Carlos Beltran

Feb 22, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Carlos Beltran (36) poses for a photo at Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The popularity of fantasy baseball is growing every year.  Whether you are a fantasy baseball veteran in multiple leagues each season, someone who plays casually or completely new to the game, there is a lot to know before creating your fantasy squad.

The New York Yankees often boast plenty of fantasy options, and this year is no different after some huge additions this winter. You can look at a player’s value on the field and how they help the Yankees a certain way, but should take a different approach when analyzing their fantasy value.

Fantasy players should take into account the size of their league, position eligibility, league scoring settings, position scarcity, injury history, playing time, ballpark and many other factors when determining whether a player is a prudent pick and when (or how much to spend) to draft them. As always, keep in mind who you are drafting with. If you are in a league with a ton of Yankee fans, you’re probably going to have to overpay for Yankee players.

When taking a look at the top Yankees, there are a few stark differences in fantasy values with some. A few years ago, guys like C.C. Sabathia and Carlos Beltran were some of the first few players taken in drafts. Now the two veterans can be had for cheaper, but can still provide plenty of value. Some players are more valuable than they ever have been thanks to new roles on the team, and some are making their debuts on the fantasy scene.Over the next two weeks we’ll take a look at the top 10 most valuable Yankees in fantasy baseball. Counting down from 10 to 1, we’ll take an in-depth look at each player, what they can provide this year and when you should add them to your team. We continue our list with the fourth most valuable Yankee in fantasy baseball:

Carlos Beltran, OF (Auction Value – $13)

For much of the 2000’s, Carlos Beltran was one of the top-tier outfielders in fantasy baseball. He was a perennial 25-home run, 30-steal threat and often in baseball’s MVP discussion.

When he hit age 32, however, he dealt with injury issues and played in just 145 games in 2009 and 2010 combined. It appeared he may be nearing the end of his career, but that turned out to be far from the case.

Now at age 36 he is coming off three straight All-Star seasons and resurfaced as, not quite a top-tier fantasy outfielder, but a very valuable, must-start fantasy option. Beltran isn’t getting you steals anymore, but what he should provide in Yankee Stadium is a quality average at least around .280 with 25-30 home run and 80-100 RBI potential.

For those numbers, you won’t have to stretch your budget, but you will have to pay. In typical auction drafts you will see him go for anywhere from $10-15 of your average $260 budget. For your overall rankings, he can certainly be looked at as a top-25, top-30 outfielder and should be drafted as such. As far as the Yankees go, he is definitely one of their more exciting fantasy options and can provide impressive numbers at the plate for both fantasy owners and the Bronx Bombers.

No. 10 – Ivan Nova, SP

No. 9 – Mark Teixeira, 1B

No. 8 – Brett Gardner, OF

No. 7 – Hiroki Kuroda, SP

No. 6 – Masahiro Tanaka, SP

No. 5 – CC Sabathia, SP

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