Salty has the catching job full time. now that Gerald Laird is on the DL for the foreseeable future.

AL Only Options

Jarrod Saltalamacchia – Catcher/First Baseman – Texas Rangers - Saltalamacchia was a very popular guy coming into this year, but was assigned to the minors out of Spring Training. The centerpiece of the Mark Teixeira trade, Salty hit 11 home runs in just over 300 at bats last season at 22-years-old. Salty should now go back to being a fantasy option, as Gerald Laird was placed on the DL with a severely strained hamstring. He will get most of the team’s innings at catcher, and should definitely produce, given his track record. Although he has started slowly in the majors, he hit well in his month in the minors, and has shown the ability to hit in the past. While he may never be Mike Piazza at the plate, Saltalamacchia definitely is capable of developing into a top 10, maybe even top 5 catcher. He won’t get there this year, but he will be a nice source of power in AL only leagues and could go off for a big second half. Keep an eye on him in mixed leagues too; this guy can hit and if he gets hot, he will be worth your time.

Adam Lind – Outfielder – Toronto Blue Jays - Here is one guy who is happy about the recent managerial change in Toronto. With Cito Gaston coming in to run the show, Lind was called up from Triple A, where he was batting .328 with 6 home runs. A 25-year-old, with a ton of pop in his bat, Lind figures to demolish his numbers from last year, when he hit .238 with 11 home runs and 46 RBI. Gaston has promised to play him, citing his past performance as the reason, and it is a great reason, as he has hit well everywhere he has gone, up until the majors. The Blue Jays need help offensively and Lind will get his cuts. His track record and playing time suggest that he is definitely worth adding in AL only leagues, if only as a flier. A hot start could warrant consideration for mixed leagues too. Look out for Lind, this kid can hit.

Radhames Liz – Starting Pitcher – Baltimore Orioles - A not-too-rare pitcher, with a ton of power and control problems, Liz has a world of potential if he can harness his upper 90s fastball. His strikeout numbers have always been high, as have his walk numbers. He was pretty successful in Triple A to begin this season, with a 4.05 ERA in 11 starts, but he was great last year in Double A, where he went 11-4 with a 3.61 ERA and 161 strikeouts in 137 IP. Liz is not deserving of consideration just yet, but if he can control his stuff, he could provide a great boost in strikeouts for your team down the stretch. Follow his next few starts before making your decision.

NL Only Options

Jim Edmonds – Outfielder – Chicago Cubs - Look out world, Jim Edmonds has found his bat speed. When he first arrived in Wrigley, Edmonds couldn’t catch up to a ball to save his life, continuing with the miserable season he began in San Diego. His swing was long and his early season numbers showed it. For the Padres, he produced a .184 average with just 1 home run in 101 plate appearances. In June, he has found his stroke though, slashing .347/.411/.673 with 4 homeruns. Edmonds has definitely fallen a long way from his peak about 5 years ago, and will not suddenly become the hitter he was back then. That being said, with his recent successes, he is obviously swinging the bat well, and it is not unreasonable to think he can best his production from the past few years the rest of the way. Edmonds is obviously thriving in the winning atmosphere in Chicago, having hit several big home runs in crucial situations. The Cubs signed Edmonds as a flier, just in case he could regain some of his old magic, and it might be wise for you to do the same. Stash Edmonds on your bench, ride his hot streaks and hope he can be a productive extra outfielder in the power categories. But don’t hold your breath on him suddenly looking 5 years younger, and don’t hesitate to cut him lose should he struggle at all.

Charlie Morton – Starting Pitcher – Atlanta Braves - Morton has never had great numbers until this year, but a very good arsenal backs up his numbers. He throws good heat that touches 96, with a great curveball and a sinker and changeup to boot. Morton was just average last year in Double A as a 23-year-old, sporting a 4.29 ERA, and was not a very highly regarded prospect. However, he pitched well in winter ball, and just dominated in his stint at Triple A Richmond to begin the year. He showed good groundball rates and a good strikeout rate, both strong indicators of successful pitchers. Since his call up to the Braves, he has thrown three good games, with two quality starts and a game in Texas in which he gave up just 3 ER in 5 IP. He definitely has the stuff to be a successful pitcher in the majors, and should continue his success for years to come. You may want to watch a couple more starts before jumping on the bandwagon, but Morton could become another Tim Hudson and be a mainstay in the Braves rotation for years.

Eric Patterson – Second Baseman/Outfielder – Chicago Cubs - After Alfonso Soriano went down with his broken finger, Patterson came up from Iowa to fill his spot in LF and has been batting 2^nd in Lou Piniella’s order. Although Patterson has some pop in his bat, his main value lies in his running ability. He has stolen 10 bases thus far this year in the minors and 1 in the majors, after swiping 24 last season in Triple A. He has the potential to hit 10 home runs this year along with about 20 stolen bases, although he will likely lose most of his playing time upon Soriano’s return. If Patterson has second base eligibility in your league, he should be given a look for a potential stolen base source until that time. As an outfielder though, he probably doesn’t deserve a spot. He can produce offensively, but does not have a place to play in Chicago. As the trade deadline approaches, look for him to be traded for pitching help, and give him a hard look if he gets traded to a place with a starting job waiting.