Sleeper of the Week

It’s official: Jose Valverde has finally replaced Matt Mantei as Arizona’s closer in a move many felt was long overdue. The usually reliable Mantei has been a disaster this season, both for the Diamondbacks and for his fantasy owners, many of whom presumably paid a hefty price for him on draft day. For those keeping score at home, Mantei’s ERA stands at 11.88 (note: not a typo) and his WHIP at 2.04, giving him a negative dollar value in an average twelve-team mixed 5×5 league.

Enter Valverde, who proved last season that he is more than up to the challenge of stepping into the role of closer when called upon. In 2003, Valverde posted a 0.99 WHIP and a phenomenal 1.41 K/IP rate while compiling ten saves. His start into 2004 wasn’t quite as smooth, due largely to a rocky first outing, but he has settled down nicely since then, bringing his WHIP down to a solid 1.21. In his first appearance as the team’s new stopper, Valverde struck out the side in Chicago to earn the save.

The only cloud on Valverde’s fantasy horizon is the lingering suspicion that Mantei might be given the chance to close again before too long, thanks to his large contract and the team’s rumored desire to showcase him in order to generate trade interest. For now, however, Valverde is the man in Arizona, making him a strong pickup should he by any chance still be available. If you’re in a relatively shallow league in which he remains unclaimed, add him to your roster without hesitation.