Sleeper of the Week

In the wake of the Jason Kendall trade between Pittsburgh and Oakland, the focus has been on the three-time All-Star catcher and his substantial contract. Yet fantasy owners shouldn’t forget about the two pitchers heading the other way, RP Arthur Rhodes and SP Mark Redman.

Redman, in particular, should be happy to be packing his bags for the Senior Circuit. The lefty enjoyed his greatest success in his lone NL season, going 14-9 with a 1.22 WHIP and 3.59 ERA for the Marlins in 2002, with a very strong 2.48 K/BB ratio (151/61 in 190.2 IP). That’s quite an improvement when compared with his career AL numbers (34-42, 1.42 WHIP, 4.62 ERA, 1.92 K/BB).

Wins might not be so easy to come by now that the 30-year-old starter is pitching for the Pirates, who won just 72 games last year. But if he can return to the level of play he displayed in Florida, his other numbers should more than compensate for a reduced wins total.

Whether a return to the NL is enough to make Mark Redman a solid fantasy pitcher again remains to be seen, but he certainly bears watching this spring. And considering his lackluster 2004 campaign, he won’t cost much in this year’s drafts and auctions. Keep an eye on him.