Bernie on the Scene: Swiss Army Knife Edition

The On Deck Circle

Spring training camps have closed again in Florida and Arizona. On several clubs, players and staff have been reported to have tested positive for COVID-19. All the health protocols have not been agreed upon to start the 2020 baseball season. Money issues still exist between the two entities that make baseball happen. But how baseball handles the virus is still unclear.

And yet, I remain hopeful you and we will get to play fantasy baseball in 2020. But frankly, I wouldn't put any big money on it happening. COVID-19 could cause any plans to play baseball to go off the rails.

In case we do have baseball this year, we want to be ready. So do you. After all, we're all about fantasy. So, my next few columns will be entirely about draft and auction preparation for a fantasy baseball season.

If baseball ever returns, there are some players I like in fantasy who are still under the radar. Analysts always give player opinions, but we should always trust our own instincts. I do trust my historical track record, so I hope my thoughts can help you win.

Remember, that even though you like a guy, you may not get him in your draft or auction. Luck and strategy are probably equal partners as we create our teams.

I do think we'll see plenty of drafts and auctions coming soon. As is always the case, I will lose players I like because my opponents also like them, or they know who I like and have targeted. That'll happen to you, too. But get ready.

I usually like to pick one player who gives me position eligibility all over the place. My Swiss Army Knife. I like four guys for that. Niko Goodrum, Marwin Gonzalez, Chad Pinder, maybe Willians Astudillo and David Fletcher in the American League. I like to pick one and stick with him as an insurance policy. He's my State Farm guy.

A sleeper is in the eye of the team owner. For me, the players I list below aren't in the mainstream of conversations before draft day. But for some reason, I like each of them as a late-round pick to round out my team.

The Starting Lineup  — American League Sleepers

Niko Goodrum, Tigers, SS, 2B, !B, OF

Goodrum is one of a few Swiss-Army Knife bats you can plug in where you need him. He's eligible everywhere. For me, more playing time gives him an edge over the Twins' Marwin Gonzalez as a "go to" plug. I think he'll give you some lineup protection and stolen bases. Not much of a batting average guy. But he's a switch-hitter, should play every day somewhere and he contributes. He's penciled in as the Tigers starting shortstop. That's a plus in his favor.

David Fletcher, Angels, !B, 2B, SS, OF

This utility guy could get plenty of at-bats. If the Angels aren't convinced Brian Goodwin can hit, Fletcher may even start in right field against left-handed pitching. I like him spelling guys in the infield as well, and I know for a fact the Angels brass likes Fletcher. He's probably a better army-knife than Goodrum or Marwin. But that remains to be seen.

Marwin Gonzalez, Twins, 1B, 3B, OF

Marwin has been a good 10th man wherever he has played. He hit better in Houston, but being a switch-hitter is really important. Now, however, he doesn't seem to get as many chances with the Twins. They have a loaded lineup, but he's the first guy off the bench when someone needs a rest. You can certainly do worse as your plug-in guy than Marwin. Just know that he isn't the same player he was with the Astros. I like him. And he must like me because we've been together on fantasy teams for years.

Chad Pinder, Athletics, 2B, 3B, OF

Pinder is interesting because the Athletics like his bat. They plug him in anywhere on the field and he usually responds. They have issues finding their true second baseman, and I think Pinder might get some looks there. He'll also see time in the outfield. You can do worse for your utility guy.

Willians Astudillo, Twins, C, 3B, 1B

With expanded rosters, I think the Twins take him with them when they break camp. But there is risk involved with Astudillo. Will he play? How much? I wouldn't bet the ranch on him, but this hefty guy can flat out hit. Why not take a flier? The fact he's eligible at catcher sings to me. On my bench.

Anthony Santander, Orioles, LF

I liked this guy when he was with the Indians. They didn't protect him and the Orioles swooped him up in the Rule 5 draft. A switch-hitter, he has some pop and can hit well from both sides of the plate. He makes good contact, is only 25 and is getting better as a hitter. And remember, Camden Yards plays well for a hitter like Santander.

Jose Iglesias, Orioles, SS, 3B

This is a shortstop nobody ever looks to in fantasy. Last year he hit .288 in 530 plate appearances, and that isn't a bad sample size. He's the man at shortstop for Baltimore. He could hit some homers in Camden Yards, and you're getting him at a fair, low price.

Michael Chavis, Red Sox, 2B,1B

Readers may remember that when I first saw him, I thought Chavis reminded me of Jeff Bagwell when Bagwell was with the Red Sox. Chavis should see plate appearances. He can play second base and first base, and he has some power.  He'll strike out, but he has a nice Fenway swing. I can see him playing in a platoon, but he would have gotten 400 at-bats in a real season. He hits right-handed, and that bodes well with the Green Monster.

Nomar Mazara, White Sox, OF

Consider the lineup around Mazara. Anderson, Moncada, Abreu, Grandal, Encarnacion, Jimenez, Robert. Why not Mazara? The RBI chances will be there. They wanted him for his left-handed bat, which means he sees the strong side of the platoon. He has a point to make to the Rangers  — you gave up on me. I still think he can hit.

Cesar Hernandez, Indians, 2B

I've always liked him. I think he'll run some in Cleveland. He can put the bat on the ball, and the job seems to be his. That matters. He is another switch-hitter in an infield loaded with switch-hitters. What's not to like? He puts the bat on the ball, can hit the gaps and is fairly safe in the low rounds.

Kyle Tucker, Astros, OF

We have a bit of a wild-card gamble here. His name is Dusty Baker. We have no idea how new manager Dusty Baker will value his players. Will he want to give the left-handed hitting former first round Tucker a look? If so, we win. If he sticks with Josh Reddick, we might not win the gamble. But don't the Astros want to find out what they have with a solid guy who is still only 23? I think so. But there is risk. Risk that he won't play and risk that he'll be meh. I'll take the risk that he'll upper-cut his way to playing time. And be better than meh!

C.J. Cron, Tigers, 1B

There are plenty of first basemen that will go off the board before Cron. He hit 25 homers last year. Granted, that was with the powerful Minnesota Twins. He won't have the luxury of seeing great pitches with the Tigers, but he's a powerful hitter. A bit beyond prime at age 30, Cron should be inexpensive and worth a shot for his RBIs and home runs he may deliver.

Austin Romine, Tigers, C

A caddy with the Yankees, Romine now gets to swing the clubs in Detroit. I'll take his batting average as a catcher. I think he'll be respectable enough for you to wait until the end game to pick him up. He's a better starting catcher than at least one third of the players who will come off the board before him. I traded for him and I would do it again. I think he's a catching sleeper.

Albert Pujols, Angels, !B

Why not? This guy has great pride. He doesn't want to be embarrassed out there, and he has the Hall of Fame first ballot syndrome. I would take him if he's on the board when I need him. But, and I mean this, he's behind Miguel Cabrera in his appeal for me in 2020. Cabrera isn't even a sleeper. He could have a monster season based upon what I saw last spring. I still like Pujols low in the draft.

Mike Ford, Yankees, 1B

He swings a left-handed bat in Yankee Stadium. He has outstanding power. Luke Voit may be vulnerable if he doesn't get out of the blocks quickly enough. Get the picture? This guy could be my BIGGEST sleeper in the American League. I do like Mike Ford's power. Don't steal him from me, but circle his name and smile.

Stephen Piscotty, Athletics, RF

If he's healthy, I think he can still hit. And I think he has something to prove. He's always had a solid bat, and nobody talks about him. This guy is just too good a hitter to have fallen off a cliff forever. His mom died after he was traded to Oakland. Now he may be in a much better physical and mental place. I'm in. Maybe not all in, but I'm in.

Randal Grichuk, Blue Jays-CF

Don't look now, but this guy hit 24, 22, 25 and 31 home runs in the last four years. That's not bad, even with the baseball on steroids. Remember, there are only so many guys who hit with his type of power. But he'll also drag down your batting average. High strikeouts might hurt in some leagues, but 80 RBIs plays — especially for a guy who will not go very high in drafts.

HEADING HOME

Next up for me:

June 29: Bernie's National League sleepers

July 6: Bernie's American League busts

July 13: Bernie's National League busts

Follow me on twitter @BerniePleskoff.

Thank you for reading my baseball columns at Forbes.com.