Sports

Three Yankees who can actually help your fantasy team in the second half

Outside of Robinson Cano, Mariano Rivera, Brett Gardner and Hiroki Kuroda, finding consistent fantasy production from a Yankee is like finding a player you’ve heard of on the Houston Astros.

CC Sabathia has not been his usual self this season, collecting nine wins to go along with an uncharacteristically high 4.07 ERA (last time his ERA was this high was 2005 when he was with the Indians).

Andy Pettitte, despite winning seven games during the first-half (he suffered a loss in Boston last night to drop his record to 7-7), is showing his age and has become nothing more than a streaming option (he’s owned in only 15.1 percent of ESPN and 42 percent of Yahoo leagues).

Then you get to Ichiro Suzuki, Vernon Wells, Phil Hughes, Ivan Nova and Travis Hafner. At one point or another, all of these names were valuable/viable fantasy options — whether it was for a entire seasons (Ichiro was a keeper for many years) or just parts of one. Now, they’re just names occasionally filling a roster spot, but, more often than not, hanging out on the waiver wire waiting for someone to hang out with them.

There are, however, three names in The Bronx who could potentially help turn this lack of consistent fantasy production around for the Yankees:

1. Alex Rodriguez: The soon-to-be 38-year-old is expected to return to the Yankees on Monday against the Rangers.

Sure, the Biogenesis investigation continues to follow him around, but even if suspensions are handed down in the next few weeks, the issue will not be resolved until the offseason after appeals are filed. That means the three-time AL MVP will get the chance to play.

He will always have eyes on him because of the talent he is/was and the controversy that continues to chase him, but his days as a top-tier fantasy option are long gone. The days of 30-plus homers, 100-plus RBI and a batting average over .300 are a distant memory. At this point he must adjust to everything that’s going on with his body in order for you to be able to trust him with a potential run at the playoffs.

As of Friday, A-Rod was available in more the 79 percent of ESPN and 73 percent of Yahoo league — and that’s with people knowing he’s coming back soon. In the past, he would have been owned through injuries, even if it had been reported his legs or arms fell off. He was that good! But, those days are gone.

After a slow start to his rehab assignment, Rodriguez has begun to hit the ball (out of the infield) and there seem to be signs of life in his bat (he went 2-for-4 in his second rehab game with Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre), despite the fact he says he is unsure if his hip will ever be “pain-free” again. He can return and become a productive fantasy option — not necessarily a “start him every day option,” but a “better than starting Mike Moustakas” option.

2. Derek Jeter: After missing the Yankees’ first 91 games, Jeter played one game on July 11, went 1-for-4 with an RBI, and is now back on the disabled list with a Grade 1 quadriceps strain. It’s sad to see the legendary shortstop go through all of this, and it’s no doubt frustrating for someone who loves the game and has played it consistently for so many years. People are holding onto him (he’s owned in 53.2 percent of ESPN and 63 percent of Yahoo leagues) in hopes he returns to glory. Unfortunately, it’s hard to recommend relying on the 39-year-old for every day fantasy production, even if he comes back at the end of his latest DL stint.

3. Curtis Granderson: Freak injuries (fractured forearm and a broken pinkie) have cost Granderson much of his season. The center fielder is hoping to return at the end of the month, but August seems more likely for his return to The Bronx.

His numbers are sorely missed and, both in The Bronx and on fantasy squads. And many owners are holding onto him in hopes of those big numbers, as he’s only available in 12.1 percent of ESPN leagues and 20 percent of Yahoo. From his arrival in The Bronx in 2010 through last season, Granderson hit .247 with 406 hits, 108 homers, 292 RBI, 47 stolen bases and an OPS of .843. Solid numbers, especially in the power department.

Of the three, Granderson seems like he could return to play at a high level and offer the most consistent production — assuming another freak injury doesn’t happen (and the way this season has gone for the Yankees, that is a lot to ask).