Fantasy Profile: Conor Gillaspie, 3B, Chicago White Sox

Welcome back to the 2015 Last Word on Fantasy Baseball Guide. Over the next several months we will be releasing player profiles, projections, position rankings, and a number of other articles that will help you dominate your fantasy league this season. Whether you play rotisserie or head-to-head; whether you have a standard draft, a snake or an auction league, and whether its keeper league or a one-year deal; we have all the fantasy information you need.

For the rest of our fantasy baseball profiles and articles, please check out our Fantasy Baseball Guide Page.

Fantasy Profile: Conor Gillaspie, 3B, Chicago White Sox

LWOS Ranking 32, Captain’s Value: $-1.56

For those of you playing in large deep leagues (15+ teams with a required starting CI slot), drafting a backup 3B can be a difficult endeavor this season, as there is a precipitous drop in talent after the first 15 options at the position. In this league format, it would be best to avoid leaving the draft without coverage at this position since the waiver options will be limited in-season, that being said, a decent late round option might be 27-year old White Sox 3B, Conor Gillaspie.

Coming into a season at that magical breakout age of 27, Gillaspie is not likely to provide a top-15 round value this year, however he can provide you with a solid stopgap production should your starter be plagued by injury. Although some of his power waned last season (7 HR in 130 games), Gillaspie hit 13 HR in 134 games in his rookie season in 2013. However, this drop in power was countered by an increase in run production (107 combined R & RBI versus only 86 in 2013), plus a solid step up in AVG (.282 up from .245 in his rookie year).

With a line of .281 with 14 HR in only 108 games in his AAA season of 2012, there is a decent chance Gillaspie can put together everything this season playing in a strong lineup in a favorable hitter’s park. You can do a lot worse than something in the neighborhood of .275 with 12 HR and 105 combined R & RBI from a player who is being drafted in Round 29 of a 15-team format (NFBC ADP of 433). You may be in position to grab a stronger backup 3B, but if you get shutout from what you consider a decent option, keep Gillaspie in mind for the end game of your draft.

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