After a long hiatus, Fantasy Files makes a return on the final day of the 2009 regular season. The reason for the return is the Pirates recently approached current third baseman Andy LaRoche about a move to second base in 2010. That would allow the Pirates to make room for stud prospect Pedro Alvarez. The Pirates couldn’t prevent another losing season in 2009, but avoided a 100-loss season. Alvarez’s arrival won’t signal an automatic end to the losing. It will signal a new turn for the Pirates lineup. It’s one fantasy baseball players must pay attention to.
Alvarez, Baseball America’s #12 prospect for 2009, hit 27 home runs, drove in 95 runs, hit 32 doubles, scored 80 runs, and batted .288/.378/.535 in 126 games between Single-A Lynchburg and Double-A Altoona. Alvarez will probably start at Triple-A in 2010. But expect Alvarez to spend less than a half season in Indianapolis before joining the Pirates. That makes Alvarez a player to watch when draft time rolls around.
