Out of the Box: Nobodies No Longer?

Updated: July 20, 2007, 12:20 PM ET
By Tristan H. Cockcroft | ESPN.com
The July 31 trade deadline might serve as a time of drastic change in value for some big-name players, but it's not only the superstars (or semi-stars) you need to watch. Sometimes, it's the players who get shuffled around the standouts who wind up the ones most significantly affected in fantasy.

Accounting for some of the more notable trade rumors we've been hearing, here are some names to familiarize yourself with, players who suddenly could be pulled out of obscurity and thrust into much more prominent roles in the next couple weeks:

Homer Bailey, SP, Reds: Obviously this is a name you know, but with Bailey 0-2 with an 8.00 ERA in two starts since his demotion to Triple-A Louisville, and now on the DL with a strained groin, he's not as close to a recall as you might think. One thing that could lead to a quicker return: A Kyle Lohse (or Bronson Arroyo?) trade. Bailey is a risky bet no matter when he returns to Cincinnati, but it's hard to forget he was considered a can't-miss prospect in the preseason, and 6-1 with a 2.31 ERA in 10 starts to begin the year at Louisville. Tim Lincecum seems to have turned his season around; given another chance, why can't Bailey?


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Tristan H. Cockcroft | email

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