Early FAAB Bids - Lalli, Gillespie, Prince, Hefner, Russell

As always, this early in the season the temptation to be more active than necessary strikes most of us.This is especially true if your team starts slow. But stay pateint. Replace your injured players or players sent back to the minors and stay the course on the players you drafted with faith not all that long ago.

Bats:

Connor Gillespie 3B Chicago White Sox - He is not expected to get a ton of at-bats but if he continues to hit as he did in his first start that could change. Gillespie was a former prospect of the San Francisco Giants that held more potential than results but scouts did like him. He is still young enough to have an impact. Owners with open bench spots could do a lot worse. Minimal Bid

Blake Lalli C/1B Milwaukee Brewers - Called up with Narveson's placement on the disabled list and the transfer of Corey Hart to the 60-Day Disabled List. Hart is now out until at least May 30th which is a lot later than many of us expected. Lalli had a solid Spring Traing batting .286 for the Brewers. He consistently hit for high batting averages in the lower minors but has little homerun power. He has struggled to hit at double-A and Triple-A and is unlikely to be a boon to mixed league rosters. He may be of minimal use in deep NL-only leagues especially in two catcher leagues. Minimal Bid

Martin Maldonado C Milwaukee Brewers - Has been playing first base but has struggled to handle the position defensively. He was not much of a hitter in the minor leagues but was quite effective at the plate when Jonathan LuCroy was injured during the 2012 season. As a second catcher in NL leagues he could be a fair pick. Minimal Bid

Jayson Nix 2B, SS, 3B New York Yankees - Nix has started the season strongly and the injury to Eduardo Nunez only helps him gain playing time. He is only a fair hitter without great power or speed. His versatile glove and decent bat does come in handy on deep AL-only rosters. Minimal Bid

Josh Prince SS/OF Milwaukee Brewers - He was not a great prospect but gained a few fans by batting .404 with 14 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 25 games in the Arizona Fall League. Originally a shortstop the Brewers have decided to convert him into a Jerry Hairston-like utility player who plays all over the field. His bat is ultimately mediocre but he has the speed to steal 40-plus bases if he were to get a full season of at-bats. His versatility makes him a useful player to have on deep NL rosters. Minimal Bid

Pitchers:

Kevin Correia SP Minnesota Twins - You will not gain any strikeouts but Correia is a competent pitcher that should be effective in front of the Twins strong defense and playing in their large pitching oriented park. He is better owned by owners that can move him on and off their active rosters. Minimal Bid

Jeremy Hefner SP New York Mets - Hefner is not a strikeout pitcher but has pretty good control and plays in a park and for a team that suits his skills very well. He should be a decent starter for owners that can move starters on and off their rosters. He becomes more of a risk in better hitting environments. Minimal Bid

Joe Ortiz RP Texas and Robbie Ross RP Texas - Ortiz and Ross are both great players to stash on a large bench.  They have both strikeouts and saves potential. Ross is more likely to start in a pinch than Ortiz Minimal Bid

James Russell RP Chicago Cubs - Cubs manager Dale Sveum named Russell a potential closer if Carlos Marmol and Kyuji Fujukawa both continue to struggle. That alone makes him worth a minimal bid. Russell is not a great pitcher but has been a reasonably effective middle reliever. Minimal Bid

Joe Saunders SP Seattle Mariners - The stat guys do not like Saunders but he continues to be an effective major league starter. The strikeouts will not be big but he should also provide solid help particularly to AL-only rosters.