Bust Fantasy Players: MLB

Much like how certain unknown players will creep up on everyone by having a big year and force everyone to take notice, the same can be said for players who are expected to produce and fail to do so. For every sleeper there is a bust. These are the 10 biggest busts of the baseball season so far.

1. Aubrey Huff, 1B/3B/OF, Tampa Bay Devil Rays

   When you get hot and your average raises 35 points in 10 days and you are still hitting only .219,

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   you are struggling. Huff, maybe the Devil Rays best hitter ever, has had a trying season as he got injured and still hasnt found his groove hitting the baseball. The perennial 25 HR – 90 RBI days might be numbered as Huff has looked off all season long and is the league's biggest fantasy bust.

2. Adrian Beltre, 3B, Seattle Mariners

   Ah, the perks of having a career year in a contract year. In 2004, Beltre was on a different planet when he went off for 48 home runs and a .334 average and was probably the best hitter in baseball. Now, after a rough 2005 (.255, 19 HR), Beltre has proved that 2004 was likely just a mirage. So far in 2006, Beltre is struggling, hitting only .243 with just 7 HR. You never know, he could turn it around but it's doubtful, Beltre has been a huge fantasy bust.

3. Juan Pierre, OF, Chicago Cubs

   Leadoff hitters in baseball are usually guys with the ability to hit for a high average, have a good eye at the plate, score a lot of runs, and steal bases. When all you can do is steal bases (24 so far), you are not a great leadoff hitter. Pierre was brought in from the Marlins to cure the Cubs leadoff woes but unfortunately, Pierre has worsened the woes. Hitting only .243 with just 34 runs (worst among all MLB leadoff hitters) and hitting a major league worst .204 with runners in scoring position, Pierre has been a huge fantasy bust.

4. Jeff Weaver, SP, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

   Jeff Weaver is not even the best baseball player in his family, that honor belongs to his phenom brother Jered. Weaver has always had the talent but he has never had the ability to put it all together. After showing signs of promise at the tail end of 2005, many believed Weaver was primed for his breakout season, those people were wrong, including myself. Weaver has already lost 9 games and has an ERA of 6.02 after winning 14 games in 2005 and an ERA of 4.22.

5. Javy Lopez, C/1B/DH, Baltimore Orioles

   Less than 3 years ago, Javy Lopez was in many discussions about possibly being a Baseball Hall of Famer if he kept up his great play. Lopez however, did not keep it up. His average has decreased steadily over the past 3 seasons and his power numbers as well. So far in 2006, Lopez has mustered only 5 home runs and driven in only 23 runs. Nowhere near hall-of-fame status and closer to fantasy bust status.

6. Matt Morris, SP, San Francisco Giants

   At 9 million dollars a season, the Giants were expecting a little more out of the veteran Morris. His 4.60 ERA is almost a run higher than his career 3.67 ERA and he already has 7 losses. Although he has pitched well and taken the loss from time to time, Morris was expected to be a solid #2 starter for the Giants and he has been a fantasy bust so far.

7. Milton Bradley, OF, Oakland Athletics

   Attitude questions aside, Bradley is a fine baseball player. The A's traded a top prospect (Andre Ethier) to the Dodgers to get Bradley and he has done nothing but disappoint. Currently on the DL for the second time already, Bradley didn't even produce when he was healthy. In just 94 at bats, he is hitting .213 with more K's (22) than hits (20). Bradley has proved to be a massive fantasy bust while Ethier has shined for the Dodgers. Not Billy Beane's finest transaction.

8. Mark Mulder, SP, St. Louis Cardinals

   Times have never been worse for the former 21-game winner. Mulder has been extremely ineffective this season and no one knows why. His current 6.09 ERA is more than 2 runs higher than his career mark (4.03) and batters are teeing off on everything he hurls across the plate, hitting .310 against him. Mulder has been a fantasy bust all season and he could be facing a demotion if he doesn't get his act together.

9. Jhonny Peralta, SS, Cleveland Indians

   Hailed as the successor to the departed Omar Vizquel, Peralta shined in 2005 by hitting .292 with 24 home runs. However, 2006 has not been so kind to Jhonny. Hitting only .253 with 7 home runs and 32 RBI, Peralta has also had trouble making contact with the baseball as he has struck out 74 times in 68 games. Maybe he is having a bad first half along with the entire Indians team, but it doesn't look promising. He has been a large fantasy bust all season.

10. Esteban Loaiza, SP, Oakland Athletics

    It is only June and Loaiza has already been injured, lost his fastball, and gotten a DUI with the A's paying him 6 million dollars a season. With only 2 wins, a 6.94 ERA, and opponents hitting .336 against him, Loaiza has been a major fantasy bust so far. However, with 2 promising starts in recent weeks and the A's ability to play great baseball in the second half, maybe he can turn it around.