The Long Game: Tomorrow's Keepers ... Today!

With Opening Day drawing ever closer, teams are finally beginning to firm up their 25-man rosters, and that means yet another batch of rookies and kids with short resumes are winning spots because they provide cheap labor for cost-conscious owners ... err, I mean, because they have what it takes to fulfill their lifelong dreams of playing in the majors (is there a Sad Kris Bryant meme yet? If so, insert it here). For a keeper league fantasy owner, though, surprise inclusions on the 25-man roster aren't just heart-warming stories, they are chances to get in on the ground floor of future growth stocks. An unheralded, or at least moderately heralded, young player presents a perfect opportunity to snag a guy with an endgame dollar or low early FAAB bid, before his production or even his role is established, and then enjoy the rewards in 2015 and beyond.

Here are some players I'm looking at as possible cheap buys. Note that I'm not including players like Steven Souza, Micah Johnson or Ken Giles, who have received too much hype already to be available for a song:

Jake Lamb, 3B, ARZ:Yasmany Tomas was supposed to be the Diamondbacks' third baseman this year and become the next Cuban phenom, but after a pretty poor spring that has manager Chip Hale talking about Tomas starting the year in the minors, Lamb is suddenly worth paying attention to. He struggled last year in 37 big-league games but also hit .318/.399/.551 in a fairly neutral hitter's park at Double-A Mobile. Chase Field is anything but neutral, so if Lamb does win the job, he could become useful in a hurry.

Jace Peterson, SS, ATL: If you have a need for speed, look no further. Alberto Callaspo was expected to be the Braves' place-holder at second base until top prospect Jose Peraza was ready, but Peterson has made a strong impression this spring and after stealing 42 bases at High-A in 2013, swiped another 16 in just 86 games between Double-A and Triple-A last year. He makes contact, draws walks and has wheels, so even if he does get bumped aside for Peraza later in the year he could still find himself in a useful utility role. You could do worse in your MI slot for an endgame dollar.

Anthony DeSclafani, Raisel Iglesias, SP, CIN: DeSclafani's 6.27 ERA in 33 innings for Miami last season will scare some away, but he has a rotation job in Cincinnati to start the year and an 8.95 K/9 ratio in Triple-A in 2015. Cuban import Iglesias was expected to head to the bullpen, but after opening eyes in the AFL in the offseason and then showing more flashes this spring, he too seems ticketed for the Reds' rotation. One of the two likely will get bumped aside when Homer Bailey comes off the DL, probably Iglesias, but both are still intriguing arms and there's always the chance of another injury, or of aging mediocrity Jason Marquis flaming out, to keep them in their spots. DeSclafani is the safer bet to have solid value this year, but Iglesias has higher upside.

Johnny Giavotella, 2B, LAA: After years of putting up good numbers at Triple-A for the Royals but getting little chance in the majors (less than 250 big-league at-bats scattered over four seasons), Giavotella moves on to an Angels team that has a crying need for a second baseman following the Howie Kendrick deal. He's badly outplayed his main competition, Josh Rutledge, this spring (Johnny G's hit .348/.412/.609 to Rutledge's .184/.241/.204), and Grant Green, the other possibility, is better suited for a utility role. I'm rooting for ya, Johnny!

Odubel Herrera. OF, PHI: A Rule 5 pick who was expected to stick with the Phillies at the end of their bench, Herrera has instead stormed into camp and all but won the starting center-field job. Contact skills, some speed and a surprising spike in his walk rate in the minors in 2014 all point to a player who could have fantasy value, especially if he somehow bumps Ben Revere out of the leadoff spot.

Ryan Rua, OF, TEX: It looks like Rua has won the starting left-field job for the Rangers to open the season, so that might inflate his price tag, but he does have some real upside. He hit better than .300 with 20 home runs across three levels last season, but in the majors he probably profiles better as the kind of fantasy player David Murphy was for many years, a guy that helps you in batting average and hits double-digit homers without really being a huge difference-maker. If you can get him at a reasonable rate, Rua could be the kind of under-appreciated keeper that has a home on any fantasy roster.

Devon Travis, 2B, TOR: Travis also seems to have won the starting second-base job in Toronto, but he's making a big jump from Double-A and can probably still be had fairly cheaply. He doesn't figure to have a huge ceiling, but a middle infielder who can contribute double digits in home runs and steals isn't something to scoff at, especially in AL-only leagues.

Miguel Castro, RP, TOR: The darkest of the dark horses on this list, Castro is breaking camp in the big-league bullpen despite having just 8.2 innings at High-A on his resume. What he lacks in experience, though, he makes up for in heat, boasting a fastball that teases triple digits with a workable changeup. In the long term he could move into the rotation if he sharpens his slider, but in the here and now he's a big-time power arm in a bullpen that plans on heading into the season with Brett Cecil as the closer. No offense to Cecil, but lefties with low-90s fastballs don't often last long in the closer role, and if he stumbles Castro might get a shot at ninth-inning duties.