When looking for undervalued players in the late rounds it's common to find guys who are being picked two or three or more rounds later than what their expected value would dictate. Looking for the same kind of value in the early rounds, though, often means targeting players who are being picked a half a round, or at most a round, later than they should be. Such a perennially high value but undervalued player is Dan Haren.
For such a consistent player Haren seemed to have changed his approach quite a bit in 2009, throwing many more curves and cutters than in years past while dropping the change-up all together. The results were promising to say the least, career bests in K/9, BB/9, IP, and xFIP. In fact, Haren has improved his K/9 every year since 2003, and his BB/9 and xFIP every year since 2007 all while pitching at least 210 innings every year since he's had a full time job.
Everyone knows that Dan Haren is a fantasy ace but he seems to be the ace that no one loves. In the minds of fantasy managers he's not the next big thing like Lincecum, Grienke, or King Felix, and he's not the established workhorse like CC or Halladay so nobody's got a man-crush on him. Except for me. Right now at Mock Draft Central Haren is going at around the 39th pick, middle of the fourth round, but the best part is that he's never gone earlier than 25th because managers think of him as an afterthought. The numbers say otherwise and if he goes anytime after the third round in your draft then he's likely to provide more value than any of the other starters mentioned above.
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