Baseball

The Washington Nationals took a big step forward in 2011, and they'll head into 2012 looking to take yet another big step forward.

The Nats finished just a game under .500 last season, which is pretty impressive considering the fact Jayson Werth was a bust in the first year of his big contract and they only got to enjoy five starts from Stephen Strasburg. 

After building the foundation of your fantasy baseball team, it's important to enter the later rounds with a list of targets to consider. If you just take a random player off the cheat sheet, more often than not you'll be disappointed with the results.

Let's take a look at three sleepers who should be available late in most drafts that will provide terrific value based on draft position.

Emilio Bonifacio

Third base is generally considered a weak position, but in AL-only formats, it doesn’t look so bad. 

While he may not be an ideal option, would only complain about a potential 20-plus HR hitter in Edwin Encarnacion? 

What about a potential 30-plus SB option like Chone Figgins? While there may be good options (especially once Miguel Cabrera gains eligibility), that doesn’t mean there aren’t some options that are better than others. 

How many times have we been told that Andy Pettitte used Human Growth Hormone? 

How many times have we been told that when Andy Pettitte used Human Growth Hormone it was not on baseball's list of banned substances?  That's what I thought. The media are famous for telling part of the story.

The Detroit Tigers will be the best team in baseball in 2012, so if you're looking for fantasy baseball sleepers, they are probably a good roster to check out.

Superstars like Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder are given fantasy studs, but they aren't the only players on this roster that put up big numbers.

One of the more important storylines in baseball this spring training is the health and bounce-back ability of San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey.

Since they acquired the pitcher in a blockbuster trade in December 2010, there has been much speculation that the Brewers have a good shot at keeping Zack Greinke long term.

Spring training statistics are nothing to swear by, but it has been hard to ignore the impressive numbers Cincinnati Reds prospect Todd Frazier has been posting this preseason.

Through 25 plate appearances, the 26-year-old third baseman is leading Cincinnati in batting average (.280), home runs (three), RBI (eight), runs (eight) and stolen bases (two).

When Herb Pennock learned that the Boston Red Sox had traded him to the New York Yankees, he and his wife danced a jig.

With the Yankees from 1923-33, Pennock was 162-90 (.643) with a 3.54 ERA, a 114 ERA+ and a 1.335 WHIP.

Pennock was never an ace. He lacked a good fastball which forced him to develop three curve balls and to use "junk" and guile to win.

Andy Pettitte is one of the most popular players of the Joe Torre era that netted the Yankee franchise four World Series rings and six trips to the October classic. 

His return was met with far more excitement than skepticism; after all, Pettitte won't be 40 until June and even though he hasn't pitched since 2010, he managed to amass an 11-3 record and a 3.28 ERA in what was assumed to be his final season as a major league pitcher.