One of the most important factors to be aware of when drafting your fantasy team is existing player injuries.  You need to be aware of this so you don’t accidentally draft a player who has recently been ruled out for the year or so that you can strategically draft a player and stash him in your DL spot for when he comes back.  

Superstar players will fall in fantasy drafts when they are expected to miss time due to injury and if you are aware of these players with injuries you will be able to steal them when draft time rolls around.

Manny Machado

While Machado has not been ruled out for Opening Day yet, it seems very likely that he will begin the season on the disabled list.  Machado has not been able to run for the past six days due to discomfort caused by the scar tissue in his surgically repaired knee.  

Machado had a great second season where he displayed the star potential that we are going to be able to watch for many years to come.  While Machado only hit 14 home runs he’s only 20 years old meaning he still many more years to go before he reaches his power potential.  

The 51 doubles that he belted are proof of that, as some of those doubles are going to transition into homeruns as Machado matures and grows into his body.  Keep an eye on Machado as your draft rolls around and be sure to draft him and stow him away on your DL spot especially if you are drafting in a dynasty league.

Cole Hamels

Hamels has recently thrown another bullpen session and says that his arm is feeling better.  This is a positive sign for fantasy owners as it seems like he will be able to come back sometime around mid May barring any more setbacks.

There is still reason to be cautious about Hamels as Biceps Tendonitis is an injury that generally takes about a full year to heal from meaning Hamels may not be the Hamels of old this season.

He should still be serviceable for fantasy owners who draft him in the right round just don’t be shocked if he misses more time than expected or is not the ace of recent years.

Chad Billingsley

Not a player that you have to keep an eye on in the draft as he is going undrafted in every league, Billingsley is worth keeping an eye on after the draft though.  Billingsley had himself a good 2012 season and started out well in 2013 before undergoing Tommy John surgery after only two starts.  Billingsley could provide good numbers for fantasy owners when he comes back towards the end of May.  This is assuming that Billingsley has command of his pitches as that’s always the last thing that comes back to a pitcher after Tommy john surgery, and Billingsley has not proven himself to be the most accurate pitcher over the years.  

Matt Kemp

Once a top three pick in every fantasy draft, Matt Kemp has long since fallen from the graces in fantasy.  Injuries have plagued him over the past couple of season causing extreme frustration among owners who have continued to draft him in the first couple of rounds.  Kemp is still in the process of healing from an ankle injury and has just recently started sliding again.  Kemp isn’t going until around pick 75, and considering he used to be a former MVP candidate when healthy, it is a great high reward pick in the seventh round.

Hisashi Iwakuma

Currently still suffering from a sprained finger, Iwakuma is going to open this season on the disabled list.  Through his two season in the majors Iwakuma has displayed great control as well as the ability to strikeout batters, leading to two season with great ERA’s.  

Iwakuma is scheduled to visit the doctor in a couple days and should be getting the splint removed meaning he should only be on the DL for a couple weeks and will not miss too many starts.  

Jaime Garcia

Garcia is going to miss the first month of the season while still recovering from a shoulder injury.  Garcia has been a solid starter throughout his career as long as he manages to stay on the field.  Whenever Garcia is going out every fifth day and making his starts he puts up serviceable numbers and is a player worth stashing on your disabled list spot once the Cardinals make the move to place him on the DL.