KEY

Acquire - Add player (in most circumstances)
Watch - Track player; consider adding if trend continues
Pass - Do not add player (in most circumstances)

Catchers

Rod Barajas, Toronto

With veteran catcher Gregg Zaun struggling to a .216 average this month, Barajas has been seeing more time behind the dish, and the 32-year-old backstop is making a strong case for a more prominent role moving forward. He's currently in the midst of an eight-game hitting streak and clubbed a pair of home runs during the team's win Saturday. For the month of May, he's batting .379 with seven RBI and five runs scored. He's probably not a factor in mixed leagues, but he could be a nice short-term add with long-term potential in AL-only formats.

Shallow mixed: Pass
Deep mixed: Pass
AL-only: Acquire

First Basemen

Mike Jacobs, Florida

After being relegated to pinch-hitting duty for more than a week due to a quadriceps injury, Jacobs returned to the starting lineup with a vengeance Saturday, going 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. He then launched another homer the following day. His power numbers are impressive this season — 11 home runs in 118 at-bats — and he could be a worthwhile addition to any fantasy club that is deficient in the power categories.

Shallow mixed: Watch
Deep mixed: Acquire
NL-only: Acquire

Hank Blalock, Texas

When Blalock (hamstring) returns from the disabled list, he'll be moving across the diamond to serve as the team's regular first baseman. The team's indicated the move will be permanent, which should be good news for the injury-prone Blalock, as first base is a much less demanding position defensively. His new positional eligibility gives him a modest boost as a depth selection in shallow leagues, but he's not a must-add. For those in NL-only and deeper mixed setups he should find a home on someone's roster.

Shallow mixed: Watch
Deep mixed: Acquire
AL-only: Acquire

Ryan Garko, Cleveland

Following a rough showing in April, Garko's heated up a bit in May. Through 14 games this month, he's batting a respectable .271 with a pair of home runs and six RBI. The Indians don't seem completely satisfied with his production, though, and have summoned first baseman Michael Aubrey from Triple-A Buffalo. Aubrey, a former first-round pick, homered Sunday for his first major league hit. Garko could be feeling the heat, which might push him to perform up to expectations. He's expected to hold the job and could be worth picking up as a flier if he was dropped in a deeper mixed league.

Shallow mixed: Pass
Deep mixed: Acquire
AL-only: Acquire

Second Basemen

Luis Maza, Los Angeles Dodgers

Maza logged three consecutive starts for the Dodgers beginning Thursday and collected at least one hit in each of them. He then ripped a single in a pinch-hitting appearance Sunday and has a four-game hitting streak to begin his career. His at-bats are coming at the expense of infielder Chin-lung Hu, and he has a chance to stick as a utility infielder once shortstop Rafael Furcal (back) returns. That being said, Maza has no real value outside of the deepest NL-only formats.

Shallow mixed: Pass
Deep mixed: Pass
NL-only: Watch

Alexi Casilla, Minnesota

With infielders Nick Punto (hamstring) and Matt Tolbert (thumb) both on the disabled list, the Twins reached down to pluck the slick-fielding Casilla from Triple-A Rochester. Unfortunately, he isn't much of a hitter just yet, as he hit .222 with the Twins last year and was hitting just .219 for the Red Wings at the time of his recall. He does have great speed, however, and that makes him obtainable in AL-only setups.

Shallow mixed: Pass
Deep mixed: Pass
AL-only: Watch

Third Basemen

Ramon Vazquez, Texas

Blalock's move to first base allows Vazquez to become a more permanent part of the starting lineup. The journeyman's enjoying his finest season to date thus far, carrying a .333 average with a pair of home runs and seven RBI. Of course, he's a .254 career hitter and hasn't hit better than .260 since the 2003 season. Still, he seems to have a solid hold on a starting job in a decent lineup and should be owned in AL-only leagues.

Shallow mixed: Pass
Deep mixed: Pass
AL-only: Acquire

Shortstops

None

Outfielders

Ryan Ludwick, St. Louis

With outfielder Rick Ankiel (shoulder) potentially heading to the disabled list in the near future, Ludwick should be a lock to see some additional at-bats. Ludwick's been a machine in May, raking at a .373 clip with seven home runs and 15 RBI in just 51 at-bats. He'd been stuck in a four-man timeshare for three spots, but with Ankiel out of the equation for the time being, Ludwick should be an everyday player. He's worth acquiring in all formats, at least in the short term, although some have yet to catch on.

Shallow mixed: Acquire
Deep mixed: Acquire
NL-only: Acquire

Jayson Werth, Philadelphia

Werth exploded for three home runs and eight RBI in a game Friday, which almost certainly caused him to be added in leagues everywhere. While he's a solid player, those scooping him up expecting big-time power production are likely to be disappointed. He's never hit more than 20 home runs at any level and has never replicated the power he showed during his first extended major league action when he hit 16 bombs in 290 at-bats. He's a solid pickup in deeper mixed leagues, but those in shallow versions should view him more as an extra outfielder. As such, don't hesitate to drop him when his bat cools off.

Shallow mixed: Acquire
Deep mixed: Acquire
NL-only: Acquire

Brian Giles, San Diego

The Padres may be well on their way to a 100-loss season, but Giles isn't the problem. The veteran's bounced back remarkably well from off-season knee surgery and is batting .371 with 10 runs scored thus far in May. On the downside, his power numbers have gone catatonic - he has no homers and only three RBI this month after driving in 15 in April. Also, keep in mind that he's in the final year of his contract and could be a nice trade deadline pickup for a contending club if the Padres decide to fold their hand. Outside Petco Park, maybe even some of his lost power will resurface. He's not worth acquiring in shallow leagues, but he'd be a nice add in deeper mixed.

Shallow mixed: Watch
Deep mixed: Acquire
NL-only: Acquire

Ben Francisco, Cleveland

The 26-year-old outfielder's been swinging the bat well of late and is earning himself additional playing time as a result. Francisco's started the team's last five games and has gone 9-for-18 with three doubles and a home run during that stretch. He's a career .291 hitter in the minors, and he has some speed - 20 or more steals in four of six minor league seasons. He's worth adding now in AL-only leagues, but those in mixed formats should wait to see more before acting.

Shallow mixed: Pass
Deep mixed: Watch
AL-only: Acquire

Jacque Jones, Florida

The Marlins have signed the veteran Jones and are planning on batting him in the leadoff position, which has been manned primarily by utility man Alfredo Amezaga and outfielder Cody Ross of late. Jones, who struggled earlier this season before being released by the Tigers, batted .285 in both 2006 and 2007 with the Cubs. He's hit more than 20 home runs in four of the past six seasons and figures to get most of the at-bats against righties. However, he could sit in favor of Ross versus southpaws. He has immediate value in NL-only leagues, but isn't worth adding at this time in mixed.

Shallow mixed: Pass
Deep mixed: Watch
NL-only: Acquire

Designated Hitters

Jose Vidro, Seattle

With catcher Jeff Clement heading back to Triple-A Tacoma, Vidro is once again Seattle's primary designated hitter. The move also likely means Vidro's over his recent back problems that limited him to just four appearances (two starts) since May 4. The veteran's been brutal this season, carrying a .207 average despite collecting a hit in each of his last four games. The silver lining is a .355 average with runners in scoring position, leading to a respectable 18 RBI on the year. He shouldn't be owned at this time in mixed leagues, but at least the demotion of Clement makes him worth watching.

Shallow mixed: Pass
Deep mixed: Watch
AL-only: Acquire

Starting Pitchers

Jeff Francis, Colorado

The early stages of the 2008 season certainly haven't gone the way those in Colorado were expecting, and that includes Francis. The staff ace failed to record a victory in his first eight starts before finally breaking through in his last outing, holding the Twins to two runs over 6 1/3 innings while matching his season high with seven strikeouts. One good start doesn't warrant acquisition in shallow leagues, but anyone desperate for pitching in deeper versions can consider being proactive and stashing Francis.

Shallow mixed: Pass
Deep mixed: Watch
NL-only: Acquire

Doug Davis, Arizona

Davis' amazing road back from cancer surgery is expected to lead him into the Diamondbacks rotation Friday. His return will likely mean the removal of Max Scherzer, who has 23 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings this year. Davis is a borderline fantasy option in deeper mixed leagues, as he should earn some wins pitching behind Arizona's potent offense and his strikeout totals aren't bad, but his poor control makes him a burden on any team's WHIP.

Shallow mixed: Pass
Deep mixed: Watch
NL-only: Acquire

Greg Reynolds, Colorado

One of Colorado's top pitching prospects, Reynolds looked good in his second career start, holding the Twins scoreless during six innings of work. He was roughed up a little by a struggling San Diego squad in his debut and has just three strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings - both of which are worrisome. However, owners in NL-only formats that are looking for a pitcher with some upside could do worse than rolling the dice on Reynolds.

Shallow mixed: Pass
Deep mixed: Pass
NL-only: Acquire

Jo-Jo Reyes, Atlanta

Reyes has looked serviceable in four starts this season, allowing two or fewer runs in three of them, but accounting for just 13 innings combined over those outings. His 17 strikeouts and two wins are encouraging, but his 1.78 WHIP and .337 opponents' average don't bode well for long-term success. He's only worth considering in league-specific formats.

Shallow mixed: Pass
Deep mixed: Pass
NL-only: Acquire

Doug Mathis, Texas

Mathis, who's yet to allow a hit in three innings of major league work, is scheduled to join the rotation this week with starts against the Twins (May 20) and Indians (May 25). Neither of those teams have been an offensive juggernaut this season, and he was 5-0 with a 3.55 ERA at Triple-A Oklahoma as a starter this year. It's not worth pursuing him at this point in mixed formats, but he could make a solid one-week addition in AL-only leagues. If he pitches well, hold onto him, and if not, cut him loose.

Shallow mixed: Pass
Deep mixed: Pass
AL-only: Acquire

Relief Pitchers

Hong-Chih Kuo, Los Angeles Dodgers

Miscast as a starter (0-1, 5.06 ERA in 10 2/3 innings), Kuo's been lights out as a multiple-inning reliever. In seven appearances out of the bullpen this season, he's 3-0 with a 0.93 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings. View the wins as a bonus, but his outstanding strikeout numbers and strong ratios should serve as a boost to any team. Acquire him in deeper mixed leagues and give serious consideration to adding him in shallower varieties.

Shallow mixed: Watch
Deep mixed: Acquire
NL-only: Acquire