Good for Dempster. Now, what about fantasy baseball owners?
Dempster's absence isn't a crushing blow, but owners typically streamed the hit-or-miss righthander for years because of his high K/9 rate. Dempster ranks 15th in the majors with 1,068 Ks since 2008. Yet the least season-and-a-half in the AL didn't go as well. Between stops at Texas and Boston, Dempster went 15-12 with a 4.92 ERA. It still amounted to 227 Ks in 230.1 innings. That's why we cared about Dempster. MORE: Red Sox preview | Red Sox sleeper | Dominate your league with Fantasy Source
Fortunately for fantasy owners, Felix Doubront -- who will get first crack at the last spot in Boston's rotation -- isn't that different. Doubront strikes out a lot of guys too, but how did he stack up against Dempster in K/9 in K/Batters faced percentage?
It’s pretty close. Doubront managed 27 starts last season, and provided those 11 wins. Doubront’s biggest hitch is a 4.94 ERA on the road. Still, he’s pitching in Boston, and that will make him at most a late-round flier and at least a streamer throughout the season.
