KEY

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

Catchers

Brandon Inge, Detroit

The departure of Ivan Rodriguez (New York Yankees) has opened up a regular spot behind the plate for Inge. In limited time this year, Inge is hitting just .227 with eight home runs and 30 RBI. However, he has improved in July with a .281-2-7 line and is a definite add in AL-only leagues. He should be on watch lists in deep mixed formats.

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

Clint Sammons, Atlanta

With catcher Brian McCann (concussion) out indefinitely with a concussion, the team has summoned Sammons from Triple-A Richmond. The University of Georgia product was hitting just .237 in 278 at-bats at Richmond, but he might see most of the catching duties until McCann returns. Catcher Corky Miller is also on roster, but he is just 5-for-52 at the plate this season. The uncertain nature of concussions makes McCann's return date vague, which gives Sammons some value in NL-only leagues.

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

First Basemen

Chris Davis, Texas

Davis continues to rake for the Rangers, going 15-for-45 (.333) with four home runs and seven RBI since the All-Star break. Overall, Davis has belted 10 home runs in 103 at-bats. Despite his prodigious power, Davis continues to bat low in the order, which is limiting his run production (20 RBI). Still, he's worth adding in all formats for teams in need of power.

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

Third Basemen

Greg Dobbs, Philadelphia

An injury to regular third baseman Pedro Feliz (back) has opened up additional playing time for Dobbs, who is set to split the hot corner duties with infielder Eric Bruntlett. Bruntlett saw most of his time this year in place of shortstop Jimmy Rollins, but his .239 average and minimal pop seem ill suited to third base. On the other hand, the left-handed hitting Dobbs carries a .306-3-21 line in limited time this season and also hit at a respectable .272-10-55 clip in 2007. Look for Dobbs to see most of the playing time at third, making him a solid add in NL-only setups.

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

Ramon Vazquez, Texas

Alright, stop me if you heard this one ... third baseman Hank Blalock (shoulder) walks into a bar ... injuring himself and ending up on the disabled list. Indeed, Blalock's latest triumphant return lasted just nine games, which means the hot corner should once again belong to Vazquez. Despite a shaky decision to shear his stellar 'stache, Vazquez continues to piece together a solid campaign. The journeyman is currently batting .320 with five home runs, 35 RBI and 12 discarded moustache combs. He's a must-own in AL-only leagues and a possible watch list occupant in deeper mixed varieties.

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

Outfielders

Fernando Tatis, New York Mets

It has been a long, arduous road back to fantasy relevance for the man who once notched a .298-34-107 line, in 1999, only to plummet into obscurity two short years later. Nearly a decade after that phenomenal season, the now 33-year-old Tatis looks to have secured a regular job in the Mets outfield on the strength of his .406 average, six home runs and 18 RBI in July. Even with the impending return of outfielder Ryan Church (concussion), manager Jerry Manuel has indicated a starting job belongs to Tatis for the foreseeable future. That endorsement makes Tatis a worthy addition in deeper mixed leagues, at least in the short term.

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

Rocco Baldelli, Tampa Bay

Baldelli (fatigue) hasn't played for the Rays since May 15, 2007, but he's currently rehabbing with Double-A Montgomery and has gone 11-for-33 with three home runs for the Biscuits. He could return to Tampa Bay soon, though any return would almost certainly be in a part-time role. Still, Baldelli is worth a flier in AL-only leagues.

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

Starting Pitchers

Gil Meche, Kansas City

Meche has been rolling of late, yielding just three runs in his last 20 1/3 innings while fanning 18 and picking up three straight victories. It's his second three-game winning streak in the last six weeks, and Meche has posted a 6-1 record in his last 10 starts. Given his strong work of late, Meche is worthy of ownership in all setups.

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

Wandy Rodriguez, Houston

The 29-year-old southpaw has won each of his last three starts and hasn't lost since June 14. Since returning from the disabled list in late May, Rodriguez has a 3.50 ERA, a 1.32 WHIP and 55 strikeouts in 64 1/3 innings. Although very strong in his last two outings, he has actually been hit fairly hard in July (1.52 WHIP). He's worth owning in deeper leagues and likely shallow ones, but beware his next matchup with the Reds (5.59 ERA, 1.57 WHIP against them in his career).

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

Phil Hughes, New York Yankees

Hughes (rib) returned to the mound Tuesday, July 29, working three scoreless innings for Class-A Charleston. Hughes has been sidelined since April 30 due to a stress fracture in his ribcage, but he could be back in the Bronx by mid-August. He struggled mightily earlier this season but might be worth stashing as a flier option in deep mixed formats.

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

Carl Pavano, New York Yankees

Pavano, who hasn't made an appearance for the Yankees since April 9, 2007, also appeared for Class-A Charleston on Tuesday, July 29. Pavano pitched two innings, allowing no runs and striking out four. The free-agent bust may yet appear in pinstripes this season, but given his track record he isn't worth anything but a speculative add in AL-only leagues.

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

Yusmeiro Petit, Arizona

The demotion of pitcher Micah Owings opens up a rotation spot for Petit, who has pitched well in limited duty this season. Over his 24 2/3 innings of work, Petit has posted a 2.55 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 18 strikeouts. It remains to be seen how long the D-backs keep Petit in the rotation, but given his solid work he should be owned in all NL-only leagues as long as he remains a starter.

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

Dennis Sarfate, Baltimore

After working exclusively out of the bullpen this season with a long outing of 3 1/3 innings, Sarfate has been moved into the Orioles' starting rotation. The righty has done a good job in relief for most of 2008, though he is in the midst of his worst month (5.93 ERA in July). On the plus side, opponents are batting just .202 against Sarfate, and he has 52 strikeouts in 50 innings pitched. His command (39 walks) is a concern, but his ascension into the rotation gives him immediate AL-only value. His first start, against the New York Yankees, didn't go so well, though - four innings, two hits, three walks and three earned runs.

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

Relief Pitchers

Jason Isringhausen, St. Louis

Manager Tony La Russa had apparently seen enough of reliever Ryan Franklin and his recent struggles, as Isringhausen has been put back into the closer role he has so ably filled in the past. Isringhausen continues to struggle with his consistency, but he is worth adding in all leagues by virtue of his regained closer status.

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

Tyler Yates, Pittsburgh

Yates became the first Pittsburgh reliever to record a save since the trade of reliever Damaso Marte (New York Yankees) when he retired the Rockies in order to preserve a two-run lead Tuesday, July 29. The Rockies sent three righties to the plate in the ninth, which favored Yates over left-handed reliever John Grabow. For now it sounds like the ninth inning could be up for grabs on a nightly basis, but Yates is worth snapping up in deeper formats if you're hunting for saves.

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