The New York Mets have rebounded nicely from last year's disastrous campaign, and they are contending for a playoff spot in the National League. One of the major reasons for the Mets' resurgence is also one of the more overlooked players in fantasy baseball.

Angel Pagan has been a consistently productive member of the New York outfield. Many an unenlightened pundit recently predicted a move to the bench for Pagan once All-Star center fielder Carlos Beltran returned to action after almost a year on the disabled list. Jerry Manuel, however, understood the value of Pagan and kept the 29-year-old native of Puerto Rico in the starting lineup.

If only fantasy owners had such foresight. Pagan is a free agent in roughly 30 percent of leagues, and he is starting in slightly over half of all leagues.

 Pagan is hitting .306 on the season with 20 steals and eight home runs. In the month of July, he is hitting .316 with four homers and six thefts. One of five players in the majors this year to be hitting over .300 with 20 or more steals, Pagan gives fantasy teams a boost in batting average and stolen bases.

Of the four other players to reach the above benchmarks, just Carl Crawford and Alexis Rios have scored more runs, hit more home runs or scored more runs. With the added clout that Pagan has provided in the month of July, he is becoming a well-rounded fantasy player. Owners can improve their standing by considering Pagan.

On the other side of the country, San Francisco Giants outfielder Andres Torres is similarly insisting that fantasy owners take notice of his ability. Torres made his major league debut eight years ago with the Tigers as a 24-year-old. He hit .214 in 81 games over three seasons in Motown and then signed with myriad organizations during the next five years.

After Detroit, he played in the White Sox minor leagues, in the Texas organization where he returned briefly to the majors. He then played in the Twins' minor league system, went back to the Tigers' organization, signed with the Cubs and finally landed with the Giants.

Torres earned a spot with the Giants out of spring training in 2009 and performed well in limited action with San Fran. He hit .270 with six homers, 23 RBIs and six steals in a mere 152 at-bats. A full-timer in 2010, he has improved on his auspicious showing from last season.

Entering Saturday, Torres had nine homers and 17 steals. He has scored 51 times this year and is hitting .273. His 37 RBIs are impressive for a player that has been atop the Giant lineup since May 23. An added bonus in fantasy leagues that take extra-base hits into consideration is the fact that Torres ranks second in the National League with 28 doubles.

If his year-to-date totals do not strike fantasy owners as overwhelming, his July production certainly should. Six of Torres' nine homers have occurred since July 4. He has hit safely in six of his last seven games and has 15 RBIs in his last 16 games. He ranks 11th in the majors in RBIs since July 3 and fifth in homers. With Torres swinging a hot bat, he deserves to be on a roster in more than the 50 percent of leagues where he is currently owned. That he is starting in 40 percent of leagues also belies his recent output.

A third player that is enjoying a productive month of July is the newest Toronto Blue Jay, Yunel Escobar. An Atlanta Brave in 2009, Escobar hit 14 home runs, drove in 76 runs and hit .299. His efforts allowed him to place 20th in NL MVP voting.

This year, Escobar had no homers, 19 RBIs and a .238 average in 75 games with the Braves. In five games following his trade north to Toronto, Escobar has nine hits, two homers, six RBIs and increasing attention from fantasy owners. Owners that lost patience with the scuffling Escobar in Atlanta ought to reconsider acquiring him now that he is with the Jays. He is available in roughly one-fourth of all leagues and apparently has enjoyed his recent change of scenery.