A-Rod To The DL: Posada Update: FANTASY IMPACT

As if the news in Yankeeland couldn't get any worse the Evil Empire placed Alex Rodriguez on the 15 day DL on Tuesday with a strained quadricep in his right leg. Rodriguez had initially hurt the quad a couple of weeks ago, and missed some time that coincided with the birth of his second daughter, so it was time he would have missed anyway. The injury was aggravated on Monday night when Rodriguez said he felt a "pull" in the leg. He was immediately replaced in the game and sent for an MRI on Tuesday where the strain was revealed

The news comes on the heels of the Yankees getting initial word back from Dr. James Andrews that All-Star catcher Jorge Posada will not need potentially season ending surgery. However the Posada saga does not end there. Posada is still plans to get his shoulder's MRI examined by 3 more doctors including Reds team physician Dr. Timothy Kremchek who is a shoulder specialist,

Yankees team physician Stewart Hershon and finally the MRI World Tour will come to an end Thursday when New York Met medical director Dr. David Altchek has a chance to look at the MRI as well. Posada said he won't speculate on the MRI findings until all the parties involved have had a chance to give him their diagnosis and reveal if they feel surgery will be necessary.

FANTASY IMPACT

This is a complete disaster for A-Rod owners. He was probably the first pick in most drafts following his success last season, and is if his underachieving numbers this season weren't bad enough, now he won't be putting up any numbers for at least the next two weeks. The injury might actually help A-Rod long term as it will give the quad a good amount of time to heal, and perhaps some time off surrounding the birth of his child and early seasons struggles will give him a chance to clear his head and get himself right. It is widely accepted that most of A-Rods struggles in New York stem from him putting too much pressure on himself to perform, so the time off might do some good.

Look for Morgan Ensberg to fill in for A-Rod for the time being, but don't expect to see the Ensberg from the seasons of yesteryear, he is a different player now, without the power he once owned. Other good fill in options might be guys like, Jorge Cantu, Pedro Feliz, Andy Marte, or the recently recalled Angel's minor league slugger Brandon Wood.

We gave good fill in options for Posada when word officially broke that he would be going on the DL with the shoulder injury.

While none of these players can actually "replace" the production you'll get from A-Rod or Posada, they can give you some decent, productive numbers to help you stay afloat until they get healthy.

Jimmy Rollins Out: Fantasy Impact 4/20

Jimmy Rollins Out

Don't be too quick to try and insert Jimmy Rollins back into that line up. Rollins has reported that the ankle is still only at 75% and it still doesn't feel right. He says he is going to stay off of it as much as he can, yet that apparently hasn't stopped him from gathering 4 pinch hitting appearances over the course of the last week.

At this point one has to wonder if the Phils would have been better off just putting Rollins on the 15 day DL and being done with it. The fact he still doesn't think it feels right, makes it sound like he is going to be out for at least half of next week as well. Keep Rollins on the pine and make sure you get another bat for that SS spot in your line up.

FANTASY IMPACT

You should have already replaced Rollins in your line up and stashed him on the bench. Clint Barmes in Colorado is a good choice as is Erick Ayabar on Anaheim. We aren't high on Aybar, but as a short term option he can be decent, he has been hot and can steal a bag on a team with a productive line up.

Ben Sheets Leaves Game With Tightness In Triceps - Fantasy Impact

To say Ben Sheets has been dominant thus far in 2008 might be a bit of an understatement. Entering tonight's game at Cincinnati, the 29 year old righty had allowed only 3 earned runs and 4 walks in 23 innings of work while striking out 20 batters. 

Sheets' brilliance was on full display tonight, allowing only 2 hits (both singles) over 5 scoreless innings and tacking on 4 strikeouts for good measure. Unfortunately, that is where his night would end as he was removed from the game after experiencing tightness in his triceps. 

The location of the injury has to be especially troubling for Sheets owners as it is similar to that of John Lackey who will miss at least the first month of the season. Now, Lackey has strained triceps whereas preliminary reports on Sheets' have not identified a definitive injury to his tricep muscle. We will know more tomorrow once the trainers can take a look at Sheets arm, but given his injury history, we would venture to say that you can count him out for his April 23rd start against Philadelphia. A DL stint is certainly a possibility here, so stay tuned.

Fantasy Impact

Really tough blow for Sheets owners as the Brewers ace was arguably the top pitcher in all of baseball up to the moment his triceps gave out on him. Yovani Gallardo returns Sunday against Cincinnati and originally this meant that either Dave Bush, Manny Parra or Carlos Villanueva was on their way out of the rotation. With Sheets possibly on the shelf for a while, it looks like all three guys are safe for a few more starts. 

Chad Cordero Losing Grip On Closer Role - Jon Rauch Gets The Call At Shea

The bottom of the 8th inning at Shea Stadium tonight was very telling in regards to the Washington Nationals' closer situation. With the team clinging to a 2-1 lead and a runner in scoring position with 2 outs, manager Manny Acta turned to Jon Rauch rather than Chad Cordero to close out the ballgame. 

Although Rauch promptly blew the lead by giving up a single to Carlos Delgado, it is becoming clear that the team is losing faith in Cordero. The Chief has pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings thus far, however. his lack of velocity has been troubling to the Nationals' coaching staff. Concerns about the health of Cordero's shoulder are mounting and I bet that GM Jim Bowden secretly wishes he had dealt the 26 year old closer when he had the chance at the 2007 trade deadline.

Cordero, who recently returned from a DL stint, insists he is fine. But given the fact that the Mets-Nationals game is now in the 13th inning and we have yet to see the flat-brimmed righty is a strong indication that something is wrong.

Fantasy Impact

It appears that it will be hard for Manny Acta to trust Cordero to finish ballgames as long as his velocity is down. Look for Jon Rauch to serve as the Nats' closer while Cordero works out his issues. It is safe to say that The Chief cannot be considered an elite closer any longer and owners have to be concerned about what exactly Cordero will have to offer during the course of the 2008 fantasy season. 

Jose Reyes Injures Hamstring - Fantasy Impact

Jose Reyes left Friday night's game against the Brewers in the 6th inning with what the team is calling a "tight left hamstring." No definitive word has been provided on the extent of the injury, however a visibly upset Reyes declared himself out for tomorrow's afternoon game at Shea. Manager Willie Randolph downplayed the injury saying it was more of a precautionary measure due to the damp conditions and the fact that Reyes' hamstring has been a bit sore lately.

Fantasy Impact

Reyes was 0-3 when he left the game and has gotten off to a slow start in 2008. He was coming off a big game last night that saw him steal his first base of the season, double and score the game winning run in a 12 inning thriller with the Phillies. Unfortunately, the Mets' spark plug was unable to build upon that effort and now finds himself forced to sit out at least one game.

The injury to Reyes is especially troubling given that it is his hamstring and has a direct impact on his biggest asset - speed. I wouldn't be surprised if the Mets played it safe with their stud shortstop and sat him for the weekend. The team has and off-day on Monday, so this would give Reyes 3 full days of rest.

In Reyes' absence, there is a good chance the streaking Angel Pagan will hit leadoff this weekend or continue to hit in the 2 hole if Luis Castillo returns to the lineup after sitting out the last two games with a sore knee. Pagan collected two more hits and an RBI tonight and is a solid stopgap option heading into this weekend's play.

Rafael Soriano to the DL, Randy Johnson off the DL: FANTASY IMPACT

Soriano to the DL

The Atlanta Braves placed closer Rafael Soriano on the DL on Wednesday, with a sore elbow. Soriano and the Braves want to nip this thing early before it becomes a big deal later on. The fact that he has been battling this essentially since the start of spring training is a bit disconcerting.

FANTASY IMPACT

I have predicted DL stint for Soriano at some point this season, so this comes as no surprise. Hopefully you Soriano owners took my advice and handcuffed him with Peter Moylan, who will probably be the first option out of the pen to collect saves. Another potential name to collect saves could be Manny Acosta, but we think Moylan is the safer bet.

Unit Back

ESPNNEWS is reporting tha Diamondbacks starter and future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson will return from the DL on Monday April, 14 against the San Francisco Giants.

FANTASY IMPACT

Unit will go from pitching in AAA to pitching in AAAA when he faces the Giants. This helps Johnson and really takes the pressure off of him to be perfect with his pitches against his Monday opponent. Most of the Giants roster are either retreads or over matched rookies. That being said, you might want to wait before automatically reinserting him into your starting lineup to see how he fends. For those of you out there who are a little braver go ahead and throw him back out there. But remember this isn't the Randy Johnson of old. The Unit is old and shriveled. He no longer has dominant stuff so don't expect 7ip with 10K and 1ER. Something along the lines of 6ip, with 4Ks and 3ER is probably a bit more realistic.

Pedro Martinez Update: Out 4-6 Weeks - Fantasy Impact

Pedro Martinez had to leave his first start of the season against the Florida Marlins in the fourth inning with a hamstring injury. FSNY announcers Gary Cohen and Keith Hernandez quickly stated that, it is almost unheard of for a pitcher to strain a hamstring and not wind up on the DL. The announcers got it right as the Mets announced today that Pedro would be going on the 15 day DL but it would be, in reality about 4-6 weeks before he would be ready to return.

FANTASY IMPACT

It is not surprising to see Pedro struggle this early in the season. He had a spring training that featured mostly simulated games or games against minor leaguers thus some early rust was to be expected. It's unfortunate that when Pedro finally did settle in, he was knocked out by the leg injury.

The DL stint for Pedro is expected to last 4-6 weeks as previous speculation had it. If you are looking for some guys to take a flier on while he is out to fill out your roster check out Boof Bonser, Brian Bannister, Jason Bergmann, Johnny Cueto, Manny Parra or Carlos Villanueva. I doubt any will knock your socks off, but they won't hurt your team either.

The Mets called up Nelson Figueroa to take Pedro's spot on the roster, and join the starting rotation in Pedro's absence. He should be on the hill for the Mets home opener Tuesday. We speculated earlier that Jorge Sosa would get the call, but the Mets are keeping him in the bullpen where he offers a versatile arm that can come into a game in a variety of situations.

If healthy El Duque would certainly have stepped into the rotaton, however, he is currently in class A-ball trying to work out injury issues of his own. Most have said it will take at least 2 more starts for him to have the arm strength and stamina to be ready to pitch in major league games. Rule of thumb: Don't replace one injured player with another injured player.

As far as Pedro goes, lets remember he was great for the Mets down the stretch last season, carrying the staff, while the team crumbled around him. A positive to draw out of this is that this hamstring injury has nothing to do with the shoulder problems that have plagued him in the past. This seems more like a fluky one time thing. Pedro still has a decent amount to give. Granted, he isn't near what he once was, but he is still quite serviceable with the potential to provide a dominant performance every time out.

J.J. Putz To The DL - Fantasy Impact

The Seattle Mariners have placed All-Star closer J.J Putz on the 15 day DL with a ribcage injury. The injury explains why he blew a lead the previous night to the Texas Rangers, as he felt the discomfort the batter before Josh Hamilton's go ahead homer in the 9th. An MRI exam after the game revealed a mild inflammation where the cartilage attaches to a rib on his right side. I am not totally sure what that means, but it sounds awfully painful, especially for a pitcher.

FANTASY IMPACT

Although Putz was placed on the 15 day DL, some estimates have him coming back later in April, rather than the middle April. While there is no clear cut closer in the waiting, Mark Lowe had been the primary set up man in the previous two games for the Mariners, and those are generally the guys who get first crack at closing when the situation warrants. This could be similar to Jon Rauch stepping in for Chad Cordero in Washington while The Chief is down. I should note that the Mariners have not officially said that Lowe will be closer, but they have said that they will go with a closer by committee format until they have a better idea.

If you own Putz put him on the DL, and I suggest grabbing Lowe, who probably has the best shot to gather up saves. It is a long season and Putz should be back to his normal, dominant self in about a month or so.

Miguel Batista came in for the save on Wednesday, but don't expect that again. Lowe had thrown the previous few games and was not available. Wednesday was Batista's throw day so he was getting work in on the mound in the game, rather than in the bullpen. Please do not go out and grab Miguel Batista hoping he will be in line for any more saves.

Pedro Martinez Leaves Game - Fantasy Impact

Pedro Martinez had to leave his first start of the season against the Florida Marlins in the fourth inning with a hamstring injury. It was later diagnosed as a strained left hamstring and he is listed as day to day. FSNY announcers Gary Cohen and Keith Hernandez quickly stated that despite the "day to day" listing, it is almost unheard of for a pitcher to strain a hamstring and not wind up on the DL. They then said that the true impact of the injury will be known when Pedro shows up to the ballpark tomorrow and they can examine it further. Given Pedro's body language and his pronounced limp as he went to the clubhouse, our money is on a DL stint. Later in the game Pedro sounded discouraged and was quoted as saying he heard a "pop" and was being taken back to New York for an MRI on Wednesday.

FANTASY IMPACT

Pedro struggled in the first 2 innings of the game giving up 4 runs including a 2 run homer to the second batter of the game, Dan Uggla. He gave up 2 more runs in the second including a long homerun to Luis Gonzalez, but settled down in the 3rd, retiring the side in order. He got Matt Treanor down 0-2 to start the 4th, then induced a grounder to the 3B. However, he was forced to leave the game after that pitch.

It is not surprising to see Pedro struggle this early in the season. He had a spring training that featured mostly simulated games or games against minor leaguers thus some early rust was to be expected. It's unfortunate that when Pedro finally did settle in, he was knocked out by the leg injury.

A hamstring injury should land Pedro on the DL. Considering how cautious the Mets are with Pedro's health and his violent delivery, expect him to miss at least two starts. The fact he later said that he heard a "pop" makes the injury sound even worse and could really wind up being more like 4-6 weeks before we see him again. Expect a DL stint for Pedro soon, so be sure to scour the free agent wire in your league for the best available starter, so you can plug someone in if/when Pedro sees the DL.

Jorge Sosa is the early favorite to join the starting rotation in Pedro's absence and could be on the hill for the Mets home opener Tuesday.

We will update you as soon as more is known.

Fantasy Baseball Injury Updates - 4/1

We take a glance around the league at players who are dealing with injuries early in the season and what it means for their fantasy value.

J.D. Drew - Picked by many to have a comeback season, Drew's season came a screeching hault before it started in Japan with a lower back soreness. J.D. Drew will be OUT for Tuesday night's game against Oakland but WILL play on Wednesday's day game. Be sure to bench Drew for tonight, but get him back out there for tomorrow. The Sox are being careful with Drew and given his injury history that is certainly for the best.

B.J.Ryan - The closer tossed anothe bullpen session on Sundan and looks primed to be ready to return to the majors in the enxt few weeks. If he went undrafted in your league be sure to grab and stash him on your DL. He will be worth the wait when he is healthy. He will probably split closing duties with Jeremy Accardo early on, but they are paying him too much money to simply split closing duties.

Carlos Zambrano - Zambrano lefty his start on Monday after 6.2 innings with a forearm cramp. Zambrano looked dominant during the start and looks primed to have another big season. It is still early in the season so Zambrano as well as other players are still prone to minor tweeks, cramps and pulls such as this one. Zambrano has suffered cramps in the past, so this isn't anything to worry about and he should be fine going forward.

Victor Martinez - Suffered a strained hamstring on opening day and had to leave the game early. The Indians have him listed as day-to-day officially but are still awaiting the results of an MRI before they know more details about the injury. A positive thing here is that V-Mart is not a gy who relys on speed to put up good fantasy stats, so the hamstring problem should effect his stats that much. He is a slugger and a base to base guy whose strength is being a 25HR, 100RBI catcher. The true extent of the possible negative won't be known until the MRI results come back, but it could mean a few days off or a stay on the DL. Bench him for a few days, and if you have space on your roster grab a catcher to fill in, especially in a head-to-head league where you need those daily stat accumulations.

Brad Lidge - Threw another bullpen and looks healthy and primed for a Sunday return in Cincinnati. Grab him if he went undrafted in your league for some reason and be ready to add him into your starting lineup for the weekend.

Chad Cordero - Shoulder tendinitis knocked him out of the home opener before he even got a chance to get in. What trouble me about his injury is that it was reported that it was a problem throughout spring training and is still bother him in the regular season. That being said, his shoulder won't be reevaluated until tomorrow (Wednseday April 2) after that, more will be known. In head-to-head leagues grab Jon Rauch for the week as he will fill in while Cordero is out.

Kelly Johnson - Strained his right knee on Monday and suffered through injuries like this last season. Keep on eye on Johnson, but it might be a good idea to bench him until more is known. He was a bit overrated going into this season, so I wouldn't worry too much if you feel as if you need to cut him.

Jeremy Hermida - The player many had picked to break out this season, after a huge second half in '07 strained his hammy late in spring training. He will play in a couple of minor league game this week and should be good to go by next week. Hermida is a good option to keep stashed on your bench, his potential is great for 2008, but the injury history is almost just as troubling.

Scot Shields to the DL

For a team whose pitching staff has already been decimated by injuries, the LA Angels of Anaheim got more bad news as they placed ace setup man, Scot Shields on the DL with forearm soreness to start the season. Shields has led the AL in holds over the last 2 seasons and is the primary bridge to closer Francisco Rodriguez.

FANTASY IMPACT

Shields was hurt for parts of last season as well and would go a long way to explain why he struggled so badly in the second half of the 2007 season. Avoid drafting Shields if your league counts holds. While this is speculation on my part it looks as if, there is something wrong with his arm, that will need surgery at some point. It is the only thing that explains the struggles last season and why an entire off season of rest has not corrected the problem. If your league counts holds go out and grab Justin Speier who should take on the majority of Shields hold opportunities in his absence.

Spring Training Injury Impact - Pitchers

Earlier, we discussed the fantasy impact of injuries sustained by position players during spring training. Now, let's take a look at the pitchers.

Key Injuries

Kelvim Escobar SP - Tear In Pitching Shoulder, Out Until At Least June - Very Possible He Is Done For The Season

Fantasy Impact - Coming off a strong 18 win campaign, Escobar has a serious tear in his pitching shoulder which might not only end his season but could be career threatening. The Angels insist there is a chance he could be back in June, but we wouldn't put much faith in the 32 year old returning this season. 

John Lackey SP - Strained Right Triceps,  Out Until Mid-May

Fantasy Impact - The injuries to Lackey and Escobar puts a lot more pressure on Jered Weaver who is now the Angels' opening day starter and newly acquired Jon Garland who will serve as the number two in the rotation. The bump to defacto ace forces Weaver into more difficult matchups and hurts his fantasy value a bit, while Garland is more or less unphased and should be a decent fantasy option. Rounding out the rotation are Ervin Santana and Joe Saunders who will now work out of the 3 and 4 holes with either Dustin Moseley or top prospect Nick Adenhart claiming the 5th starter role. Our money is on the more experienced Moseley who has been effective as a long reliever and pitched well in a few spot starters over the past couple of years. 

Scott Kazmir SP - Elbow, Out Up To 3 Weeks

Fantasy Impact - With Kazmir missing 2-3 turns in the rotation, the Rays will shift everyone up a slot with James Shields pitching opening day followed by Matt Garza, Andy Sonnanstine, Edwin Jackson and Jason Hammel. Edwin Jackson pitched well this spring and the former top prospect has shown a good amount of promise since arriving in Tampa. He has been notoriously inconsistent from start to start in the past, however, he has decent sleeper potential entering 2008. Jason Hammel will likely be dropped from the rotation once Kazmir is ready.

BJ Ryan CL - Shoulder Pain, Out 1-2 Weeks - Scheduled to return 4/11

Fantasy Impact - Ryan was shut down after experiencing pain in his throwing shoulder. Coming off Tommy John surgery, the Jays are going to play it safe with their high priced closer. In the meantime, Jeremy Accardo who saved 30 games last season will work the ninth inning and is an excellent option over the first 2 weeks of the season. Although Ryan should get healthy and accumulate a decent amount of saves this season, his owners should definately handcuff the promising Accardo. If Ryan goes down, Accardo immediately becomes a top 10-15 closer.

Yovani Gallardo SP - Knee, Out Until Mid-April - Might Only Miss 1 Start

Fantasy Impact - We discussed the Gallardo's injury in-depth back in February. He is recovering on schedule and may only miss one start. In his absence Carlos Villanueva will pitch in the 4 hole with Manny Parra being the 5th starter. The two will essentially be battling for the final rotation spot behind Ben Sheets, Jeff Suppan and Dave Bush. Our money is on Villanueva holding a roster spot after a sparkling spring and Parra working out of the pen in a middle/long relief role until the inevitable Ben Sheets injury.

Noah Lowry - Left Forearm, Out Until Late April - Early May

Fantasy Impact - Lowry was having an awful spring before requiring surgery on his left forearm that will keep him out for the first 4 weeks of the season. He is a notorious second half pitcher and perhaps this surgery will save owners some early season frustrations with the 27 year old left hander. With Lowry out, promising youngster Jonathan Sanchez will battle with newly converted starter Kevin Correia for the final rotation spot behind Barry Zito, Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum. Sanchez has looked strong this spring and although Correia has reportedly earned his spot in the rotation for the season, don't be surprised if Sanchez squeezes him out at some point.

Fernando Rodney MR - Shoulder, Out Until Mid to Late April

Fantasy Impact - The absences of Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney have left the Tigers bullpen especially thin. Zumaya is out until at least July, leaving Rodney as the Tigers clear cut choice to work the 8th inning or fill in at closer upon his return. 

Casey Jannsen MR - Shoulder, Out For The Season

Fantasy Impact - Jannsen was great last season and was slated to begin the season as Toronto's primary setup man with Accardo closing. Those duties will now go to Scott Downs, but keep an eye on Brandon League who looks healthy and has been throwing well this spring.

Minor Injuries

John Smoltz SP - Will make first start on April 6th. Tim Hudson will be the Braves opening day starter with Smoltz pushed back.

Andy Pettitte SP -  Season debut pushed back to April 5th. Pettitte will be the Yankees number 2 starter this season.

DL Stash Candidates

Chris Carpenter SP - Elbow, Out Until Late July - Don't forget about the former CY Young award winner. He could be a difference maker in the second half if healthy.

Curt Schilling SP - Shoulder, Out Until Late July - Schilling's shoulder is in bad shape and will require surgery at some point to correct. Limit your expectations for the former Red Sox ace this season.

Mark Mulder SP - Shoulder, Out Until Early May - On schedule, threw batting practice to minor leaguers and will begin a minor league rehab assignment later in April.

Mark Prior SP - Shoulder, Out Until Early June - Faced live hitter for the first time in a year on Thursday and felt fine after. Now in San Diego, Prior is a nice sleeper candidate pitching in cavernous Petco Park. 

Mike Gonzalez - Shoulder, Out Until Early May - Currently throwing live batting practice and is ahead of schedule on his return. Initial reports had him out until June.

Spring Training Injury Impact - Hitters

Earlier in the week, we highlighted winners and losers of Spring Training positional battles and discussed the fantasy impact. Now, we turn our attention to the impact key Spring Training injuries will have on the upcoming fantasy baseball season. In this piece, we focus on the hitters with pitchers to follow.

Injuries

Curtis Granderson OF - Broken Finger, Out 4-6 Weeks

Fantasy Impact - With Granderson missing time, Brandon Inge will assume the starting centerfield duties in Detroit. Inge will likely bat ninth but benefit from the powerful Detroit lineup around him. He should be a fairly productive fantasy option, with decent pop and RBI potential, however, don't expect much in terms of batting average. In addition, Ivan Rodriguez will hit leadoff, improving his fantasy value given the powerful bats behind him. 

Scott Rolen 3B - Broken Finger, Out 4-6 Weeks

Fantasy Impact - What a surprise, Rolen's stint in Toronto is on hold before it even began. A broken finger will sideline the injury prone 3B for up to 6 weeks giving Marco Scutaro the starting gig for the time being. Scutaro doesn't do anything particularly well so you can ignore him in fantasy circles.

Moises Alou OF - Hernia, Out 4-6 Weeks. Hopes to be back by the end of April.

Fantasy Impact - At 41, Alou can still rake as evidence by his .341 average in 328 ABs last season. Unfortunately, you can't rely on him for more than 400 ABs. Alou hopes to return by the end of April and is on schedule. He has been cleared to do bike work and should start jogging in early April. In his place, spring sensation Angel Pagan should see ample time in left along with Endy Chavez. Both have little fantasy value but offer some stolen base upside. Pagan has shown some potential and would be the player to watch of the pair. Also keep on a eye out for the Mets adding an outfielder via trade.

Kaz Matsui 2B - Anal Fissures, Out 1-2 Weeks

Fantasy Impact - Kaz is scheduled to return April 5th but could miss an additional week as he recovers from Anal Fissure surgery (ouch). Mark Loretta will start in his place and should only be considered as a spot starter in fantasy in case he comes out of the gate hot.

Eric Chavez 3B - Shoulder, Out Up To a Week

Fantasy Impact - Chavez is eligible to return April 1st in the opener but you can expect Oakland to be careful with the injury prone 3B. We wouldn't be surprised if he is out or misses time over the first week of the season. Jack Hannahan will start in his place and has filled in admirably thus far, homer in the season opener. The 28 year old is a contact hitter with limited value as a spot starter at best.

Wily Mo Pena OF - Torn Left Oblique - Out 4 Weeks

Fantasy Impact - We discussed the impact of Wily Mo's injury in detail in an earlier post. Elijah Dukes will open as the Nationals' left fielder and we are betting he doesn't relinquish that spot upon Pena's return.

Rocco Baldelli OF - Chronic Fatigue, 60 Day DL Out Indefinitely

Fantasy Impact - We described the nature of Rocco Baldelli's rare mitochondrial condition which prevents his body from recovering after a workout or strenuous activity. With Baldelli out indefinitely, the Rays have actively searching for an outfielder on the trade market with Matt Murton being a possibility. In house options include Jonny Gomes and the newly acquired Cliff Floyd. Expect Gomes to play the outfield while injury prone Floyd slides into the DH role. Both are streaky hitters with Gomes having the better upside and fantasy value.

Key Suspensions

Jose Guillen OF - HGH, 15 Games (Put on hold for 10 days)

Fantasy Impact - Guillen's 15 game suspension has been pushed back 10 days and will now start on April 9th. Guillen should have a nice season in Kansas City providing solid homerun RBI and run numbers while putting up a respectable batting average. 

Mike Cameron OF - Stimulants, 25 Games

Fantasy Impact - Cameron will be hitting in a powerful Milwaukee lineup and a more favorable ballpark in 2008. Despite the 25 game suspension a 20+ homer and 15-20 stolen base season is not out of Cameron's reach.

Melky Cabrera OF - Fighting, 3 Games

Fantasy Impact - We love Melky's upside in the potent Yankees offense. He is a legitimate 15-15 candidate and can also help you in runs scored and while putting up a respectable batting average in the .280 - .290 range. 

Brad Lidge To Start Season On DL - Tom Gordon To Close

The Phillies have placed Brad Lidge on the 15 day DL as he rehabs from athroscopic knee surgery performed last month. Lidge has looked good while rehabbing in the minors and hadn't experienced any notable setbacks; however, the Phillies don't want to take any chances with their newly acquired closer. 

Fantasy Impact

Lidge will be unavailable for at least the first 4 games of the season as he is eligible to come off the DL no sooner than April 5th at Cincinnati. In his absence, setup man Tom Gordon will work the ninth inning for the Phillies when they host a three game series with the Nationals and at minimum the first game of the aforementioned Reds series. The forty year old veteran reliever has plenty of prior closing experience and should do an adequate job in Lidge's absence. Add Flash immediately if he is available in your league. 

If you are a Brad Lidge owner do not panic. All indications are that this is merely a precautionary move to ensure the former Astros closer is around for the long haul. Lidge will be back sometime in the second week of the season at the very latest and is in line for a fine season with a strong Phillies club that should get him plenty of save opportunities. 

One final note. Those of you in leagues which count holds should take note that JC Romero will be the Phillies primary setup man and best holds option while Gordon fills in at closer.

Josh Beckett Throws Pain Free

After suffering back spasms a week ago, Red Sox ace Josh Beckett was back on the mound throwing pain free during a 45 pitch bullpen session today. Pitching coach John Farrell said his arm strength was surprisingly good considering the setback and he will make his spring training debut in a minor league game on Sunday.

We said early on this is the type of injury that could go away in a few days, or a few weeks or linger all season. In this case, it went away quickly and it looks like it won't derail Beckett's season. Kudos to those of you who swooped in and took advantage during drafts when people could have overreacted to the injury. For those of you who still have a draft upcoming, grab Beckett without any hesitation. He is a elite ace in Major League and fantasy baseball.

FANTASY IMPACT

Great news for you Beckett owners, as it looks like there will be no lingering effects from the back spasms. Even better news might be that, while Beckett won't start opening day in Japan, he should be available to pitch in the Red Sox first game stateside April 4th in Toronto. 200 IP, 200 Ks and 17 wins, seem all but in the bank for a healthy Beckett.

Wily Mo Pena Out 4 Weeks - Elijah Dukes To Start For The Nationals

Wily Mo Pena suffered a tear in his left oblique that force him to miss the next 4 weeks ending his hopes of being the Washington National's left fielder on opening day. An MRI showed the tear to be fairly significant and he could be out for more than the estimated month.

Fantasy Impact

Anytime a power hitter sustains an injury to his obliques it is a cause for concern. A majority of a batter's power is generated in the mid-section and a tear such as Pena's will not allow him to pick up or swing a bat for quite sometime. Given Pena's violent swing, I would expect it will be at least 6 weeks before we see him in the Nat's lineup again. Further, I wouldn't be surprised if this injury lingers and negatively effects his performance at the plate throughout the course of the season.

With Pena on the shelf, the starting left field job is Elijah Dukes' to lose. We all know Dukes' has had an especally troubled past and gotten off to an inauspicious start in the majors. However, the kid has a ton of talent as evidenced by his minor league numbers. Dukes has excellent power potential and good speed on the basepaths, making him a future 20-20 candidate. In addition, he has a chance to hit in a choice spot in the Nationals' lineup, possibly the two hole, if he produces at the plate.

The key for Dukes' will be staying on the field and out of trouble and so far this spring he has been a model citizen by all accounts. A pesky hamstring pull has Dukes sidelined day to day, but he should be back on the field by next week so it is nothing to worry about long-term. If Dukes can remain focused on baseball and free of distractions, he is an excellent fantasy sleeper candidate that you can grab late in the draft.

Josh Beckett Injured

Josh Beckett's back went into spams while he was warming up for his spring training start on Saturday. He left the game and was replaced on the mound by Manny Delcarmen.

Fantasy Impact

Back spasms can be a tricky thing. Sometimes it costs a player a couple of games and they are fine. There are other times where they linger throughout the season and creep up on a player at inopportune times. Don't worry too much about this affecting Beckett's performance in the regular season, he still has a good 3 weeks to be ready and healthy for the season.

*Updated March 10 Article Link*

Texas Closer CJ Wilson Out - Joaquin Benoit & Eddie Gurdado Waiting In The Wings

Texas Rangers' closer CJ Wilson was shut down earlier this week with biceps tendinitis and will be out until at least mid-March although no definite timetable has been set for his return to the mound.

Fantasy Impact

Injuries involving the biceps tend to linger and are especially troubling for relief pitchers who are asked to pitch almost every other game. Wilson was the odds on favorite to close for Texas this season after a strong finish to 2007 which saw him get 12 saves in 13 opportunities. This injury will be an unfortunate setback for Wilson owners and will open the door for setup man Joaquin Benoit and veteran Eddie Guardado to start the season at closer.

Benoit was arguably the Rangers most effective reliever last season posting a 2.85 ERA, 1.17 WHIP while striking out over a batter an inning. Benoit has been struggling with low velocity due to some shoulder fatigue issues this spring and has been limited to bullpen sessions thus far. Manager Ron Washington insists Benoit is healthy and they are just being cautious with him due to the amount of innings he logged last season. He is scheduled to start facing live hitters mid-month, so keep an eye on Benoit's status as the opening day approaches.

Everyday Eddie was signed this offseason by Texas and has been effective so far this spring. The Rangers could use Guardado as a stopgap at closer if they want to keep their bullpen structure in place as Wilson recovers from injury. Washington has said several times that he likes Benoit more as a setup man, so Guardado might accumulate some April saves if Wilson isn't ready on opening day.

Braves Closer Rafael Soriano Has A Sore Elbow

Sore-iano

Atlanta Brave's closer Rafael Soriano has complained recently of having a sore right (throwing) elbow. Bobby Cox, manager of the Braves, confirmed that Soriano had some inflammation in the elbow. This normally wouldn't be a big issue this early in the season, as pitchers normally experience some elbow, or general arm soreness while they work their arms back into shape. In this case it might be cause for a alarm, as Soriano has battled elbow and arm injuries throughout his career, and even had Tommy John surgery in 2005. While the Braves called the soreness, "tiny" it apparently was significant enought for them to put him on the 15 day DL Wednesday.

Fantasy Impact

If you do own Soriano be sure to also take Peter Moylan later, who figures to pick up saves now that Soriano has gone down with some sort of injury. Former Pittsburgh Pirates closer Mike Gonzalez, also appears on the Braves roster, but he is coming off of Tommy John surgery himself and won't be ready to go until at least June.

Personally I would avoid Soriano, its not worth drafting someone who is hurt, when you can draft similar players with much less risk. Still look to take Moylan late, or grab him now as he could be a solid source of cheap saves, and add depth to your closer stable.

Rays Shut Scott Kazmir Down: Fantasy Impact

The D-Rays shut down ace Scott Kazmir for a few weeks after he experienced discomfort and swelling in his elbow warming up for a spring training start. The Rays went ahead and scheduled an MRI for later in the day and his status will be updated on Wednesday.

Fantasy Impact

I would move Kazmir down on my draft board a bit. He has had chronic elbow soreness, and battled injury for a few years now. When healthy, he is an elite strikeout pitcher and an ace, but it looks like his small stature and frame, might finally be catching up with him. Generally elbow and forearm soreness are a clear indicator of one thing, a need to ligament replacement (Tommy John) surgery.

This reminds me of what happened a few season ago with Francsico Liriano. He experienced elbow soreness and they tried to rest it to get it better. Eventually all it did was wind up delaying the inevitable Tommy John surgery.

I might be wrong and he might be healthy the entire season, and put up his normal dominating numbers. But, going into your fantasy draft, is it really worth it to risk to have a potential ace go down in the middle or end of the season needing surgery? I would go with a safer pick like Roy Oswalt or John Lackey instead or risking it on Kazmir, when there is really no need to take him. No one would bash or mock you for avoiding Kazmir or skipping over him come draft time.