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The return of Cliff Lee to the Indians is just one of the big transactions in SG's first In Focus...
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Welcome to the first SportsGrumblings edition of In Focus. Here, we run through each of the past week’s transactions, breaking down the fantasyimplications of each. I’m your new writer for this feature, Greg Pyron.
Here we will rundown the past week’s transactions and the fantasy implications of each. Please bear with us for these first couple of editions of In Focus while we tinker with and adjust the format. If you have any suggestions, or questions, please let me know at gregpyron@sportsgrumblings.com.
4/29/07
Atlanta Braves traded outfielder Ryan Langerhans to the Oakland A's for a player to be named later or cash considerations; Recalled outfielder Willie Harris from Triple-A Richmond.
Analysis: The Braves were not happy with the production they have gotten from left field this season and disappointed with the lack of offense Langerhans has provided since the end of 2005. Harris, 28, will take over as the platoon partner for Matt Diaz and have some value in NL-only leagues.
Baltimore Orioles activated starting pitcher Jaret Wright from the disabled list and optioned relief pitcher Jim Johnson to Triple-A Norfolk.
Analysis: Wright had been on the disabled list with right shoulder soreness since April 11. Johnson allowed two runs in two innings with the Orioles.
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The E.T.A. for Thome? Unknown, and that cannot be good for the White Sox. |
Chicago White Sox optioned outfielder Brian Anderson to Triple-A Charlotte, placed designated hitter Jim Thome on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to April 28), and recalled outfielder Ryan Sweeney from Triple-A Charlotte.
Analysis: The White Sox finally decided they had seen enough of Anderson, for now, after watching him go 1-for-17 with seven strikeouts this season. Thome, on the disabled list with a strained right rib cage muscle, could return on May 13 though a timetable has not yet been established. Sweeney is considered by most to be the top prospect in the White Sox organization. He hit .296 with 13 homers and 70 RBI in 449 at-bats for Triple-A Charlotte, but was off to a slow start there this season batting just .256 with two homers and six RBI at the time of his promotion. Don’t expect much in the way of fantasy value, even in AL-only leagues, this time around for Sweeney.
Colorado Rockies designated relief pitcher Bobby Keppel for assignment and purchased the contract of relief pitcher Alberto Arias from Triple-A Colorado Springs.Optioned relief pitcher Ryan Speier to Triple-A Colorado Springs; recalled relief pitcher Denny Bautista from Colorado Springs.
Analysis: Simply put, this is just the Rockies shuffling around middle relievers. No fantasy implications here.
Los Angeles Angels activated third baseman Chone Figgins from the 15-day disabled list and optioned third baseman Brandon Wood to Triple-A Salt Lake.
Analysis: Figgins had been out since suffering two broken fingers late in spring training. Wood, the team’s top prospect, will be back.
New York Yankees placed starting pitcher Jeff Karstens on the 15-day disabled list with a fractured right fibula; recalled relief pitcher Colter Bean from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Analysis: Karstens was tagged for seven runs in 4-1/3 innings prior to the injury. Bean will not be a fantasy factor pitching in middle relief.
Oakland Athletics acquired outfielder Ryan Langerhans from the Atlanta Braves for a player to be named later or cash; Optioned starting pitcher Dallas Braden to Triple-A Sacramento.
Analysis: The injury depleted A’s need outfield depth and Langerhans, at least for a few days, fills the bill. Braden had served as a fifth starter, but the A’s will not need a fifth starter again until May 12 so he was the choice to create a roster spot for Langerhans.
Washington Nationals placed starting pitcher Jerome Williams on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left ankle and activated relief pitcher Ray King from the 15-day disabled list.
Analysis: King, on the disabled list since April 10, returns to his middle relief role. Williams is expected to return as soon as his 15 days are up. The Nationals have not yet announced who will replace Williams in the starting rotation. Jason Simontacchi could be activated from the disabled list in time to take Williams’s turn in the rotation Tuesday. Another option would be to have Levale Speigner emerge from the bullpen to make a spot start. Neither Speigner nor Simontacchi should be considered in NL-only leagues.
4/30/07
Atlanta Braves placed closer Bob Wickman (upper back strain) on the 15-day
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Soriano is working behind Gonzalez, but Bobby Cox has yet to show his real ninth inning hand yet. Soriano appears to be the go-to-guy
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disabled list and activated relief pitcher Chad Paronto from the 15-day disabled list.
Analysis: Wickman was cruising right along until his last three appearances in which he was lit up for six runs in a grand total of 1-2/3 innings. He also walked six batters during that stretch as he admitted afterwards that the back injury had been preventing him from throwing the ball where he wanted. Bobby Cox will most likely split saves between Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez depending on matchups until Wickman is able to return. Paronto will resume his middle relief duties.
Baltimore Orioles placed starting pitcher Jaret Wright on the 15-day disabled list with a recurrence of right shoulder soreness; Recalled relief pitcher Kurt Birkins from Triple-A Norfolk.
Analysis: Wright was not getting the job done before suffering the shoulder injury and there is talk that surgery could be required. More will be known after his visit with Dr. Lewis Yocum. The Orioles will not need to replace Wright in the rotation until May 8. At that time, they will likely choose to go with Jeremy Guthrie or Brian Burres. Birkins will not have any fantasy value as a middle reliever.
New York Mets placed starting pitcher Orlando Hernandez on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 25, with bursitis in his right shoulder; Placed utility infielder Jose Valentin on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 29, with a partial tear of the ACL ligament of his right knee; Recalled starting pitcher Chan Ho Park and purchased the contract of utility infielder Ruben Gotay from Triple-A New Orleans.
Analysis: Hernandez was pitching well at the time of his injury so his loss will be tough for an already questionable Mets starting rotation. Willie Randolph seems confident that El Duque will be back on May 10, but we’ll see. Valentin is expected to miss at least 2-4 weeks as he rehabs the partial tear of his right ACL. Gotay will probably share time with Damion Easley at second base with Easley getting most of the playing time.
San Diego Padres recalled relief pitcher Royce Ring from Triple-A Portland; Optioned relief pitcher Justin Hampson to Triple-A Portland.
Analysis: Ring will serve as a situational lefty and the only left-hander in the Padres bullpen. Hampson could return as a middle reliever later this summer. No fantasy value here.
St. Louis Cardinals recalled relief pitcher Dennis Dove from Triple-A Memphis.
Analysis: Dove joins the Cardinals roster under tragic circumstances as he replaces Josh Hancock who was killed in a car accident on April 29. Dove will serve as a middle reliever and have no fantasy value.
Toronto Blue Jays placed starting pitcher Gustavo Chacin on the 15-day disabled list with a left shoulder strain.
Analysis: Chacin underwent an MRI on Tuesday that showed no structural damage.
Washington Nationals recalled outfielder Kory Casto from Triple-A Columbus; Designated utility infielder D’Angelo Jimenez for assignment.
Analysis: Casto figures to return to Triple-A Columbus when outfielder Nook Logan returns on Monday. Jimenez picked up just one hit in 14 at-bats as a reserve infielder.
