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Whatever excitement there was about the return of Mike Mussina to the Bronx was tempered by the loss of Phil Hughes.
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5/3/07
Arizona Diamondbacks activated starting pitcher Micah Owings from the disabled list.
Analysis: Owings returns from a strained right hamstring to supplant Edgar Gonzalez in the starting rotation. He should have solid value in NL-only leagues. Gonzalez loses any value he once had in NL-only leagues with his move to the bullpen
Boston Red Sox placed relief pitcher Mike Timlin on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis and recalled starter/reliever Devern Hansack from Triple-A Pawtucket.
Analysis: Timlin seems to be breaking down at the ripe old age of 41. This is his second stint on the disabled list this season and he has not been very effective since the end of the ’05 campaign. Hansack will get a shot at earning a setup role alongside Hideki Okajima. The 29-year-old posted a 1-3 record, 3.77 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 28-2/3 innings as a starter for Triple-A Pawtucket this season.
Cleveland Indians activated starting pitcher Cliff Lee from the 15-day disabled list; Recalled relief pitcher Rafael Perez from Triple-A Buffalo; Optioned outfielders Ben Francisco and Shin-Soo Choo to Buffalo.
Analysis: Lee missed the entire month of April with a strained abdominal muscle. He should have some value in AL-only leagues the rest of the way. Perez is not worth owning in AL-only leagues. Francisco made just one appearance for the Indians while he was up and did not even receive an at-bat. Choo was 5-for-17 in six games while outfielder David Dellucci was hampered by a left calf strain.
Florida Marlins outrighted relief pitcher Nate Field to Triple-A Albuquerque. Analysis: Field was designated for assignment by the Marlins earlier in the week. Kansas City Royals placed outfielder Reggie Sanders on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring tear; Recalled outfielder Shane Costa from Triple-A Omaha.
Analysis: Sanders is expected to miss at least six weeks. Costa probably won’t see a whole lot of playing time while he is up. The injury to Sanders will in all likelihood extend the amount of time Billy Butler spends with the Royals as they will probably send Costa back to Triple-A when first baseman Ryan Shealy returns from the disabled list from a strained left hamstring.
New York Mets selected the contract of relief pitcher Lino Urdaneta from Triple-A New Orleans and optioned starting pitcher Chan Ho Park to New Orleans.
Analysis: Park was awful
starting in place of Orlando Hernandez on Monday so this was no
surprise. Urdaneta will help out in the bullpen at least until Saturday
at which time the Mets are expected to bring Jorge Sosa up from New Orleans to join the starting rotation.New York Yankees placed starting pitcher Phil Hughes on the 15-day disabled list; Recalled relief pitcher Chris Britton from Triple-A Scranton; Sent relief pitcher Chris Britton to Triple-A Scranton, activated starting pitcher Mike Mussina from the 15-day disabled list.
Analysis: The Yankees will no doubt be extremely cautious with
Hughes as he recovers from a strained right hamstring. The current
estimate calls for the young right-hander to miss four-to-six weeks.
Britton was recalled from Scranton to assist out of the bullpen for the
first game of Thursday’s doubleheader and was promptly shipped back
prior to game to so that Mussina could be activated.
Oakland Athletics acquired outfielder Jack Cust from the San Diego Padres  |
Cust can hit, but his ability with a glove has held him back from being an everyday MLB soldier
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for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
Analysis: Cust
should see some playing time in the short term for an Athletics squad
ravaged by injuries. He was batting .295 with eight homers and 19 RBI
in 78 at-bats for Triple-A this season. However, the 28-year-old
probably won’t see enough playing time to have fantasy value.Pittsburgh Pirates placed relief pitcher John Wasdin on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right thumb; recalled relief pitcher Marty McCleary from Triple-A Indianapolis.
Analysis: Another swap of middle relievers with no fantasy significance.
San Diego Padres activated third baseman Russell Branyan from the bereavement list and outrighted catcher Pete Laforest to Triple-A Portland; Traded outfielder Jack Cust to the Oakland Athletics for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
Analysis: Branyan figures to get most starts at third base against right-handers and could have some value in NL-only leagues.
San Francisco Giants placed starting pitcher Russ Ortiz on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow neuritis (retroactive to May 2) and recalled second baseman Kevin Frandsen from Triple-A Fresno.
Analysis: Ortiz has struggled to the tune of a 2-2 record and 6.44 ERA in five starts this season. Frandsen will most likely head back to Fresno before Sunday’s game to make room for top prospect Tim Lincecum to start in Ortiz’s stead. Lincecum has been absolutely amazing for Fresno this season posting a 4-0 record, 0.29 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 31 innings pitched. The 22-year-old has allowed just 12 hits and one run over that span.
Toronto Blue Jays recalled starting pitcher Dustin McGowan from Triple-A Syracuse.
Analysis: McGowan started in place of Gustavo Chacin and will probably continue to do so for the time being.
5/4/07
Florida Marlins optioned starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez Triple-A to Albuquerque and activated relief pitcher Jorge Julio from the disabled list.
Analysis: Sanchez, 2-1 with a 4.80 ERA in six starts this season, has been a disappointment, but the decision to ship him to Triple-A comes as a surprise. He could be back by the end of the month if he gets things in order. Julio had a disastrous April and is not worth owning in fantasy leagues at this time.
Milwaukee Brewers acquired outfielder Charles Thomas from Oakland in exchange for catcher JD Closser. Thomas will report to Triple-A Nashville.
Analysis: This is a trade of two Triple-A players and neither is expected to have fantasy value this season. Closser could be called up to serve as a reserve catcher at some point if something were to happen to either Jason Kendall or Adam Melhuse.
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Tom Gordon is down, possibly for the count if Brett Myers dominates. |
Oakland Athletics placed designated hitter Mike Piazza on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 3 with a sprained right shoulder; Selected Jack Cust from Triple-A Sacramento; Transferred Esteban Loaiza to the 60-day DL..
Analysis: Piazza is expected to
miss four-to-six weeks. Cust could end up getting most of the at-bats
at designated hitter while he is out so the possibility exists for him
to have a little value in AL-only leagues.Philadelphia Phillies placed closer Tom Gordon on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 2, with right rotator cuff inflammation; Purchased the contract of relief pitcher Yoel Hernandez from Triple-A Ottawa.
Analysis: Gordon has been bothered periodically with shoulder pain since spring training. All things considered, it’s probably good news that the problem is what it is as opposed to something more serious. Brett Myers will take over as closer while he is out and quite possibly stay in the role even after Gordon returns. Hernandez is not worth picking up in fantasy leagues.
San Diego Padres placed starting pitcher Clay Hensley on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 3, due to a strained right groin and recalled relief pitcher Justin Hampson from Triple-A Portland.
Analysis: The Padres are expected to promote right-hander Justin Germano in time to start in Hensley’s stead on Tuesday. The corresponding move could be Hampson heading back to Portland. Germano has a 4-0 record, 1.69 ERA and 20 strikeouts in five starts at Portland this season and could have some value in NL-only leagues while Hensley is out.
