Baltimore Orioles selected RHP Jon Leicester from Triple-A Norfolk and optioned LHP Kurt Birkins to Triple-A Norfolk; transferred LHP Adam Loewen to the 60-day disabled list.  
Analysis: Leicester is expected to fill a middle relief role, but it’s also possible that he could eventually get a shot as the team’s fifth starter. He might have a little value in AL-only leagues if he ends up in the starting rotation. Birkins had a 15.75 ERA and 3.25 WHIP in four innings pitched with the Orioles. Loewen will not be back until September at the earliest as he recovers from a stress fracture in his left elbow.

Cleveland Indians placed RHP Jake Westbrook on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 3, with a strained left abdominal muscle; Recalled RHP Fausto Carmona and RHP Edward Mujica from Triple-A Buffalo and designated RHP Jason Davis for assignment.  
Analysis: Carmona will again be a part of the starting rotation while Westbrook is out. Carmona has a 3-1 record and 2.97 ERA in five starts this season and should have some value in AL-only leagues. Westbrook could be out until early June. Mujica and Davis are of no fantasy significance.

New York Yankees optioned LHP Kei Igawa to Class-A Tampa and purchased contract of RHP Matt DeSalvo from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre; Transferred RHP Humberto Sanchez to the 60-day disabled list.  
Analysis: Igawa will work with Yankees pitching instructors at Tampa to adjust his mechanics. The Japanese import was 2-1 with a 7.63 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and eight homers allowed in 30-2/3 innings this season. DeSalvo, 26, posted a 3-0 record and 1.05 ERA in five starts for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season. He’s only worth picking up in AL-only leagues if you’re feeling lucky. Sanchez is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last month.

San Diego Padres recalled RHP Justin Germano from Triple-A Portland; optioned RHP Royce Ring to Portland.
Analysis: Ring will be a solid reliever in time, but the Padres just do not have room for him at this point. Germano, 4-0 with a 1.69 ERA in five starts for Portland this season, will take Clay Hensley’s spot in the starting rotation. If the 24-year-old pitches well during that stretch, he could stick, but he will most likely head back to Triple-A in about two or three weeks. NL-only leaguers may want to roll the dice on him though.

5/8/07

Atlanta Braves recalled RHP Anthony Lerew from Triple-A Richmond and designated LHP Steve Colyer for assignment.  
Analysis: Lerew was 1-0 with a 1.37 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 15 strikeouts in 26-1/3 innings pitched for Richmond. The 24-year-old right-hander is worth picking up in NL-only leagues as he has a real shot to stick in the starting rotation given the struggles of Atlanta's back of the rotation guys. Colyer had a 4.91 ERA and 3.55 WHIP in 3-2/3 innings for Atlanta this season.

Los Angeles Angels placed RHP Justin Speier on the 15-day disabled list,

Will Morales stick this time around?

retroactive to April 30, due to a non-baseball related medical condition, and recalled INF Kendry Morales from Triple-A Salt Lake.  
Analysis: The Angels would not disclose exactly what is wrong with Speier, but it’s apparently something along the lines of the flu. Morales probably won’t have any fantasy value since he isn’t likely to get a whole lot of playing time. He was batting .287 with one homer and ten RBI in 94 at-bats for Salt Lake.

Texas Rangers activated RHP Eric Gagne from the disabled list and optioned RHP Wes Littleton to Triple-A Oklahoma.  
Analysis: The Rangers plan to put Gagne back into the closer’s role immediately. Those of you who own Akinori Otsuka in your fantasy leagues should definitely hang on to him as Gagne’s next injury, based on his track record, is likely just around the corner. Littleton will probably be back the next time the Rangers need a pitcher.

Washington Nationals placed RHP Chad Cordero on the Bereavement List and selected the contract of RHP Winston Abreu from Triple-A Columbus; Selected the contracts of RHP Jason Simontacchi and INF Tony Batista from Triple-A Columbus; Placed RHP Ryan Wagner on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 7, with right rotator cuff inflammation and designated INF Josh Wilson for assignment.
Analysis: Cordero is going back to Southern California to be with his grandmother, Josie Cordero, who is suffering from brain cancer. Jon Rauch will serve as the team's closer for the next few games until Cordero returns. Simontacchi, Batista and Abreu are not likely to have value in fantasy leagues. Wagner and Wilson were of no fantasy significance prior to this news and won’t be this season.

5/9/07

Baltimore Orioles sent RHP Sean Tracey outright to Triple-A Norfolk.  
Analysis: Tracey is 0-1 with a 6.57 ERA in 12-1/3 innings at Norfolk.

Cincinnati Reds placed LHP Eric Milton on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left elbow; Recalled RHP Jared Burton from a rehab assignment and activated him from the 15-day disabled list. LHP Rheal Cormier cleared waivers and was released.  
Analysis: Arm injuries are par for the course with Milton. He will not throw a baseball for about ten days and then be reevaluated at that time. Burton, a middle reliever, had been out since April 8 with a strained hamstring. Bobby Livingston, 23, is expected to be called up in time to start Sunday’s game. The left-hander is 0-3 with a 3.22 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 33 strikeouts in 44-2/3 innings pitched for Triple-A Louisville.

Cleveland Indians activated RHP Matt Miller from the 15-day disabled list and optioned him to Triple-A Buffalo.  
Analysis: Miller had been out with a strained forearm. The Indians want to see him pitch at Buffalo for a while before deciding whether or not to make room for him in their crowded bullpen. He won’t have any fantasy value either way.

Florida Marlins recalled OF Reggie Abercrombie from Triple-A Albuquerque and optioned OF Eric Reed to Albuquerque.  
Analysis: Hopefully Reed is getting frequent flyer miles for all these trips to and from Albuquerque. Abercrombie, a switch-hitter, was batting .282 with four homers and 14 RBI in 103 at-bats for Albuquerque this season. He’s worth watching in NL-only leagues.

Los Angeles Angels Brandon Wood was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake, and INF Matt Brown was recalled.  
Analysis: Knowing that his playing time would be limited with the big league club, the Angels decided Wood would be better off playing everyday at Triple-A. Brown was hitting .300 with three homers and 22 RBI in 110 at-bats for Salt Lake this season. He isn’t likely to have any fantasy value.

New York Mets signed RHP Brian Lawrence to a Minor League contract.  
Analysis: Lawrence missed the entire 2006 campaign following right shoulder surgery. He’ll initially report to extended spring training before eventually heading out to Triple-A New Orleans. The 31-year-old right-hander was 0-2 with an 8.69 ERA in 19-2/3 innings for Triple-A Colorado Springs this season. He could get a shot if the Mets need a starting pitcher this summer.

San Francisco Giants outrighted 1B Lance Niekro to Triple-A Fresno.  
Analysis: Niekro had just three hits in 17 at-bats for the Giants this season.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays RHP Juan Salas suspended for 50 games for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs; Recalled RHP Tim Corcoran and RHP Chad Orvella from Triple-A Durham.
Analysis: Orvella posted a 1-0 record, 2.76 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 16-1/3 innings for Durham. He will probably move into a setup role and could have some fantasy value before season’s end. Corcoran will have no fantasy value as a middle reliever.