5/12/07

Oakland Athletics designated INF Todd Walker for assignment; Recalled LHP Dallas Braden from Triple-A Sacramento.
Analysis: Walker was expendable now that first baseman Dan Johnson is back and swinging the bat well. The recent acquisition of Jack Cust gives them a solid bat to serve as designated hitter and backup outfielder. The fact that Walker hit .271 with no homers and four RBI in 48 at-bats this season made the decision an easy one. Braden produced mixed results in his first two starts filling in for Rich Harden going 1-1 with a 5.23 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 11 strikeouts in 10-1/3 innings.

Toronto Blue Jays recalled INF Ryan Roberts from Triple-A Syracuse.
Analysis: Roberts will give the Blue Jays some infield depth while Troy Glaus is out with a possible foot/heel injury. The 26-year-old was batting .253 with three home runs and 14 RBI in 75 at-bats for Syracuse this season.

Philadelphia Phillies placed 1B Ryan Howard on 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 10, with a strain left quadriceps and recalled C Chris Coste from Triple-A Ottawa.
Analysis: Odd timing for this decision. However, Howard is expected to be near 100 percent by the time he returns on May 25. Greg Dobbs will see most of the playing time at first base with Wes Helms playing against lefties. Coste will serve as the team's third catcher and pinch-hitter.

Atlanta Braves signed LHP Rheal Cormier to a Minor League contract.
Analysis: Cormier will report to Triple-A Richmond and could be called upon to work as a lefty specialist out of the bullpen for Atlanta at some point this summer.

Chicago White Sox placed INF Alex Cintron on the Bereavement List and recalled INF Andy Gonzalez from Triple-A Charlotte.
Analysis: Gonzalez will serve as Juan Uribe’s backup until Cintron returns. He was batting .259 with two homers and 13 RBI in 85 at-bats for Triple-A Charlotte this season.

Detroit Tigers optioned RHP Aquilino Lopez to Triple-A Toledo.
Analysis: Lopez was sent down to make room for right-hander Virgil Vasquez. Vasquez was needed to start Sunday’s game against the Twins after it was determined that Jeremy Bonderman could not make his scheduled start due to a cut on his right middle finger.

Kansas City Royals activated RHP Scott Elarton from the 15-day disabled list; Optioned LHP Neal Musser to Triple-A Omaha.
Analysis: Elarton had shoulder surgery last August and is not worth owning in AL-only leagues. Musser had a 10.80 ERA in six appearances.

5/13/07

Baltimore Orioles placed RHP Jon Leicester on the 15-day disabled list and activated RHP Scott Williamson from the disabled list.
Analysis: aLeicester gets a brief reprieve as he was slated to return to Triple-A to make room for Williamson. Speaking of Williamson, he’ll return to his middle relief role.

Cincinnati Reds recalled LHP Bobby Livingston from Triple-A Louisville and optioned RHP Brad Salmon to Louisville.
Analysis: Livingston started in place of the injured Eric Milton on Sunday. Salmon allowed two runs and struck out five in 4-2/3 innings of work in middle relief for the Reds.

Cleveland Indians traded RHP Jason Davis to the Seattle Mariners for a player to be named later.
Analysis: Davis was designated for assignment by the Indians back on May 7 so this was a way for them to get something for him. The hard throwing right-hander battled control problems throughout his time with the Indians, but he has the raw ability to become a useful reliever. Fantasy owners should continue to ignore him.

Colorado Rockies optioned RHP Alberto Arias and RHP Denny Bautista to Triple-A Colorado Springs.
Analysis: Two middle relievers of no fantasy significance. Bautista allowed 11 earned runs and 13 hits over his last three appearances—a grand total of one inning pitched.

Detroit Tigers purchased the contract of LHP Tim Byrdak from Triple-A Toledo and optioned RHP Virgil Vasquez to Toledo; Transferred LHP Kenny Rogers from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list.
Analysis: Vasquez struggled mightily in his major league debut on Sunday as he allowed six earned runs and nine hits in 2-2/3 innings against the Twins. Byrdak will have no fantasy value as a lefty specialist for the Tigers. The Rogers move was a technical move to open up a spot on the 40-man roster for Byrdak. The gambler remains out until around July.

Florida Marlins acquired RHP Byung-Hyun Kim from the Rockies for RHP Jorge Julio.
Analysis: Julio was 0-2 with a 12.54 ERA and 3.11 WHIP in 9-1/3 innings for the Marlins this season. There is no reason to own him in fantasy leagues. Kim has been on the disabled list since April 16 with a bruised thumb. He is expected to join the depleted Marlins starting rotation after going 1-1 with a 2.96 ERA and 31K/11BB in five rehab starts for Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Kansas City Royals recalled SS Angel Berroa from Triple-A Omaha and placed INF Ross Gload on the 15-day disabled list with strained quadriceps; Placed RHP Luke Hudson on the 15-day disabled list with right biceps tendinitis and recalled RHP Brian Bannister from Triple-A Omaha.
Analysis: Berroa will give the Royals some added depth at the middle infield positions and third base, but he shouldn’t have any fantasy value. Bannister made three starts in Hudson’s stead earlier this season going 0-2 with a 4.60 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in 15-2/3 innings of work.

Minnesota Twins designated RHP Sidney Ponson for assignment; Sold nonroster LHP Mike Venafro to the Blue Jays.
Analysis: Ponson was 2-5 with a 6.93 ERA and 1.88 WHIP in 37.2 IP this season. The Twins have not announced who will take his place in the starting rotation, but they have a few options for the role. Among them are Glen Perkins, Kevin Slowey, Matt Garza and Scott Baker. Perkins is the in-house candidate who has pitched pretty well as a reliever. It would be tough, however, to pass on calling up right-hander Slowey from Triple-A Rochester. Slowey, 22, is 3-2 with a 1.51 ERA, 0.62 WHIP and 38K/2BB in 41-1/3 innings this season. He has notched two complete games in six starts. Fantasy owners should monitor this situation closely. Indications at this point are that Baker could get the call.

New York Mets recalled OF Carlos Gomez from Triple-A New Orleans and optioned RHP Mike Pelfrey to New Orleans.
Analysis: Pelfrey was 0-5 with a 6.53 ERA, 1.75 WHIP and 13 strikeouts in 30-1/3 innings this season. Some additional time in the minors should do the youngster some good. He'll probably be back in a couple months. Gomez, one of the top prospects in the Mets organization, will give the team some outfield depth. The 21-year-old was batting .286 with two homers, 13 RBI and 17 stolen bases in 140 at-bats for New Orleans this season.

St. Louis Cardinals activated OF Juan Encarnacion from the 15-day disabled list and optioned OF Skip Schumaker to Triple-A Memphis.
Analysis: Encarnacion could have some value in NL-only leagues, but mixed leaguers should be able to do much better. Schumaker hit .233 with no homers and three RBI in 43 at-bats as a reserve outfielder.