ESPN Fantasy Baseball Blog

Posted by Tristan H. Cockcroft, ESPN.com

The tax man apparently isn't alone in raking in a tidy profit this April 15 … baseball's doctors have been garnering a healthy share of business.

Three of fantasy baseball's better-known names -- or at least ones widely owned -- landed on the disabled list Wednesday, a group that includes Red Sox right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka, Yankees right fielder Xavier Nady and Cardinals right-hander Chris Carpenter.

Matsuzaka: Arm fatigue

The Red Sox placed Matsuzaka on the DL on Wednesday afternoon, hours after he lasted only one inning in his start against the Angels. The team said afterward that he was lifted early due to "arm fatigue," something certain to have critics pointing to his participation in March's World Baseball Classic. He had surrendered nine runs on 14 hits and five walks in 6 1/3 innings in his first two starts of the regular season, though in his defense, he had a 1.90 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in five spring starts between the Grapefruit League and WBC, with the only warning sign in that month that he walked seven batters in nine innings after returning to the Red Sox in mid-March.

Perhaps a few weeks' rest will help cure what ails Matsuzaka, but for now, Justin Masterson, who tossed four shutout innings in relief of Matsuzaka on Tuesday, will step into his rotation spot. Masterson, available in more than 95 percent of ESPN leagues, warrants at least a short-term pickup even in mixed formats, as a ground-ball-inducing rotation member of one of the more successful teams in baseball.

Masterson was 4-3 with a 3.67 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in nine starts for the Red Sox in 2008, numbers that at least paint the picture of a matchups type for fantasy. His primary weakness is being a little susceptible to walks and extra-base hits to left-handed hitters; he has allowed one walk per 7.3 plate appearances in his career against lefties, compared to 13.4 versus righties, and has a 120-point swing in slugging percentage allowed between the sides. That's something to keep in mind when evaluating his matchups for as long as he remains in the rotation, as even in his first week in the rotation he'll be a two-start pitcher battling the Yankees, a lefty-heavy offense, in his second turn.

Speaking of how long Masterson might be in the rotation, the main reason he got the call over Clay Buchholz, who is currently working in Triple-A Pawtucket, was that Buchholz pulled a hamstring muscle during a workout earlier in the week. Buchholz might miss a turn through Pawtucket's rotation, but might be a candidate to step in should he string together a couple of dominant starts, or if Masterson struggles in his new assignment. If you're a Buchholz owner, keep him on hand, as his value does get a bump up with the news.

Nady: Elbow injury

On Wednesday, Nady had an MRI on his right elbow that he injured making a throw in Tuesday's game. The outfielder said the initial report "didn't look great" and manager Joe Girardi said Nady will be placed on the disabled list, although neither provided any further details.

He will be reexamined by a Yankees team doctor on Thursday. However, according to the New York Daily News, Nady told some teammates that he's likely headed for season-ending surgery.

It's poor timing for Nady, a contract-year player who thus far had to deal with the added motivation of a red-hot reserve pressing him for playing time: Nick Swisher.

Not that it's the way he'd have hoped to crack the lineup as an every-day player, but Swisher's value gets a significant boost with the news. He'll step in as the regular right fielder after having to squeeze in time previously between that position, first base, left field and designated hitter in the season's first week and a half. Even in that uncertain role, Swisher was on a massive tear, batting .458 (11-for-24) with four home runs, 11 RBIs and four walks, helping him to an unreal 1.744 OPS through eight games.

The Yankees would surely have found creative ways to get Swisher into their lineup fairly regularly anyway, but fantasy owners in the 38 percent of ESPN leagues in which he is available should scoop him up now while they have the chance. Sure, he endured a miserable 2008, but all the reports on Swisher's adaptation to life in pinstripes thus far have been glowing, and at his best, which is where he seems to be these days, he's capable of 30-plus home runs, a near-.500 slugging percentage and .375 on-base percentage, rates that make him a strong candidate for 100 each in runs and RBIs.

Unfortunately, the news isn't exactly good for anyone but Swisher himself, as without Nady (and Alex Rodriguez for a couple of more weeks) the Yankees' lineup now leans extraordinarily left-handed. This might be a team quite susceptible to individual matchups, and that's a valuable tidbit for fantasy fans, who can pick and choose times when their left-handers are scheduled to face the team.

Carpenter: Rib-cage strain

In news that would take hardly anyone by surprise, Carpenter landed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a strained left rib cage, one that forced him from his scheduled Tuesday start after only three innings. Cardinals manager Tony La Russa told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch after that game that Carpenter "looks like he's going to be out for a while," which is to be expected, accounting for the right-hander's checkered injury past.

Fortunately for Carpenter, the fact that his injury wasn't an elbow or shoulder problem does give him hope of returning this season, but unfortunately what was shaping up as a potential bounce-back campaign has already been derailed after only two starts. To count on him to make more than 15 in 2009 at this point might be asking too much.

Instead of promoting Carpenter's rotation replacement Wednesday, the team summoned Chris Perez and Mitchell Boggs from Triple-A Memphis to deepen the bullpen for a few days. It's Perez's promotion that warrants fantasy attention; he was in the mix to close for the team and the eventual winner of that spring battle, Jason Motte, has done nothing to prove he deserves to retain it. Though Ryan Franklin seems the Cardinals' current go-to man in the ninth inning, with a hot start Perez might squeeze his way into that mix. If you're in a deeper-mixed or NL-only format or just have a deep enough bench to afford to stash him, Perez is well worth adding based on the prospect of future saves.

The Post-Dispatch also reports that P.J. Walters will assume Carpenter's rotation spot, but he'll pitch Friday instead of Carpenter's turn on Sunday in order to keep the rookie on regular rest as well as avoid having him debut on national television at Wrigley Field on Sunday night. A change-of-pace type, Walters had a 3.48 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 86 career minor league appearances, though he struck out nearly a batter per inning. Fantasy owners should take a wait-and-see approach to adding Walters, but there's a chance he'll have some NL-only matchups value with time.

Posted by Eric Karabell, ESPN.com

Sometimes a minor trade occurs in the final days of spring training and it gets buried because the names aren't interesting to fantasy owners. So it is that we report the Braves traded Josh Anderson to the Tigers on Monday for Rudy Darrow. Ho hum, right?

Well, while Anderson is no longer on my sleeper list because his playing time is likely to take a hit in a star-studded Detroit outfield, this is actually big news in fantasy: The Braves appear willing to let prospect Jordan Schafer start the season in center field. No Anderson, no Gregor Blanco, it's time for Schafer to get his chance, and that is very interesting for fantasy.

Schafer was someone fantasy owners started to watch a season ago, but that season went awry with a 50-game suspension for testing positive for human growth hormone. Schafer hit and ran enough after a slow start with Double-A Mississippi to stay on the fantasy radar, and this spring he's hitting .373. He's already major league-ready defensively, but how much will he help owners this season? I don't think he's on the level of Cameron Maybin just yet, maybe not even Colby Rasmus (who now might not make the Cardinals after all) for sheer cumulative numbers in home runs and steals, but Schafer is an upgrade fantasy-wise over Anderson and Blanco, a potential top-50 outfielder and borderline draftable in mixed leagues right now. And I also like this move for middle infielders Kelly Johnson and Yunel Escobar. It's assumed each will hit in the top two lineup spots now, whereas with Anderson around, one of them was in danger of hitting low in the lineup. Schafer, a lefty hitter who hasn't proven he can hit lefty pitchers, is likely to hit seventh or eighth. The Braves need outfield production in 2009, just one season after getting arguably the worst numbers from its outfield in the majors, and Schafer does have upside.

As for the Tigers, Anderson gives them a bona fide backup center fielder in case something befalls Curtis Granderson, a guy who can play all three outfield spots, a left-handed hitter and someone who can also steal a base. That said, despite moving quickly through the Houston chain before bring traded to Atlanta for Oscar Villarreal in November 2007, Anderson has never been viewed as a top prospect like Schafer was. He's merely a backup. Detroit is counting on Carlos Guillen, Granderson and Magglio Ordonez for big numbers, but Guillen is hardly durable, and current fourth outfielder Marcus Thames is an all-or-nothing power bat and not a strong fielder. The team released Gary Sheffield on Tuesday (more on that below) to make room for Anderson, but we do wonder if this means Clete Thomas, Ryan Raburn and possibly Brent Clevlen won't make the team. Anderson should end up with around 300 at-bats this season, and he could steal 15-20 bases and hit for a decent average. Consider him a decent dollar pick in AL-only formats.

As for Darrow, I'm surprised the emerging sidearmer was dealt with the Tigers' bullpen being such a mess right now. Joel Zumaya is on the DL, Fernando Rodney and Brandon Lyon have been ineffective this spring, and the other relievers the team is likely to keep are either unproven (Ryan Perry, Eddie Bonine) or past their prime (Scott Williamson, Juan Rincon). The Braves won't need the sinkerballer Darrow on their major league roster let alone anywhere near the back end of the bullpen, so in terms of fantasy value, Darrow probably lost an opportunity leaving an ugly bullpen for a decent one.

• As for Sheffield's release, I can't say it's a big surprise. The guy did hit only .225 a season ago, and he's 40 years old. It is stunning the Tigers would eat $14 million, though. I think some team will sign Sheffield on the cheap, but fantasy owners should note the potential for 20 homers isn't worth the bad batting average. He might be done helping mixed-league owners.

• I'm normally a cautious fantasy drafter, often eschewing hitters with low on-base percentages because I feel it limits their upside in other categories. As a result, many readers and listeners, and even those in the Bristol office, have been surprised to see me heavily touting second-year middle infielder Alexei Ramirez. He easily made my top 50, and I'm expecting big things from him in 2009. Of course, the knee injury Ramirez suffered when he slid into home plate Monday could change all that. For now, we have to hope Ramirez simply cut his knee and did no other damage, but we'll keep an eye on this.

• In other news from White Sox camp, the team released Jerry Owens. No, he's not necessarily headed to Triple-A, he's just gone. Owens entered camp as the leading contender to lead off and play center field, and that combination, along with his blazing speed, surely enticed fantasy owners. This guy could steal 50 bases even with a .300 on-base percentage. A month into spring training he still couldn't hit a lick, and manager Ozzie Guillen realized Owens wasn't his man. Look for Owens to find work elsewhere -- the Reds seem to always target players like this -- but his fantasy value is nearly gone. Dewayne Wise and Brian Anderson will platoon in center field, and neither are overly interesting in fantasy, although we should note Wise was a perfect 9-for-9 in steal chances with the big club, in only 57 games.

• The Phillies ended speculation about who will pitch Opening Night against the Braves -- remember, it's this Sunday on ESPN and ESPN Radio -- by officially ruling out Cole Hamels. Instead, the lefty will pitch the day before in an exhibition game against Tampa Bay. Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee says he's encouraged about the progress Hamels and his elbow have made, and targets April 10 for his first start. Regardless, fantasy owners should not be concerned; very few pitchers make every single start in a season, and even last year Hamels made "only" 33. Brett Myers is expected to start Sunday. If you own Hamels, you don't want him pushed too hard. You want better numbers in 30 starts, not a chance for 34 starts and an elbow injury.

• The news on John Lackey of the Angels is worse, though. The team used the teasing word encouraged to describe the latest MRI results on Lackey's right elbow, but there remains inflammation, and the best-case scenario has the right-hander returning in late April or early May. Fantasy owners should act more cautiously with Lackey; that's a month of starts, and he had a similar injury that cost him even more time in 2008.

• The Cardinals still haven't made it official that Jason Motte is the team's closer, but now we have some closure that it won't be Chris Perez, at least not initially after he was sent to Triple-A Memphis. Perez, the team's first-round pick in 2006 and still likely the closer of the future, could still get his chance in the majors this season, but it's now Motte's job to lose, and there are no indications he's going to lose it. He's not a top-20 closer yet, but with his stuff, all he needs is experience, and he'll get there soon.

• Yes, that was me saying "I would never draft Rich Harden" on the Baseball Tonight Fantasy Special last week, and I stick by the comment. On Monday, Harden threw 4 2/3 messy innings against the Royals, allowing three home runs and five earned runs. Harden hadn't pitched in more than two weeks after suffering food poisoning. It's always something with this guy. Harden pronounced himself ready to go. We'll see him again in spring training at least once, as he's not scheduled to pitch in the regular season until April 10. I'm skeptical that he'll make 20 starts in 2009, though I'm sure they will be really good ones.

• Will Ohman finally found work Monday, waiting until the final week of spring training to sign his below-market contract with the Dodgers. Ohman has no fantasy value, but now that Joe Torre has another lefty, more of a one-out guy to work with (like Joe Beimel a year ago), it could signal Hong-Chih Kuo is the next in line for saves if Jonathan Broxton struggles. Many teams are reluctant to use their lone lefty to close games, preferring to spot them in key spots in the seventh or eighth innings. Now that Ohman can do that, Kuo is freed up for work later in games.

• I haven't seen many official lineups announced recently, but they're coming. Mets manager Jerry Manuel tipped his hand Monday, saying left fielder Danny Murphy was going to hit second in the order, between Jose Reyes and David Wright. Murphy bats left-handed and will surely see better pitches in the No. 2 spot, as opposed to the No. 8 spot, where Luis Castillo is rightfully buried. It's tough to be high on Castillo, and this move doesn't help. Murphy, however, could be a real breakout performer, a double-double guy with strong plate discipline.

• The Indians placed corner outfielder Dave Dellucci on the 15-day DL because of a strained right calf, clearing the way for prospect Trevor Crowe to make his major league debut. Crowe has slipped quite a bit in prospect rankings, as the former first-round pick hasn't hit much in the minors. But he is 6-for-6 in stolen bases this spring, and the Indians might not have the longest leash with starting corner outfielders Shin-Soo Choo and Ben Francisco.

• When an office worker gets carpal tunnel syndrome, it's certainly not fun, but they're not throwing 90-mph fastballs a thousand-plus times a season. Many fantasy owners probably have carpal tunnel syndrome, but how many major league pitchers do? Few hurlers can produce nasty pitching lines like Cincinnati's Bronson Arroyo, who managed to allow 14 hits and 10 runs in 4 2/3 innings Sunday, in a spring game! Arroyo now blames his poor spring performance on carpal tunnel, which could lead to a DL stint. Must be typing too much. Speaking of which, time for me to stop typing.

Posted by Eric Karabell, ESPN.com

• Tigers relief pitcher Joel Zumaya threw off a mound Monday, his first time doing so in three weeks since dealing with a sore shoulder and muscle cramps. Zumaya's throwing session lasted about five minutes, and he's scheduled to have more extensive sessions in the coming days. Tigers manager Jim Leyland remains skeptical Zumaya will be on the team's active roster when the season opens. However, after seeing incumbent closer Brandon Lyon serve up not one, not two, not three, but four home runs in the sixth inning against the Red Sox on Monday, Leyland might aim to accelerate Zumaya's recovery. Fernando Rodney wasn't much better than Lyon, as he allowed three runs in his one inning of work Monday.

• In that same Red Sox-Tigers game, a hurler who fared much better was former Dodger Brad Penny. His Grapefruit League debut with Boston was a success, as he needed only 33 pitches to breeze through three hitless innings. Penny and John Smoltz aren't expected to be on the team's Opening Day roster, but each could be smart dollar choices late in auction drafts.

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• Speaking of the Red Sox, current or otherwise, those who have already drafted former slugger Manny Ramirez have dealt with bigger question marks this offseason than his recent hamstring injury, but it was a good sign to see the slugger hitting Monday. Ramirez went 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts as the Dodgers designated hitter, claiming he was running at about 60 or 70 percent. Ramirez is scheduled to DH Tuesday against the Mariners as well.

• The Angels don't have anyone like Manny, but they also got good news Monday about someone who could play a major role. Kelvim Escobar won 18 games in 2007, then missed all of last season with a torn labrum in his shoulder. He retired four hitters in a minor league appearance, and manager Mike Scioscia was impressed by his velocity. Escobar is one of those late picks in AL-only leagues who could really help fantasy owners.

• Cardinals manager Tony La Russa confirmed Monday that third baseman Troy Glaus would not appear in a spring training game as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery. Glaus was hoping to play in March and come off the DL in mid-April, but now the Cardinals are targeting early-to-mid May as more realistic. Glaus hasn't had any setbacks, but isn't progressing as quickly as the team would prefer. I view him a bit like I do Alex Rodriguez in that he shouldn't be discounted in drafts too much, since he can be productive in his four-plus months of action. In the meantime, David Freese and Joe Mather remain the top options to replace Glaus early in the season, although neither looks appealing in standard fantasy leagues.

• In better Cardinals news, starter Chris Carpenter tossed a spring-best 76 pitches against the Nationals on Monday, and his ERA remains a pristine Blutarski-like 0.00. Carpenter did allow a pair of unearned runs, but otherwise his five innings were spotless, with three hits allowed, no walks and six strikeouts. Carpenter is being drafted in most ESPN leagues at this point, but he's quickly becoming more than merely a sleeper, and instead someone to depend on.

• The Cardinals news just never stops: Young reliever Chris Perez threw 25 pitches in a bullpen session, and reported no pain in his balky shoulder. The team didn't announce when Perez would throw again, but it's believed Jason Motte is the leader for April saves anyway.

• It was a bit surprising when the Nationals cut starting pitcher Shawn Hill last week, despite how oft-injured the right-hander had been. Hill has had bouts of success in the past, and well, the pitching-starved Nationals could use the help. Hill ended up signing with the San Diego Padres, another club that clearly needs rotation help. Hill might actually make the rotation out of spring training, since Josh Geer, believed to be the No. 5 starter, was optioned to Triple-A Portland on Monday. The team's fourth starter is Kevin Correia. If Hill can get and stay healthy, he could certainly be effective in spacious Petco Park.

• White Sox hurler Gavin Floyd comes off his breakout season, winning 17 games with a 3.84 ERA after years of never quite making it in Philadelphia, and now he's been rewarded with a four-year contract for $15.5 million. Fantasy owners seem to believe unilaterally last season was a fluke, as his average live draft position is 59th among starting pitchers. Floyd shouldn't be moved up merely because the White Sox locked up a young starter for a reasonable price, but he might remind people he was pretty good and deserves to be drafted higher.

• Those who remember what damage Chris Shelton did in April 2006 also can't forget what a bust he has been pretty much every month after that. Shelton hit 10 home runs and knocked in 20 runs that wonderful month, then added just eight homers and 38 RBIs in the 11 months of regular season play since. On Monday the Mariners decided ancient Mike Sweeney had made the club, likely signaling Shelton's pending exit. Shelton has been one of Seattle's top hitters this spring, slugging .763, but it appears Sweeney will get to help Russell Branyan at first base. In other surprising Mariners news, Endy Chavez is slated to start in left field, with prospect Wladimir Balentien backing him up. Makes no sense at all, but then again, Jeff Clement is headed to the minors, Carlos Silva has a rotation spot and Ken Griffey Jr. will steal at-bats from kids like Balentien.

• Young Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley left his Monday start after two innings with a groin strain, which the team is calling minor. Billingsley had allowed four runs to that point. According to Billingsley, removing him from the game was precautionary, and he remains on track to pitch the third game of the regular season. The fact a pitcher got hurt and can't blame the WBC for it hasn't been mentioned, but I'm sure it's coming.

• Speaking of the WBC, congrats to both Japan and Korea for an exceptional championship game. I don't think fantasy owners learned a whole lot from the tournament, but it was mostly good baseball. Sure, it appeared half of Team USA went down with injury, but I don't think it affects fantasy baseball. Matt Lindstrom is throwing again, and could be ready to close Opening Day. David Wright, Ryan Braun and the right side of the Boston infield will be ready with plenty of time to spare as well. If anything, those who play fantasy in the United States were able to see how good international competition can be. For example, if electric young right-hander Yu Darvish, who won Monday's title game for Japan, decides to become the next Daisuke Matsuzaka and play ball regularly in the U.S., many fantasy owners can say they scouted him once upon a time.

Posted by Christopher Harris, ESPN.com

• The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that potential Cardinals closer Chris Perez won't pitch for the next "several days," after the reliever required an arthrogram earlier in the week to figure out why he was having shoulder discomfort. The team claims Perez has an impingement related to tendinitis, which they don't consider serious, but this is the second time Perez has been scratched from throwing in a week. This news, combined with how well Jason Motte has thrown over the past couple of weeks, would appear to put Motte down as the heavy favorite to begin the year getting saves in St. Louis. According to the Post-Dispatch, he's consistently hit 98 mph with his fastball this spring, though his slider reportedly isn't a finished product.

• The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that Fausto Carmona was hit in the right forearm by a comebacker in an intrasquad game Thursday. X-rays were taken and were reportedly negative, and the Indians will take another look at Carmona's arm Friday, but are hopeful their pitcher emerged relatively unscathed.

• Chipper Jones told the Braves' Web site that he anticipates returning to action at the beginning of next week. Jones injured an oblique playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, and hasn't seen any action since March 8. The Braves still don't seem to be concerned that Jones could miss any time to start the season.

• Similarly, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that Trevor Hoffman doesn't expect to miss the beginning of the season because of his injured oblique. In Hoffman's case, though, the Brewers haven't yet set a timetable for his return.

• And hey, let's go for the injured-oblique update trifecta. Ryan Braun reportedly will try some "light drills" Friday while trying to return from his injured intercostal muscle. Like Jones, Braun hurt himself playing for Team USA, though unlike Jones, Braun is still with the national team, and hopes to be able to play again before the end of the tournament. It's difficult to imagine the Brewers will let that happen, but it does sound like a good sign.

• Let's make it four injured-torso updates! Dustin Pedroia reportedly will return from the strained abdominal muscle he injured while playing for Team USA, and get back in the Red Sox lineup Friday against the Pirates. Pedroia had previously told Boston fans (and, by association, fantasy owners) not to worry too much about his injury, and it appears he was right.

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• The Houston Chronicle reports that Miguel Tejada will receive only probation, and not jail time, for lying to federal prosecutors in a steroid investigation. There didn't seem to be much chance of Tejada missing time this year because of this incident, and that appears to be the case. Draft (or in my case, don't draft) Miggy as you normally would.

• The A's official Web site reports that possible closer-to-be Joey Devine was able to throw a 20-pitch bullpen session Thursday and reported no problems. He hopes to throw one more session Saturday, and if all goes well, could be back in a spring game Monday. He still looks like the choice to open the season as Oakland's fireman.

• Lou Piniella announced Thursday that Sean Marshall will be the Cubs' fifth starter to begin the year, getting the nod over Aaron Heilman, who'll be in the team's bullpen. Marshall is a decent NL-only option. The big lefty posted a 3.86 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP mostly out of Chicago's bullpen last season.

• The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that new Brewers manager Ken Macha is considering occasionally using Jason Kendall as his leadoff man, as he often did when the two men were in Oakland. Kendall probably still won't be of much fantasy use, but guys like Rickie Weeks and/or J.J. Hardy could find their spots near the top of the Brewers' lineup in jeopardy under such conditions.

• Kenshin Kawakami, whom the Braves have penciled into their rotation from the moment they signed him as a free agent from Japan, had to be scratched from his start Thursday night because of "shoulder fatigue," according to the team's official Web site. According to the site, the injury "isn't considered serious," but Kawakami needs to avoid all the setbacks he can. He hasn't looked good yet against big league hitters.

• Scott Rolen, who had to leave Wednesday's spring training game because of a strained back, will attempt to take batting practice Friday. The Blue Jays' official site reports that Cito Gaston hopes Rolen will be able to get back into the lineup this weekend.

• The New York Daily News reports that Mets catcher Brian Schneider is day-to-day with a strained right knee and calf. The New York media had issued all kinds of breathless and troubled reports about Schneider's health potentially being a serious concern, but apparently the Mets don't agree, at least not yet.

Where should they go?
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• All those clever souls who've drafted Andruw Jones in AL-only leagues may need to give up the dream early. Rangers GM Jon Daniels told the Dallas Morning News Thursday that Jones looked unlikely to be added to the team's 40-man roster Friday, the day Jones may opt out of his contract if he's not officially with the big club. Jones may yet accept a minor league assignment by the Rangers, but he's almost certainly not going to have any big league gig to start the season.

• Rangers manager Ron Washington told the Morning News that Chris Davis will play first base exclusively this year, with Michael Young playing third. Davis will retain his third base eligibility in fantasy leagues for '09, but don't expect him to keep that eligibility after that.

• In the World Stops Turning Department, Russell Branyan stole two bases for the Mariners on Thursday in a split-squad win over the Padres. Suffice it to say if Branyan reaches that level of steals production for the entire season, his fantasy owners will be very lucky.

• Rick Porcello, the Tigers' bonus baby starting pitcher, was scratched Saturday because of a torn fingernail, but came through a side session fine Thursday, meaning he'll throw in a game Friday against the Yankees. He's never pitched above Class A, but Jim Leyland contends that Porcello is a legitimate candidate to be Detroit's fifth starter. While Jeremy Bonderman did pitch two scoreless innings Thursday, his pitch count per outing in his return from major shoulder surgery is still quite low, and he may yet have to begin the year on the disabled list.

Posted by Tristan H. Cockcroft, ESPN.com

So I've got good news and bad news for you. Which do you want first?

What's that, you say? You want the bad news first? So grim, you are; must have already had your draft and are terrified of bad news. Well, here it is: Cole Hamels is a long shot to make his Opening Day start, reports the Phillies' official Web site.

So what's the good news then, you might ask? Well, fortunately for Hamels, the MRI (and dynamic ultrasound) he underwent Tuesday revealed no structural damage to his left elbow, the one in which he has had inflammation for weeks. The specific diagnosis: inflammation in the posterior lateral aspect of the elbow.

Hamels told the team's Web site that he experiences tightness in that elbow every spring, but typically it subsides within a week or two. That it lingered beyond that point this year put his status into question, and now the team will approach his health cautiously, letting Hamels dictate how quickly he's ready to proceed.

As for that timetable for recovery, Hamels received an anti-inflammatory injection Tuesday, and is expected to resume his throwing program Thursday. If that approach is successful, he might be able to pitch in a minor league or Grapefruit League game early next week. Unfortunately, the reason for his doubtful Opening Day status is that he was only up to the low to mid-50s with his pitch counts before the examination, and two or three more spring starts might not provide enough for him to get that number at or above 100.

So how should fantasy owners proceed with drafting Hamels? Chances are the Phillies will be as conservative as possible with their ace left-hander, especially since he missed almost the entire 2004 minor league season with elbow issues and spent nearly a month on the disabled list with a left elbow strain during his 2007 sophomore season. A two-week, season-opening disabled list stint is possible, and at the very least, Hamels' owners (or prospective owners) should expect a one- or two-start absence.

Hamels is currently being tabbed the No. 6 starting pitcher in ESPN live drafts, but with news of his injury, it might be an appropriate plan of action to drop him behind Jake Peavy, Dan Haren, and perhaps behind No. 9 Roy Oswalt as well. Be aware, though, that might amount to only a one- or two-round drop, perhaps as little as 15 to 20 spots.

Still, stay tuned, because Hamels' health should be closely monitored looking forward.

• The news Tuesday was more promising for another elite, a left-handed starter who calls the National League East his home: Johan Santana tossed four innings of six-hit, two-run baseball against minor leaguers. He struck out five batters and didn't allow a walk while throwing 56 pitches, and reported no problems with his elbow. Newsday reports Santana's velocity was in the 87- to 89-mph range, but at his current pace, barring a setback, he shouldn't have any problems bumping that up a notch while getting his pitch count up to regular-season standards. Chances are, he'll be the Mets' Opening Day starter, meaning he again belongs in your top two starters overall, probably No. 1.

• KSLG 1380 AM in St. Louis reports that with three weeks to go in spring training, Jason Motte, and not Chris Perez, is the current leader in the race to close for the Cardinals. In the event Motte retains that status, Perez most likely will be sent to Triple-A Memphis, partly because the more experienced Josh Kinney would be kept around as a set-up man. At this point, treating Perez like the clear top guy in your closer ranks seems foolish, though all three relievers do warrant consideration as NL-only late-rounders. Don't be surprised if the Cardinals have multiple pitchers manning that role the entire year.

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• According to that same report, top prospect Colby Rasmus will be on the Cardinals' Opening Day roster, in which case it's a virtual certainty that he'll be the team's starting left fielder. Chris Duncan owners (or prospective owners) take note; his value stands to take the biggest hit. I'm not one of the biggest Rasmus fans around, because his batting average took a hit in each jump up to Double- and Triple-A, which suggests to me an adjustment period need be expected. However, it's important to remember that he has managed double digits in homers and steals in each of his three full professional seasons, including his miserable 2008. It's unclear whether Rasmus would be an everyday player or not -- I'd call keeping him around to play sparingly (one to two times a week) a foolish decision -- but his stock will soar with news he'll be on the team. Consider him a mid- to late NL-only pick and a mixed-league sleeper since it's hard to imagine him not playing at least three or four times a week, though again, I'd be concerned about a possible adjustment period.

• Expect to see Brett Myers' draft stock rise in the upcoming days, after he tossed 5 2/3 shutout innings of seven-strikeout baseball Tuesday against a Reds lineup comprised of mostly regulars (OK, regulars and Ryan Hanigan). Myers, an enigma for much of his career, did breeze through the second half of 2008 plus playoffs with a 3.35 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 16 starts, rescuing what initially seemed like a lost season. He's certainly worth more than his current No. 48 ranking among starting pitchers in ESPN live drafts, perhaps as many as 10 spots higher at his position.

• It seems like every member of the Brewers' bullpen is battling some sort of health issue this spring, and now you can toss the team's closer onto the pile; the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that Trevor Hoffman has a strained right oblique. It's considered only a minor thing, but manager Ken Macha does have a minor concern that Hoffman needs to pitch on consecutive days before spring training ends. There's plenty of time for that, but let's not forget that the guy is 41 years old, so rehabilitation might not be as quick for him.

As to who might close should Hoffman miss regular-season time, Carlos Villanueva struggled mightily Tuesday, allowing five runs on five hits in 1 1/3 innings. After the game, Macha expressed his displeasure to the team's official Web site, though in criticizing his reliever, he did offer some insights as to the team's ninth-inning emergency plan.

"I'll talk to [Villanueva], maybe talk to [pitching coach] Billy [Castro] and see what our plan of attack is," Macha said. "With Hoffman down, I asked Billy, 'Who's your closer if he can't go?' He answered, [Villanueva]. I said, 'Well, he hasn't had any good outings this spring.' Now you have to look at what your alternatives might be."

Not that Villanueva should be written off yet, but statistically speaking, Mark DiFelice (5 IP, 0 ERs, 6 K's) might find himself in the mix for a set-up role at his current pace.

• Exhibit A in the case against heavily weighing spring statistics: Cliff Lee was pummeled for 10 runs (nine earned) in 2 2/3 innings Tuesday, bringing his spring ERA to 18.90. He admitted to the Indians' official Web site afterward, though, that he was merely working on his fastball location, doing the kind of tinkering that is often common with pitchers in March. Generally speaking, when veteran pitchers have a disastrous outing like this, you shouldn't fret unless there's evidence an injury was responsible.

• The Rangers face a Friday deadline to decide whether to place Andruw Jones on the major league roster. According to the team's official Web site, Marlon Byrd's quick recovery from knee surgery and standout spring make it unlikely the decision will be in Jones' favor. Byrd has 10 hits in his past 20 at-bats and is batting .364 (12-for-33) for the spring, but even with that performance he might not crack a Rangers outfield that probably will have David Murphy in left field, Josh Hamilton in center and Nelson Cruz in right on Opening Day. With Jones gone, Byrd, Cruz and Murphy would become safer AL-only selections, but Jones' rebound potential would take a hit losing the prospect of hitter-friendly Rangers Ballpark helping his cause in 2009.

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• Hunter Pence left Tuesday's game with a bruised left knee he suffered awkwardly sliding into home plate, though he told the team's official Web site that he has merely a "bone bruise" and that his early exit was "precautionary." Check the Astros' lineups the next few days, though, to ensure it's nothing more significant.

• Max Scherzer's Cactus League debut was both rocky and brief; he was pounded for five runs (one earned) on three hits while recording only two outs Tuesday. The Arizona Republic reports that his velocity was down -- 91 to 93 mph from his usual mid-90s -- and he fell behind in the count to nearly every hitter. Still, that's to be expected to an extent from a pitcher who missed as much time as he has due to shoulder problems. Fortunately for Scherzer, he can be slotted in as the team's fifth starter, meaning he won't be needed until April 14, giving him plenty of time to get up to speed. Fantasy owners shouldn't downgrade him based on this outing unless he fails to show much improvement in his next turn; if he doesn't, then Yusmeiro Petit might be a candidate to take that fifth-starter role.

• Exciting news: Sidney Ponson signed a minor league contract with the Royals on Tuesday, fresh off his solid performance in the World Baseball Classic (4.00 ERA in two starts). He'll actually get an opportunity to compete for a rotation spot, which is more a statement about the Royals' lack of alternatives than it is an endorsement of his talent. Perhaps AL-only owners can find streaming value in Ponson if he makes the team, but this is a signing that probably shouldn't excite the fantasy masses.

• Mariano Rivera made his Grapefruit League debut Tuesday, tossing a perfect inning, including eight of 11 pitches for strikes. He has made a smooth recovery from offseason shoulder surgery and looks entirely safe to select as a top-three fantasy closer.

Posted by AJ Mass, ESPN.com

What a difference a day makes. Yesterday, all the writing was on the wall for Ken Griffey Jr. to join Chipper Jones in the Atlanta Braves' lineup. Unfortunately for Braves fans and owners in NL-only leagues, the writing was not on a contract. Griffey, who had insisted the reports in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution were premature and that he had not yet made his final decision, has in fact decided to accept a one-year contract offer from Seattle, the city where he launched his career.

Now, some may say that this is nothing more than an attempt by the Mariners to fill some seats after a 100-loss season. In fact, Griffey's $2 million contract is chock-full of incentives based on at-bats and, more importantly, attendance figures, so there's no attempt to hide from the fact that the signing, at least in part, is being made to put fans in the seats. However, those fans won't come if Griffey does not play, and with Ichiro Suzuki in right and the superior defensive ability of Franklin Gutierrez in center, it looks like the best fit for Griffey, on days he doesn't simply DH, would be in left field. After all, Endy Chavez has a nice glove, but no power and declining speed. Wladimir Balentien has a lot of potential but, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, is having difficulty with his visa from his native Curacao, and the Mariners have no timetable for his arrival in camp.

There's also the effect this signing may have on Jeff Clement. After he underwent knee surgery last season, the Mariners had intended to limit his catching duties as much as possible by playing Kenji Johjima behind the plate but still getting Clement's bat in the lineup as the designated hitter. Perhaps that will still be the case on the road, but when the Mariners are playing at Safeco Field, Griffey's required presence in the lineup may force Clement to don the tools of ignorance more than the team had planned, and that excess wear and tear may end up hurting Clement's 2009 stats in the long run.

In other news from around spring training camps:

While there are a few bullpen battles in the NL Central that still need to shake themselves out this spring, don't be fooled by what you see in the box scores. …

• Lou Piniella told the Cubs' official Web site that neither Carlos Marmol nor Kevin Gregg will be closing games this spring. The reason? Since most of the A-list hitters have long since been replaced in the lineup by the time the ninth inning rolls around, he's going to be testing his potential closers earlier in games in the hope that they'll face a higher quality of hitter. Marmol certainly proved last season that he had the makings of a closer. As Kerry Wood's set-up man, he had 30 holds and a major league-high 114 strikeouts by a reliever. However, there is something to be said for "having done the job before," and Gregg did record 29 saves with the Marlins last season. Fantasy owners who will be drafting before this situation shakes itself out should probably err on the side of Marmol. If Gregg doesn't get the closer's job, he won't have much fantasy value, whereas Marmol, because of his historically high strikeout rate, dominant ERA and WHIP will still have a strong positive impact on your staff's numbers if he once again is asked to play the set-up role.

• Meanwhile in St. Louis, pitching coach Dave Duncan says that while he and manager Tony La Russa would like for their closer situation to shake out this spring, they're not going to force matters, and if they have to "mix and match" when the season starts, so be it. The team's official Web site quotes Duncan as saying, "Ideally, what I would like to see is that over the course of the spring, somebody emerges that we have the confidence in to finish the games. Start the season with a guy that you can designate as your closer. I don't know if it's going to be that way or not."

Right now there's a four-man battle royal among Chris Perez, Jason Motte, Josh Kinney and Ryan Franklin to take over the ninth-inning duties, as Jason Isringhausen is no longer in the picture. Franklin is the veteran of the bunch, giving him the edge if La Russa decides, as he did last season, that the "kids" aren't ready to handle the job. It's situations like this that reinforce our "don't pay for saves" mantra; when all is said and done, despite the impression that it's Perez's job to lose, it's very possible that any -- or even all -- of this quartet might end up with double-digit saves when 2009 is done.

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• The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that talks between free agent Joe Crede and the Twins have ground to a halt. Simply put, there aren't many offers out there for Crede, with perhaps only San Francisco still being thought of as a potential suitor for the third baseman's services. As such, the Twins aren't going to sign Crede on his terms. What is also helping the Twins stand firm in negotiations is the fact that Brian Buscher reportedly has been crushing the ball so far this spring and his likely platoonmate Brendan Harris also seems a lot more comfortable now that he is being asked to focus on his best defensive position. If Crede won't lower his price, it looks like he won't be coming to Minnesota.

• News out of Astros camp in Kissimmee is that catcher Toby Hall had to have an MRI on his right shoulder, leading to speculation that the team might seek out the services of a veteran catcher like Ivan Rodriguez to compete for the starting job instead of relying on J.R. Towles or Humberto Quintero should Hall's injury prove to be serious. However, general manager Ed Wade stopped that rumor in its tracks. The Astros' official Web site quoted Wade as saying, "We're not signing Pudge. Put that one to rest. We have no expectation to sign Pudge."

Rodriguez isn't the only veteran having difficulty catching on with a major league team. Paul Lo Duca was talking with the Chicago White Sox, hoping to find himself a job as the backup to A.J. Pierzynski. However, the Chicago Sun Times reports that the team decided to stick with what they had. "After some conversations and the flow of those conversations, I felt what we have here is just what we needed,'' general manager Ken Williams told the newspaper. The fact is, fantasy players probably shouldn't worry too much about where these veterans end up. The catcher position may not be the deepest, but in a 10-team mixed league, you won't need to go anywhere near players like Pudge and Lo Duca. In fact, in the ESPN mock draft I took part in just yesterday, I was able to grab my starting catcher, Kelly Shoppach, in the 22nd round of our 25-round draft. There's more than enough depth to go around.

Finally, while it's important to always check the headlines right before you draft, just in case some important "need-to-know" news breaks, make sure you read the whole article and not just the headline. Yesterday, the Tampa Tribune proclaimed that Evan Longoria left the team's first workout early, which may have caused a lot of panic and movement on the draft board for fantasy owners … unless they read on to discover it was simply the result of some discomfort after Evan had some wisdom teeth pulled. He'll be just fine. Nothing to see here. Move it along.

A.J. Mass is a fantasy football, baseball and college basketball analyst for ESPN.com. You can e-mail him here.

Posted by Jason Grey, ESPN.com

Yes, there's baseball news other than stuff pertaining to Alex Rodriguez. Let's take a quick look around the league for fantasy-related news as we get closer to pitchers and catchers reporting for spring training:

• The Rangers will bring in Andruw Jones to compete among a glut of outfielders for regular playing time. Even if he does earn some significant playing time, the odds aren't too good for a rebound. His bat speed has waned, and being out of shape only exacerbated that issue. You can get yourself in good physical condition -- and Jones reportedly lost about 25 pounds -- but that bat speed won't return. His athleticism and quicker bat during his younger days used to be able to cover the holes in his swing fairly well, but now he can be beaten up-and-in and down-and-away on pitches he used to hit with authority. Although the possibility of a rebound always exists, don't bank on it. Working in his favor is the fact that the Rangers lack a true center fielder. Jones still is one, even though scouts think his jumps have gotten poorer, and he has lost some of his range in recent years thanks to an expanding waistline.

• The Cardinals released Adam Kennedy, making Brendan Ryan the most likely of the internal candidates to fill the second-base job. However, it wouldn't be shocking to see the Cardinals sign someone such as Orlando Hudson soon.

It's also worth noting for NL-only fantasy players that Skip Schumaker, a favorite of Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, has been taking grounders at second. If he helps fill the second-base job, it would help alleviate the crunch in the outfield. It's entirely possible he could see some time there during the regular season against right-handed pitching.

The team will have David Freese and Brian Barden compete for a temporary job at third base until Troy Glaus returns. They are expected to be patient with Brett Wallace, so don't expect him to be a serious contender to man the hot corner on Opening Day. Freese hit .306 with 26 homers and a .911 OPS at Triple-A last season, so he is the more intriguing candidate, but he could have some issues making contact at the big league level.

• The Padres signed Cliff Floyd, but he's not expected to play much at all in the San Diego outfield. Instead, he'll serve as the primary left-handed pinch hitter and as a designated hitter in interleague play. The playing time just won't be there to give him much fantasy utility, and if he does get some, it likely would be short-lived because of his injury history.

• Ben Sheets went from a two-year deal with the Rangers to surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon in his elbow. Although there are some reports that he could pitch in the second half of the season, it's more likely that he'll miss most of the season and try to hook on with a team for the 2010 season.

• Randy Wolf joined the Dodgers' rotation, and he gets enough strikeouts and contains the damage against him reasonably well enough to have some use in deep NL leagues. The red flag, however, is that he pitched 190 innings last season. That's 87 more than he threw in 2007, and by far the most he has thrown since the 2003 season. Given that workload and his injury history, he's still no more than an endgame pick at best.

• The Brewers have expressed interest in Braden Looper, a move that -- like the Wolf signing -- would make the right-hander just a $1 or reserve-list play in NL-only formats. There's no upside.

• Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that four players (Chris Perez, Jason Motte, Ryan Franklin, and Trever Miller) will compete for the closer's job in the spring, and it's possible that Perez, Motte or both could start the season in the minors. Perez's lack of consistent control and Motte's lack of a secondary pitch could put other pitchers in play for St. Louis' saves, and the team still would like to sign a veteran as a temporary measure. Expect Perez or Motte to win the job for now, and make sure you handcuff the two together if you can, but monitor this situation closely.

• Yankees GM Brian Cashman confirmed there are no plans to put Joba Chamberlain in the bullpen, and that he will be the team's No. 5 starter this season. The Yankees still can limit his workload somewhat now that Andy Pettitte is back on board.

• The D-backs signed Tom Gordon to a contract, but he's likely far down the list for saves, perhaps fourth in the pecking order. Given his age and injury history in recent years, the over/under on his innings is probably about 40. If you need a middle reliever with strikeout ability as part of your strategy, Gordon should be far down on your list.

• The Red Sox will have an open competition between Jed Lowrie and Julio Lugo for the shortstop position. Lugo could be a cheap source of speed again if he wins the job and shows that the quad injury that ended his '08 season has healed.

• Jeff Francis' shoulder is not improving the way he thought it would, and he'll make a decision in the next 10 days as to whether exploratory surgery is needed. If you haven't already removed him from your draft board, you should.

• The A's traded Matt Murton to the Rockies for second-base prospect Corey Wimberly. Murton can hit for average and post a decent OBP, but he hit a grand total of three homers last season. He faces a very crowded outfield picture in Colorado, and it's entirely possible he'll spend the entire season at Triple-A trying to prove himself again. If he does play some time in the big leagues, he likely won't last very long. The 25-year-old Wimberly is a minor league speed merchant who stole 59 bases repeating Double-A last season, with almost as many walks as strikeouts but no power. There's definitely steals upside in a Rajai Davis-fashion if he gets some playing time because of injuries, although his rough glove at second will work against him.

Jason Grey is a graduate of the MLB Scouting Bureau's Scout Development Program and has won two Tout Wars titles, one LABR title and numerous other national "experts" competitions.