Fantasy Sports News
Update: The Kansas City Star is reporting that the Royals have re-signed Victor Marte to a minor league deal.
Fantasy Impact: Marte piched just 12 innings last year in the big leagues, and will most likely do the same again this year.
Update: The St. Louis Cardinals avoided arbitration with 2B Skip Schumaker Monday night with a 2 year, $4.75 million deal. Schumaker played 135 games at 2B last year in his first season as a converted infielder.
Fantasy Impact: Schumaker batted .303 last year with 85 runs. One would imagine most of his time, especially in Spring Training, was spent on his fielding. With only 2 steals last year, Schumaker does not offer great fantasy value. However, in a large league, he could be a decent second base option.
Update: Mariners pitcher Cliff Lee has undergone what is said to be a minor surgery to remove a loose bone spur in his left foot,according to Ryan Divish of the Tacoma News-Tribune.Initial reports say he will be able to start baseball related activities within two to three weeks and he should be fine by Opening Day.
Fantasy Impact:Everyone noticed Lee during and after his amazing 22-3 season in 2008, but anyone paying close attention knew about the Quiet One already in fantasy circles.Lee has 4 quality pitches that he can throw at anytime and his control is among the best, but because he is always around the plate he gives up more hits than you might think. Not a problem, because Lee knows how to pitch.The word is out on Lee and don't expect him to last much farther than the 6th through 8th rounds of regular drafts.
Update: According to Jon Heyman, the Yankees have signed OF Marcus Thames to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training.
Fantasy Impact: Marcus Thames has been a solid force of home runs throughout his career. From 2006 to 2008, Thames averaged 23 home runs a year. In 2009, he only had 13 with a .252 batting average. Marcus Thames could make the Yankees and provide some pop off the bench, but he should not be considered in any fantasy league.
Update:Even though young Alcides Escobar only played in 38 games as a rookie last season, G.M. Doug Melvin had seen enough to know that he was going to be the Brewers everyday shortstop for 2010, so goodbye J.J. Hardy. Escobar has gone from an offensive liability in his minor league days, to a hitter that will slot well into the number two hole. He puts the ball in play and he he is growing into his speed.
Fantasy Impact: Escobar will probably win some Gold Gloves before his career is over, and at one time it was thought that might be the highlight of his game. But he has progressed well enough to think that he may be a solid .300 hitter with some speed. 25-30 SB's are probably what to expect from him, but don't expect much power.In the 2 slot he could be a nice run scoring option also with the Brewers. Escobar can probably be had in the later rounds of regualr drafts and he is a nice example of a low cost, high reward type of player.
Update:Let's take a closer look at some of the younger breakout stars that may (or may not) help many fantasy teams this year.Elvis Andrus, SS Texas Rangers.The 21 year-old is positioned nicely for a breakout season for many reasons.He has a full season under his belt. He put up good numbers as a 20 year-old.He is in no jeopardy to lose his starting spot if he should slump so he will be able to play through the slump and learn.He plays for a veteran team that will take much of the pressure off of him.
Fantasy Impact: Andrus had a respectable rookie year in 2009. He will probably hit second in the rangers lineup and that should reward his speed and run scoring abilities. With the inevitable sophomore slump waiting out there, he has shown the temperament to play through it and come out nicely. Andrus could be a nice 40+ SB player to go along with a .280 average and 80+ R's.On draft day Andrus should be available around the 10th round in regualr drafts.
Update: Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman reports via Twitter that the New York Yankees have signed OF Marcus Thames to a minor-league contract with a base salary of $900,000 if he makes the 25-man roster. The reigning World Champs have also finalized a one-year, $1.1 million deal with OF Randy Winn. Performance bonuses based on number of at-bats versus lefty pitchers could push Winn's salary up to $2 million next season.
Fantasy Impact: The turnover in the Yankees' outfield has been pretty stunning this offseason. World Series MVP Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon, and Xavier Nady (who was injured last season) were all lost to free agency, and Melky Cabrera was traded to the Atlanta Braves in the deal that brought Javier Vazquez back to the Bronx. The 35-year-old Winn will compete with Brett Gardner for that starting spot in left field. Meanwhile, if he makes the big league club, Thames' versatility - he can play left field, right field, first base, or DH - could help him see some playing time. His biggest role will probably be as a pinch hitter, though. Neither Winn (who hit .262 with 2 HR in 149 games last season) nor Thames is a viable fantasy option for 2010.
Update: The St. Louis Cardinals have decided to let their internal options compete for the 5th spot in their rotation, led by Carpenter, Wainwright, Penny and Lohse. McClellan, who throws 4 different pitches, is only 25 and has been closely watched by Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan. He is expected to compete with Mitch Boggs and Jaime Garcia for the last spot in that rotation. He has worked hard this winter, losing 13 pounds as he works on becoming more durable.
Fantasy Impact: In two major league seasons, McClellan has a 3.73 ERA in 142.1 IP. Primarily used to set up closer Ryan Franklin last year, he posted an impressive .229 BAA. If anyone could make him a good starter, it is Dave Duncan. If you are looking for a nice waiver pickup later, McClellan or whoever wins the 5th spot could be your man. Every year, there seems to be one SP on the Cardinals who exceeds expectations (Pineiro in 09, Lohse in 08), so perhaps McClellan is the man in 2010.
Update: The New York Yankees will begin their quest to repeat as World Champions on February 17, the first day pitchers and catchers are eligible to report for duty. Eleven other teams will also be starting up on the 17th.
Fantasy Impact: Now that the Super Bowl has ended and the 2009-10 NFL season has come to a close, the spotlight finally turns back to America's pastime. After a long winter hibernation, teams and fans are ready to head back to the ballpark. Every team has questions and concerns, but hope springs eternal this time of year. All 30 teams are in first place right now, and each can dream of holding the Commissioner's Trophy this November. Will we see a magical run like the Rays in '08? Will the Phillies remain the cream of the crop in the National League? Will the Yankees repeat as World Series champs? All these questions (and many, many more) will be answered in the coming months. The passion, the drama, the blood, sweat, and tears... it all starts in just nine short days. It's gonna be one heck of a ride.
Update:Manager Dave Trembley is pretty sure he knows who the first 4 starting pitchers will be in his rotation in 2010, but he isn't ready to give the 5th spot to Orioles hot-shot prospect Chriss Tillman quite yet. Trembley told Roch Kubatko of MASN.com,"I think there will be competition for a spot at the backend of the rotation. I think that's only fair."I think you have to be fair to (Jason) Berken and (David) Hernandez and give them a real good look."
Fantasy Impact:Tillman has ace potential, but first he needs to harness his control. That should come as he gets more experience.He will probably be available on most waiver wires this spring.Berken is almost the complete opposite of Tillman, more along the lines of a Roy Oswalt type of pitcher. He understands the game and how and when to use his pitches. He should also be availble on waiver wires. Hernandez could end up a back of the bullpen type of pitcher one day. For now though he will probably be in the bullpen or the minors.
Update: A National Legaue coach thinks that Troy Glaus could hit 30 to 40 home runs in Atlanta's Turner Field if he gets 500 at-bats. Citing the weather and the ballpark, the coach said,“If he gets 500 at-bats, he’s going to hit the ball out 30 or 40 times. In that ballpark, when it warms up, he’ll be fine. He does go into slumps, and you have to accommodate that.’’Glaus is moving to first base with the Braves after playing most of his career at third.
Fantasy Impact:Glaus is a 33 year-old converted third baseman coming off shoulder surgery that cost him almost all of 2009. In fantasy terms Glaus could give you 30 or more HR's and possibly 90 RBI, but he won't likely help you much with average. Plus, his health concerns make him a swing away from the DL or extended bench time. He may have dual eligibility in some leagues and that would add to his value.Glaus could be a nice reward for a manager who takes him in the late rounds.
Update: At least not from the Boston Red Sox. That's what Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe speculates. When Beckett becomes a free agent at the end of the 2010 season, Cafardo believes the Red Sox will try to re-sign their big right-hander, but only at a reduced level because of his previous rotator cuff problems. The Sox believe from a medical standpoint that it is easier to return to full strength after Tommy John surgery than it is from shoulder surgery and had provisions put into Lackey's contract in case of TJ surgery. They would seek the same provisions with Beckett, only with his shoulder.
Fantasy Impact:Beckett is a complete pitcher. He has excellent control and can paint the corners of the plate. He has learned to use his fastballs and big curve to his advantage as he has matured as a pitcher. In fantasy he will generally give you a sub 4 ERA with big K numbers and a nice WHIP. With the Red Sox you can generally assume he can also give you 15+ wins. As long as Beckett has his health he can be viewed as a top 20 pitcher in regular drafts. Target him around numbers 14 through 18 when it comes to starting pitchers.
Update:Brian Giles, a San Diego native as well as now a former San Diego Padre, has signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.After making $9M in 2009 Giles signed a deal that will pay him a base salary of $550K for '10 with another $200K in incentives. He will go to Glendale,Az with the Dodgers with the hope of making the club as a fifth outfielder or as a pinch hitting specialist. If he doesn't make the club out of spring he can ask the Dodgers to release him.
Fantasy Impact: There is no fantasy value left in Brian Giles.Ignore him in all drafts.
Update: Jarrod Washburn has "stayed in constant contact" with Seattle pitching coach Rick Adair this winter, and speculation is growing that the M's might try to bring him back.
Fantasy Impact: The Mariners just signed Bedard, but he won't even be an option until July. Washburn posted a 2.64 ERA for the M's last season before being dealt to Detroit.
Update: Free agent pitcher Todd Wellemeyer will likely sign with a team in the next few days, and he told a St. Louis radio station that he's likely signing with the New York Mets, Colorado Rockies and San Francisco Giants.
Fantasy Impact: Wellemeyer could be used as a starter or a reliever. He was hoping to return to the Cardinals, but they did not show any interest in bringing him back.
Update: Yusmeiro Petit, the once highly-touted gem of the Mets' farm system, has been released by the Mariners.
Fantasy Impact: He has a career ERA of 5.57 and has given up 251 hits in 229.2 IP. His 1.95 HR/9 IP is the worst in baseball history. If you are looking for a solid starter in fantasy baseball this year, there are definitely some on that Seattle roster. However, Petit has been a bust in his career.
Update: The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired 26 year old LHP Dana Eveland from the Athletics for a player to be named later. Eveland was DFA'd shortly after the Athletics acquired Rosales from the Reds.
Fantasy Impact: Eveland had a record of 9-9 in 2008 with a decent 4.34 ERA. However, he failed to perform at that level last year as he posted an ERA above 7. Eveland will have a chance to crack that rotation in Toronto, but he should not be considered in any fantasy league.
Update: Cubs manager Lou Pinella had a talk with two of his players at the end of the 2009 season and asked them both to lose some weight and come to spring traing in better shape. Catcher Geovany Soto has already shown he has done what was asked, and now P Carlos Zambrano has shown up in Chicago and the results are exactly what Pinella was hoping to see. Pinella told Big Z,"...we need for you to step up and give us 200-plus innings. We need for you to win 18-20 ballgames...to do that, you have to get yourself in better shape" Pinella then said of Zambrano,"He looks absolutely wonderful, and I think you'll see a heck of a better performance from him just because of that."
Fantasy Impact:Zambrano had a big fall in 2009 and because of that he could be had with a later round pick. Z could be a nice high reward pick if you consider what you could get from him. 15+ wins, 175+ K's,an ERa around 3.50. His WHIP is a little higher than you want it because of his walks, but a lot of that is when he loses concentration and gets mad on the mound. If he can control that part of his game.....Zambrano looks to go around rounds 13 through 16 in regular drafts.
Update:Twenty year-old rookie left-hander Madison Bumgarner was told on Friday by manager Bruce Bochy that he goes into spring trainingas the teams number 5 starter.Bumgarner was a late season call-up for the Giants last season and started one game. He is considered the Giants top prospect.
Fantasy Impact: That's two young 20 year olds that have basically been told the position is yours to lose today. (Jason Heyward being the other)Bumgarner has all the pitches needed to succeed at the major league level already. All he needs now is experience. Once he gets to know the league and it's hitters he could eventually give the Giants the best 1-2 combo in baseball. He's that good. Late rounds in regular drafts and snag him while you can in kepper leagues.
Update: Unfortunately for Johnny Damon, while his stock is still high, so is his asking price. One unnamed A.L. executive spoke with Steve Kornacki of MLive.com and told him,“Sometimes, we ask for too much.Then, the smoke clears...I can’t believe anybody is going to offer Damon more than the $14 million and $6 million the Yankees did.If you turn them down for that, you deserve one year for $3 million..." At this rate and this close to spring training the best Damon may be able to hope for is an incentive laden contract.
Fantasy Impact: Seems like everyday there is a note on Damon. Nothing is going to change as far as Damon's fantasy value is concerned, no matter where he plays,OK, maybe a little hit if he plays in Oakland. Otherwise Damon is best looked at as a 11th to 15th round selection in regular leagues.
Update:Atlanta Braves manager is willing to let rookie phenom Jason Heyward get every opportunity to win the right-field job this spring. Cox told David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution,"He’s virtually skipping Triple-A if he makes the team.”That doesn’t happen often. But in his case we just feel that he should, if he’s going to come to spring training, be given a crack at it.” Heyward is 20 year-old and has only 173 AB's above A ball, but he has hammered everywhere he has played.Heyward is generally considered the top prospect in baseball heading into the 2010 season.
Fantasy Impact:Start the hype machine. I'm not going to sit here and tell you to use an early round pick on Heyward, but if you play in a keeper league you better be ready to pay the price. At 6'4" and 245 lbs., Heyward has the look, but better yet he has shown the tools needed to be "the next big thing".In regular leagues you should be able to nab him with a late-round pick.
Update:This coming Tuesday will be the next big step in P Brandon Webbs recovery and return from surgery on his right (throwing) surgery in August. Webb opened the 2009 season for the D'Back's and went 4 innings on Opening Day before leaving and did not return the rest of the year. If all goes well on Tuesday Webb hopes to be ready in time for spring training. The 31 year-old Webb won 22 games in '08 and hopes to return to his status as Arizona's ace in '10, along with Dan Haren.
Fantasy Impact:Webb doesn't even show up on many of the pre-season draft lists for the 2010 season. If he does return to form then you can only hope that many of your league mates are as clueless as some of the draft lists. Assuming Webb is healthy for the majority of the season you could expect 13-16 wins with a sub-3.50 ERA and a stellar WHIP. Webb is the perfect example of a huge reward draft pick going into 2010.
Update: The Arizona Diamondbacks would like to lock up third baseman Mark Reynolds for the next 2 or 3 years and have contacted his agent to try and begin negotiations regarding a contract.Reynolds missed out on being a Super Two eligible player by three days and because of that was not able to go to arbitration this winter and will make just over the league minimum this coming year.Reynolds hit 44 HR's in 2009, while breaking the century mark in RBI for the first time.He also set the single-season mark for K's by taking or swinging at strike three 223 times.
Fantasy Impact:With Reynolds you are going to get 4 out of 5 offensive categories. You will be able to fill in average at another position. Reynolds will probably be targeted starting around pick 15 to 20 in most leagues but could hang around until the mid-third round in regular leagues.
Update: Yorvit Torrealba has signed a one-year deal with the San Diego Padres that will bring him $1.5M in 2010. The two sides hold an option for 2011 that would pay Torrealba $3.5M. There had been reports earlier this winter that Yorvit was hoping for an offer from the N.Y. Mets and he had also turned down a 2 year deal with the Colorado Rockies that was worth $4.5M.Nick Hundley goes into spring as the Padres number one catcher.
Fantasy Impact: Torrealba has very little fantasy value, especially as a back-up. If Hundley goes down with an injury then Torrealba would hold some minimal N.L. only fantasy value.
Update: Erik Bedard has said to Marc Brassard of Le Droit that he is going to return to Seattle. The deal is said to be worth $1.5 million with potentially $6 million in incentives.
Fantasy Impact: The Mariners already added one big arm this offseason in Cliff Lee while locking up Hernandez long-term. Bedard should be brought back gradually into the rotation as the Mariners already have some good young gunslingers to fill that rotation. Last year, in 15 games, he posted a 2.82 ERA. The 30-year old Canadian has not been able to stay healthy though, only pitching in 30 games the past two years. Bedard, with his 3.71 career ERA, can always have a big fantasy impact if he does stay healthy.
Update: Bill Ladson of MLB.com reports that the Washington Nationals have signed second baseman Adam Kennedy. Terms of the contract are not yet known.
Fantasy Impact: After losing out to the Minnesota Twins on 2B Orlando Hudson, the Nationals wasted little time searching for someone to fill their need at second base, agreeing to terms with Kennedy just hours after news of the Hudson deal became official. Washington certainly could have done worse than the 34-year-old Kennedy, who had a resurgent year for the Oakland Athletics in 2009, hitting .289 with 11 HR and 20 SB after only playing in 202 games in 2007 and 2008 combined. The move likely means that Christian Guzman will remain at SS for the Nats this year, while Washington's No. 4 overall prospect (according to BaseballAmerica.com) Ian Desmond will start the year in the minor leagues. Considering how hapless Washington's lineup is, Kennedy is best left on the waiver wire in most leagues. He might be worth a bench spot in NL-only formats, though.
Update: ESPN's Buster Olney reports that 2B Orlando Hudson has agreed to a one-year, $5 million contract with the Minnesota Twins.
Fantasy Impact: This is a great signing by Minnesota. Hudson, a two-time All-Star, was viewed by many as the best free agent still on the market. He will bring consistency and versatility at the plate, and he should slide right into the No. 2 slot in an already-potent Twins' lineup (between OF Denard Span and C Joe Mauer). Hudson is among the best defensive second basemen in baseball (four Gold Gloves), and he should also be a veteran leader and strong clubhouse presence for the team. This move certainly makes Minnesota favorites to repeat as AL Central Champs this year. Hudson is an underrated fantasy performer, and hitting in front of the likes of Mauer and 1B Justin Morneau should lead to increased production this season. The 2B pool is desperately thin this year, so he would be a solid lower-tier starter or a great backup option.
Update: According to ESPNLosAngeles.com, the Minnesota Twins have finalized a one-year, $1.5 million deal with 1B/DH Jim Thome and added him to their 40-man roster.
Fantasy Impact: Thome is expected to be used primarily as a pinch hitter for Minnesota, but he'll see some starts at DH against right-handed pitchers, as well as the opportunity to occasionally spell Justin Morneau at 1B. He hit .249 with 23 HR and 74 RBI in 107 games for the Chicago White Sox last season before getting traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he was relegated to a pinch hitting role. At 39, Thome is certainly on the downside of his career. He can still mash, though, as evidenced by his 15 seasons with 20+ home runs. His 564 career homers rank 12th all-time. He should be a valuable asset for the reigning AL Central Champs, and it wouldn't be all that surprising to see him grab the full-time DH job in Minnesota before the year is over. His addition has fantasy implications not only for himself, but also for Twins' OF Delmon Young and DH Jason Kubel. If Thome wins the DH job, it would probably mean that Kubel would have to move from DH to the outfield, and it would most likely force Young out of the lineup completely. Kubel's numbers shouldn't be affected too much, but be wary of Young. Currently, Thome's fantasy value is minimal. Considering his consistency when used as an everyday DH, though, he's worth a waiver-wire pickup and a spot on your bench.
Update: The Associated Press is reporting that the Seattle Mariners first baseman has avoided arbitration and reached a one-year 3.5 million dollar deal Wednesday night. The Mariners announced the deal for the 26-year-old first baseman less than a month after they acquired him from the Boston Red Sox for outfielder Bill Hall. Kotchman has not made an error in his last 185 games and 1,584 chances. This is will build upon one of the best fielding teams in the league as the Mariners were 2nd in defensive efficiency last year.
Fantasy Impact: Kotchman has never been the offensive threat that many thought he would be coming into the league. A 26-year-old journeyman, already on his 4th major league team, has never posted more than 14 home runs or 75 RBI's in a single season. The only upside I can think of is that he wants to get a long-term contract and with the starting nod in Seattle he has something to prove. I would still not draft him and watch him as a sleeper in 2010. He could be a viable back-up if he finds his power surge.
Update: There have been some reports that Eric Bedard has received a one year contract offer from the Seattle Mariners for the 2010 season that has a base salary of $1.5M and would be loaded with incentives. Bedard told Larry LaRue of the Tacoma News Tribune,"I'd love to be back in Seattle."Bedard is continuing his throwing program after elbow surgery in August and thinks he could be good to go come May.He went on to say,"I don't want to make that firm, it could be a few weeks later, and if I say May and it's June 1, I don't want people thinking there's been a setback."
Fantasy Impact:Bedard would slide down to the number 3 or 4 spot in the M's rotation and who knows, maybe that would help him.But until he proves he is right there is no need to rush to draft him. If you have the space and patience he could be worth a very late round selection, otherwise let him come back first. There shouldn't be a big rush to grab him this spring.
Update: Carlos Marmol has become the penultimate Chicago Cub to sign this winter as he and the Cubs have agreed to a one year deal worth $2.125M. SS Ryan Theriot now becomes the last Cub to agree to a contract and the feeling is that he and the team will head to arbitration because of the big difference in offers.Marmol became the Cubs full-time closer last August and was effective. However, up to that point of the season Marmol was not having a good season as he fought control problems all season long.
Fantasy Impact:Marmol goes in 2010 knowing his role for the Cubs and hopefully that will help. Hoiwever, until he has shown that his control problems of last year are behind him, it is probably wise to not invest to heavily in him. He is a good source of bullpen K's and has the potential to be a 35 save guy. Target him in regular leagues anywhere after the 15th round or so.
Update: Bill Ladson of MLB.com tweets that the Twins are close to an agreement with 2B Orlando Hudson.
Fantasy Impact: More to come later if this deal does in fact go down. Orlando Hudson has always been a servicable fantasy option with his 2B status and he should continue to be in Minnesota. The question is more of who sits if Hudson starts.
Update: Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post Dispatch reports that the St. Louis Cardinals and 1B Albert Pujols are currently negotiating a contract extension for the three-time National League MVP.
Fantasy Impact: There are good players, there are great players, and then there is Albert Pujols. He's the best player in baseball, and it's not really all that close. The man is nothing short of a machine. In his worst statistical season as a pro, he hit .327, with 32 HR, 103 RBI, and 99 Runs Scored. Are you kidding me? In 9 seasons with the Cards, he's never hit below .314, and he has had at least 32 HRs and 103 RBI every season. He has even stolen 16 bases in a season... twice. Again, are you kidding me? Needless to say, if St. Louis doesn't lock him up (which would probably require the most lucrative contract in baseball history), it would be a judgment error of near-Ruthian proportions (ask Red Sox fans how that one worked out...), and the entire city of St. Louis might revolt against the Cards' front office. Pujols has said that he will not negotiate during the season, so there's a good chance a deal will be hammered out in the next month or so. Expect a deal of around 8-10 years at a rate of about $30 million per year. If its consummated, Pujols should lead the Cardinals to at least one or two more World Series titles before he hangs up his cleats. He will be the first pick in most fantasy drafts this year, with Hanley Ramirez (due to a weak SS pool) being the only other legitimate option to go first overall. Pujols should never slide past the No. 2 slot, though.
Update: Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that Oakland Athletics 1B Nomar Garciaparra is "widely expected" to retire.
Fantasy Impact: Garciaparra was once the face of the Boston Red Sox franchise, as well as one of the most promising young players of a generation. A unanimous selection for the AL Rookie of the Year award in 1997, Garciaparra (along with Yankees SS Derek Jeter and then-Mariners SS Alex Rodriguez) was expected to transform the shortstop position, while also being the savior that led Boston to the promised land after an 86 year World Series drought. After living up to the hype for a number of years in Boston and establishing himself as one of the best pure hitters in recent memory (evidenced by his winning back-to-back batting titles in 1999 and 2000), Garciaparra's body seemed to crumble under the overwhelming expectations, with injuries derailing the superstar's career. The rest is history: Jeter and Rodriguez have gone on to lead Hall of Fame-caliber careers, the Red Sox went on to win two World Series' titles after trading him away, and he remains almost 1,300 hits shy of 3,000 on his career (which once seemed utterly implausible). He's one of the genuinely good guys in baseball and he's adored by legions of fans. Even though his career won't land him in Cooperstown, he will be sorely missed by baseball fans all around the country.
Update: The Associated Press reports that the Detroit Tigers and SP Justin Verlander have come to terms on a 5-year, $80 million deal.
Fantasy Impact: After struggling in 2008, Verlander was a revelation in 2009, regaining the dominance he displayed in his first two full seasons with the Tigers. His deal is slightly more lucrative than what fellow ace SP Felix Hernandez received from the Seattle Mariners (5 years, $78 million) earlier this offseason. Verlander is the unquestioned ace of the Tigers' staff, as well as one of the most overpowering pitchers in all of baseball. If he can come anywhere close to matching his stat-line from last season (240 IP, 19 Wins, 3.45 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 269 K), he'll lead many a team to the fantasy promised land. At only 26 years old, Verlander should be a dominating presence on the mound for years to come. He's a No. 1 starter in all fantasy formats, and he'll be selected in the top 5 rounds in almost all fantasy drafts.
Update: The Los Angeles Dodgers have officially announced the signing of super-utility player Alfredo Amezaga to a minor league deal that can be worth up to $$1.450M with incentives. Amezaga has great versatility in that he has played all positions on the field except pitcher and catcher.With the addition of Jamey Carroll and Reed Johnson, as well as holdover Blake DeWitt, the Dodgers are setting themselves up to have a very versatile bench.
Fantasy Impact: Except for the occasional stolen base, Amezaga holds no fantasy value at all.
Update: In news that could be filed under "Not what Padre fans want to hear" regarding 1B Adrian Gonzalez,Padre CEO Jeff Moorad told Tim Sullivan of the San Diego Union-Tribune,"While I’d be thrilled to have him (Gonzalez) part of the organization for the long term, the early signals indicate his cost will be greater than our ability to pay.” Gonzo's agent John Boggs then went on to say,“I don’t ever want to speak for ownership because I have no knowledge of what they have and what they don’t,(but) the feeling we’re getting is more than likely (the Padres) are going to have to trade Adrian Gonzalez because (they) can’t afford him.” Gonzalez is under contract to the Padres through 2011.
Fantasy Impact:Want 35HR's? 100+ RBI? 100 R"s? A player just reaching his prime? Say hello to Adrian Gonzalez. He is no longer just san Diego's well kept secret.After the Big 5 first baseman are off the board you could make the argument that Gonzalez should be the next to go. In regular drafts he is easily targeted by the 3rd round.
Update:After undergoing shoulder surgery last February and then missing the entire 2009 campaign, Boof Bonser may be ready to claim the last spot in the Boston Red Sox bullpen. G. M. Theo Epstein had this to say about Bonser,. "He had significant surgery, but he checked out really well during our physical, and we’re excited to see him in the spring." He has had some experience coming out of the bullpen when he was with the Minnesota Twins.Daniel Barbarisi of the Providence Journal has a nice breakdown on all the candidates in this article.
Fantasy Impact: There is no way in any kind of good conscience that I can even begin to recommend Bonser in any format. Let's see if Epsteins words are true or are just the words of a G.M hoping to bolster a players confidence.
Update:According to the San Diego North County Times, Brian Giles agent Joe Bick say's that there are 8-10 teams interested in his client and that they should have a deal done sometime this week.Giles' season ended last year on June 18th when he re-injured his right knee sliding into second.Bick told the Times,"There are still a lot of guys on the market that are veteran proven guys that are coming off fine seasons, that are healthy and without any significant concerns over their health. ... But Brian is healthy, and hopefully by the end of the week we'll have something in place."
Fantasy Impact:It almost goes without saying that Giles will most likely have to accept a minor-league deal and then prove himself healthy and still bale to hit and field before he will get the chance to play in the majors again. As far as fantasy value is concerned, Giles has none.
Update:Dodgers manager Joe Torre has potential new "rules" for not only Manny Ramirez, but 3B Casey Blake this coming year. Torre has said that he will try and give his veteran players more time off this coming year, especially Blake and Ramirez.Such things as night games followed by day games would probably see Manny sit.Ramirez complained last year that his legs were giving out on him from playing the outfield. Torre, being as diplomatic as ever, said,"Last year, missing 50 games [to a drug suspension], his(Ramirez) biggest problem was having trouble recovering from coming back in cold."
Fantasy Impact:Without getting into the suspension side of Ramirez, it was hard not to watch him last year, especially in the playoffs,and see him miss fastballs that he once destroyed,even when he knew they were coming.It's not time to write Ramirez off but his production is slowly beginning to taper.Manny is still worthy of a draft pick in regular leagues somewhere between rounds 5-9.
Update: Actually, it's the Giants and Lincecum's agent,Rick Thurman who disagree. Thurman told Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury-News that he expects an arbitration hearing to take place., "I think that's the direction (a hearing) they've wanted this to go from Day 1 simply because there's been little or no discussions with regards to a contract."Giants V.P. Bobby Evans responded,"I respectfully disagree, and I'll leave it at that." Lincecum has asked for a record $13M for one year, while the Giants countered with an $8M offer.No date has been reported yet for the hearing.
Fantasy Impact:Fantasy-wise it makes no difference what Lincecum brings home. Lincecum will probably be the first pitcher taken in 100% of all leagues and he deserves to go within the first 15 picks in regular drafts.There are a few no-brainers in the game of fantasy, and this is one of them.
Update: It sounds as if we have heard the last of the "Joba rules", and that is fine as far as the husky right-hander is concerned.Chamberlain told Bryan Hoch of MLB.com,"...you definitely get frustrated at times...I have the utmost respect for them for taking that time and going through the good and the bad with me."Joba has been told that he will go into camp battling with Phil Hughes,Alfredo Aceves, Chad Gaudin and Sergio Mitre for the fifth slot in the Yankee rotation.The loser of the battle between Hughes and Chamberlain will most likely be Mariano Rivera's set-up man for 2010.
Fantasy Impact:2009 was Chamberlains first real test as a starter and things could have gone better. However, he was working under the "rules" the entire year and it certainly affected his mentality on the mound. With the added experience and the subtraction of the rules,we should see a different pitcher this year.Target Chamberlain around the 20th round or later in regular drafts as a starting pitcher. If you play in a league that uses relievers Joba could be a valuable asset if he ends up in the bullpen.
Update: If Johnny Damon(read Scott Boras)was hoping his attempts to lure the Detroit Tigers into a deal by saying he wanted to play in Detroit, he may need to try a little harder, and perhaps a little less public.Days after Boras told the media that his client wanted to play in the Motor City, G.M Dave Dombrowski told the Detroit News,"We're not close to making any kind of deals at this point."Damon,for his part,told WFAN radio on Friday that he thought he could still find a two-year deal out there "...if creativity is involved."
Fantasy Impact: There is no question the Tigers could use Damon. He would be the ideal lead-off or number two hitter for them so that the Tigers wouldn't have to go 1-2 with rookies at the top of the order.He hits as well at Comerica Park as he does at any park, and he probably has a huge chip on his shoulder at this point.Damon still looks to be a 12th-15th round pick.
Update: Very quietly Padres G.M. Jed Hoyer is having a solid beginning to his time in San Diego and he may be about to add another solid chip to his stack. Catcher Yorvit Torrealba seems set to accept the Padres one-year offer to join the team and back-up C Nick Hundley. Torrealba doesn't have the numbers that suggest his true value, but he has been on of the Colorado Rockies best hitters with runners in scoring position.There have been some reports that Torrealba was hoping to get the Mets involved in a bit of a bidding war for his services, but apparently the Mets don't have the cash to do so or they may not be that interested.
Fantasy Impact: There is little to no fantasy value in this signing, unless Hundley goes down with an injury and Torrealba gets full-time AB's, then he could be considered a low-end N.L. only option.
Update: According to the Associated Press, the San Diego Padres and OF Scott Hairston have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.45 million deal.
Fantasy Impact: Hairston quietly had 17 HR, 64 RBI, and 11 SB in 116 games last season, splitting time in Oakland and San Diego. San Diego is young and inexperienced in the outfield (Hairston is the oldest at 29), so he has an opportunity to garner a lot of playing time. One would expect that Hairston, Tony Gwynn, and Chase Headley would be the favorites for the three outfield jobs in San Diego, but the likes of Kyle Blanks (10 HR in under 150 AB last season) and Will Venable (.256 BA in 95 games) should cut into his playing time substantially. He's probably a very late-round pick or waiver-wire pickup in standard leagues, but he's worth a hard look in the later rounds in NL-only leagues.
Update: Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports reports from his Twitter page that the Los Angeles Dodgers and pitcher Jeff Weaver have come to terms on a minor-league deal.
Fantasy Impact: Weaver pitched in 28 games for the Dodgers last season, starting seven of them. In 79 innings of work, he posted a 6-4 record and a very respectable 3.65 ERA. Although unheralded, he was effective for LA last season and played an important role in the team's success. He has been plagued by inconsistency throughout his career, but he should be a valuable arm in the Dodgers' bullpen. Look for him to pitch primarily in long relief, with the potential for the occasional spot start. He should not be drafted in any fantasy formats.
Update: The New York Post is reporting that New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes is running at full speed and feels great.
Fantasy Impact: Reyes, who appeared in only 36 games last season, showed off the progress he has made by running 10-yard and 90-yard sprints at full speed with no pain. "Everything's perfect," Reyes said. "I'll be ready in 2010. Be there, it's going to be a show." This obviously has huge fantasy implications for many people's upcoming drafts. Jose Reyes is a pivotal part of the New York Mets offense. If he is 100% healthy, he should be stealing 50+ bases and hitting at least 10+ triples in CITI Field. Since he had the worst year of his career last year, look for Reyes to drop into the second round. I suggest that if you have a late pick in the first round, you should be able to snag this star shortstop on your wrap-around pick.
Update: Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury reports that veteran SS Rich Aurilia is hoping to play for either the New York Yankees or New York Mets this season.
Fantasy Impact: Aurilia, the long-time San Francisco Giant, has led an impressive 15-year career. At 38, he thinks he still has one good year left in him. A native of Brooklyn, it makes sense that he wants to finish his career close to home. Obviously, Derek Jeter and Jose Reyes are firmly entrenched at SS for the two New York teams, but Aurilia's experience all around the infielder could make him a valuable addition to either club. He is seeking a minor-league contract, hoping to be given a shot to make a roster in the spring. Aurilia played sparingly last season, registering a disappointing .213 BA in only 122 at-bats. He had as many trips to the disabled list as home runs (2), of which he says, "regardless of what the transactions say, I was healthy." If he signs with either team, it would be a feel-good story and a nice ending to Aurilia's career; however, it would take a near-historic run of injuries (see: 2009 Mets) to make Aurilia relevant in fantasy circles.
Update: MLB.com’s Bill Ladson is reporting that the Washington Nationals have extended a one-year, $3 million offer to 2B Orlando Hudson. Incentives in the contract could push the total salary closer to $4 million.
Fantasy Impact: According to Ladson, Hudson wants to play for the Nats. However, he also wants a salary at least equal to the $7 million he made last season with the Dodgers. Washington players – most notably 3B Ryan Zimmerman and C Ivan Rodriguez – have been vocal about their desire to have him on the team, so a deal should happen eventually. Hudson is a professional in all respects: a consistent presence at the top of the lineup, a virtuoso in the field (he won his 4th Gold Glove in 2009), and a leader in the clubhouse. He'd be a huge asset to the young Nationals, and his presence would certainly be beneficial to the fantasy value of Zimmerman and 1B Adam Dunn. Expect Hudson’s stat-line in 2010 to be somewhere in the neighborhood of: .280 BA, 10 HR, 60 RBI, 75 Runs, and 10 SB. He won’t be leading you to any fantasy titles, but he’s a solid option as a backup or situational play.
Update: Bryce Harper made his long awaited college debut this past weekend in Henderson, Nevada for the College of Southern Nevada and generally got good reviews.In 4 games played over the weekend, Harper went 3 for 15 with a single,double, a home run, a stolen base, and an improbable RBI sac fly on a 3-0 count while the other team was trying to intentionally walk him.He showed his versatility by playing at catcher,third,and center-field. Harper is expected to play just one season at CSN before making himself available to the Major League draft, where he is expected to be the first player chosen.
Fantasy Impact: If you follow baseball at all you have heard of young Harper. He graduated high school 2 years early so that he could begin his quest for his dream, major league baseball player.If he does go first, and if the Washington Nationals have the first pick, we could see a battery of Stephen Strasburg and Harper in the majors one day.There's loads of hype associated with Harper, but if it's real you will want to be in line to grab him in any keeper leagues you play in.....soon.
