Texas Rangers OF David Murphy out two to four weeks

August 7, 2008 @ 06:24:22

By Ryan Dodson
Edited by Tim Heaney

The Associated Press reports Texas Rangers outfielder David Murphy (knee) will miss two to four weeks with a strained right knee ligament. He sustained the injury in a collision at home plate with New York Yankees catcher Ivan Rodriguez (knee) Wednesday, Aug. 6. He will have an MRI on the knee Thursday, Aug. 7.

Murphy is having a solid year in his first full season with a .275 average, 15 homers and 74 RBIs. Outfielder Milton Bradley (quadriceps) has appeared once in the eight straight games as a pinch hitter, which compounds the absence of Murphy. Bradley is hoping to return this weekend. Bradley is hitting .320 with 19 homers and 60 RBIs.

Manager Ron Washington said the team is expected to call up an outfielder Aug. 7. Triple-A Oklahoma outfielder Nelson R. Cruz (.344-37-98 this season) would have been the likely replacement, but he strained his quadriceps last week and is expected to be out until September.

Outfielders Marlon Byrd and Brandon Boggs could see extended playing time. Byrd, who is hitting .260 with seven homers and 27 RBIs this year, has been in the lineup with Bradley injured. He's 7-for-21 with a homer and five RBIs in August; this latest injury could keep him in the lineup even when Bradley returns.

Boggs is hitting .244 with five homers and 30 RBIs. He has struck out 63 times in 205 at-bats, though. Boggs' fantasy value is minimal in AL-only leagues and null in mixed leagues.

For now, place Murphy on your bench or disabled list when Texas makes the roster move. He could be dropped in shallow mixed setups if the owner doesn't have DL space.

Byrd and Boggs are safer as AL-only plays, but if Byrd continues his steady hitting, he could have some upside for deep mixed leagues.

KFFLians are saying....

Comment

 

---

What do you think? We want to hear from you!

Name: E-mail: Please, enter the number that you see

Comment Guidelines

Ryan Dodson

Dodson is a KFFL Contributor and has been with KFFL since 2002.

Talk Sports 24/7!
KFFL Sports Forums: Over 24,000 strong and growing!

One Day FREE Fantasy Contest - $350 in cash prizes (05/25)
Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market: John Danks placed on DL (05/24)
Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market: The substandard Roy Halladay (05/24)
Fantasy Baseball Player Prospecting: Danny Hultzen, Roger Kieschnick, more (05/24)
Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market: Austin Jackson headed to DL (05/24)
Fantasy Baseball Closer Hot Seat: Addison Reed, J.J. Putz, Ernesto Frieri, more (05/24)
Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market: Brian Roberts seeing the light at the end of the rehab tunnel (05/24)
I am not afraid of Hakeem Nicks' foot injury (05/24)
Fantasy baseball closer depth charts - AL (05/24)
Fantasy baseball closer depth charts - NL (05/24)