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Fantasy Baseball: Transaction Analysis

March 20, 2008 @ 14:29:34

By Bryce McRae
Edited by Cory J. Bonini

Transactions reshape the fantasy baseball landscape every day. Each week, KFFL.com examines every notable transaction in Major League Baseball. Who returned from the disabled list? Who was promoted to the majors? Find out in this edition of Transaction Analysis.

Transactions: Placed on Disabled List

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Curt Schilling (shoulder) | 60-day | Thursday, March 13

Before he could even throw one pitch on his new one-year contract, Schilling received the bad news that he would be sidelined most of the season with an unknown injury to his shoulder. With surgery threatening to shut him down for the full season (and likely push him into retirement), Schilling will instead rehab the shoulder and hope to return later in the season. Accordingly, the team has placed him on the 60-day disabled list. Schilling loses all his fantasy value for the upcoming season, although he could be a possibility later in the season if his health is up to par.

Transactions: Signed

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Bartolo Colon | Saturday, Feb. 24

Lacking depth in their starting rotation, the Red Sox added the 2005 Cy Young winner, signing him to a minor league contract. Colon was horrid the past two seasons with ERAs of 5.11 and 6.34, respectively, although he had been bothered by shoulder problems. In order for him to regain his health, he has been assigned to the minors where he will be able to strengthen his shoulders and stay away from the lavish post-game food spreads in the majors. He should be avoided until he makes it back to the majors.

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Livan Hernandez | Tuesday, Feb. 12

Hernandez could be considered the anti-Rich Harden as he has thrown at least 200 innings in every season this decade. The problem is Hernandez has not been particularly good for the past two seasons. Last year he posted an 11-11 record (for a division-winning club), a 4.93 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. He has a horrible strikeout rate with just 90 K's in 204 1/3 innings pitched last year. Thus, despite the fact he could be replacing Johan Santana as the Twins' opening day starter, he should only be looked at in AL-only leagues.

Seattle Mariners outfielder Brad Wilkerson | Thursday, Jan. 31

With a void to fill in the outfield, the team opted to give Wilkerson a chance at the starting role. A career hitter .250 hitter, Wilkerson's 2007 numbers were actually an improvement off his 2006 ones as he hit .234 with 20 home runs, 62 RBIs and 56 runs. He would be a decent power option in fantasy leagues, but his low average likely kills any thought of adding him to your roster. He will also have to hold off the talented Wladimir Balentien, one of the top outfield prospects for the Mariners.

Florida Marlins outfielder Luis Gonzalez | Thursday, Feb. 7

Looking for a veteran presence in their clubhouse, Gonzalez will likely be used as the fourth outfielder this season. His numbers continued to slide last year as he hit just .278 with 15 home runs and only 68 RBIs for the Dodgers. He should be a valuable addition for the Marlins this year with their young roster but is only worth a look in deep NL-only leagues for fantasy purposes.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Corey Patterson | Monday, March 3

Patterson has been reunited with former Cubs manager Dusty Baker after Baker asked for a veteran presence at center field. Patterson hit only .269 for the Orioles last year, and his average could have been inflated playing in Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Most of his value will come from the stolen bases he generates. Last year, Patterson stole 37 bases in 132 games for the Orioles, and he could do the same if given regular at-bats this year. He has yet to win the starting job, but if he does, he should be taken in the late rounds of mixed league drafts.

Transactions: Released

Washington Nationals starting pitcher John Patterson | Thursday, March 20

The 2005 ace for the Nationals, Patterson has been released after battling elbow problems for most of last season. Heading into camp, Patterson had been projected as the team's No. 2 starter. After posting a 9-7 record with a 3.13 ERA in 2005, Patterson has failed to generate any confidence that he will be healthy after starting just 15 games the past two seasons. With a poor spring showing, the team opted to go in another direction. Patterson should be avoided until he is healthy again and signs with a new team.

Transactions: Traded

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Erik Bedard | Saturday, Feb. 9

With the Orioles unable to sign Bedard to a long-term deal, they shipped him to the West Coast in exchange for top prospect Adam Jones. Bedard will bump starter Felix Hernandez from the No. 1 spot and be the team's ace for the upcoming season. Last year was a breakout campaign for Bedard as he went 13-5, posted a 3.16 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP and recorded 221 strikeouts, all before going down with an oblique injury in September. If he can stay healthy, Bedard should again challenge for the American League Cy Young and is a top-10 fantasy pitcher.

Baltimore Orioles closer George Sherrill | Saturday, Feb. 9

Another part of the Bedard trade, Sherrill has been named the Orioles' closer to begin the season and will likely hold that role for the majority of the season. Used mainly as a situational lefty and a setup man in Seattle, Sherrill should give the Orioles stability at the back end of games after they missed on 23 save opportunities last year. For the season last year, Sherrill had a 2.36 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP over 45 2/3 innings. For fantasy leagues, he should be taken in the late middle rounds as cheaper source of saves.

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones | Saturday, Feb. 9

Seen by many as the key component in the Bedard trade, Jones is a five-tool player that will be the Orioles starting centerfielder on opening day. He struggled in late-season call-ups the last two years and is just a .230 career hitter, but his minor league numbers suggest he will be force in the outfield. At Triple-A Tacoma last year he hit .314 with 25 home runs, 84 RBIs and 75 runs in 101 games. He could be taken in the late middle rounds of drafts this year as a player with good upside.

New York Mets starting pitcher Johan Santana | Saturday, Feb. 2

The biggest name to change teams this past offseason, Santana has been arguably the best pitcher in the majors the past four seasons. Last year was a down season for him and yet he still had a 15-13 record, a 3.33 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP and 235 strikeouts. He is also durable having thrown 210 innings in each of the past four seasons. A move to the National League could also help his numbers, although he will still have to face two good offenses in divisional rivalries with the Phillies and the Braves. Still, he is the top pitcher in baseball and should be a late first-round pick.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Carlos Gomez | Saturday, Feb. 2

Gomez came over from the Mets in the Santana deal and is in the running for the starting center field job in Minnesota. He struggled in 58 games with the Mets last year, hitting just .232 with 14 runs and 12 stolen bases. His average should improve (he hit .278 in the minors), but Gomez will be valuable due to his speed. Gomez stole 141 bases during his minor league career, including 64 in one season. He has not secured a starting job, but if he does, he could be worth a late-round selection as a source of cheap steals.

Transactions: Optioned

Seattle Mariners catcher Jeff Clement | Wednesday, March 19

The catcher of the future for the Mariners, Clement was optioned to Triple-A to begin the season due to the presence of catcher Kenji Johjima. Johjima has played 144 and 135 games in each of the last two seasons, respectively; the team likely felt Clement was better served getting regular at-bats. In a late season call-up last year, Clement hit .375 with two home runs in just 16 at-bats. As long as he continues to hit well at Triple-A, Clement will likely return to the majors sometime this season. However, until he returns, Clement should not be considered unless you are in a keeper league.

Transactions: Designated for Assignment

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jay Bruce | Thursday, March 20

The cover boy for Baseball America's 2008 Prospect Handbook, Bruce will begin the season at Triple-A Louisville. Over three minor league levels last year, Bruce hit .319 with 26 home runs, 89 RBIs and 87 runs. With the signing of Patterson, Bruce has been sent back to the minors to build on his 50 Triple-A at-bats. However, if he continues to hit as he did last year, it will be hard for the team to hold him down. He is someone to keep an eye on over the first month or two of the season since he could be a solid waiver pickup.

Author Bio

Bryce McRae
Bryce McRae is a Managing Editor with KFFL and has been involved in fantasy sports since 1999. He joined KFFL as a volunteer writer in March 2005 before becoming a Hot off the Wire Analyst in March 2006. He began working in his current capacity in September 2008. His work has appeared on fantasy sports sites such as Yahoo! and CBS Sportsline as well as in print. He graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2008 with a B.A. in History and U.S. Studies.