Z - MLB Transaction Analysis

MLB Transaction Analysis

May 31, 2007 @ 16:00:00

By Jim Walker and Nicholas Minnix
Edited by Nicholas Minnix and Cory J. Bonini

The following analysis highlights the most notable transactions made by teams in the last week. Fantasy managers that are most informed will benefit from staying on top of the latest transactions.

Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Ryan Braun called up from Triple-A Nashville

Status: Starting third baseman for Brewers

Analysis: One of the top prospects in the minor leagues, Braun was called up to bolster Milwaukee's black hole at third base. Braun has hit an even .300 with one home run and three RBI along with two stolen bases in five games for the Brewers. The window to sneak Braun onto your team has probably closed, but stay vigilant friends as fantasy owners are a fickle bunch. He might get dropped by someone who doesn't know any better or gets frustrated by a couple of early struggles. Braun should remain with the Brewers from here on out, and he possesses at least 20-home run power; he should get RBI opportunities on a fairly high-scoring Brewers team. Grab him without hesitation if he's there or, perhaps, make a deal for him.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Jeremy Bonderman (finger) activated from DL

Status: Activated from 15-day disabled list

Analysis: Bonderman was activated from the 15-day disabled list Thursday, May 24. He is 4-0 this season, and he has won both of his starts since coming off the disabled list, dropping his ERA from 4.20 to its current 3.34 in the process. Bonderman's activation gives the Tigers a formidable starting rotation once again, and fantasy owners should've activated him from the disabled list without hesitation. Bonderman is next scheduled to start Sunday, June 3, against the Cleveland Indians.

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard (hamstring) activated from DL

Status: Activated from 15-day disabled list

Analysis: Howard was activated form the 15-day disabled list Friday, May 25, and he immediately proved he was healthy by knocking in seven runs in his first five games back, including three home runs in two days. He's hitting at a .278 clip since his return, and that is a far cry from the .204 average he sported when he went on the disabled list. Howard did suffer some leg cramps during the Tuesday, May 29, game, but he insists that it is no big deal. Get him activated right now, but pay attention to the leg problems. Keep checking KFFL for the latest updates.

Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Brett Myers (shoulder) to DL

Status: Placed on 15-day disabled list

Analysis: Someone must have a Charlie Manuel voodoo doll, as the day his slugger comes back from the disabled list, the current closer, and a former starter, goes on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right shoulder. Ouch. The sports gods hate the Phillies. Myers was 6-for-7 in save opportunities, and in the one blown save he got the win. In 12 1/3 innings as the closer Myers has given up one earned run while striking out 19. What to do, then? Place Myers on the DL, as he's still valuable, even if former closer Tom Gordon (shoulder) returns as the Phillies' closer. It looks like reliever Antonio Alfonseca is the temporary favorite for saves in Philly (he already has one), but he might kill your ratios. He might be your best option, though. Consider the Oakland Athletics situation, where reliever Alan Embree has earned three saves while closer Huston Street (elbow) is on the DL. Relief pitcher Justin Duchscherer (hip) is scheduled to return from the disabled list soon, and he could also be a factor. You could also try to acquire some strikeouts, ERA and WHIP in Myers' absence; take a look at New York Mets relief pitcher Joe Smith (2-0, 1.59 ERA, 26 strikeouts, 0.93 WHIP).

San Diego Padres outfielder Brian Giles (knee) to DL

Status: Placed on 15-day disabled list

Analysis: Giles was placed on the 15-dsy disabled list retroactive to May 20 with a bone bruise in his right knee. Giles was batting .276 with one home run and 12 RBI, but he had scored 23 runs. It seems as if Giles is a shell of his former self since the move to San Diego, as he has turned into an overpriced singles hitter that walks a lot. It is probably for the best to cut him loose at this point, if you own him. There are plenty of options that may be available and can help you immediately, such as Colorado Rockies outfielder Brad Hawpe (.293, seven home runs, 31 runs) or Atlanta Braves outfielder Matt Diaz (.342, four home runs, 11 RBI), who is now the Braves' starting left fielder. Watch Giles and see if he can return to form; if not, then good riddance.

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Joakim Soria (shoulder) to DL

Status: Placed on 15-day disabled list

Analysis: Well, it was fun while it lasted wasn't it? The Royals placed Soria on the 15-day disabled list Saturday, May 26, with inflammation in his right shoulder, retroactive to May 23. Soria came out of nowhere as a Rule 5 pick from the San Diego Padres last December. He rewarded the Royals with a 1-2 record with 10 saves and an ERA of 3.57 with 25 strikeouts in 22.2 innings this season. With that being said, cut him loose as the Royals have tabbed oft-injured reliever Octavio Dotel as their closer. Keep tabs on Soria's progress, though, because Dotel's arm could fall off any day. In the meantime, New York Mets reliever Aaron Heilman (5-2, 3.47 ERA, 0.99 WHIP) makes a viable addition and so does San Diego Padres relieve Scott Linebrink (1-1, 2.28 ERA, one save, 0.89 WHIP).

New York Mets starting pitcher Orlando Hernandez (shoulder) activated from DL

Status: Activated from 15-day disabled list

Analysis: Hernandez was activated from the 15-day disabled list Saturday, May 26. Hernandez is 2-1 with a 2.13 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP this season; he was brilliant in his return to the mound last week in a no-decision. Get him back in your lineup as he appears to be healthy once again. He is scheduled to start Thursday, May 31, against the San Francisco Giants.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Josh Beckett (finger) activated from DL

Status: Activated from 15-day disabled list

Analysis: Beckett was activated from the 15-day disabled list Tuesday, May 29. Beckett then dominated the Cleveland Indians to the tune of seven innings pitched with seven strikeouts and one walk and two earned runs to improve his record to 8-0 on the season. Yeah, we think he's healthy. Get him in there ASAP.

New York Mets outfielder Shawn Green (foot) to DL

Status: Placed on 15-day disabled list

Analysis: Green was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a broken bone in his left foot. The move is retroactive to Friday, May 25, and this is the first time in Green's career that he has been placed on the disabled list. Green was experiencing a rebirth of sorts this season as he had been hitting .314 with five home runs and 22 RBI. The best course of action for Green owners is to place him on the disabled list grab a suitable replacement, like Detroit Tigers outfielder Craig Monroe (.243-7-29-30 runs scored) or Oakland Athletics outfielder Shannon Stewart (.276-2-16-28 runs scored and four stolen bases); either player should suffice until Green returns.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ryan Freel (head) to DL

Status: Placed on 15-day disabled list

Analysis: Freel was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday, May 29, after colliding with a teammate while attempting to make a catch Monday. Freel was hitting .251 with two home runs, 12 RBI and eight stolen bases before the injury. The injury will probably hurt your team more than the Reds as they have any number of able bodies to replace him, but where does that leave you? Put Freel on the disabled list, and look to grab Baltimore Orioles outfielder Corey Patterson (.227-1-16-20 runs and 11 stolen bases), whose average will kill you, but he's fast, or Chicago White Sox outfielder Darin Erstad (.276-2-21-21 runs and seven stolen bases), who is having a fine season on the "South Side."

Oakland Athletics outfielder Milton Bradley (hamstring) activated from DL

Status: Activated from 15-day disabled list

Analysis: Bradley was activated from the disabled list Wednesday, May 30. Bradley is hitting .291 with two home runs and six RBI this season, but don't rush out to acquire this overrated outfielder or place him back in your starting lineup for that matter. Exercise some patience and see what he does for a day or two to make sure he's healthy before giving him the green light.

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Kevin Slowey recalled from Triple-A Rochester

Status: Will start Friday, June 1

Analysis: It's nothing new with the Twins; they have a ton of pitching prospects. Slowey, the club's No. 3 prospect according to Baseball America, is the latest to get a call-up. Scouts compare him to former Minnesota starter Brad Radke. He throws around 90 and has what some consider the best control in the minors. This year, at Rochester, Slowey was 6-2 with a 1.54 ERA and a 0.81 WHIP. The 6-foot-3 righty has walked only five batters in 64 1/3 innings, which is a testament to his control, and he has also fanned 57. With the soft stuff he tosses, the strikeouts aren't likely to translate, and he throws mostly fastballs, which could get him in deep trouble in the American League. Nevertheless, he has a lot of tools to be successful. Fantasy owners in keeper leagues could stand to blow a couple of bucks on him. He's not guaranteed to have an impact in mixed leagues yet, but if you're desperate for pitching, he's worth a shot.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Roy Halladay (appendicitis) activated from DL

Status: Activated from 15-day disabled list

Analysis: Halladay was well ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation from surgery for acute appendicitis. The original prognosis had him missing four to six weeks, but three weeks later, Halladay is scheduled to start Thursday against the Chicago White Sox. Halladay might be a tad rusty, but he worked vigorously to get back, so expect him to come out with some energy. The White Sox, too, are struggling. His two poor starts before the stint in the disabled list can be chalked up to his appendicitis; before that, he was dynamite. Fantasy owners could do worse than to have one of the league's top-five pitchers in their starting lineup in his first day back.

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina (wrist) placed on DL

Status: Placed on 15-day disabled list

Analysis: Molina was just becoming a semi-hot fantasy commodity when a fractured wrist sent him to the disabled list for four to six weeks. Over the weekend Molina watched his 15-game hitting streak come to an end, and he had gone hitless in his last 13 official at-bats. Fantasy owners can feel safe dumping him and picking up another flavor-of-the-week catcher. Try the New York Mets' Paul Lo Duca for average (.327 this year, .413 in May) or the Kansas City Royals' John Buck for power (.274, eight home runs this year). He has hit .362 with five dingers on the road, where the Royals will be for the next week.

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Author Bio

Jim Walker
Jim has been a lifelong sports fan with particular interests in baseball, football and hockey. He's been involved in fantasy sports since 1998 and is looking forward to contributing solid analysis and witty insights to his reports.