Fantasy Baseball and MLB News, Rumors and Injury Updates

Weekly Transaction Analysis

June 16, 2006 @ 16:00:00

In this feature, we'll give you the straight scoop on weekly transactions made throughout Major League Baseball, ranging from players placed on or activated from the disabled list, players optioned to or recalled from the minors, trades, placement on waivers, etc. In the "Key Moves" section, we'll examine the implications when key fantasy players are involved, while you'll also be kept in the loop on the entire gamut of player movement in the "Additional Moves" section. In the latter section, we'll cover the remainder of all the weekly transactions, although those players will typically have little or no fantasy value.

Keeping on top of this type of information is vital for fantasy managers, as roster management is something that has to be accounted for all throughout the season. For example, when a player is placed on the disabled list fantasy managers need to get them out of the active lineup and (if roster space permits) place them on your league's disabled list and pick up another player. A significant number of transactions will be made each week by MLB clubs; by understanding the ramifications of these moves you'll be better prepared to dominate your league.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Baltimore Orioles

Key Moves: Activated outfielder Jay Gibbons from the 15-day disabled list, then returned him to the DL two days later

Analysis: Gibbons (knee) aggravated his sprained right posterior cruciate ligament in his second game back from the 15-day DL and had to be placed back on the list. The injury means rookie outfielder Nick Markakis will continue to see consistent playing time.

Additional Moves: Optioned infielder Ed Rogers to Triple-A Ottawa and then recalled him.

Boston Red Sox

Key Moves: Recalled starting pitcher Jon Lester from Triple-A Pawtucket.

Analysis: Lester, 22, is one of the top prospects in Boston's system and last year earned the club's minor-leaguer-of-the-year award. He's tall (6-foot-4) and big (210 pounds), and his velocity began to catch up to his size over the past couple of years. According to scouts he's been developing three quality pitches, all of which have good natural movement. Baseball America projects him to be a front-of-the-rotation guy, and at Pawtucket he was 2-3 with a 2.70 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 46 2/3 innings. In his debut he went 4 1/3 innings, giving up three runs, five hits and four walks while fanning four. It'd be a good idea for keeper leaguers to take a shot, but his knock was that he had to learn to command all of his pitches before he was major-league ready. With four walks against the Texas Rangers and 25 at Pawtucket, mixed leaguers shouldn't look to him anytime soon.

Additional Moves: Optioned relievers Craig Hansen and David Pauley to Pawtucket. Recalled relief pitcher Jermaine Van Buren from Pawtucket. Placed relief pitcher Keith Foulke (elbow) on the 15-day DL with right elbow tendinitis. Activated relief pitcher Mike Timlin (shoulder) from the 15-day DL.

Chicago White Sox

Key Moves: None

Additional Moves: Released starter Hideo Nomo from Triple-A Charlotte.

Cleveland Indians

Key Moves: None

Additional Moves: Optioned infielder Lou Merloni and pitcher Jason Davis to Triple-A Buffalo. Recalled infielder Ramon Vazquez and pitcher Jeremy Guthrie from Buffalo. Demoted pitcher Travis Foley to Double-A Akron. Recalled pitcher Rafael Perez from Akron. Designated reliever Scott Sauerbeck for assignment and then released him. Received pitcher Jeff Stevens from the Cincinnati Reds as the player to be named later in the deal that sent second baseman Brandon Phillips to the Reds, and assigned Stevens to Class A Lake County.

Detroit Tigers

Key Moves: None

Additional Moves: None

Kansas City Royals

Key Moves: None

Additional Moves: Designated starting pitcher Kyle Snyder and pitcher Steve Andrade for assignment, with Andrade electing to become a free agent instead of accepting the assignment. Acquired starter Brandon Duckworth from the Houston Astros for cash considerations. Optioned reliever Leo Nunez to Triple-A Omaha. Claimed relief pitcher Todd Wellemeyer off waivers from the Florida Marlins and added him to the active roster. Sent starter Denny Bautista to Omaha.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Key Moves: Activated outfielder Darin Erstad from DL

Analysis: Erstad (ankle) is back in the mix and starting in center field. His primary value is in American League-Only formats.

Additional Moves: Activated infielder Maicer Izturis from the disabled list. Optioned infielder Erick Aybar and outfielder Tommy Murphy to Triple-A Salt Lake.

Minnesota Twins

Key Moves: Designated third baseman Tony Batista for assignment

Analysis: Batista was done in by his .236 average, five home runs and 21 RBI, which are sub par numbers for a starting corner infielder. The team plans to use a platoon at the hot corner, comprised of infielders Juan Castro, Nick Punto, Luis Rodriguez and Terry Tiffee. There is little fantasy value in a platoon situation, so wait to see if someone heats up and gets regular playing time.

Key Moves: Called up shortstop Jason Bartlett from Triple-A Rochester

Analysis: Bartlett will become the starting shortstop and has immediate value in AL-Only leagues. He'll take over for infielder Juan Castro, who will be part of a platoon at third base.

Additional Moves: Optioned pitcher Kyle Lohse to Triple-A Rochester and later recalled him.

New York Yankees

Key Moves: Activated starter Shawn Chacon from the disabled list.

Analysis: Chacon had a hematoma in the lower half of his left leg, the result of a line drive to the shin in a May 11 start against the Boston Red Sox. He made his next start, but he didn't last long and soon after hit the DL. He gave up five runs (three earned) in his return, but he had recorded four straight starts of only one earned run allowed (three wins) before hitting the DL. AL-only folks can activate him; mixed leaguers can wait and see.

Additional Moves: Designated pitcher Scott Erickson for assignment.

Oakland Athletics

Key Moves: Placed starting pitcher Rich Harden on the disabled list.

Analysis: Again? Harden returned from the DL and teased owners with his four innings of work Sunday, June 4. After returning from a strained back, he somehow strained the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He won't require surgery, but he could miss as much as two months, based on the recovery periods of pitchers with similar injuries. No exact timetable has been set, and Harden is a slow healer, so his owners will have to suck it up.

Key Moves: Activated starting pitcher Esteban Loaiza from the disabled list.

Analysis: If the previous news entry put a knot in your stomach, and you're a gambler, you may take a shot with Loaiza. Fortunately (so far) the A's regained his services the day they lost Harden. In his return from a strained left trapezius muscle, Loaiza held the Cleveland Indians, who boast one of the league's top offenses, to one run on four hits and a walk while striking out five. Loaiza was unable to keep the ball down and had been pitching in the low-to-mid 80s before hitting the DL, but in his return he was hitting 91 or so and controlled the strike zone. Oakland would be thrilled to start getting a return on their offseason investment of $21 million.

Additional Moves: Optioned relief pitcher Randy Keisler to Triple-A Sacramento. Recalled infielder Mike Rouse from Sacramento.

Seattle Mariners

Key Moves: None

Additional Moves: Optioned pitcher Sean Green to Triple-A Tacoma. Recalled pitcher Emiliano Fruto from Tacoma.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Key Moves: None

Additional Moves: None

Texas Rangers

Key Moves: None

Additional Moves: Designated reliever Antonio Alfonseca for assignment. Recalled pitcher Bryan Corey from Triple-A Oklahoma. Signed first-round draft pick pitcher Kasey Kiker to a deal including a $1.6 million signing bonus.

Toronto Blue Jays

Key Moves: Placed starter Gustavo Chacin on the 15-day disabled list.

Analysis: Chacin suffered a recurrence of the same problem that landed him on the DL the first time: a mild sprain in a ligament in his left elbow. Chacin experienced discomfort in the area in his second start back, and the irritation necessitated another stint on the DL. He won't require surgery but will miss at least four weeks. Speculation centered on starter Josh Towers as Chacin's immediate replacement, but Toronto may be looking at other options for long-term help.

Key Moves: Recalled shortstop Russ Adams from Triple-A Syracuse.

Analysis: Adams hasn't lived up to expectations with the bat (.258 average with 17 RBI), but it was his defense (10 errors in 139 chances) that had the team concerned. He's had troubles with throws to first, so Adams played some second base for Syracuse. Toronto plans to start him there, as they did in his return to the big club Monday, June 12. He went 0-for-4 from the nine-hole but, notably, did not commit an error. He appears to be headed for eligibility at second base, which could at the very least be of use to AL-only players.

Additional Moves: Outright second baseman Luis Figueroa to Syracuse. Released second baseman Edgardo Alfonzo. Activated shortstop John McDonald from the disabled list. Called up pitchers Vinnie Chulk and Brian Tallet from Syracuse.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Arizona Diamondbacks

Key Moves: Designated starting pitcher Russ Ortiz for assignment

Analysis: Ortiz had been a bust ever since signing with the club prior to the 2005 season. The team finally bit the bullet and decided they were better off without him on the roster, but they will still have to pay the remaining $22 million on his salary. He went 5-11 with a 6.89 ERA last year and had gone 0-5 with an even worse 7.54 ERA this year.

Additional Moves:Optioned starting pitcher Dustin Nippert to Triple-A Tucson. Recalled reliever Greg Aquino from Tucson. Purchased the contract of pitcher Randy Choate from Tucson.

Atlanta Braves

Key Moves: Activated catcher Brian McCann from the disabled list.

Analysis: McCann had been out with a sprained ankle that he suffered during a collision at home plate a few weeks ago. Although the team pushed back his return date a time or two, McCann appears healthy and went 3-for-3 in his first back in the lineup. He has four hits in nine at-bats overall since, and owners can feel comfortable activating him.

Key Moves: Placed relief pitcher Chris Reitsma on the disabled list.

Analysis: Reitsma (elbow) was placed on the 15-day DL because of numbness in his right hand. The team had already been using RP Kenny Ray as the closer, so Reitsma's value had already begun to fizzle mightily.

Additional Moves: Activated reliever Chuck James from the disabled list and optioned him to Triple-A Richmond.

Chicago Cubs

Key Moves: Placed starter Kerry Wood on the 15-day disabled list.

Additional Moves: Anymore, we just leave this entry in there and erase it whenever it doesn't happen. Saves time. Wood had experienced pain after each start, generally believed to be normal soreness following an outing, and had his starts pushed back on a couple of occasions. In his last outing, he struggled with his velocity and afterwards saw the doctor who performed his shoulder surgery. The doc said that what Wood was feeling was normal, and that Wood had some joint irritation. Wood said that he didn't injure anything and felt fine after long toss. Nevertheless, Wood couldn't make his next start, scheduled for Sunday, June 11, and the Cubs placed him where he seems most comfortable. It's his 10th career trip the disabled list. There is no timetable for his return.

Cincinnati Reds

Key Moves: Placed third baseman Edwin Encarnacion on the 15-day disabled list.

Analysis: Encarnacion left the Reds' June 6 game with an ankle sprain, and X-rays were negative. He missed a couple of games before the Reds decided to play it safe and place him on the DL. It's likely that he'll be ready when he's eligible to return. Infielder Rich Aurilia becomes a fulltime starter for Cincinnati for the time being.

Additional Moves: Recalled infielder Ray Olmedo from Triple-A Louisville.

Colorado Rockies

Key Moves: Acquired second baseman Kazuo Matsui and cash from the New York Mets for outfielder Eli Marrero.

Analysis: Matsui doesn't seem destined to turn things around anywhere, but if for some reason he does, Colorado is a nice place to land for fantasy owners. The Rockies can afford to take a chance that Matsui is the answer at second base when the Mets are paying $4.5 million of what remains on the final year of the Japanese import's deal. In all likelihood, he's not the answer, and Colorado will end up letting him go. The club optioned Matsui to Triple-A Colorado Springs following the trade.

Additional Moves: Outrighted infielder Jason Smith and reliever Sun-Woo Kim to Colorado Springs. Recalled outfielder Jorge Piedra from Colorado Springs. Activated second baseman Luis A. Gonzalez (wrist) from the 15-day DL and optioned him to Colorado Springs. Signed first-round draft pick (second overall) pitcher Gregory Reynolds (Stanford).

Florida Marlins

Key Moves: Placed left fielder Josh Willingham on the DL; Recalled outfielder Chris Aguila from Triple-A Albuquerque

Analysis: Willingham is suffering from a left hand strain, and his absence will be missed in fantasy leagues for at least one week, as the move was retroactive to May 7. He is especially valuable due to being eligible at catcher. Willingham only feels pain when swinging the bat, which is sort of encouraging at first blush but not really, as his bat is the reason he's on fantasy rosters to begin with. Aguila fills out the roster spot.

Additional Moves: None

Houston Astros

Key Moves: None

Additional Moves: None

Los Angeles Dodgers

Key Moves: Activated second baseman Jeff Kent from the 15-day DL

Analysis: Kent (wrist) was activated as expected Tuesday, June 13, and was back in the starting lineup and in the fifth spot in the batting order. Get him back in your fantasy lineups!

Key Moves: Placed relief pitcher Eric Gagne (elbow) on the 15-day DL

Analysis: This is a big blow for Gagne owners, who had waited patiently for his return from the DL, only to see him go right back on it. He won't be ready to come off the DL when eligible, as the plan is to delay any further rehab efforts until his nerve is completely sensation free. Gagne was also due to visit a doctor Wednesday, June 14, to have his right elbow and ulnar nerve examined. Meanwhile, the club has formally named relief pitcher Takashi Saito the closer.

Additional Moves: None

Milwaukee Brewers

Key Moves: None

Additional Moves: Placed starting pitcher Jorge De La Rosa on the 15-day disabled list. Recalled pitcher Carlos Villanueva from Triple-A Nashville.

New York Mets

Key Moves: None

Additional Moves: Acquired outfielder Eli Marrero from the Colorado Rockies for second baseman Kazuo Matsui and cash.

Philadelphia Phillies

Key Moves: Placed catcher Mike Lieberthal on the disabled list.

Analysis: Lieberthal had returned from a knee injury and a stint on the DL just a week and a half before straining his hip while running out a double in a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks June 5. He had done some light running and hitting and was hoping the trip to the disabled list wasn't necessary. Backup backstop Sal Fasano will probably see most of the at-bats, but catcher Chris Coste, a career minor leaguer, will also see some time.

Additional Moves: Recalled outfielder Chris Roberson and reliever Brian Sanches from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Optioned starting pitcher Eude Brito to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Key Moves: Activated third baseman Joe Randa from DL

Analysis: Randa (foot) was activated Tuesday, June 13, and started at third base and batted fifth in the lineup. He's not a viable option in mixed leagues but NL-Only owners should take notice.

Additional Moves: None

St. Louis Cardinals

Key Moves: None

Additional Moves: Acquired infielder Derek Wathan from the Texas Rangers for a player to be named later.

San Diego Padres

Key Moves: None

Additional Moves: None

San Francisco Giants

Key Moves: Placed first baseman Lance Niekro on the 15-day DL; Recalled first baseman Travis Ishikawa from Double-A Connecticut

Analysis: Niekro (groin) finds himself back on the DL, giving the promising Ishikawa another shot at big-league playing time.

Additional Moves: Activated reliever Tim Worrell from the disabled list. Optioned relief pitcher Brian Wilson to Triple-A Fresno.

Washington Nationals

Key Moves: Activated outfielder Jose Guillen from the disabled list.

Analysis: Guillen had missed a few games here and there while dealing with hamstring issues when he finally tweaked it a bit too much in a game May 25. He hit the DL and let it fully heal, so he should be at full strength and giving the Nationals some much-needed help in the outfield. He had been hitting only .212 with five homers before he became a member of the walking wounded, but he's collected two hits in four at-bats since his return. NL-only players may want to acquire him, but mixed leaguers should have no interest unless he heats up.

Additional Moves: Optioned outfielder Mike Vento to Triple-A New Orleans.