Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim OF Vladimir Guerrero to miss at least a month

April 17, 2009 @ 18:00:00

By Nicholas Minnix
Edited by Tim Heaney

Mike DiGiovanna, of the Los Angeles Times, reports Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim outfielder Vladimir Guerrero (chest) will be placed on the disabled list with a torn pectoral muscle. He will miss at least a month of action. The Angels will announce a corresponding roster move after their contest Friday, April 17.

The chest muscle has been bothering Guerrero since he injured it while making a throw from right field in an exhibition contest April 2. He insists that the injury hasn't affected him at the plate despite his slow start (.250 average, one homer). Guerrero believes his timing is off, and he says the malady only affects him when he plays the field.

The news is discouraging considering that the 34-year-old, who's in a contract year, underwent offseason knee surgery. The knee hasn't been an issue. However, any additional problems lend credence to the theory that the wear and tear of his 12-plus seasons, including seven spent on the AstroTurf of the Montreal Expos' old joint, Olympic Stadium, has taken a severe toll on his body.

This year, the regular right fielder has been in the lineup exclusively as the designated hitter. Fantasy owners must suck it up and stash him - on a DL spot, if available, and on the pine, if not.

The move is likely to mean a few extra at-bats for outfielder Juan Rivera (.296-0-3 in 27 at-bats), who has already been playing somewhat regularly. In addition, outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. (.214-0-1 in 14 at-bats) should see more time.

The logical move is to call up speedy outfielder Reggie Willits or power-hitting shortstop Brandon Wood; an addition of the latter would allow the Halos to move third baseman Chone Figgins to the outfield.

Rivera deserves consideration in deep mixed pools. Matthews should be added in AL leagues. Willits would likely serve as a pinch runner and occasional starter, limiting his value severely. Wood (.333-3-4 in 15 at-bats at Triple-A Salt Lake) would probably play; he's worth a look in AL setups and perhaps even in deep mixed leagues, depending on how much time he sees.

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Nicholas Minnix

KFFL's baseball editor plays in LABR and Tout Wars and won the FSWA Baseball Industry Insiders League in 2010.

The University of Delaware alum is a regular guest on Sirius/XM Fantasy Sports Radio and Baltimore's WNST AM 1570. Follow him on Twitter.

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