Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide

Noteworthy fantasy baseball injuries

April 2, 2009 @ 00:00:00

Injuries can sink your fantasy baseball team faster than you can say Tommy John surgery. From your star third baseman landing on the 15-day disabled list to that staff ace scheduling a visit with the dreaded Dr. James Andrews, knowing what is going on in the world of fantasy baseball injuries can be crucial to winning your fantasy baseball league. Each week, KFFL.com takes you around the majors for all the latest updates on all the injured fantasy-relevant players.

Catchers

Player	TM	Injury	Est. return	Notes
Joe Mauer	MIN	Inflamed sacroiliac joint in his back	No timetable	Placed on the 15-day disabled (not unexpected); he hasn't been able to test his back out running yet; has hit off tee
Brian McCann	NYM	Finger, knee	4/2	Nagging injuries to his knee and finer have caused discomfort - nothing serious, though, as he could return 4/2
Mike Napoli	LAA	Offseason shoulder surgery	No timetable	Caught seven innings 4/1 and will catch consecutive days this weekend; likely will open the season on the active roster
Brian Schneider	NYM	Strained knee/calf	N/A	Has returned to game action straining his right posterior cruciate knee ligament and right calf

First basemen

Player	TM	Injury	Est. return	Notes
Justin Morneau	MIN	Stiff back	N/A	Could miss a few days with a stiff back; might just be tuning up for Opening Day - doesn't appear serious
Lance Berkman	HOU	Biceps tendonitis	4/2	Biceps injury forced him from the lineup 4/1; he should return as the DH in spring games 4/2 and 4/4
Chris Davis	TEX	Discomfort in patella tendon of left knee	N/A	Inflammation in his knee bothering him but not serious; he says he has dealt with it since the end of the 2008 season
Todd Helton	COL	Back surgery (9/30/08)	N/A	Hitting .515 with four dingers in 33 at-bats and is swinging like the Helton of old - back injury appears to be old news

Second basemen

Player	TM	Injury	Est. return	Notes
Chase Utley	PHI	Offseason hip surgery (11/25/08)	N/A	Returned to spring action 3/15; hasn't reported any problems with the hip and should be ready for Opening Day
Brian Roberts	BAL	Back, oblique	Opening Day	Suffering from both back spasms and a sore left oblique; will need to play 4/3 or 4/4 if he wants to play Opening Day

Third basemen

Player	TM	Injury	Est. return	Notes
Alex Rodriguez	NYY	Hip surgery (3/9/09)	5/15	Has already started swinging and could resume throwing in a week; expected to be playing in the minors by 4/13-4/15
Chipper Jones	ATL	Strained oblique	N/A	Returned to the Braves' lineup 3/24 and played again 3/25; that should be it for his injuries, right?
Garrett Atkins	COL	Hip, groin	N/A	Returned to the Rox lineup 3/29 ... nothing to see here
Adrian Beltre	SEA	Sore shoulder	N/A	Hit a homer and made a diving defensive play 4/1; manager Don Wakamatsu says Beltre is ready
Edwin Encarnacion	CIN	Sore shoulder	N/A	Finally returned to the lineup 3/31 after missing more than a week with a sore shoulder and looked OK
Mike Lowell	BOS	Hip	N/A	Further along than he thought he would be in rehab and will be ready to start the regular season
Eric Chavez	OAK	Shoulder	N/A	Confident he can now be the regular third baseman when season begins 4/6
Kevin Kouzmanoff	SD	Shoulder	N/A	Made a variety of throws 3/31, including a sidearm toss, showing he is fully recovered from November shoulder surgery
Troy Glaus	STL	Shoulder surgery (1/22)	No timetable	Set back in his rehab from arthroscopic shoulder surgery, he is expected to miss at least two months

Shortstops

Player	TM	Injury	Est. return	Notes
Alexei Ramirez	CHW	Knee	N/A	Returned to the lineup 3/31 after suffering a deep cut on his left knee 3/30
Stephen Drew	ARI	Abdominal strain	N/A	As expected, injury wasn't serious as he returned to the lineup 3/29
Alex Gonzalez	CIN	Hamstring tweak	N/A	Still no decision on Gonzalez's Opening Day status; does the trade of Jeff Keppinger hint Reds believe Gonzo is OK?
Bobby Crosby	OAK	Right hamstring tightness	Day-to-day	Scratched from lineup 3/31 after some hamstring tightness; with his extensive injury history, any injury is a worry
Julio Lugo	BOS	Arthroscopic knee surgery (3/17)	April/May	Torn cartilage in his right knee forced the speedster to undergo surgery; he should be back on the field in 3 or 4 weeks

Outfielders

Player	TM	Injury	Est. return	Notes
Ryan Braun	MIL	Thumb	N/A	Thought his thumb was broken when he initially hurt it; X-rays were negative, but he wasn't able to return 4/1
B.J. Upton	TB	Shoulder surgery (11/11/08)	Early April	Will begin the season on the 15-day disabled list; Matt Joyce should have a roster spot until Upton returns
Manny Ramirez	LAD	Hamstring	N/A	Injury isn't a worry anymore, but Manny says he feels behind in his prep and should play in the last three spring games
Vernon Wells	TOR	Wrist	N/A	Was scratched from his 3/29 start because of discomfort in the same wrist he broke last year; he has since returned
Brad Hawpe	COL	Hamstring	N/A	Nothing too serious with Hawpe - he returned earlier this week and homered in his second game back
Xavier Nady	NYY	Bruised elbow	Day-to-day	Was hit by a pitch in his left elbow 3/31; he left the game but is expected to return 4/3
Delmon Young	MIN	Shoulder	N/A	Is probable to return 4/2 - shoulder injury is one reason to worry about Young's already suspect power
Michael Cuddyer	MIN	Cyst on right finger	N/A	Dealt with cyst on his right index finger; no long a problem as he returned 4/1
Garret Anderson	LAA	Strained right calf	Opening Day	Has returned to spring action and should be a go for the season opener

Designated hitters

Player	TM	Injury	Est. return	Notes
David Ortiz	BOS	Shoulder soreness	N/A	Says playing first base and throwing left him with a sore shoulder in WBC; could that transfer to his power stroke?
Travis Hafner	CLE	Shoulder	N/A	Manager Eric Wedge says Hafner driving the ball with authority; still, Pronk is hitting only .260 this spring
Hideki Matsui	NYY	Knee, neck	N/A	Was limited 3/31 by a sore neck but returned and homered in the Yanks' 4/1 game

Starting pitchers

Player	TM	Injury	Est. return	Notes
Cole Hamels	PHI	Elbow tightness	Early April	Officially ruled out for Opener; will pitch in an exhibition game 4/4 and could still make his first start 4/10
John Lackey	LAA	Elbow tightness	Opening Day	Has reported that his elbow is feeling better, and he is expected to start throwing as early as 4/2 or 4/3
Roy Oswalt	HOU	Dehydration	N/A	Left his start 4/1 because of dehydration and lightheadedness; should be good to go for Opening Day
Chad Billingsley	LAD	Leg surgery (11/22/08), strained groin	Opening Day	Threw 65 pitches over four innings in a simulated game 3/29; no reason he shouldn't be ready for the start of the season
Rich Harden	CHC	Shoulder tear, food poisoning	Early April	Gave up three homers and five runs 3/30 in his first start since suffering from food poisoning 3/15
Ervin Santana	LAA	Sprained MCL in elbow	May	Has reached 180 feet in is long-toss program, and he is expected to throw off a mound next week
Randy Johnson	SF	Biceps discomfort	N/A	Built up his stamina in a minor league game 3/29; fastball still clocked in just mid- to high-80 mph range
Erik Bedard	SEA	Hip	4/7	Will be built up to 80 pitches in his early starts this season, putting a heavy onus on the bullpen when Bedard pitches
Scott Baker	MIN	Right shoulder stiffness	No timetable	Placed on the 15-day disabled list 4/2 with right shoulder stiffness; will miss at least his first two starts
Justin Duchscherer	OAK	Bone spur in right elbow	May	Surgery was a success - a bone spur was removed in a small cleanup procedure; could throw off a mound in six weeks
John Smoltz	BOS	Shoulder surgery (6/10/08)	June	Ahead of schedule and could return before 7/1; threw 46 pitches in a bullpen session 3/31, scheduled for another 4/3
Chris Carpenter	STL	Strained calf	4/9	Didn't want to pitch 4/3 and risk re-aggravating a calf strain; according to Carp: "If I had to pitch, I'd pitch"
Kelvim Escobar	LAA	Shoulder surgery, calf	Late April	Threw 40 pitches in minor league game 3/28; he could start major league game this weekend - late-round flier?
Max Scherzer	ARI	Shoulder	4/14	He will begin the season on the disabled list, but he is expected to be ready when the D-backs need a fifth starter 4/14
Ian Snell	PIT	Flu-like symptoms	N/A	Scratched from his 4/2 start because of flu-like symptoms; nothing serious here for the righty
Ben Sheets	FA	Elbow tendon surgery (2/10)	After All-Star break	Hoping to return after the All-Star break; Rangers are interested if he recovers nicely
Jonathan Sanchez	SF	Finger	Early April	Burned his finger cooking; if it blisters, he could miss his first start of the season, though he expects to be ready for it
Jeremy Bonderman	DET	Shoulder surgery (6/30/08)	No timetable	Placed on the 15-day disabled list 3/31; could be three weeks from his stated goal of tossing six innings in the minors
Shaun Marcum	TOR	Tommy John surgery	No timetable	Progressing faster than Dustin McGowan; has been playing catch regularly and lobbying for return late this year
Dustin McGowan	TOR	Shoulder surgery (7/31/08)	No timetable	Taking longer than expected for him to return; he might not return until Spring Training 2010
Jake Westbrook	CLE	Elbow, hip surgery	July	Placed on 60-day disabled list; will continue throwing Monday and Friday bullpen sessions into extended spring training
Bronson Arroyo	CIN	Carpal tunnel	Opening Day	Not expected to miss any starts while dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome; says he feels better with new medication
Dontrelle Willis	DET	Anxiety	No timetable	Will undergo a series of tests and will have to undergo treatment program before he is able to pitch again
Tom Glavine	ATL	Elbow Surgery (2/26)	4/18	Allowed three runs and seven hits in five innings 4/1; velocity hovering at 81 mph but hopes to be up to 84 mph by 4/18
Tim Hudson	ATL	Tommy John surgery (8/8/08)	August	Throwing off a mound and playing catch; doesn't figure to return until late '09

Relief pitchers

Player	TM	Injury	Est. return	Notes
Mariano Rivera	NYY	Arthroscopic shoulder surgery (10/3/08)	Opening Day	No problems reported so far since his return - little to worry about with Mo
Brian Fuentes	LAA	Lower back tightness	Opening Day	Says he'll be ready for Opening Day - his poor form this spring is one reason to worry about him, though
Francisco Cordero	CIN	Ankle surgery	N/A	Ankle is close to 100 percent, and he has given up just two runs with 10 strikeouts in his last six appearances
Trevor Hoffman	MIL	Oblique	Early April	Was scheduled to play catch 4/1; still no timetable for his return to the mound, but they were hoping he'd be back 4/11
Matt Lindstrom	FLA	Rotator cuff strain	Opening Day	Expected to be ready for Opening Day after some early troubles with his rotator cuff and velocity
Brandon Morrow	SEA	Forearm	N/A	Has moved from the rotation to the bullpen; role still has to be determined after early forearm stiffness
Joey Devine	OAK	Elbow soreness	No timetable	Slated to start season on the disabled list; will visit with the dreaded Dr. James Andrews next week
Troy Percival	TB	Back surgery (12/2/08)	N/A	Elder statesman of the Rays bullpen now expects to be ready to begin the season
Chris Ray	BAL	Tommy John surgery	N/A	Healthy enough to earn the occasional save chance, but George Sherrill will close ... for now
J.J. Putz	NYM	Fingernail	N/A	Left early 3/31 after irritating a fingernail on his right middle finger; Jerry Manuel says it is nothing serious
Rafael Soriano	ATL	Strained side muscle	Opening Day	Injuries cropping up again for fragile hurler - this one isn't expected to derail him for Opening Day, though
Chad Cordero	SEA	Shoulder	N/A	Has now regained full extension in his surgically repaired right shoulder - will he earn save chances in the future?
Billy Wagner	NYM	Tommy John surgery (9/10/08)	September	He has started throwing at home and plans to return to Mets facility in June; expects to return for final month

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.