Fantasy Football and NFL News, Rumors and Injury Updates

Transaction Analysis

March 27, 2008 @ 10:50:40

By Bryce McRae
Edited by Nicholas Minnix

Would you be able to write Transaction Analysis next week

Transactions affect fantasy baseball teams every day. Weekly, KFFL.com analyzes all notable transactions in Major League Baseball, ranging from who returned from the disabled list to who was promoted to the majors. We present KFFL's MLB Transaction Analysis.

Transactions: Disabled List

Detroit Tigers outfielder Curtis Granderson (finger) - Placed (15-day) - Sunday, March 23

Solid all-around hitter with .302 average, 23 home runs, 122 runs last year
Could return in two weeks after breaking his finger
Will rest for two weeks before more X-rays and possibly resuming baseball activities
Shouldn't hurt his value significantly and is still a solid No. 1 outfielder

New York Mets outfielder Moises Alou (groin) - Placed (15-day) - Monday, March 24

Underwent hernia surgery Thursday, March 16, will remain out until May
Still posts a great average, hit .341 last year
Not a great fantasy candidate as he does not provide much aside from average
Store him on a DL spot if you have him; drop him in shallow leagues

Oakland Athletics third baseman Eric Chavez (back) - Placed (15-day) - Monday, March 24

Shut down after suffering yet another problem with his back, this time with stiffness
Was rehabbing from offseason surgery on his back, will now have to begin rehab again
Not worth picking up until he shows he can stay healthy
Replaced by Jack Hannahan at the hot corner; only has value in AL-only leagues

Philadelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge (knee) - Placed (15-day) - Monday, March 24

Not ready for opening day after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery this spring
Knee is feeling fine but has not been able to rebuild arm strength fast enough
Should be ready by the second week of the season
Tom Gordon will replace him as closer until he returns and is a good pickup

Houston Astros second baseman Kazuo Matsui (anus) - Placed (15-day) - Tuesday, March 25

Underwent surgery to repair anal fissure Monday, March 17
Will be out another four weeks and has not been able to continue any baseball activities
Will be re-examined Friday, March 28
Infielders Mark Loretta and Geoff Blum will replace him

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Chris Carpenter (elbow) - Placed (15-day) - Tuesday, March 25

Recovering from Tommy John surgery last year, not expected back until July
Threw well in a bullpen session Friday, March 21, a good sign
Not worth looking at until he gets closer to returning

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Scott Kazmir (elbow) - Placed (15-day) - Tuesday, March 25

Has yet to pitch in a spring game after straining his left elbow
Could progress up to 120-foot long toss this week, and might throw off the mound next week
Could return to face the New York Yankees in the team's second series
Replaced by James Shields for opening day

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Josh Beckett (back) - Placed (15-day) - Tuesday, March 25

Back spasms have kept him from making the team's trip to Japan
Had his best side session this spring Wednesday, March 26, and allowed only one hit in four innings of a minor league Thursday, March 27
Is expected to return against the Toronto Blue Jays late next week

Washington Nationals catcher Johnny Estrada (elbow) - Placed (15-day) - Wednesday, March 26

Elbow injury has sidelined him this spring
Only began took part in baseball activities this past week
Will likely back up Paul Lo Duca once he gets off the disabled list, limiting his value

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Mark Prior (shoulder) - Placed (60-day) - Thursday, March 27

Shoulder problem dating to last year will keep him out until at least May
Threw a 50-pitch bullpen session Saturday, March 22, and will continue throwing every five days
Faced lived hitters Thursday, March 17, throwing 25 pitches, and said he felt strong

Transactions: Player Movement

Chicago Cubs outfielder Reed Johnson - Signed - Tuesday, March 25

Brought in to provide the team with a right-handed hitter for a platoon in center field after being released by Toronto
Has hit .308 against lefties in his career
Will split time with Felix Pie in center
Waiver wire material until he gets hot

Texas Rangers starting pitcher John Patterson - Signed - Monday, March 24

Brought in to provide help for a staff that had an ERA of 4.75 last year
Has not been healthy for past two seasons with just 15 starts in that time
Was great in 2005, going 9-7 with a 3.13 ERA and 185 strikeouts
Should be left untouched until he can get healthy again

Colorado Rockies second baseman Marcus Giles - Released - Wednesday, March 26

Lost out spring battle with Jayson Nix for starting second base job
Hit a career-low .229 last year with only four home runs
Possibly heading to Los Angeles Dodgers to provide cover if Jeff Kent (hamstring) misses time

San Diego Padres outfielder Chase Headley - Optioned - Monday, March 24

Converted third baseman was sent to Triple-A to get more experience in the outfield
Had a great spring, hitting .349 with four home runs and 14 RBIs
Is worth hanging on to in deep NL-only leagues with outfielder Jim Edmonds' (calf) injury woes; Headley's glove, Jody Gerut and Scott Hairston are all that is keeping him from a starting spot

Florida Marlins outfielder Cameron Maybin - Optioned (Double-A Carolina) - Monday, March 24

Still needs more at-bats to develop, as he had just a .190 average this spring
Needs to show a better eye for the ball with a 15:1 K/BB ratio this spring
Cody Ross or Alejandro De Aza will start in center field

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Luke Hochevar - Optioned (Triple-A Omaha) - Sunday, March 23

Lost out on final rotation spot
Allowed just two runs and seven hits in eight innings this spring
Should hang on to him in deep AL-only leagues, as back end of Royals' rotation is shaky at best

Chicago White Sox third baseman Josh Fields - Optioned (Triple-A Charlotte) - Tuesday, March 25

No room for him in the majors with Joe Crede ahead of him
Crede has been rumored to be traded, also is an injury risk
Hit 23 home runs in 100 games last year
Hang on to him for now, even in mixed leagues, except very shallow ones

Texas Rangers catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia - Optioned (Triple-A Oklahoma) - Wednesday, March 26

Lost out to Gerald Laird in catchers battle
Hit only .250 in 13 games this spring
Is still the Rangers' catcher of the future and could get a call-up later in the season
Laird is a poor hitter, and Texas may not be patient with poor offense, so Salty could return soon

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Homer Bailey - Optioned (Triple-A Louisville) - Wednesday, March 26

Struggled to a 5.21 ERA and 16 walks over 19 innings this spring
Was beat up for a 5.76 ERA and 1.57 WHIP in 45 1/3 innings last year
Will need to improve his command before he has a chance of sticking in the majors
Bypassed by Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto for the final rotation spots

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria - Assigned to minor league camp - Monday, March 24

Will begin season with Triple-A Durham, and could likely return in as little as two months
Likely demoted to keep him from accruing a full season of eligibility, which pushes back his arbitration and free agency
Hit .262 with three home runs, 10 RBIs and two stolen bases this spring
Should hang on to Longoria, as he could be a force once he returns to the majors

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.