News: Astros minor-league second baseman Jose Vallejo will undergo right hand surgery Wednesday and miss most of the 2010 season. The 23-year-old Vallejo cut tendons in two fingers while preparing a meal at his home in the Dominican Republic during the Christmas holidays. His hand slid over the blade of a knife that he was using to cut meat, the team said. Houston acquired Vallejo last August from Texas as part of the Ivan Rodriguez trade.
Analysis: Vallejo isn't exactly a highly-regarded prospect, so his absence shouldn't have any impact in long-term keeper leagues. Ignore him in Fantasy.
News: OF Angel Pagan agreed to a $1.5 million, one-year contract on Tuesday, settling the Mets' last arbitration case. He will likely compete for playing time in center field with Carlos Beltran sidelined by a knee injury to begin the season.
Analysis: Pagan is an energetic outfielder who can impact NL-only Rotisserie leagues with his steals potential. There is some pop in his bat, but we doubt you should rely on him for that. Consider him a late-round sleeper in NL-only leagues, especially ones that value the stolen base. Pagan could spend the enter month of April as an everyday player.
News: Dodgers RP James McDonald has his sights set on the team's fifth starter spot, according to MLB.com. "I want to be a starter," McDonald said. "Last year, I didn't even know. This year I'm coming in with a different mindset, and starting is all I'm thinking about." McDonald won the job during spring training last season, but couldn't hold on to it, ending up pitching out of the bullpen. However, he's regained his confidence and believes he's the man for the job. "I was shaky, I was questioning myself," he said. "I was thinking about stuff that was going to happen, that might go wrong, if I don't do this or if I don't do that. I've learned to wipe all that out, just pitch one pitch at a time."
Analysis: McDonald has enough upside to deserve a long look in the Dodgers rotation, but he spent most of last season in the bullpen, struggling with his control and his confidence. Considering none of his four starts last year came after April, maybe he had a chance to overcome the second of those issues, which would allow him to iron out the first. He'll compete for the fifth spot in the rotation this spring, and if he wins it, he's a decent sleeper in NL-only leagues. Of course, the Dodgers might just decide to keep him in the bullpen, where he posted a 2.72 ERA last year.
News: Astros RP Brandon Lyon will be a little behind schedule for spring training after having a small cyst in his right shoulder drained, according to MLB.com. The cyst had been pressing on a nerve and causing temporary weakness, however Lyon has been throwing without discomfort since the cyst was drained two weeks ago. Lyon will report as scheduled with pitchers and catchers next week, but he will be about 10 days behind in his throwing program. "It shouldn't be an appreciable amount of time," GM Ed Wade said.
Analysis: This should not be a setback for Lyon, who could serve as the team's closer, but we have to figure he is going to wind up a setup man for fellow offseason acquisition Matt Lindstrom. Consider Lyon intriguing in Fantasy only if he is a full-time closer and in a suitable situation for save chances. He won't hold as much value as a middle reliever or setup man as some of the other younger power arms in that role.
News: Blue Jays RP Dirk Hayhurst underwent surgery to repair fraying in the labrum of his right shoulder and is expected to miss most of the 2010 season, according to MLB.com. Hayhurst was to be in the mix for a spot in the bullpen this spring. He injured his shoulder this winter and will be out for at least four to six months.
Analysis: The 28-year-old Hayhurst pitched in 15 games for Toronto last season, compiling a 2.78 ERA with no decisions. He also was 4-6 with a 3.75 ERA in six starts and 19 relief appearances for Triple-A Las Vegas of the Pacific Coast League. We cannot be sure he will be healthy enough to pitch for the Jays at all this year. Ignore him on Draft Day.
News: Keith Hernandez has a new task for the New York Mets, moving down from the broadcast booth to give Daniel Murphy lessons at first base. Murphy started last season in left field and had never played first in the major leagues before May 20, when the Mets made the abrupt shift following Carlos Delgado's hip injury. The 25-year-old made 10 errors in 101 games and didn't appear comfortable around the bag. Hernandez, an 11-time Gold Glove first baseman, spent two hours Monday and Tuesday instructing Murphy and Nick Evans at the Mets' training complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla. General manager Omar Minaya had called Hernandez last week asking for his teaching skills. "I have one of the best first basemen of all time that have played the position there. It's my job to get as much information out of him as I can," Murphy said. "I want to be as athletic over there as Keith was. I want to be the guy that, you know, gets the lead runner, that makes an aggressive play and puts his body in a good spot." Hernandez, who previously worked with Todd Zeile and John Olerud, thought Murphy did as well as he could when making the shift with little practice last year. Hernandez intends to speak with manager Jerry Manuel and probably will work with Murphy at times during spring training.
Analysis: The Mets seem ready to give Murphy the job if he can just prove able to handle it. That is what spring training will be for. Big numbers is probably a stretch, but if Murphy can play first base to Manuel's satisfaction, he could hit 15-plus homers. He's worth a flier in NL-only leagues.
News: Outfielder Jason Pridie was claimed off waivers by the Mets, according to MLB.com. He was placed on waivers to open up a spot on the 40-man roster for second baseman Orlando Hudson. In 2009 Pridie batted .265 with 69 runs, 9 homers, 53 RBI and 25 stolen bases for Triple-A Rochester..
Analysis: Pridie has some speed, but he is nothing more than a reserve outfielder for the Twins and the deepest of AL-only leagues if he returns to the majors in the second half. Ignore him while he is in the minors.
News: Angels 3B Brandon Wood knows he's got his chance to be the team's starting third baseman with former starter Chone Figgins out of the picture, and he's up to the challenge. "It's something I've waited a long time for," Wood told MLB.com, "having a chance to come in and win a job." "I want to play every day. I haven't had a chance to do that. That's my goal and will continue to be my goal. To get consistent at-bats is what I've been looking for, and I want to take advantage of this opportunity." In 41 at-bats last season Wood hit .195 with one home run and and three RBI.
Analysis: Finally, after holding him at Triple-A for three straight seasons and making him almost an afterthought in Fantasy, the Angels will finally give Wood a full-time job in the majors this year. Of course, it won't come at shortstop, which is part of what made him such an intriguing sleeper in the first place, but his 30-homer potential translates just as well to third base. Of course, you don't know how quickly the 25-year-old will meet that potential. Wood might go undrafted in mixed leagues, but if he meets even half of his power potential, he won't remain unowned.
News:Yorvit Torrealba and the San Diego Padres have finalized a one-year contract that guarantees the catcher $1.25 million. Torrealba gets a $750,000 salary this year under Monday's agreement, and the deal includes a $3.5 million mutual option for 2011 with a $500,000 buyout. To clear a roster spot, the Padres asked for unconditional release waivers on right-hander Greg Burke.
Analysis: Burke was 3-3 with a 4.14 ERA in 48 games for San Diego last year. Wherever he lands, he will be just a low-end Fantasy option for use in leagues that use true middle men.
News: While Angels RP Scot Shields has yet to throw off a mound, he says his rehab following knee surgery is going well and that he expects to be ready for opening day, according to MLB.com. "Everything's fine," Shields said. "I'm on schedule. I just don't know if I'm going to get off a mound as soon as everybody else. They don't want me to rush it, but as far as being ready to go when it counts, I have no concerns at all." Patella tendinitis limited him to 17 2/3 innings last year. He went 1-3 with one save and a 6.62 ERA before surgery in June put an end to his season. Shields threw off flat ground in January experienced no pain in the knee. "I'm close to 100 percent, but we're just being careful."
Analysis: Tied to being Francisco Rodriguez's setup man, Shields suffered through the worst season of his career, one that was ended very early due to knee surgery. Shields was going to compete for save opportunities with K-Rod gone, but instead he remained a setup man and pitched like a bad one. He has value in deeper leagues, mostly AL-only formats again, but his limited role and injury risk make him little more than a late-round pick in real deep formats.
News:Yorvit Torrealba and the San Diego Padres have finalized a one-year contract that guarantees the catcher $1.25 million. Torrealba gets a $750,000 salary this year under Monday's agreement, and the deal includes a $3.5 million mutual option for 2011 with a $500,000 buyout. To clear a roster spot, the Padres asked for unconditional release waivers on right-hander Greg Burke, who was 3-3 with a 4.14 ERA in 48 games for San Diego last year.
Analysis: Torrealba figures to share playing time with Nick Hundley, who started 71 games last year and hit .238 with eight homers and 30 RBI. Torrealba, who turns 32 in July, spent the last four seasons with the Colorado Rockies and batted .291 with two homers and 31 RBI in 213 at-bats last year. Even if Torrealba stumbles into a decent batting average like he did last year, as a backup it won't be enough for him to make an impact in mixed leagues.
News: Arizona ace Brandon Webb threw off the mound on Tuesday for the first time since undergoing right shoulder surgery. Webb said he was pleased with how he felt after throwing between 20 and 25 pitches in the Chase Field bullpen. It's not clear when Webb, who turns 31 in May, will throw again. The club has not released a timetable for his return to the rotation. "It was good to get him into the next phase of his rehabilitation," manager A.J. Hinch said. "He looked comfortable. This is a positive sign as we're getting close to spring training."
Analysis: Webb made one start last year, then underwent surgery on Aug. 4. The club exercised an $8.5 million option for 2010 in hopes that the former NL Cy Young Award winner would return to dominance. Webb turns 31 in May. The former elite Fantasy ace is a big-time injury-risk sleeper on Draft Day. We cautiously rank him outside of the top 30 starting pitchers to target, but you'll be getting a potential top-five arm if you assume the risk after the elite, healthy arms are off the board.
News: Right-hander Jamey Wright and the Cleveland Indians have agreed to a minor league contract. Wright is 82-115 with a 5.03 ERA in 14 seasons, also pitching for Colorado, Milwaukee, St. Louis, San Francisco and Texas. He has made 246 starts and 174 relief appearances. If added to the 40-man roster, Wright would get a $900,000, one-year contract and the chance to make $700,000 more in performance bonuses.
Analysis: The 35-year-old Wright led the Kansas City Royals with 65 relief appearances last season, going 3-5 with a 4.33 ERA. He's not going to start for Cleveland and so has only low-end Fantasy value in leagues that use true middle men.
News: Baltimore signed RP Will Ohman to a minor league deal on Tuesday. Ohman was invited to big league spring training camp.
Analysis: The 32-year-old Ohman was 1-0 with a save and a 5.84 ERA in 21 games with the Dodgers during an injury-shortened 2009 season. He will attempt to make a crowded bullpen out of spring training. Since he's not going to pitch in the rotation or earn many saves, he's just an option in leagues that use true middle men.
