Wow. Injuries occur all the time in baseball and fantasy baseball GMs can usually roll with the punches, but I can’t remember when I’ve seen such a rash of injuries to top guys that are out there. We’re not even two weeks through the season and already we’ve got more wounded than a M*A*S*H marathon on TV. In some fantasy baseball leagues, GMs are yanking their hair out trying to patch up their rosters while others are just waiting their turn and trying to take preventative measures. So to keep you updated, and with the hope to keep your aggravation levels low, we’re going t o go team by team and address the major injuries. Obviously there are some out there that have absolutely no impact on the current fantasy baseball season, so I’m going to leave those alone. No sense in cluttering up the page. Here are the important ones. We’ll go team by team and talk about the player, the extent of the injury, and if there is someone else on the team’s roster whom you should pick up. It won’t be too much fun, but here goes…
Arizona Diamondbacks
Miguel Montero, C — With Montero’s breakout last year and with all of the high expectations for this season, numerous fantasy owners got burnt with the early injury; especially those that took him too high in their fantasy baseball drafts. Montero has a torn meniscus in his right knee which requires surgery. Expect the D-Backs backstop to be out a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks and likely to continue sharing time with replacement Chris Snyder until he’s back to 100%.
Kelly Johnson, 2B – Back stiffness has put Johnson into the day-to-day injury realm and he could be sitting out for a game or two right now. It doesn’t appear to be serious, but something that could come back again later in the season. This is just one of those things that you have to ride out. There’s no sense in picking up Augie Ojeda as he won’t garner enough playing time to be worth anything.
Brandon Webb, SP — I think we all know enough about Brandon Webb’s shoulder right now as he still looks to be out for atleast another month and a half, possibly even longer. Barring any setbacks, I’d say you’re looking at mid-June, but even then, I don’t know if I could trust him in my lineup. Not until he was able to string together a few quality starts first.
Atlanta Braves
Jordan Schaefer, OF — Not that there’s any room for him when he gets back, but Schafer, who has been on the DL since he underwent surgery on his hand and wrist last September, isn’t expected back until the end of April, and even then, he’ll probably land in the minors. H emight get a mid to late seson call up, depending on the other guys or possible deals, but don’t expect much from him.
Jo Jo Reyes, RP — Maybe it was the 9 runs he gave up in 3 1/3 innings to the Padres the other day, or maybe he really did hurt himself. If you’re in a league where middle relief guys have value, then expect Reyes to bone you with a DL stint just after boning you with that last pitching line. Seems that he’s got a strained knee and will be out for atleast the minimum DL time.
Baltimore Orioles
Brian Roberts, 2B – It seems to be getting worse and worse for Roberts and his fantasy owners as there is no specific timetable for his return. Roberts was having serious back issues throughout the spring, received an epidural, and then made it back to start the season only to end up hurt again. This time it’s an abdominal muscle he hurt while sliding into second base. The two injuries could nag him all year, and now they’re talking about how the slide not only strained the abdominal muscle, but also irritated a nerve in his back. The Orioles are using a mix of Ty Wigginton, Julio Lugo and Justin Turner to patch things up, but with no clear cut replacement, it’s hard to recommend one just yet. Wigginton can find himself on a hot streak from time to time and he’s got some power, so if you’re desperate, then try him out.
Mike Gonzalez, RP — I think we all sensed there was more to it with Gonzalez when he was so quickly yanked from teh closer’s role. It wasn’t just a pair of bad outings as we found out when he was placed on the DL with a shoulder issue. They’re saying mid-May is a possible target date for his return, but there’s no guarantee that he’ll have more than just a set-up job waitign for him. Jim Johnson appears to be the guy for saves in Baltimore now, but if he falters, then take a look at Cla Meredith.
Boston Red Sox
Jacoby Ellsbury, OF — It’s a day to day thing with Ellsbury right now as he’s missed the last few games with bruised ribs he got after colliding with that meat sack, Adrian Beltre. Word is that he’ll be out for the remainder of the Sox road trip this week but could be back over the weekend. It’s been a bummer for those that can only make weekly lineup changes, but if you can make daily moves, then pay attention to see if he’s ready to return.
Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP — Dice-K, on the DL with back and neck issues, is currently on rehab in Triple-A. His last session, over th eweekend, apparently went well, but the coaches and trainers are keeping him on a strict pitch count still. He was held between 80-85 pitches, had decent command of his fastball, and supposedly felt greta afterwards. They want him up to 95 pitches before they bring him back, so expect maybe another week. Be careful though. He’s struggled with command problems the last 2 seasons and if he has any kind of a flare up again, you could be looking at one of those 6 walks in 4 innings, which is never good for your WHIP totals.
Chicago Cubs
Derrek Lee, 1B — The Cubs slugger is still considered day to day after injuring his thumb a few games ago. His x-rays came back negative, so it doesn’t look like a DL trip is necessary. Xavier Nady has been filling in at first while Tyler Colvin has been grabbing a few extra at bats this week. Monitor this one through the weekend to see if he’s usable, but I would try to find a temporary replacement if need be. Too bad Nady doesn’t have enough games at first to qualify just yet.
Ted Lilly, SP — Between the shoulder, the neck and the back, it’s a wonder Lilly’s even on rehab assignment. But next week, he should make a Double-A appearance and start working his way back from the DL. He’ll likely make a few minor league starts to get himself ready, so I wouldn’t expect him to be safe for your lineup until early May, still. If he comes back healthy, though, he could be a great addition to your rotation as Lilly has been incredibly reliable over the last few years.
Chicago White Sox
No major injuries to report
Cincinnati Reds
No major injuries to report
Cleveland Indians
Russell Branyan, 1B — The newly signed slugger has been out since the end of spring training with a back injury (herniated disc), but looks to be close to a return. He’s on rehab in Triple-A right now and look spretty good at the plate right now. He could be back as soon as over the weekend, but I would consider early next week to be more sensible. Branyan’s return, just like his signing, is going to screw things up for a lot of people. Matt LaPorta will likely be shifted back to left field which means the team may not have any room for Michael Brantley anymore, especially after his cold start. The team will want him to continue getting regular at bats, so expect a demotion to Triple-A for him.
Kerry Wood, RP — There’s still no real timetable set for Wood’s return from his most recent back injury, but everyone seems to think mid to late May is the most realistic guess. Chris Perez has taken over the closer’s role for now, but after his last outing, one would have to assume that the team will re-insert Wood into the role once he returns. Still, that’s plenty of time for Perez to prove the doubters wrong, and there’s still a chance he grabs some save opps when the club wants to be cautious with Wood.
Colorado Rockies
Brad Hawpe, OF — He’s considered day to day with a strained quad, so expect him to miss a game or two over the next few days. The Rockies have plenty of depth in the OF so they don’t need to rush him back. Seth Smith looks like he could be a nice little pick up for a few days, but don’t go blowing your waiver priority on him.
Carlos Gonzalez, OF — Same day to day as Hawpe, except here it’s a hamstring issue. Now because of Gonzalez’ long term potential and the tendency for people to come back too soon from hamstring injuries, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the team hold him out a few extra days just to be sure. While both he and Hawpe are out, expect to see more of Dexter Fowler and even Ryan Spilborghs. Fowler has hismerits with speed, but again, no need to blow your waiver priority here.
Jeff Francis, SP — The veteran lefty is still on the mend after shoulder problems have kept him out for quite some time now. He’s currently headed to extended spring training to work on hi sarm strength, but I wouldn’t expect him to return until atleast mid-May. He might be worth a loook, depending on his rehab progress, but I woul dalso want to see a few starts before inserting him into my lineup. Greg Smith maintains his hold on Francis’ rotation spot and coul dbe valuable in NL only leagues depending on his matchups.
Huston Street, RP – The news Street got back on his shoulder last week seemed promising to some, but I still see the trip to Dr. James Andrews as a big red flag. He may be on the mend now, but what does the future hold? He’s likel yto remain out until early to mid-May, but even then, I don’t see the Rox just throing him right back into the fire. Franklin Morales has been filling in thus far and both Manny Corpas and Rafael Betancourt are still lingering. If Street does come back healthy though, he could be a nice steal off the waiver wire.
Detroit Tigers
No major injuries to report
Florida Marlins
Chris Coghlan, OF — He’s being listed as day to day after hurting his side the other day, but I think his sitting out is more closely related to his abyssmal .132 average right now. The slump is horiffic as he is 1 for his last 19 plate appearances, so don’t put too much stock into the injury. Can’t say I didn’t warn you.
Houston Astros
Lance Berkman, 1B — Word on the street is that my new favorite punching bag could return to the lineup sometime next week. Big Puma has been sidelined after arthroscopic surgery on his knee, but appears close to a return. Perennial backup, Geoff Blum, will return to the bench after dazzling Astros fans with his .208 average and .240 OBP. If Berkman is available, I would pick him up. Sure his power is on the decline and he is an injury risk, bu tif you can still get 20+ HR out of him, you’d be a fool to let that slip away.
Kansas City Royals
Alex Gordon, 3B — Well, this injury is a thumb problem and he’s likely not coming back for a couple more weeks. He’s on rehab assignment in Single-A ball right now and is going to need a lot of work to get his timing and some assemblance of power back. He’s always been highly touted, so he may deserve a look, but with the number of injuries he’s had, he coul dbe back on the shelf before you know it. When he does return, expect Alberto Callaspo to go back over to platooning with Chris Getz at second base, which obviously hinders both of their fantasy values.
Josh Fields, 3B — Who’s going to make it back first, him or Gordon? Fields has been on the DL with a hip problem but is slated to return as early as the middle of next week. If that’s the case, then expect the values of Callaspo and getz to dwindle a little faster. Fields will only be a viable option once Gordon gets hurt….again.
Los Angeles Angels
Brian Fuentes, RP — Well, everyone thought Fuentes would lose his gig due to poor pitching when in fact it’s his back that is opening the door for Fernando Rodney. Fuentes won’t be back until the end of April, so if you need saves now, Rodney is your guy. It should be interesting to see how this develops once Fuentes is ready to come back. Rodney might not be so quick to give up the job.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Brad Ausmus, C — Lower back surgery. Buh-bye. Ausmus is done until atleast August. He didn’t have much value unless Russell Martin got hurt, so consider his replacement, A.J. Ellis, to be in the same boat.
Hong-Chih Kuo, RP — If your league uses holds or you need a decent ratio stabilizing guy, then a healthy Kuo could be of service. He’s been dealing with some elbow stiffness, but could be back by the middle of next week. If he’s ready to go, then he could have some use in deep NL-only leagues.
Milwaukee Brewers
Mat Gamel, 3B — Apparently Gamel has a torn muscle in his back up near the shoulder blade and is likely out until atleast mid to late May. Unfortunately for him though, the Brewers are doing fine in his absence with Casey McGehee at the hot corner. McGehee, if he’s available, could be a nice pick up as he also has eligibility at second base. He’s currently hitting .333 with 2 HR and 5 RBI and has the potential for more power in the future. The only way Gamel gets a look is as a stash away in long term keeper and dynasty leagues, unlesss of course Rickie Weeks gets hurt again, and the club needs to bring him up.
Minnesota Twins
Joe Nathan, RP — Do I really need to say it? If Jon Rauch is available, give him a go. He’s been doing very well in Nathan’s absence right now and should be considered a viable option in any league. Matt Guerrier and Jesse Crain still remain in the wings in case Rauch falls apart.
New York Mets
Carlos Beltran, OF — The knee surgery Beltran had back in January seems to have been a little more rough than anticipated. Beltran still has not resumed running, and his return date is looking closer to the end of May now. Obviously, he is someone you should be stashing away, so that you can use him as soon as he’s healthy. The Mets will be anxious to get him back as the fill-in platoon of Angel Pagan and Gary Matthews, Jr. doesn’t seem to be working that well.
Daniel Murphy, 1B/OF – He’s been in extended spring training right now, but Murphy still has not run on his recovering sprained knee. The timetable is mid to late May, so the Mets are stuck with the Fernando Tatis/Mike Jacobs platoon in the meantime. Murphy coul dsee significant action when he returns, but don’t rule out the emergence of Ike Davis. If the kid tears it up in the minors, he could force the team’s hand to get rid of some of this aging dead weight.
New York Yankees
No major injuries to report
Oakland A’s
Mark Ellis, 2B — He’s considered day to day with a hamstring issue, so if you’re making daily moves, you’ll want to get him out of your lineup right now. Adam Rosales is filling in for the time being, but the team doesn’t anticipate too much time lost here.
Coco Crisp, OF — Good ol’ Coco…everyone’s favorite disappointment. Crisp has been sidelined on the DL with a fractured pinkie and likely won’t be back until early May. He should have no trouble reclaiming the job once he returns, so expect to see Travis Buck head back to the bench while Ryan Sweeney moves over to right. Crisp’s offensive upside is pretty limited since Rajai Davis should hold the leadoff spot. Consider Crisp to be an average 5th outfielder with limited steals potential.
Trevor Cahill, SP — One of the new hot youngsters for the A’s staff will be making his rehab appearance in the next few days. He’s been out with a shoulder injury and shouldn’t be expected back until early May. However, his return to the rotation could hinge on the performance of Gio Gonzalez who has been doing a nice fill-in job thus far. Keep watching Gonzalez to see how he’s performing, because if he stays in the rotation, he could be worth a look. If he falters, then Cahill’s value should go back to where it was before he got hurt.
Michael Weurtz, RP — Attemptin gto work his way through shoulder tendenitis, Weurtz will make a rehab appearance on Friday. If healthy, he could be worth a look if you count holds and use middle relievers. He could also be the guy the team turns to if anything happens to their closer, Andrew Bailey.
Joey Devine, RP — Another A’s bullpen guy on the shelf. Devine was actually the primary choice for closing out games before he got hurt last year and we all met Bailey, but he’s just too risky to even take a flier on. He won’t be back until mid to late May anyway, so keep moving….nothing left to see here.
Philadelphia Phillies
Jimmy Rollins, SS — Here’s one of those big injuries that hurts a fantasy team in the worst way. High draft pick, middle infied, ouch! Rollins just went on the DL this week with a strained calf and won’t be eligible to return until early May and possibly longer. The Phils are saying 2-4 weeks. Juan Castro will fill in for the time being, but he has very limited upside. The only real beneficiaries of this are Shane Victorino and his owners as the Flyin’ Hawaiian now moves to the leadoff spot. His value gets an immediate boost, even if it is for a short time.
Jayson Werth, OF — It might just be day to day with a sore hip, but I should have seen this coming. I’ve never been a fan of his and was forced into protecting him this year in one of my keeper leagues. But I knew once I did that, Werth would find his way onto the DL somehow. It’s not at that point right now, so keep your fingers crossed for me. He walked as a pinch hitter yesterday, so there’s a chance he could be back in the starting lineup today or tomorrow.
Joe Blanton, SP — Country Joe has been on the DL with an oblique strain, but is expected back by the end of this month. He doesn’t put up the most dazzling of numbers, but the guy eats innings like CC Sabathia does pizzas. The Phillies will be happy to have him back as Kyle Kendrick has looked absolutely atrocious so far. Blanton should definitely have some value in NL-only and deep mixed league when he returns.
Brad Lidge, RP — Still trying to work his way back from elbow and knee issues, Lidge is currently on rehab assignment in Single-A ball right now. He’s doing better and could move up to Double-A in a few days, but I don’t think the team is in too much of a rush here. They’d much rather have him take his time and be at 100%. Besides, Ryan Madson has been just fine so far while filling in.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Ross Ohlendorf, SP — It looks like the Pitrates hurler will miss his next start due to back tightness, so if you were ever thinking about using him, don’t. There’s no word as to who will get the nod in his place, but I can’t imagine it’s going to be someone you’ll want to use.
San Diego Padres
Chris Young, SP — After such a nice debut, Young ends up back on the DL with shoulder stiffness. He says there’s no pain, so that’s somewhat encouraging and the team expects him to return in the minimum time. If he’s healthy, Young could be a real nice fantasy baseball sleeper this season with decent strikeout potential, sound ratios and a home ballpark that’s built like the Grand Canyon.
San Francisco Giants
Freddy Sanchez, 2B — What a disappointment fromthe first day he donned a Giants cap. Sanchez has been out with a variety of ailments, most notably his knee and his shoulder. He is out until atleast the end of April, and there’s no telling how he will perform if/when he returns. Juan Uribe has been filling in and is definitely worth a look with his .344 average and power upside.
Fred Lewis, OF — He’s really just the 4th outfielder, so he doesn’t really hav emuch inthe way of value. Still, he’s been one fo the best pinch hitters for the Giants in the last year and has some cheap steals potential. However, I don;t see him being worthwhile unless he gets some regular at bats.
Seattle Mariners
Cliff Lee, SP — Word is that between the abdominal strain and the suspension, Lee won’t make his 2010 debut until the first week of May. I’m sure he’s sitting on someone’s roster in the DL spot, but if there’s a chance that he’s not, you shoul dprobably pick him up and stash him away yourself. Once healthy, Lee coul dbe a dominant force for the Mariners.
Erik Bedard, SP — Another strong arm for the Mariners who needs to continue working his way back. The M’s are taking it slow with him as he recovers from shoulder surgery, but he could be back by mid-May. I’m always leary of guys who have had control problems and then shoulder issues, but if you can afford to take the flier, then why not? His sessions right now are going 45-50 pitches and the team is going to take it slow with him, but when healthy, he could be a valuable fantasy asset.
St. Louis Cardinals
No major injuries to report
Tampa Bay Rays
Kelly Shoppach, C — The knee sprain and the Dl stint are a bummer, but that leaves the door open for Dioner Navarro to take the lion’s share of at bats. The injury isn’t considered major, so expect to see Shoppach back by the end of this month. I still think his power potential could garner him the strong end of the catching platoon, but we’ll see what happens when he returns.
Matt Joyce, OF — He’s currently on rehab assignment in Triple-A right now, making his way back from elbow issues. His value will still remain limited unless he can prove worthy of regualr at bats. The real loser here could be my favorite sleeper pick, Sean Rodriguez, who has been struggling a bit at the plate. If Joyce makes his way back then that should push Ben Zobrist back to second for most of the time. We’ll see how this goes, but I’m not ready to cut bair with Rodriguez just yet.
J.P. Howell, RP — Another guy whose value is limited to leagues that use holds as a category and have uses for middle relievers. Howell should be back sometime in mid-May, so you can probably leave him on waivers until then.
Texas Rangers
Ian Kinsler, 2B — The fact that he has been so slow to recover from this high ankle sprain is incredibly annoying to his owners, and while I still think that he should be re-inserted into your lineup as soon as he gets back, his inability to heal properly is a minor concern; especially for a guy who gets hurt as often as he does. Joaquin Arias has been filling in nicely thus far, although it’s pretty much just an empty batting average.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C — He’s out until atleast the end of April with his chronic back issues. What’s worse is that his backup, Taylor Teagarden, is day to day with the flu, so Matt Treanor has been the guy behind the dish lately. Salty has solid upside, bu tjust can’t stay healthy, so don’t expect too much when he eventually comes back.
Tommy Hunter, SP — An oblique strain has sidelined Hunter for a little while now and he likely won’t be back until mid May. Problem for him is that when he returns, there might not be room for him. Both C.J. Wilson and Colby Lewis have pitched well enough to command a rotation spot, so Hunter could come back for bullpen work or possibly a demotion to Triple-A. He’s got talent, so when he is back in the starting five, he’s a guy worth considering if the matchup is right.
Toronto Blue Jays
Aaron Hill, 2B — What’s with all the top second basemen this year? Hill has been on the DL with a hamstring issue, and while he’s eligible to return by the April 23rd series vs the Rays, one would have to be concerned as to whether or not he is rushing back. Fantasy owners that drafted him are counting on a return to form, but if he’s back too soon, we could lose him again shortly thereafter.
Scott Richmond/Dustin McGowan/Jesse Litsch/Mike Rzepczynski, SP — Lump ‘em all together here as the earliest anyone is making it back to the rotation is mid-May (Rzepczynski). Everyone else is looking at a possible mid-season return. This just means that Brandon Morrow will get atleast one more shot to prove he belongs in the majors. Keep an eye on Morrow as his upside has been highly touted for a coupl eof years. It’s just a matter of him getting it together as a starter.
Washington Nationals
Ryan Zimmerman, 3B — He’s missed the last few games with a hamstring issue and is still listed as questionable heading into tonight and the weekend. The Nats have no reason to rush him back, although he’ll likely avoid the DL. Once he’s ready to return, you shoul dhave him active as his power a tthe hot corner is quality. Alberto Gonzalez has been filling in, but he’s not worth the pick up.
So that’s where we have it right now, folks. Way too many injuries to way too many quality fantasy stars right now. It’s like watching the NCAA tournament this year as all the top seeded teams started dropping like flies. Hopefully we can all weather the storm right now and get back on track soon. If not, well my waiver wire article, 3 Up 3 Down, tomorrow should help you with a few names heading into the weekend.
Good luck and I’ll see you all in the money this year!
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