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| Reggie Willits underwent January surgery for the removal of a gallbladder, reports the team's official website. "I feel 100 times better since I had my surgery," Willits said on Thursday. The speedy outfielder might feel better physically, but he can't feel good about the team's signing of Torii Hunter during the offseason. The team is loaded with talent in the outfield; along with Willits and Hunter the team also rosters Vlad Guerrero, Garret Anderson, Juan Rivera and Gary Matthews Jr. With this group of outfielders Willits will have a tough time buying at-bats. |
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| Jered Weaver, P, Los Angeles Angels | Thursday 2/14, 7:03 PM CT |
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| Jered Weaver, who was forced to begin the 2007 season on the disabled list with biceps tendinitis, has been throwing since Thanksgiving and preparing hard for a successful spring. According to the team's official website, Weaver has been working mostly on his lower body strength, wanting to keep his upper half free and easy for his rhythmic delivery. The tall, lanky right-hander is still underweight for his 6'7" frame but is beginning to understand the importance of year-round conditioning. "By not being able to be with the team and pitch when I was supposed to pitch," Weaver said of last spring, "I let my team down, mostly. Obviously, I let the whole organization down by not coming in here and being ready to go. I think that was the most disappointing part about it."
Weaver finished 13-7 with a 3.91 ERA in 28 starts last year and is a top-tiered talent in the fantasy realm. |
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| Angels skipper Mike Scioscia told the team's official website that Kelvim Escobar is still experiencing the shoulder discomfort that caused him problems at the start and finish of what was a stellar 2007 season.
"He's getting his treatments, doing his rehab," Scioscia said of Escobar, who was 18-7 with a 3.40 ERA despite September struggles (7.99 ERA). "It's still a matter of strengthening his shoulder. There is no timetable for Escobar's return to the mound, making him a draft day risk. The Venezuelan right-hander is expected to start the regular season on the disabled list. |
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| Danys Baez, P, Baltimore Orioles | Thursday 2/14, 5:40 PM CT |
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| Danys Baez , who underwent Tommy John Surgery last season, has yet to be cleared to start throwing, according to the Baltimore Sun. The report mentioned that recent inflammation in his elbow has slowed his rehab. He's scheduled to visit Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., later this month. The O's set-up man wasn't expected to pitch this season so this negative report won't effect his fantasy value. He has none.
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| Francisco Liriano is not being allowed to travel into the United States due to a problem with his visa. The StarTribune.com reports that the southpaw is having visa problems because of a drunken-driving arrest. The visa issue will cause Liriano to be late for the beginning of Spring Training. "(The Twins) told me to take it easy and not to worry, that everything is going to come out OK," Liriano said. Liriano was 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA in 2006 and says his surgically repaired elbow is ready for a full work load this spring. |
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| Chris Ray, who had season ending Tommy John Surgery on his right elbow last year, expects to be pitching again sometime this season. In the mean time, Baltimore wants to give recently acquired George Sherrill a chance to earn the closer job.
Sherrill a set-up man with the Seattle Mariners is excited about the opportunity, according to the Baltimore Sun.
"I'd love to close. I think it's every reliever's goal. But just being part of something is all I can ask for," he said.
Sherrill, a minor league closer, has four career saves in four major league seasons.
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| Chris Ray, P, Baltimore Orioles | Thursday 2/14, 5:23 PM CT |
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| Chris Ray, who is still recovering from ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow, expects to be pitching again sometime this season, according to the Baltimore Sun. In the mean time, Baltimore wants to give recently acquired George Sherrill a chance to earn the closer job. |
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| Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Thursday that there's a "strong possibility" that Brandon Inge will still be traded, according to the Detroit News. With Miguel Cabrera now in tow, Inge would be used in a utility role if he remains in Motown. Obviously it depends on where he would end up, but Inge's fantasy value is sure to go up if he gets dealt, because he doesn't appear to be in line for much playing time in Detroit. |
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| Hideki Matsui admitted to MLB.com that although he hasn't returned to game shape quite yet, he expects to be there by the end of spring training. The outfielder admitted on Thursday that his running ability was affected over the last two months of the year due to pain in his right knee. "We still have about a month and a half until opening day," Matsui said through an interpreter. "That's a lot of time. I'm sure that by then, I should be feeling pretty good." Keep an eye on Matsui's progress this spring. Even if it turns out that he's ready by opening day, this could turn out to be a reoccurring problem. |
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| Chris Roberson cleared waivers on Wednesday and was outrighted to the Orioles Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk, according to the team's official website. Roberson was acquired in early January from the Phillies for cash considerations. |
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| Chad Gaudin, P, Oakland Athletics | Thursday 2/14, 12:37 PM CT |
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| The Mercury News reports that not only did Chad Gaudin have surgery on his left hip and right big this offseason, but he also had a procedure to remove a tumor on his esophagus. Doctors had known about the tumor since 2002, but since a biopsy showed it was non-cancerous and it wasn't very big, they left it alone. But several months ago Gaudin began having trouble swallowing because the tumor had grown. Gaudin hopes to be able to pitch by March 1. |
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| Dan Johnson, 1B, Tampa Bay Rays | Thursday 2/14, 12:29 PM CT |
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| The acquisition of Mike Sweeney puts Dan Johnson's roster spot in jeopardy. The two will compete for time at DH, and with the middle of the A's lineup already left-handed heavy, the right-handed hitting Sweeney could have an edge. "I don't even know what to say, which way they're going," Johnson said in the Mercury News. He added that he wouldn't expect he and Sweeney "to be on the same team if we're at the same position." Johnson's production has dipped the last two years after a strong rookie campaign. He is a lot younger than Sweeney and isn't nearly as much of an injury risk, but it sounds as if the A's may be ready to go in another direction. Keep an eye on this battle in spring, because whoever wins the DH job will at least have some value in AL-only play. |
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| Rich Harden, P, Oakland Athletics | Thursday 2/14, 12:24 PM CT |
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| Rich Harden is not happy with how he was handled by A's management last year. "The whole year (last season) I've got people in the organization telling me I'm fine, that I've got to pitch with pain," Harden said in the Mercury News. "It's insulting, because they don't know what's going on." Harden refused to point his finger at a specific individual. "I've got a lot of stuff to say. I don't want to say it," he said. Harden made just seven appearances last year because of injures. He said he second-guessed a decision to have him pitch in relief as he tried to come back from a strained shoulder. The righty feels fine at the moment, but it's clear injuries will always be an issue with him. |
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| Gavin Floyd, P, Chicago White Sox | Thursday 2/14, 11:29 AM CT |
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| Gavin Floyd must perform during Spring Training if he plans to stay in Chicago moving forward. The right-hander is out of minor-league options and will be waived if he doesn't rate as a member of the team's Opening Day roster according to Chicago Sports. The 2007 season wasn't kind to Floyd; who was 1-5 in 10 starts with a 5.27 ERA. |
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| Juan Uribe, 2B, Chicago White Sox | Thursday 2/14, 10:43 AM CT |
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| Baltimore will scout the Sox's Juan Uribe in case 23-year-old Luis Hernandez falters as Miguel Tejada's replacement at shortstop, according to Chicago Sports. Uribe lost his starting gig to former Angel Orlando Cabrera, who was acquired in a trade for Jon Garland. Cabrera was a solid fantasy contributor in Los Angeles last year batting .301 with 35 doubles, eight home runs, 86 RBIs and a career-high 101 runs scored. Uribe has two straight seasons of 20-plus HRs, but his high strike out total and miserable batting average doesn't excite Roto owners. |
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| Alex Cintron, SS, Baltimore Orioles | Thursday 2/14, 10:23 AM CT |
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| The Baltimore Sun reports that the Orioles are in discussions with free agent Alex Cintron to provide them another option at shortstop. After trading away Miguel Tejada in the offseason, the team was going to open up a competition at the position among Luis Hernandez, Brandon Fahey and Freddie Bynum. Cintron would fit in that mix. |
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| Brett Tomko, P, Kansas City Royals | Thursday 2/14, 10:22 AM CT |
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| The Kansas City Star reports that "11 pitchers will open camp as candidates for the rotation: Gil Meche, Zack Greinke, Brian Bannister, Brett Tomko, Jorge De La Rosa, Luke Hudson, John Bale, Brian Lawrence, Kyle Davies, Hideo Nomo and Mike Maroth." Three pitchers in the mix are a lock to break camp as starters. Barring injury, Meche, Greinke and Bannister will make up the first three arms in the rotation. The report noted that team officials indicated Tomko must pitch his way out of the No. 4 slot. |
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| Zack Greinke, P, Kansas City Royals | Thursday 2/14, 10:18 AM CT |
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| Pitching coach Bob McClure told the KC Star that "11 pitchers will open camp as candidates for the rotation: Gil Meche, Zack Greinke, Brian Bannister, Brett Tomko, Jorge De La Rosa, Luke Hudson, John Bale, Brian Lawrence, Kyle Davies, Hideo Nomo and Mike Maroth."
Three pitchers in the mix are a lock to break camp as starters. Barring injury, Meche, Greinke and Bannister will make up the first three arms in the rotation. |
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| Luke Hochevar is a candidate for the Royals 2008 rotation and according to the KC Star he also could start the season as a reliever.
“I want to break him in out of the pen,” McClure said, “but he’ll pitch longer than a short reliever. I can’t say he’s not a likely candidate (for the rotation). I can’t put it to you that way. I’m going to have to watch him pitch.”
Hochevar's four-pitch arsenal features a solid fastball with movement, a big league curve, and a solid slider and change. However, his minor league lines are not impressive. Hochevar posted a 4.69 ERA and a .286 batting average against in 94 innings in Double-A -- followed that with a 5.12 ERA and a .244 batting average against in 58 Triple-A innings. |
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| C.C. Sabathia announced on his official website today that he has cut off contract talks with the Indians, saying "there will be time after the season for the Indians and my representatives to discuss my contract status." Of course, the Indians can hardly afford to lose Sabathia for mere draft picks if he demands a Johan Santana like deal and signs elsewhere this fall, so it's possible he could be traded at some point this year. |
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| Erick Aybar, SS, Los Angeles Angels | Thursday 2/14, 9:46 AM CT |
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| When the Angels traded Orlando Cabrera to the White Sox for Jon Garland, they did so with the intention of turning their starting shortstop job over to Erick Aybar. However, the LA Times reports that Aybar raised serious concerns by making 19 errors in 35 winter-league games in the Dominican Republic, and that could open the door for Maicer Izturis to win the job. Izturis doesn't have as impressive a skill set as Aybar, but he batted .406 with runners in scoring position last season. Stay tuned. |
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