Fantasy Baseball Morning Update: Nats send Harper to minors
Did you hear that the Yankees signed Andy Pettitte on Friday? Pettitte will turn 40 in June, didn't pitch in 2011, and probably won't be ready until May. Do the Yankees distrust Phil Hughes that much? Anyway, stay away from Pettitte in mixed leagues.
On to the rest of the news:
- The Nationals announced Sunday that phenom Bryce Harper will open the season at Triple A as a center fielder. Roger Bernadina and Rick Ankiel should watch their backs, because Harper is likely to steal their platooned big-league job by early June at the latest. Please, please don't draft Harper in standard mixed redraft leagues. It'll almost certainly be a waste of a pick. He'll probably be great someday, but not now.
- Royals closer Joakim Soria sounds worried about his sore elbow, meaning that it's time to start thinking about his possible replacement. A few weeks ago I would have said Jonathan Broxton, but Greg Holland was terrific last season, and has been strong again this spring while Broxton has been working his way back from September elbow surgery. If you're looking to speculate on some bad news for Soria later this week, the guess here is that Holland will be the likely beneficiary.
- With OF Carlos Quentin expected to be out until mid-April following knee surgery, the Padres' website suggests that Jesus Guzman and Kyle Blanks will get most of the at bats in his place.
- Breathe easy, Robinson Cano owners. The Yankees' second baseman got hit in the left hand by a pitch on Sunday, but X-rays were negative and he won't miss much time.
- Orioles' southpaw Zach Britton might not be ready for Opening Day due to shoulder inflammation.
- The Rays sent Brandon Guyer to the minors? I thought he was going to platoon with Matt Joyce. Boo!
- Here's a good article about one of my favorite draft-day bargains, White Sox 3B Brent Morel. There are at least five third basemen being picked ahead of Morel for no good reason.
- Jays 3B Brett Lawrie (groin) should be back in the lineup later this week. Don't let this short-term injury stop you from overdrafting Lawrie, like everyone else is.
- Shoulder tendinitis will shut down 20-year-old SP Jacob Turner for a week, so his chances of earning a spot in the Tigers' rotation are just about gone.
- Chris Carpenter's recovery from a neck injury seems to be going well, and if he doesn't start on Opening Day, he should be back on the hill shortly after that.
- Hector Noesi appears on track to make the Mariners' rotation. I hope the guys in my AL keeper league aren't reading this.
- Is anyone reading this really worried about Giants 2B Freddy Sanchez not being ready to start the season?
- It sounds like Jim Thome might see some time at first base while Ryan Howard is out. Any excuse to see Thome get some extra Paul Bunyanesque swings is fine with me.
- Daric Barton is still in the middle of the A's first-base competition. Um ... yippee?
- Mets 3B David Wright (torn abdominal muscle) still hopes to be ready by Opening Day.
- Twins SP Francisco Liriano threw five no-hit innings yesterday. I can't quit Liriano, and this doesn't help. The readers of this blog might need to stage an intervention if I start drafting him again.
- OF Corey Hart (knee) might surprise the Brewers by being ready for Opening Day.
- If DH Kendrys Morales makes the Angels' Opening Day roster, won't they have to trade Bobby Abreu? There are at least two too many 1B/OF/DHs on that team.
- It sounds like Mike, er, Giancarlo Stanton's knee inflammation will keep him out of spring games for at least another week. This issue better not affect the 50-homer season I've been counting on.
- Jeff Samardzija appears to be closing in on a rotation slot for the Cubs. I look forward of a season of misspelling his name once a week.
- The Red Sox will probably start the season with Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Kelly Shoppach as their catchers, and Ryan Lavarnway in the minors.
- Diamondbacks SS Stephen Drew is likely to start the season on the disabled list. This news isn't a surprise, but you might have needed a reminder.
See you back here Wednesday morning.
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