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Fantasy Baseball News & Updates
Fantasy Baseball News & Updates

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Fantasy News
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Japan's Nikkan Sports is reporting Jose Contreras may be considering a move to Japan.
Contreras is going to Japan next week to set up his teenage son in a Japanese high school exchange program, according to the report. The veteran right-hander struggled through much of the 2009 season, going a combined 6-13 with a 4.92 ERA in 28 games (23 starts) for the White Sox and Rockies.
MLB.com's Ian Browne reports that while the Red Sox discussed Matt Holliday with agent Scott Boras at the General Managers Meetings earlier this month, it is believed that GM Theo Epstein's preference is to retain Jason Bay.
Bay proved he could handle the pressure of playing in Boston by recording career bests in homers (36) and RBIs (119) this past season. Look for the Red Sox to ratchet up interest in Holliday only if Bay starts to slip away.
Gary Sheffield is aiming to be a highly productive everyday player again in 2010.
In an interview with the Boston Globe, Sheffield said he was dedicated to remaining in top shape and that he "can go out and hit at least 25 and maybe up to 40 home runs for some team" if he gets the chance. That would seem to be a tall order for a 41-year-old who last compiled at least 500 plate appearances and 20 homers in '07, though he could still provide some thump if he receives regular at-bats as a DH.
Dallas McPherson has agreed to a Minor League contract with the A's that includes an invitation to Spring Training.
Once considered a top power prospect, McPherson has been limited by back problems to 459 at-bats over the past three seasons, with only 11 of them coming in the Majors. The 29-year-old did not play in 2009, though he racked up 42 homers and 98 RBIs for Triple-A Albuquerque in '08.
The Yankees added pitchers Hector Noesi, Ivan Nova and Romulo Sanchez, infielders Reegie Corona, Eduardo Nunez and Kevin Russo and outfielder Austin Jackson and to the 40-man roster on Friday.
The name to remember here is Jackson, the team's prized center-field prospect whose name has circulated in Roy Halladay trade rumors. The 22-year-old speedster hit .300 with four homers, 65 RBIs and 24 stolen bases over 132 games with Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre and has an outside chance to crack the Yankees' Opening Day roster with an impressive spring.
On Friday, the Red Sox Red Sox claimed right-handed pitcher Robert Manuel off waivers from the Mariners.
Manuel, 26, made his Major League debut with the Cincinnati Reds in 2009, tossing 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief over three games. He began the season with Cincinnati’s Triple-A Louisville affiliate, going 3-4 with 10 saves and a 2.70 ERA in 46 2/3 innings over two stints with the Bats.
On Friday, the Pirates claimed right-handed pitcher Chris Jakubauskas off waivers from the Mariners.
To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Jeff Karstens has been designated for assignment. The 30-year-old Jakubauskas spent a majority of the 2009 season with the Mariners and went 6-7 with a 5.32 ERA in 35 games (eight starts). He finished third on the Seattle pitching staff with 93.0 innings pitched and third in victories.
The Cubs signed reliever John Grabow to a two-year contract on Friday.
It's been a long time coming for Grabow, who proved to be a dependable option out of Chicago's bullpen last season while registering a 3.36 ERA with 23 holds and a 57/40 K/BB ratio over 72 1/3 innings. Expect the 31-year-old southpaw, who came over with Tom Gorzelanny last season from the Pirates, to be used in late innings once again this season for the North Siders.
The Braves will likely give top prospect Jason Heyward a chance to begin the 2010 season in their outfield.
Widely considered one of the game's top prospects, Heyward warrants special attention entering Spring Training, as he has the talent to emerge in a hurry. To provide some insurance in the event that Heyward isn't able to make the successful jump to the Majors, Atlanta may at least attempt to find an affordable veteran outfielder. Matt Diaz and Nate McLouth are in place to fill the other outfield spots.
It appears free-agent first baseman Adam LaRoche will draw the most interest from the Giants, Mets and Diamondbacks.
While hitting .325 with 12 homers in the 57 games he played for the Braves this past season, LaRoche seemed to enhance his interest on the free-agent market. Although there's a chance that he could return if he doesn't prove to be too expensive, the Braves may be reluctant to offer him anything more than a one-year deal, with highly-regarded prospect Freddie Freeman potentially ready to serve as Atlanta's first baseman as early as the 2011 season.
The Angels and Brewers are believed to be interested in the prospect of acquiring Derek Lowe from the Braves.
Coming off a season during which he posted a 4.67 ERA -- his career high in the National League -- Lowe is owed $45 million over the course of the next three seasons. Normally, this wouldn't be a good combination for a club looking to deal a pitcher who will turn 37 on June 1. But a quick look at the starting pitchers available on this year's free-agent market reveals that this isn't necessarily a normal year. With John Lackey standing as the only potential ace on this list, the Braves find even more reason to believe that they will be able to get a desired return by dealing Lowe.
There's a growing belief among Atlanta officials that free-agent relievers Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez will be pitching elsewhere next year.
Gonzalez and Soriano, who will draw attention from a number of clubs seeking a closer, are Type A free agents. It now appears the Braves may be comfortable offering arbitration to both of these veteran relievers. By doing so, they would put themselves in position to gain the draft-pick compensation that would come if they were to sign elsewhere.
Nationals super-prospect Stephen Strasburg was scratched from Saturday's start in the Arizona Fall League Championship Game because of a twisted left knee, suffered during a Phoenix Desert Dogs workout on Thursday afternoon.
The injury is not considered serious, but as a precaution, Strasburg is scheduled to fly to Los Angeles on Friday and be examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum. It marks the second time Strasburg was injured during the AFL season. Previously, a neck injury forced him to miss a start. The first overall pick in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft made five starts, going 4-1 with a 4.26 ERA during the AFL season, fanning 26 batters over 19 innings.
Royals GM Dayton Moore neglected to mention Alberto Callaspo when discussing the club's 2010 infield recently, seemingly raising the possibility of a trade.
The Royals have an influx of infielders after acquiring Chris Getz from the White Sox days after the World Series, and Callaspo could be the odd man out. "I think with the addition of Getz [we'll have more flexibility], and Alex [Gordon] is going to be better, and [Yuniesky] Betancourt with a full season at short [should be better] and [Mike] Aviles will be in the mix as well," Moore said. "I just think we have the talent there in the interior part that will shore us up and allow us to be consistent defensively." Callaspo, who showed some holes defensively, could be coveted by teams looking for a .300 switch-hitter who can knock in runs.
The Diamondbacks thought they had a deal with the Blue Jays to send Chris Snyder north of the border for veteran first baseman Lyle Overbay, but the Blue Jays pulled out over concerns about the health of Snyder's surgically repaired back.
That move would have accomplished two of the D-backs' offseason missions in one fell swoop: Getting Snyder's salary off the books while freeing up regular playing time behind the plate for Miguel Montero, and adding a short-term solution at first base until Brandon Allen is ready to take over.
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