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Fantasy Baseball News & Updates
Fantasy Baseball News & Updates

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Fantasy News
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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.
On Thursday, the Cubs sent relief pitcher Aaron Heilman to Arizona for pitching prospect Scott Maine and first baseman Ryne White.
The Cubs might have gotten something for nothing here, as there was a chance the team was going to cut ties with the former starter-turned-reliever after Heilman posted a 4.11 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in 70 appearances out of the Chicago 'pen last season. Don't be surprised to see the D-backs toy around with the idea of moving Heilman back into the starting rotation with the imminent departure of Doug Davis. White is a 5'11'' first baseman who hit .266 with six homers, 52 RBIs and a .371 on-base percentage last season for Single A Visalia, while Maine registered a 2.90 ERA with a 61/22 K/BB ratio over 62 innings between Double-A Mobile and Triple-A Reno last season.
On the road back from Tommy John surgery, Jake Westbrook will begin a stint in the Puerto Rican Winter League later this month.
If Westbrook has another setback, the Indians' need for another veteran to carry some of the load in the rotation would be exacerbated. The veteran righty is expected to return to the club some time before midseason.
First baseman Jason Giambi likely will sign elsewhere after his strong pinch-hitting performance down the stretch allowed him to re-establish his value with the Rockies.
The Rockies like Giambi, but he fits better as an AL designated hitter who can periodically play first.
The Padres are expected to let outfielder Brian Giles sign elsewhere this offseason but might have interest in retaining catcher Henry Blanco.
Blanco did a decent job mentoring starting backstop Nick Hundley this past season while providing quality defense, but his value ends there. The White Sox have also shown early interest in Blanco.
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