Fantasy Baseball News & Updates
Fantasy Baseball News & Updates
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Vizquel spent the 2009 season serving as a backup and mentor for rookie shortstop Elvis Andrus in Texas, finishing with a .266 average in 177 at-bats. He'll likely serve an identical role with the White Sox, who have youngsters Alexei Casilla and Gordon Beckham up the middle.
Mauer missed the first month of the season with inflammation of the right sacroiliac joint in his back, but he quickly made up for lost time by hitting .414 with 11 homers and 32 RBIs in May. By the end of the season, he had set new career highs with 28 jacks and 96 RBIs, along with .365 average that established a single-season record for catchers. Throw in his strong defensive work, which earned him a Gold Glove, and Mauer was able to handily beat out Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter of the Yankees.
The 27-year-old Cantu is entering his final season of arbitration. He made $3.5 million in '09, a season in which he batted .289 with 42 doubles, 16 homers and 100 RBIs. Cantu will likely earn more than $5 million in '10, a price the team appears willing to pay to keep one of its steadiest performers. The Marlins have a couple of first-base prospects, Gaby Sanchez and Logan Morrison, who will be competing for jobs in Spring Training. If Cantu re-signs, he could play third base should either Sanchez or Morrison win the first-base job, or he could hold down first until one of the youngsters is deemed ready.
The club's alternate high-return choices include several hurlers returning from injury. According to FoxSports.com, the Mets rate Ben Sheets ahead of others like Kelvim Escobar, Erik Bedard, Mark Mulder and Brett Myers. Sheets and Mulder did not pitch at all in '09, while Escobar made one big league start. Bedard sat out the final two months of the season with a torn labrum, and Myers missed more than three months to hip surgery.
Lowell delivered a solid season at the plate in '09 (.290-17-75), but he was hampered by recurring hip pain and wound up appearing in just 119 games. If the Sox manage to trade the 35-year-old, the versatility of Kevin Youkilis gives them the option of pursuing either a first or third baseman.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Each passing day brings the increasing likelihood that Halladay won't be a part of Toronto's organization for much longer.
On Friday, MLB.com's Carrie Muskat reported that the Blue Jays contacted the Cubs to discuss a potential trade involving the ace right-hander. Toronto went as far as informing Chicago that it wants to trade Halladay this offseason. The Yankees and Dodgers are rumored to have serious interest in Halladay, and the Red Sox and Phillies have been mentioned as having varying degrees of interest as well. A deal with the Cubs does not appear realistic at the moment, considering Halladay is owed $15.75 million in 2010 and Toronto has asked for a package of Chicago's top prospects.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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