Feb 12, 2009 10:25 PM CST
Griffey deal not complete

The News
Contrary to earlier reports, Ken Griffey Jr. has not signed with the Mariners, according to the Associated Press. “We don’t know what we’re doing next year with respect to Seattle. It’s all rumors,” Griffey said Thursday after finishing his round at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in California.

Our View
The deal is still very close to being done and Seattle still needs a bat with some pop. Griffey will see some time at designated hitter for the Mariners, a team that used 16 different players at that spot in 2008.
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Feb 12, 2009 09:55 PM CST
Milton signs minor-league deal with Dodgers

The News
Eric Milton signed a minor-league contract with the Dodgers, according to LA Dugout.com.

Our View
Milton could land in the bullpen or towards the end of the Dodgers rotation. He had Tommy John surgery in 2007 and spent last year recovering in the Yankees minor league system.
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Feb 12, 2009 09:37 PM CST
Sheets surgery a success

The News
Ben Sheets had successful surgery on his right elbow, according to Fox Sports.

Our View
Sheets and the doctors involved are optimistic that he can return after the All-Star break. It is unlikely that any team will sign him until he gets closer to returning but he could give a team a lift late in the year.________________________________________
Feb 12, 2009 08:54 PM CST
IRS agents cleared

The News
Several IRS agents have been cleared of any wrongdoing in an investigation of Barry Bonds’ personal trainer Greg Anderson, according to the Associated Press.

Our View
$600 disappeared from more than $60,000 that was collected from the home of Anderson in 2003. The investigation, conducted in 2004, could not identify the culprit.
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Feb 12, 2009 08:10 PM CST
Willis looking for spot

The News
Dontrelle Willis is looking forward to fighting for a job in spring training, according to MLB.com.

Our View
Willis looks healthy and focused for a run at returning to the major leagues this season. The former 20-game winner is looking to regain the form that used to make him a fantasy stud.
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Feb 12, 2009 08:06 PM CST
Hudson not on Nats wish list

The News
The Washington Nationals will not be signing Orlando Hudson, according to MLB.com.

Our View
It is surprising that Hudson has not found work to this point, after hitting .305 with eight homers and 41 RBI in 407 at bats last season. The Cardinals have also said they will not be signing Hudson.
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Feb 12, 2009 07:49 PM CST
Francoeur going to arbitration

The News
Jeff Francoeur and the Braves do not look like they are going to be able to work out a new contract before his arbitration hearing on February 20, according to MLB.com.

Our View
Francoeur does not have leverage after a terrible year in 2008. He hit just .239 with 11 home runs and 71 RBI after averaging 24 homers and 104 RBI over the previous two seasons.
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Feb 12, 2009 06:59 PM CST
New documents may help Bonds

The News
Newly unsealed documents in the perjury case against Barry Bonds show that Jeff Novitzky, the lead agent in the investigation, believes that former BALCO vice president James Valente falsified records to cover up drug tests, according to Yahoo Sports.

Our View
Legal experts feel that this will help Bonds. Valente has been presented to the court as a credible witness but this information casts a doubt on his honesty.
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Feb 12, 2009 06:34 PM CST
Manny postpones event in Florida

The News
Manny Ramirez postponed a promotional appearance with DirecTV in Florida. The company put out a release saying that Ramirez could be signing a new contract at any time, according to the LA Times.

Our View
The Dodgers might be bending a bit on their original stance that they would not give Ramirez a long-term deal. Ramirez is looking for at least a three-year contract.
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Feb 12, 2009 06:02 PM CST
Young gets contract with Twins

The News
Delmon Young signed a one-year, $1.15 million dollar deal with the Twins, according to the Associated Press.

Our View
Young was disappointing last season, dropping from 93 RBI in 2007 to just 69 in 2008. Young will have to battle a bit in spring training to secure a lot of playing time this season.
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Feb 12, 2009 05:56 PM CST
Mariners sign Griffey to one-year deal

The News
According to Prospect Insider, the Seattle Mariners have reached an agreement on a one-year deal with free-agent outfielder Ken Griffey Jr.. The former M’s player and the organization reportedly agreed on the deal some time Wednesday, and now both sides are sifting through the small print and finer details. Griffey will earn $5 million, with additional money available via incentives based on plate appearances.

Our View
In his 11 seasons in Seattle, Griffey hit 398 of his 611 career home runs and led the Mariners to their first-ever playoff appearance in 1995. Ideally, Seattle would like to play the future Hall of Famer at the most three days a week. He would likely fill the DH role when not given the start in the outfield.
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Feb 12, 2009 05:55 PM CST
Shouse signs one-year deal with Rays

The News
Brian Shouse signed a one-year, $1.35 million dollar deal with the Rays on Thursday, according to the St. Petersburg Times. The Rays designated Juan Salas for assignment to make room for Shouse on the 40-man roster.

Our View
Shouse made 69 appearances for the Brewers last year, throwing just 51.1 innings with a 5-1 record. Shouse is really nothing more than a specialist at this point.
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Feb 12, 2009 05:24 PM CST
Marlins could get new stadium

The News
The Marlins face a crucial vote on Friday that would determine whether or not they will be able to break ground on a new stadium, according to the Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Our View
The poor economy has threatened the deal that would put the Marlins, who would be renamed the Miami Marlins, in a new $515 million dollar stadium.
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Feb 12, 2009 05:16 PM CST
Sweeney has a shot at DH

The News
Mike Sweeney could get a significant amount of playing time at designated hitter, unless Seattle can land an experienced hitter for that role, according to MLB.com.

Our View
Sweeney has 199 career home runs but has not hit at least 20 for three seasons. As a designated hitter in his career, he has hit .286 with 73 home runs and 336 RBI in 528 games.
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Feb 12, 2009 04:59 PM CST
Towles inks one-year deal

The News
J.R. Towles signed a one-year deal with the Astros, according to SportsTicker.

Our View
Towles has zero fantasy value until he can prove he can play at the big league level. He hit only .137 in 54 games last season.
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Feb 12, 2009 04:56 PM CST
Sampson signs one-year deal

The News
Chris Sampson signed a one-year deal today with the Astros, according to SportsTicker.

Our View
Sampson does not hold any real fantasy value at this point. He was 6-4 with a 4.22 ERA in 54 appearances last season. He did have a good 1.20 WHIP last season so he might be worth keeping an eye on.
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Feb 12, 2009 04:36 PM CST
Judge dismisses most of Clemens defamation lawsuit

The News
A federal judge dismissed most of Roger Clemens defamation lawsuit against former trainer Brian McNamee, according to the Associated Press.

Our View
More problems for Clemens in the ongoing drama surrounding his alleged steroid and performance enhancing drug use.
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Feb 12, 2009 04:27 PM CST
Lowell will take it slow

The News
The Red Sox feel that Mike Lowell will be ready for baseball activity when he arrives at spring training but he will take it slow, according to the Providence Journal.

Our View
Lowell is trying to get back after hip surgery and should be ready for the regular season. The question is how effective he will be this season.
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Feb 12, 2009 04:12 PM CST
Soto appears ready to go

The News
Geovany Soto has arrived early to Cubs camp and it appears that he has lost weight this offseason. He also has claimed his injured hand is 100 percent and is ready to go, according to the Daily Herald.

Our View
Soto won the Rookie of the Year award in the National League last year and was a fantasy stud behind the plate. This is nothing but good news for Soto fans.
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Feb 12, 2009 03:43 PM CST
Crede was on Angels’ radar

The News
Joe Crede was on the Angels’ radar, but the club may no longer be interested after inking outfielder Bobby Abreu, according to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated.

Our View
Minnesota and San Francisco remain the most likely landing spots for Crede, who is believed to be healthy following his back problems.
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Feb 12, 2009 03:38 PM CST
I-Rod on Astros’ radar

The News
Ivan Rodriguez is reportedly on the Astros’ radar, according to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated. El Nueva Dia reported that Houston offered him a deal for more than $2.5MM, but that has not been confirmed.

Our View
If I-Rod did land in Houston, he would likely expect to start over Humberto Quintero. The Marlins also remain interested in Rodriguez.
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Feb 12, 2009 03:34 PM CST
Dodgers may bend for Manny?

The News
Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated stated that there is belief that Dodgers’ owner Frank McCourt may bend and offer Manny Ramirez a three-year deal.

Our View
The Dodgers’ options for an outfielder became more scarce with Bobby Abreu (Angels) and Adam Dunn (Nationals) both finding new homes. Ramirez had a positive impact on ticket sales when he joined the Dodgers last season, and that could factor into McCourt’s decision.
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Feb 12, 2009 02:21 PM CST
Mets did not make Ohman offer?

The News
Mack’sMets.com is disputing the news circulating that the Mets made Will Ohman an offer.

Our View
Four NL clubs have made offers to the lefty reliever, but it appears that the Mets may not be one of them. The Mets are interested in adding Ohman at a bargain price, however.
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Feb 12, 2009 02:14 PM CST
Carmona out of WBC

The News
Fausto Carmona will not be representing the Dominican Republic in the upcoming World Baseball Classic at the request of the Indians, according to MLB.com. He missed more than two months with a strained hip last season, so the Indians had the right to hold him out.

Our View
The Indians want Carmona to be in camp and work on his delivery and prepare for the No. 2 role in the rotation behind ace Cliff Lee. Carmona held a 1.62 WHIP in 2008, and is worth buying low in fantasy leagues with a chance to bounce back and post solid numbers.
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Feb 12, 2009 02:07 PM CST
Zumaya progressing well

The News
Joel Zumaya has thrown off the mound four times and his shoulder is progressing well, according to MLB.com. He said, “Other than fatigue, the way I have thrown, you cannot ask for anything more.”

Our View
Zumaya was strong in 2006 prior to being hindered by injuries, and could push for the closer’s role if he proves to be healthy and can fire his 100-mph fastball again.
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Feb 12, 2009 01:46 PM CST
Brewers acquire Green

The News
The Brewers have claimed Nicholas Green off waivers from the Angels, according to MLB.com. The Angels let the hurler go to clear room on the roster for outfielder Bobby Abreu.

Our View
Green features a strong changeup, but the rest of his arsenal is limited. He could still compete for a spot near the back of the Brewers’ rotation.
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Feb 12, 2009 01:29 PM CST
Glavine wants more in incentives

The News
Tom Glavine wants a one-year deal with the Braves that offers more money in incentives than their original proposal, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The 42-year-old vet also said, “I am willing to come back for a discount, and I am willing to earn most of that discount. I have tried to be creative in eliminating as much risk for them as I can.” He is coming off August surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon in his elbow and wear-and-tear damage in his shoulder.

Our View
The Braves would like to ink Glavine and a left fielder, but only have around $6-8 million to work with.
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Feb 12, 2009 01:21 PM CST
Yankees to support A-Rod

The News
GM Brian Cashman noted that the Yankees are prepared to support Alex Rodriguez through his “major crisis,” according to MLB.com. Cashman said, “We look forward to him joining the camp and addressing everybody to the best ability that he can, and to the degree he can. We will get him in his batting-cage routines and his fielding routines, and off we go. I know it is not going to leave us; it is not like we can run from it. We just have to run toward it and deal with it.” Cashman admitted that A-Rod’s steroid use caught him off-guard, and the GM said, “This is an issue we are going to have to deal with, it is an issue he is going to have to deal with. There is no doubt about that. Ultimately, we will be dealing with it together.”

Our View
Cashman could not answer when asked if he would have traded for A-Rod in 2004 if he had known about his steroid use. The Yankees are behind A-Rod, but it remains to be seen if their fans will be.
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Feb 12, 2009 01:12 PM CST
Cards settle at midpoint with Ankiel

The News
The Cardinals have avoided salary arbitration with Rick Ankiel by inking the slugger to a one-year deal for $2.825MM, according to Sports Illustrated. The amount is the midpoint of their submissions.

Our View
Ankiel crushed 25 homers last season, and is still yet to reach his power potential. He held a .337 OBP last season as well, and would have scored higher if not hindered by a nagging abdominal injury.
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Feb 12, 2009 01:03 PM CST
Uggla wins arbitration case

The News
Dan Uggla has won his arbitration case with the Marlins, according to the Associated Press. He was awarded $5.35MM, and the Marlins only offered $4.4MM.

Our View
The star second baseman only made $417,000 in 2008, and was the first player to win his arbitration case so far.
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Feb 12, 2009 12:42 PM CST
Rangers want to extend Hamilton

The News
The Rangers want to lock up Josh Hamilton with a long-term contract extension, according to MLB.com. It is a top priority for the club.

Our View
Hamilton made the AL All-Star team as a starter in 2008 in his first campaign with Texas. The 27-year-old outfielder looks to be a solid fantasy starter for 2009.
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Feb 12, 2009 12:12 PM CST
Thurston is favorite for second base?

The News
Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch believes Joe Thurston is the favorite for the Cardinals’ starting gig at second base. He will be competing with Brian Barden, Jarrett Hoffpauir, Tyler Greene and former outfielder Skip Schumaker for the spot.

Our View
Thurston only has 59 games of MLB experience under his belt, and holds a .227 average over 66 at-bats, meaning he should be reserved for NL-only leagues if earns the No. 1 role at second.
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Feb 12, 2009 12:05 PM CST
Ohman could sign soon

The News
Updating an earlier report, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports indicates that Will Ohman could ink a deal soon.

Our View
The lefty reliever has received three offers within the last 48 hours, and four overall. All offers are from the NL.
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Feb 12, 2009 11:57 AM CST
Church feeling good

The News
Outfielder Ryan Church met with reporters on Wednesday, and he is clearly over the post-concussion symptoms which hindered much of his 2008 campaign. “Everything’s been fine. I haven’t had any setbacks, nothing like that,” Church tells Newsday. “I woke up one morning during the month I took off and said, ‘Hey, it’s gone.’ A couple of days went by and I was like, ‘You know what? Wow, I’m feeling pretty good.’ It’s like night and day.”

Our View
Church had a hot April and May of 2008, but he took a knee to the head on May 20 and was never quite the same. He is in line to start in right field and doesn’t have much competition for his job. If he looks healthy and feels good this spring, Church will start moving up the NL-only rankings.
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Feb 12, 2009 11:51 AM CST
Betancourt bows out of WBC

The News
Reliever Rafael Betancourt won’t play for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, the Cleveland Plain-Dealer reports. He would prefer to ease into spring training after not throwing this winter. Betancourt also suffered a lat injury early in 2006 after playing in the previous WBC.

Our View
We’re sure the Venezuela club will be crushed. How can they ever manage to replace a middle reliever who posted a 5.07 ERA last year?
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Feb 12, 2009 11:40 AM CST
Dunn’s role depends on Johnson

The News
Adam Dunn agreed to play either first base or left field for the Nationals. Two sources told the Washington Post that Dunn would be in the outfield if Nick Johnson is healthy enough to handle first base.

Our View
The talk of Johnson being healthy should give readers a good laugh. If Dunn is in left field, he would take at-bats away from Josh Willingham, who also isn’t a paragon of health. The Nationals had an outfield logjam even before the Dunn signing, and it’s hard to believe they will place a ton of faith in the always-injured Johnson. Still, fantasy owners should worry a bit about Willingham’s potential playing time.
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Feb 12, 2009 11:14 AM CST
Abreu deal is official

The News
The Angels have officially inked Bobby Abreu to a one-year deal, according to the Orange County Register. Financial terms were not disclosed, but the deal is believed to be worth just under $5 million, plus incentives. Angels’ GM Tony Reagins said, “We are excited to add a player of this caliber to our organization. His prior accomplishments speak for themselves. Bobby is a great fit for us with his athletic abilities. He can run the bases, produces runs and impacts our line-up in a significant way.”

Our View
Abreu will be a liability in the outfield, but his offensive numbers should be solid as the club replaces Garret Anderson.
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Feb 12, 2009 11:04 AM CST
Anderson on Braves’ radar?

The News
Adding an outfielder remains a priority for the Braves, and the club is going to look at Garret Anderson, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

Our View
Anderson is also on the Mariners’ radar, but they seem more interested in bringing back Ken Griffey Jr. The Braves are believed to have $6-8MM to spend on an outfielder and pitcher Tom Glavine.
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Feb 12, 2009 09:58 AM CST
Upton feels good

The News
B.J. Upton, who is recovering from left shoulder surgery, felt good after taking swings off a tee, according to the St. Petersburg Times. He will now begin soft toss drills Friday. He said, “It is feeling better. There is no reason to hold it back.”

Our View
Upton could be on the verge of a breakout campaign in 2009 if he proves to be healthy. His torn labrum compromised his power early in the 2008 season, but he potentially gave a preview of great things to come while crushing seven homers in October.
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Feb 12, 2009 09:52 AM CST
Carpenter throws without pain

The News
Chris Carpenter did not experience any pain during a 10-minute throwing session yesterday, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Pitching coach Dave Duncan said, “I cannot imagine him being much better than he is right now.” Carpenter added, “I feel good. I have been working hard. I started preparing myself like always to be ready to pitch no matter what the outcome with my arm might be. And that was months ago when it wasn’t as strong as it is now and nobody knew what was going to happen.”

Our View
Carpenter will throw again Friday, and will work in some breaking balls. This is encouraging news regarding his chances to take the hill on opening day.
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Feb 12, 2009 09:44 AM CST
Papelbon to work on mixing it up

The News
Jonathan Papelbon became predictable last season by relying on his fastball too much, and the Sox are going to work on helping him mix it up a bit more with his slider and splitter, according to the Boston Globe.

Our View
Opposing hitters were able to wait on his fastball last season, but Papelbon still held a 0.95 WHIP while nailing down 41 saves, with 77 strikeouts over 69.1 innings. He could be better in 2009, and is worthy of drafting as the No. 1 closer in fantasy leagues.
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Feb 12, 2009 09:38 AM CST
Buchholz in great shape

The News
Clay Buchholz is in “mid-season form,” according to the Providence Journal. He threw a bullpen session this morning and catching prospect Mark Wagner said, “He was solid. He looked good. He had a great down angle on his fastball and it was real live. The movement was there and if he is throwing like that then good things are going to happen. He is in mid-season form.”

Our View
The pitching prospect will be looking to bounce back after holding a disappointing 6.75 ERA and 1.75 WHIP over 76 innings (15 starts) with Boston in 2008. He will be competing for a spot in a crowded rotation that now includes Brad Penny in the mix.
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Feb 12, 2009 09:23 AM CST
Wakefield feeling good

The News
Tim Wakefield, who has dealt with shoulder and back ailments over the last two campaigns, noted that he is feeling good heading into the new season, according to the Boston Globe. He feels 100 percent again.

Our View
The 42-year-old knuckler will remain an injury risk, but is still worth targeting in AL-only leagues as a late-round value pick.
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Feb 12, 2009 09:18 AM CST
Putz is excited about new season

The News
J.J. Putz is excited about the 2009 campaign with the Mets, according to the NY Post. He has been throwing at Port St. Lucie for almost two weeks and said, “The season cannot come soon enough.” He also noted that he does not mind being under the microscope in New York.

Our View
Putz leaves the Mariners, who held the worst record in the majors in 2008, and will now be playing for a legitimate title contender with the Mets. Putz looks to be a solid fantasy pick for leagues that feature setup men.
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Feb 12, 2009 09:12 AM CST
Mariners speed up talks with Griffey

The News
After Bobby Abreu and Adam Dunn were taken off the free agent market, the Mariners have decided to speed up talks with Ken Griffey Jr., according to ESPN. Both sides have made significant progress, but it is unknown if the Mariners offered him a formal proposal.

Our View
Griffey covets a one-year deal in the $5MM range. He is a fan favorite in Seattle as he played the first 11 seasons of his career there, and would be brought back to fill their need in the outfield following the departure of Raul Ibanez. Garret Anderson remains on the Mariners’ radar as well.
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Feb 12, 2009 08:53 AM CST
Hudson called the Dodgers

The News
Bill Shaikin of the LA Times indicated that Orlando Hudson contacted the Dodgers, and not the other way around.

Our View
If the Dodgers were to add Hudson, they would have to move around Blake DeWitt and/or Casey Blake.
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Feb 12, 2009 08:33 AM CST
Mets make offer to Ohman

The News
The Mets have reportedly offered a contract to Will Ohman, according to the NY Post. Terms of the offer are unknown.

Our View
Ohman would fill the Mets’ need for a lefty reliever, and he could share the setup role with righty J.J. Putz. The Mets wanted to add Ohman at a bargain price.
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Feb 12, 2009 08:27 AM CST
Laird could surprise

The News
Tom Gage of the Detroit News believes Gerald Laird could be a “diamond in the rough” as the Tigers’ No. 1 catcher in 2009. Laird has gunned down 38 percent of runners attempting to steal over the five years with the Rangers, tying him with Ivan Rodriguez over the span.

Our View
Laird has a poor track record of slowing down offensively over the final stretch of the season, but that could be attributed to the long and hot summers in Texas, meaning he could benefit from the cooler climate in Detroit. Laird could be a good value pick for AL-only leagues in 2009.
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Feb 12, 2009 08:21 AM CST
Treanor to be involved

The News
The Detroit News noted that Gerald Laird will get most of the playing time at catcher with the Tigers, but believes Matt Treanor can see around 150 at-bats in a 3-1 split among starts.

Our View
Treanor will be involved, but won’t likely be productive enough to consider for fantasy leagues, as he held a .238 average and .306 OBP with Florida in 2008. Dusty Ryan could be in the mix at some point as well.
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Feb 12, 2009 07:24 AM CST
Sanchez favorite for fifth spot

The News
Jonathan Sanchez is the favorite for the fifth spot in the Giants’ rotation, according to the SF Chronicle. He will be competing with Noah Lowry for the job. GM Brian Sabean noted that Sanchez is “bigger and stronger.”

Our View
Sanchez enjoyed a strong first half in 2008, but did not fare as well in the second. He needs to be more consistent and lower his walks, but he is a nice sleeper to consider for 2009, and should at least be a solid source for strikeouts.
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Feb 12, 2009 07:08 AM CST
Anderson could land in Seattle

The News
After Bobby Abreu and Adam Dunn found new teams, the Mariners are likely to sign either Garret Anderson or Ken Griffey Jr. to fill their need in the outfield, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Our View
A deal could come within the next few days. Both outfielders would like to play for Seattle, but the club does not have much financial flexibility, meaning they would have to do some creative accounting and defer money to ink either Anderson or Griffey Jr.

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