There was a flurry of noteworthy stories yesterday, so let’s take a look at what fantasy owners need to know:
Ryan Howard was placed on the DL with a sprained left ankle. Cody Ransom and Ross Gload each saw time at first base in yesterday’s game, but neither hold fantasy appeal. You will have to look elsewhere for a replacement, if you don’t already have one, and hope that he is only going to miss 15 days.
Kevin Youkilis was also placed on the DL with a “torn adductor muscle and that the head of one of the muscles ruptured” according to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe (click here for the post). At this point it is not known if Youkilis will need surgery, though it doesn’t sound good. It all depends on it is partially or fully torn, so hopefully we get an answer to that question soon.
Mike Lowell replaced Youkilis at first base and appears primed to get the majority of the starts. No longer the player that he once was, he certainly still has potential value in deeper formats, especially with third base eligibility.
Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe is also reporting happier news, as Jacoby Ellsbury is reportedly ready to be activated from the DL today. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Red Sox ease him back into action, so those in daily leagues should monitor the pregame lineups for a few days. Come Monday, he should be active in all formats.
The news on Carlos Santana is promising. While he could still need surgery, Paul Hoynes is reporting that he suffered a “high grade strain of LCL and hyperextension of left knee.” For those who saw it, you know it could have been a lot worse. Stash him for now.
The Pirates got their first save opportunity since trading Octavio Dotel and it was Joel Hanrahan wo got the opportunity, and sealed the deal. As I mentioned on Rotoprofessor Radio (make sure to check it out on Blog Talk Radio), it makes sense for the team to build up Hanrahan, even if they view Evan Meeks as the long-term solution. Closers have more trade value, so maximizing the value of their players means a greater return in the future.
Torii Hunter moved to left field, allowing Peter Bourjos to lead off and play center field. Bourjos has a ton of speed, as we’ve discussed before (check out our most recent prospect tracker report on him by clicking here ). If this is going to be a permanent change in the lineup, Bourjos is worth owning in all formats immediately. He could be a great source of stolen bases for the final two months of the season.
What are your thoughts on these stories?
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