News: The New York Daily News reports the Yankees and Pirates continued to talk Sunday about completing a trade for A.J. Burnett, but a baseball source said the sides are still "a good ways away" from agreeing on the final terms. The source added the Pirates are willing to pay $10 million of the remaining $33 million Burnett is owed over the next two seasons, but Pittsburgh has offered "two borderline prospects" in return. The Yankees could be willing to pay more of Burnett's remaining contract if they receive a top-tier prospect from Pittsburgh. A person familiar with the Yankees' thinking believes there is enough common ground that a deal could be completed in the coming days. However, ESPN.com reports their source said the Yankees aren't desperate to make a trade and the team would go to spring training with Burnett if a deal isn't completed.
Analysis: Leaving the Yankees usually has a negative impact on a player's Fantasy value, but in Burnett's case it might be the opposite, especially if he moves to the NL. He has struggled to handle the pressure of pitching in New York and a fresh start could be what he needs. Burnett had some of his best years in the majors pitching in the NL. Still, Burnett would be nothing more than a risky late-round Fantasy pick in mixed leagues.
News: The Sports Xchange reports Marlins SP Josh Johnson arrived to the team's spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla., on Feb. 9, more than a week ahead of the Marlins reporting date for pitchers and catchers. Johnson, who has been throwing off a mound near his home in Las Vegas, threw his first bullpen session of the year in Florida on Feb. 10. He felt no discomfort and expects to be ready for the first workouts on Feb. 22. He made only nine starts last year because of shoulder issues.
Analysis: Any encouraging news regarding JJ is welcomed. But Fantasy owners do have to be aware of the risk of drafting him. Of course his potential makes it worth it, but JJ has made it past 30 starts just once in his career. Look to Johnson as more of a No. 2 Fantasy SP on Draft Day, but clearly he has the potential to be your ace if he can stay healthy.
News: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Phillies manager Charlie Manuel has to find a cleanup hitter with Ryan Howard expected to miss the beginning of the season recovering from an Achilles injury, and he said his choice going into spring training is Hunter Pence.
Analysis: Pence either hit right in front of or right behind Howard after his acquisition from Houston last season and thrived in the Phillies lineup. He will miss Howard's lineup protection, but might only have to play a month without Howard. In the meantime, Pence should get plenty of RBI chances batting cleanup, and he will still have plenty of lineup protection without Howard. Look to Pence in the early rounds of Fantasy drafts.
News: Mariners manager Eric Wedge hinted Sunday that ace Felix Hernandez and Jason Vargas are the leading candidates to start the team's first two games against the A's in Japan. "That's one of the reasons we're here early, to make sure we get Felix ready and we're probably looking at Vargas right now in regard to the first couple games," Wedge said, as reported by MLB.com. "It is a little odd, but that's OK. That's part of it. We're professionals here and we have to get multiple starters prepared for the regular season. It's not just about those two guys, it's about everybody else as well. We've got a lot of starting pitchers here in camp and we'll see how it plays out. I'm looking forward to the competition."
Analysis: Believe it or not, but Vargas is arguably the M's second-best pitcher heading into spring training. He has been a steady part of the M's rotation the last two seasons. He is 19-25 with a 4.02 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in 63 starts since the beginning of the 2010 campaign. However, he is not a dominant pitcher and has weak strikeout totals, so Vargas is nothing more than a low-end Fantasy SP on Draft Day.
News: Mariners manager Eric Wedge hinted Sunday that ace Felix Hernandez and Jason Vargas are the leading candidates to start the team's first two games against the A's in Japan. "That's one of the reasons we're here early, to make sure we get Felix ready and we're probably looking at Vargas right now in regard to the first couple games," Wedge said, as reported by MLB.com. "It is a little odd, but that's OK. That's part of it. We're professionals here and we have to get multiple starters prepared for the regular season. It's not just about those two guys, it's about everybody else as well. We've got a lot of starting pitchers here in camp and we'll see how it plays out. I'm looking forward to the competition."
Analysis: Hernandez didn't repeat as the AL Cy Young winner in 2011, but he still had another solid season for Seattle. He went 14-14 with a 3.47 ERA and 1.22 WHIP. He also struck out 222 in 233 2/3 innings. His win-loss record would probably be way better on a top contender, but King Felix still does plenty for Fantasy owners to be considered a top 10 Fantasy SP on Draft Day.
News: MLB.com reports Mariners SP Hisashi Iwakuma said his shoulder is fine after he was limited to 17 starts last season in Japan because of a sore right shoulder. "I talked to him at length a couple days ago," pitching coach Carl Willis said. "This is obviously all new to him being in the States for the first time, with a different routine pitching every fifth day instead of sixth or seventh. But he's not an 18-year-old kid either. He has a history of what he's done to get ready for a season and we'll talk daily. Really, at the outset it comes down to me listening to him, because he's the one who knows what he needs to do to get ready."
Analysis: Iwakuma had a 107-69 record in 226 career games in Japan. The right-hander was selected the 2008 Pacific League MVP and winner of the Eiji Sawamura Award (the equivalent of the Cy Young Award) after going 21-4 with a 1.87 ERA. Last season, Iwakuma went 6-7 with a 2.42 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 17 starts. While his numbers overseas are impressive, you know it has been hit or miss when it has come to Japanese pitchers in the majors. Even if Iwakuma lands a rotation spot with Seattle, you won't want to use more than a late-round flier on him.
News: The Sports Xchange reports Braves SP Tim Hudson, who is recovering from surgery to repair a disc in his back late in November, had been playing light catch in his yard until begin cleared by doctors this week to increase his throwing.
Analysis: The word around Braves camp is proceed with caution in regards to the veteran Hudson. Pretty much every important Braves official has said they won't rush the right-hander in his recovery, and Atlanta is willing to start the season without him if it comes to that. We will just have to see how he progresses this spring. Consider Hudson an injury-risk, mid-round Fantasy pick on Draft Day. Clearly, he can be a very productive Fantasy option when healthy.
News: The Sports Xchange reports Braves SP Mike Minor, vying again this spring for the fifth starter's job, said, "All my pitches are everywhere right now." His says his arm feels good, but that it's lagging and he isn't following through. Fortunately, he knows the point of the Braves' early throwing program is to get these preseason inconsistencies out of the way.
Analysis: Minor is considered the favorite to win the final spot in the Braves' rotation over Julio Teheran and Randall Delgado. However, Minor might be needed at the start of the season regardless if Tim Hudson's recovery from back surgery doesn't go as planned. Minor kind of disappointed in 15 starts in 2011. In fact, he has just a 4.74 ERA in 24 outings (23 starts) as a major leaguer and hasn't shown the same type of dominance he did in the minors. Still, the Braves have high hopes for the lefty and aren't giving up on him just yet. If Minor does make the rotation this spring, then look to him as a late-round Fantasy option in deep formats.
News: The Sports Xchange reports Braves RP Craig Kimbrel is working on locating his changeup, which he may use during the season if he's able to master it. But even if it's not ready for prime time, throwing it helps stretch him out for his fastball. He has yet to throw his curveball.
Analysis: While Kimbrel struggled at the end of the 2011 season, he still dominated hitters for most of the season on his way to winning NL rookie of the year honors. It's good that he is working to get better, but he shouldn't have to change too much since he has been a smash hit since debuting in 2010. Kimbrel is a must-own Fantasy RP and will likely be the first RP selected in many drafts this spring.
News: The Sports Xchange reports Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. defused a FOXSports.com report that his team remained in the hunt to re-sign Roy Oswalt. "We really don't have any room for him," Amaro told MLB.com. "We have five, six starters, and our resources are about where we want to be right now. I think he wouldn't mind coming back, but I don't know that's feasible or a real possibility."
Analysis: The Phillies surfaced as a possible destination for Oswalt after rumors surfaced again that the team wanted to trade Joe Blanton. It seems the Phillies have no immediate plans to bring Oswalt aboard, but we will have to continue to track his offseason progress. Fortunately, all of the teams linked to Oswalt are expected contenders, but even so, Oswalt would be at best a No. 4 Fantasy SP given his chronic back woes and declining numbers.
