Matsuzaka shifted to 60-day DL: Boston starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka was transferred to the 60-day disabled list Tuesday as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery. Matsuzaka was recently shut down from his minor-league rehab assignment after developing pain in his neck that restricted his movement when he pitched. He reportedly had a cortisone injection on Sunday. Matsuzaka's move cleared an additional spot on the 40-man roster. (Updated 05/22/2012)
Injury Report
Elbow, neck - 60-day DL. Out until at least late June (Updated - 5/22/12)
Fantasy Analysis
Matsuzaka appeared close to being activated from the disabled list, but that has been put on hold. Matsuzaka, who is still less than 12 months removed from Tommy John surgery, has struggled in his recent rehab starts and yielded five runs in his last appearance on Thursday. The right-hander will need to begin a new 30-day rehab assignment once his neck pain subsides and is only worth stashing in AL-only Fantasy formats. (Updated 05/22/2012).
04/04/2012 16:54 Transaction roundup: Brandon Belt makes the cut
Despite fears and hand-wringing, first baseman Brandon Belt has made the San Francisco Giants' 25-man roster, plus other wheelings and dealings from the final day of spring training.
03/28/2012 15:38 Schilling: Some Red Sox players have complained about Valentine
With the baseball season just about to begin, it was only a matter of time before Curt Schilling injected himself into a Red Sox storyline. And he's done so this week, to WEEI in Boston, saying that he's spoken to some of his former teammates about new Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine. What he heard wasn't good.
After a bounce-back campaign -- of sorts -- in 2010, Daisuke Matsuzaka got off to a poor start a year ago and appeared in just eight games before going down with an elbow injury. He would post a 5.30 ERA in eight appearances (seven starts) before shutting it down in mid-May. After trying to rehab the injury, the right-hander opted for Tommy John surgery in June, ending his season. Matsuzaka has made strides in his recovery but will not be able to return until June 2012 at the earliest, which limits his appeal in Fantasy. The 31-year-old has not looked the same since winning 33 games with a 3.72 ERA over his first two seasons in the majors, and this injury will set him back yet again. Many pitchers successfully return from this procedure and Matsuzaka could have an impact in Fantasy during the second half, but leave him as a stashee in AL-only formats on Draft Day. (Updated 2/17/12)