Soria transferred to 60-day DL: The Royals transferred closer Joakim Soria (elbow surgery) to the 60-day DL on Thursday. (Updated 05/03/2012)
Injury Report
Elbow - 60-day DL. Out for season (Updated - 5/3/12)
Fantasy Analysis
Soria had Tommy John surgery in early April and was already ruled out for the season. He could be ready by the start of the 2013 campaign, but Soria has marginal Fantasy appeal as a long-term keeper. (Updated 05/03/2012).
04/03/2012 21:24 Injury roundup: No surgery for Josh Beckett
Red Sox right-hander Josh Beckett learned today that he won't require surgery on his injured thumb, plus more injury-related news and notes.
03/30/2012 10:00 Dear Mr. Fantasy: The art of drafting closers
Closers sure are a hard position to assess on Draft Day and beyond, with many situations far from settled. Our Scott White addresses his take on closers and much more in his Dear Mr. Fantasy.
03/30/2012 09:35 Fantasy Relief: Assessing all 30 bullpens
What do the bullpen and closer situations look like in the Nationbal League? Michael Hurcomb debuts Fantasy Relief, a weekly column dedicated to finding you saves and other critical relief pitching stats.
03/28/2012 10:46 2012 Draft Prep: Tiers by position
The tiers approach is nothing new to Fantasy, but the impact it can have on your draft is undeniable. Scott White shares his tiers by position for 2012, a guide for you to establish your own tiers.
For all that went right for the Royals in 2011, Joakim Soria -- their one shining beacon of hope during their dark rebuilding years -- nearly went very, very wrong. Despite entering the season averaging 38.3 saves and a 1.84 ERA over his previous three, he couldn't figure out how to get hitters out anymore, blowing five of 12 save opportunities with a 6.55 ERA in April and May. He was so bad that he actually lost the closer role to rookie Aaron Crow in early June. Though he ended the season on a high note, recording 21 saves in 23 opportunities with a 2.58 ERA to close out the year, the struggles could have been a precursor to what ultimately befell him this spring. An MRI revealed an ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow -- something he'll need Tommy John surgery to correct. Soria, who has already had Tommy John surgery once in his career, will miss all of the 2012 season because of the procedure. At age 27, he'll have a chance to regain his standing as one of the top closers in the game, but not until 2013. Outside of long-term keeper leagues, he doesn't belong on Fantasy rosters. (Updated 3/25/12)
Actual 
AccuScore Projections) Note: Points are rounded down.
= probable start