Niemann loses arbitration: The Rays won their arbitration case with SP Jeff Niemann on Friday, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Niemann will be paid $2.75 million this season, rather than the $3.2 million that he requested. He made just 23 starts for the Rays last season, missing time due to back issues, and he went 11-7 with a 4.06 ERA. (Updated 02/03/2012)
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 2/12/12).
Fantasy Analysis
Niemann started off slowly last year, likely as the result of his back injury, but he finished strong. Increasing his strikeout and ground ball rates, Niemann posted a 9-3 record with a 3.41 ERA over his last 15 starts. As good as he was, he may be the odd man out in the Rays' crowded rotation situation. However, he is good enough to be a middle-of-the-rotation starter, and if he secures a starting role with the Rays or another team, he is worth drafting in the late rounds in standard mixed leagues. (Updated 02/03/2012).
02/10/2012 13:27 2012 Draft Prep: 12-team, mixed H2H draft
Which picks stood out in our initial 12-team Head-to-Head mock draft for 2012? Check out the results and read what Scott White has to say about some of the more interesting selections.
02/06/2012 13:38 Sanchez first player to win in arbitration this year, awarded $8M
Miami Marlins pitcher Anibal Sanchez became the first player to win in salary arbitration this year when a three-person panel awarded him $8 million rather than the team's offer of $6.9 million.
02/03/2012 16:40 Rays beat Niemann, stay perfect in salary arbitration
The Tampa Bay Rays defeated pitcher Jeff Niemann in salary arbitration Friday, improving clubs to 2-0 in decisions this year. Niemann will earn $2.75 million instead of his request for $3.2 million. Tampa Bay improved to 6-0 in arbitration.
Through no fault of his own, Jeff Niemann finds himself in a battle for a rotation spot this spring. With any other organization, he'd be a no-brainer -- perhaps even a top-three option -- but in Tampa Bay, he's part of a clear surplus. James Shields, David Price and Jeremy Hellickson are obviously safe, and you know the Rays are looking to get Matt Moore in the rotation after turning to him in Game 1 of the ALDS last year, which means between Niemann and Davis, someone has to be the odd man out. During the postseason last year, the odd man out was Niemann, though mostly because of extenuating circumstances. He was dealing with back soreness -- an injury that also forced him to the DL for most of April and May. Performance-wise, the two would appear to be even, but keep in mind Niemann dominated when he first returned from that DL stint, posting a 2.15 ERA over his next 10 starts. When he's at 100 percent, he delivers top-of-the-rotation-type results, which is why he's worth a late-round pick in mixed leagues even with the uncertain role. If the Rays decide to solve their problem via trade, he'll have been well worth the gamble. (Updated 2/1/12)
Actual 
AccuScore Projections) Note: Points are rounded down.
= probable start