News: The Indians have signed RP Tom Mastny to a minor league deal. He pitched in Japan last year.
Analysis: Mastny has had some nice minor league numbers in his career, but was converted from a starter to a reliever back in 2005 and that will limit his Fantasy value if he does make the Indians squad. Continue to ignore him for the time being.
News: The Indians have sold right-hander Tom Mastny's contract to Yokohama of the Japanese Central League. Mastny split last season between the Indians and Triple-A Buffalo. He was 2-2 with a 1.78 ERA in 28 games for the Bisons. The 27-year-old went 7-2 for the Indians in 2007, his first full season in the majors. In 2006, he recorded five saves in the closer's role over the final six weeks after beginning that season at Double-A Akron.
Analysis: With Cleveland, Mastny went 2-2 with a 10.80 ERA in 14 games. Cut and ignore the export reliever in all Fantasy leagues now.
News: Tom Mastny (2-2) gave up one hit in the 11th and earned the victory Tuesday.
Analysis: Mastny is nothing more than a low-end middle reliever for the deepest of AL-only leagues that use true middle men at this point in his career.
News: Cleveland recalled first baseman Michael Aubrey and right-handers Thomas Mastny, Jon Meloan and Brian Slocum on Monday. Left-hander Rich Rundles' contract was purchased from the Bisons.
Analysis: Mastny is nothing more than a low-end middle reliever for the deepest of AL-only leagues that use true middle men down the stretch.
News: The Indians optioned RHP Tom Mastny to Triple-A Buffalo and placed RHP Matt Ginter on the 15-day DL with a right forearm strain. Anthony Reyes is expected to replace Ginter in the Indians' rotation.
Analysis: Matsny is nothing more than organizational depth at this point in his career. Ignore him in all Fantasy leagues right now.
News: The Indians placed right-handed reliever Scott Elarton on the restricted list Monday after he told manager Eric Wedge he needed to leave the team for personal reasons. Cleveland called up right-handed pitcher Tom Mastny from Triple-A Buffalo to take Elarton's roster spot. Elarton flew with the team into Chicago on Sunday night and told Wedge on Monday morning that he needed to leave the team. "He has some personal issues that he has to take care of," Wedge said, "so he headed out of here today." Wedge said Elarton would be gone "indefinitely."
Analysis: Elarton, signed to a minor-league deal in February, had his contract purchased from Triple-A Buffalo on May 24. He made eight appearances for the Indians, going 0-1 with a 3.52 ERA. Mastny was 1-0 with a 1.71 ERA in the minors this season and is 7-4 with a 5.49 ERA in three seasons in the majors, all with Cleveland. He's 0-1 with a 21.00 ERA in three appearances with the Indians this season. Neither player has much Fantasy appeal working in middle relief.
News: The Indians shuffled their pitching staff again, calling up right-handers Brian Slocum and Rick Bauer from Triple-A Buffalo before Wednesday night's game against Texas. To make room on the roster, Cleveland optioned right-handers Thomas Mastny and Jensen Lewis to Buffalo.
Analysis: Mastny made his first major league start Tuesday against the Rangers after 68 career relief appearances. Mastny lasted only 1 1/3 innings, allowing five runs and six hits. He took the loss. Mastny is nothing more than a risky AL-only Fantasy pitcher when in the majors.
News: Indians RP Tom Mastny made his first major league start Tuesday against the Rangers after 68 career relief appearances. It did not go as planned in a 12-7 loss. Mastny struggled through a 37-pitch first inning and lasted only 1 1/3 innings, allowing five runs and six hits. Mastny was replacing Jake Westbrook, who went on the disabled list Monday with an inflamed right elbow. The Rangers put four runs on the board in the first, that included back-to-back homers from Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradley.
Analysis: Mastny has spent most of the season with Triple-A Buffalo and could be headed back there after Tuesday's embarassment. If somehow he stays in the Indians rotation, consider him nothing more than a risky AL-only Fantasy option. It's likely, however, the Indians will slot someone else into Westbrook's spot in the rotation since Mastny is primarily a reliever these days.
News: Indians RP Tom Mastny will make his first major league start Tuesday night for the Cleveland Indians. Mastny was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on Monday to rejoin Cleveland's bullpen. But he's being pressed into starting duty against the Texas Rangers because SP Jake Westbrook was scratched from his scheduled start and landed on the DL.
Analysis: Mastny will likely only go a few innings on Tuesday as Cleveland called him up for bullpen help and not to start. Jeremy Sowers, who couldn't start Tuesday because he pitched Sunday in the minors, will probably get the call up to start on Sunday against the Tigers and will likely take Westbrook's spot in the rotation. Don't waste a roster spot on Mastny right now, as his future in Cleveland is so up in the air. Sowers might be worth a flier in AL-only leagues, however, as he could get two or three starts with the Indians while Westbrook remains on the shelf.
News: Reliever Tom Mastny was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on Monday by the offensively slumping Indians, who optioned infielder Michael Aubrey back to the minors. Aubrey homered in his first at-bat for the Indians and batted .185 with two homers and two RBI in nine games. The Indians will open a four-game series in Texas Monday night with the AL's lowest batting average (.233). After winning 96 games last season, Cleveland is just 25-31 and batted went just 12-15 while batting only .218 in May, the lowest one-month average in the majors since 2003.
Analysis: Mastny will be joining the Indians for the second time this season. The right-hander didn't have a decision and had a 10.80 ERA in two appearances for Cleveland before he was optioned to the Bisons on May 11. He went 1-0 with a 3.14 ERA in 11 appearances for Buffalo. He is nothing more than a low-end middle reliever for the deepest of leagues that use true middle men.
News: The Indians added veteran outfielder Jason Tyner to their roster Sunday and optioned right-handed pitcher Tom Mastny to Triple-A Buffalo. Mastny, called up from Buffalo on April 15, appeared in only two games, allowing two hits and one earned run in 1 2/3 innings. He spent the entire 2007 season with Cleveland, going 7-2 with a 4.68 ERA in 51 appearances.
Analysis: Mastny is nothing more than a low-end middle reliever for the deepest of AL-only leagues that use true middle men, when up in the majors. Ignore him while he is in the minors.
News: Indians closer Joe Borowski was placed on the 15-day DL on Tuesday, a day after blowing a save and giving up a two-run homer in the ninth inning to Boston's Manny Ramirez in a 6-4 loss to the Red Sox. The club said Borowski, who led the AL with 45 saves last season, has a strained triceps. He had been puzzled and frustrated by a significant loss in his velocity. The club recalled right-hander Tom Mastny from Triple-A Buffalo. With Borowski out, Indians manager Eric Wedge likely will turn to Rafael Betancourt as his new closer. Betancourt was one of baseball's top set-up men last season. He had three saves last season and has 12 career saves. Rafael Perez could also be an option if Betancourt can't handle the job.
Analysis: Mastny, who once was a part-time closer for the Indians, is nothing more than a middle reliever at this point for the deepest of AL-only leagues that use true middle men.
News: The Indians optioned right-hander Tom Mastny to Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, giving their final bullpen spot to left-hander Craig Breslow. Mastny's future appeared decided when the club claimed Breslow on waivers from the Boston Red Sox on Sunday. Breslow is out of minor league options, while Mastny had one remaining. Breslow, 27, made his Indians debut Tuesday, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning to save Cleveland's 7-5 spring win over the New York Yankees. Mastny also did a good job in the game, replacing starter Paul Byrd with one out in the seventh inning and getting two quick outs to strand baserunners at second and third.
Analysis: Mastny did not have a strong spring after being one of Cleveland's most reliable relievers a year ago. The 27-year-old went 0-1 with one save and a 6.39 ERA this spring. In his first full season with the Indians last year, the 6-foot-6 reliever went 7-2 with a 4.68 ERA in 51 appearances. In the postseason, he didn't give up a run in 4 2/3 innings over three outings, winning Game 2 of the ALCS in Boston. He is nothing more than a low-end middle reliever for the Indians and the deepest of AL-only leagues when he returns to the big leagues.
News: Tom Mastny (4-2) pitched a scoreless 10th inning for the victory Saturday. Joe Borowski pitched the 11th for his 18th save in 20 opportunities.
Analysis: Borowski is a decent option for saves as long as he can hold down the closer's role in Cleveland. It appears he will only lose it if the Indians make a trade for a Eric Gagne, or someone like that. Mastny is nothing more than a middle reliever for the deepest of leagues that use true middle men.
News: Indians RP Thomas Mastny has made three relief appearances in June, and he would like to forget them all. In 2 1/3 innings, the reliever has allowed seven hits, five walks and eight earned runs. He does have three strikeouts. His ERA has gone from 2.86 to 5.55 during that stretch.
Analysis: Mastny was a solid relief option through the first two months, but June has been just awful for him. Mastny's Fantasy value is limited to the deepest of AL-only Fantasy leagues at this point.
News: Thomas Mastny (3-1) took over for starter C.C. Sabathia after five inning and got the win on Monday against the Mariners, allowing just two hits while striking out one in 1 2/3 innings of relief.
Analysis: Despite the impressive total out of the bullpen, Mastny's Fantasy value is limited to the deepest of AL-only Fantasy leagues at this point.
News: Indians RP Thomas Mastny allowed two hits and one earned run to the A's during Sunday's game. He worked 1 2/3 innings of relief and struck out one.
Analysis: Mastny has allowed one earned run in four of his last seven relief appearances. He is one of the team's best long-relief options. If you are looking for relief wins, Mastny is definitely an option in AL-only leagues.
News: RPs Rafael Betancourt, Aaron Fultz and Tom Mastny each worked a scoreless two-thirds of an inning in Tuesday's game at Chicago White Sox.
Analysis: Mastny is nothing more than middle relief options in the deepest AL-only Fantasy leagues at this point. He received five save chances last season, but that is unlikely this year with the presence of Joe Borowski.
News: The Canton Repository reports that right-handed relief pitcher Matt Miller will be kept from being on the opening day roster with the Indians thanks to some forearm soreness. He is going to be placed on the 15-day disabled list. Lefty Juan Lara or righty Tom Mastny would take his place.
Analysis: Miller, Lara and Mastny would only be middle relievers in AL-only leagues that truly use them. Don't expect any of them to be drafted or owned anytime soon.
News: Manager Eric Wedge will begin the season with Joe Borowski, who had 36 saves for Florida last season, as his closer with Roberto Hernandez and Rafael Betancourt as the primary set-up men. Aaron Fultz will mostly be used against lefties. Matt Miller and Fernando Cabrera will work the sixth and seventh innings and Jason Davis' role will be as long reliever. Tom Mastny and Juan Lara will be the first help summoned from Triple-A Buffalo if needed. "The roles are always going to evolve," Wedge said. "But when you look at the options we have this year, when you look at the experience we have, when you look at some of the experiences of our people we have coming back, we're in much better shape than we were last year."
Analysis: Borowski has value in mixed leagues as the Indians' closer to start the season. Betancourt and Cabrera are the likely fall-back closers, with Cabrera the best candidate long term. Consider all these guys nothing more than middle relievers.
News: Manager Eric Wedge does not believe the Indians' closer for 2007 is on his current roster. The club is planning a massive overhaul of its bullpen this offseason, and the Indians' No. 1 priority is finding someone to finish games. Wedge characterized this year's free-agent class of closers as "thin." "It's going to a tough task for us to find that guy," said Wedge. General manager Mark Shapiro will have more money to spend in free agency, but that didn't help the Indians last winter when relievers Trevor Hoffman and B.J. Ryan rejected their multiyear offers. Wedge, though, is confident Shapiro and assistant GM Chris Antonetti will get him the arms he needs. "I trust in our creativity and the way Mark and Chris go about trying to create options for us," he said. "We're going to have to look at everybody and got after it as best we can."
Analysis: This means that none of the players in the current bullpen will be given a chance to earn the spot in the spring. This could change, of course, but don't hold anyone over thinking they will be the Indians closer in 2007 -- if that's the reason you want to hold them over.
News: Tom Mastny pitched the ninth for his fifth save in as many chances despite allowing a run.
Analysis: Mastny has earned himself closer status for the near future. Consider him in all deeper Fantasy leagues in which you need a stopgap closer. The Indians have played better ball of late and could be a source of save opportunities as they try to ramp up for 2007.
News: Manager Eric Wedge likes the recent surge by his bullpen and he's especially pleased with RHP Tom Mastny, who had converted all four save opportunities heading into the weekend series with the Rangers. The team was without a designated closer after the trade of RHP Bob Wickman to Atlanta on July 20.
Analysis: Mastny was a setup man with one minor league save for the season before he was called up from Buffalo on July 24. "He was a guy who was outstanding in the minor leagues this year, but you still don't know 'til they're out there in that role," Wedge said. Mastny has earned himself closer status for the near future. Consider him in all deeper Fantasy leagues in which you need a stopgap closer. The Indians have played better ball of late and could be a source of save opportunities as they try to ramp up for 2007.
News: Thomas Mastny hit a batter with two outs in the ninth inning on Monday against the Blue Jays before getting his fourth save in four tries since being handed the closer's job.
Analysis: Mastny has earned himself closer status for the near future. Consider him in all deeper Fantasy leagues in which you need a stopgap closer. The Indians have played better ball of late and could be a source of save opportunities as they try to ramp up for 2007.
News: Tom Mastny, Cleveland's newest closer, pitched a perfect ninth for his third save Saturday vs. Detroit.
Analysis: Mastny has earned himself closer status for the near future. Consider him in all deeper leagues in which you need a stopgap closer. The Indians have played better ball of late and could be a source of save opportunities as they try to ramp up for 2007.
News: Tom Mastny never imagined he would be where he is now. "This wasn't on the radar screen," said Mastny, Cleveland's new closer. Mastny inherited the job after the Indians traded Bob Wickman and then tried out several others to finish off games. For now, Mastny is the man in charge of getting the final out. "I'm just look at it as another opportunity to pitch," said the 25-year-old, who began the season at Akron and is 2-for-2 in save opportunities. "I'm not looking at it as I'm the closer or anything like that." Manager Eric Wedge has been impressed with Mastny. "He's aggressive. He's confident," said Wedge. "I like his composure. With what I've seen so far, he makes pitches."
Analysis: Mastny likely has earned himself closer status for the near future. Consider him in all deeper leagues in which you need a stopgap closer. The Indians have played better ball of late and could be a source of save opportunities as they try to ramp up for 2007.
News: Thomas Mastny posted his second consecutive save for the Indians on Wednesday night.
Analysis: The 25-year-old likely has earned himself closer status for the near future. Consider him in all deeper leagues in which you need a stopgap closer. The Indians have played better ball of late and could be a source of save opportunities as they try to ramp up for 2007.
News: Mastny earned himself a chance to become the Cleveland Indians' closer. Mastny allowed one hit and struck out three over two scoreless innings for his first career save as the Indians beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 5-3 on Saturday night. "He'll get another opportunity," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "Mastny did a great job. The way he pitched tonight said a lot about his mental toughness. It was great to see for him and for us." Cleveland, which has lost a major league-high seven games this year when leading after eight innings, has been looking to fill the closer role since Bob Wickman was traded to Atlanta last month. "He throws a lot of strikes," Wedge said of Mastny. "From what we've seen up there, his secondary stuff has been a little better maybe than we anticipated. His fastball has some life to it, and he trusts his stuff." Mastny made just his fourth appearance since having his contract purchased from Triple-A Buffalo on July 24.
Analysis: While we don't expect Mastny to suddenly become a stud closer, owners that are in need of saves should do ahead and pick him up for the remainder of the season.
News: Tom Mastny made his big-league debut and got the final out in the ninth.
Analysis: As a rarely used reliever, his Fantasy value remains null and void.
