JJ continues to feel no discomfort
Josh Johnson, SP, MIA
3:09 PM
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: ESPN reports free agent SP
Scott Kazmir will throw for scouts in Houston on Wednesday.
Analysis: Control problems have destroyed Kazmir's career. But he is only 28 years old, so if he figures out how to pitch again, then he might make it back to the majors. Luckily for Fantasy owners they can leave Kazmir on waivers until further notice. Let him sign with a team and prove his worth before adding him in any format.
News: The Sports Xchange reports Yankees C
Russell Martin is healthy going into spring training, a change from his first season as a Yankee, when he was finishing up rehab on an injured hip and knee. Before 2011 spring training, Martin had little chance to build power in his legs, so a full winter of workouts "will be a huge difference," Martin told the
New York Daily News. Martin believes, in fact, that he might be the fittest Yankee in camp this year. "If there's any guys in more shape than me, I"d be surprised," Martin said. "If there are, I'd be happy, because I'm coming ready this year." Martin also said he's already begun taking swings, something he didn't do until a few days before spring training began last year.
Analysis: You really have to be encouraged to hear this report from Martin, who hit .237 with 18 homers and 65 RBI in his first season with New York. The fact he no longer has to look over his shoulder either now that Jesus Montero has been traded means Martin is the unquestioned No. 1 catcher for New York. He might not hit for a pretty average, but Martin has the power and RBI opportunities to be a viable low-end Fantasy starter.
News: The Sports Xchange reports Twins OF
Denard Span, recovering from a concussion and migraines that limited him last season, has been doing eye exercises this offseason. He works on a computer program. "I do it three or four times a week for about a half hour," he said. "It's just strengthening up my focus, keeping my eyes focused on the target, stuff like that. That's definitely been good."
Analysis: Despite the emergence of Ben Revere, the Twins are going to start Span in center field. They aren't letting one injury-plagued season cost Span his starting job. That's the good news. Now, Span has to get his career back on track. Span won't get you a lot of homers or RBI, but he could hit for a decent average, score some runs and steal some bases. Look to Span as a late-round Fantasy option, with a little more value in Rotisserie formats.
Adcock to compete for rotation spot
Nate Adcock, RP, KC
3:06 PM
News: The Sports Xchange reports
Nate Adcock was with the Royals last season after being a Rule 5 draft pick from the Pirates. Adcock, who made three spot starts and mostly worked in long relief, will be a rotation candidate in spring training. He went to the Arizona Fall League to throw more innings. Adcock, however, could go back to the minors if he fails to land a job in March. He had not pitched above Class A before last season.
Analysis: Adcock went 2-2 with a 4.44 ERA in six starts in the Arizona Fall League. His most encouraging stat line was his 23 strikeouts to four walks in 24 1/3 innings. Adcock was never a dominant pitcher in the minors, so even if he wins a rotation spot this spring, consider him at best an AL-only Fantasy option.
Tigers still evaluating Turner
Jacob Turner, SP, DET
2:59 PM
News: The Sports Xchange reports
Jacob Turner might have the highest ceiling among the handful of candidates for Detroit's vacant fifth starter spot, but prudence might dictate he smooth out some rough edges for a half-season in the minors. GM Dave Dombrowski recently cited lefties Andy Oliver,
Drew Smyly,
Duane Below,
Casey Crosby and
Adam Wilk as among the contenders for the rotation along with Turner, who would make it an all-right-handed starting staff were he to emerge this spring. "I feel comfortable if Below or Wilk were the No. 5 starter, that they could do a job for us out there," Dombrowski said. "But unless something really surprises me, they don't have the overall upside of a
Jacob Turner, who I'm not really sure is ready or not. I don't know if we'll know that until we get down there (to Florida), see him perform and also see some of those other guys perform."
Analysis: Turner had some command issues and didn't pitch off his fastball enough in three cameo starts for the Tigers last season, but the most glaring fault was an inability to stop even the slowest runners from stealing bases on him. "First of all, (Turner) has quality stuff and is going to be a tremendous big-league pitcher," Dombrowski said. "I don't have a question about that. This guy is really good. But last year, if you were watching us at the big-league level, you would have said, 'There's no way this guy could be ready.' I've seen guys who get a cup of coffee at the big league level, guys for whom the game moved real fast. And they come back to pitch very well. But I'm interested in seeing where some of those young guys are in their development, and whether they can step forward to do the job." Turner could be worth a late-round Fantasy flier in deeper formats on Draft Day, so continue to track his progress.
Smyly has Tigers smiling
Drew Smyly, SP, DET
2:56 PM
News: The Sports Xchange reports SP prospect
Drew Smyly, Detroit's second choice in the 2010 draft, has a solid chance to make the Tigers' roster in a multi-pitcher battle for the club's fifth rotation spot. GM Dave Dombrowski tagged Smyly, who pitched better at Double-A than he did in high Class A, is "one guy I'm interested in seeing because I've not seen much of him. He's only been in the organization one year, but some people in our minor league system feel he's ready to pitch in the big leagues right now."
Analysis: Smyly was 7-3 with a 2.58 ERA for Lakeland (Class A), then went 4-3 with a 1.18 ERA in eight games for Erie (Double-A). "He not only pitched well in the minors last year," Dombrowski said, "but he went to international competition (Pan American Games) and was the No. 1 pitcher on that team. In general, when you look at guys who've been successful in international competition, the majority of them end up pitching in the big leagues the next year." Although he has just one minor-league season under his belt, Smyly could move fast because he is more polished than a high-school draftee since he pitched in the SEC. The only real concern is that Smyly has had health issues in the past, but it appears his talent might get him to the majors sooner than many may think. He remains a viable long-term Fantasy keeper, but if he wins a rotation spot out of camp, then consider Smyly more of an AL-only Fantasy option to start his career.
News: The Sports Xchange reports OF
Michael Brantley will go to training camp as the starter in left field, according to manager Manny Acta. Brantley finished the 2011 season on the disabled list because of a hand injury that resulted in surgery on Aug. 23 to remove a broken hamate bone in his right hand. Acta said Brantley will be ready to resume baseball activities in spring training.
Analysis: In 451 at bats last year, Brantley batted .266 with seven home runs, 46 RBI and 13 stolen bases. Brantley was a good contact hitter in the minors, but he never really hit for power. He had some speed on the base paths, which he could provide for Fantasy owners. But we aren't sure yet how much offensive upside he has, so consider Brantley at best a late-round Fantasy flier in mixed leagues.
News: The Sports Xchange reports Reds prospect
Billy Hamilton will continue to play exclusively as shortstop this season. Hamilton played some second base his first two years in the organization. "Good shortstops are hard to find," Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said.
Analysis: With Hamilton's speed, Fantasy owners wish he was in the majors this season. However, he hasn't played past Class A, so Hamilton still has some work to do before making it to the majors. The Reds are going to give Zack Cozart his chance to start at shortstop in 2012, and if we are lucky, we might see Hamilton when rosters expand in September. He totaled 103 stolen bases in 2011 and has 165 stolen bases in 247 minor-league games. Hamilton remains a long-term Fantasy keeper.
News: The Denver Post reports while the Rockies are pleased with
Jorge De La Rosa's progress, they will continue to be cautious with him. De La Rosa, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery last summer, is already throwing in bullpen sessions. "He is way ahead, but we are not going to push him," GM Dan O'Dowd said. "There's a difference between being ahead and being major-league sharp. Our goal is not just getting De La Rosa back to the big leagues, our goal is getting De La Rosa back to where he can get outs at the big-league level."
Analysis: De La Rosa is expected to progress to facing live hitters in mid-March, as long as he avoids all setbacks. When camp breaks, De La Rosa will stay in extended spring training and continue his rehab by working against minor league hitters. Trainer Keith Dugger said that if all goes well, De La Rosa could begin a 30-day minor league rehab assignment in late April or May. De La Rosa, who will be 31 on April 5, went 34-24 for the Rockies with a 4.49 ERA and 434 strikeouts in 436 2/3 innings since being obtained from the Royals in April 2008. De La Rosa is merely a draft-and-stash option on Draft Day.
