This article is part of our Transaction Analysis series.
It was another eventful week in baseball, with several important transactions. Here's a look at some of the most notewoerthy of the last week:
SUNDAY
Dodgers
Hanley Ramirez, SS - placed on the 15-day DL (left hamstring)
Dee Gordon, SS - recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque
Impact: Ramirez didn't see his first game action of the season until April 29 due to a thumb injury, and managed to get into just four games before landing right back on the DL. The Dominican shortstop strained his left hamstring during Friday's game and is expected to be out four to six weeks. The speedy Dee Gordon was given the call to replace Ramirez on the roster and should get regular playing time now that Justin Sellers has been optioned to Triple-A. Fantasy owners needing stolen bases should give Gordon a look.
Rockies
Todd Helton, 1B - activated from the 15-day DL
Jhoulys Chacin, RHP - activated from the 15-day DL
Ryan Wheeler, IF - optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs
Tyler Chatwood, RHP - optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs
Impact: The Rockies had a couple of key players return to their roster Sunday, as Helton and Chacin returned from injuries. Helton was out a couple weeks with inflammation in his left forearm. He is no longer assured of being in the lineup every day, and he's clearly nowhere near the elite hitter that he was in his prime. Still, he swings a decent enough bat and could have
It was another eventful week in baseball, with several important transactions. Here's a look at some of the most notewoerthy of the last week:
SUNDAY
Dodgers
Hanley Ramirez, SS - placed on the 15-day DL (left hamstring)
Dee Gordon, SS - recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque
Impact: Ramirez didn't see his first game action of the season until April 29 due to a thumb injury, and managed to get into just four games before landing right back on the DL. The Dominican shortstop strained his left hamstring during Friday's game and is expected to be out four to six weeks. The speedy Dee Gordon was given the call to replace Ramirez on the roster and should get regular playing time now that Justin Sellers has been optioned to Triple-A. Fantasy owners needing stolen bases should give Gordon a look.
Rockies
Todd Helton, 1B - activated from the 15-day DL
Jhoulys Chacin, RHP - activated from the 15-day DL
Ryan Wheeler, IF - optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs
Tyler Chatwood, RHP - optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs
Impact: The Rockies had a couple of key players return to their roster Sunday, as Helton and Chacin returned from injuries. Helton was out a couple weeks with inflammation in his left forearm. He is no longer assured of being in the lineup every day, and he's clearly nowhere near the elite hitter that he was in his prime. Still, he swings a decent enough bat and could have some value in deeper leagues. Chacin was off to a great start this year before missing a couple weeks with a strained lower back. He should be worth a roster spot in most fantasy league formats as long as he can stay healthy. Wheeler was 1-for-9 in six games with the Rockies, while Chatwood went 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in two starts.
MONDAY
Braves
Brian McCann, C - activated from the 15-day DL
Tyler Pastornicky, IF - optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett
Impact: McCann returned to the lineup Monday after offseason shoulder surgery. The 29-year-old backstop has been one of the most consistent-hitting catchers in baseball for several years now and should be activated on fantasy rosters immediately. Rookie Evan Gattis performed surprisingly well offensively while filling in for McCann, so much so that he should still get a fair amount of playing time in left field, at first base and behind the dish. Still, it seems unlikely that he'll maintain his current fantasy value over the course of the season. Pastornicky went just 1-for-7 in six games with the Braves, and could be recalled the next time the team needs some infield depth.
Phillies
Roy Halladay, RHP - placed on the 15-day DL (right shoulder)
Joe Savery, LHP - recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley
Impact: Halladay landed on the DL with shoulder inflammation after getting shelled for 17 earned runs in his last two starts. The 35-year-old righty was one of baseball's top starting pitchers as recently as two years ago but has seen his stock plummet considerably since. He posted a pedestrian 4.49 ERA through 25 starts last year and now leaves behind a 2-4 record and 8.65 ERA. Doc could be looking at an extended stay on the DL after electing to have arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder, and the Phillies will bring up Tyler Cloyd to fill his rotation spot. Cloyd has the potential to have some value in deeper leagues, as he was excellent in the minors last year (15-1 with a 2.26 ERA in 26 starts between Double-A and Triple-A). Savery took over the roster spot of Halladay, but will pitch in relief.
Red Sox
Andrew Bailey, RHP - placed on the 15-day DL (right biceps)
Craig Breslow, LHP - activated from the 15-day DL
Impact: Bailey will be out for at least two weeks as he recovers from inflammation in his right biceps. Joel Hanrahan is now also on the shelf with tightness in his right forearm, forcing the BoSox to hand ninth-inning duties to Junichi Tazawa. The 26-year-old righty from Japan had an impressive 2012 season, posting a 1.43 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP in 44 innings. Tazawa got off to a good start this year as well, but it remains to be seen how well he'll handle the pressure of closing games. Breslow should serve as a situational lefty, and Allen Webster was added to the roster to replace Hanrahan. Webster joins Boston's rotation, moving the struggling Felix Doubront to the bullpen. The 23-year-old Webster had only made five starts above Double-A at the time of his recall and is probably only worthy of consideration in deeper AL-only leagues.
TUESDAY
Marlins
Donovan Solano, 2B - placed on the 15-day DL (left oblique)
Nick Green, IF - contract purchased from Triple-A New Orleans
Impact: Solano's sophomore campaign will be put on hold a couple weeks as he rests a strained oblique. The 25-year-old second baseman hit .295 with a couple homers and seven steals in 93 games last year and was hitting a healthy .278 this year at the time of his injury. His replacement, Chris Valaika, fractured his left wrist Tuesday, so the Marlins purchased the contract of Derek Dietrich from Double-A Jacksonville to man second. Based on his minor league numbers and inexperience, it would appear unlikely that Dietrich will have much value outside of deeper NL-only leagues. Green will serve as infield depth.
WEDNESDAY
Athletics
Josh Reddick, OF - placed on the 15-day DL (right wrist)
Daric Barton, 1B - contract purchased from Triple-A Sacramento
Impact: Reddick became the latest Oakland outfielder to land on the DL this month, joining Coco Crisp and Chris Young on the shelf. The 26-year-old Reddick was doing absolutely nothing with the bat, as he leaves behind a .152 average and just one home run in 29 games. Barton should see plenty of action at first base, though his .209 average and one home run in 113 games over the last two seasons make him a less than desirable fantasy option. As a result of Barton's recall, Brandon Moss should see less time at first base and more time in the outfield. Michael Taylor could also see an increase in playing time, but his numbers over his brief major league career have been awful so far.
Diamondbacks
J.J. Putz, RHP - placed on the 15-day DL (right elbow)
Will Harris, RHP - recalled from Triple-A Reno
Impact: The D-Backs closer will be out at least a couple weeks due to a strained right elbow. Putz has gotten off to a rather shaky start this year, blowing four saves in nine chances and posting a 4.26 ERA and 1.58 WHIP. Heath Bell should be the primary candidate for saves in Arizona for the time being, though his numbers since the start of the 2012 season have been unimpressive. David Hernandez could also be in line for some saves, especially if Bell can't make any kind of improvement. Harris will pitch in middle relief.
Rangers
A.J. Pierzynski, C - placed on the 15-day DL (right oblique)
Robinson Chirinos, C - recalled from Triple-A Round Rock
Impact: Pierzynski had a career year last year with the White Sox, as he set career highs in home runs (29) and runs scored (68), while tying his career high in RBI (77). He had some big shoes to fill in Texas this year, replacing Mike Napoli's powerful bat. He'll miss at least a couple weeks as he works his way back from a strained right oblique. Pierzynski leaves behind a .263 average, four home runs and 11 RBI in 26 games. Geovany Soto should get most of the starts behind the plate while Pierzynski is out, with Chirinos serving as backup. Soto was awful with the bat last year and hasn't been much better so far this season. He's probably not worth a look in anything but the deepest fantasy leagues, while Chirinos shouldn't be fantasy relevant.
THURSDAY
Indians
Michael Bourn, OF - activated from the 15-day DL
Scott Barnes, LHP - optioned to Triple-A Columbus
Impact: The Indians' speedy center fielder missed more than three weeks due to a laceration on his right index finger. Bourn has been one of baseball's top base stealers in recent years, stealing more than 40 bases a season every year from 2008 to 2012 and topping 60 twice in that span. He should be activated on fantasy rosters immediately. Drew Stubbs filled in for Bourn in center field and should return to his role as the team's fourth outfielder. Barnes made three relief appearances for the Tribe, giving up two earned runs in four innings.
