With seven weeks left in the fantasy baseball season, it’s vital to continue analyzing the waiver wires searching for more weapons. Guys like Joba Chamberlain, Rick Ankiel and Brian Giles were popular additions this week, while Mark Mulder, Kenny Rogers and Pedro Martinez are each still hoping to come off the disabled list and make an impact in 2007. The rosters will be expanding from 25 to 40 men on September 1 so you’ll need to do your homework if you are still fighting for a ring. In a rather light week for injuries, the DL Down Low will recap the injury situation around the majors this week.
The Mets placed Paul Lo Duca on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained right hamstring and backup catcher Ramon Castro left Sunday's game against the Florida Marlins in the third inning because of back discomfort. An MRI exam showed mild arthritis in Castro's lower back, general manager Omar Minaya said. Castro is considered day-to-day. Mike DiFelice, called up from Triple-A New Orleans, took Castro's place. He is the only other catcher on the roster.
Carlos Beltran was activated from the DL Friday after he was sidelined since July 25 with a strained muscle on his left side. The Mets waited to see how Beltran felt after working out Friday afternoon before deciding whether he would play. About 40 minutes before the scheduled first pitch, the team announced he had been activated. Beltran was hitting .263 with 19 home runs, 62 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. He’s gone 1-for-10 with a home run in his first three games off the shelf. He needs five stolen bases to join the 20/20 club for the sixth time in his 10-year career.
The Padres parted ways with David Wells on Thursday, designating the Hefty Lefty for assignment in order to activate All-Star Chris Young from the shelf. The Padres have 10 days to make a move with Wells or he will become a free agent. He struggled in his last four starts, going 0-3 with a 14.33 ERA. Overall, he was 5-8 with a 5.54 ERA this season. He was on the DL with a strained left oblique muscle. Young led the major leagues with a 1.82 ERA and a .184 batting average against when he went down with the injury. On Thursday, he suffered the loss against the Cardinals in his return after he allowed five walks and four runs in six innings. He had been 5-0 with a 1.02 ERA in his previous 11 starts since his previous loss. He’ll get the nod against Colorado on Wednesday – get him back in all starting lineups.
The Padres placed Michael Barrett on the 15-day DL and they purchased the contract of catcher Pete Laforest from Triple-A Portland. Barrett was diagnosed with concussion-like symptoms after being kneed in the head while sliding into second base on Friday. He was hit in the mask by a foul tip last Sunday against San Francisco. He is hitting .231 in 31 games with San Diego after being acquired from the Cubs. Laforest hit .313 in six games with San Diego April 12-May 3 before being outrighted to Portland. The left-handed hitting catcher hit 29 home runs in the Pacific Coast League – to go along with just 35 singles and six doubles. He’s definitely worth picking up in NL-only formats if you need catcher-help because of his long-ball potential.
Jay Gibbons was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday, one day before undergoing season-ending surgery on his injured left shoulder. Gibbons, who has a torn labrum, will have an operation Tuesday in Cincinnati. The surgery will be performed by Reds medical director Dr. Timothy Kremchek. Gibbons batted .230 with six home runs and 28 RBIs in 84 games for Baltimore this season. He completed his season by striking out as a pinch-hitter on Sunday against Boston. The 30-year-old Gibbons said the injury occurred a few months ago when he was diving for a ball in left field. "Well, obviously it's frustrating, this whole year, and then to have it end like this is not fun," Gibbons said Saturday. "Especially since I was having a lot of fun with the guys here, and we were playing pretty good ball as of late." The Orioles purchased the contract of catcher-first baseman J.R. House from Triple-A Norfolk. House batted .295 with 10 home runs and 63 RBIs for the Tides.
Adam Kennedy will be sidelined two to six weeks with torn cartilage in his right knee so infielder Brendan Ryan was recalled from Triple-A Memphis to take his place on the roster. He and Aaron Miles likely will share playing time at second while Kennedy is on the DL. Ryan, 25, has batted .339 in 25 games with two homers and five RBIs with the Cardinals. This is his fourth stint with the team this season. "I'm guessing he'll be back in September, but I don't know," manager Tony La Russa said of Kennedy. The team will schedule surgery in the next several days.
Scott Spiezio voluntarily sought treatment for "possible problems related to substances" that the team did not specify. He was placed on the restricted list Thursday and will be paid while he undergoes treatment. La Russa would not say what substances were involved or where the treatment will take place, and added that Spiezio "absolutely" will return this season. "It speaks highly of Scott to come forward admitting recognition of a potential problem," Cardinals physician Dr. George Paletta said. "This allows the organization to provide him access to the appropriate resources for further evaluation and treatment."
Who’s Coming Back Soon?
Outfielders:
Michael Bourne (ankle) – return mid-August
Shane Victorino (calf) – return mid-August
Endy Chavez (hamstring) – return late August
Infielders:
Rich Aurilia (hamstring) – return August 17
Hank Blalock (arm) – return late August
Edgar Renteria (ankle) – return late August
Chase Utley (hand) – return early September
Starters:
Gustavo Chacin (elbow) – return late August
Roger Clemens (suspension) – return Saturday vs DET
Bartolo Colon (elbow) – return late August
Shawn Hill (elbow) – return Aug. 14 vs PHI
Pedro Martinez (shoulder) – return late August
Mark Mulder (shoulder) – return late August
Vicente Padilla (triceps) – return mid-August
Kenny Rogers (elbow) – return mid-August
Ben Sheets (finger) – return early September
Relievers:
Brian Fuentes (back) – return mid-August
Akinori Otsuka (arm) – return late August
Chris Ray (elbow) – return September
Joel Zumaya (finger) – return late August
Around the League:
The Cubs activated IF Daryle Ward from the DL and placed Cliff Floyd on the bereavement list Sunday. Ward was hitting .333 with seven doubles and eight RBIs in 47 games before straining his right calf muscle on July 19. … The Reds reinstated OF Josh Hamilton from the DL Sunday and designated IF Mark Bellhorn for assignment. Hamilton has been on the DL since July 12 with a sprained right wrist. He hit .375 (6-for-16) in five rehab games with Triple-A Louisville. Bellhorn made five pinch-hit appearances and one at third base as a defensive replacement since joining the Reds on July 31. Ryan Freel underwent season-ending knee surgery Wednesday. He’s hoping to be healthy for the start of the 2008 season. … The Rockies called up Ian Stewart from Triple-A Colorado Springs on Saturday and placed IF Jeff Baker on the DL. The 22-year-old was hitting .304 with 15 home runs and 65 RBIs for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. He went 0-for-2 in his debut Saturday and 1-for-1 Sunday against the Cubbies this weekend, scoring a run in each contest. … Rodrigo Lopez will undergo surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon on his right arm by Dr. Lewis Yocum in Los Angeles on Aug. 22. The Rockies transferred him from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL on Thursday. He was 5-4 and had a 4.42 ERA in 14 starts before the injury.
Octavio Dotel was placed on the DL with a right shoulder strain on Friday. Dotel, who was acquired by the Braves from Kansas City on July 31 for Kyle Davies, was 0-0 with an 8.31 ERA in five games with the Braves. Dotel was 2-1 with a 3.91 ERA and 11 saves in 14 chances with Kansas City this season, after missing the first seven weeks with a strained left oblique muscle. … Tony Graffanino will miss the rest of the season because of an injured right knee. Graffanino came down awkwardly after leaping to catch a line drive in the first inning of Wednesday's game in Colorado. Milwaukee recalled Rickie Weeks from Triple-A Nashville to take over his former position again. Weeks, who was batting .212 when he was optioned on July 31, was 10-for-22 with three RBI in six games at Nashville. In his first series back, he went just 1-for-9, but added five walks and scored four runs. Get him active again. … The Tigers recalled OF Marcus Thames from Triple-A Toledo and activated him from the DL on Thursday. Out since July 19 with a pulled left hamstring, Thames was hitting .252 with 11 home runs and 32 RBIs in 54 games for the Tigers. He’s been on a tear since coming off the shelf, going 6-for-19 with two HR and 5 RBI in five contests. … The Rangers placed Jerry Hairston on the DL on Wednesday because of a sore back. Hairston has started at five different positions this season and is batting .195 in 65 games with three homers and 13 RBI.