3/29 Daily Update

Jamey Wright

Jamey Wright yielded two runs and seven hits in four innings Tuesday against the Rockies. Wright is going to be the Giants' fifth starter after outperfoming Brad Hennessey this spring. There shouldn't be many worse pitchers for fantasy purposes

He still sucks, let one of the Giant Homers buy him

Ryan Wagner

Ryan Wagner turned in two scoreless innings of relief against the Red Sox on Tuesday. Since allowing three runs in his first appearance of the spring, Wagner has yielded one run and four hits in 11 innings. He's still not assured of a place in Cincinnati's bullpen, but he's moving closer
He's still the most likely future closer here, worth bidding on at reasonable price

Adrian Gonzalez

Adrian Gonzalez homered and doubled to lead the Padres to a 7-6 win over the Angels on Tuesday. As long as Ryan Klesko's shoulder feels OK, it's expected that Gonzalez will begin the year in Triple-A. He's ready to start now, but the Padres will stick for Klesko until the veteran gives them reason not to

He's a risk, but how can they send him down??

Brandon Watson

Brandon Watson will split time with Marlon Byrd in center field for the Nationals after Ryan Church was sent down on Tuesday.

With almost no power and mediocre on-base skills, Watson is a long-term reserve at best. Since he'll bat leadoff and he's a quality basestealer, he should have some value in NL-only leaguers until the Nationals figure that out. Byrd will likely start in his place against lefties, which is the same thing he would have done had Church won the job

He's a good SB potential guy. And Byrd gets 1/3 of the AB's also

Claudio Vargas

After learning he'd be the Diamondbacks' fifth starter before he took the mound, Claudio Vargas limited the White Sox to one run and two hits over six innings Tuesday. He struck out five and walked two. Vargas has a 4.50 ERA and a 20/5 K/BB ratio in 20 innings, which is pretty good for Arizona. We don't recommend him in NL-only leagues, but he should be an adequate fifth starter for the D'Backs

He's not really what we want

Heilman/Brian Bannister

The Mets confirmed that Brian Bannister will open the season in the rotation and Aaron Heilman will pitch out of the bullpen. Bannister's stuff is below average, so he's going to have to keep hitters off balance, something he'll have an easier time doing his first time around the league. As a result, April and May could be his best months of the season. It's likely that he'll have some value in NL-only leagues initially. Heilman, who should often work a couple of innings at a time in front of Billy Wagner, is worth $4-$5 as a reliever. With both Heilman and Duaner Sanchez available to protect leads, Jorge Julio is going to enter a lot of games with the Mets down.

As he should. Bannister looks high risk. I don't get it. Heilman has done everything he can to be a starter, and this lowers his value some.

Eric Reed/Abercrombie

Eric Reed went 3-for-5 with two RBI and stole his sixth base today. With Josh Willingham set to spend time in the outfield and Reggie Abercrombie likely to start in center field, it wouldn't make any sense to keep Reed in the majors as a bench player. He's missed a lot of time due to injuries the last two years and needs to play regularly in Triple-A.

He'll need to be voted on. Abercrombie should be cheap though.

JD Closser and Jeff Baker

Rockies optioned C J.D. Closser and OF Jeff Baker to Triple-A Colorado Springs; reassigned RHP Jose Acevedo, RHP Miguel Asencio, 1B Carlos Rivera and 3B Ian Stewart to minor league camp. The Rockies wouldn't even carry Closser if Yorvit Torrealba needed to go on the DL. They maintain he needs to play regularly in Triple-A, though since he's 26, there's not much left for him to learn in the minors. Asencio and Acevedo should both see considerable time in the majors with the Rockies this season. Stewart, despite his impressive spring, is at least a year away

This means Ardoin is the catcher and Omar Quintanella and Jamey Carroll are the reserve infielders

Adam Wainwright

Adam Wainwright is reportedly likely to make the Cardinals' Opening Day roster out of the bullpen. Wainwright lost out on the battle to be St. Louis' fifth starter, but working him into the majors as a reliever is a good idea anyway

He's got stuff, and could be a future guy at cheap price

Jose Capellan

General manager Doug Melvin indicated Tuesday that Jose Capellan will make the Brewers' Opening Day roster. He'll pitch out of the bullpen, likely in middle relief initially.

Capellan has future closing potential, depending on what Milwaukee does with Derrick Turnbow long term. He's probably the #2 closer on this team with future upside

Dewan Brazelton

The former 1st rd pick of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays has flown under the radar this spring but has seemed to harness the stuff that warranted his top prospect status. Now with Padres, Brazelton has only allowed 2 ER in 15 1/3 innings this spring while striking out 15 and walking only 4. Brazelton moves from a situation with high expectations as a signing bonus baby in Tampa, to relative obscurity making the league minimum in San Diego. His regained form in spring along with the spacious confines of Petco Park as his home stadium put Brazelton as a potential deep sleeper. Brazelton’s situation mirrors that of John Patterson who struggled living up to the top prospect label in Arizona, but flourished with a move to a new club with a spacious home ball park. Brazelton only warrants consideration in deep leagues, but is someone to keep an eye on as the season progresses.

He's another high upside potential guy

Ryan Madson

Madson was very impressive on Tuesday night, shutting down the Yankees in 6 plus innings. Madson gave up 4 hits and walked 1, while striking out 3 and shutting out the Yankees through 6 1/3 innings. Madson had been very strong for a year and a half in the Phillies bullpen before fading in the 2nd half last year. Madson has been given the opportunity to earn a starting spot in the rotation this spring and has been extremely impressive. In 19 IP, he’s struck out 14, walked 4, and only given up 4 earned runs. His competition for the rotation has also been very strong with Gavin Floyd regaining top prospect form and Ryan Franklin pitching solidly as well. The Phillies may believe it’s a better option to move Madson to the bullpen, which appears to be thin, but it would be difficult to keep an arm the quality of Madson’s out of the rotation

He's pitching well and looking like could be good. But, it's still only Spring Training

Update by Dr. Tailgate