Date: 10 Dec 2009 Comments: 0

Published by Keith Giordano in: Author-Keith Draft Prep News Player Analysis

Check back here throughout the day as new items will be posted as news develops

The Rockies have signed Chris Iannetta to a three-year deal.  Iannetta was the big 2008 breakout catcher, but his 2009 was a step backward.  Hopefully the thin air will get back under some of those fly balls and he can regain the ground he lost.

The Astros have to win the award for busiest early team.  They just signed Pedro Feliz.  At this point Feliz’s glove is more valuable than his bat.

The Pirates have signed shortstop Bobby Crosby.  Crosby could get a fresh start with a new team.  He will most likely not start full time right away, but could push for increased playing time if he hits well.

Rafael Soriano has been traded to the Tampa Bay Rays.  This comes days after Soriano accepted the Braves’ offer of arbitration.  Soriano was excellent last season, and was one of the true gems that I found for cheap in our auction.  He took over for an inconsistent Mike Gonzalez and didn’t look back.  Unfortunately, this trade hurts Soriano’s fantasy baseball value in my eyes.  In Atlanta, he was the big dog, clearly the best of the bunch.  In Tampa, he has more competition, and the competition is closer in talent level.  J.P. Howell, Dan Wheeler, Randy Choate, and Grant Balfour all showed decent stuff in 2009.  If Soriano pitches as he did in the first half of 2009 then he should be fine (1.48 ERA, 0.90 WHIP).  He did struggle in the second half though (4.81 ERA, 1.27 WHIP), and similar struggles in 2010 could lead to competition for a 9th inning role.

The Astros just keep the bullpen train rollin’ with the siging of Brandon Lyon.  Lyon had a decent year in 2009, and should begin the season as the team’s closer.  Hopefully one of the two pen signings will wind up a success in the 9th inning.

Well this next announcement is a little upsetting to me.  I have been known to bid too much on Rich Harden.  I like the guy, and think if he could just stay healthy, he could be special (even if just for a year or two).  His 2009 was sub-par, and that trend could continue now that he has signed with the Texas Rangers.  Moving to the American League, and a hitter’s park to boot, I fear I will have to let Harden go this year.  Oh well…

The Astros began rebuilding their bullpen by trading for relief pitcher Matt Lindstrom.  Lindstrom struggled both with health and his control in 2009, and wound up watching Leo Nunez fill the closer roll for much of the year.  As a 2009 Lindstrom owner, I would advise everyone to wait on him until he figures out how to throw another pitch.  He has a great fastball, but when he can’t locate it he has problems.  His slider is not good enough to rely on.  Lindstrom definitely needs a changeup.

The Rangers have trade Kevin Millwood to the Orioles for relief pitcher Chris Ray.  I was a big believer that Ray could make a comeback last season, and drafted him in several leagues.  Needless to say, he did not pan out that well.  Going to a hitter’s park is not going to help him keep the ball in the yard.  The opposite is also true.  Millwood could have a surprise good season removed from The Ballpark in Arlington.

“Su-prise, su-prise, su-prise.”  -Gomer pile.  Andy Pettitte has signed with the Yankees.  Go figure.  The guy still commands a high price, and can still pitch to win.  Fantasy-wise, he is overrated.

Another marathon negotiation has finally ended.  Randy Wolf has signed with the Milwaukee Brewers.  You have to give props to Wolf, as he turned his out of the blue career year into big bucks.  I personally do not expect him to come close to the excellent ratios that he put up in 2009.  That was the first season since 2002 that Wolf posted an ERA under 4.0 or a WHIP under 1.27.  Don’t do what the Brewers did and overpay for him in your fantasy draft or auction.

It is finally official, Chone Figgins is a Seattle Mariner.  We’ve heard about it for days now, but it has just now happened.  I am unsure why the Mariners felt this was such a great player that they had to lock him up so early.  The ONE thing they already have is a leadoff hitter, and I don’t see the Mariners pissing off their best player by dropping him to the second spot.  One thing they do not have is power.  Only Jose Lopez, and Russell Branyan hit more than 20 HRs in 2009.  Figgins will start at third base, and most likely hit second.

It looks as though the New York Yankees have acquired outfielder Curtis Granderson in a three way deal with the Tigers and the Diamondbacks according to FOXSports.com.  Granderson was not the only fantasy commodity that changed hands in this deal, as the Tigers and D’Backs swapped starting pitcher Max Scherzer and Edwin Jackson.  The Yankees also traded away Ian Kennedy, Austin Jackson, and Phil Coke in the deal.  Obviously, this increases the value of Granderson as he now will be hitting in a top MLB lineup.  The value difference on Scherzer is less clear.  He is on a better team (we think) than he was before and he is in a better ballpark for pitchers, but he now goes to the American League.  Edwin Jackson could find an easier time of it in the lower pressure environment of the National League West.