Japanese Import

It appears that the Boston Red Sox have signed a third Japanese pitcher to their team, Junichi Tazawa, in addition to Daisuke and Okajima.

If reports are correct, the Red Sox will be paying Junichi around $6million over 3 years. For all you fantasy owners who love jumping on new players from Japan, you should wait and just keep this guys name on your radar for 2010 or Sept. 2009.

Junichi is not the typical pitcher that comes over to the major leagues. He is 22 years old. Some might say this is great since he is young and doesn't have a lot of milage on his young arm. The only problem is, he has not pitched in any professional games while in Japan. This kid is a product of the amateur company league in Japan. Note: Japan has a baseball league where companies form teams and compete against each other. He has never pitched in the Japan Professional League like Daisuke, Hideo Nomo, and Okajima.

He will be sent to the minors and developed through the Red Sox farm system. Owners, keep an eye out but this kid is not worth drafting in the 2009 draft.

Utley to Have Surgery

Fantasy Stud Chase Utley will have surgery on his right hip and will most likely miss the start of the 2009 season. The surgery will repair bone or cartilage in his right hip.

Fantasy owners should not be worried about Utley because there is a relatively definite time line on when his return will be. Compared to last year with the whole Pujols injury watch, Utley will not drop out of the first round or even drop spots in the draft.

Expect Utley to hold his first round status for the 2009 draft.

Of course this is if nothing else pops up between now and draft day.

Coco Crisp

Coco is a new owner of a Royals uniform.

The Red Sox have sent Coco to the Royals for RP Ramon Ramirez. Now, assuming he has a starting gig, Coco will be playing everyday and this will benefit fantasy owners.

A career .280 hitter, Crisp can give plenty of value for owners who take him because he adds 20+ steals and a decent average that won't hurt you. At the end of the day, guys like Coco seem to be available on the waiver wire for one reason, he isn't a fantasy stud. He doesn't blow away the competition in any one category so most owners seem to over look him. On draft day, make sure to take note of Coco and remember to grab him later in the draft.

Grab him as your 3-4OF and you will be giving yourself a chance at a 2009 fantasy championship.

Pedroia

The little man has won himself an AL MVP award. Congratulations Dustin!

In his third season in the majors, second as a full time player, Dustin won the MVP award beating out Twins first baseman Morneau.

Fantasy owners should be a little hesitant on drafting him too early in the draft. The second base position is usually taken fairly early with the likes of Utley, Kinsler, Roberts, Uggla, and Phillips. After these guys there is a fairly significant drop in value so owners should be looking for a 2B fairly early in the draft.

I am not a complete believer on Dustin just yet. If he can produce another year like this I will be on the bandwagon but don't get me wrong, he is a good solid baseball player. His numbers have improved every year and if it continues he should be a solid 2B for years to come.

If you are going to go big, draft early, on a 2B with the likes of Kinsler and Utley, you will be a little short on another position. I would recommend taking a Roberts or Uggla and bringing some bigger returns in the OF position.

Dempster

The Cubs came to terms with Ryan Dempster with a 4 year $52mil contract.

Fantasy Owners...DO NOT DRAFT HIM unless he is going to be your 3-5 starter. Take a look at his stats and you will see that his IP'ed spiked last year after being converted back to a starter.

The last time he pitched over 200 innings was way back in 2001. In the past 4 years (04-07) he has pitched a total of 254.1 innings which is only 47.2 innings more than what he threw in 2008. How is he going to react and feel when next year rolls around, nobody knows.

Yes, there are pitchers who can make this jump without feeling anything, health wise, but those pitchers are far and few between. If you want to take a chance go right ahead but I personally would take a chance on a hitter than a pitcher like Dempster.

Cliff Lee

The 2008 AL Cy Young Award winner is going to go high in 2009 drafts.

DO NOT BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE!

Lee is a veteran in the bigs and has never shown this kind of stuff he showed in 2008. In my opinion, this was a career year and for fantasy owners to draft him expecting numbers like this will surely be sorry at the end of 2009.

Prior to his Cy Young season he was a mid-4ERA guy and then all of a sudden he goes to a 2.54ERA, it just doesn't make sense except for the explanation of a career year.

Make sure to stay clear of him in the early rounds because these rounds should be used for premium hitters who will give you the things you need, stats and nothing more than predictable stats.

Stay clear of Lee and take a hitter.

Bye Bye Wood

The era of Kerry Wood and Mark Prior that was suppose to bring the big one two punch is finally over. Ok, it was over a while ago with all the injuries to both players plus the departure of Prior but now it is officially over. The Cubs have acquired Kevin Gregg from the Marlins and reports are Wood is done playing in Wrigley.

This is kind of sad because Wood and Prior had such promising careers that were sadly derailed with injuries. I have always thought that Wood and Prior would someday find their stuff and find a way to be successful in the bigs but it just hasn't happened.

Wood has value for 2009. His 2008 stats (3.26ERA, 84Ks, 34SVs, and a 5-4 record all in 66.1IP) would welcomed on most teams.

His 2009 value lies in where he lands and what role he will take on.

Stay tuned.

PS - Hope you enjoyed watching his last K in his 20K performance.

A's to Rockies

Now that the deal for Holliday is complete let's take a look at the players going to the Rockies and how they will impact your fantasy team.

Huston Street - A former closer who lost his job in 2008 will not find any closing duties for the Rockies. From what I have heard, the Rockies will give Corpas the job for 2009. The value for Street is, at the moment, very low. But, there are teams out there who need a closer and most likely Street will find a place somewhere else.

Carlos Gonzalez - He did not have a great rookie season with the A's but expect him to play full-time with the Rockies in 2009. He should only matter to owners who are in extremely deep leagues or NL-only ones.

Greg Smith - Pitched 190.1 innings in 2008 as a rookie which seems a little high in my eyes. He should benefit from the NL lineups but we'll see how he can survive in Coors Field. He is nothing to really jump on for drafts.

In the end, the only person that has value is Street.

Congrats Timmy!

Tim Lincecum is the 2008 NL Cy Young Winner!

Now, is he the new #1 pitcher in fantasy baseball? Not so fast.

Timmy has the stuff to be the #1 but he needs to prove he can go into every season and put up the same numbers. The top still belongs to Johan with CC nipping at his heels.

I just hope he continues to throw smoke because he is one of my 2009 keepers.

Holliday to the A's

If reports are correct, slugger Matt Holliday is moving from hitter friendly Coors to a not so friendly Coliseum. This is not a good move for fantasy owners.

Coors Field
.357avg, 84HRs, 307RBIs, .423OBP, .647SLG, and a 1.068OPS.

Away from Coors Field
.280AVG, 44HRs, 176RBIs, .348OBP, .455SLG, and a .803OPS

Just looking at the numbers we have to conclude that the heavy slugging numbers are inflated due to him playing the majority of games at hitter friendly Coors Field. If I was an owner of Matt I would be a little worried if he is officially traded from Coors.

Jake Peavy

The Padres are indeed shopping Peavy and well this isn't the best thing for fantasy owners. If you look at his stats, away/home, you can see where he is better.

Since 2002.
Home
2.77ERA, 1.09WHIP, .219BAA, and 47HRs.

Away
3.80ERA, 1.30WHIP, .246BAA, and 81HRs.

For those owners who have him as a keeper, you better hope he gets traded to a friendly ballpark because we all know Petco is a nice place for pitchers.

AJ a Free Agent

Well, AJ Burnett is a free agent and is looking for a team to throw some cash at him.

In my eyes, AJ took a big step in 2008 by proving he can stay healthy and be a big time contributor to a baseball club. Only problem is why the hell should anyone take him seriously when it comes to his health. This guy has proven over his entire career that his body doesn't seem to like going out there every 5th day to pitch.

Okay, as some of you might start thinking, where is the fantasy angle. Here it is.

No matter what team he lands on he is going to produce big numbers, as long as he is healthy, because look at his stats while pitching in the hardest division in baseball, CLICK HERE for his stats. If are you targeting him as a player in the 2009 draft, make sure to take caution. I would advise most people to stay away from him unless he is available in the early teen rounds.

With AJ it is always about big risk big reward. Just like his fellow partner in crime, Rich Harden.

Hank Blalock

The Rangers have picked up the option on Hank Blalock for $6.2million.

This is not the biggest news of the day but this is news since there would be some competition on where Blalock and Chris Davis should play. In eyes there is no battle for plate appearances because no matter what happens, Davis will play. This kid will produce and has the ability to hit 35-40HRs in upcoming seasons.

For all you fantasy owners out there, make sure to keep both players on your radar.

Chris Davis should be a solid late single round pick. I would even go out and try for him in the mid-late rounds (6,7,8). As for Blalock, he should be drafted late in the draft. Preferably mid to late teens.

Sabathia

As expected, CC Sabathia has officially filed for free agency. The question now is, will he sign a bigger contract than Mr. Johan Santana?