Stars on the Shelf: TheFantasyFix.com’s Week 4 DL Report
Here is your fantasy baseball week 4 update on notable injured players. This will be a weekly posted list so you can stay ahead of the game when it comes to information about injuries across baseball that at one point or another affect all fantasy rosters. Here you will find an update on a player’s progress as well as my spin on their expected return dates and fantasy impact upon return. The players are listed by expected return date.
| PLAYER | EXPECTED RETURN DATE | LATEST UPDATE |
|---|---|---|
| Yoenis Cespedes | 4/28/2013 | Cespedes is set to come back as soon as this Sunday from a strained hand muscle. Cespedes spent more than one stint on the DL last year from quirky hand injuries, which I feel come from his incredibly violent swing. |
| Michael Bourn | 4/30/2013 | Bourn represents the dumbest injury on the list as he just had stitches removed after slicing his finger open sliding head first into first base, which is what five year olds are taught not to do back in T-ball. He’ll be back in less than a week. |
| Aramis Ramirez | 5/1/2013 | Aramis Ramirez is scheduled to come back from the mild knee sprain next week, as he is apparently skipping any kind of rehab minor league assignment. |
| Brian McCann | 5/3/2013 | McCann is rehabbing a shoulder injury but should be on his way for a minor league rehab assignment this week. Barring any setbacks or extenuating circumstances he should be back with the Braves in a week or two. |
| Hanley Ramirez | 5/3/2013 | Hanley had successful surgery to repair the thumb ligament he tore during the WBC. Ramirez is way ahead of schedule, already doing full team workouts, including batting practice. He could be back as early as next week. |
| Joel Hanrahan | 5/3/2013 | Hanrahan is coming back from a seemingly minor hamstring, and was cleared to hit the minors for some rehab games this weekend. He’ll probably appear in a couple of games spread out from each other so if all goes well I see him coming back next Friday. His role however, is unclear, as Andrew Bailey is killing it in his place as closer. Keep an eye on that. |
| Johnny Cueto | 5/10/2013 | Cueto has been cleared to throw and was going through pitching motions throwing on flat ground Tuesday. He will work his way up to a mound and if there is no lingering soreness will probably have to hit a rehab assignment before being reinstated. I am figuring a mid-May return for the Reds’ ace. |
| Francisco Liriano | 5/13/2013 | Liriano represents our freak injury on the list, as he fractured his arm playing with his kids. It seems like he is having no issues and wants to come back sooner than the Pirates are willing. They are running him out for three low level minor league games before he is cleared to return. My target is anywhere within May 7-19th , where they’ll need him because they’ll be entering a stretch of 13 games without a day off. |
| Curtis Granderson | 5/15/2013 | Granderson is recovering from a fractured forearm and is estimated to return to the Yankees in mid-May. He has been taking soft toss, hitting off of tees, and stated that he should get 50 +/- at bats on a rehab assignment before he is ready to join the Yankees in mid-May. |
| Jered Weaver | 5/15/2013 | Weaver fractured his non-pitching arm falling down while dodging a come-backer. Someone get this dude a glass of milk. He has started playing catch and based on the Angels need for pitching and Weaver’s bull-headed demeanor he should be back in a couple weeks to take on the Royals at home. |
| Ryan Zimmerman | 5/20/2013 | Zimmerman strained his left hamstring, and it must have been a significant strain because the Nationals had an MRI done and shut him down immediately. So if you take the minimum 15 days plus running, rehab, and a possible quick stop in the minors for some at bats, I have him back the third week in May at the earliest. Hamstrings are tricky though and it could linger. |
| Matt Garza | 5/25/2013 | Garza is on the DL with a strained lat muscle, and there is no exact timeframe for his return. Lat muscles for a pitcher are impossible to predict in terms of rehab/return because of how much toque a pitcher puts on those muscles during their motion. The Cubs are going to try and trade him, so they want him out there, but out there showing value. My best guess is late May, early June, in hopes they can get a month out of him to showcase for a mid-season trade to a contender. He was just scratched from a rehab start with what is called a “dead arm”, which just means sore/tired, nothing serious as of yet. If he can get over the injury he can be huge for a second half fantasy run. |
| Corey Hart | 5/30/2013 | Hart is recovering from surgery to repair the torn meniscus in his knee. He is at the point where he is strengthening the muscles in his legs. He should rejoin his team once his 60-Day DL stint expires at the end of May. |
| Mark Teixeira | 5/31/2013 | Teixeira is making progress in his comeback from the wrist injury he developed during warm ups for the WBC. He is no longer wearing a brace full time. There is no clear date for his return. The closest thing he has done is swinging a bat underwater (whatever that means). He has yet to take full swings or hit off of a tee. Late May is still his optimistic target for a return. |
| Adam Eaton | 6/1/2013 | Eaton is rehabbing from his sprained UCL. It has been reported he should return mid to late May but the All indications appear as though the later end of the return spectrum is the most realistic. They appear to be taking slow steps in bringing him back. |
| Colby Lewis | 6/1/2013 | Lewis is recovering from Tommy John Surgery, and with no setbacks to date, is anticipated to return by June for the Rangers. He has already been throwing pitches, with no setbacks reported, so that’s a great sign. |
| Aaron Hill | 6/7/2013 | Hill’s left hand was fractured after being drilled by a pitch. He is out 4-6 weeks, and I always bank on the latter. After recovery and a rehab assignment I have him back June 7th when the Dbacks return home to host the Giants. |
| Zack Greinke | 6/15/2013 | Greinke represents the most unnecessary injury on the list, as he is out until mid-June with a broken clavicle thanks to Carlos Quentin. This time table is solid being that it’s not an arm or even muscle injury. He’ll be back to make a few starts before the All-Star break. |
| Ryan Ludwick | 7/5/2013 | Ludwick is on the 60-Day DL recovering from a torn labrum in his shoulder. The late round thumper should be back around the All-Star break, he may be available on your FA list if you are hurting for a UTIL/OF power spot upon his return. |
| Alex Rodriguez | 7/17/2013 | Rodriguez is rehabbing from his hip surgery and claims he is feeling good and getting stronger. Since the offseason he has been slated to return around the All-Star Break. Keeping the Yankees conservative approach to treating injuries, he’ll be back after the break, so I’m saying July 17th the earliest. |
| Brandon Beachy | 7/17/2013 | Beachy is another pitcher recovering from Tommy John Surgery. All appears to be going well for Beachy in his recovery. Julio Teheren hasn’t done well in his place so the Braves can’t wait to get their ace back. He has been estimated to return at the All-Star Break from the get-go and that doesn’t appear to be changing. If you have a DL spot open and by some miracle an owner in your league doesn’t already have him, stop reading this now and go get him. Drop your worst player, you’re going to do it eventually anyway. |
| Cory Luebke | 7/17/2013 | The Padres ace is recovering nicely from Tommy John Surgery last year and should rejoin the Padres barring any set-backs after the All-Star Break. If you were wise to draft or pick up and stash him, he will help you for your late season run to the playoffs. |
| Daniel Hudson | 7/17/2013 | Hudson who is recovering from Tommy John Surgery is throwing short amounts in extended spring training games. So far there are no setbacks and he is targeted to rejoin the DBacks rotation after the All-Star Break. He is a nice stash to help your team for a late season run. |
| Jose Reyes | 7/17/2013 | Reyes is on the 60-Day DL, currently shut down trying to heal from what was called a “severe” ankle sprain after he awkwardly slid too close into second base. You’ll see him after the All-Star break unless he has a miraculous recovery, which isn’t exactly his track record. |
| Derek Jeter | 8/1/2013 | After coming off surgery to repair a broken ankle, Jeter aimed to return for opening day. He experienced a set-back after playing back to back games, and it was ultimately realized in an MRI that he had a new crack in the same ankle. He is out until at least after the All-Star Break, realistically August., and even then it’s unclear whether he can play full time out of the gate. |
| Chad Billingsley | NEXT SEASON | Billingsley’s injury history is as long as a Mother of eight’s grocery store receipt. He is easily one of the most frustrating pitchers to own. Billingsley feeling pain in his elbow should be alarming if it was the first instance, but it’s not. This dates back to last season where he chose to rehab instead of having Tommy John Surgery, which appears he is likely going to end up having anyway. My guess is he is gone for the year. |
| Jason Motte | UNKNOWN | Motte is dealing with what is at this time being called a mild-strain in his elbow. He is currently completely shut down strictly for rest/healing until May 1, which is his do or die date. If his elbow shows no progress that would allow him to begin throwing, he will be shut down and added to the list of victims that receive Tommy John Surgery, which would end his season. |
| Ryan Madson | UNKNOWN | Madson’s rehab was slowed down when he felt soreness in his right elbow again. It’s normal soreness and not another injury as far as they know. Ernesto Frieri has the closer job for the Angels right now and assuming he pitches as well as he did last year, the Angels will take a slow approach to Madson’s return. |
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