As I started writing about Alex Rodriguez on this week’s Injury Report, I received a voicemail from Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman telling me to shut the f*** up. Ok that didn’t really happen, but A-Rod is included in the Week 14 edition of the Walking Wounded.
Mike Trout (OF-LAA).
Fantasy owners could be in a state of panic as Mike Trout missed last Sunday’s game with a tight hamstring. There is no indication that this will require an extended absence, but hamstrings can be tricky to deal with. Trout is clearly a great source for production in all roto categories, but a hamstring injury could limit his stolen bases. Again, this isn’t doomsday but rather something you should watch closely.
Evan Longoria (3B-TB).
Rays’ third baseman Evan Longoria has missed several games with plantar fasciitis. If he is unable to make it back within the next couple days then a trip to the disabled list will likely be in order. Longoria is one of the best players in baseball, but he has a long history of injuries and this is yet another one to justify branding him as a risky fantasy player.
Dexter Fowler (OF-COL).
Rockies’ outfielder Dexter Fowler could be back in the lineup by Tuesday after making some improvements over the weekend. He missed several games last week and looked like he could have been heading towards the disabled list. If he doesn’t make it back by Tuesday then you can expect he will land on the DL. Don’t take a chance in daily leagues and keep him on your bench until you know for sure that he will be back in the lineup. In weekly leagues he is a big risk to start in case he does end up disabled, so play him with extreme caution.
Alex Rodriguez (3B-NYY).
I won’t pretend to know exactly what is happening with Alex Rodriguez’s rehab or the Yankees’ plans for him going forward. It has been an interesting time of late with A-Rod and the Yankees’ organization clearly not on the same page. What we know now is that Rodriguez has been cleared to begun a rehab assignment. We also know that the Yankees desperately need Rodriguez back in their lineup at third base because they are getting absolutely nothing out of anyone they put at the hot corner. Despite the issues about insurance money and Biogenesis suspensions, A-Rod is an interesting waiver wire pick-up to stash for when and if he does return to the Yankees.
Johnny Cueto (SP-CIN).
It has been a rollercoaster for fantasy owners of Reds’ ace Johnny Cueto. He is now on the disabled list for the third time this season after reinjuring his lat during his last start. Cueto will likely be shut down for an extended period of time to try and allow him to fully heal. This also means that rookie Tony Cingrani returns to the starting rotation and should make several starts in Cueto’s absence. He is definitely worth picking up and plugging in your lineup while Cueto is sidelined.
Josh Beckett (SP-LAD).
A lot has been said (including by me) about the waste of money that Carl Crawford is when comparing the production he gives with the salary he earns. Incredibly, that waste of money almost pales in comparison to what Josh Beckett has stolen from the Dodgers this year. Beckett was a disastrous 0-5 before hitting the disabled list with thoracic outlet syndrome. Now he needs to undergo surgery to remove an upper rib that causes pressure on a nerve in his neck, Beckett is expected to be ready by spring training, but that should not have any meaning for you when preparing for your 2014 drafts.
Corey Hart (OF-MIL).
Well, unlike his 1980’s song, Corey Hart has apparently surrendered for the season. Hart was trying to come back from off-season knee surgery when he sustained an injury to his other knee which requires surgery. This will effectively end his season before it started which is disappointing to fantasy owners (myself included) who drafted him with the intention of stashing him for a couple months. Those plans can be scrapped and he can be dropped from all redraft leagues.
If you have any comments or questions, please feel free reach me at michael.stein@fantasyjudgment.com or on Twitter (@FantasyJudgment).
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