Atomic RoadRunners

Trades:

Trade 1:

• Atomic Roadrunners receives:  Reds SP Johnny Cueto
• Cover Zero receives: Nationals OF Adam Dunn

Trade 2:

• Atomic Roadrunners receives:
  • Diamondbacks SP Max Scherzer
  • Dodgers SP Clayton Kershaw
  • Cardinals 3B Prospect Brett Wallace
• Misogynistic Padres receives:
  • Braves 3B Chipper Jones
  • Reds 2B Brandon Phillips
  • Giants Closer Brian Wilson
  • Braves SP Kenshin Kawakami

FAAB Acquisitions:

• Jon Rauch, RP Diamondbacks ($0 bid, reserve)
• Alex Romero, OF Diamondbacks ($0 bid, active)

Up:

• CM Emilio Bonifacio
• RP Nick Masset
• OF Andres Torres (to DH)

Down:

• RP Matt Lindstrom
• SP Shairon Martis

Move:

• 2B Matt Downs (from DH – replaces Brandon Phillips)
• 3B Mat Gamel (from CM – replaces Chipper Jones)

Cut:

• SP Mat Latos (prospect)

Notes:

• RP Matt Lindstrom was placed on the 15-Day DL on June 25th with elbow inflammation.  Will be out at least six weeks
• SP Shairon Martis was optioned to AAA Columbus on June 28th
• SP Antonio Bastardo was placed on the 15-Day DL on June 30th with a left shoulder strain
• Jon Rauch was originally protected by Misogynistic Padres for 2009, and was released on May 12th.  He retains his contract and salary – signed through 2010 for $1.
• Former RoadRunner Chad Gaudin was selected by X-Men for $6.  I had bid $5 to re-acquire Gaudin after two stellar outings.
• Former RoadRunner Jake Fox was selected by X-Men for $11 due to his strong interleague performance.
• The first big AL Free Agent joined the NL.  In this case, Mark DeRosa was traded to the Cardinals on Thursday.  Bidding was as follows:
  • $70 Stanimals
  • $46 X-Men
  • $45 Atomic Roadrunners (max bid)
  • $43 Shoeless Jews
  • $33 Get Off Kong!
  • $25 Cover Zero

Brandon Phillips hit a go-ahead two-run double in a win over the Nationals on Tuesday night. The fifth-inning double broke a 1-1 tie and scored both Alex Gonzalez and Johnny Cueto to give the Reds a two-run cushion that they wouldn’t relinquish. Phillips is a top-five fantasy option at second base, even with a surprisingly-low six steals. (Rotoworld)

Brandon Phillips (thumb) was able to hit off a tee Monday morning. Pretty impressive considering he was diagnosed with a hairline fracture in the tip of his right thumb about 24 hours ago. “He swung today off the tee,” manager Dusty Baker said. “A little sore, a little swollen but that’s pretty good though. Maybe he can be ready in a couple of days or ready by Milwaukee [on Friday]. Wow, is right.” (Rotoworld)

Brandon Phillips said X-rays found a hairline fracture in the tip of his right thumb. The injury resulted from a groundball off his hand on Saturday. Phillips will sit out for now, but he thinks he’ll be able to play through the injury for the most part. “I told them I don’t want to go on the DL,” Phillips said. “I feel like I can play with it.” The Reds have Jerry Hairston Jr. at second base today. “We’ll have to wait and see how he’s doing [Sunday],” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “Hopefully, it’s not too serious.” Phillips appeared to be bleeding from the thumb, possibly the result of a torn fingernail. Stay tuned. (Rotoworld)

Brandon Phillips jammed his right throwing thumb Saturday while fielding a groundball and was taken for X-rays. The results won’t be available for several hours. “We’ll have to wait and see how he’s doing [Sunday],” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “Hopefully, it’s not too serious.” Phillips appeared to be bleeding from the thumb, possibly the result of a torn fingernail. Stay tuned. (Rotoworld)

Brandon Phillips doubled twice to drive in four runs Wednesday in the win over the Diamondbacks. Phillips finishes the sweep of Arizona with six hits, including a homer and three doubles, and eight RBI. He ended April with a .188 average, but he’s already up to .274 now. After a brutal start to the season, Phillips has caught on fire. . Four of his homers and 19 of his 26 RBI have come in May. (Rotoworld, Rotowire)

Brandon Phillips was 2-for-4 with a 452-foot homer in a win over the Diamondbacks on Tuesday night. Phillips had an RBI single in the fourth inning and a solo blast in the sixth. Phillips was the dominant offensive force of the game, knocking in the first run, scoring the second and then hitting the big homer, one that knocked out a scoreboard panel. He’s now batting a scorching .386 with four homers and 15 RBI this month. His batting average has moved up from .188 to .265 in the process. (Rotoworld, Rotowire)

Brandon Phillips is back in the lineup Saturday after a bout with the flu. Phillips is back to hitting cleanup. He sat out Thursday after a flu bug ran rampant through the Reds’ clubhouse. Phillips takes an eight-game hitting streak to San Diego on Monday. He also has hit safely in each of his past 11 starts, raising his average from .175 to .250. Phillips is a must-start second baseman in all Fantasy leagues right now. Keep him active for Fantasy Week 6 (May 11-17) without thinking twice. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Brandon Phillips sat out Thursday with the flu.The bug has begun making its way through the Reds lineup as Joey Votto also sat out with the flu. Tough timing for Phillips, who was just starting to heat up at the plate. Jerry Hairston Jr. started at second base in his place. Votto, who is the team’s top hitter, was scratched during batting practice when he began to have flu symptoms. A little while later, the Reds had to reconfigure their lineup again because Phillips became sick. (Rotoworld, Rotowire, CBS Sports)

Brandon Phillips was 3-for-6 with a homer and six RBI in a win over the Marlins on Tuesday night. Phillips did most of the damage for the Reds tonight, driving in six of their seven runs. He had an RBI single in the third inning, an RBI single that plated two in the fifth, and a three-run homer off reliever Hayden Penn in the seventh, for his fourth home run of the season. He looks to have righted the ship, as his batting average is up to .226 — the highest it’s been since mid-April. (Rotoworld)

2B Brandon Phillips, after a slow start, has hits in each of his past six starts, including two Sunday. That raised his average to a season-high .207. While there has been talk about moving him out of the cleanup spot, manager Dusty Baker continues to use him there. Phillips has the potential to get off on wild tears. Consider him a solid option in any league for Fantasy Week 5 (May 4-10). (CBS Sports)

Brandon Phillips homered in a win over the Pirates on Friday night. It’s his second home run in his last three games. Phillips had a flat-out bad April, but a solid past week has his batting average moving up ever so slightly. It was Phillips’ only hit of the night, but the power in his last two starts is encouraging after his slow start. (Rotoworld, Rotowire)

Brandon Phillips is not in the starting lineup for the first time this season on Wednesday. There’s no word on any injury, and indications are that the slumping second baseman, hitting .191, is simply getting the day off. He should be back in the starting lineup Friday after an off day Thursday. Jerry Hairston is getting the start at second base. (Rotoworld)

Brandon Phillips homered, doubled and stole a base in the Reds’ loss to the Astros on Tuesday night. Phillips’ game was the lone bright spot in what might have been the ugliest game of the year for the Reds. Reds manager Dusty Baker is confident that Brandon Phillips will soon bust out of his early season slump. Phillips enters Wednesday play with a .191 batting average, two homers and seven RBI. That’s simply unacceptable from a guy hitting in the middle of a lineup. “Water seeks its own level all the time,” Baker said. “My theory is he didn’t take two days to get in this funk. It usually takes twice as long to get out of it. If he can get some hits, some bunts maybe — hits cure everything. (Rotoworld, Rotoworld)

Reds 2B Brandon Phillips, who has struggled all season, went 1-for-4 with only his second double of the season Monday against the Astros. He has now hit safely in back-to-back games, raising his batting average to .172.  It’s nothing to get excited about yet, but at least it’s something. Phillips is no stranger to cold streaks, so you have to figure the power-speed second baseman will break out eventually. Coming off two consecutive 20-20 seasons, he remains a must-start in Fantasy. (CBS Sports)