Atomic RoadRunners

FAAB Acquisitions:

• RP Jose Contreras, Phillies ($42 bid), Add to Actives
• SP John Ely, Dodgers ($5 bid), Add to Actives
• OF Roger Bernadina ($2 bid), Add to Actives

Up:

• UT Cristian Guzman

Move:

• 3B Chase Headley

Down:

• 3B Casey Blake
• RP Tyler Clippard
• OF Jody Gerut

Cut:

• OF Matt Diaz
• RP Juan Gutierrez
• RP LaTroy Hawkins

Notes:

• Contreras was a possible draft-day target, but slipped of f the charts with Ryan Madson (protected) and Brad Lidge (drafted). Now with both on the DL (Madson until July, Lidge uncertain), Contreras is the man, and I need saves.  Only other bids: Shoeless Jews ($13)
• Both X-Men and Misogynistic Padres put in $0 bids on Ely
• Goodfellas bid $0 on Bernadina
• My contingency bid for Bernadina was for Mets OF Chris Carter.  Since I got Bernadina, he went to X-Men for a $0 bid.
• Shoeless Jews picked up former Roadrunner Takashi Saito for a $0 bid, whom I released last week
• OF Matt Diaz was placed on the 15-Day DL on Saturday (May 15th) with an injured and infected thumb.
• RP LaTroy Hawkins has been on the 15-Day DL for over a week, with no update on his status.
• The Washington Nationals promoted RP Drew Storen from AAA to the major-league squad.
• In the process of calling up Storen, former Roadrunner Brian Bruney was designated for assignment Sunday (May 16th)
• Former Roadrunner Willy Taveras was designated for assignment on Monday (May 17th).

After appearing as the possible go-to-guy for the eighth inning, and possible backup to closer Carlos Marmol, Sean Marshall has been ineffective and has been bumped back in the depth chart. Now behind fellow-lefty John Grabow, and the surprising move of Carlos Zambrano to the bullpen, Marshall is now an afterthought.

Nationals OF Willy Taveras was drafted when the OF situation was less well-defined. At the time, Taveras and Willie Harris were to platoon, but utility guy Mike Morse saw some action, and then AAA’s Justin Maxwell was called up, and there are still talks with free-agent Jermaine Dye. Subsequently, Taveras hasn’t gotten many games, and the few steals he gets would be offset by destroying my batting average. Taveras got one of his rare starts Monday against the Cubs. Taveras and his quick legs play only sparingly for the Nationals, so continue to ignore him in all but the deepest of NL-only formats for the time being. (CBS Sports)

FAAB Acquisitions:

• SP Wade LeBlanc, Padres ($4 bid) – Add to Actives
• SP Jordan Lyles, Astros (AA) – reserve

Down:

• RP Takashi Saito

Cut:

• RP Sean Marshall
• OF Willy Taveras

Notes:

• Contingency bids:
  • For acquisition of Wade LeBlanc, $0 bid on Cubs SP Carlos Silva.  Silva was acquired by Misogynistic Padres for $8 FAAB.
  • Last week’s contingency bid subject Brewers RP Carlos Villanueva, was acquired by Get Off Kong! for $1 FAAB.
• It was announced after the Monday midnight FAAB run that Rockies C Chris Iannetta would be sent to AAA Colorado Springs.  Since the only other catcher on the roster is Buster Posey (at AAA Fresno), no action taken for this week.

Willy Taveras will get the start in center field and bat leadoff Sunday, the Washington Post reports. Nyjer Morgan is getting a day off. This is as good a spot as any for Taveras to start picking up some of the steals you drafted him for. Taveras entered the game just 2 for 15 for the season. Taveras is just getting spot starts, so even if he begins to collect some hits, he won’t have Fantasy value, except for owners in deep NL-only leagues. (CBS Sports, Rotowire)

Willy Taveras will get another start in right field Monday. The Nationals have faced two left-handers in a row (Cole Hamels on Monday, after Johan Santana Sunday) which explains why Willie Harris is remaining on the bench. For the moment though, it looks like Taveras has the other half of the right field platoon the Nats have stitched together. (Rotowire)

Willy Taveras was 2-for-4 with four RBI in a 4-3 win over the Mets on Saturday afternoon. Taveras was a one-man wrecking crew on Saturday, ripping a two-run triple in the second inning and a two-run single in the fourth. Unfortunately it looks like Taveras might get the next opportunity against left-handers instead of Mike Morse. (Rotoworld)

Willy Taveras gets the start in right field with the Nationals facing lefty Oliver Perez on Saturday. Washington Post writer Chico Harlan referred to the role as “right field roulette,” which is a pretty fair description of the Nationals’ situation. Mike Morse, who pinch-hit during Friday’s game, doesn’t appear well enough to go. Manager Jim Riggleman is praying someone gets hot and runs away with the right field job, but we don’t like Taveras’ chances of being that guy, especially considering that he’s only getting this chance because of a Mike Morse injury. (Rotoworld, Rotowire)

The Willy Taveras/Willie Harris platoon in right field may already be over, MLB.com’s Bill Ladson reports. Mike Morse is starting in right against the Phillies on Friday and could seize the job if he plays well. Taveras was more of a fringe option in deep leagues to begin with, but Morse’s move into the lineup could sap Taveras of even that slight bit of fantasy value if it becomes a regular occurrence. (Rotowire)

Willy Taveras will platoon with Willie Harris in right field to begin the season, Bill Ladson of MLB.com reports. He’s been slightly better against right-handed pitchers in his career (.280/.325), so look for him to get a couple of starts per week and provide fantasy owners with a source of cheap steals. In deeper leagues, he’s worth a look as a fifth outfielder, but his uncertain playing time makes him difficult to rely on in other formats. The light-hitting Taveras is set to share right field duties with Willie Harris. The pitching staff will love all the ground they will cover, but Taveras posted an on-base percentage of .275 last season and .308 in 2008. He should be an extra outfielder, not a starter, but this is what you get when you release Elijah Dukes. (Rotoworld, Rotowire)

Christian Friedrich – Starting Pitcher – Rockies
Selection: 1st Round, 2nd Pick overall
Salary (assigned): $10
Notes: Best available prospect, was high on him coming into the draft. AAA-Colorado Springs. May be up in September 2010.

Chris Volstad – Starting Pitcher – Marlins
Selection: 2nd Round, 10th Pick overall
Salary (assigned): $10
Notes: Best available starter, No. 4 starter for Marlins, should be decent, possibly low strikeouts, bad peripherals.

Takashi Saito – Relief Pitcher – Braves
Selection: 2nd Round, 19th Pick overall
Salary (assigned): $10
Notes: Set-up guy with great numbers, may close if Billy Wagner falters.

Ronny Paulino – Catcher – Marlins
Selection: 4th Round, 28th Pick overall
Salary (assigned): $10
Notes: Platoon catcher with John Baker. Some pop, generally high batting average, moreso than some starters. Will play while Buster Posey is in AAA.

Brian Bruney – Relief Pitcher – Nationals
Selection: 4th Round, 30th Pick overall (acquired from The Pi Train)
Salary (assigned): $10
Notes: Set-up guy with chance to close in unsettled Nationals pen, espcially if Matt Capps goes wild again.

Cristian Guzman – Shortstop – Nationals
Selection: 5th Round, 38th Pick overall
Salary (assigned): $10
Notes: Former starter, expensive enough to get traded or playing time, depending on how Ian Desmond and Adam Kennedy do.

Willy Taveras – Outfielder – Nationals
Selection: 6th Round, 48th Pick overall
Salary (assigned): $10
Notes: Weak-hitting speedster, who may just platoon in right field with Willie Harris. Don’t plan on activating until he secures playing time, or if I’m desperate for steals.

Nick Masset – Relief Pitcher – Reds
Selection: 7th Round, 58th Pick overall
Salary (assigned): $5
Notes: Top Reds set-up pitcher for Francisco Cordero, should have good vulture opportunities with that offense behind him, some save chances.

Mike Jacobs – First Baseman – Mets
Selection: 8th Round, 68th Pick overall
Salary (assigned): $5
Notes: 20-HR power, with nothing else, and bad OBP, but due to injuries, may get the start on Opening Day.

Juan Gutierrez – Relief Pitcher – Diamondbacks
Selection: 9th Round, 78th Pick overall
Salary (assigned): $5
Notes: Top D’Backs set-up man for Chad Qualls, who is still returning from a knee injury. Got 8 saves last September, and Qualls is a free agent next year.

Tyler Clippard – Relief Pitcher – Nationals
Selection: 10th Round, 88th Pick overall
Salary (assigned): $5
Notes: Former Yankees starting prospect, found success in bullpen, with very good strikeout ratios, and a slight chance at saves.

LaTroy Hawkins – Relief Pitcher – Brewers
Selection: 11th Round, 98th Pick overall
Salary (assigned): $5
Notes: Brewers’ set-up pitcher, had 11 saves last year for Astros, and he’s backing up 40-year-old Trevor Hoffman.