Feliz, Pedro - 3B - Phi 2008-11-20 21:24:08 Feliz to have back surgery.
FANTASY INSIGHT: Philadelphia Phillies starting third baseman Pedro Feliz will undergo surgery within the next week. Feliz needs surgery on his back. He was scheduled for a lumbar discectomy Thursday. The operation will be followed by an eight-to-12 week rehabilitation program. (AP)
Utley, Chase - 2B - Phi 2008-11-20 21:22:16 Utley to have hip surgery that could carry into 2009 season.
FANTASY INSIGHT: Philadelphia Phillies All Star second baseman Chase Utley will undergo surgery within the next week. Utley will have hip surgery and could resume baseball activity in three to four months. He was bothered by a right hip problem during the season, but still managed to lead all second basemen with 33 home runs and 104 RBIs. Depending on the extent of the repair needed, Utley may not be fully healthy until May. (AP)
FANTASY INSIGHT: Golson, who is from John B. Connally High School in Austin, Texas, is known for his outstanding defense and excellent speed but is still trying to develop his offensive game. He spent this past season at Double-A Reading, where he hit .282 in 106 games and 426 at-bats while scoring 64 runs and stealing 23 bases. He had a .333 on-base percentage and 130 strikeouts while walking just 34 times.
Mayberry spent last year at both Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Oklahoma, hitting .264 with 20 home runs and 71 RBIs in 135 games and 519 at-bats. He had a .317 on-base percentage and a .480 slugging percentage. (MLB.com)
Mussina, Mike - SP - 2008-11-20 21:07:34 Mussina goes out on top, retiring after first 20-win season in his 18 year career.
FANTASY INSIGHT: New York Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina announced his retirement Thursday even as he comes off his first 20-win season. Mussina, who turns 40 next month, was 270-153 with a 3.68 ERA in 18 seasons in the majors. He becomes the first pitcher to retire after a 20-win season since Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax in 1966.
Mussina went 20-9 with a 3.37 ERA for the Yankees this season to become the oldest pitcher in MLB history to win 20 games for the first time. The right-hander tossed 200 1-3 innings in 34 starts. (AP)
Colorado Rockies - TM - Col 2008-11-20 21:06:35 Rockies round out their 40 man roster.
FANTASY INSIGHT: The Rockies adjusted their 40-man roster on Thursday, adding six players and removing one. Added to the roster were right-handers Samuel Deduno, Shane Lindsay and Ryan Mattheus and infielders Hector Gomez, Chris Nelson and Eric Young Jr. Catcher Edwin Bellorin was outrighted to Triple-A Colorado Springs. By being added to the 40-man roster, the six are not exposed to the Rule 5 Draft, which will take place Dec. 11 on the final day of MLB's Winter Meetings. The Rockies' 40-man roster now stands at 40. (MLB.com)
FANTASY INSIGHT: The Reds added pitchers Matt Maloney, Carlos Fisher, Robert Manuel and Sam Lecure to their 40-man roster on Thursday.
Infielder Andy Phillips refused an outright assignment and elected to become a free agent. Lefty pitcher Tyler Pelland was outrighted off the roster.
The transactions protected the four added players from being exposed to the Rule 5 Draft. The Reds' roster stands at 37 players, three short of the 40-man limit. (MLB.com)
FANTASY INSIGHT: Anybody can speculate on the Dodgers' best prospects, but the organization chimed in Thursday by adding five Minor Leaguers to the 40-man Major League roster. Added were right-handed pitchers Jesus Castillo and Travis Schlichting, left-handed pitchers Victor Garate and Brent Leach and outfielder Jamie Hoffman. The moves protect the players from being selected by another club in the Rule 5 Draft, to be held at the Winter Meetings on Dec. 11. In a procedural move, the club also reinstated from the 60-day disabled list infielder Tony Abreu, outfielder Andruw Jones and right-handed pitchers Mario Alvarez, Yhency Brazoban and Jason Schmidt. (MLB.com)
Burnett, A.J. - SP - 2008-11-19 20:42:23 Burnett's opt out of Toronto looking wise as bidding war ensues for his services.
FANTASY INSIGHT: Judging by how many teams are pursuing his services, A.J. Burnett's decision to opt out of his contract with Toronto is looking shrewd. With Ryan Dempster off the market after re-signing with the Cubs on Tuesday, Burnett has suddenly become the central free-agent pitching target on the market, at least until the CC Sabathia sweepstakes pick up steam.
As of Wednesday morning, every American League East team except Tampa Bay, plus the Phillies and Braves, were believed to be prepared to make an offer or were considering making an offer for Burnett. (MLB.com)
Ramirez, Ramon - P - KC 2008-11-19 20:35:36 Red Sox trade Coco Crisp to Royals for Ramirez.
FANTASY INSIGHT: The Boston Red Sox traded outfielder Coco Crisp to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for right handed reliever Ramon Ramirez. Ramirez, 27, emerged last season as a dependable reliever after arriving in late March from the Colorado Rockies. He was 3-2 with a 2.64 ERA in 71 appearances. He had one save and 21 holds. (Boston Globe)
Crisp, Coco - CF - Bos 2008-11-19 20:31:48 Royals acquire Coco Crisp from Red Sox.
FANTASY INSIGHT: The Royals pulled off their second major trade of the off-season Wednesday morning by acquiring outfielder Coco Crisp from the Boston Red Sox for reliever Ramon Ramirez. Crisp, 29, batted .283 last season in 118 games for the Red Sox with seven homers and 41 RBIs. He became increasingly expendable in Boston because of the emergence of rookie outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury. (Kansas City Star)
