Here's another guy who will not be ready for the start of the season as per mlb.com. Shoulder issues, though they don't appear serious (heh, heh..)

Reports are starting to circulate that his shoulder is all messed up...anywhere from "not ready for spring training" to "career may be over".

Buyer beware.

I wonder if this came out a week ago what the Twins may have received for Santana.

Signed a one-year contract with the Giants yesterday.

Signed a minor league contract with the Indians yesterday.

Minus the 22 SB, Sheffield was worth $16 last year, according to my calculations using my A.L. 12-team only league and Alex's tried-and-true formulas. Alex might be $1 different one way or the other, but that's about right.

This is what I wrote over at my blog (http://rotothinktank.blogspot.com/2008/01/pre-all-star-versus-post-all-star-nl_25.html)

"Even with the spike in HR/IP Post All-Star, the BAA and the K/IP don't support that ERA. Maine's K rate overall went up from 2007 to 2006. On the whole, he's a pitcher who is trending positively, and Shea Stadium will continue to help keep the HR below 30. He's worth a $15-17 bid this year."

I guess $17 is a little high, and maybe $15 would get him. Perhaps I'm used to all of the New York-based leagues I used to participate in, where all the Mets used to fly past Alex's bid prices, and I'd wind up with Bobby Jones and a bunch of nothing from the local squad.

I think Penny got a little lucky last year, in that his peripherals were pretty similar to 2005-2006 (and his strikeouts even dropped a little per IP), but his ERA plummeted and his HR/IP dropped despite only a slight uptick in his G/F rate. I guess he could get better; 30 is considered by some to be a peak age for pitchers, but I wouldn't place a heavy bet on it. $18 seems a tad high for me.

The D-backs are saying the Pena won't be the closer, so no on him.

He might be a little weaker than Penny, but Harang has a better chance of earning $25-30 than Penny does, and value is almost as important as profit, especially once you factor inflation in.

I think Valverde is better and Soriano is a lot better, but I don't know how your league values closers, and don't know if you're talking 4x4 or 5x5.

A mathematical way of looking at it is if A-Rod is 60% better than the best free agent and Josh Fields is 1% better, you should blow a lot of money on A-Rod and live with the guy who is 1% worse than Josh Fields, knowing that there is going to be an ample free agent pool of players with which to replace the worst option at 3B if you also own A-Rod.

The downside, of course, is that if A-Rod goes down, you're going to be hurting. But that's true in any format.

Of course, I bought him for $15 in the Sportsline A.L.-only expert auction and he's my #2 starter. I can live with it, but I agree with those below who point out that, in a 5x5, you typically want to do a little better.

Here's the story as reported at ESPN:

Lyon got the nod over right-hander Tony Pena, a key part of the bullpen last season, and Chad Qualls, who came from Houston in the Valverde trade.

The 26-year-old Pena, who had two saves for Arizona last season, has been projected a future closer. Qualls had five saves for the Astros.

Melvin said he spoke to each pitcher before announcing his decision.

"They all wanted to close, and that's understandable,'' Melvin said. "But they also want to do whatever they can to help us win.''

Melvin said he announced the move on Wednesday because he didn't want any uncertainty over roles heading into training camp, which opens next week in Tucson.

Next week! Can you believe it??

The many NL owners who have Valverde at a good price for this year, after his poor 2006, are breathing a sigh of relief. His real-life salary demands were making them a little nervous.

I saw this guy a couple times live while living in Canada for a while and I thought he would develop into an excellent fantasy player after his 2004 season at 26/27 years old. Good thing I'm not a pro scout for your team I guess. The power has remained but the speed is gone and the batting average is brutal. Maybe he needs to go back to canada eh?

missed the DH-only status (in most leagues). That is actually a huge price factor (never seen Sheff in that category before).

I'd say the reason for the conservative bid is his age, his injury history over the past two years, his DH only status in most leagues, and his signfiicant drop in batting average and increase in strikeout rate, which may show he's not hitting some balls he used to. That and an expectation that his steals will regress to the mean.

I'd say Fenger's bid is a little high and Alex's a little low.

He's had such an interesting career, and the numbers don't quite tell the story. I'd put him in the HOF right now, but I think he will get people off the fence with a couple more solid years. In my mind, you'd always choose Smoltz over Glavine with the game on the line.

Perhaps I am missing the boat here. I know he was very bad in the 2nd half, but he did show signs of life at times post-All Star break. With Johan in town and a healthy Pedro there will be much less pressure on him, and a better defensive catcher will also help. I'd range $12 - $14, and according to Alex and Mike, I would get him.

Will he be a top 5 closer in the NL this year?

I think he has the skills to be one of the best closers in the game. I hope he takes this opportunity and never looks back. I think in most keeper leagues, he will be unavailable, but in other leagues he may come at a bargain.

Rotoworld reports:Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said Brandon Lyon will enter the spring as his team's closer, with Tony Pena in a setup role.--I figure him for $20+ in 4x4

Was named the closer yesterday by Arizona.

Does anyone think he will actually keep the job away from Pena for the whole year?

I guess he defiantely needs a bid price though.