This article is part of our Transaction Analysis series.
Here's a look at the transactions this week that had the most important fantasy impact.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Blue Jays
Adam Lind, 1B – placed on the 15-day DL (lower back)
Eric Thames, OF – called up from Triple-A Las Vegas
Impact: After he missed several games due to back issues, the Jays finally opted to send Lind to the DL. The injury is not considered serious, and with his DL assignment made retroactive to May 8, he might not be out for too much longer. Edwin Encarnacion figures to get the most playing time at first base, with John McDonald and Jayson Nix handling the duties at the hot corner. Neither player is known for their offensive prowess. Thames gives the Jays a solid left-handed bat off the bench and some outfield depth.
Indians
Grady Sizemore, CF – placed on the 15-day DL (knee)
Travis Buck, OF – recalled from Triple-A Columbus
Impact: After missing most of last season and the first part of this year recovering from surgery on his left knee, Sizemore finally appeared to be returning to his old form, crushing six homers in 18 games. He then bruised his right knee while sliding into second base and was once again placed on the DL. Michael Brantley now moves back over to center field, with Buck manning left. Buck has been unimpressive with the bat over his major league career, and will likely sit against lefties, with Austin Kearns getting the nod in
Here's a look at the transactions this week that had the most important fantasy impact.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Blue Jays
Adam Lind, 1B – placed on the 15-day DL (lower back)
Eric Thames, OF – called up from Triple-A Las Vegas
Impact: After he missed several games due to back issues, the Jays finally opted to send Lind to the DL. The injury is not considered serious, and with his DL assignment made retroactive to May 8, he might not be out for too much longer. Edwin Encarnacion figures to get the most playing time at first base, with John McDonald and Jayson Nix handling the duties at the hot corner. Neither player is known for their offensive prowess. Thames gives the Jays a solid left-handed bat off the bench and some outfield depth.
Indians
Grady Sizemore, CF – placed on the 15-day DL (knee)
Travis Buck, OF – recalled from Triple-A Columbus
Impact: After missing most of last season and the first part of this year recovering from surgery on his left knee, Sizemore finally appeared to be returning to his old form, crushing six homers in 18 games. He then bruised his right knee while sliding into second base and was once again placed on the DL. Michael Brantley now moves back over to center field, with Buck manning left. Buck has been unimpressive with the bat over his major league career, and will likely sit against lefties, with Austin Kearns getting the nod in those situations.
Mariners
Franklin Gutierrez, CF – activated from the 15-day DL
Tom Wilhelmsen, RHP – optioned to Double-A Jackson
Impact: The M's center fielder finally returned to action after missing a month and a half due to irritable bowel syndrome. Gutierrez led the Mariners in RBI last season despite a woeful OPS of .666, and he returns to a lineup that is still struggling to score runs. Seattle opted not to drop an outfielder from their roster, instead shipping the struggling Wilhelmsen back to the minors. Michael Saunders manned center field in Gutierrez's absence and did absolutely nothing with the bat. He may now have to battle Carlos Peguero and Mike Wilson for playing time in left field.
Red Sox
John Lackey, RHP – placed on the 15-day DL (elbow)
Scott Atchison, RHP – recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket
Impact: Lackey had a rather disappointing 2010 after coming over from the Angels, and the start of his 2011 season was even worse. Lackey wasn't fooling opposing hitters at all through his first seven starts, as he posted a ridiculous ERA of 8.01 before being placed on the DL with a right elbow strain. It's unclear how long the elbow had been bothering him, and with him having a history of elbow trouble the Red Sox might be extra cautious and keep him out longer than just 15 days. Tim Wakefield takes Lackey's spot in the rotation, but the knuckleballer is too inconsistent at this point in his career to be recommended in most fantasy leagues.
Daisuke Matsuzaka, RHP – placed on the 15-day DL (elbow)
Michael Bowden, RHP – called up from Triple-A Pawtucket
Impact: The Red Sox rotation took another hit on Wednesday, as Dice-K joined John Lackey on the DL. Matsuzaka hasn't been a reliable fantasy asset since 2008, posting mediocre numbers in between stints on the disabled list over the last couple of seasons. This time around, he'll most likely be out at least a month as he recovers from a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. Alfredo Aceves moves from the bullpen into Dice-K's vacated rotation spot, and could be worth a look. Aceves has posted great ratios over his career, although the strikeout rate has been unimpressive. Bowden gives the Sox an extra arm in the bullpen to replace Aceves.
Royals
Kyle Davies, RHP – placed on the 15-day DL (shoulder)
Danny Duffy, LHP – called up from Triple-A Omaha
Impact: Davies went from bad to worse this season, as he saw his ERA jump to 7.46 through nine starts after back to back seasons with an ERA over five. Duffy is an intriguing player, as he's posted great ratios and strikeout numbers over his minor league career. Expect some rough patches for the 22-year-old as he adjusts to the major leagues, but he should be solid once he gets some experience under his belt. In related news, Vin Mazzaro was also optioned to Triple-A Omaha after a 14-run drubbing through 2.2 innings at the hands of the Cleveland Indians on Monday. 23-year-old Nate Adcock fills out Kansas City's rotation and is another young pitcher who could be worth a look once he develops further.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Braves
Brandon Beachy, RHP – placed on the 15-day DL (oblique)
Scott Proctor, RHP – called up from Triple-A Gwinnett
Impact: Beachy was a key part of the Braves' dominant rotation before going down with a strained oblique. The 24-year-old righty posted an impressive 3.45 ERA in eight starts, while striking out over a batter an inning. Unfortunately, a lack of help from his teammates held him to just one win over that span. Scott Proctor was called up to pitch out of the bullpen, and Julio Teheran was called up before Wednesday's game (replacing reliever Cory Gearrin on the roster) to make a spot start in Beachy's place. The 20-year-old Teheran is one of baseball's top pitching prospects and could be a fantasy stud once he develops further and earns a permanent role.
Diamondbacks
Armando Galarraga, RHP – designated for assignment
Melvin Mora, 3B – placed on the bereavement list
Willie Bloomquist, IF – activated from the 15-day DL
Sean Burroughs, IF – called up from Triple-A Reno
Impact: The D-Backs finally gave up on the struggling Galarraga after he was tagged for eight runs (five earned) in just five innings on Monday night. In case you may have been living under a rock at the time, Galarraga pitched a perfect game last season that was marred by a blown call that cost him the honor. Nevertheless, he would have probably been the worst pitcher in history to ever accomplish the feat, as his numbers have been mediocre at best throughout his major league career. Due to his high price tag, he could very well remain in the D-Backs organization and get some work in the minors. Bloomquist and Burroughs should see limited playing time, and the D-Backs have yet to announce who will take Galarraga's spot in the rotation. Barry Enright and Micah Owings (both currently pitching at Triple-A Reno) would appear to be the favorites at this point, but neither one is likely to be worth owning in most fantasy formats.
Mets
David Wright, 3B – placed on the 15-day DL (lower back)
Nick Evans, 1B – contract selected from Triple-A Buffalo
Impact: After a disappointing 2009 season, Wright bounced back in a big way last year as he drove in over 100 runs for the fourth time in five years. His numbers were down across the board this year however before he was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his lower back. The injury will not require surgery, but he'll spend 10 days without any baseball activity before being re-evaluated. Justin Turner should shift over to third base, with light-hitting Ruben Tejeda manning second. Evans should see some time as a backup at the corner infield positions.
Phillies
Roy Oswalt, RHP – activated from the 15-day DL
Vance Worley, RHP – optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley
Impact: On almost any other team, Oswalt would be the staff ace, but in Philadelphia he's just one piece of one of the greatest starting rotations that we've seen in a long time. It might take him a couple of starts to rebuild his arm strength and get completely back on track, but he should still be a very solid pitcher once he does. Worley was excellent in four appearances with the Phillies, and will be the first man called upon if another starter goes down.
