Josh Bell had knee surgery, a loose body was removed, and it is said he will need 2-4 weeks to recover. This obviously isn’t great news. He’s not overly athletic, and not a base stealer, but the missed time right when activity is about to ramp up has me concerned. The 24 year old showed very well last season hitting .273 with a .368 OBP, though his bat doesn’t exactly excite for a first baseman in the power category. David Freese and John Jaso might be worth an extra buck in NL-only leagues in case Bell’s health causes him to start the season slowly.

Desmond Jennings is looking for a team. The now 30 year old outfielder has had his career ruined by injury. There was hope he would develop into a 20/20 threat but he never even hit 15 homers in a season through he did swipe 20 bags three times. He’s only hit eight homers with seven steals the last two years though, and at this point he should be viewed as nothing other than a deep league specific option no matter where he signs.

Have you checked out the ever growing Player Profile series? The latest additions are Devon Travis, Rougned Odor, Dee Gordon and Gary Sanchez. Am I the only one nervous about a couple of those guys?

Carlos Martinez got paid as the Cardinals gave him a five-year deal worth $51 million. It’s the biggest deal ever given to a first year arbitration eligible player, and it will turn out to be an extremely team friendly deal if Martinez simply stays healthy. He’s won 30 games the last two seasons with an ERA of 3.02 and an average of 179 punchouts a season.

Sounds like primates might now be able to sign up for Tinder.

Adam Ottavino will likely open the year as the Rockies’ closer according to Patrick Saunders. He will have to battle Greg Holland once he proves he’s healthy. See Holland to Rockies.

More Rockies...

Mark Reynolds signed a minor-league deal with the Rockies. Man, teams just don’t want to sign power hitting, low average, corner infielders this offseason. Truly shocking really that all he could get was a minor-league deal. Reynolds must like it in Colorado cause he just signed with a team that doesn’t have a spot for him in the lineup. Unless the Rockies are dealing someone before Opening Day, veterans Reynolds and Gerardo Parra are seemingly going to give the Rox a heck of a veteran duo off the bench.

Mike Zunino was taken 3rd overall in 2012. He was named a top-35 prospect in baseball entering 2013 by all the major services after crushing it in 44 games in 2012 (.360-13-43). His numbers in the minors have always impressed with a .288/.369/.552 slash line, but things have been ugly in the bigs from virtually day one. In 1,247 plate appearances, over four years, Zunino has hit a sickly .195 with a terrible .632 OPS. He’s also struck out 404 times in 1,125, which obviously means he strikes out in more than a third of his at-bats. He really can’t hit. Make a mistake and he crushes the ball. Make your pitch and he’s got no chance to generate a hit. Zunino has hit .124 on the curveball and .156 against the slider in his career. He simply cannot hit breaking stuff, so be careful that you don’t draft him this year expecting some big breakout. .

Did you get your copy of the 2017 Fantasy Alarm MLB Draft Guide yet? No worries if you didn’t yet. There are multiple ways to pick up the “Living Guide” that will grow day-by-day. Find out how by clicking on the above link as we transition from fantasy football into fantasy baseball season. 

 

 

THE HARVEY ISSUE

I don’t get it. Matt Harvey has a current ADP of 141 and is being taken off the board as the 34th starting pitcher. That’s nowhere near where we have him ranked for 2017. Thoughts like the ADP ones are sharing is why I recently wrote Avoid Matt Harvey. Seems pretty obvious to me that you should be extremely cautious with Harvey. So I decided to take a poll on twitter. The question was: Which hurler makes you the most nervous in 2017? The options and their percentage of votes cast: Gerrit Cole seven percent, Stephen Strasburg 19 percent, Sonny Gray 22 percent and Matt Harvey 52 percent. So 794 people responded and over half said that Harvey was the arm they were most concerned with. So let me ask you the obvious – why would you draft Harvey to be your third starting pitcher if you are nervous about him in 2017? I can’t quite figure this one out.

 

Ray Flowers can be heard Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday, 8 PM EDT, Wednesday 7 PM EDT on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 9 PM EDT PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).