Iron Sheff And Injury News

When the New York Mets signed Gary Sheffield back in April, I was a bit skeptical. Perhaps it was my personal dislike for Sheffield that contributed to my opinion on the signing. After numerous injuries and defensive shortcomings, the once crowded outfield became alarmingly thin. Gary Sheffield proved to be the right man to step up and fill the void. With a .286 batting average and 10 home runs, Sheffield has showed the world that he can still get the job done.

Last night, in a divisional match up against the Atlanta Braves, Sheffield pulled up lame while fielding a ball. At first, it appeared that another Met would be making a trip to the disabled list, but to the relief of Mets' fans, the injury was diagnosed as a cramp. This is good news to all the Sheffield owners, who may have feared a hamstring injury. Sheffield's teammates, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado and John Maine are slowly working their way back to a return.

Jose Reyes (hamstring) has been showing signs of improvement, and should be back in the lineup soon. The big question is whether or not Reyes will be the same player when he returns. Known as a speed demon on the base paths, Reyes could see a drop in stolen bases for the remainder of the season. He's swiped just 11 bags to date, but has only played in 36 games. Expect Reyes to be a bit tentative when he returns, but look for him to start picking up the pace as his comfort zone expands. If he can stay healthy, he will swipe enough bags to keep most owners happy.

Carlos Beltran isn't even close to coming back from his knee bruise. Beltran's MRI over the All-Star Break revealed that his bone bruise is still present. He has yet to start running or riding a bike, and could miss a substantial part of the remainder of the season. If you're a Beltran owner, you really have no choice but to put him on your disabled list and move on. He could be productive when he returns, but as of now his trade value has taken a drastic hit. It's one of those situations where you're handcuffed as a fantasy owner.

Carlos Delgado (hip) is taking some swings and participating in infield practice, but is not expected to return for another month or so. In the meantime, if you're still looking for more production at first base, Martin Prado or Garrett Jones may be available in your league. Prado has been on fire lately, and not even the All-Star Break could cool him off as he had two hits including a home run last night. With 1B, 2B and 3B eligibility, Prado could prove to be a valuable asset down the stretch. Jones on the other hand has been just as hot, but may not be eligible at first base in all leagues. Jones is batting .310 with five home runs in just 42 at bats.

John Maine pitched a simulated session last night, and should be back in 7-10 days if all goes well. Maine isn't much of a fantasy pitcher, as he's handed out 34 walks in just 61.2 innings pitched. Unless your league is extremely deep, there is no reason to have Maine on your roster. There are better options out there. If you're looking for a boost in pitching, consider a player like Joel Pineiro or Nick Blackburn, who are both having solid seasons.

In other injury news, Javier Vazquez says he is ready to make his scheduled start this Sunday. Vazquez has been battling a lower abdomen strain for the past month. Keep a close eye on him over his next few starts. Sunday's match up is against the Mets, so I would give the green light on starting him. If he is not bothered by injury, we could see double digit strikeouts.

Carlos Quentin (plantar fasciitis) is expected to be back in about a week or so. After missing extended time, the wait is almost over for Quentin owners. Quentin should add some power to your lineup once he returns.

Edinson Volquez is still limited to long toss, and isn't expected to return until mid-August. Volquez who dominated last season has been a disappointment in 2009. Overall I like Volquez, just not for this season. He's on my high risk list, and that type of uncertainty doesn't fly on my team.

Matt Lindstrom will begin a minor league rehab assignment sometime next week and should return in two to three weeks. Even after he returns, his role as closer could be in jeopardy. If you're looking for saves, hold on to him or pick him up. Personally, I think there's a good chance that he regains his closer role.

Ryan Braun left the game on Friday after being hit in the hand by a pitch. It doesn't appear to be serious, but we will find out more over the weekend. The move to take him out was said to be precautionary.

Kevin Slowey (wrist) will throw a bullpen session today, but there is still no definite timetable for his return. Slowey hasn't been great, but he's been consistent. With 10 wins, it appears that the Twins have no trouble providing run support with him. Be cautious with him for his first couple of starts once he makes his return.

Mark DeRosa (torn tendon sheath) should be back with the Cardinals within a week. DeRosa's versatility makes him valuable to almost any fantasy roster, but with an injury like that combined with the pressure of a new club, DeRosa could have a disappointing second half. I'm not too high on DeRosa right now, so if there's buyers out there, I'd advise you to sell.