Roto Riteup: March 29, 2014

Soon. More baseball is coming soon. We were teased with a taste of real games already, but now the season will be upon us shortly.

On today’s agenda:
1. Carlos Quentin may open the season on the disabled list
2. Lingering wrist issues for Mark Teixeira
3. Grady Sizemore named starting center fielder
4. Doug Fister to open the season the DL

Carlos Quentin may open the season on the disabled list
I’ll spare the “in mid-season form” low hanging fruit here, but the San Diego Padres may place Quentin on the 15-day disabled list with a bone bruise in his left knee. Manager Bud Black was quoted as saying it was a “possibility” for Quentin to be placed on the DL even before the season begins. The good news is that his surgically repaired right knee has held up thus far. Anyone who drafted Quentin had to prepare themselves for his inevitable DL stint, but most didn’t anticipate it happening before he even got into a real game.

Lingering wrist issues for Mark Teixeira
After breaking down footage of himself taking live swings from the left side, Teixeira has admitted that he has been subconsciously protecting his wrist. Just last summer Tex went under the knife to repair a torn tendon sheath and despite the rehab process, he still isn’t 100% yet. He is willing to admit that perhaps it is just a carry over from the bad habits that he picked up last season prior to surgery, though with the issue now discovered, hopefully Tex can make a comeback. Speaking to reporters, Teixeira claimed that his goal was to once again top the 30 home run and 100 RBI marks while playing in 150 games. If Tex somehow hits those goals then he should secure a few fantasy titles, given his current draft stock. In 0/12 mock drafts + real drafts, Teixeira was not one of the first 15 first/most expensive first baseman taken.

Grady Sizemore named starting center fielder
Despite the fact that Sizemore hasn’t played in a major league game since the 2011 season, the Boston Red Sox have named him their starting center fielder. After undergoing multiple knee surgeries it seems as though the 31-year-old passed the spring training tests by a wide enough margin to be given the nod over Jackie Bradley. In his hey-day Sizemore racked up four straight 20-20 seasons, including his 30-30 season in 2008. What he brings to the table on the opposite side of the 30 remains to be seen, as his body is the big question. For the first month and possibly longer, the Sox will keep an eye on his playing time and will progressively ramp up his time on the field. Sox manager John Farrell made it clear that “…we’re working toward an everyday status.” Sizemore finds himself in a starter’s role, a solid home park and in a good lineup. He is owned in 66% of CBS formats though just 33% of Yahoo! leagues and 21% of ESPN leagues.

Doug Fister to open the season on the DL
We asked for an answer and the Washington Nationals may soon deliver. An unnamed source claims Fister will indeed begin the season on the 15-day disabled list with a lat strain, not the elbow discomfort that he was having earlier in spring training. Though the club has not officially made a statement, one should be on the way. We’re expecting the formal announcement sometime today prior to their exhibition game today, so prepare to adjust your lineups for at least the first week of the season.