Transaction Roundup: 4/13-4/15

Arizona Diamondbacks

Activated RHP Max Scherzer from the 15-day disabled list. Optioned RHP Billy Buckner to Triple-A Reno.

Scherzer (who had been sidelined with a tight shoulder) becomes a must-start if he shows that he’s physically sound. His mid-90’s gas and sharp mid-80’s breaker give him the artillery necessary to beat down major league hitters, though his bumpy control and stamina will have to be improved. CHONE and ZiPS both call for a FIP of about 3.60- Scherzer is extremely talented, but it’s difficult to project just how many starts he’ll make in 2009.

Boston Red Sox

Placed SS Jed Lowrie on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 12, with a left wrist sprain. Recalled INF Gil Velazquez from Triple-A Pawtucket.

Placed RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka on the 15-day disabled list with a mild right shoulder strain. Recalled LHP Hunter Jones from Triple-A Pawtucket.

Lowrie was bothered by a wrist injury last season as well, and unfortunately for him, Julio Lugo (rehabbing from a knee problem) will beat him back to the field. The switch-hitting Lowrie (25 tomorrow-talk about a crappy birthday present), is certainly a larger part of Boston’s future going forward. The projection systems presented here at Fan Graphs peg Lowrie as the better batsmen, though not a huge margin:

Lowrie’s projected wOBA’s:

CHONE: .335
ZiPS: .328
Oliver: .329

Lugo’s projected wOBA’s:

CHONE: .319
ZiPS: .326
Oliver: .309

Matsuzaka, meanwhile, is suffering from the always-nebulous designation of “arm fatigue.” Through two ineffective starts, Dice-K’s velocity is down about two and a half MPH from 2008 (91.8 MPH in ’08, 89.2 MPH in ’09).

Chicago White Sox

Placed OF Dewayne Wise on the 15-day disabled list with a Grade 3 separated right shoulder. Purchased the contract of OF Jerry Owens from Triple-A Charlotte. Signed free agent OF Scott Podsednik, who had been with the Rockies, to a Minor League contract.

“Dewayne Wise, everyday center fielder” was about as good of an idea as Disco Demolition Night: ill-conceived, lots of destruction, very little productivity. Wise (he of a career .253 OBP) hits the shelf following a shoulder injury suffered diving for a ball. Neither Brian Anderson (career .653 OPS) nor the recalled Owens (.632) should be sniffing anywhere near your fantasy squad. As for the ubiquitous Podsednik? His slappy skill-set at the plate wouldn’t appear to make him any more qualified for the role.

St. Louis Cardinals

Placed RHP Chris Carpenter on the 15-day disabled list. Optioned RHP Brad Thompson to Triple-A Memphis. Recalled RHP Mitchell Boggs and RHP Chris Perez from Triple-A Memphis.

Well, so much for that. Carp finds himself on the DL again, this time with a strained oblique suffered on a swing in the 4th inning of his second start.

As for Perez, he could well re-enter the closer derby developing in St. Louis. Ryan Franklin is ostensibly “the man” for the moment (the way this is going, that could change by the time you read this), but he and his near-five career FIP seem ill-suited to serve in critical late-game situations.