Fantasy Baseball Thoughts: Matt Moore Injury Update, Ryan Braun, Cole Hamels and Others

Bill Petit from Beyond the Boxscore, and Fangraphs, was recently interviewed on MLB Network's Clubhouse Confidential, discussing ballpark factors. Check it out.

Here is Dodgers manager Don Mattingley talking about pitching prospect Chris Withrow:

"You look a little bit to the future, you see Kershaw, Eovaldi, Rubby, and you see [Withrow]. All of a sudden you see the possibility of a rotation that's got a group of young power arms with electric stuff."

Chad Billingsley says hi, Don. I guess Mattingley doesn't see Billingsley in LA once his contract is up in 2014. The team has an option for 2015 at $14 million, which will most certainly not be picked up unless Billingsley turns things around in a hurry.

Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun hit his first spring home run yesterday and now hopefully those who will question him should he have a slow start in the regular season can point to the power showing up yesterday. By the way, make sure you don't get talked out of not drafting Braun with the thought that he will not hit as well without Prince Fielder "protecting" him. Braun will hit no matter who is hitting behind him. Just look at the "protection" Matt Kemp received last season as proof. Braun has an ADP over at Mock Draft Central of 2.65, which is exactly where he should be.

More Fantasy Baseball Thoughts after the jump:

Phillies starter Cole Hamels is in mid-season form already as he threw 3.2 shutout innings yesterday, giving up 4 hits and striking out 2. Hamels announced that he will not set a deadline for contract negotiations with the Phillies, which leads me to think he could actually re-sign with the team. Teammate Jimmy Rollins was reported as saying that he thinks Hamels will sign a long term deal with the team.

Rays starter Matt Moore has been declared healthy and will make his spring training debut next Tuesday. He threw an uneventful batting practice today and is scheduled to throw another on Saturday. Moore currently has an ADP of 102.73, meaning he is being drafted in the 9th round in 12 team, mixed league drafts. Seems a little early to me, but I have to say, I like him a lot, and you probably need to grab him early if you really want him this season. He is being drafted ahead of Yu Darvish, Jordan Zimmermann Gio Gonzalez and Chris Carpenter.

Rangers starter Neftali Feliz was knocked around for 3 runs on 3 hits in 2 innings yesterday in his first start of the spring. How many of you think he will make a seamless transition to the Rangers starting rotation this season? I do not.

Yankees set up man, David Robertson, injured his foot "moving some boxes" yesterday, and his MRI apparently was not good and showed "some cause for concern". Robertson is probably the most likely reliever to replace Mariano Rivera as the Yankees closer next season, assuming Mo decides to retire. Rivera stated the other day that he would make his announcement before the All Star break this season.

Phillies outfielder Domonic Brown can't catch a break. He sprained his thumb diving for a fly ball yesterday and had an MRI on it yesterday. Brown appears, at least to me, like he is trade bait and in need of a change of scenery. With all the Phillies acquisitions this offseason, Brown appears headed back to AAA for more seasoning, as the saying goes.

Nationals outfield prospect Bryce Harper was scratched from the lineup yesterday with tightness in his calf. He is off to a good start so far in spring training, but has yet to have an extra base hit. The Nationals scratched him for precautionary reasons, so he could be back in a few days.

I am pondering a trade offer in the UBA NL-only league involving Madison Bumgarner, and his outing yesterday is making me think twice. He struck out 5 batters in 3 scoreless innings yesterday, while giving up just 3 base runners. MadBum had one of the top K/BB ratios in the NL last season and is poised to build upon his strong 2011 season. Do I sound like I am talking myself into dealing for him?

Jaime Garcia continued the trend of solid starts by solid pitchers yesterday as he struck out 4 in two innings of work. Garcia is a have of Bret Sayre, who joined us about a month ago from Roto Hardball. I have to say, Bret's piece opened my eyes on Garcia.