Transaction Analysis: Hanley's Back, Again

It was another busy week throughout baseball, with several major transactions being made. Here are some of the most noteworthy moves this week.

SUNDAY

Rockies

Rafael Betancourt, RHP - placed on the 15-day DL (right groin)
Manny Corpas, RHP - contract purchased from Triple-A Colorado Springs

Impact: Colorado's closer will miss a couple weeks due to a strained right groin. Betancourt has converted 11 of 12 save opportunities this year and has a 3.20 ERA through 22 appearances. Left-hander Rex Brothers will get an opportunity to pick up some saves while Betancourt is out. Brothers definitely has the stuff to succeed in a closer's role, and he's been lights out so far this year. Fantasy owners will want to give him a look. Corpas will work in middle relief and isn't likely to be worth anything to a fantasy team.

MONDAY

Dodgers

Carl Crawford, OF - placed on the 15-day DL (left hamstring)
Stephen Fife, RHP - recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque

Impact: After being limited to just 31 games in an injury-plagued 2012 season, Crawford was having a nice bounce-back year before he landed on the DL with a strained left hamstring. Through 51 games this year, Crawford is hitting .301 with 32 runs scored, five home runs, 13 RBI and nine stolen bases. Scott Van Slyke should take over the left-field duties on a regular basis while Crawford is out and could have some mixed league value. Fife will hold down the rotation spot vacated by Chris Capuano, who has landed on the DL with a left lat strain. Fife could have some value in deeper NL-only leagues, but is probably not worth a look in mixed leagues.

Yankees

Andy Pettitte, LHP - activated from the 15-day DL
Brennan Boesch, OF - optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

Impact: Pettitte came out of retirement last season and proved that he still has what it takes to get hitters out. Though his first eight starts of the 2013 season, the 40-year-old went 4-3 with a 3.83 ERA, before missing a couple weeks with a strained trapezius muscle. He should be safe to activate in most league formats. Vidal Nuno filled Pettitte's spot in the rotation while he was sidelined and was sent back to the minors on May 31. Boesch has handled the bat well this year, and leaves behind a .275 average with three home runs and eight RBI through 23 games.

TUESDAY

Blue Jays

Josh Johnson, RHP - activated from the 15-day DL
Ramon Ortiz, RHP - placed on the 15-day DL (right elbow)

Impact: The Blue Jays got a key member of their starting rotation back Tuesday, as Johnson was activated from the DL. The former Marlin hadn't pitched since April 21 due to inflammation in his right triceps and returns to a 6.86 ERA over four starts. He was shaky over his last rehab start, so fantasy owners may want to wait to activate him until he's proven that he can get hitters out. Ortiz went 1-2 with a 6.04 ERA over seven appearances (four starts) before being pulled from his last start with a strained right elbow. The injury may be serious, so it's possible that the 40-year-old righty may have thrown his last pitch in the majors.

Dodgers

Hanley Ramirez, SS - activated from the 15-day DL
Chris Capuano, LHP - placed on the 15-day DL (left lat)

Impact: Ramirez was limited to just four games over the first couple months of the season due to a couple of different injuries. He tore a ligament in his thumb during the World Baseball Classic which cost him most of April, and then he strained his left hamstring in early May. While no longer the elite fantasy player he once was, he still has a decent combination of power and speed. He should be activated in fantasy leagues immediately. The Dodgers used a variety of players at shortstop in Ramirez's absence, including Dee Gordon (who has since been optioned to Triple-A), Luis Cruz and Nick Punto. Capuano will miss at least a couple weeks due to a strained lat muscle in his left shoulder.

Indians

Asdrubal Cabrera, SS - placed on the 15-day DL (right quad)
Juan Diaz, IF - recalled from Triple-A Columbus

Impact: Cabrera could be looking at a four-week stint on the DL as he tries to recover from a strained right quad. The Tribe's everyday shortstop has managed to hit just .254 with five home runs and 25 RBI through 53 games. Mike Aviles becomes the regular shortstop for the time being, but is probably only worth a shot in deeper AL-only leagues at this point. Juan Diaz will give Cleveland some infield depth but little else.

Nationals

Jayson Werth, OF - activated from the 15-day DL
Danny Espinosa, 2B - placed on the 15-day DL (right wrist)

Impact: Werth ended up missing about a month with a strained right hamstring. The 34-year-old outfielder returns to a .260 average, four home runs and 10 RBI in 27 games, and is safe to activate in just about all fantasy league formats. Roger Bernadina had been manning right field in Werth's absence, but could now see a reduction in playing time. Espinosa has struggled mightily at the plate while battling through a wrist injury, and leaves behind a .158 average, three home runs and 12 RBI in 44 games. The 22-year-old Anthony Rendon has been recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to handle the everyday duties at second base for the Nats. He has a ton of offensive upside, so he could be worth a look even in mixed leagues.

WEDNESDAY

Nationals

Stephen Strasburg, RHP - placed on the 15-day DL (right lat)

Impact: Strasburg will be out until at least June 16 due to a strained right lat muscle. The 24-year-old flamethrower has pitched well this year, despite his 3-5 record. Through 12 starts, he owns a 2.54 ERA and a strikeout rate of 8.84 K/9. Ross Ohlendorf is expected to be called up to take over Strasburg's turn in the rotation, but should be avoided in almost every fantasy league format.

Reds

Johnny Cueto, RHP - placed on the 15-day DL (right lat)
Pedro Villarreal, RHP - recalled from Double-A Pensacola

Impact: Cueto is once again sidelined with a shoulder injury. The righty has been limited to just six starts this year due to injuries, but has been effective when healthy. He is 3-0 with a 2.17 ERA and isn't expected to miss much more than the minimum 15 days. The 23-year-old Tony Cingrani should be recalled to take over Cueto's rotation spot. Cingrani is 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA and a very healthy strikeout rate of 11.18 K/9 over six starts. He should have value in most fantasy league formats. Villarreal made a spot start Wednesday and was roughed up pretty badly. He probably won't stick with the big league club for long.

THURSDAY

Rangers

Mitch Moreland, 1B - placed on the 15-day DL (right hamstring)
Chris McGuiness, 1B - contract purchased from Triple-A Round Rock

Impact: The Rangers first baseman will miss at least a couple of weeks with a strained right hamstring. Moreland was off to a great start with the bat, hitting .288 with 12 home runs and 29 RBI through 58 games. The rookie McGuiness could see a fair amount of playing time at first base along with Lance Berkman. McGuiness hit .275 with six home runs and 34 RBI in 55 games at Triple-A this year and probably isn't worth a look outside of the deepest AL-only leagues at this point.

White Sox

Jake Peavy, RHP - placed on the 15-day DL (ribs)
Ramon Troncoso, RHP - contract purchased from Triple-A Charlotte

Impact: Peavy will miss at least a month after an MRI on Wednesday revealed a fractured rib. Through 11 starts, Peavy was 6-4 with a 4.30 ERA and a strikeout rate of 8.87 K/9. He'll be replaced in the rotation by Hector Santiago, who has been equally effective as both a starter and a reliever this season. With Santiago's healthy strikeout rates, he could have some mixed league value. Troncoso should be used in middle relief and can be avoided in fantasy leagues.