This article is part of our Transaction Analysis series.
Here's a look at some of the most noteworthy moves in baseball this week, along with their fantasy impact.
SUNDAY
Twins
Mike Pelfrey, RHP - placed on the 15-day DL (back)
Pedro Hernandez, LHP - recalled from (and then optioned to) Triple-A Rochester
Kyle Gibson, RHP - recalled from Triple-A Rochester
Impact: Pelfrey has been a train wreck for the Twins this season, going 3-6 with a 6.11 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP through 14 starts. He is dealing with a back strain, so the team will give him some much needed time off. Gibson went 7-5 with a 3.01 ERA in 15 starts at Triple-A, and could have some value in deeper leagues. Hernandez made one spot start during his most recent stint with Minnesota, and now owns a 3-1 record with a 5.54 ERA over nine appearances.
MONDAY
Giants
Pablo Sandoval, 3B - activated from the 15-day DL
Nick Noonan, IF - optioned to Triple-A Fresno
Impact: Sandoval needed just a couple weeks off to recover from a strained tendon in his left foot. The pudgy third baseman returns to a .289 average, eight home runs and 37 RBI through 58 games. The .301 career hitter should provide his fantasy owners with a decent batting average and some power. Joaquin Arias returns to a bench role after receiving the bulk of playing time at the hot corner while Sandoval was out. Noonan hit .212 (18-for-85) without a home run in 48 contests with
Here's a look at some of the most noteworthy moves in baseball this week, along with their fantasy impact.
SUNDAY
Twins
Mike Pelfrey, RHP - placed on the 15-day DL (back)
Pedro Hernandez, LHP - recalled from (and then optioned to) Triple-A Rochester
Kyle Gibson, RHP - recalled from Triple-A Rochester
Impact: Pelfrey has been a train wreck for the Twins this season, going 3-6 with a 6.11 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP through 14 starts. He is dealing with a back strain, so the team will give him some much needed time off. Gibson went 7-5 with a 3.01 ERA in 15 starts at Triple-A, and could have some value in deeper leagues. Hernandez made one spot start during his most recent stint with Minnesota, and now owns a 3-1 record with a 5.54 ERA over nine appearances.
MONDAY
Giants
Pablo Sandoval, 3B - activated from the 15-day DL
Nick Noonan, IF - optioned to Triple-A Fresno
Impact: Sandoval needed just a couple weeks off to recover from a strained tendon in his left foot. The pudgy third baseman returns to a .289 average, eight home runs and 37 RBI through 58 games. The .301 career hitter should provide his fantasy owners with a decent batting average and some power. Joaquin Arias returns to a bench role after receiving the bulk of playing time at the hot corner while Sandoval was out. Noonan hit .212 (18-for-85) without a home run in 48 contests with San Fran.
TUESDAY
Diamondbacks
Aaron Hill, 2B - activated from the 15-day DL
Joe Paterson, LHP - optioned to Triple-A Reno
Impact: It took more than two months for Hill to return to action after he fractured his left hand in mid-April. Hill put together an impressive season with the D-Backs last year, after back-to-back subpar campaigns in 2010 and 2011. He was hitting .306 with two home runs and six RBI through 10 games before the injury, and should be safe to activate in most league formats. Second base was a revolving door for the D-Backs while Hill was sidelined, as four players started at least 15 games at the position. Willie Bloomquist and Cliff Pennington should now see reduced playing time.
Dodgers
Matt Kemp, OF - activated from the 15-day DL
Elian Herrera, OF - optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque
Impact: Kemp's fantasy stock has fallen drastically the last couple seasons, after he put together a monster year in 2011. He was limited to just 106 games last season due to injury, though he still managed to hit .303 with 23 home runs. This year, he did not look like himself before he was sidelined at the end of May with a strained right hamstring. He hit just .251 with two home runs and 17 RBI in 52 games over the first two months of the season, meaning he is no longer a lock to help out a fantasy team. Herrera went 2-for-7 in three games with the Dodgers.
Mariners
Franklin Gutierrez, OF - placed on the 15-day DL (right hamstring)
Dustin Ackley, 2B - recalled from Triple-A Tacoma
Impact: After missing a couple months with a strained right hamstring, Gutierrez appeared in just two games before ending up back on the shelf with the same injury. It's an unfortunate break, as he has been hitting quite well when healthy this year. In 18 games, he's hitting .267 with five home runs and 11 RBI. Ackley, who began the year as the M's starting second baseman, will be used primarily in the outfield. After hitting .205 with one homer in 46 games for Seattle, he tore up Triple-A pitching to the tune of a .365 average and 14 RBI through 25 games. He still remains a risky fantasy option due to his struggles at the major-league level this year and last.
Nationals
Dan Haren, RHP - placed on the 15-day DL (right shoulder)
Tyler Moore, OF - recalled from Triple-A Syracuse
Impact: Haren has been awful this year, and an inflamed right shoulder could possibly explain some of his struggles thus far. The veteran right-hander is 4-9 with a 6.15 ERA over 15 starts and will take some much needed time off to recuperate. The Nats have not yet named his replacement in the rotation, though the top candidates at this point appear to be Ross Ohlendorf and minor leaguers Nathan Karns and Taylor Jordan. Jordan would be an intriguing choice, as he is 9-1 with a 1.00 ERA in 15 appearances (14 starts) between High-A and Double-A this year. Ohlendorf and Karns would both be less than desirable options in most fantasy leagues. Moore will provide the team with some outfield depth, at least until Bryce Harper returns from the DL.
WEDNESDAY
Blue Jays
Jose Reyes, SS - activated from the 60-day DL
Munenori Kawasaki, SS - optioned to Triple-A Buffalo
Impact: While the Jays' 11-game winning streak may have ended, there's still reason for optimism in Toronto as their star shortstop returned to action Wednesday. Reyes was on fire through his first 10 games of the season, before he severely sprained his left ankle and had to be shut down for more than 10 weeks. He returns to a .357 average and five stolen bases and should obviously be activated in all league formats. Kawasaki provided the Jays with solid defense while filling in at shortstop for Reyes, but hit just .225 with one home run through 60 games.
Indians
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS - activated from the 15-day DL
John McDonald, IF - designated for assignment
Impact: Cabrera missed about three weeks with a strained right quad. The Venezuelan shortstop has shown a decent combination of speed, power and batting average the last few seasons and should be safe to activate in most league formats. Cabrera's return to the lineup means that Mike Aviles now returns to a backup role. McDonald went 0-for-7 in eight games with the Tribe after he was acquired from the Pirates earlier this month.
THURSDAY
Angels
Tommy Hanson, RHP - placed on the 15-day DL (right forearm)
Michael Roth, LHP - recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake
Impact: Hanson will miss some time after the Angels shut him down due to tightness in his right forearm. The righty hasn't pitched since June 20, so he could be eligible to return from the DL as early as July 6. Garrett Richards appears to be the most likely candidate to replace Hanson in the rotation, but he's probably not worth taking a chance on outside of the deepest fantasy leagues. Roth was 1-1 with a 9.00 ERA over nine appearances (one start) with the team earlier in the year.
Indians
Chris Perez, RHP - activated from the 15-day DL
T.J. House, LHP - optioned to Triple-A Columbus
Impact: Perez missed about a month due to a sore right shoulder. The Indians closer saved at least 35 games in each of the last two seasons, but was putting up some unremarkable numbers before the injury this year. He returns to a 4.32 ERA through 17 games, and has saved six games in eight chances. Vinnie Pestano was serviceable as closer in Perez's absence, and returns to a setup role. House did not appear in a game during his three-day stint with Cleveland.
