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ESPN.com: MLB – Camps roundup: Tampa Bay cuts O’Leary

It’s buried way down the column: Not unexpectedly, Jimy Williams gave defensive whiz Adam Everett the shortstop job today over Julio Lugo. I say “not unexpectedly” because, as I wrote last week:

“Julio Lugo is the starter, at least for now. Jimy Williams will grow to hate his dee. Bid: $7. Adam Everett could be installed because of his glove, but he hits less than Rey Ordonez. Bid: No.”

Everett might collect some steals, so he can’t be ignored totally. But his average should be low. And the more AB he collects the worse it will hurt.

CREATiVESPORTS – Scheduled Chats

I kind of spaced this out, but Rotoman himself will be chatting at Creative Sports on Monday night from 10-11pm EST. Please stop by. I have no idea what the format is, but I would imagine we’ll be chatting about either fantasy sports or the San Francisco Scene circa 1967.

We’ll see.

Major League Baseball News

This may not matter much. Pujols could end up with 20 games at third, anyway, and Polanco will probably play just as much as he would have if Pujols was playing third. But I would suggest that when you hear these things about a player’s defensive abilities, look at what the team does.

Pujols was reportedly not a great third baseman. La Russa can talk about his gold glove future, but does it make sense that the team would allow a superior third baseman to switch with an inferior left fielder?

This spring we’ve also seen the unraveling of Ben Petrick, who last year was supposedly a superior defensive catcher. Next up: Is Alfonso Soriano really a help defensively at 2B? And is Rafael Furcal doing the job at SS?

Rotoworld.com on Mike Rivera

Rivera continues to hit, Mitch Meluskey is behind schedule in his rehab and Brandon Inge is a defensive specialist who has been sent to the minors. Rivera had an excellent 2001 season in Double-A, but at 24 was old for the level, and hadn’t shown all that much before that.

With Inge and Javier Cardona (who was traded to San Diego today) out of the picture, Rivera is suddenly a strong candidate to become Numero Uno in Detroit. Good for him. Just don’t expect his hot hitting hand to continue. Comerica is a much different problem for hitters than Joker Marchant stadium in Lakeland is, and he isn’t going to get as many at bats against pitchers with suspect curves and mid-level fastballs as he’s been getting.

Still, he’s not a wild free-swinger and an opportunity is an opportunity. But Meluskey is suddenly feeling better, which could mean Rivera will get the backup slot. Still, he’s well worth a bid. If Dean Palmer starts the year on the DL Meluskey will see his most of his AB at DH. And Rivera could be on his way to 350-400 AB, though 250-300 is more likely.

ESPN.com: MLB – Dodgers, Expos swap relievers in four-player trade

Matt Herges, who alienated the Dodgers’ affections by asking for a contract reworking when he was considered the team’s closer this year, isn’t expected to get any saves in Montreal, but if Scott Strickland runs into problems Herges is now a solid guy to turn to.

I’ve been touting Mota for two years now, but he hasn’t posted results when asked. There is some chance he’ll end up in the Dodgers’ mix, especially if they go to a closer committee, but his best quality will remain that he isn’t going to be costly. And frankly, he may not be worth more than a little. If that.

The other bodies in this deal may have some minor impact in a year or two, but needn’t be on anyone’s radar right now.

ESPN.com: MLB – Padres trade infielder Jackson, catcher Walbeck to Tigers

Damian Jackson changes leagues and while he’s going to be a liability because of his batting average, he’s going to play enough to help a team more in steals. For a team with a high average or a team that is conceding last place in average, he could prove a valuable pickup.

Everybody else in this deal will probably end up in the minors, and even if they don’t they don’t offer much of anything in a fantasy sense.

Boston Globe Online / Sports / Merloni finds his fans aren’t only in stands

The hed is about Merloni, but the tidbit that is interesting is that Merloni and Carlos Baerga appear to have the inside track on jobs in Boston. Whither Jose Offerman?

John Henry says he’d be willing to eat a big contract if it would help the team. I know I said a couple of weeks ago that it made more sense for Offerman to start and Rey Sanchez to play backup, but it looks like Offerman’s defense is about to do him in. After talking to a number of Bostonians who swear Offerman single-handedly destroyed Derek Lowe’s 2001 season, I’m convinced.

It hasn’t happened yet, but it looks like Offerman is out.

Will he get picked up somewhere? It can’t help that he’s hitting just .229 this spring.

ESPN.com: MLB Index

Oh, on the ESPN.com front page the headline reads D’Backs’ catcher Durazo to miss six weeks.

They must have some temps working.

ESPN.com: MLB – Camps roundup: D-Backs’ Durazo to miss six weeks

There is always something wrong with Durazo. He was again convincing me this spring that the Diamondbacks were crazy to sign Grace last year. He was leading all spring training hitters in AVG and total bases. But now he’s out until the end of April, and for the third time it’s a bone in his right wrist. The doctor is saying this is unrelated to his two previous right wrist surgeries, but really.

There is something wrong with this ESPN.com article, which seems to suggest that the loss of Durazo is really going to screw up the Diamondbacks, but fortunately they have Rod Barajas to play some first base in his absence. Very weird.

Mark Grace was the D’backs’ first baseman before and after this simple twist of fate.

The Roto Times Chad Fox Profile

So, shouldn’t that have been expected. Sure, he said he didn’t think anything severe was going on. And who would know better? Me, or a guy who has pitched 73 innings in the past three years?

An MRI today revealed bone chips. There isn’t a prognosis yet, but it can’t be good.

Curt Leskanic is happy right now to be able to play catch, so it appears that newly acquired burner Jose Cabrera and Mike DeJean will be the Brewers’ closers to start the season. Both are capable of doing the job, but in this situation all it takes is one bad outing for the opportunity to end.

Don’t go crazy bidding for them, even if it’s announced Fox and Leskanic are out until the middle of the season.