Transaction Analysis: M's Gutierrez Finally Ready

Blue Jays

Brandon Morrow, RHP - placed on the 15-day DL (left oblique)
Yan Gomes, IF - recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas

Impact: Morrow has been the Jays' best starting pitcher so far this season, posting a 7-4 record, a 3.01 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 77.2 innings. He will be out indefinitely while he attempts to recover from a strained left oblique. Gomes had just been demoted to Triple-A to help make room for a couple of relievers on the active roster, but was recalled the next day to fill Morrow's roster spot. He will likely be sent back down when Toronto calls up another starter. The most likely candidate to get the call is Jesse Chavez, who is 6-2 with a 3.68 ERA for Triple-A Las Vegas through Wednesday. He has been converted back to a starter after spending the last seven seasons working in relief and would probably be a risky fantasy option in most leagues.

Braves

Chipper Jones, 3B - activated from the 15-day DL
Jose Constanza, OF - optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett

Impact: The Braves' 40-year-old third baseman returned to action Sunday after missing a little more than two weeks with a left calf contusion. Despite being a constant injury risk, Jones has proven that he can still hit as he returns to a .307 average, five home runs and 24 RBI through 29 games. With Martin Prado moving from third base to left field, Constanza found himself out of a job. He hit .250 (8-for-32) in 12 games with the big league club, but had just one extra-base hit (a double) and no walks.

Mariners

Franklin Gutierrez, OF - activated from the 15-day DL
Mike Carp, OF - placed on the 15-day DL (right shoulder)

Impact: Gutierrez was downright awful with the bat last season, as he managed to hit just .224 with one home run and 19 RBI in 92 games. His ailing health may explain some of those numbers, as he missed the first month and a half of 2011 with irritable bowel syndrome and most of the final month of the season with a strained oblique. After missing the first two and a half months of 2012 with a strained pectoral muscle and a foot injury, he was finally activated from the DL on Wednesday. His career numbers aren't great, but he does have a decent amount of speed, which can be of use to fantasy teams in need of stolen bases. The M's had high expectations for Carp after an impressive showing in 2011 where he hit .276 with 12 home runs and 46 RBI in just 79 games. Unfortunately he's failed to come anywhere close to meeting those expectations this year, as he carries a paltry .157 batting average through 32 games. With a crowded outfield in Seattle, it remains to be seen whether he'll still have a spot on the team when he returns from the DL.

Marlins

Gaby Sanchez, 1B - recalled from Triple-A New Orleans
Donnie Murphy, IF - designated for assignment

Impact: The Marlins are hoping that a demotion to the minor leagues was enough to jumpstart their scuffling first baseman's bat as they recalled Sanchez on Sunday. He had done almost nothing offensively before the demotion, hitting just .197 with one home run and 11 RBI in 36 games. Coming into this season he had put up back-to-back solid campaigns with nearly identical seasons in 2010 and 2011. Logan Morrison had moved from left field to first base in Sanchez's absence, as the Marlins used a number of players in left field. Morrison now returns to the outfield, cutting into the playing time of the likes of Austin Kearns, Donovan Solano, Justin Ruggiano, Greg Dobbs and Chris Coghlan (who was demoted to Triple-A after Wednesday's game). Murphy hit just .133 in 27 games with Miami this year and has since been outrighted to Triple-A New Orleans.

Orioles

Brian Roberts, 2B - activated from the 60-day DL
Steve Tolleson, IF - optioned to Triple-A Norfolk

Impact: Roberts finally returned to the O's lineup more than a year after a concussion ended his 2011 season prematurely. He hadn't appeared in a major league game since May last year, but managed to go 3-for-4 with an RBI in his first game back Tuesday. He should be good for some steals and could help out a fantasy team in batting average and runs scored as well. His return bumps light-hitting Robert Andino to a utility role, for which he is better suited anyway. Tolleson hit .237 with two home runs and six RBI in 12 games for the Orioles while playing mostly third base. He has since been recalled to take the roster spot of injured backup outfielder Endy Chavez.

Rangers

Alexi Ogando, RHP - placed on the 15-day DL (right groin)
Michael Kirkman, LHP - recalled from Triple-A Round Rock

Impact: In his first start of the season, Ogando strained his groin while running out a bunt during Sunday's game in San Francisco. He had pitched well out of the bullpen for the Rangers before being moved to the rotation to fill in for the injured Neftali Feliz. He is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA and 0.81 WHIP and is expected to be out for 4-6 weeks. At the moment, it is unclear what his role will be when he returns. Justin Grimm will be called up from Double-A Frisco on Saturday to start in place of Ogando. Grimm is 8-3 with a 1.87 ERA in 13 starts at Double-A this year, but his lack of experience above that level makes him a risky fantasy option at this point. Kirkman will work in relief and is unlikely to hold much fantasy value in most leagues.

Rays

Luke Scott, DH - placed on the 15-day DL (back)

Impact: Scott will miss some time due to stiffness in his lower back. He had been limited to just one plate appearance since June 5 due to his back issues, so the Rays finally shelved him officially Thursday. Despite a measly .220 batting average, he has still been productive for T.B., hitting nine home runs while driving in 35 runs in 51 games. While no corresponding roster move was immediately announced, Hideki Matsui should continue to receive most of the playing time as designated hitter.

Tigers

Drew Smyly, LHP - placed on the 15-day DL (left middle finger)
Ryan Raburn, 2B - recalled from Triple-A Toledo

Impact: The left-handed Smyly has posted some decent overall numbers so far in his rookie campaign, maintaining an 3.96 ERA while striking out 58 batters in 63.2 innings. However, over his last six starts he has given up 22 earned runs in 29.2 innings, for an ugly ERA of 6.67. The 23-year-old will be sidelined for at least a couple of weeks with a rather nasty blister on his left index finger, giving Ryan Raburn another chance to join the major league club. Raburn looked lost at the plate in 38 games with the Tigers before being demoted, as he hit just .152 with one home run and eight RBI. Manager Jim Leyland has stated that he plans to use Raburn on a part-time basis, thus reducing his potential fantasy value. Doug Fister is expected to be activated from the DL in time to take Smyly's turn in the rotation Saturday. Fister is 0-3 with a 3.15 ERA over six starts this season.