Transaction Analysis: Quick Hook for A's Allen

With the baseball season finally under way, here's a look at the transactions this week that had the most significant fantasy impact.

Athletics

Brandon Allen, 1B - designated for assignment
Daric Barton, 1B - activated from the 15-day DL

Impact: Allen was the winner of the battle for the A's first-base job this spring, but was let go on Monday after a dismal showing through three games. In his seven at-bats, Allen was hitless with five strikeouts. His minor league track record is impressive, so he could be of value to a team looking for a powerful young first baseman, otherwise he'll stay in the A's organization at Triple-A. Barton figures to get most of the playing time at first base for the A's, with Kila Ka'aihue serving as backup. With only a .377 career slugging percentage at the deep first base position, Barton is probably only worth a look in AL-only leagues.

Blue Jays

Joel Carreno, RHP - optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas
Aaron Laffey, LHP - contract purchased from Triple-A Las Vegas

Impact: A rough spring for Brett Cecil and an injury to Dustin McGowan opened the door for Carreno to start to season in the Jays rotation. His stay was short-lived, however, as he was shipped back to Triple-A after making one start against the Indians on Sunday. He wasn't terrible in his starting debut, as he gave up just six hits and four earned runs in six innings. He did fall victim to the long ball, though, and had issues with his control, allowing two gopher balls and four free passes. His control issues are nothing new. He gave up 68 walks in 134.2 innings at Double-A last year. Veteran left-hander Laffey will work out of the pen, as the Jays will not need a fifth starter until April 21.

Braves

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

Impact: The 39-year-old Jones made his season debut on Tuesday after missing the first four games of the season due to surgery on his left knee. He has become injury prone in recent years, appearing in at least 140 games just once in the last eight seasons. He still has some pop in his bat, but his best years are clearly behind him. Nevertheless, he's worthy of mixed-league consideration. Constanza was hitless in three at-bats with the Braves, striking out twice. Matt Diaz and Juan Francisco figure to lose some playing time, as they had been sharing the left-field and third-base duties with Martin Prado, who now moves to left field full-time to make room for Jones at third.

Padres

Dustin Moseley, RHP - placed on 15-day DL (strained right shoulder)
Josh Spence, LHP - recalled from Triple-A Tucson

Impact: There is a chance that Moseley could miss the rest of the season after he injured his right shoulder during his start last Saturday. An MRI revealed extensive damage to the shoulder, so at the very least he will miss significant time. Anthony Bass moves from the bullpen to fill Moseley's spot in the rotation. Bass has a solid minor league track record and was 2-0 with a 1.68 ERA last year in 27 games, three of which were starts. A pitcher-friendly home ballpark makes him worth a look, but don't expect a high strikeout rate. Spence will pitch out of the bullpen, posting an ERA of 2.73 in 40 games as a left-handed specialist for the Padres last season.

Royals

Lorenzo Cain, OF - placed on the 15-day DL (strained left groin)
Jarrod Dyson, OF - recalled from Triple-A Omaha

Impact: Cain made a great catch Tuesday night in Oakland, crashing into the wall to rob Daric Barton of extra bases, then doubling off Collin Cowgill at first base. That catch will cause him to miss a couple of weeks, as he strained his left groin on the play. He was initially expected to return to action Friday, but that is obviously no longer the case. Jason Bourgeois, Mitch Maier and Dyson will man center field in his absence. Bourgeois and Dyson both have wheels, but neither is likely to have any significant fantasy value unless they earn a full-time role.

Tigers

Doug Fister, RHP - placed on the 15-day DL (strained left side)
Brayan Villarreal, RHP - recalled from Triple-A Toledo

Impact: The Tigers are going to take a cautious approach with Fister after he strained his left side during a start against Boston last Saturday. What that means is that he could miss more than the 15-day minimum to recover. Fister put together a great 2011 season, going 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA in 11 appearances after his trade to the Tigers and posting an overall ERA of 2.83 between the Mariners and Tigers. Adam Wilk is pegged to take Fister's turn in the rotation Saturday, though he has not yet been called up. Wilk is a control pitcher who has not shown much of an ability to miss bats and rack up strikeouts in the minors. He has yet to make a major league start, but his pinpoint control could make him worth a look in AL-only leagues. Villarreal was 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in 16 relief appearances for Detroit last year and will pitch in relief.