Starting in spring training and continuing through the regular season, we are going to post a blog summarizing the day's bigger fantasy news items, and give our spin on those events. We're still going to do all of our regular news updates, but we realize that some readers prefer to digest that info in blog form. We won't go nightly until spring games begin, but instead offer a few periodic items. We're also still searching for some catchy title for this item - in fact, I'll open that process up to you - any suggestions for a good title?

Anyhow, here are a few items that caught my eye:

• Cito Gaston seems pretty intent on giving Jose Bautista a full-time job, batting leadoff no less. Bautista finished off 2009 with a huge September and October, slugging .606 over that stretch. Given that Bautista has 1750 career at-bats, I'm inclined to think that was just a hot streak, and not indicative of the light turning on for him. Bautista also seems ill-suited for a leadoff job - his walk rate has been decent enough, but he's added little on the basepaths once he's gotten on, and a career .75 CT rate suggests that he'll never hit for average. Even if he walks 12-14|PERCENT| of the time, Bautista's OBP peak rests right around .350.
• The other takeaway from that article is nowhere was Travis Snider's name mentioned when Gaston talked about his set lineup spots, though he left one slot open for a generic outfielder (one that could equally be filled by a DH like Randy Ruiz, if he plays Adam Lind in the field). I still want to have Snider's career, but there's no guarantee that this is the year he cashes in on his promise, or is even given the chance. In a way, his career is progressing like Lind's, where it took him awhile to gain a foothold on a full-time spot.
• Jason Heyward is already getting compared to Hank Aaron. So much for getting him at a reasonable price in drafts this year, even though there's still a better than average chance he starts the year in the minors.
• Depression and anxiety became more mainstreamed in the baseball world thanks to what happened with Khalil Greene and Joey Votto. Unfortunately, Greene had another setback and won't be reporting with the Rangers this spring. While it's not necessarily going to happen here, be cognizant of what happened with Angel Guzman in Venezuela this offseason.
• Both the Pirates and Astros already have injury concerns surrounding their closers and set-up men. Brandon Lyon has a sore shoulder and hasn't thrown off a mound, and he's competing with Matt Lindstrom for the job - with some possibility that the two will split the job. Octavio Dotel suffered a minor side injury in workouts on Tuesday, and Joel Hanrahan already has an elbow problem of uncertain degree. Hanrahan's elbow has less swelling than it did before, so Thursday's checkup with Dr. Andrews might just be that, a checkup. Evan Meek might be worth an endgame buck or reserve pick in NL only leagues if you're drafting early.
• It's not often that a fifth starter's job is worth all the attention that we give it in spring training, but it might just be in Oakland. I've written about how I like Gio Gonzalez already, but Trevor Cahill and Vincent Mazzaro are both interesting, too. Keep in mind that even if your guy among those three doesn't win the job initially, it's not all that hard to imagine him getting a shot sooner than later for the A's. Ben Sheets, Justin Duchscherer and Dallas Braden are all working their way back from various injuries, and Braden might not be all that solid anyhow. In fact, I've seen him get drafted less frequently in mocks so far than Gonzalez or Cahill (though in full disclosure, |STAR|I've|STAR| been the one drafting one of Cahill or Gonzalez on many occasions.).
• Either Michael Brantley or Matt LaPorta will get hosed by the Russell Branyan signing. In theory, I like the Indians getting Branyan on the cheap, but not at the expense of those two young players. Brantley was one of my late/cheap sources of speed. Now he could end up being a great International League roto pick.

What items on Tuesday piqued your interest?