Spring Stockwatch: Week 3

Every Monday we'll take a look at the Fantasy Baseball gainers and decliners in our Fantasy Stockwatch.

We are in the third full week of spring training action and some big-time decisions will be made in the coming days. This would be a very bad week to stop reading the daily player updates and not just because your Draft Day is quickly approaching. Because of the timing of getting players ready for the regular season -- roster battles, position duels and rotation decisions should be announced this week. Kerry Wood likely is about to become a closer for the first time and Joba Chamberlain is about to learn what it is like being Aaron Heilman.

	Kerry Wood, RP, CHC The choice here would be Carlos Marmol to close for the Cubs. Unfortunately, yours truly is not Lou Piniella. Wood has the veteran thing going for him and now appears to be the choice to close over Marmol and Bob Howry. We don't give Wood much of a chance to stay healthy for a full year or be available for many back-to-backs, much less save chances on three consecutive days. Consider Marmol an intriguing fall-back setup man for all Rotisserie leagues still.
	Scott Kazmir, SP, TB The elbow inflammation has knocked him out of his opening-day start and likely to the DL to start the season. We were told it wasn't that big of a deal, but now you have to be far more cautious. We need to see him pitch before you should regard him as a top 20 Fantasy starting pitcher for this season. The Mets traded him off for nothing (Victor Zambrano) because of all the torque on his elbow, due to his small frame. It was still a terrible trade, but perhaps they saw this coming.
	Johnny Cueto, SP, CIN Here is a 22-year-old pitching prospect we have always liked, but he has been far more impressive sooner this spring than we thought he would be. Heck, even Dusty Baker might give him a chance to open the season in the Reds' rotation. Consider him an outstanding prospect in all long-term keeper leagues and a sleeper even in deeper yearly formats now.
	Homer Bailey, SP, CIN A tale of two pitching prospects -- well, three if you count the outstanding spring of Edinson Volquez. While Cueto and Volquez look capable of opening the year in the Reds' rotation behind Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo, Bailey looks like he needs to open the year back in Class A -- where he fell to as recent as last season. Bailey has a great arm, but he has to start putting it to good use before you can start to trust what the scouts have been saying.
	Evan Longoria, 3B, TB The Rays have not given the elite third base prospect the nod to open the season as their starter yet, but we will go ahead and jump the gun and do so for Fantasy purposes. He is not quite having the spring Ryan Braun had a year ago, but Longoria is hitting .321 with a Braun-like .679 slugging percentage. When you consider the Rays' below-average alternatives at the position, declaring Longoria the starter should be a formality at this point.
	John Lackey, SP, LAA A few years ago, Lackey's best Fantasy attribute was his consistent 200-plus innings as a workhorse. Perhaps the workload has caught up to him. A biceps injury will have him out until at least May and there is no telling whether he could even make it back by then. Looks like you can kiss 200-plus innings good bye on him now.
	Nick Adenhart, RH SP, LAA When an ace starter on an elite contender goes down, you should be able to find great value in his replacement. While Dustin Moseley might be the first in line to start the season behind Jered Weaver, Jon Garland, Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana, Adenhart is the elite pitching prospect in the Angels farm system. The 21-year-old has been very impressive this spring and won't take long to arrive this season even if he starts in the minor leagues.
	Colby Rasmus, OF, STL Rasmus might be the most talented outfielder in the Cardinals organization, and that says something when the team will be running 30-homer threats Chris Duncan and Rick Ankiel out there regularly this season. But, it doesn't appear Rasmus is a Tony La Russa favorite, which is the main reason he will open the year in Triple-A. Rasmus can arrive in-season still, but if La Russa is calling the shots, he might be inclined to keep the 21-year-old 30-30 talent there a long while.
	Jorge Cantu, 3B, FLA No, we don't see him returning to his 2005 form -- .286, 28 homers, 117 RBI and 73 runs -- but he is looking capable of making the Marlins and might even have a chance to start at third base. Even as a reserve, Cantu could get a look at first base vs. left-handed pitching, platooning with Mike Jacobs. Consider Cantu a sleeper again, but this time only in deeper NL-only formats.
	Joba Chamberlain, RP, NYY This is the week we are about to welcome Mr. Joba Rules to pitching purgatory -- good enough to start but too valuable in relief. The Aaron Heilmans of the world already know the pain his Fantasy owners will have to endure at least in the first half of this season, and until someone else asserts himself, perhaps the entire year. Expect the Yankees to name Chamberlain their setup man to open the season this week. Chamberlain is nothing more than a Rotisserie option to start the season in that role.

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