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With the chances of Indians starting catcher, [tag]Victor Martinez[/tag], growing that he’ll be placed on the DL, [tag]Kelly Shoppach[/tag] will become the catching answer in Cleveland for the duration of Martinez’ injury. But could that stay behind the plate be longer for Shoppach?

“Shoppach has more power, is better defensively, and has a much better arm than Martinez. He’ll never hit for average, but if the Indians want to keep Martinez at 1B to protect his legs then this could be a major development.”

If you plan on stashing Shoppach, in anticipation he’ll remain behind the plate once Martinex returns, beware that most projections show him as a one category guy.

PECOTA sees a .230/.308/.420 line from Shoppach, with 10 HR in 234 ABs. So he could threaten 20 bombs if he got 400 ABs. He’d be a one-category guy, but still. ZiPSs chimes in at .219/.291/.392 with 13 HR in 324 ABs.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Mike Hampton will lose yet another season to a torn flexor tendon in his left elbow. He’s expected to miss 6 to 9 months.

Hampton, 34, hasn’t pitched in a game since August 19, 2005. He was three days from making his first spring training start when he pulled his oblique muscle taking batting practice. The Braves signed free agent Mark Redman to fill in, but Hampton was told soon after he could expect to return in early May.

Hampton should be cut from your team and don’t you ever think about signing or drafting him again.

[tag]New York Yankees[/tag] starter [tag]Chien-Ming Wang[/tag], who is supposed to be out until late April with a hamstring problem, has designs of returning early. Yesterday, he made 70 throws from 120 feet with some zip on the ball.

“Brian Cashman said the team will be cautious and place Wang on the DL to start the season. But that can be backdated into spring training, so Wang could back earlier than initially expected.”

Wang’s Average Draft Position in the last 291 mock drafts has been 116.57. This news could begin to move his trend up slightly in some drafts. Don’t expect 19 wins out of him in ‘07 like he had in ‘06, but 14 wins and another sub 4.00 ERA aren’t unlikey.

[tag]Minnesota Twins[/tag] catcher, [tag]Joe Mauer[/tag], has a stress reaction in his in the fibula of his left leg. Huh? This malady could bench Mauer for as little as 2 weeks and as much as 6 weeks, depending on whether the injury remains a reaction and doesn’t turn into a stress fracture.

As great as Mauer is, I feel it’s now time to let someone else take the risk of drafting him. For those of you struggling with the top tier catcher decision, move Brian McCann above Mauer and maybe even Victor Martinez as well.

In the first inning of Monday’s Grapefruit League game, [tag]Chipper Jones[/tag] pulled up lame and left the game, limping off the field. As you know, Jones hasn’t played in more than 110 games in either of the last two seasons. His chronic foot problems have plagued him as well as two oblique injuries last year after the All Star break sent him to the DL twice.

Today’s injury is listed as an ankle sprain and Jones is listed as day to day. This is a sigh of relief to Jones, the [tag]Atlanta Braves[/tag] and anyone who has already drafted Jones since it’s not related to his foot or toes. However, we’re barely two weeks into spring training and he’s already leaving a game with an injury.

Be very careful when drafting Jones…