Porcello to start in Detroit rotation

Tigers Rookie Rick Porcello not only made the team today, he's also in Detroit's rotation, according to team president and general manager Dave Dombrowski.

“I think he’s one of our best starting pitchers,” Dombrowski said. “He has quality stuff. We’ve seen it. He throws strikes. He’s a confident, mature individual beyond his years.

“He has continued development in his breaking ball. He’ll continue to work hard at it. He’s got a good changeup. He’s very mature. He’s very talented. He does the little things well, fields his position well. He’s a competitor. He holds runners well.

“I think he’s ready. I think he’ll do well. If he has some tough times — every pitcher does — I think he’s mature enough to handle it. Is he a 100% finished guy? No. But he’ll keep working on what he needs to work on. And he has a pitch that can help get him out of jams — a very, very nasty sinker.”

Fantasy Impact: Porcello's never pitched above A-ball, and he's just 20 years old. His numbers, however, don't lie. The lanky right-hander walked just 33 batters in 125 innings last season, and limited opponents to a 1.19 WHIP. He's a classic sinker-baller, so don't expect tons of strike outs. Do expect good numbers in all other categories, especially before teams get a book on him.

Rodney kind of wins Detroit closer job

Francisco Rodney wins the Tigers closer job over newly acquired Brandon Lyon. Jim Leyland's endorsement doesn't exactly sound binding.

"If we have a one-run lead in Toronto for the first game," Leyland said, "Fernando Rodney will come in. Is he going to come in every time? I've not really named him the closer, but he gets the first game. There might be somebody else involved at one point."

Both Rodney and Lyon struggled last season. Neither is going to be a safe bet to retain the role.

Fantasy Impact: So, Rodney goes first. With Leyland's comments it sounds like this 50-50 fight is now more 60-40 or 65-35 Rodney. Lean toward him if you absolutely need saves, but back him up with Lyon if you can. Better yet, stay away from both of them.

Bonifacio wins Marlins third base job; McPherson cut

Emilio Bonifacio not only won the third base job in Florida, he's the Marlins only option after they released fellow third baseman Dallas McPherson.

On Monday, the Marlins sent rookie first baseman Gaby Sanchez to the minors, leaving Emilio Bonifacio, acquired from Washington in the offseason, as the team's starting third baseman and Jorge Cantu as the first baseman.

One month ago, the question was where Cantu would play. After first baseman Mike Jacobs was traded to Kansas City, the options were Cantu at first base and McPherson at third, or whether it would be Sanchez at first and McPherson at third. The prevailing thought was that the team's defense would improve from 2008, a stated goal of team officials, under either scenario. Now they have turned to Bonifacio, a natural second baseman who is still learning to play third and has struggled at times this spring.

Yes, but he can run. With Sanchez and McPherson out of the way, Florida is making a commitment to the corner combo of Bonifacio and Cantu. The Marlins would love to have the speed-burning threesome of Cameron Maybin, Bonifacio and Hanley Ramirez to terrorize opponents at the top of the order.

Fantasy Impact: Bonifacio can fly. Just search his name on Youtube and you'll see. He's stolen 61 bases in a minor league season, and he's likely to get a slot near the top of the batting order. If he can hold down third base, expect a light-hitting burner who can get you 40-plus steals and score 75 runs.

Devine's elbow intervention

Joey Devine's elbow woes will shelve him for the start of the 2009 season. The most dominant pitcher in the A's bullpen will need a doctor visit to explore the severity of the issue. Until then, he'll wait for the news on the disabled list.

"I spent the entire off-season rehabbing it, and then it came back as soon as I got to game-ready (during) the first part of spring training, and that tells me there is something there," Devine said Tuesday before the A's 7-2 exhibition victory over the Kansas City Royals.Coupled with the elbow injury that has sidelined ace Justin Duchscherer, the A's open the season with a revamped offense but lacking two integral members of the pitching staff.

This means Brad Ziegler is Oakland's closer for the start of the season, and as long as Devine is a health risk, Ziegler will remain in that role.

Fantasy Impact: Owners who drafted Devine may want to look for a fallback option. If you can't afford to stash Devine on your roster or DL him, releasing him might be the best option. Saves will come available over the course of the year as Ziegler owners will tell you.

As for Ziegler inheriting the closer role, he's suited for the position. He did a good job last year for the A's and set the new MLB record for scoreless innings from his debut wirth 39. The knock on Ziegler is he doesn't strike people out, but he also didn't lose a single game he pitched while tossing nearly 60 innings as a 28-year-old rookie.