A trace of the old Tracy

I haven't really looked at the list, but Chad Tracy certainly comes to mind for National League Comeback Player of the Year now that he's back from microfracture knee surgery.

"It scared me; I'll be honest. But I kept pushing ahead, sticking to my rehab, doing everything they told me to do, and I'm fortunate my knee made it back. I'm very close to where I used to be."

Tracy slugged his way through the Diamondbacks' farm system with a high batting average and on-base percentage. At every stop, his managers praised his clutch hitting and ability to spray the ball to all parts of the field.

After hitting .308 with 27 homers in 2005, his second year in the majors, he appeared on the verge of becoming the franchise's foundation. If the Diamondbacks were to make another run at a championship, Tracy figured to be the player leading the way.

But because of the growing discomfort in his knee, which he believed was nothing more than minor tendinitis, and a slew of top prospects, Tracy missed out on his potential stardom.

Tony Clark is his only real competition at first base now that Connor Jackson is in the outfield. Tracy is young enough to find his form and put up some monster numbers. He had a couple of nice years before struggling with the knee problem the last two seasons.

Fantasy Impact: He's a great flier pick in the middle rounds. If he slips outside of a starting spot on draft day, get him before someone else gets wise.

Matsui to miss WBC

Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman says Hideki Matsui's recovery from left knee surgery will keep him out of the World Baseball Classic in March. There's no word on Ichiro or Daisuke Matsuzaka playing, but this is a blow for the reigning champions.

Griffey has knee surgery

Ken Griffey, Jr. had his knee scoped. It looks like he won't be returning to the White Sox.

"There's no question," Dr. Tim Kremchek said, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. "It affected that push-off leg. How much I don't know. But he was dealing with it all year. There's not much you can do early in the season."

Griffey will be a free agent this offseason, if as expected, the White Sox decline his $16 million option for the 2009 season. He has said he would like to continue playing next season.

Griffey looked washed up this past season, and although the knee surgery might help get his production up, he's certainly on the down slide. Where he ends up is anybody's guess, and if he can't put up better numbers it won't be as a DH.