|
|
| The Cubs and Jeff Baker have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $975,000 deal, according to the Chicago Daily Herald. |
Our View: Baker hit .305 in 203 at-bats with the Cubs last season after coming over from Colorado and will compete in spring training for the team's starting gig at second base.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Baker was the hero for the Cubs on Thursday as he launched a two-run homer in the ninth to give his team a 3-2 win. Baker went 2-for-4 with the homer, a double, a run scored, and two RBI. |
Our View: Baker isn't known for his power, but he delivered the win with the long ball tonight. He is a valuable utility player, but he has been just average since coming to Chicago.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Baker was perfect at the plate for the Cubs on Friday, but it wasn't enough as Chicago fell to the Mets 6-2. Baker went 3-for-3 with an RBI in the contest. |
Our View: Baker has been relatively quiet since coming over to the Cubs earlier this season, and he recently missed time with a finger injury. He is a nice guy to have as an option for the Cubbies, but there is no reason to give him a look for your fantasy team.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Baker was sent to the hospital for X-rays after injuring his finger during batting practice, according to the Chicago Tribune. |
Our View: The severity or further details regarding the injury are yet to be disclosed. He was slated to start at third base in today's game against the Mets at Wrigley Field.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Baker picked up two of the Cubs ' three RBI on Saturday, helping the North Siders to a 3-1 win over Pittsburgh. |
Our View: The Cubbies have now won two straight after losing five in a row. Baker is batting .333 with 11 RBI in 29 games for the Cubs this season.
|
|
|
|
| MLB.com is reporting that the Cubs plan to use newly acquired Jeff Baker in a multitude of roles going forward. The Cubs traded for Baker on July 2. |
Our View: Lou Pinella told the media he wants to use Baker in a Mark DeRosa-type role since he can play so many positions. If he can get in the lineup on a daily basis, he could have some fantasy value, but we will have to see how exactly the team uses him.
|
|
|
|
| According to Yahoo! Sports, the Cubs have acquired infielder Jeff Baker from the Colorado Rockies. |
Our View: It is currently unclear who the Rockies will receive in return, or what the Cubs plan to do with Baker at this point. Baker has been on the 60-day DL since May 24th and he began a minor league rehab assignment on June 19th.
|
|
|
|
| The Denver Post is reporting that Rockies' infielder Jeff Baker is set to begin hitting off a tee on Saturday. Baker is on the 60-day DL with a sprained left hand. |
Our View: Baker's hand injury has been much worse than originaly thought, but it is a good sign that he is starting to hit. He will have very little fantasy value upon his return, so no need to keep a close eye on him during his rehab.
|
|
|
|
| The Denver Post is reporting that Jeff Baker has suffered a setback in his rehab and that he will not swing a bat for another four-to-five days. He has been on the DL with a sprained left hand. |
Our View: Baker was hoping to return to the lineup when he was eligible on Monday, but obviously that isn't going to happen. His fantasy value is pretty limited anyway, but expect him to be out for a while longer.
|
|
|
|
| The Rockies have placed utility man Jeff Baker on the 15-day DL due to a sprained left hand. The move is retroactive to April 27. |
Our View: Baker is more valuable to the Rockies than he is to fantasy teams, although NL-only managers like him because of his versatility. This news means that fellow backup Ian Stewart should continue to see fairly regular at-bats.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Baker had a monster day, going 4-for-4 with two home runs, four RBI, and four runs scored in the Rockies' 18-11 loss to the Angels on Wednesday. |
Our View: Baker is a guy with some pop in his bad but the Rockies were reportedly interested in trading him this spring. The issue with Baker has always been health and the missed time he has had in his career has hurt his fantasy value.
|
|
|
|
| The Rockies are reportedly shopping Jeff Baker, according to the Denver Post. |
Our View: Baker has pop in his bat, but has failed to stay healthy up to this point of his career. The Phillies, Pirates and Astros are believed to be interested in him.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Baker has garnered interest from the Phillies, Pirates and Astros, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. |
Our View: The 27-year-old utility man is out of options. Baker has some pop in his bat, but his fantasy value would remain limited as a reserve infielder.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Baker will start at third base on Thursday, according to MLB.com. He has appeared in just two games this spring due to elbow soreness. |
Our View: Baker will primarily be a utility infielder who provides some work as a pinch-hitter. He has nice enough power, especially at home, but his glove holds him back.
|
|
|
|
| According to the Denver Post, Rockies' second baseman Jeff Baker is still suffering from an inflamed elbow and isn't getting the at-bats he needs. He's been in baseball purgatory since the injury's inception. |
Our View: This nagging injury could seriously hurt Baker's chances of earing the starting job.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Baker has been scratched from today's game against the Dodgers due to tenderness in his right elbow, according to the Denver Post. |
Our View: He has been dealing with the ailment off-and-on for the past 10 days. Baker needs to get healthy while competing with Clint Barmes for the starting role at second base.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Baker went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Saturday's 5-3 loss to Arizona. He hit a single and a solo homer. |
Our View: He has homered in each of his last two outings, but does not get regular at-bats, and should not be penciled into fantasy lineups for the final week of the season.
|
|
|
|
| Looking to break out of his slump at the dish, the Rockies put Jeff Baker in the number two hole in the order and he responded by going 2-for-5 with two RBI. |
Our View: Baker had been one for his last 19 to drop his average to .253. However, the two hits tonight shouldn't excite you too much given that he still hasn't gone deep in 27 games and that he has only four RBI in his last 18 games. You can certainly do better.
|
|
|
|
| Since Jeff Baker went 3-for-6 on Sunday against the Reds, with a home run and two RBI, he's 0-15 with four strike outs. This is Baker's M.O. and owners who roster the Rockies starting second baseman have to be prepared for prolonged slumps. |
Our View: Baker is a legitimate power threat and while his numbers had to regress to some degree, owners are warmed, he will be bad, very bad, at times. His second base eligibility and half of his at-bats coming in Coors Field make the young prospect attractive.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Baker was 3-for-6 on Sunday against the Reds. He scored three times, and recorded a home run and two RBI. He is the everyday second baseman in a red hot Rockies lineup. |
Our View: Baker is 18 for his last 37 (.486) in his last nine games. He has three home runs and a triple in that stretch and, we admit it, is worth owning down the stretch.
|
|
|
|
| Following a 14-for-27 stretch, the Denver Post reports that Jeff Baker is firmly entrenched as the second baseman for the Rockies. |
Our View: Baker is looking better at second base and he appears to have fully recovered from a wrist injury. Still, Clint Barmes and Laynce Nix aren't far behind should he fall into a slump.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Baker went 4-for-5 with two runs and an RBI on Tuesday against the Dodgers. |
Our View: Baker is 12-for-23 (.522) since the All-Star break.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Baker underwent an MRI on Tuesday on his wrist. |
Our View: X-Rays were negative but he is believed to sit out a few starts since Laynce Nix was recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs. A trip to the DL is unlikely.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Baker is starting at first base on Thursday night for the injured Todd Helton (back). The start marks the fifth this season at first for Baker. |
Our View: The fifth start is significant. Many fantasy formats only require five starts in a season to qualify a player at a position.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Baker went 1-for-4 and generated the Rockies' only RBI in a 7-1 loss to the Tigers. |
Our View: Baker has now registered nine RBI over his last nine games, with 12 hits over the span.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Baker has been named the NL Player of the Week, according to the AP. Baker hit .435 (10-for-23) over six games last week with seven RBI and four homers, which came in four straight games. He registered a slugging percentage of 1.043 and an on-base percentage of .480.
|
Our View: He raised his season average to .294 with 21 RBI, and only hit one homer prior to his award-winning week.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Baker is in the starting lineup for the final game of the Rockies interleague series with the Cleveland Indians. Baker is starting at first base for Todd Helton and is hitting fifth in the batting order. |
Our View: Helton isn't injured, so the lineup change is nothing more than a day of rest of the veteran, this against the Indians left-handed starter Jeremy Sowers.
|
|
|
|
| Colorado got their offense moving in the right direction this evening, beating Cleveland 4-2. Outfielder-turned-second baseman Jeff Baker was the weapon of choice, going 2-for-4 with his 13th double and third home run of the season to total one RBI and three runs scored on the night. |
Our View: Baker has come one of late, hitting .385 through June, going 6-for-17 with two homers and eight runs scored over his last four games.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Baker drove in both Colorado runs with his first home run of the season. The long ball was enough to help the Rockies to a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.
|
Our View: Baker has 12 RBI in 79 at-bats after today's performance. His fantasy value rests as a middle infielder in deep NL-only formats.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Baker went 4-for-4, with four doubles and one RBI, in Friday's 10-9 loss to the Cubs. |
Our View: Baker started the game in right field. It was a strong outing for him, but those were his first hits since May 18, and he was hitting .188 prior to today's game (with five doubles).
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Baker returned to the Rockies starting lineup versus the Dodgers on Saturday night. He missed two games to a blood vessel issue. The second baseman is hitting seventh in the order. |
Our View: Baker, who played in 14 April games, hit a puny .188 with three runs and three RBI.
|
|
|
|
| With the injury to Troy Tulowitzki, Clint Barmes will be the regular shortstop, and GM Dan O'Dowd has said he'd like to "finally see what we have in Jeff" at second base. The Jeff he's referring to is Jeff Baker, who got a crash course at second base over the offseason and in spring training after playing mostly in the outfield and at first base in his first three years in the league. However, Baker is currently dealing with a broken blood vessel in his right middle finger, and it's not clear when he'll be ready to return. |
Our View: Baker is an intriguing fantasy option at second base, because he can swing the bat with some pop. He's already played five games at second this year and shouldn't have a problem gaining eligibility there in nearly all leagues.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Baker was scratched from what would've been his third consecutive start at second base Tuesday after suffering a broken blood vessel in his right middle finger during pregame activities, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: This is too bad, as Baker has been swinging the bat well lately, and could become a fantasy asset if he becomes eligible at second. We'll let you know low long he'll be out when we get more info.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Baker made his major league debut at second base on Thursday, as he replaced starter Jayson Nix for an afternoon. Baker went 1-for-4 with a double and fielded his position well. "I felt comfortable out there," he tells the Denver Post. "Nothing is ideal, but I made all the routine plays." Baker will be a backup at multiple positions throughout the season. |
|
|
|
| X-ray's on Jeff Baker's elbow revealed no major damage, according to the Denver Post. Baker has a bruised elbow and will not be available for Sunday's game, but it appears it shouldn't keep him sidelined for too long. |
|
|
|
| Jeff Baker is day-to-day because of a bruised elbow, manager Clint Hurdle told the AP. Baker is trying to win the second base job after moving there from his outfield/first base duties, so he's probably itching to get back out there to show what he can do. |
|
|
|
| Jeff Baker has apparently emerged as the main challenger for Jason Nix at second base, according to the Rocky Mountain News. Baker has never played second in his life, but he did play shortstop in college and third in his early days as a professional. He's a talented offensive player and would definitely be a sleeper if he wins the job at second. |
|
|
|
| Ian Stewart apparently isn't the only one who will get a crash course at second base. The Rockies plan to have Jeff Baker join him for a 10-day trial in the Arizona Instructional League in Tucson, according to the Denver Post. Baker played shortstop in his college days at Clemson, so the middle infield isn't completely foreign to him. He said he would drop from 215 pounds to 206 in an effort to become lighter on his feet. "I can get to that easy," said Baker. "I did it a few years ago when I first started playing the outfield." |
|
|
|
| The Rockies activated Jeff Baker from the disabled list before Saturday's game. He had been out of action while recovering from a mild concussion. |
|
|
|
| Jeff Baker began a rehab assignment on Friday. He was the designated hitter, but should be playing the field by Monday, according to the Rocky Mountain News. If all goes well he could return from his concussion this coming Friday. |
|
|
|
| Jeff Baker was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a mild concussion. Highly-regarded prospect Ian Stewart was recalled to take Baker's spot on the roster. |
|
|
|
| Jeff Baker got a spot start at first base Monday and went 3-for-4 with a triple and an RBI. He's now 7-for-10 on the year, getting regular time for Colorado in a super-utility role. Be ready to pounce on Baker if the Rockies lose a starting corner outfielder (or a corner infielder) later in the year. |
|
|
|
| Jeff Baker had a double in Wednesday's win over Arizona, making him 3-for-3 as a pinch hitter this year. He homered on opening day and had a single Tuesday. Keep him in mind if the Rockies have any injuries at outfield or third base this year; Baker's already made a solid impression with his cup of coffee in 2006, and his strong spring last month. |
|
|
|
| Jeff Baker went 3-for-4 with four RBI and his third homer of the spring on Friday against the Giants. He's hitting .333 (11-for-33) this spring. The Rockies will use Baker as a reserve outfielder, although it's possible that he could eventually move into a platoon with Brad Hawpe in right field. |
|
|
|
| The Rockies recalled Jeff Baker from Triple-A Colorado Springs Thursday. Baker hit .305 with 20 homers and 108 RBI for Colorado Spring this year. He will be used as a backup outfielder. |
|
