Baseball

The Yankees have sent two more players, right handed pitchers Romulo Sanchez and Ryan Pope, to the minor league camp cutting the total number left in camp down to 50, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com .

Kanekoa Texeira is a hard-throwing right handed pitcher who the Yankees got as part of the trade with the White Sox for Nick Swisher.

Pitching in double-A Trenton last season, he went 9-6 with a 2.84 ERA in 41 games and 101.1 innings. Good, but not great, numbers.

Unfortunately for Texeira and the Yankees, he didn’t have the outstanding talent to warrant protection on the 40-man roster, and he was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the Rule 5 draft.

Speed is something fantasy owners are always on the hunt for. It doesn’t matter if the player can hit for average or power, as long as he can steal bases, he’s going to have some value. 

Peter Bourjos, a prospect for the Los Angeles Angels, has been flying under the radar. But he could burst onto the scene in 2010 and become a must-own fantasy option quickly, thanks to what he brings to the table with his legs.

2009 Statistics (Double-A)

The sixth and final part of this Fantasy Baseball Preview is a list of players who had served baseball fantasy nation admirably for the duration of their illustrious careers, but should now be permanently crossed off must-have lists due to declining skills, injury, or retirement.

If you think that any of the above-listed players are still worthwhile fantasy contributors, then the chances are that you're a big fan of that particular player, and this is your wake-up call.

Consider this slideshow a fantasy eulogy to the players for their many years of dedicated service to fantasy baseball.

Matt Cain is a good pitcher. In fact, he's a very good pitcher. If he wasn't teammates with the defending two-time NL Cy Young award winner, Cain would be the ace of the Giants staff, and already be known as one of the top pitchers in the game.

Fortunately for Cain, he doesn't mind playing second fiddle to Lincecum. Now, he just needs his offense to give him proper run support, and he'll be known as the current Giants ace.

Ah, fantasy baseball. Where real life combines with make belief in a beautiful fusion of mixed allegiances and sporting know-how with bragging rights on the line.

It's just 15 sleeps to Opening Day, and if you want to pit your baseball wits against some of the best in the business, here's your chance.

Over the next six months, I'll be running my own fantasy baseball league, providing weekly updates here on Bleacher Report with all the results, news, and notes you need to fully immerse yourself in one of the nation's favorite pastimes.

When many non-sports fans think of Kansas City, they often think of it as a "cow-town" where people still live on farms, and as a home to some of the country's best barbecue.

At least they have the barbecue part correct!

Baseball fans around the country know Kansas City as home to one of baseball's most beautiful ballparks in Kaufmann Stadium, and the home to a once-proud Royals franchise in the midst of a resurrection.

Coming into this evening, Jason Heyward was leading all players in walks (nine) along with car damaging home runs (two) during batting practice. 

At 6'5" and 250 lbs, it is clear that Heyward would pack a great deal of power in his swing. What is not so clear, is that he has the ability to wait and his game plan at the plate is similar to that of a ten-year veteran's.

The talk of the mammoth blasts are just starting, but as a Braves blogger what you have to be most impressed with is his knack for letting pitches go. 

One of the most popular part-time players of recent memory will return to the Blue Jays organization, marking a new chapter in his baseball career.

Sal Fasano recently retired as a player and has been appointed as manager of the Toronto Blue Jays Single-A minor league team, the Lansing Lugnuts of the Midwest League.

The Chicago, Illinois native is making his coaching debut after 17 professional seasons as a player, eleven of which were spent in the major leagues.