On the Radar Screen: NL Edition

You cannot always count on things working out perfectly.  Injuries happen.  A key trade falls through.  The free agent cupboard is bare.  Sometimes, the best place to look is the injured reserve list, a place where players injured early in the year go to be forgotten.  Here is a quick look at a few players who have been out for awhile who could have some impact in the latter half of the season.

Brandon Webb.  It has been a long time since Webb took the mound in a major league game.  Who can forget, though, those 22 wins in 2008?  Webb through a bullpen session today (his first trip to a rubber since March), and, from all accounts, looked very good.  Let's face it: the Diamondbacks are terrible, and there is no need to rush Webb back.  He would, however, like to come back after the All-Star break, and as he works himself back in to shape, he could pick up some solid innings for you.

Edinson Volquez.  Volquez is the beneficiary of a loop-hole in the MLB performance enhancing drug suspension policy.  His suspension ends tomorrow, and, while suspended, he is able to continue his rehabilitation from TJ surgery.  You cannot expect too much from him in the second half of the season, but he is a strikeout machine when healthy.

J.A. Happ.  Happ is scheduled to throw another 1-3 rehab outings.  The Phillies rotation could really use Happ back, though take your pick on who he will replace.  Happ only pitched 10+ innings before the injury, so it is impossible to say whether 2009 was a fluke or whether it is a repeatable result.  Regardless, he'll win games for a Phillies team currently mired in a terrible slump and should put up decent peripherals as well.

Homer Bailey.  You might want to take Bailey off the radar screen from now.  Bailey looked absolutely terrible the other day in his rehab outing, and he is now shut down from throwing until further notice.  This injury may be worse than originally thought, but it sounds like he will be out of commission for awhile.  We'll check back in on Bailey in a month or so.

Jimmy Rollins.  Rollins just had his rehab assignment pushed back another couple of days.  This injury has really lingered, and if you are a Rollins owner (or the Phillies for that matter), you now have to be very, very concerned.  While Rollins should be back in the next two weeks, it is very unlikely he will run much.  I can't tell you that you'll get much from him when he comes back.

Later, we'll take a look at some minor leaguers who could have an impact after the All-Star break (minus the several we've already talked about this week, of course...no more Strasburg!).