Raul Ibanez Heads to the DL

According to the Philadelphia Daily News, the Philadelphia Phillies will place Raul Ibanez on the 15-Day DL because of a strained groin.

It’s been a pretty brutal week so far for valuable fantasy players going on the DL. Roy Halladay, Erik Bedard, Scott Downs, and now Raul Ibanez have all landed on the DL this week.

Ibanez is probably the leading candidate for the MVP award in the National League, so this is a significant loss to your fantasy team and more importantly, to the Phillies. However, the Phillies are one of the few teams in baseball that can overcome a loss like this.

When you have Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Jayson Werth, and Shane Victorino in your lineup, you should be able to survive without Ibanez for 15 days.

The Phillies are expected to call up John Mayberry Jr. to take the place of Ibanez. Mayberry hit just .222 in his three game audition in late May. He did however, hit his first major league HR and drive in three runs in those three games.

Mayberry Jr. doesn’t offer much fantasy value because A) he will be sent down as soon as Ibanez is healthy and B) even if you are in a Keeper League, unless Mayberry Jr. gets traded, there is no place for him to play on the Phillies.

I would say take a pass on Mayberry Jr. for now.