Conflicting Piazza Reports

In last week’s Waiver Wire, I said Mike Piazza should be back in the middle of June. In this week’s Waiver Wire, I said that we shouldn’t expect him back before the All-Star break. Well, now reports are saying Piazza should be back in an Oakland uniform next weekend. I apologize for the changing information; I’m just reporting it as I read it.

• His Rotoworld page first said “he is on target to return in mid-June.”

• Then, just 4 days ago, his Rotowire page said that “Piazza (shoulder), who has started to take batting practice, is still unlikely to return before the All-Star break.”

• Today, Rotoworld said that “Mike Piazza (shoulder) will be at Triple-A Sacramento on a rehab assignment until Wednesday and is expected to rejoin the A’s next weekend against the Mets.”

To be sure, I checked to see if he actually was rehabbing. Take a look at this Sacramento River Cats page, and you’ll Piazza is set to begin today. So, after all of this confusion, Piazza should be coming off the Disabled List if all goes well in his rehab games.

What this all means is that you should pick up Piazza very soon if he is available in your league. If you already have a solid catcher, my advice would be to try and trade him for help at another position and take Piazza. Even if your catcher is Victor Martinez or Joe Mauer, chances are whoever you get back plus Piazza will make for a superior tandem than you have now. Of course there will be situations where this isn’t the best course of action, so use your best judgment.