Most of the country is layered in ice and snow. But not Arizona or Florida. Thanks goodness for baseball. Hey, the first Spring Training games are just days away. The Lineup is here to give you fantasy insight on relevant topics happing in baseball. Here are five storylines you should be following this week:

New York Yankees first baseman / designated hitter Jason Giambi battled through injuries last year and still managed to generate 92 runs, 37 home runs and 113 RBI. After having surgery this off-season, "Giambi said his surgically repaired left wrist was fine, but his doctor told him to go slowly with his swings at the start of camp," according to The New York Times. While his long-term season outlook is positive due to the repaired wrist, it is important that Giambi listen to his physician to prevent injury. It is mighty impressive to see Giambino's 2006 numbers when you consider the wrist issues that must have affected his swing. Despite the paltry .253 average in '06, it is wise to assume that he could bring his average up, especially when one sees that he is a career .292 hitter. Giambi will have first base eligibility for fantasy leagues this year despite his potential to be a full-time DH in 2007. Make sure you monitor how he handles a bat early in Spring Training.

Age has only been a number to San Francisco Giants shortstop Omar Vizquel. He enjoyed a productive fantasy year in 2006 as a 39-year-old. The question is, how much do the Giants think he has left? The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that, "Vizquel believes he will have 'two more good years' in baseball after 2007, and he wants to spend them in San Francisco." Vizquel turns 40 this year and is seeking a two-year extension. Vizquel won another Gold Glove in 2006 while scoring 88 runs, stealing 24 bases and hitting at .295; these were some of his best stats since 2000. While both sides will meet before the season to discuss a contract extension, a deal is not expected. Normally, I would say watch out for Vizquel since he is in walk-year status at the moment. But I just do not trust that he can repeat those 2006 numbers in '07. Remember, those were his best stats since 2000!

Freestyle-rapper extraordinaire and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Juan Pierre has been either first or second in stolen bases in the National League since 2001. Unfortunately, he has also been the most caught base stealer in all but one season during that same span. The Dodgers are hoping that he can make the adjustments this year to be even more effective on the base paths as he is going over some of the nuances of base stealing and bunting by special instructor and base-stealing legend Maury Willis. The Los Angeles Times is reporting, "Wills, whose 586 steals rank 19th all-time, has taken a liking to Pierre in a matter of days." Pierre and Willis share a mutual respect that the Dodgers hope translates into more efficient base running. From a fantasy perspective, no one who owns Pierre is going to complain about more steals. Even though shortstop Rafael Furcal has been named the leadoff hitter for now, Pierre will still be a major threat to steal.

The New York Mets stayed away from the big-name starting pitching free agents during this off-season. They made some moves, such as inviting veterans Chan Ho Park and Aaron Sele to try out for a roster spot in Spring Training. However, there should now be some concern as the New York Post is reporting that, "[Orlando 'El Duque'] Hernandez underwent an MRI, and the veteran righty was diagnosed with neck arthritis." El Duque is currently the Mets' No. 2 starter, which is downright scary for this shaky rotation. For fantasy purposes, it is important to note that Hernandez did pitch the most innings in 2006 since 2000 while striking out over a batter per inning. This, coupled with the Mets potent lineup, makes El Duque an attractive fantasy play despite his well-detailed injury history. The diagnosis of "neck arthritis" is discouraging, although Hernandez is only supposed to miss three-to-four days. Should the pain linger, you should bump El Duque down your draft board.

The Baltimore Orioles have a lot of work to do if they plan on making a dent in that AL East division. While shortstop Miguel Tejada hit .330 with 24 homers, 100 RBI and 99 runs in 2006, he believes he could do more. According to The Baltimore Sun, Tejada vowed to be a different man, stating, "every day I'm going to be one of the first ones to get to the field. I'm hungry to win. And I'm going to try to do everything I can to make this team win." You have to appreciate Tejada's dedication, especially when you remember his whiny attitude during Spring Training a year ago. He has seen plenty of skeptics that worry about his second-half power slumps and poor attitude. But the stats are there every year. And in fantasy, that is all that matters. Tejada was already among the top shortstops in fantasy baseball. Keep an ear out for updates to see if Tejada remains this positive.