The Graduates: Wilson Ramos (Previous Rank: 2), Manuel Margot (4), Blake Snell (5), Carlos Rodon (6), Asdrubal Cabrera (11), Homer Bailey (13), Franklin Barreto (22)
A slew of disabled-list activations changes this week’s Stash List dramatically. Ramos, Rodon, and Bailey all saw their first action of 2017, while Margot and Asdrubal return from more abbreviated stays. Rodon looked atrocious during his rehab and Bailey got blown up in his first start back, so proceed with caution. The other three can be immediately plugged in, though Ramos could be spelled by Jesus Sucre more often than you’d like over the next few weeks.
The promotions of Snell and Barreto are the more exciting moves. Snell returned to the Rays after mowing through Triple-A batters over seven starts. He posted a 2.66 ERA and struck out 12.5 batters per nine innings. Most importantly, his 3.1 BB/9 was right in line with his previous time in Durham, so I’ll remain skeptical that his command and control projection has changed until I see improvement at the major-league level.
Barreto made his MLB debut over the weekend and homered in his second at-bat. The spike in strikeout rate and the fact that he only has four steals in 2017 after collecting 30 a year ago have me concerned about his ability to make an impact in the near term. It’s also unclear how playing time will shake out once Marcus Semien and Chad Pinder both return from the disabled list. I suspect Jed Lowrie gets traded, and Pidner to moves to a utility role to accommodate something close to full-time at-bats for Barreto.
The Dropouts: Brandon Finnegan (12), Drew Smyly (24), Reynaldo Lopez (25)
Finnegan made it through three innings in his return to the majors before re-injuring the shoulder that had him on the disabled list since mid-April. He’ll be out for a while.
To the surprise of absolutely nobody, Drew Smyly has progressed from vaguely injured to needing major surgery after throwing a few bullpens. Smyly was slated to throw a simulated game yesterday but was scratched due to continuing discomfort in his arm and is now headed for Tommy John.
I’m out on Lopez. Between Lopez, Carson Fulmer, and Lucas Giolito, what looked like a dynamite rotation at Triple-A Charlotte has been a huge disappointment, though Giolito seems to be finding himself lately.
1. Yoan Moncada (2B)—White Sox (Previous Rank: 1)
Not that the White Sox are tying Moncada’s schedule to incumbent second baseman Yolmer Sanchez’s production, but I think it’s safe to say they didn’t expect the latter to slash .278/.333/.406 through June.
2. Kyle Schwarber (OF)—Cubs (Previous Rank: Unranked)
Schwarber’s demotion to Triple-A Iowa City was the most surprising move this past week. His 12 major-league home runs to date plays, but not when they’re accompanied by a .171 batting average. It might be fair to say we were all too bullish on Schwarber in the pre-season given his experience level, and that he missed the entire 2016 season. Don’t let the pendulum swing too far the other way, though. Yes, that batting average is ugly and is somewhat substantiated by a deterioration in contact quality, but he’s being more selective that he was in 2015 and making more contact across the board. It’ll rebound, and you didn’t draft Schwarber thinking he was going to be a .260 hitter anyways. At least I hope you didn’t.
3. David Dahl (OF)—Rockies (Previous Rank: 3)
Dahl was shifted to the 60-day disabled list this week, which is more of a procedural move than one that tells us anything about his timeline.
4. Amed Rosario (SS)—Mets (Previous Rank: 7)
5. Derek Fisher (OF)—Astros (Previous Rank: 8)
6. Lewis Brinson (OF)—Brewers (Previous Rank: Unranked)
7. Rhys Hoskins (1B)—Phillies (Previous Rank: 9)
8. Rafael Devers (3B)—Red Sox (Previous Rank: 10
Brinson is this week’s Fisher, the prospect who was up for a cup of coffee and now finds himself back on the farm. Unlike Fisher, Brinson struggled badly at the dish during his time in the majors, striking out in 13 of 35 plate appearances on his way to a .097/.200/.161 triple-slash. He might never come cheaper in trade than he will right now.
9. Tommy Kahnle (RHP)—White Sox (Previous Rank: Unranked)
10. Keone Kela (RHP)—Rangers (Previous Rank: Unranked)
11. Arodys Vizcaino (RHP)—Braves (Previous Rank: Unranked)
With the Stash List decimated by injuries and the trade deadline rapidly approaching, it’s time to fill some slots through one my least-favorite activities: save speculation. Matt Collins covered Kela and Vizcaino in this week’s Closer Report, and I wholeheartedly endorse a Kela acquisition even if he doesn’t end up taking over for Matt Bush. Kahnle gets the top billing in this group because everyone has seen a David Robertson trade coming since the winter. Kahnle’s allowed runs each of his last two times out but remains the top option to take over on the South Side, assuming he isn’t traded himself.
12. Cesar Hernandez (2B)—Phillies (Previous Rank: Unranked)
13. Marcus Semien (SS)—Athletics (Previous Rank: Unranked)
14. Yasmany Tomas (OF)—Diamondbacks (Previous Rank: 14)
15. Jason Heyward (OF)—Cubs (Previous Rank: Unranked)
16. Brad Miller (SS/2B/1B)—Rays (Previous Rank: 15)
17. Zack Wheeler (RHP)—Mets (Previous Rank: Unranked)
Let’s replenish the injured major leaguers section of the list, shall we? Hernandez is a guy I was high on coming in to the season and his performance prior to the oblique injury reinforces my belief. He was pacing for close to triple-digit runs and double-digit power and speed. Second base is awful deep, but Hernandez is a rock-solid MI when healthy. Semien, Tomas, Heyward and Wheeler could be back in action by this time next week. Each should be owned in more than a quarter of leagues and none currently are. You know what you’re getting with the hitters; Wheeler is more of a wild card. His surface stats (5.29 ERA, 1.54 WHIP) aren’t pretty, and his 6.42 DRA suggests his poor ERA is wholly deserved. However, the overall line is skewed by the 15 earned runs Wheeler yielded in two starts prior to going on the disabled list, which bumped his ERA by nearly two runs.
18. Raul Mondesi (SS)—Royals (Previous Rank: 17)
19. Dustin Fowler (OF)—Yankees (Previous Rank: 18)
20. Austin Meadows (OF)—Pirates (Previous Rank: 16)
21. Clint Frazier (OF)—Yankees (Previous Rank: 19)
Injuries have also decimated the Yankees’ 25-man roster, with Aaron Hicks, Matt Holliday, and Starlin Castro all hitting the disabled list over the past few days. Hicks’ injury coincided with Jacoby Ellsbury’s return, so the outfield remains full. Fowler and Frazier still seem to be at least one more injury away unless Miguel Andujar flops at DH.
22. Chance Adams (RHP)—Yankees (Previous Rank: 23)
23. Luke Weaver (RHP)—Cardinals (Previous Rank: Honorable Mention)
24. Dan Vogelbach (1B)—Mariners (Previous Rank: 20)
25. Ketel Marte (SS)—Diamondbacks (Previous Rank: 21)
Not sure which one I’m readier for: seeing Chance Adams against MLB hitters, or not seeing Adam Wainwright against MLB hitters.
Honorable Mention: Harrison Bader, Willie Calhoun, Lucas Giolito, Zach Granite, Carson Kelly, Brett Phillips, Brock Stewart, Vince Velasquez, Nick Williams, Jayson Werth
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