While the MLB trade deadline is busy causing havoc with bullpens and starting rotation (good luck setting a rotation this week in weekly leagues) it’s a good time to remind everyone that the Razzball Commenter League trade deadline is also looming. Please, blog, may I have some more?
Tyler Glasnow has a lot going for him tonight.
He’s striking out right-handed hitters at a 35% clip this season. The Yankees, who have a 24% K rate against right-handed pitching over the last month, will likely send him six righties for Glasnow to feast upon. Please, blog, may I have some more?
Hola, chicos and cinco chicas! Are you ready for some Tex-Max Schenchiladas? Ay, papis and cinco mamas, you want some Tex-Max Enscherziladas?! Ay?! So, the Max Scherzer trade to the Rangers was briefly held up because they needed Max's approval, and I have been laughing for two days thinking about someone asking if they would waive their no-trade clause from the Mets. Can you imagine?
"Hey, I have to ask you--"
"Yes."
"Wait, let me--"
"Absolutely."
"You have to let me ask you, it's a part of the clause, I must say the whole thing before you can answer. Okay, are you willing to leave the New York--"
"PLEASE!"
C'mon, bro. Max Scherzer is going to say, "No, I want to stay on this submersible." So, Scherzer goes to the Rangers and this will fix everything. I kid. Scherzer could go to any team, except maybe the Rockies, and be Scherzer. His 4.01 ERA hasn't been pristine, and he's starting to show some wear at 39. His Ks are down, and his walks and homers are up. He has the worst xFIP of his career. I'd never bet against Scherzer -- one does not bet against someone with two different colored eyes -- but he does look more like a number two vs. the one he's been for 13 years. By the way, the return package -- which I'm sure Itch will go over -- includes Luisangel Acuña. Hmm, pitch clock, fine. Limited pickoffs? Okay. But what's Manfred doing with this "Every NL East team gets an Acuña" rule? From what I've heard, it’s a good return for Max Scherzer; the Mets did well. Until they trade Luisangel Acuña this offseason for Whit Merrifield or something equally bad. Anyway, here's what else I saw this weekend in fantasy baseball:
August is upon us! The penultimate full month of the MLB season has arrived. Is your fantasy team like the Orioles, shocking the league and destroying everyone’s expectations? Is it like the A’s or Royals, just a few futile games– maybe less than a full week!– Please, blog, may I have some more?
Some players have all the hype and others just do good work. This week in our hitter profiles we are not focusing on a big name, like Shohei Ohtani as he continues to provide daily content for fantasy writers. How can we look the other way with the his complete game shutout and multi-homer performance in a double header against the Blue Jays? Drop your prediction for his off-season landing spot in the comments below as he will be demanding a historic contract coming off a MVP worthy 2023. Anyway, where were we? Right, focusing on a lesser name that needs bigger attention (not Ohtani), we dive deep on Edouard Julien of the Minnesota Twins in this week’s edition of Hitter Profiles.
This is always one of the most challenging weeks to publish the streamer’s article. We say that because the trade deadline is less than 48 hours away! That means some serious chaos will ensue between then and now, which means everything in this article might not make sense when you read it! Please, blog, may I have some more?
A 15th round pick in 2022, Pirates 1B Josiash Sightler checks in at 6’3” 234 lbs and faces some uphill battles to carve out a major league role. He’s a corner-only bat who lost a key season to the pandemic and is pretty old for his current level, but he’s also hit eight home runs in 27 professional games across three levels. This week, he earned a promotion to High-A after slashing .500/.563/.891 with nine strikeouts and nine walks in 18 games at Low-A. The plate skills will be the key to his climb, and he’s already got twice as many walks (4) as strikeouts (2) in three High-A games. If he keeps this up, he should close the season in Double-A and open next year at spring training with the big club. Pittsburgh will probably bring in another veteran first baseman on the cheap, but Sightler is already the most interesting 1B in the organization.
As I sat typing this article on Friday afternoon, the White Sox executed the Lance Lynn/Joe Kelly and Kendall Graveman trades. By the time this is posted, some of the information below will have aged like a galloon of whole milk left out in Phoenix over the past few weeks. Please, blog, may I have some more?
Another work week is in the books, so let's start the weekend off with another dive into Top Dynasty Keepers.
As I mentioned last week, this time of year is when you start to dig a little deeper to find some gems who will help you perhaps this year but with more of the future in mind as well. That leads me to the two players on the Oakland Athletics who I want to feature this week - catcher Tyler Soderstrom and right-hand pitcher Mason Miller.
Soderstrom, the top prospect for the A's, was recently called up from the minors by Oakland, making his debut on July 14th. It should not be surprising for me to mention Soderstrom as a Top Dynasty Keeper. He is a former first round draft pick, selected 26th overall in 2020 out of high school.
Since signing with the A's, he has climbed the prospect rankings and was ranked 35th by Baseball America, 39th by MLB Pipeline and 78th by Baseball Prospectus. Despite his prospect credentials, he is currently rostered in only 11% of Yahoo leagues, 1.8% of ESPN leagues and 45% of Fantrax leagues.
Meanwhile, Miller, considered the No. 2 prospect, has actually been with Oakland most of the year - just on the disabled list. Making his debut April 19th, Miller made four starts before landing on the Injured List with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
This is the first time for me to recommend a player who is currently injured, but when looking for that next diamond in the rough, you need to look everywhere. Because of his current status, Miller is pretty available to immediately add to your roster as he is rostered in 12% of Yahoo leagues, 3% in ESPN and 46% in Fantrax leagues.
Enough with the banter, let's take a look at Soderstrom and Miller.
Sorry J. Oppenheimer but Triston Casas continues to defy all laws of physics as the 23-year old first baseman extended his hitting streak to six games Friday night contributing all the Red Sox offense with a RBI double in the second followed by a lead off home run in the fifth inning. Please, blog, may I have some more?
Happy Saturday, Razzballers!
I hope you had a fantastic week and have an ever better weekend on the horizon.
I am going to watch the White Sox in person for the first time in almost two months because, quite frankly, they are depressing (especially as the trades unfold). Please, blog, may I have some more?
