Note: Anyone promoted during the current season is ineligible for the stash list.
1. Orioles C Samuel Basallo (20, AAA)
I’ve given Baltimore a lot of guff in this space over the last few years for how they manage their roster, but this delayed promotion is easy to understand. Basallo turns 21 on August 13, so even though the bat was ready, and the roster had a clear need behind the plate, they had every incentive to hold Basallo back and give him a shot at rookie of the year in 2026. He’s got 23 home runs in just 72 Triple-A games and would be my pick for best fantasy rookie if selecting today.
2. Cardinals SS JJ Wetherholt (22, AAA)
We’re nearing the fuzzy cut-off date for promoting a player this season while retaining his rookie eligibility for 2026, so I don’t think any of the elite guys will get the call until their organization is certain they’re in the clear to compete for awards and draft picks in the future. No matter what the league tries to do to incentivize teams to promote and play their best guys, front office types will always find a way to drag their feet looking for an angle. Just today, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch published a story saying JJ Wetherholt needs to stay in Triple-A, and I suppose that’s true for today, but the truer truth is that he should’ve been in the majors back when the Cardinals were still in contention for 2025. In his 19 AAA games, he is slashing .319/.400/.667 with six home runs, two stolen bases, ten walks and 11 strikeouts. They drafted a ready-soon college hitter and slow-rolled him despite him knocking down every obstacle in his path.
3. Orioles OF Dylan Beavers (23, AAA)
Turns 24 on August 11. Has nothing left to prove in the minors after slashing .309/.425/.536 with 18 home runs and 22 stolen bases in 88 Triple-A games. He’s also controlling the zone and walking almost as much (16.5%) as he’s striking out (17.2%). Baltimore needs to bring in a consultant to help them manage their timelines. But hey at least Coby Mayo is playing now.
4. Red Sox OF Jhostynxon Garcia (22, AAA)
The password has been practicing at first base and will get some in-game reps over the next few weeks. At this dish, he’s been eating all season, slashing .307/.372/.589 with 15 home runs in 58 Triple-A games. The bat seems ready. Just waiting for an open spot at the right moment.
5. Giants 1B Bryce Eldridge (20, AAA)
I see some intriguing sliding doors here. If Boston communicates better with Rafael Devers, does Bryce Eldridge spend the second half in San Francisco. Probably not considering he’s striking out 30.9 percent of the time through 35 Triple-A games, but it’s fun to think about. He’s been on fire since July 22, slashing .311/.394/.721 with eight home runs in those 16 games. Doesn’t turn 21 until October and might not get a look this season.
6. Pirates RHP Bubba Chandler (22, AAA)
Judging by the outcomes, he’s been up and down all summer, but it’s hard to know how much of that is related to his confusing timeline. He ripped off back-to-back, six-inning shutouts at the beginning of July. Probably thought he’d be a Pirate by May. Instead he remains an Indianapolis Indian, Donald Trump’s favorite minor league club.
7. Yankees OF Spencer Jones (24, AAA)
Has 13 home runs and 14 stolen bases in just 30 Triple-A games. Strikeout rate is down from 33.7 percent in Double-A to 24.1 percent in this 30-game stretch. The team doesn’t have a spot for him with Giancarlo Stanton healthy and Aaron Judge at designated hitter, but Jones looks ripe on the vine. He could still be exposed by big league pitching, but it’s time to find out.
8. Marlins LHP Robby Snelling (21, AAA)
Triple-A agrees with Snelling, who has a 1.63 ERA and 0.98 WHIP through 27.2 innings across five starts at the level. Miami’s rotation has plenty of serviceable options for the back end in Cal Quantrill, Jansen Junk, Adam Mazur and newly acquired Ryan Gusto, but none of these guys is especially crucial for the Marlins’ long-term plans, while Snelling should be part of the rotation for most of the 2026 season.
9. Mets RHP Nolan McLean (24, AAA)
Has adjusted beautifully to Triple-A, posting a 1.04 WHIP and 2.89 ERA over his last eight starts with 62 strikeouts in 56 innings. Perhaps the command isn’t quite perfect, but McLean’s stuff is major league ready, and Frankie Montas does not look good right now. It’s a little confusing to me that they’re so committed to him during a tight NL East pennant race. He’s got a player option for next year at $17 million, so maybe there’s some sunk cost fallacy in play, but that doesn’t make a ton of sense either given the way this organization operates. They could at least send him to the bullpen for a while.
10. Pirates SS Cam Devanney (28, AAA)
Mostly a playing time flier. I figured they’d bring Devanney up right after trading Ke’Brayan Hayes to the Reds, but that’s just not how this team operates. Devanney has 19 home runs in 88 games this year and makes for a decent speculation add if you need some at bats.
Thanks for reading!
Whats up with Jordan Lawler, I mean I know he’s hurt but as far as prospects to hold… I am getting annoyed seeing him on my roster at this point. Keep holding him or use that roster spot for value or a “better” prospect?
As always, great info, Itch.
Luis Morales looks like a special talent. Assuming his future is in the rotation, would you place his ceiling up there with Snelling and McLean? Higher or lower?
16 Team ESPN H2H league, 1 W/L per week. We keep 12 players each season.
11×11 scoring with offensive categories:
AB, H, R, HR, RBI, BB, SB, AVG, OBP, SLG, Fielding %
Current offense is:
C- Agustin
1B – Freeman
2B – Keaschall
3B – Bregman
SS – CJ Abrams
LF – I. Collins
CF – N. Lukes
RF – Trout
Util – Arraez
BN – Brendan Donovan
IL – Santander, Robles
Weatherholt and Beavers are both either on waivers or FA.
Worth dropping Donovan for either of them? If so, which one based on current roster and scoring categories?
Now that Blaze is hitting.. I assume he keeps the 3b job the rest of the year? Can we call Lawlar a bust?
He’s not busted yet but he’s quite fragile
Royce Lewis hands him his beer. Buxton is not amused!
Eldridge-Spencer Jones and Walcott are my three minor league keepers…do you think Beavers will be a vital cog for The O’s or are they gonna screw with him like their other prospects? Thanks for being the best in the biz!
History would suggest they’re going to screw with him.
I do think they’ll give him a chance to take a job for next year, but the Tyler O’Neill piece really complicates that whole picture.
Hopefully the beating that the Nats are applying to JV and the Giants will encourage Posey to accept and acknowledge what everyone else already knows, the Giants got no shot. Time to see what they have for ‘26
Keeper league. We keep 13. QS, IP, ERA, WHIP, K & K/BB. I am dead last in QS and barely middle of the pack in ratios. 200 GS limit and am on pace to exceed slightly.
My current staff:
Cease
Kirby
Freddy P
Abbott
Flaherty
Miz
I really thought I’d be looking a little better with this staff.
Would you look to add any of these young arms as potential keepers? I wouldn’t have to drop any of the guys that I have. Just feel like I have to improve my pitching somehow. Who are your top 3?
Jacob Lopez
McGreevy
Quinn Mathews
Sheehan
Tong
Sproat
Cavalli
Schultz
Who are the rest of your keepers? 13 is a bunch to keep, but that’s still not a dynasty format. I really like Tong (google the overlays of his set up and release with Tim Lincecum) + Schultz, but Itch is the expert.
We keep 10 each year, I’ve kept highly touted prospects like Caminero + Vlaad, Jr. which worked out.
C- Langeliers
1B- Alonso
2B- Turang
SS- Lindor
3B- Westburg
2B/SS- Rafaela
1B/3B- Bellinger
LF- Jarren Duran
CF- Adell
RF- Rooker
OF- Jackson Merrill
UTL- Goodman
UTL- Trea Turner
Bench: Volpe, Vientos, Beck, Caissee, Lawrence Butler and Carson Williams
IL: Isaac Paredes, Yordan, Norby, Parker Meadows, Kim Dodgers
SP: Freddy Peralta , Cease, Kirby, Flaherty, Abbott, Misiorowski
I’d add Tong first.
Then some combo of Lopez, Sheehan and Schultz