Where do you hide your stash? Over the years I have used such hiding places as my original Nintendo Entertainment System (where you put the cartridge in), inside one of my Bauer ice hockey gloves (masks any odors) and in the back pocket of the pants of my homemade Cobra Kai outfit. However, the most important part about hiding your stash isn’t necessarily where you actually hide it, but instead, actually remembering where you hid it. And the key to remembering is based on your “state of mind” when you hid it. I’m pretty sure I just blew through my allotment of commas. If you’ve never spent hours searching for a stash, or stumbled upon a stash weeks later, you’re a better man than I. As for Grey, he hides his stache in plain sight, right on his face. That’s how cool he is!
Dylan Bundy intrigues me. There I admit it. At this point we all know that he’s out of minor league options and was destined to break camp with the Orioles this year. It was pretty much a use him or lose him type of deal. Bundy was the fourth overall pick in the 2011 draft, behind Gerrit Cole, Danny Hultzen and Trevor Bauer. Cole has already established himself as an ace, Hultzen has dealt with his share of injures and Bauer has had a more successful rap career than MLB pitcher. The 2011 draft included other big names such as Anthony Rendon, Francisco Lindor, Javier Baez, George Springer, Jose Fernandez and Sonny Gray. That quite the class of players.
With his injuries behind him (fingers crossed), Bundy is ready to get the show on the road. Even though it seems like he’s been around forever, he’s only 23 years young. And now it’s time to put up, or shut up. The big question is “can Dylan Bundy help fantasy owners in 2016?” That’s a difficult question to answer, but I’m leaning towards “I think so”. Baltimore is currently using him out of the pen, as that’s really their only play right now. They have to protect him and he’s not ready to be in the rotation. The reason I think Bundy will have value this year is because I expect him to be starting games later in the season. More importantly, I expect him to be a key piece in the Orioles rotation next year and beyond. In order for that to happen, he has to make it happen.
So far he has had three appearances this season. Two 1-inning outings and a two and a third inning performance where he gave up one earned run on three hits. He has been far from dominating, but has been clocked at 95 mph. I think his one inning appearances will slowly disappear and we will start to see him employed in multi-inning outings. And if he does manage to start some games this season, his RP eligibility will make him slightly more valuable. However, if he doesn’t, that RP eligibility will carry over into 2017, making Bundy a rather attractive option on draft day. If he can remain injury-free I think he will be a top twenty starter in 2018, with the upside of a top ten.
With that said, there is another pitcher out there that I am stashing before Dylan Bundy. Everyone is well aware of Lucas Giolito, Tyler Glasnow, Jose Berrios and Blake Snell. There should be very few leagues (if any) in which those players are available. Let’s add also Julio Urias to that list. According to mlb.com Urias is currently the number two prospect behind Giolito. Guess who out-pitched Urias a few nights ago in a AAA matchup. That would be Sean Manaea. In 6.2 innings, Manaea struck out 11 while giving up just one earned run. In two starts he now has 17 strikeouts, 2 walks and 2 earned runs in 12 innings. The big 6’5″ lefty is getting ready to make a splash in the majors. I can’t say for certain when that will be, but it’s coming. If he’s available in your league, you might want to seriously consider scooping him up.He has had success at every level. Here’s what prospector Ralph had to say about Manaea a two weeks ago.
The last hurler I want to mention is Alex Reyes. Now here’s a guy that didn’t have any trouble finding his stash. Currently serving a 50-game suspension, Reyes has 356 punch outs in 269 innings over his minor league career. He should find his way into the Cardinals rotation at some point in the second half of the season. At that same time (or sooner) he should find his way onto your roster.
