As any person over 6 feet will tell you, being tall is overrated. Your entire life comes with bigger expectations that due to your height you have the ability to do things smaller men can’t. Everything has to be bigger, stronger, and faster. It’s in this vein I introduce you to 6’8 Cuban import Michel Baez. Yes that is spelled correctly. While researching this post, trying to look under every rock for as much information as possible about the giant righty, I came across the comment section of MLB Trade Rumors from the day he signed. Let’s just say there are some gems. For example the guy who was really put off that a 6’8 pitcher didn’t throw 100, but a reported 93-97. You know, because control, command, fastball plane, and deception don’t matter at all. Only velocity!!! BTW is 96-97 not fast? Someone else wondered why the Padres gave him $3m, when he’s 6’8 and unknown. How can you miss a 6’8 guy? You know, because talented 5’10 guys never stick out on scouting trips. Scouts and prospectors only notice big shiny things. Okay, I’m getting off track here. Regardless of the opining of MLB Trade Rumor commenters, Baez did in fact fly under the radar. Turning out to be yet another diamond in the rough unearthed by my spirit animal A.J. Preller. How under the radar was Baez? So much so, that in the fall he didn’t appear in any of the international free agent rankings on MLB.com, Baseball America, or Fangraphs. Fast forward 9 months and many are saying Baez is a slam dunk for Top 100 lists going forward. Hell, he ranked #141 for me on my Top 200. A few weeks late I think I might have sold him short, then again he’s an A ball pitching prospect. Now let’s dig into Baez, and see if he might be the Top 100 guy many are touting.
As for Baez the player the he’s been impressive to say the least in his stateside debut, through 23 innings with the Padres A ball affiliate Fort Wayne he’s allowed 2 earned runs while striking out 33. This comes after just one start with San Diego’s rookie level Arizona League team, where he earned rave reviews from my favorite twitter follow Chris Kusiolek. The fastball has ticked up to 98 MPH with regularity and there’s talk of him hitting triple digits, I haven’t seen it myself. Obviously with that sort of size, there’s excellent downhill plane on the fastball, and some run too, meaning he should avoid the ills of a Giolito-Straight heater. He commands and controls it well too, consistently hitting his spots which is one of the bigger questions with any starter taller than 6’4. Bigger guys have more moving parts and typically have mechanical issues that they need to work through, think Tyler Glasnow. Fortunately it also means he’s built to eat innings, having gone at least 5 or more in every single one of his starts. Here’s some video from Baez’s last start where he blows one by Diamondbacks prospect Marcus Wilson.
The secondaries are where I have questions with Baez, I’ve seen a mid-80’s slider with some bite, but I’m not comfortable enough to label it anything but slightly above average. He does features a third pitch in a fringy changeup, but it’s an offering he needs to hone in order to make the leap from projectable hype-train to front of the rotation lock. If he doesn’t develop the change, we might be sliding into the dreaded “pen-arm” territory, but that tends to exist with any starter that lacks a deep arsenal of offerings.
In closing Baez looks to be a top prospect arm on the rise. One, who depending on how the next year goes could wind up a top 50 prospect rather easily. Look at how quickly an arm like Sixto Sanchez shot to the top of the heap in the best pitching prospect in baseball conversation. For right now Baez is a great buy, and if you’re in a league where he’s available and are looking for an arm, he’d be one of the first I’d add. Just in case you’re wondering I put my money where my mouth is too. Making Baez my highest auction bid to date in the Razzball 30 teamer, Razz30, dropping $30 of my $200 for FAAB.
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Thanks Ralph, do you see Honeywell getting called up near the trade deadline? Any insight on why they haven’t called him up already?
@Steve: It’s the Rays and they have to be more cost control conscious. I’m not sure with Honeywell, my guess is unless they’re in the race come late August he won’t be up, but as I always say injuries happen. In fact the best ETA on most of these guys is when the MLB player at their position is injured.
Forget all that shit, Jordan Luplow is getting called up!
Which may be French for “The Plow”
@El Famous Burrito: Hahahahaha I like me some Luplow. Good approach, and he had a nice power break this year.
@Ralph Lifshitz: I mock, but yeah I added Luplow after he appeared on yours and Halp’s list. He was unowned in just about every league.
And now, he’s a real player! That’s the power of Razzball baby!
@El Famous Burrito: The Power Of Razz (sang like Huey Lewis)
Playing for next year. Gonna roll with your advice and let Giolito go. Who do you take…Beuhler, Honeywell, or Allard?
@Mike L: Honeywell, I think Buehler has the highest upside, but there is some durability concerns for me still.
Nice job on the pod this week! Really enjoyed the Devers look. Speaking of . . .
Trying to crowdsource a FAAB bid for Devers in my 12 team keep-7 league (+$3 inflation, $100 FAAB). Average is very valuable this year in the league, so I’d love to place a bid that should get me Devers, but still make him an attractive keeper next year with the inflation.
Thanks!
@Duda Want to Build a Snowman?: I say between 10-13? What do players like him typically go for in this league?
@Ralph Lifshitz: Yeah I have $11 penciled in right now. Last year Bennetendi went for $9, Bregman went for $12 (he was at the peak of the hype train at the time). This year Alonso went for $6 after that monster multi-HR weekend he had leading into FAAB bidding, LoMo went for $8 after a similar period, Kendrys Morales was dropped and picked up at $5. Aside from Bregman last year, no non-closers have gone for over $10 yet this year (though no big un-owned prospects have arrived yet).
@Duda Want to Build a Snowman?: I think 11 makes sense better price next year too.
Ralph,
Great write up. Baez looks like a beast!
Wanted to get your thoughts on Adbert Alzolay for the Cubs. He has been shooting up prospect boards and there has been quite a bit written about him as a potential trade piece for the cubbies.
What do you see in his future?
@CubbieFever: Great fastball the command is fringy, has a decent change and breaking ball. Looks like a guy with some mid-rotation upside. I’m not as excited as others, but he’s a guy trending up.
It’s happened! Bit late for this GIF now darn https://giphy.com/gifs/paul-comment-ron-5mBE2MiMVFITS
How do you see PT shaking out. Devers hitting vs righties, Nunez vs lefties? Have him in a keeper and dynasty, my dynasty allows freedom to call up and demote minors, so I got that home run already from him! Going to keep switching him in and out based on playing time, loved that swing for his first bomb!
Was going to ask you another prospecty question but you already answered it on Greys thread haha.
@Swfcdan: Hahaha! It’s happening! You weren’t the guy I bet $100 with were you?
I assume Nunez is a super utility guy playing primarily at 3rd. I think Devers, as long as he hits, will see the strong side there, with some DH days. Nunez should spell OF, Boegy, and Pedroia.
@Ralph Lifshitz: Haha no, I’m the UK guy (Sheffield Wednesday fan), and wouldn’t dare bet that kinda money with Ralphie about a prospect matter.
Decent amount of playing time then, not quite what I was expecting when he got the call, but I guess shielding him from lefties is smart at first. Hopefully an everyday role by the start of next year.
Own Fisher and excited for him too, you think he stays up also? Can’t believe they’d go back to playing Aoki doki over him.
@Swfcdan: Damn I hope Fisher stays up.
I’m waiting for the Devers guy to show his face
@Ralph Lifshitz: Haha guess you won then, demand that money from him!
Long time reader, first time posting – love what you guys have to say (if anyone is in the eastern Florida area all we do is watch MLB network and talk fantasy all day) stop by the pizzeria! Needing help narrowing down keepers…
Alex Reyes 25th rd
Ian happ 25th rd
Chris archer 16th rd
Kris Bryant 25th rd
Jacob faria 25th rd
Bradley zimmer 25th
Yu darvish 14th rd
Thanks! Where in Florida? How many keepers should this be widdle down to?
@Grey: sorry had an early start drinking today haha it needs to go down to 5 keepers (the league has strict roster rules only 2 players per position allowed) and we are in stuart!
@RomaPizzaOfStuartFL: just to make your life even harder, one of my workers is in the same league and he is having an even harder time deciding. We try to make trades no one ever wants to accept but he has
Rizzo 2nd rd
Lindor 1st rd
Devers 25th
Moncada 25
Brinson 25
Bellinger 25
Judge 25
Jose Ramirez 6th
Rosario 25th
Sano 25
Acuna 25
My team is in 3rd place and the team above is in 2nd place keepers don’t hAve to be in until spring training so we do still have time to see how things pan out thanks grey!
@RomaPizzaOfStuartFL: Nice I want to go to the fantasy baseball pizza shop.
I guess it would have to be Faria and Reyes. Because you could only keep two starters correct? That’s my answer either way.
Not Faria, Reyes
Oops, I’m in the wrong post… Sorry Ralph!
@Grey: Hahaha no worries Grey!
Man, I apparently was wrong to go red alert on Mcmahon when Desmond was taken out. I guess his injury wasn’t as bad as feared.
Think we see Dominic Smith soon now that Duda is out of town? Kind of a Josh Bell clone?
@OddBall Herrera: I think we see Smith soon. He’s a better Bell, maybe less raw power.
Interested in your opinion Ralph : 10 team h2h redraft league, Benitendi or Brinson?
@Robert: Benintendi
Good stuff as always!
As probably the high guy on Bader from most prospect writers, how quickly do see him reaching maybe a 20-10 level with decent peripherals?
An owner is shopping Ender Inciarte, and has asked for Bader and picks, which I’m inclined to do as Ender is a solid Runs and Average guy in the top half of the order.
Having said that, Bader hasn’t looked overmatch in an admittedly super-small sample size.
@Thorbs: Alternatively, he’s come back with a 4th and 5th rounder (I’ve got 2) for Inciarte…it’s a 12-team, 10×10 H2H, keep-20 + 8 minor leaguers, so that’d allow me to keep my stable of minor leaguers to offset the draft picks (Acuna, Robles, Verdugo, Tapia, Bader, Weaver (who may not be eligible depending on how long Waino is out), Mahle, Duplantier).
I’m inclined to do it, as I’d keep picks 1 – 3 and have my own 5th rounder.
@Thorbs: Yeah I like that.
@Thorbs: I think he can do that relatively quickly. He’s an advanced college guy. They typically move fast.
I just want to say, I’m glad we’re calling it the Razzball 30 teamer, as opposed to saying “one of the razzball 30 teamerS.”
We all know there is only 1. razz30 is lyfe
Also, i hate you and your hard work. signed, reddit.
@Jaaaaaake.crab: Nice! Does Reddit hate my writing too? I thought it was just my videos? Also I’m too fly for Reddit
Got offered Honeywell for Urias in a keeper…what do you think?
@Nightpandas: Yes even if it’s Luis Urias hahahaha