MLB has seen an interesting list of players called up this week. The fact is, most rookies fail, especially on their first shot in the bigs. Tread carefully when putting in bids for these guys. They can be a tremendous boon to your team but can be a large waste of a FAAB budget just as easy. With everyone focused on the call-ups, we should be able to sneak through some good assets and a nice price this week as well.
Notable Callups
MJ Melendez (KCR/C,DH) – In 2021, he 41 homers across two levels in the minors in 531 PAs. It’s been ugly so far in 2021, slashing .167/.286/.295. The good news is the walk rate is still strong at 14.3%. You don’t luck into 41 homers, at any level, so trust the plate discipline and positive results should come. Promoted as a result of Cam Gallagher landing on the IL. Carlos Santana has ankle bursitis on his right leg. Freeing up more playing time for Melendez. He may not be an everyday player but the catcher position has been so bad, it may not matter. NOTE: I like him for two-catcher leagues, his playing time doesn’t warrant a top 12-15 catcher at the moment. (5-6% FAAB)
Royce Lewis (MIN/SS) – Lewis needed some help to be called up by the Twins. Sano went on the IL, Luis Arraez is on the COVID list. Carlos Correa reportedly broke his finger. Correa’s scan revealed he has a bone bruise. Managers will pull back their bids since Correa likely isn’t out long term. However, I believe he has the most fantasy upside out of everyone in the group. He recorded 10+ homers and 20+ steals in 2018 and 2019. We have nothing from 2020, thanks Rona. He likely would’ve been called up last year but tore his ACL. In triple-A this year, he’s slashing .310/.430/.563 to go along with 3 homers and 8 steals. All with walking 15.9% and a K-rate of 18.7%. He could easily get sent back down when Correa and Arraez are good to go but I think his upside is still worth a bid. (7-8% FAAB)
Jose Miranda (MIN/3B) – Another Twins prospect that has been called up. He likely has a longer leash with Miguel Sano out long term. Miranda caught the eye of many after hitting 30 HRs across two levels in 2021. Miranda has good bat to ball skills as his highest K rate at any level was 16.9% back in 2016 at rookie ball. He’s struggled early, 2-20 with a home run. However, he doesn’t appear to be overmatched, only striking out once in 21 PAs. Miranda should be a solid power source and they seem comfortable playing him 1B. That versatility should give him some added staying power. However, it’s like only one of Lewis or Miranda will stay on the roster when others become available. (8-9% FAAB)
Juan Yepez (STL/1B) – Yepez has 9 homers in the triple-A this season, earning his call up to the Cardinals. Yepez is .455/.455/.727 in his first three games in the bigs, propelled by a .625 BABIP. He has 1 hard hit in 8 BBE (12.5%) and a 27.3% k-rate. Granted it’s three games, but first base is deep. There are 28 first basemen returning positive value according to our player rate and then look at the list of negative earners. Muncy, Hoskins, Mancini, Voit, and Yuli Gurriel, to name a few. I would rather roster all of those guys over Yepez. That puts Yepez around the 35-40 mark in terms of 1B and that just doesn’t make an impact for me. I would only take the chance here in deep formats or if you’re desperate for power. (1-2% FAAB)
Josh Rojas (ARI/2B,SS,OF) – I am far from a Rojas fanboy. He doesn’t hit the ball hard enough for my liking and the team context is gross. It’s not all bad though. His multi-position eligibility can go a long way in our COVID world. He does have good plate skills, with a career BB% of 10.8. He also does a little bit of everything, hitting 11 homers with 9 steals while slashing .264/.341/.411. Think of him as a Jean Segura “lite”. (5-6% FAAB)
Edward Olivares (KCR/OF) – Olivares has put up some eye-popping power/speed numbers in the minors over the last few years. Granted, he’s been older than his peers at each respective level. He was back and forth from the minors and the big club more times than I could count last year. Leading many to believe he’s just a quad-A player. Early results in 2022 have been good. Slashing .364/.417/.485 with a 6.9% barrel and 55.2% HH. Moreover, his k-rate 11.1% so far, but with a slightly low 5.6% BB rate. Adalberto Mondesi is out for the season. Thus, forcing Whit Merrifield back into an infield role. Olivares should get the leash he deserves. (8-10% FAAB)
Returning from IL/suspension
LaMonte Wade Jr. (SF/1B,OF) – Hit leadoff in his return from the IL, Friday night. Wade surged onto the scene last year, hitting 18 homers along with 6 steals across 381 PAs. Made possible by his 10.6% barrel and 41.3 HH-rate. (8-10% FAAB)
Ramon Laureano (OAK/OF) – His suspension for PEDs will be ending soon, make sure he’s rostered. (12-15% FAAB)
Luis Castillo (CIN/SP) – Scheduled to come off the IL and start Monday against Milwaukee. Check waivers to see if anyone got impatient. (20-22% FAAB)
10/12 Team adds
Rowdy Tellez (MIL/1B) – Rowdy has had a monster 7 days, turning in a first-place performance on our player rater over that time. Keston Hiura has been demoted to the minors; solidifying Rowdy the everyday job. (10-12% FAAB)
Jeimer Candelario (DET/3B) – Appears to have finally turned the corner. Hitting .364/.391/.727 over his last 7 games. Candelario was touted by many (myself included) to be an interesting sleeper candidate but really struggled to start the season and found himself on waivers in most leagues. (4-6% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Rafael Montero (HOU/RP) – The Astros activated Ryan Pressly off the IL this week. Then proceeded to blow his first save chance. He didn’t look good either, giving up 2 runs without recording a strikeout. Montero has been very good in his absence and over the season as a whole. He could end up running away with the job if Pressly doesn’t get it together soon. (5% FAAB)
Michael Pineda (MIN/SP) – Pineda is projected for two-starts this week. One against Oakland and the other Baltimore. (2-3% FAAB)
Josh Winder (MIN/SP) – Winder has been strong in his two starts since being promoted from the bullpen. He’s about average in terms of strikeouts but I like the skills I’ve seen. A sub-5% walk rate, ground ball rate north of 40% and a 7% barrel, 35.1% HH. His 12.9% swinging-strike rate is also promising. (4-5% FAAB)
Spencer Strider (ATL/P) – Primarily worked as a long reliever but could be breaking into the rotation faster than anticipated. Strider came in as the bulk pitcher after Jesse Chavez acted as an opener Friday night. Strider racked up 8 ks, allowing 4 hits, no walks, and zero runs in 4 IP. He seems to have his control issues somewhat handled; allowing one walk in the last 7.2 innings. (8-10% FAAB)
Josh Naylor (CLE/1B,OF) – Naylor doesn’t have the tools to make anything pop off the page but he is a solid big leaguer. Naylor is splitting time between first and the outfield. He should end up with 15-18 HRs, 100-110 R+RBI, and a .250-.270 average ROS. Those won’t make jump out of your seat with joy if you win the bid but a very useful stat line in deep formats. (5-6% FAAB)
