We aren’t quite to the dog days of summer but this week might just be the dog days of FAAB. Edward Cabrera will likely be the highest dollar bid in most leagues. I’m not sure I agree with that. The most innings he’s thrown in a season is 100.1, back in 2018. Moreover, while he has electric stuff, he has struggled to find the strike zone. His lowest walk rate above Double-A is 11.9%, and also walked 4 Rockies in 6 innings Wednesday. He’s scheduled to face the Astros this week as well so you’d effectively be stashing him. I’d bid on him if I needed strikeouts and would avoid when looking for ratio help.
Stephen Strasburg is also close to a return so don’t let one of your league mates scoop him up for cheap.
10/12 Team Adds
Christopher Morel (CHC/OF) – Hitting lead off every day for the Cubs. He has 6 steals and 2 homers through 17 games. All looks good under the hood as well; 12.5% Barrel and a 43.8% Hard Hit. (4-6% FAAB)
David Peralta (ARI/OF) – Peralta currently has the lowest GB% of his career (30.6%). That is just over 24 points lower than his 2021 mark of 54.9%. He is also sporting a career-high Barrel%. Arizona plays in Cincinnati and Philly this week, two of the best parks to hit in. (1-2% FAAB)
Kyle Bradish (BAL/OF) – Pretty terrible surface stats but holding down a 3.67 SIERA, along with a 24.3% K-rate. He gets two solid matchups, at home against the Cubs and away against the Royals. (1% FAAB)
Zach Eflin (PHI/SP) – Eflin has excelled at limiting hard contact to this point. He is in the top 3% in average exit velo, as well as top 10% in xWOBA, HH, and xERA. His 21.6% K rate leaves something to be desired, but shows flashes; striking out 12 against the Dodgers on 5/22. (1-2% FAAB)
Brandon Belt (SF/1B) – Resumed baseball activities and should be back with the team in the next week or two. (1-3% FAAB)
Riley Greene (DET/OF) – Another stash play. Greene returned to action last week and is off to a hot start in the minors. There was speculation he could make the opening day roster but an injury stood in his way. The Tigers outfield currently consists of Willi Castro, Harold Castro, and Daz Cameron. Putting it nicely, none of them are blocking Greene’s playing time. I suspect the Tigers will call him up when they are 100% confident in his health. (3-4% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Luis Garcia (WAS/2B,SS) – Garcia hasn’t done much to this point in his MLB career, however, he is still only 22 years old. He was off to a hot start in Triple-A, slashing .314/.368/.531 with 8 homers across 193 PAs. He will get a crack at the everyday job with Alcides Escobar landing on the IL. (2-3% FAAB)
Ross Stripling (TOR/SP) – The likely replacement for Hyun Jin Ryu (IL). Stripling would line up for two nice match-ups this week. Both of those starts are on the road against the Royals (26th in wRC+) and the Tigers (30th in wRC+). (2-3% FAAB)
Oscar Gonzalez (CLE/OF) – Gonzalez hit 31 homers between two levels last season across 504 PAs. He doesn’t walk or strike out much. Jonathan Schoop is a fair comparison here. (4-6% FAAB)
Franchy Cordero (BOS/OF) – I know, I know, we’ve been here, done that, insert whatever idiom you want. However, Franchy has the 2nd highest hard hit in baseball over the last three weeks (64.3%). The Red Sox as a team have led baseball since 5/21 in runs scored as well. Between LF and splitting time at 1B, he has also locked down an everyday spot. (1-2% FAAB)
Bryson Stott (PHI/SS) – There was plenty of buzz around Stott in draft season. However, he largely disappointed and earned himself a demotion. He should find plenty of playing time with Jean Segura and Didi Gregorius on the IL. Stott has gone 5-11 with a homer and steal so far this week. (1% FAAB)
