Desperation mode has begun for fantasy owners. We are staring down the last 40 games of the season, and many owners are making desperate moves to lock up categories, target a finish on the podium, or simply prepare for next year. Where there is doubt, there is opportunity. This week, we dive into the despair to find the gems of the forgotten. Whether a fantasy owner was a little too discouraged by Randy Arozarena’s five-strikeout game or Coby Mayo’s demotion, there is bound to be value in the depths. This week, we focus our hitter profiles on the cast-offs as we look for players who might provide value down the stretch. Buckle up as we dive into the scrap heap.
Colt Keith
Since the beginning of August, Keith has been scuffling with a .208 batting average, no homers, and a mere two RBI with three runs scored. A quite disappointing result after a strong July, which saw him post a 190 wRC+. However, there is some underlying hope that this August slump is simply a cold spell. For starters, he has recorded a maximum exit velocity over 100 mph in eight of the thirteen games so far this month. Additionally, his strikeout rate has been under 15%, and his BABIP is below .250. While it’s a small sample size, it isn’t hard to see a bit of bad luck as the cause of the recent struggles. If anything, we should be excited to see that Keith has been moved into the number three spot in the lineup, giving him even more run production opportunities as the season progresses. His youth and potential are good enough reasons to pick up Keith if a fellow manager has moved on from the Tiger.
Jhonkensy Noel
Noel boasts 80-grade power potential, which he has already displayed at the major league level. Through 34 games, Noel has launched seven long balls, giving him 27 between the minors and majors this season. However, with the volatility in his profile, he has only had six hits since the beginning of August. Still, three of those hits have been home runs, so there’s potential for excitement every time he steps to the plate. With a strikeout rate around 30% and a nearly 50% fly ball rate, this profile is going to have its ups and downs over the course of a season. That’s just fine with me, given the overall upside he provides. Noel could easily deliver substantial value for a team down the stretch, despite what has some owners worried.
Big Christmas taketh away, and then, giveth!
After making a diving play to end the top of the fourth inning, Jhonkensy Noel blasts a two-out three-run home run to left field to give the @CleGuardians a 4-3 lead over the Cubs.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/psnfF4SZTZ
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) August 13, 2024
Gavin Sheets
Playing for the White Sox, Gavin Sheets is already at a disadvantage trying to deliver value in a historically poor offense. With a 3% ownership rate in Yahoo leagues, he’s the biggest cast-off in our Hitter Profiles this week. For just over a two-month period, from the beginning of June until August 6th, Sheets posted a poor triple slash of .185/.234/.274. On any other team, that would have been a recipe for a benching or even demotion. For the White Sox, this gave Sheets a chance at a second life. Over the last seven games, Sheets has been on fire, hitting .464 with a homer and nine runs scored and batted in combined. Sure, that result has been fueled by an entirely unsustainable .600 BABIP, but we have to look for the silver lining. Sheets is not a guy to rush out and add, but if you’re in a pinch, there might be a hot streak to enjoy.
Paul Goldschmidt
It feels odd to include a perennial All-Star on a list where we talk about finding value in a scrap heap. Turning 37 next month, Goldy has had a rough season by many accounts, with expectations high, being only two seasons removed from winning the Most Valuable Player award. This season, he has posted a .231 average with 19 homers, 59 runs, and 49 RBI. Over the last month since the All-Star break, Goldschmidt has six homers, twelve runs, and RBI apiece. A player who often sees 100% ownership rates has now seen those rates drop to 90% in Yahoo leagues. He makes our profiles this week as a reminder that we have to adjust expectations from preseason to now and recognize there is still value. Goldy sits between Matt Olson and Masyn Winn in the Razzball Player Rater, neither of whom we are talking about dropping, and for good reason. There is still plenty of value here, even if we may no longer see vintage Paul Goldschmidt again.
Goldy hits a big fly to right to tie it up in the 2nd! ?#ForTheLou pic.twitter.com/c02ia3CfyB
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) August 17, 2024
Who do you like better ROS and keep forever with no contracts, M Harris or Langford?
Excellent point about Goldy. Almost dropped him last week but in my NL only league, not much on the wire worthy of picking up. But won’t be top 100 next year I suppose.