Blue Jays prospect Bo Bichette broke his hand and is scheduled to see a specialist. It looked/sounded painful and my guess is it’ll be at least a month before he’s playing again. Bichette was a candidate for a 2019 call at some point, so obviously this sets things back quite a bit. Marcus Stroman tweeted “big prayers for my bro” to which Bichette replied “preciate it bro”. Bo and Stro are bros bro. There is so much bromance happening in that Twitter exchange I might vomit. Nope, yup. I’m definitely vomiting. We’re going to need a new keyboard. Here’s what else is happening in the minor leagues…
Casey Mize, DET – Threw an eight-inning one-hitter. The first overall pick in last year’s draft has been stellar so far. He’s now thrown 26 innings, allowed only one earned run, and struck out 25. Will we see him this year? Possibly, but I wouldn’t be willing to bet much on it. Matt Manning also pitched well again for Erie, striking out nine and walking none in six innings yesterday. In his case, I do think there will be a promotion to Detroit this summer.
Jarred Kelenic, SEA – Riding a ten-game hit streak. Six of those have been multi-hit efforts and he’s now hitting .328 on the year. I don’t think he’s long for the Sally, and we’ll see him promoted to High-A at some point.
Lewis Thorpe, MIN – Struck out twelve for the second straight outing. He still has an ugly 7-plus ERA, but 33 punch outs in 22 innings is impressive. Here’s what I said about Thorpe in the offseason: “I’m sure a lot of lists will put [Stephen] Gonsalves in front of Thorpe. But for fantasy purposes, I like Thorpe’s strikeout upside more. Both should see some innings in Minnesota this year, so both should be on the radar in redrafts. Between Double-A and Triple-A, Thorpe struck out about eleven per nine while only walking two per nine. He does it with a plus heater and curve and I think the upside could be a No.2/3 starter in the bigs. Grey’s mustache isn’t real.” Weird, I don’t remember writing that last part.
Dermis Garcia, NYY – Currently on a seven-game hit streak with five homers in that span. The .324 average is inflated by a .415 BABIP, but the power is legit. At the rate the Yankees players are dropping, Garcia will be starting for them next week. I hear he belts a solid God Bless America too.
Justus Sheffield, SEA – Should be up Friday to work long relief. Yusei Kikuchi is like your mom’s fancy decorative guest towel. Just for looking…not for using! Sheffield probably won’t stick, but this is a good sign that he’s next in line if something opens up in that rotation.
Touki Toussaint, ATL – Optioned to Triple-A after a brutal appearance in Cleveland. The real tragedy is that the Braves will have to cancel their Touki Torch giveaway at the ballpark. I think we’ll see Toussaint back up, but it could be a situation where his role is in flux and he bounces around. Carlos Martinez 2.0?
FYI,
Seattle prospect Julio Rodriguez was HBP and broke his wrist and is out 4-6 weeks. Probably not back until around the 1st of June. He’s considered to have elite potential.
Bummer.
Hey Mike,
H2H 12-team cat. keeper (keep12) balanced stats (R,H,HR,RBI,SB,BB,AVG, OPS,XBH / W,CG,SV,K,GIDP,ERA,WHIP,QS), limited moves (35 per year), no streaming.
I’m going to drop Toussiant and I wanted your opinion whether anyone left on the wire worth Stashing or should I just pick up a hot bat? I believe with my team I can afford to wait for the right prospect. Maybe give me your top 2 or 3 to grab if its worth it:
Waiver:
HIT – Y. Alvarez (NA), C. Hernandez, J. Soler, J. Martinez, B. Gardner, S. Kingery (DL), I. Happ (NA), J. Reddick, M. Tauchman, C. Keiboom (NA), J. Mateo (NA), C. Biggio (NA)
SP – B. Honeywell (NA), S. Cease (NA), G. Canning (NA), M. Keller (NA), S. Gray, J. Chacin, N. Pivetta (NA), M. Soroka, S. Newcomb (NA), A. Reyes (NA), M. Gore (NA), C. Mize (NA)
My team:
C – W. Ramos
1B – P. Goldschmidt
2B – K. Marte
3B – Eugenio Suarez
SS – J. Polanco
CI – A. Rizzo
MI – X. Bogaerts
LF – C. Yelich
CF – C. Blackmon
RF – D. Santana
Util – R. Laureano
BN – H. Dozier
DL – T. Turner
SP – C. Carrasco
SP – J. Verlander
SP – N. Syndergaard
RP – K. Jansen (RP)
RP – J. Leclerc (RP)
P – K. Giles (RP)
P – W. Davis (RP)
BN – W. Buehler
BN – J. Paxton
BN – T. Richards
BN – T. Toussaint
BN – J. Jeffress (RP)
DL – A. Heaney (10-DAY)
DL – J. Nelson (10-DAY)
Thanks bud
Marv
I’d stash Kieboom, Alvarez, Biggio in that order.
Thanks Mike,
what about a pitching prospect ? Kieboom, Alvarez and Biggio ahead of them, say Honeywell and Cease ?
No problem. Yes, those two in that order. Luzardo as well if he is available.
Can you rank these three in for a dynasty format?
A: Wander Franco, Brusdar Graterol, Bubba Thompson, Drew Waters
B: Gerrit Cole, Clayton Kershaw
C: George Springer, Eddie Rosario
Hmmm…C B A
hey bud
baez or Gallo/Tim Anderson in a dynasty
thanks
Oh man…that’s tough. OBP league I dig the Gallo side. Otherwise I think stick with Baez.
Biggio getting the call sooner rather than later?
Yeah I think sooner but might be in a utility role.
or Luzardo
Still Kieboom.
thank you sir
Anytime man
Kieboom,Alvarez which one would u grab and stash in an open n/a position right now in a 10 team keep only 6 ,thanks Mike love your work
Thanks! That’s almost a toss up at this point. If it was me I’d roll with Kieboom.
When Yordan Alvarez or Nate Lowe come up would you drop Yandy Diaz to get them? 14 team keeper. OBP.
Nah, Diaz has been solid. Bird in hand and all that…
Hey Mike,
Love the posts. Great work!
I’m in a 14-team OBP/QS/Saves+Holds 5×5 roto.
We operate as a 2-year keeper league; however, our (only two) Minor Leaguers can stay forever until their “clock starts” and then the 2-year window starts. I have Vlad and Kyle Tucker. Obviously, I’m about to lose Vlad and am open to dropping Tucker.
Here are the 28 guys that are taken.
Bart, Bichette, Whitley, Cease, Reyes, McKay, Senzel, N.Lopez, Matias, K.Tucker, Vlad, D.Hernandez, Toussaint, Hiura, H.Ramos, R.Lewis, Adell, B.Rodgers, Kiriloff, J.Sheffield, Luzardo, B.Phillips, AJ Puk, W.Franco, D.Palka, N.Gorman, and H.Greene.
Who should I grab? (even if I have to wait a year…I’ve waited a few for Vladdy!!)
M.Gore, Trammell, Mize, Kopech, M.Keller, Sixto Sanchez, Honeywell, K.Wright, Ian Anderson, K.Ruiz, etc. are all available to name a few…
do you not like Alvarez?,Reddick is actually hitting decent right now but he will be up before Tucker my money says
Thanks! Welp, it’s tough if you only get to keep guys for two years, but I’d go with Trammell of that bunch you mentioned or just hold Tucker.
What’s your take on Cease getting called up this year? He has struck out nine and walked one over 10 scoreless innings at triple-A. Sounds like he doing well. I read he has as much or more potential as Luzardo. What’s your opinion Mike? When is his service time no longer an issue? I mean how long can march out guys like Ervin Santana and Ivan Nova? Thx!
I like him a lot and could see him being up this summer. Likely June/July ish.
Is there something wrong with Kyle Tucker? He has been brutal so far.
I wish I knew. Between this month, spring training, and his callup to MLB last year, he hasn’t hit like a top prospect. I was expecting him to force the issue in Houston midsummer, but at this rate he might rot in AAA for another year.
Yeah, eight or nine months ago, I thought Yelich was a good comp for him. Now that seems comparing a Yugo to a Ferrari. When a top prospect is this bad for this long, I am always like “has he seen an optometrist lately?”
haha yeah really
You should post about Kyle Tucker more often. Apparently, he read your post and wasn’t amused by it and went 2/4 with a HR & SB.
haha happy to be of service!
Mike in a 20 team dynasty unlimited keepers, would you deal Robles or Eloy for deGrom. I would still have Benitendi, Acuna and either Eloy or Robles in the OF.
I would have. Jansen, Hoskins,Goodrum, D.Murphy and McMahon, M.CHapman , J>polanco along with my Of’ers
My SP are Soroka,V.Velasquez,D.ROdriguez, M.Kelly, Quintana,Cahill Lauer,Gio Gonzalez, I have F.Peralta Cotton Lamet and Eovoldi on the IR, there is no waiver or free agent pick ups allowed.
thanks for any help, SP is a bit more of a premium position in this league.
Yeah that move makes sense.
Would you prefer to have robles or Eloy long term, or is it a toss up?
Tough one…it’s a toss up but I’d personally go Eloy because I think his profile (hit/power) will age better than Robles’s.
Do you think Zac Gallen gets a call? Would you rather have Gallen, Manning or Mize in a Dynasty League??
Yes, Gallen seems close and pitching well enough to warrant a look. I’d rather have Mize in a dynasty because I think he’s the best overall talent.
Gallen or Thorpe?
Toss up… I’d lean Gallen
Thanks…wasn’t sure if Profar had a super long leash and I did not know that Mateo can play 2B thought he was stricly a SS.
No problem. Not sure about Profar’s leash either but yeah Mateo has played a handful of games at second pretty much every year. Not his primary spot of course but they could make it happen.
When does keiboooooom get the call??????
If they were in a hurry to bring him up I think he’d have come up when Turner went down, so I’m guessing late May/June at the earliest?
Mikey
Hope you had a good Easter
Would I be nuts to grab Mize now (as opposed to Honeywell or Kopech or Gore or De Los Santos) as a stash and potential keeper for next year
15 team keep 11
Just missed out on Yordan Alvarez
Prospects already stashed in the league are: Vlad, Bichette, Kieboom, Alvarez, Whitley, Luzardo, W Franco, A Reyes, Senzel, B Rodgers
Thanks
Thanks you too. Not nuts, but I’d still rather have Honeywell or Gore.
Do Straw and/or Mateo have path to playing time this year? Both guys are on fire.
Absolutely. Straw was getting some work at short so he could be up in a utility role. Profar’s .167 probably won’t keep Mateo down for long.