I have added and dropped Texas 2B Andy Ibanez more times than I can count. Or remember, rather. I guess I could count to nine or so if pressed. The time I remember best was in the Razz 30 dynasty where I’d added him over Danny Santana back in 2019, when Santana decided he’d hit 28 bombs and swipe 21 bags. Now his watch has ended, but man was I kicking myself for thinking Ibanez had earned the first look. The Razz 30 was broken into six divisions like the real league at that time, and the rival Twins landed Santana if I remember right. Think they got him in a trade for approximately nothing, which looks about right today but really impacted the standings at the time. All the while I was left staring at Andy Ibanez on my roster, waiting to execute the old rage drop.
Well now, we’re in a world where I was right and wrong several times over: right that Ibanez could hit enough to hold down a gig, wrong to pick him up when I did, right to drop him when I did, then wrong to hesitate on picking him up. Probably wrong a few more times in the middle there, too. I struggle to just stay sunny enough about these things to convince myself I was right all along. That it just took time to materialize. This seems to be the preferred path of many in this chamber, and I can certainly see the appeal. For what it’s Weurtz, I do have Ibanez on a 15-teamer, and I’ll place a bid on him this Sunday in TGFBI, but it’s always a little painful when a guy you’ve always liked breaks through for another team. Unavoidable side effect of the churn and burn style I play, and I’m totally fine with that at the end of the day. What was I gonna do? Hold Ibanez for two years while the Rangers waited to give him a chance. Hard pass. We can do a lot with a single roster spot across time, and the benefit of getting some return on holding that spot several years down the road is far outstripped by the value in playing the game, trying to win now, cutting who you have to cut to keep the lineup legal and keep talent coming through the doors.
So who’s knocking today?
Texas OF Yosy Galan could be universally owned in dynasty leagues by this time next year. Huge power, like 80 raw, and some wheels to go with it on a muscled up 6’4” frame. Here’s a link to a mammoth blast.
Houston OF Jake Meyers is cueing music like Michael, striking fear in the hearts of pitchers everywhere. Will graduate prospect eligibility well inside the Top 100 for me.
Kansas City 3B Emmanuel Rivera has an excellent chance to prove his profile can keep pace with the big boys over the final five weeks. It’s above average contact and power potential with below average patience–kind of a Maikel Franco situation. KC got decent run from Maikel in 2020 and should enjoy the cheap production Rivera provides over the next few seasons.
Miami OF Bryan De La Cruz brings a lot of what Rivera does but makes more consistent contact at present. Should be a solid defender at a corner spot. Not much competition in Miami, as this might be the first outfielder with contact skills they’ve acquired during the Jeter era.
Los Angeles (NL) RHP Landon Knack doesn’t lack for gas. Me neither, Landon, though people pay you for your gas and my daughter laughs at mine. He’s continuing his college ways thus far as a pro, striking out everybody, walking nobody, and shoving that velo up into the high nineties. An easy add if he’s available in your leagues.
Seattle RHP Matt Brash (shoutout to Molina Bros BBQ) looks a little like hit closer Paul Sewald with the impossible angle created by his delivery that brings his lede leg well over toward third base before he crossfires back toward the plate. Will likely get hit with a reliever tag more than once as he climbs the org ladder, but he managed seven dominant innings in his last start. I’ve got a pretty open mind to his potential role, and I suspect Seattle feels a similar way. Brash is enjoying a loud breakout season, especially if you do the cool kid thing and remove his one big hiccup: 1.61 ERA and a 36.6 K% in ten starts since June 23, seven of those coming in AA.
Kansas City 1B Vinnie Pasquatino killed a man by the name Morris the Meat. Didn’t wanna do it. Just got caught up with the wrong people. Wrong neighborhood, wrong time. Fugget about it, eh. Brings the thump over there on the corner, tho. Keep an eye out. If you know what’s good fer ya.
Los Angeles (AL) RHP Cooper Criswell made his debut Friday night and pitched like a rookie: 1.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER. I think he might be a functional back-end rotation piece for the Halos, which they really need, but he’ll remain a free agent in most leagues even when he’s pitching well. Worth a flier in the deepest of the deep leagues though.
Milwaukee OF Sal Frelick’s out here just giving it away. Org mate Garrett Mitchell gets all the helium, but I’d take Sal if forced to choose between the two. He’ll be a steal in First-Year-Player drafts this winter, I suspect, as long as he doesn’t finish the season hitting above .400 and catch a bunch of heat for it.
Cleveland SS Brayan Rocchio is thriving as a 20-year-old in AA. I’ve never been big into him compared to perceived value because defense had floated the profile and inflated his value on “real baseball” lists. Or so went the thinking anyway. Looking like I whiffed on that score, as Rocchio’s already hit five home runs in 23 AA games while striking out 18.3 percent of the time.
Texas RHP Glenn Otto was brilliant in his debut, striking out seven Astros over five shutout innings. His outcomes will likely decide how Texas fans feel about the Joey Gallo trade over the next few years, and while he’s unlikely to master the Astros forever, it’s easier to get excited about his ability to transform and roll out today than it was a week ago.
Thanks for reading!
I’m @theprospectitch on Twitter.
