San Diego middle infield prospect Luis Urias had another strong night at the dish, going 2-for-4 with a slam (13) and legs (4). He’s now slashing .364/.462/.741 with a ten-game hit streak for Triple-A El Paso and joins a short list of prospects that could force the issue with their performances as the calendar flips to June. Urias is currently prosblocked by Ian Kinsler and – to some extent – Greg Garcia. Kinsler is batting a lusty .185, so I’d imagine the next time Urias is up it’ll be for the remainder of the 2019 campaign. Here’s what else is happening around the minor leagues…
Bobby Bradley, 1B/DH | CLE – 3-for-5 with a pair of homers, his 13th and 14th of the year. If your fantasy team is starved for some power and you already suck in batting average, now’s as good a time as any to add Bradley. The Indians currently rank 26th in team wRC+ (77), so there’s no reason for them not to promote some kids and see what they can do.
Brendan McKay, LHP | TBR – Five shutout innings with four strikeouts in his Triple-A debut. McKay is technically both a hitter and a pitcher, but his future is on the mound. The promotion to Triple-A is a good sign that the Rays may be willing to trust him with a spot in their rotation this summer, especially with Honeywell looking less and less likely to contribute anything. A lot of fantasy owners will be stashing Luzardo and Cease, etc., but McKay could be just as relevant down the stretch.
Jo Adell, OF | LAA – 6-for-17 with homers in back-to-back games since returning to the field. Now that he’s healthy again, Adell should move quickly to Double-A. He’s a name to keep in mind for this time next year, as he’s a nice combination of pop and speed. There might be some rumblings that he’ll be up late this season, but he’s currently not on the 40 and I don’t see the Angels pushing the envelope.
Jarred Kelenic, OF | SEA – Promoted to High-A at 19 years old. This is what you want to see from your prospects – competing at higher levels against older competition. Kelenic was hitting .303 with ten homers in A-ball, and I don’t think it will take him long to adjust to life in the hitter-friendly Cal League.
Jorge Mateo, 2B/SS | OAK – 1-for-4 with a double (12) and a steal (13). Mateo is hitting .326 in the PCL and I’d have him stashed if you’re struggling at middle infidel in deeper formats. With a stolen base percentage around 68%, I’m not sure he’s going to be a huge stolen base boon upon arrival, especially if he doesn’t play every day, so there are probably better targets than him if you play in a shallow league and/or have limited slots in which to stash prospects.
Hey Mike,
Thoughts on this trade? Lots of prospects involved:
Team A: Thor, Kebryan Hayes, Heliot Ramos, Niko Goodrum
Team B: Jorge Polanco, Carlos Santana, Luis Robert, Luis Regnifo
Polanco side
Sweet! That’s the side I was on lol. Thanks man!
Anytime
20 team dynasty roto with OBP/slugging/QS/K per 9 added and net saves and holds added. we can keep all starting roster slots (except for the extra IF and 4th any OF slot, start 5 SP, 5 RP) and up to 10 prospect eligible guys. 1st year was an auction, all other years will be snakes.
C phegley
1B rhysus (LF)
2B ketel one (SS/CF, i had so little money left for the last MI guy during auction draft that he was about my 8th best (at the time) option, blowing up luckily for me)
SS story
3B mostsuckass (2B)
IF semien (SS, he was dropped a few weeks ago)
LF bauers (1B)
CF kiermaier
RF harper (CF)
OF gordon (LF)
util otani (hitter only)
BN (this many since only 1400 max innings): panik (2B), laureano (CF)
DL (5): mcneil (2B/3B/LF), cruz (DH), a.diaz
NA (10): vientos, o.cruz, kelenic, larnach, n.jones, y.diaz (BAL), brujan, lux
SP: ryu, matz, happ (i screwed up bidding 12 on him with his age, a bit later l.castillo ONLY went for the same 12, i figured i’d never afford him), ed-rod, turnbull, marquez, jefry rod (hard to improve on him in FA, unless i went with holds guy at SP)
RP: r.iglesias, giles, buttrey, wittgren, duke newcomb (i’ve changed this last RP slot all year)
DL: clevinger (about half of what thor cost in auction, f’ing nuts), morrow
NA: d.garcia (NYY), puk
drop d.garcia (or anybody else) for m.baez (SD) who was just dropped? want to have some prospect pitchers in here stashed. j.adams/freeman/groshans/rocchio also out there, but i could use some pitcher prospects. b.wilson also is, since in yahoo he only has P (not SP or RP) so he doesn’t yet exist in this league. d.garcia (i’m checking now) WAS ranked higher than m.baez in prospects live’s top 100 (which i hadn’t realized, but probably knew back in march).
2. also, when mcneil is back clearly panik is the drop, but right now add any of: b.dixon, choi, newman, castro (catcher, for phegley off days, he at least plays more than castro).
I’d swap Garcia for Baez, yes.
Nah, might as well stick with Panik
Hey Mike!
Thoughts about Zac Gallen?
Should be up this season, maybe by end of June. Mid-rotation upside with a friendly park and likely a long leash to help him along.
Love these… Omar Estevez SS LAD, Alexander Vargas SS NYY, Jonathan Ornelas 3B TEX, Angel Martinez SS CLV. I have to drop one in my dynasty league. Very deep league and for some reason or another I read that they all would great to own dynasty wise, my roster crunch says otherwise. Thoughts Sir?
Love reading these … Question I have an illegal lineup in my big dynasty league somehow and have to drop 1 of Omar Estevez LAD SS, Angel Martinez CLEV SS, Alexander Vargas NYY, or Jonathan Ornelas 2B/3B TEX. Whose on the cutting block? Or who has the least potential I guess. Im pretty sure these guys are awhile away from the show. Thanks
Thanks! eh, I guess, Vargas
If you needed serious help at1B is Bradley someone who might help in the next 2-3 weeks?
Yup, I could see that.
What is going on with Francisco Mejia? Do you still see him as a top catching prospect?
Kinda stuck where he’s not really a spec anymore but also not getting the majority of playing time. I don’t give catchers much of a leash, so I’d lose him for somebody better if they’re out there and if he breaks out next year for someone else’s team, so be it.
No one mentions Alex Reyes anymore but he has great stuff, is only 24, and “Reyes has looked sharp in a pair of starts for High-A Palm Beach, compiling a 1.93 ERA and 11:3 K:BB in 9.1 innings” on a rehab assignment before returning to AAA.
If you only have two Minors spots and Robert is in the other, is it him, Trammell, Bradley, Kelenic, Royce Lewis, C.Pache, Joey Bart, Sixto Sanchez, Jesus Sanchez (OF TB), Sean Murphy, or Ke’Bryan Hayes?
Robert and Lewis all day for me, unless this is for 2019 only.
honeywell ruled ok to throw again today (and this was reported likely just under a week ago)
Great news but at this point I think the setbacks limit him to August/September unfortunately.
Hey Mike,
Does Mize get the call this year? If yes, guess as to when?
Thanks!
I think he does…my guess is July
Mike,
Mike
Here are my potential keepers for next year when I will be making a run 15 team obp
Bats: Vlad Eloy Tatis Hiura Benintendi ERosario Chavis
Arms: Ohtani Paddock Marquez Morton
Would you move Paddock for S Marte ?
Yeah I always flip arms for bats when possible.
Mike I know he’s no longer a prospect but what are your thoughts on JD Davis in a dynasty? I’m thinking cut bait?
I read a really positive article on him earlier this year on Fangraphs, but I’m not sure he’s anything other than a part time player and I just don’t trust the Mets to manage their roster well.
This long wait for Tucker and Alvarez better be worth it…
For real. Got a bad case of blue (orange?) balls.
Better dynasty stash McKay or Manning ?
McKay
Hey Mike, how would you rank Bradley to Mountcastle and K. Cron? I’ve been cyclopsing Cron but the Dbacks seem content to let him rot on their bench as a PH…at least until Walker completely loses his shine. That’s something I’ll never understand with MLB clubs; if you’re gonna promote a prospect, let him play!
I agree. I’d rank Bradley ahead of the other two for pure power. Mountcastle less risky, higher floor.
“A lot of fantasy owners will be stashing Luzardo and Cease, etc., but McKay could be just as relevant down the stretch.”
Not only just as relevant playing time wise, but likely actually better performance wise. As long as the Rays let him go more than 60 pitches an outing
For sure
Hey Mike ! Awesome stuff as usual.. 1st Place team in my league has Springer Tatis KDavis Blackmon all on the shelf.. is DESPERATE for a bar .. asking me about Dietrich .. I’m not in compete mode this year.. ok swapping him for any of/combination Kelenic, Mercado, Mountcastle? I may need to throw in another filler that i don’t care about… it’s a 12 team forever keep 10 + 10 farm/stash .. roto … thank you in advance!
Thanks! I’d take Kelenic. If he’s desperate, try to get two for one.
remember when i said i bit back about straw might even likely beat both of tucker (back to MLB, people talk as if he’d “get the call” when it wouldn’t be his first call) and y.alvarez since HOU since competitive jerk around their prospects (reed, that other 1B weed guy, some others, tucker’s at bats last year, fisher’s at bats every call up till now, and he’s finally doing WELL too, i actually bid about 2 mil in a 30 team league for a 2 year deal on fisher, NOT ONE OTHER owner bid more than near minimum). well, on straw, let the “The Last Straw: HOU finally breaks the hearts of fantasy owners” type pun titles come now.
anything to mayfield? today he isn’t starting but did yesterday and i have rengifo (with altuve and a.diaz in DL slots) in AL only 10 team h2h with OBP over AVG, net steals over steals and total bases added. i’m guessing straw is the higher upside guy (for steals anyway, but mayfield’s minor numbers lately aren’t bad either). also i’m surprised to see straw is white (he was just added by somebody in this league. i’d have to go with no MI (or drop one of bauers/mercado) to have added him right away. mayfield still out there).
2. smeltzer and mayfield literally were just added to yahoo (but of course), if bassitt hound is my worst starter (QS over wins) bid how much (if anything) on smeltzer? odor, when dropped, the 2nd highest bid was 12 (i went overboard and went 22/100, MI is SOOOO shallow in this league)
haha
I’d stick with Mercado over Straw for now.
2. I’d go 7 or 8 on Smeltz
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.
Thinking about long term and prospect, see waiver wire below (but focus would be on picking up either Urias, McKay or Cease ?) Maybe drop K. Gibson for one of them (basically who are the top two from the wire, in order of pickups) :
Waiver:
HIT –, R. Nunez, M. Cabrera, K. Schwarber, A.J. Pollock (10-DL), B. Dozier, J. Soler, B. Gardner, R. Rodriguez, J. Reddick, L. Urias (NA), J. Martinez, J. Phegley, B. Mckay
SP – T. Mahle, W. Miley, M. Fiers,, M. Pineda, C. Mize (NA), D. Cease (NA), D. Duffy
RP – S. Greene, C. Kimbrel (NA), B. Parker, A.J. Minter, M. Barnes, J. Leclerc P. Strop, D. Robertson, S. Cishek, L. Jackson, S. Kelley, S. Romo
My team:
C – W. Ramos
1B – P. Goldschmidt
2B – K. Marte
3B – Eugenio Suarez
SS – J. Polanco
CI – A. Rizzo
MI – T. Turner
LF – J.D. Martinez
CF – C. Yelich
RF – D. Santana
Util – H. Dozier
BN – T. La Stella
DL – C. Blackmon
SP – C. Carrasco
SP – J. Verlander
SP – W. Buehler
RP – K. Jansen (RP)
RP – K. Giles (RP)
P – J. Paxton
P – J. Musgrove
BN – M. Perez
BN – K. Gibson
BN – A. Heaney
BN – Z. Gallen (NA)
BN – M. Keller (NA)
DL – W. Davis (RP) (10-DL)
Thanks bud
Marv
If you’re looking to boost offense, I’d stick with Gibson and lose Gallen for Urias.
Mike!!!
Great MiLB pros report! Thoroughly enjoyed even if it’s not my cup of tea!
a. So glad Middle infidel is not a problem for me. What a dilemma stashing or not Mateo! Damn, so glad I don’t have that problem.
b. Thanks for the tips on McKay. When might Luzardo come up? Is he going to be any good at the MLB level?
c. Just got back from a 4-day mission to Rabat, Morocco. Stayed in this so-called hotel (that’s how it’s listed on booking dot com) but it is everything except a hotel. To wit.
1. It’s 20$ per night, so cheaper than Motel 6.
2. No towel.
3. Located right in the middle of the old market. The entirety of the old market is walled just as it used to be like I guess 400 years or more ago.
Actually, it was a great experience to be in the middle of the market but then have the room’s window look out onto the courtyard which was really peaceful and quiet. I was there for Holy Ramadan so I had to go to bed early (like 9 pm) ’cause the call from the Imam was 04h30 every morning, so you’re awake like it or not.
They have cool stuff and prices are dirt cheap and you can also bargain. A colleague’s boyfriend was visiting and went around with her to the market. The marketeer offered like something for X and he just accepted! His girlfriend said why did you just accept? You’re supposed to bargain, but he just saw the price as cheaper than what he was used to and just accepted, not wanting to argue for no good reason.
Lastly, May is definitely the month to visit. Anything later would be deathly hot. To wit, two weeks ago there was a small heat wave that hit Morocco. Rabat was hit with 95F but inland in Fez and Marrakech the temperature hit 115F!!! And that’s in the middle of May. Imagine what the temperature would be in August!! Although the heat in Fez is dry heat so more tolerable? Not sure, though I did endure 135 in Khartoum in 2009 so 115 would be a blessing. When I was there May 23 it was 75 in Rabat, sunny and just right – so May but try to avoid the heatwave. Let me know if you want to go to Africa, I can set you up with a nice itinerary to some nice places. Like you could live in Uganda for 10 years with 10000 US$. ‘Tis true.
Cheers,
Ante
Thanks Ante!
a. Yup
b. Should be, probably July
c. That’s interesting. I like haggling when I went to the markets in Brazil.
Mike!
Yep, haggling it is. It’s kind of like an art form in the markets in northern Africa.
What about McKay? How clear is his path to MLB this year? September? Earlier? Depends on many things I suppose, his performance, their need and whether or not they’re still in the playoff hunt. If Snell stays more or less at his level, Glasnow gets back, I could see McKay just after the ASB. You?
Cheers,
Ante
Yup, if he shows well in a handful of Triple-A starts, it should be midsummer in some capacity.
Heya Mike
If you were starting a dynasty league, how would you rank Adell, L.Robert, and Kelenic ?
How close are they?
What round would you be thinking of taking them in a 12 team?
Do any make it into the top 5 rounds?
Thanks
Robert, Adell, Kelenic
I usually don’t take prospects that early, but Robert might be worthy. I usually starting taking chances on specs after I’ve taken 6-8 established young players.