Greetings, deep league friends! As we inch closer to summer, things are both literally and metaphorically heating up, at least in some places in terms of the weather, and at least in some players in terms of their hitting. It’s also getting closer to that time where I start to worry about who isn’t ever going to fully come around this season (talking to you, Gleyber Torres; how about making me look dumb by having a monster game before this post drops?) Sometimes waiting for those slow-starting players to get going can actually be one of the silver linings that goes along with the lack of options in the deepest leagues. With no alternatives, you know you’ll never over-manage and miss the week when your underperforming hitters finally break out. You also have the peace of mind knowing that often there’s simply nothing you can to to try to upgrade a roster; all you can do is sit back and hope things improve. For leagues where you do have some roster space and a handful of free agent options available, however, it makes sense to take what you can find, throw it at the wall, and see if anything miraculously sticks. That notion brings us to this week’s players that may be worth a look in NL-only, AL-only, and other deep leagues.
NL
Otto Lopez. So, it’s our second week in a row with a Marlins infielder as the RITD lede; can’t say I saw that coming, but having unexpected players emerge (or at least potentially emerge) is what the deep league business is all about. Lopez qualifies at 2B and 3B in some of my leagues, OF and 2B in others, and this season he’s played 10 games at second, 5 at third and one at short. The fact that on different sites, Lopez appears in a Giants cap, a Marlins cap, and a Blue Jays cap in his profile photos tells us that the 25 year old is already somewhat of a journeyman. The playing time is there right now for any young Marlin, and that may only prove more true as the season continues and the team continues to trade off any potentially valuable veteran parts. Lopez has about 2000 minor league at bats (over seven years) under his belt, but let’s not forget that smack dab in the middle of that stretch was a completely lost year of development. The ramifications of that year we may never fully be able to properly analyze when it comes to all of the guys in their mid-20’s who are just now seeing their first extended tastes of MLB action. At any rate, Lopez was never a power guy during those seven years (just 21 homers in 1995 ABs), which makes his 3 bombs in 36 major league at bats all the more interesting. Anomalous, most likely, but still interesting. He does have 90 steals in the minors, and very impressive overall hitting numbers with a .301 average and .366 OBP. I’ve grabbed him in one deep keeper league and one deep re-draft league while we see if he continues to do anything to warrant further consideration in either.
Jalen Beeks. In a mess of a bullpen for a mess of a team, Beeks has recently emerged at the top of the closer depth chart for the Rockies, for now, a notch or two ahead of both Justin Lawrence and Tyler Kinley. Okay, the Rockies are actually currently on like a 6 7 game winning streak as I write this, so perhaps I’m being too harsh since I guess by definition they are the hottest team in baseball… but what’s also harsh is Beeks’ K/BB ratio; he has 11 walks and 14 Ks in 20 innings. Somehow he’s turned that into a 2.21 ERA/1.18 WHIP, however, and he’s locked down four saves now, so I suppose he should be on the radar if you’re desperate for a closer.
Nick Gonzales. The Pirates 24-year old second baseman had an uninspiring cup of coffee last year and is back in 2024 to give it another go. So far he’s 4 for 18 with one walk, but he does have a homer and 4 RBI. With Jared Triolo scuffling during his time filling in at third for K’eBryan Hayes, this would be a good time for Gonzales (who was off to a great start in the minors this year with a 1.093 OPS) to show he belongs in the majors and claim second base for himself. Not saying he’s going to be able to do it, just saying he should.
Jake Cave. While 23-year-old promoted prospect Jordan Beck finally had a huge game and may be at least temporarily on the fantasy radar, it should probably be noted that the 0% owned Cave has started three games in a row for Colorado this week during that above-mentioned Rockies hot streak. He’s a 31-year old, career .232 hitter who doesn’t have any of those stats that interest fantasy baseball types, like a homer or a steal, yet. But the Rockies, as only they can, started playing Cave over Sean Bouchard as soon as Bouchard had a couple hitless games after he’d been on a little roll at the plate. Seems like if you were trying to develop a young hitter, benching him as soon as he ran into any difficulty would not be the best way to handle things, but back to Cave. His at bats may disappear by the time you read this if Kris Bryant is actually ready to return, but in the deepest of deep leagues where every at bat counts, it’s good to note that this is how the Rockies outfield depth chart has shaken out, should they continue to be hit with injuries.
Jake Bauers. Grey has mocked the Brewers for playing Bauers, who qualifies at 1B and OF, as much as they have this year given how many young players who seem to deserve a shot at at bats they have, and I wholeheartedly agree with that take. However, we deep leaguers have to use questionable organizational or managerial decisions to our advantage, and while the 8% owned Bauers is hitting just .235 in his 85 at bats this season, he has managed not only 4 homers but 4 steals as well. He should continue to see at bats against righties and now with Rhys Hoskins hurt, Cave may by not only in the deep league conversation, he may enter the picture as a streamer or stop gap option in slightly shallower leagues as well.
Mark Vientos. One of the bigger disappointments for anyone thinking he was a fantasy sleeper heading into 2023, Vientos is back in the big leagues after Joey Wendle was DFA’d by the Mets. The Mets continue to have a very hot mess vibe of late and currently don’t have a single middle infielder on their roster to back up Lindor and McNeil, so seems like another move should be incoming, but do what you will with the information that Vientos is back on the big league roster.
AL
Tyler Soderstrom. With some young prospect shine still on him (and he’s only 22), Soderstrom is likely owned in deep AL-only keeper type leagues, but his very recent but notable run might be of interest in multiple formats given his catcher eligibility. He’s played five games at first base (in addition to catching one) in 2024 and has gotten off to a lovely start with 6 hits including a homer in 19 at bats. The A’s continue to be off the radar in both real baseball and fantasy, but that fact makes it a good place to look for finding the occasional moderately-valuable gem in the rough.
Dairon Blanco. Blanco has gone from 2 to 8% owned in CBS leagues over the last week so he’s already out of the ultra deep league conversation, I suppose. He’s been getting more playing time in the Royals outfield lately and has done the one thing we fantasy types would have hoped and expected, which is running. He’s up to 11 (!) stolen bases in just 28 games/41 at bats, and I’m already wishing I’d added him in a couple of my mixed leagues where I’m hurting for steals. He’s also hitting a robust .293 in that little sample size, and while that number will likely come down, he’s always been a decent hitter with a good eye.
Dylan Moore. I’ve overrated Dylan Moore for years now, so I always feel the need to point out when he’s playing a decent amount and throwing some stats to the fantasy community. Moore already has 100 at bats this year, which is something, and he’s got 3 homers and 6 steals, which is also something. He comes with a horrific batting average (though he will take a walk), but we deep leaguers know that we usually can’t be too picky.
Kevin Pillar. How can we not mention Pillar, even though his recent deep-league hot schmotato run has to be coming to an end soon. Doesn’t it? I actually have had Pillar active in the CBS AL-only Analysts League for a few weeks now, and honestly even after picking him up I didn’t remember what team he was on (it’s the Angels) until I looked at my live scoring the other day. (I should mention, that league is so deep that basically every hitter who may get a major league at bat in the upcoming week is rostered). Through Wednesday’s games, Pillar was hitting .328 with a .385 OBP in 27 games (just 58 at bats), with 4 homers, a fairly ridiculous 18 RBI, 9 runs scored, and 4 stolen bases. That is, like, SO much better than a bunch of guys that have been in my mixed league lineups all year. I certainly don’t think he’ll keep up anything near that pace, but he’s earned more playing time if nothing else, so I sure do wish I’d grabbed him in one of my ultra deep leagues where I can win money rather than the one that’s just for bragging rights!
Kyle Stowers. I will never understand what on earth the Orioles were thinking when they promoted Heston Kjerstad to have him sit on the bench game after game, but that experiment is over for the moment and Stowers (who is now 26) has been promoted to the big league roster. He may actually get to play a bit since it sounds like Austin Hays is having trouble fully recovering from his calf injury, but we’ll have to wait and see on that front. He was only at .240 in the minors, but was hitting for huge power with 11 homers and 32 RBI. I’m not necessarily expecting even a deep league fantasy impact here, but maybe having ultra low expectations is the key to finally finding a promoted Oriole that doesn’t disappoint.
