SAGNOF: Louis Vuitton Don Night

Do you own Trea Turner, he of three steals in one game? No? Then you’re chasing speed with the rest of us. It’s pretty early to go dropping players you drafted for a rabbit with a chance at a steal. However, if you have a free spot put it to use. Like Kanye craving a fair-haired lady lover, we’ll do anything for a save or steal come September. It’s never too early to pad those columns.

• Steven Souza, Jr. must be cursed. He has the worst injury luck, tearing all kinds of knee ligaments slipping as he crossed home plate in a late spring training game. That brings Jarrod Dyson back to the SAGNOF forefront. Adam Jones is going to play most days but there should be plenty of opportunities for Dyson.
• It seems the Mets will continue to be a team to target against. Wilson Ramos is a decent catcher but their pitchers are perhaps a lost cause. The Marlins face them for three games to start the week. Maybe Lewis Brinson or Curtis Granderson can be your faceless steals for the week.
• Keon Broxton drew the start in center yesterday. He made sure not to waste his audition, stealing two bases and getting on base three times. It isn’t a high hurdle to clear with Juan Lagares ahead of him on the CF depth chart.
• We have to take the Mariners stats with a grain of salt as they have two more games than any other team, but both Dee Gordon and Domingo Santana have two steals apiece. Santana will become the value of the season if he continues to produce with power and speed. Tim Beckham also has one attempt for a caught stealing. He’s a nice FAAB bid in deeper leagues as another potential power/speed combo.
• Our first closer derby of the season is here already in Seattle. Hunter Strickland has a grade-2 lat strain. My priority would be Anthony Swarzak since he’s close to returning. Cory Gearrin has also been a popular add, though he had a pretty hard time throwing strikes last night.
• Things look muddy in both Kansas City and Baltimore’s bullpens. We’re going to need some sample size to know who is trusted. Unfortunately, we save chasers rarely get that luxury. If you can find a cast off I don’t mind grabbing Ian Kennedy or Mike Wright. Both converted starters got the job done in their first save opportunities.

Let’s take a look at the catcher’s you could steal on last year. Going forward we’ll look at in-season stats but here’s who had trouble in 2018.