Fantasy Baseball
Everyone loves a new toy. If you’re a child, you love opening presents to see what’s underneath that wrapping. As an adult, we like to play with our new electronics (at least I do). As a fantasy player, our new toys are the top minor league players when they get called up to the majors. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Blue Jays was pretty much treated like the Messiah when he was called up last week. Not only was he the savior of the Blue Jays, but was also going to cure cancer, solve world hunger, and lead your fantasy team to a championship. Why are these shiny new toys so popular? They haven’t failed yet. They haven’t disappointed us yet. Don’t worry, that time will come. Now, we’re not going to talk about Guerrero in this column, he’s owned everywhere and is expected to hit 75 HRs and bat .450 for the remainder of the season, but we will talk about a couple of other new toys and why you should or shouldn’t play them.
Risers
Elvis Andrus, Texas Rangers: Andrus was a forgotten shortstop at draft time this year. It seems owners couldn’t get over the poor 2018 season he had. If you remember, Andrus was a monster in 2017 with 20 HR, 88 RBI, 25 SB, and a .297 AVG. This moved him up draft boards last season as big things were expected, but all of those numbers took a tumble due to poor play and injury (only 97 games played). So far this season he’s looking to post even bigger numbers than 2017. Andrus is a must play as he can add pop and speed to your team.
Michael Chavis, Boston Red Sox: Here is one of those shiny new toys I was talking about. Chavis may just well be the top prospect in the Boston organization. They called him up for two reasons. One, injuries opened a spot on the roster. Two, this offense needed a jolt. Chavis can hit, there is little doubt about that. The question will be, does he stick on the team once Eduardo Nunez (back) and Dustin Pedroia (knee) return from injury? Nunez has already begun a rehab assignment, Pedroia is expected to later this week, neither will be out much longer. Chavis is a natural 3B, but he’s unlikely to unseat Rafael Devers, despite Devers problems on defense. Second base long-term is also not the answer and J.D. Martinez is the best DH in baseball. That would seem to leave 1B. If he hits enough, he could force the Sox’s hand and they will have to keep him on the roster as the team’s 1B.
Luke Voit, New York Yankees: Voit has been a godsend for the Yankees. With all of the injuries that the team has had, where would they be without Voit, Gleyber Torres, and D.J. Lemahieu? Voit has his issues defensively. He’s a DH waiting to happen, but the man can hit. Voit is especially lethal when hitting the ball where it’s pitched and let’s face it, there is no reason to get pull happy in Yankee Stadium if you’re a right-handed hitter. He may move down the lineup eventually once Giancarlo Stanton (shoulder) and Aaron Judge (oblique) return from injury, but he no longer has to worry about Greg Bird (plantar fasciitis) splitting time with him.
Mike Soroka, Atlanta Braves: Soroka may not be a shiny new toy anymore, that shine may have worn off last year, but he’s back, and back with a vengeance. The Braves are loaded with young talented starting pitching. Soroka came up last year but an injury ended his season early. In three starts this season, Soroka has a 1.62 ERA and 1.14 WHIP to go along with 21 strikeouts in 16.2 IP. If your league hasn’t caught up with him yet, get him on your roster. Soroka has to be better than what is currently at the bottom of your pitching staff.
Carter Kieboom, Washington Nationals: Another of those new toys. Kieboom wasn’t called up when Trea Turner (finger) first went on the IL. You can make your own conclusions as to why, but he’s there now. The problem, of course, is that Turner should be back within two weeks to three weeks. He will take shortstop back once he does. Where will that leave Kieboom? It would seem that with Turner on the team, and he’s not going anywhere, Kieboom will have to learn a new position anyway to remain with Washington. Why not 2B? It’s not like Brian Dozier or Howie Kendrick is the long-term answer at that position. The question may actually be, will the Nationals be willing to bench Dozier? It’s not like Dozier is off to a great start. You roster Kieboom and hope for the best when it comes to playing time once Turner is activated.
Fallers
Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Indians: After Mike Trout and Mookie Betts, Ramirez was the likely next pick in your fantasy draft. At this point in the season, you may be wondering if he should have been. There is little debating that he has gotten off to a slow start. No one was expecting a .188 AVG and only two bombs and nine RBI at this point in the season. At least the speed is still there with eight SB. What can you do? You can’t trade him as you won’t get equal value. You certainly can’t release him. Benching him is certainly a possibility until JRam breaks out and would be the option I would choose should you have someone you can live with as a temporary replacement.
Anthony Rendon, Washington Nationals: I’m not sure there is anything more frustrating than a day to day injury that turns into week to week. It forces you to make a decision each week. Do I start this player or bench him for a lesser player, and don’t we always seem to make the wrong choice? If you started Rendon last week, you ate it. What’s even more frustrating is that he played one game, suffered a setback, and has now been out for three more. Now, if they place him on the IL (likely as of this writing), you can’t start him this week, and likely next as well. Just so frustrating for a player who was off to an MVP start. Fantasy owners will need to be patient here.
Aaron Nola, Philadelphia Phillies: Nola was a top-three finisher in the NL Cy Young award last season and a top-five pitcher taken in fantasy drafts this year. Well, he’s certainly not pitching like either one as his 5.68 ERA and 1.58 WHIP will attest to. Listen, Nola will get better but another season like last year would seem unlikely. Nola is the reason why I like to see players have more than one great season before I anoint them the next big thing. Baseball is a game of adjustments and right now the league seems to have adjusted to Nola.
Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians: We really don’t have a right to be surprised about the slow start for Kluber now do we? Kluber has had problems in each of the past few seasons down the stretch due to wear and tear. The Indians made his name available in trade talks all winter long. That alone should have told us something as no one knows his medical more than Cleveland does. Kluber will pitch better. He’s not going to have a 5.81 ERA and 1.68 WHIP all season, but once he does have a solid start or two, I’d be looking to see what you can get for him via a trade. This is just not the same pitcher that he used to be.
