July 9, 2013

The Stash List

All Killer, No Filler

by Bret Sayre

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No extended introduction this week, as my recent efforts have been directed toward the Top 50 Fantasy Prospects List, which came out yesterday. If you haven’t checked it out yet, right after you finish reading this column is as good a time as any. Instead, we’ll just get straight to what you came here to see. After all, I am a man of the people.

Without any further ado, here is The Stash List, version 12.0:

The Graduates: Tony Cingrani (3), Ike Davis (8), Tyler Skaggs (11), Grant Green (14), Derek Jeter (17)

1) Erasmo Ramirez, RHP, Seattle Mariners (Last week: 1)

With Jeremy Bonderman being designated for assignment on Monday, it’s all over but the shouting for the Eraser. With unconfirmed (at least as I’m typing this) reports that he’ll be called up to start Thursday’s game, the most recent staple at the top of the Stash List is about to move on. At this point, Ramirez should be owned in just about every league out there.

2) Adam Eaton, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks (Last week: 2)

This rehab assignment appears to be going a lot better than the last one. In nine games thus far, Eaton is hitting .393/.538/.571 and has gotten through two games in the outfield. If he gets through the rest of the week unscathed, he should be back after the All-Star break to give the Diamondbacks a big boost at the top of their lineup.

3) Nick Castellanos, 3B/OF, Detroit Tigers (Last week: 4)

It’s essentially turned from the Castellanos Watch to the Dirks Watch, as this situation has now become more dependent on the incumbent’s ability to hold off the youngster. And since June 1, Dirks is hitting .252 with one homer, one steal, and a .320 slugging percentage. That’s just not going to cut it for much longer.

4) Brandon Beachy, RHP, Atlanta Braves (Last week: 6)

On Tuesday, Beachy will restart his minor-league assignment by returning to Triple-A for at least a handful of outings. I still believe that the Braves will make room for Beachy in the major-league rotation, despite not having an opening for him—whether that opening is created by a demotion or a trade. But he has to hold up his end of the bargain first.

5) Billy Hamilton, SS/OF, Cincinnati Reds (Last week: 7)

It’s so tempting to keep looking for signs of Hamilton turning his season around, just because the speed would be such a game-changer for fantasy purposes. Unfortunately, he’s just not giving us those signs. Hamilton has drawn exactly one walk in the last calendar month, against 20 strikeouts. Yet, it’s still just so tempting.

6) Alex Rodriguez, 3B, New York Yankees (Last week: 9)

Four games into his rehab assignment, and A-Rod is already disappointing everyone and their mothers, uncles, and grandparents. I swear, if I see another one of these “A-Rod goes hitless in another minor-league game” headlines, I’m going to lose my mind. The man hasn’t played all year; give him a break if he doesn’t come out with all cylinders firing.

7) Carlos Martinez, RHP, St Louis Cardinals (Last week: 13)

With the way Martinez has been throwing at Triple-A, I’d be at least a little surprised if they don’t give him a shot in the rotation before July is up. He’s stretched out and ahead of Wacha on the depth chart. Plus, Joe Kelly isn’t going to help the Cardinals much in their fight to get into the playoffs.

8) Kevin Gausman, RHP, Baltimore Orioles (Last week: 5)

The Scott Feldman acquisition puts a damper on the Gausman excitement in Baltimore, and increases the chances of him staying in the bullpen for the remainder of the season. Though, to be fair, he is still Scott Feldman and could open that door back up at any moment.

9) Oscar Taveras, OF, St Louis Cardinals (Last week: 10)

10) Will Middlebrooks, 3B, Boston Red Sox (Last week: NR)

Since his demotion on June 25, Middlebrooks is hitting .303 with six homers in just 17 games. He’s got a huge hole to dig out of at the major-league level, but he should get another opportunity in relatively short order (assuming the alien currently residing inside Jose Iglesias’ body finds something better to do).

11) Danny Duffy, LHP, Kansas City Royals (Last week: 15)

12) Rex Brothers, LHP, Colorado Rockies (Last week: NR)

With the Rockies falling further and further out of contention, the chances of Rafael Betancourt being dealt continu to increase. And Brothers will be more than happy to step into his role if that happens, as his 0.99 ERA on the season would dictate.

13) George Springer, OF, Houston Astros (Last week: 12)

Springer has really taken to Triple-A thus far, with a .378 average, four homers, four steals, and even a strikeout rate under 30 percent. The only reason he’s not higher on this list is that I just don’t see the rush for the Astros to promote him in the next couple of months. After all, Springer isn’t even on the 40-man roster.

14) Christian Yelich, OF, Miami Marlins (Last week: 16)

He’s back.

15) Brandon Morrow, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays (Last week: NR)

If we’re strictly talking about potential upside, Morrow has some of the highest on this list. Unfortunately for him, he’s unlikely to be back before August, and it’s been a season to forget even when he’s been healthy. Still, Morrow is exactly the type of arm who could end up being a huge part of head-to-head championships down the stretch.

16) Blake Parker, RHP, Chicago Cubs (Last week: NR)

The whispers of Parker getting the first crack at the closer’s job in Chicago are growing louder, and the odds of the Cubs keeping Kevin Gregg through the deadline are minimal. My confidence in him wouldn’t be strong as a potential owner, but a man with a job is a man with a job.

17) Sonny Gray, RHP, Oakland Athletics (Last week: 21)

18) Xander Bogaerts, SS, Boston Red Sox (Last week: 18)

19) Trevor Rosenthal, RHP, St Louis Cardinals (Last week: NR)

Rosenthal’s rise has more to do with his potential than any struggles with Edward Mujica. Though on the other hand, Mujica has given up more earned runs and homers in the last month than in his first two-and-a-half. If Rosenthal were to get this job at some point down the stretch, he’d instantly become a top-10 closer.

20) Michael Wacha, RHP, St Louis Cardinals (Last week: 19)

21) Yonder Alonso, 1B, San Diego Padres (Last week: 20)

22) Mark Melancon, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates (Last week: NR)

23) Rafael Montero, RHP, New York Mets (Last week: 22)

24) Taijuan Walker, RHP, Seattle Mariners (Last week: NR)

With Erasmo Ramirez on his way up and Danny Hultzen again sidelined with shoulder soreness, Walker suddenly becomes the potential next guy in line for a spot in the Mariners rotation. The prospect of seeing this high-upside talent in the majors soon is enticing, but the odds are still small.

25) Jarred Cosart, RHP, Houston Astros (Last week: NR)

The walks are a bit much, but Cosart has been very good in the tough environment of the Pacific Coast League. He’ll get his chance, as the Astros are not exactly running a pitching clinic down there.

Honorable Mention: Jonathan Singleton, Alex Colome, Travis d’Arnaud, Chris Carpenter, Chris Colabello

Bret Sayre is an author of Baseball Prospectus. Follow @BretSayreBP
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