July 28, 2016

The Stash List

17th Edition, 2016

by J.J. Jansons

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For a refresher on the four types of players that are eligible for inclusion on this list, please see the first edition of the year to find out why players like A.J. Pollock, Michael Brantley and Zack Greinke are not listed below.

Last week’s Stash List can be found here.

The Graduates: (1) Alex Bregman, (3) Tyler Skaggs, (6) Joey Gallo, (16) David Dahl, (20) Luis Severino, (Next 10) Chad Green

SS/3B/LF Alex Bregman received a standing ovation as the former Albuquerque Academy star made his major-league debut on Monday, starting at third base and striking out twice in four at-bats. Bregman has started twice at third base and once at designated hitter in three games since his recall, and it’s likely he plays primarily at third base until newly signed Yulieski Gurriel is inserted into the lineup, at which time the plan appears to be to have Bregman rotate between third base, left field, and the designated hitter spot, and to give Carlos Correa a day off should he need one down the stretch. There should be plenty of at-bats available for Bregman to make an impact over the season’s final two months, but it’s unlikely that he takes his shortstop eligibility into next season in long-term leagues.

LHP Tyler Skaggs looked outstanding in making his return from Tommy John surgery on Tuesday at Kansas City, making 88 pitches (63 for strikes) in his seven innings of work. Skaggs held the Royals scoreless, allowing just three hits while striking out five and walking only one. Skaggs fastball averaged 93 MPH in his return per Brooks Baseball, making his first major league start since July 2014.

Prince Fielder will undergo season-ending neck surgery on Friday, and 1B/3B/OF Joey Gallo was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday as a result. Gallo hit sixth and started at first base on Tuesday against Oakland with right-hander Sonny Gray on the mound, smacking a home run and striking out twice in four at-bats while making an error in the field. In other words, basically the complete Joey Gallo Experience™. Gallo started the game on the bench against lefty Sean Manaea on Wednesday, appearing as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning, with Ryan Rua getting the start at first base. Unlike his previous callup at the end of May this season, Jeff Banister says Gallo is “coming (up) to play,” but he could be on the outside looking in when Shin-soo Choo returns from the disabled list if he fails to impress over the next few weeks, as the team could opt to rotate Jurickson Profar, Ryan Rua, and Mitch Moreland between the first base and designated hitter spots.

The Rockies waited well after the Super Two cutoff, but decided that they had #BetterCallDahl before rosters are set to expand in September, summoning their top outfield prospect to the majors. David Dahl received the call on Monday as Brandon Barnes was designated for assignment, and started each of his first two games with the team in left field, going 1-for-4 at the plate and hitting sixth in each contest. Dahl got the starting nod in center field (and hit second) against Dylan Bundy and Orioles on Wednesday, clubbing his first home run while once again going 1-for-4 at the plate. As I mentioned in last week’s Stash, Dahl has the ability to make an impact over the rest of the season, an impact that rivals that of Bregman and Gurriel, the top two hitters on last week’s list. Dahl’s placement at No. 16 on last week’s Stash was due to the hugely incorrect belief that he wouldn’t be called up prior to September, not due to a lack of belief in his fantasy prowess. It’s a genuine five-category profile, with his wheels offering the ability to help as the bat adjusts to major-league pitching over the season’s final two months.

Last week, Brian Cashman was quoted as saying that Luis Severino would not return to the majors this season “unless the need arises.” The trade of Aroldis Chapman gave the team a reason to reach down for Severino, who was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday and pitched two innings of scoreless relief against the Astros on Wednesday. A trade of Ivan Nova (or Michael Pineda) could make Severino a rotation option once again, or the team could choose to insert Adam Warren, who was reacquired as part of the Chapman deal, into the rotation and send Severino back to Scranton. Obviously, the Yankees pitching staff could undergo quite a bit of change over the next week, which could open the door for (Next 10) Chad Green to claim a rotation spot as well.

The Dropouts: (None)

Now, on to the 17th Edition of The Stash as the baseball world obsessively keeps hitting refresh on MLBTradeRumors.com:

1) Yulieski Gurriel, 2B/3B, Houston Astros (Last week: 2)

After signing his five-year, $47.5 million contract, Gurriel has been working out at the team’s spring training facility as he awaits approval of a work visa. It could be a couple of weeks before Gurriel receives his visa, which he needs prior to playing in any type of games, and then the team plans to have him play a few games at their GCL affiliate before playing briefly at Double-A Corpus Christi.

Best guess ETA: Mid-August

2) Lucas Giolito, RHP, Washington Nationals (Last week: 4)

Giolito hasn’t made it out of the fourth inning in each of his last two big league starts, after pitching four innings in his debut against the Mets on June 28th. After Giolito struggled with his command in his latest outing on Sunday at home against the Padres (3.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 0 K), he was sent back to Triple-A Syracuse. The team has not announced its starter for Saturday, and could once again turn to Giolito if they can manipulate the roster, and if he’s not traded for an elite reliever prior to the trade deadline.

Best guess ETA: July 30th

3) Alex Reyes, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals (Last week: 13)

The Cardinals are in need of a starter on Saturday, and Reyes was removed from his last start at Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday after making 57 pitches, 40 of which were for strikes. Reyes punched out seven while only walking one in his three innings of work, leading to speculation that he (or Tyler Lyons) could make Saturday’s start at Miami. The Cardinals are in need of a starter due to Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Mets, making it likely that Reyes is returned to Memphis if he does get the call on Saturday. Unless, of course, Jaime Garcia gets injured between now and then, which is always a possibility, as the next start Garcia makes, his 21st, will be his most in a season since 2011.

Best guess ETA: July 30th (spot start)

4) Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates (Last week: 5)

Glasnow left his second major league start on Saturday against the Phillies after three innings with shoulder inflammation and was placed on the 15-day disabled list. Glasnow is eligible to be activated August 8th, and the Pirates head trainer is “cautiously optimistic” about the right-hander’s ability to resume throwing in a few days.

Best guess ETA: Mid-August

5) Andrew Benintendi, OF, Boston Red Sox (Last week: 9)

Benintendi has hit for a .306 AVG that includes more walks (four) than strikeouts (three) over his last 10 games at Double-A Portland, with no home runs and one stolen base.

Best guess ETA: Mid-August

6) Jose De Leon, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers (Last week: 10)

De Leon was roughed up in his most recent start on Monday at home against Triple-A New Orleans, retiring just four of the 14 batters he faced, allowing seven earned runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out one. De Leon was lifted after making 57 pitches in his worst outing of the season.

Best guess ETA: August 2nd

7) Jose Berrios, RHP, Minnesota Twins (Last week: 11)

Has Ervin Santana been traded yet?

Best guess ETA: August 2nd

8) Aaron Altherr, OF, Philadelphia Phillies (Last week: Next 10)

I touched on Altherr in last week’s Free Agent Watch as he has made his way to Triple-A Lehigh Valley in his rehab after injuring his wrist in spring training. A trade (or DL stint) for Peter Bourjos should soon open a roster spot for Altherr, who could play a lot (as he did last season) over the season’s final two months in Philadelphia.

9) Aaron Judge, OF, New York Yankees (Last week: 23)

Former 1988 Topps All-Star Rookie Al Pedrique, who also serves as Judge’s manager at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, said the large outfielder should return to the lineup in a few days after being out of action since July 9th due to his injured knee.

Best guess ETA: Mid-August

10) Mike Clevinger, RHP, Cleveland Indians (Last week: 12)

Clevinger allowed five runs on eight hits in five innings of work in his most recent start against Triple-A Pawtucket on July 23rd. Clevinger picked up the win, moving his record to 10-1 at Columbus, but his ERA crept up above three (to 3.17) after the outing.

Best guess ETA: August 2nd

11) Josh Bell, 1B, Pittsburgh Pirates (Last week: 14)

After impressing in his brief call-up at the beginning of the month, Bell has yet to connect for a long ball since returning to Triple-A Indianapolis on July 17th, going 8-for-32 at the plate in 10 games.

Best guess ETA: Mid-August

12) Hunter Renfroe, OF, San Diego Padres (Last week: 15)

A.J. Preller did what was thought to be impossible as recently as last April, that being trading Melvin Upton, Jr. and not eating the entirety of his contract, but the team has chosen to give Alex Dickerson and Travis Jankowski more playing time in the outfield rather than call upon Renfroe to this point. Renfroe has smacked three home runs in his last 10 games at Triple-A El Paso, but his complete inability to take a walk (16 BB in 422 PA this season, a 3.8 percent rate) is going to make things a lot more difficult on him whenever he does reach Petco.

Best guess ETA: August 2nd

13) Sergio Romo, RHP, San Francisco Giants (Last week: 8)

The Giants are almost assuredly trying to secure a late-inning reliever prior to the deadline, but if they are unable to land one of their oft-rumored targets (Andrew Miller, Wade Davis, or David Robertson), they could once again turn to Romo in the ninth if Santiago Casilla continues to not impress (6.30 ERA/1.80 WHIP in June, 3.86 ERA/1.86 WHIP in July).

14) Steven Brault, LHP, Pittsburgh Pirates (Last week: NR)

Injuries to Tyler Glasnow and Chad Kuhl have paved the way for Brault to make his second career big league start on Friday at Milwaukee. If the Pirates don’t make a move for a starter prior to the deadline, Brault has a chance to take the job and run with it, as he’s been very impressive this season in the minors, pitching to a 2.15 ERA in 10 starts at Triple-A Indianapolis. The 24-year-old lefty has punched out 31 percent of the batters he’s faced this season (66 K in 50.1 IP) in the International League, and struck out five in his four-inning major league debut against the Cardinals on July 5th.

Best guess ETA: July 29th

15) Daniel Mengden, RHP, Oakland Athletics (Last week: Not eligible)
16) Dillon Overton, LHP, Oakland Athletics (Last week: Next 10)

After struggling in his last five starts (9.00 ERA), Mengden was sent to Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday. Mengden’s first four starts (2.81 ERA) as a big-leaguer were impressive enough that I expect him take the Rich Hill’s rotation spot once he is dealt, and Dillon Overton will likely take Saturday’s start on the road against Cleveland.

Best guess ETA: August 2nd for Mengden, July 30th for Overton

17) Zack Wheeler, RHP, New York Mets (Last week: 18)

Wheeler has yet to begin a rehab assignment, with Sandy Alderson speculating that his timeline for a return to the Mets rotation is now closer to the end of August.

Best guess ETA: September 1st

18) Joe Musgrove, RHP, Houston Astros (Last week: 17)

Musgrove has struck out over a batter-per-inning in each of his last four starts at Triple-A Fresno, and has once again harnessed his pinpoint control, walking just two batters in 25 innings over the four outings.

Best guess ETA: Mid-August

19) Austin Hedges, C, San Diego Padres (Last week: 19)

Has Derek Norris been traded yet?

Best guess ETA: August 2nd

20) Adam Ottavino, RHP, Colorado Rockies (Last week: 7)

Ottavino hasn’t given up a run in 7.1 innings since returning from Tommy Surgery, but Not Charlie Sheen (Carlos Estevez) has pitched well (2.25 July ERA in eight IP) upon his return. I am still of the belief that Ottavino gets the job back at some point this season, but it might not be in time to make much of a difference in most leagues and Estevez has pitched better as the season has gone along.

21) Alex Cobb, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays (Last week: 21)

Cobb was shut down with “fatigue and mechanical issues” after making his second rehab start at High-A Port Charlotte, but was able to successfully complete a bullpen session this week and will head back to Charlotte to resume his rehab assignment on Friday.

Best guess ETA: September 1st

22) Mike Minor, LHP, Kansas City Royals (Last week: 22)

Minor threw a live batting practice session at the team’s complex in Arizona on Sunday, and could be one more session away from starting another 30-day rehab period.

Best guess ETA: September 1st

23) Dansby Swanson, SS, Atlanta Braves (Last week: 24a)
24) Ozhaino Albies, 2B, Atlanta Braves (Last week: 24b)

Best guess ETA: September 1st for both

25) Nick Williams, OF, Philadelphia Phillies (Last week: 25)

Nick Williams 2016 Walk Watch: Zero walks (in seven games) since last week’s list. This is not a repeat of last week’s update. Williams hasn’t walked since July 10th, and has a grand total of one walk since June 18th.

Best guess ETA: September 1st

The Next 10 (in alphabetical order):

Homer Bailey, RHP, Cincinnati Reds
Ben Gamel, OF, New York Yankees
Jeff Hoffman, RHP, Colorado Rockies (Last week: NR)
Reynaldo Lopez, RHP, Washington Nationals (Last week: NR)
Trey Mancini, 1B, Baltimore Orioles
Tom Murphy, C, Colorado Rockies (Last week: NR)
Jordan Patterson, 1B/OF, Colorado Rockies
Gary Sanchez, C, New York Yankees
Jake Thompson, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
Dan Vogelbach, DH, Seattle Mariners

J.J. Jansons is an author of Baseball Prospectus. Follow @jansons_jj
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