August 4, 2016

The Stash List

18th 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, Danny Salazar, Joe Ross, Tyson Ross, Clayton Kershaw, and Zack Greinke are not listed below.

Last week’s Stash List can be found here.

The Graduates: (5) Andrew Benintendi, (7) Jose Berrios, (8) Aaron Altherr, (10) Mike Clevinger, (18) Joe Musgrove, (Next 10) Homer Bailey, (Next 10) Ben Gamel, (Next 10) Gary Sanchez

The Red Sox summoned their Alex P. Keaton lookalike from Double-A Portland on Monday and Andrew Benintendi went 0-for-2 at the plate after coming off of the bench against the Mariners on Tuesday. Benintendi made his first big-league start on Wednesday night and went 2-for-3 at the plate while hitting ninth.

Christopher Crawford and Wilson Karaman had more on Benintendi in his call-up feature, and it appears that the Sox plan to give the seventh overall pick in last June’s draft plenty of playing time over the last two months to display his five-category fantasy prowess.

The Twins did not deal Ervin Santana prior to the trade deadline, but they did move Ricky Nolasco and dispatch Tommy Milone to the bullpen, opening a spot for Jose Berrios in the rotation despite the team’s trade for Hector Santiago. Berrios was called upon for a road start Monday against the Indians and went six innings, allowing three runs on four hits. Berrios picked up his second big league win and struck out five while walking nobody and it looks as though he’ll be in the rotation for the remainder of the season.

Aaron Altherr’s rehab stint concluded on July 28th, and the Phillies have given him a start in each of the team’s five games since, starting four times in right field and once in center as he returns from the wrist injury he suffered in spring training. Altherr has announced his return to the lineup by hitting two home runs (including one off of Madison Bumgarner on Tuesday night) and stealing two bases in his first five games back and has six hits in 18 at-bats overall. Twenty-two of Altherr’s first 39 career hits have gone for extra bases.

Danny Salazar was placed on the disabled list earlier in the week with elbow inflammation and will reportedly miss at least two to three weeks. The Indians summoned Mike Clevinger from Triple-A Columbus to take Salazar’s spot in the rotation, with his first start coming today at home against the hot-hitting Twins. Clevinger is 6-1 with a 2.98 ERA in his last 10 starts at Columbus, which includes 61 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings. Obviously losing Salazar for any amount of time is a significant loss for the Indians, but the 25-year-old Clevinger is as equipped as any starter in the minors to step in; his 3.00 ERA for the season placed him eighth among International League qualifiers, his 3.30 FIP was good for seventh overall, his .227 batting average against placed him ninth, and his 25.5 percent strikeout rate put him seventh among all Triple-A starters.Clevinger will look to channel his inner Randall “Pink” Floyd while in Cleveland and after his starts at Columbus this season it’s believed that his trainers told him simply to ice his arm, and after that he didn’t experience any pain that a couple of beers couldn’t take care of.

The Astros dealt Scott Feldman to the Blue Jays on Monday, and reached down to Triple-A Fresno for Joe Musgrove, owner of a sparkling 1.89 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 19 innings over three July starts. Musgrove appeared in relief of the injured Lance McCullers on Tuesday and proceeded to strike out eight of the 15 batters he faced in his 4.1 innings of work. McCullers landed on the disabled list on Wednesday, and the team announced that Musgrove would take his place in the rotation and make his first career major league start on Sunday against Yu Darvish and the Rangers.

Homer Bailey was on the mound for the first time since April of last season for the Reds on Sunday and picked up the win, working 5 2/3 innings and allowing two runs on four hits while striking out six and walking three against the Padres at Petco. Bailey’s fastball averaged 94 MPH in the outing, per Brooks Baseball.

The Yankees recalled Gary Sanchez on Wednesday, and he hit eighth against the Steven Matz and the Mets as the team’s designated hitter. Sanchez picked up his first major league hit in four at-bats, with two strikeouts.

The Dropouts: (13) Sergio Romo, (14) Steven Brault, (20) Adam Ottavino, (Next 10) Ben Gamel, (Next 10) Trey Mancini

Neither of these two closer speculations have worked out to this point. Should have recommended Cam Bedrosian and Jake Barrett instead. I hate relievers.

Steven Brault held the Brewers to three runs on seven hits in six innings of work in his second major league start on July 29th, and was charged with the loss. Brault was sent back to Triple-A Indianapolis after the start and with the team’s acquisition of starters Ivan Nova and Drew Hutchinson on Monday, along with the impending return of Tyler Glasnow, it looks like the 24-year old lefty will be unable to stick in the Pirate rotation for the time being.
With Gary Sanchez earning a promotion to the Bronx, Ben Gamel was sent back to Triple-A Scranton and with Aaron Judge on the way soon, it’s hard to see how Gamel earns enough playing time in the Yankee outfield to make an impact this season.

The Orioles acquisition of a right-handed bat in Steve Pearce on Monday likely ends any chance of a promotion for Trey Mancini prior to rosters expanding in September.

Now, onto the 18th Edition of The Stash:

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

Gurriel went 3-for-4 at the plate in his first game at High-A Lancaster, his third professional game after playing two for the team’s GCL affiliate. Gurriel is likely to play the rest of the week at Lancaster before moving up to Double-A Corpus Christi for their homestand from August 9-14, and then if everything goes smoothly, he’ll join the big league squad for its home series against the Cardinals on August 16th.

2) Yoan Moncada, 2B/3B, Boston Red Sox (Last week: NR)

If Hanley Ramirez’s wrist injury proves to be more serious than his MRI and X-rays initially indicated, the team could once again reach down to its Portland affiliate and call upon Moncada. Moncada could be one (major) injury away from joining the big-league squad at this point, and if there’s any chance of that happening this season, the best fantasy prospect remaining in the minors is certainly worthy of stashing in all formats. I don’t think it’s likely we see Moncada prior to September (if at all) this season, but with Andrew Benintendi already in the fold, it’s doubtful the team would hesitate to summon Moncada if needed.

Best guess ETA: September 1st

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

Brian Cashman said that Judge will be in the majors “sooner rather than later,” as he just came off of the disabled list at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday, smacking a double in his return in three at-bats.

Best guess ETA: This weekend

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

Thankfully for Nationals fans, Giolito was not traded for a reliever prior to the deadline, but he did not look sharp in making his last start on six days rest at Triple-A Syracuse. Giolito went five innings in Sunday’s outing against Buffalo and walked four while punching out five and allowed five runs on five hits. Over his last seven outings, three of which have come in the majors, Giolito has pitched to a 4.98 ERA and opponents have clubbed him to the tune of an .814 OPS against in 34 1/3 innings pitched.

Joe Ross made his second rehab start on July 30th at Syracuse, but it’s likely he’ll need another rehab outing before rejoining the Washington rotation. That said, team could choose to skip the fifth spot in their rotation on Saturday instead of giving another start to Giolito or Reynaldo Lopez and reinsert Ross into the rotation the next time a fifth starter is needed on August 16th, provided his shoulder cooperates.

Best guess ETA: Mid-August if Ross isn’t ready, September 1 if he is

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

The Cardinals chose to give Jaime Garcia his first career start on three days’ rest on July 30th, instead of calling upon Reyes to make his first career major-league start. It didn’t go well for Garcia against the Marlins (3.1 IP, 7 H, 6 ER) on Saturday, and it hasn’t gone well for Reyes over his last 10 starts at Triple-A Memphis, as he’s walked 23 batters in 44 1/3 innings and has allowed 32 earned runs, which amounts to a 6.50 ERA. Reyes has struck out 59 in those 44 1/3 innings, but he’s only worked more than five innings in two of the 10 starts. It appears that the Cardinals would like for Reyes to make another month’s worth of starts in Memphis before deploying him in their bullpen in September.

Best guess ETA: September 1st

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

After leaving his second major league start on July 23rd against the Phillies after three innings with shoulder inflammation, Glasnow threw 15 pitches off of a mound on Sunday and the team is hopeful that he’ll return shortly after he’s eligible to come off of the disabled list on August 8th.

Best guess ETA: Mid-August

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

Josh Bell’s July was his worst month of the year with the bat at Triple-A Indianapolis, as the hulking switch-hitter posted a .669 OPS with just one home run in 19 games for the month.

Best guess ETA: Mid-August

8) Joey Gallo, 1B/3B/OF, Texas Rangers (Last week: Not eligible)

Texas’ trade acquisitions of Carlos Beltran and Jonathan Lucroy sent Gallo back to Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday, and he has resumed doing Gallo things (one home run, three walks, and five strikeouts) in his two games back. The Texas lineup will only become more crowded once Shin-soo Choo returns from injury, which will likely (further) push Jurickson Profar into a super-utility role and leave Gallo at Round Rock until rosters expand.

Best guess ETA: September 1st

9) Matt Duffy, SS/3B, Tampa Bay Rays (Last week: Not eligible)

Duffy’s ownership dropped below 25 percent in ESPN leagues this week as he was traded to Tampa Bay as part of the return for Matt Moore. Duffy’s new team announced that he would supplant Brad Miller as the starting shortstop upon his return from his left Achilles strain (which could happen by the end of next week) and that Miller would be moving to first base. Duffy finished 2015 as the ninth overall third baseman on ESPN’s Player Rater, and while his numbers in San Francisco (.253 AVG with four home runs and eight stolen bases) prior to his injury weren’t spectacular by any means, he was running more than his rookie season of 2015, attempting 12 steals in 70 games after attempting the same amount in 149 games in 2015. Duffy has also lowered his strikeout rate and increased his walk rate by two percentage points in each case compared to his rookie campaign. Duffy’s .271 TAv was also only slightly down from the .283 tAV he posted in 2015. There’s a bit of upside here with Duffy (although his Achilles could certainly slow his running initially), and teams looking for help at shortstop over the final two months would be much better served turning to the former Giant, as opposed to rookie Orlando Arcia, who has been added in nearly 10 percent of ESPN leagues since his recall on Tuesday.

Best guess ETA: Mid-August

10) Nate Karns, RHP, Seattle Mariners (Last week: NR)

Karns, who was demoted to the Mariner bullpen in late-June, will return to the rotation once his back is ready with Wade Miley now in Baltimore. Karns struck out nearly 24 percent of the hitters he faced as a starter this season, and his FIP of 3.82 was much better than his ERA of 4.56 as a starter.

Best guess ETA: Mid-August

11) John Gant, RHP, Atlanta Braves (Last week: NR)

Gant’s overall numbers in 30 1/3 innings this season (4.45 ERA) don’t knock your socks off, but he made his first of three needed rehab starts on Tuesday at Low-A Rome, and his numbers as a starter this season prior to the oblique injury he suffered in late June makes him an intriguing late-season add for teams looking for starting pitching help. Gant posted a 3.38 ERA backed up by a 2.97 FIP in four June starts upon being inserted into the Atlanta rotation, and his strikeout rate only dipped from 25.9 percent as a reliever to 22.4 percent as a starter. With the Braves sending Matt Wisler to the minors and Julio Teheran currently on the disabled list, their rotation currently consists of Mike Foltyniewicz, Tyrell Jenkins, and, well, that’s about it. Gant will almost assuredly have a place in the rotation upon his return and he can help in deeper leagues.

Best guess ETA: Mid-August

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

Wheeler completed a 23-pitch simulated game outing on Monday, where his fastball reportedly sat in the 91-93 MPH range. Wheeler looked good enough in the outing that he’s scheduled to make his first rehab outing on Saturday at High-A St. Lucie, 22 months after he last appeared in a major-league game.

Best guess ETA: September 1st

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

The Dodgers added Rich Hill at the trade deadline and called upon 24-year-old Brock Stewart to make his second big-league start on Wednesday against the Rockies at Coors Field, leaving De Leon in Oklahoma City for the time being. Hill’s blister on his pitching hand has kept him out of action since July 17th, but he (or Bud Norris) may be able to return on Saturday, making it increasingly likely that De Leon is kept in Oklahoma City until rosters expand.

Best guess ETA: September 1st

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

Cobb pitched two hitless innings in his most recent rehab start with High-A Port Charlotte on July 29th and his fastball reportedly sat at 90 MPH.

Best guess ETA: September 1st

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

Minor has now made two scoreless rehab appearances at Triple-A Omaha over the past week, striking out eight in 5 2/3 innings while allowing two hits and walking two.

Best guess ETA: September 1st

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

A.J. Preller has now sent both Melvin Upton, Jr. and Matt Kemp out of town, yet Renfroe is still in El Paso. It appears that the Padres want to give Travis Jankowski and Alex Dickerson a long look in the outfield, and it was outfielder Jabari Blash—not Renfroe (who isn’t on the 40-man) or Manuel Margot (who is)—who received the call after Kemp was dealt to the Braves prior to the trade deadline for Hector Olivera’s corpse.

July marked the third consecutive month that Renfroe homered (seven) more than he walked (six) at Triple-A El Paso, and over the last three months he’s clubbed 21 home runs while walking only 12 times. Best of luck to Renfroe with that continuing at the major-league level.

Best guess ETA: September 1st

17) Daniel Mengden, RHP, Oakland Athletics (Last week: 15)
18) Dillon Overton, LHP, Oakland Athletics (Last week: 16)

The A’s predictably sent Rich Hill packing on Monday, but chose to call upon Jesse Hahn to replace him in the rotation instead of Mengden, and will likely turn to Overton to make a start on Friday at home.

Mengden’s first start back at Triple-A Nashville since his demotion on Monday went swimmingly—five scoreless innings with five strikeouts—but while both starters have excelled in the Pacific Coast League this season, Overton has yet to figure out how to keep the ball in the park at the major-league level, as he’s allowed nine home runs in 18 1/3 innings, which is quite surprising after he gave up just three home runs in 103 2/3 innings at Nashville.

Best guess ETA: Mid-August for Mengden, Tomorrow for Overton

19) Jake Thompson, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies (Last week: Next 10)
20) Ben Lively, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies (Last week: NR)

Aaron Nola’s elbow injury, which could sideline him for the remainder of the season, could open the door for the team to take a look at its two best starters at Triple-A Lehigh Valley over the season’s final two months.

Thompson’s shiny 2.50 ERA in 21 starts has been helped by a .252 BABIP, and his prospect shine has dimmed somewhat as his strikeout rate has dipped at each level of the minors, with it checking in at a career-low 16.8 percent this season. Lively has also been helped this season by low BABIPs, a .241 mark at Double-A Reading where he posted a 1.87 ERA in nine starts before moving to Lehigh-Valley, where he’s posted a .236 BABIP and a 3.50 ERA in 13 starts. Lively features a deceptive motion, and has also seen his strikeout rate dip as he’s moved up the ladder, pitching to a 23.8 percent punchout rate at Reading this season and a 17.5 percent clip at Lehigh Valley.

Best guess ETA: This weekend for Thompson, late-August for Lively

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

Derek Norris was not traded prior to the non-waiver trade deadline on Monday, but could still find his way out of town this month via waivers. Hedges had his worst month of the season by OPS at Triple-A El Paso, “only” hitting for a .910 mark. Hedges has 17 home runs in 56 Pacific Coast League games this season.

Best guess ETA: September 1st

22) Luke Weaver, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals (Last week: NR)

If an injury strikes a member of the Cardinal rotation over the next few weeks, the team could choose to keep Alex Reyes at Triple-A Memphis to continue to build up his innings and work through his struggles, and bring up Weaver, their first round pick in 2014, who has been dominant at Double-A Springfield since making his season debut on June 5th. Weaver missed the first two months of the season with a fractured wrist suffered in spring training, and upon his return he’s punched out 28.6 percent (which easily leads the league, min. 70 IP) of the Texas League hitters he’s faced on his way to dynamite 1.40 ERA and 2.00 FIP marks, which earned him a promotion to Memphis on Tuesday.

Best guess ETA: September 1st

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

Best guess ETA: September 1st for both

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

Nick Williams 2016 Walk Watch: Zero walks (in six games) since last week’s list. Yet again, this is not a repeat of last week’s update. Williams hasn’t walked since July 10th, and has accrued a grand total of one free pass since June 18th. His walk rate now sits just above four percent on the season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Williams has walked just 18 times in 516 plate appearances (a 3.5 percent rate) since joining the Philadelphia organization at last year’s trade deadline, after walking in 7.7 percent of his plate appearances in 98 games at Double-A Frisco with the Rangers at the start of the 2015 season.

Best guess ETA: September 1st

The Next 10 (in alphabetical order):

Lewis Brinson, OF, Milwaukee Brewers (Last week: NR)
Socrates Brito, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks (Last week: NR)
Jacob Faria, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays (Last week: NR)
Jeff Hoffman, RHP, Colorado Rockies
Reynaldo Lopez, RHP, Washington Nationals
Tom Murphy, C, Colorado Rockies
Jordan Patterson, 1B/OF, Colorado Rockies
Andrew Susac, C, Milwaukee Brewers (Last week: NR)
Dan Vogelbach, DH, Seattle Mariners
Bradley Zimmer, OF, Cleveland Indians (Last week: NR)

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