August 31, 2017

The Stash List

22nd Edition

by Greg Wellemeyer

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The Graduates: Jayson Werth (Previous Rank: 8)

Werth homered Tuesday, his first MLB game in nearly three months, batting seventh in Washington’s order. While it would be nice if Werth can reclaim the two-hole from recent occupants like Wilmer Difo and Alejandro De Aza—inconceivable, I know—lineup position hardly matters for the National League’s highest scoring club.

The Dropouts: Brent Honeywell (9)

Honeywell was suspended four games for an internal incident in which he was “disrespectful,” according to Tampa Bay beat writer Marc Topkin. Honeywell is not on the 40-man roster, and with Tampa fading from the playoff race, the odds were against a call-up in the first place. It’s even harder to imagine the club rewarding Honeywell now.

1. Yoan Moncada (2B)—White Sox (Previous Rank: Unranked)

Moncada landed on the DL on Friday and will take at least a few more days off as he nurses shin splints. Moncada’s fantasy owners weren’t necessarily sad to see him go, considering his 36.1 percent strikeout rate and .188/.328/.356 triple-slash over 30 games. The swing-and-miss makes Yoncada a volatile player in the near-term, but he occupied the top spot in the Stash List for most of the season because of tools that allow explosive production in short bursts. That’s the kind of player you should be targeting with one month to go.

2. Tyler Glasnow (RHP)—Pirates (Previous Rank: 2)

Glasnow has 131 strikeouts in 87 1/3 innings since his demotion to Triple-A Indianapolis and hasn’t walked more than two batters in an outing since late July. He’ll get a shot to prove that this is real progress when rosters expand.

3. Ronald Acuña (OF)—Braves (Previous Rank: 1)

Arizona Fall League rosters were announced Tuesday, and Acuña has been assigned to the Peoria Javelinas. That doesn’t necessarily preclude a September call-up—a longshot in the first place—but I suspect the Braves will give him a breather before he heads to the desert.

4. Aaron Altherr (OF)—Phillies (Previous Rank: 9)

5. Jarrod Dyson (OF)—Mariners (Previous Rank: 3)

6. Lonnie Chisenhall (OF)—Indians (Previous Rank: 4)

Dyson and Altherr could well be back in their respective lineups by the time you read this. Dyson’s 28 stolen bases tie him for sixth most in baseball. Chisenhall is back from paternity leave and rehabbing at Triple-A Columbus. He’ expected back from the disabled list on Friday. In case you forgot, Chisenhall owns a .302/.376/.578 line on the year, including 12 bombs in just 212 plate appearances.

7. Jake McGee (LHP)—Rockies (Previous Rank: Unranked)

Greg Holland appears to be on shaky ground in Denver after McGee saved consecutive games over the weekend, including one in which he had to come on in relief of Holland. Since then, Holland received the vote of confidence from manager Bud Black and pitched the ninth inning Monday after McGee handled the eighth. With the Rockies clinging to a three-game lead for the second wild card, Holland’s leash can’t be long.

8. Jeurys Familia (RHP)—Mets (Previous Rank: 5)

Familia, returning from a blood clot that initially was thought to be a season-ender, was asked to get five outs in the middle innings of a 7-2 game—after giving up three runs in his first post-injury appearance. If only Michael Conforto hadn’t suffered a long-term injury swinging a bat, franchise icon David Wright hadn’t shut down his rehab after three High-A games, and Jose Reyes hadn’t made his first MLB start in left field Tuesday, Familia’s wholly unnecessary multi-inning appearance would have been the Metsiest thing that happened in the past week.

9. J.P. Crawford (SS)—Phillies (Previous Rank: 6)

Crawford reportedly is certain to be promoted in September. He’s been temporarily pushed off his natural position so that Freddy Galvis can stay at shortstop in the majors. The Phillies’ best prospect has recently started at both the hot corner and the keystone at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Crawford getting reps at second base has the added benefit of moving Scott Kingery from his natural and future position. The Phillies’ rebuild is right on track.

10. Clint Frazier (OF)—Yankees (Previous Rank: 10)

11. Jorge Soler (OF)—Royals (Previous Rank: 11)

12. Joc Pederson (OF)—Dodgers (Previous Rank: 12)

Soler has hit dingers in three of his past four games. You might have heard that the Royals just wrapped up a 43-inning scoreless streak. Alex Gordon has a 39 wRC+ and .046 ISO since the All-Star break, the latter of which is 75 percent of Ben Revere’s career mark.

13. Kyle Barraclough (RHP)—Marlins (Previous Rank: 13)

14. Trevor Hildenberger (RHP)—Twins (Previous Rank: 14)

Barraclough has struck out 12 and walked just one in seven appearances since coming off the disabled list. Unfortunately for those stashing him, Brad Ziegler still hasn’t given up a run since grabbing the closing gig at the trade deadline. Hildenberger is a top-25 reliever by DRA. Matt Belisle is adequate.

15. Brian Anderson (3B)—Marlins (Previous Rank: 18)

Anderson missed about a week with a concussion, but has picked up right where he left off at Triple-A New Orleans. He’s easily overlooked in a poor Marlins system, and that makes him a sneaky add for the stretch run. With Martin Prado on the shelf, Mike Aviles is still garnering the occasional start at third base. There’s no excuse for that, especially for a club that’s trying to ride Giancarlo Stanton to a wild-card berth.

16. Reynaldo Lopez (RHP)—White Sox (Previous Rank: 15)

Lopez is slated to go Friday after missing a couple of starts with back pain.

17. Teoscar Hernandez (OF)—Blue Jays (Previous Rank: 19)

18. Ryan McMahon (1B/3B)—Rockies (Previous Rank: 16)

19. Chris Shaw (OF/1B)—Giants (Previous Rank: 17)

20. Raul Mondesi (SS)—Royals (Previous Rank: 20)

21. Mallex Smith (OF)—Rays (Previous Rank: 21)

22. Willie Calhoun (2B/OF/DH)—Rangers (Previous Rank: 22)

23. Franklin Barreto (SS)—Athletics (Previous Rank: 25)

24. Willy Adames (SS)—Rays (Previous Rank: 23)

25. Harrison Bader (OF)—Cardinals (Previous Rank: 24)

Honorable Mention: Chance Adams, Jeimer Candelario, Jack Flaherty, Stephen Gonsalves, Scott Kingery, Austin Meadows, Brett Phillips, Jurickson Profar, A.J. Reed, Brandon Woodruff

Greg Wellemeyer is an author of Baseball Prospectus. Follow @gregwellemeyer
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