July 27, 2017

The Stash List

17th Edition

by Greg Wellemeyer

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The Stash List: 17th Edition

by Greg Wellemeyer

The Graduates: Derek Fisher (Previous Rank: 3), Lewis Brinson (4), Rafael Devers (5), Aaron Altherr (12)

Big week for top-shelf prospect graduations. I had Fisher ranked the highest of this group last week because I thought unseating Nori Aoki in left field was the easiest path to playing time among them. Instead, he’s up to replace George Springer, who is probably out for no more than a handful of contests while nursing a sore quad. We’ll know by the end of the week if Fisher is staying up for a while or headed back to Triple-A Fresno.

Brinson got the call yesterday and started in center. He’d been unconscious since his late-June demotion to Triple-A Colorado Springs, slashing .404/.456/.691 in the 23 games since. Brinson struck out in 13 of 35 MLB plate appearances earlier this season, and I think there will be more stretches like that in his immediate future. Brinson has nothing left to prove in the minors, and with Keon Broxton sent back to the farm, I believe Brinson is up for good in a near-everyday role.

Devers’ arrival was the loudest, owing both to the geography in which he plays and the pre-legal-drinking-age timing of his coming. You’dve had a hell of a hard time convincing me in April that there was any chance of 2017 impact for Devers, but here we are. Having demolished the upper levels for four months, the quality of Devers’ hit tool leads me to believe that he’ll perform like a league-average third baseman right out of the gate, with upside for much more. How playing time will shake out in the wake of the Red Sox’ subsequent trade for Eduardo Nuñez remains to be seen.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that the Honorable Mention section got blown up this week too, with Randall Grichuk and Collin McHugh coming off the disabled list, Brett Phillips (temporarily) inheriting the job vacated by Broxton, Harrison Bader and Carson Kelly getting the call to St. Louis, and Brock Stewart taking a turn in the Dodgers’ rotation. With Kershaw on the shelf for a month or more, Stewart has a chance to string together a few starts and makes for an intriguing gamble, especially if you’re trying to make up ground in the wins column. Pitch counts might limit Stewart’s potential while he builds arm strength, but there’s undeniable upside here.

The Dropouts: Joe Jimenez (10)

1. David Dahl (OF)—Rockies (Previous Rank: 1)

Dahl was reinstated a week ago and optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque. He’s mostly struggled so far, but it’s important to remember that Dahl missed all of spring training and is only 60 plate appearances into his 2017 season. Gerardo Parra continues to rake and slotted in the Rockies’ cleanup spot yesterday, so I don’t imagine they’re in a hurry to move Dahl up. I can’t shake the five-category upside, which could just make me a sucker.

2. Cameron Maybin (OF)—Angels (Previous Rank: Unranked)

Maybin’s played in just three quarters of the Angels’ games yet he leads the American League in steals. The initial timetable for recovery from his sprained MCL was 2-4 weeks. That was a week ago. When he comes back, Maybin will reclaim his spot atop Anaheim’s batting order, and more importantly for impact in more than steals, he’ll be hitting in front of Mike Trout.

3. Amed Rosario (SS)—Mets (Previous Rank: 2)

It got lonely in a hurry for Rosario, who’s stuck in Vegas while the rest of his Stash List prospect buddies are in the Show.

4. Keone Kela (RHP)—Rangers (Previous Rank: 6)

5. Cam Bedrosian (RHP)—Angels (Previous Rank: 7)

6. Arodys Vizcaino (RHP)—Braves (Previous Rank: Unranked)

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

8. Kyle Barraclough (RHP)—Marlins (Previous Rank: 9)

9. Shane Greene (RHP)—Tigers (Previous Rank: Unranked)

I don’t know about you, but I’m about ready for the trade deadline to come and go so we can stop speculating on bullpen roles. Kela and Bedrosian are skills guys that I still believe get a crack a closing games before the season is up. Bud Norris walked the bases full then allowed a walk-off grand slam on Tuesday night. Just sayin’. He’s still Bud Norris. As you might have noticed above, I removed Joe Jimenez, Triple-A pitcher of my heart’s desire. That job’s probably going to Shane Greene when Justin Wilson gets dealt later this week. Just…please no Bruce Rondon.

10. Michael Taylor (OF)—Nationals (Previous Rank: Unranked)

11. Neil Walker (2B)—Mets (Previous Rank: 11)

12. Lonnie Chisenhall (OF)—Indians (Previous Rank: 13)

13. Keon Broxton (OF)—Brewers (Previous Rank: Unranked)

Taylor is this week’s Aaron Altherr, a player about whom I don’t understand fantasy owners’ willingness to jump ship. I don’t like the strikeouts either and the batting average is going to drop, but he’s a post-hype, power-speed guy in the middle of his breakout, with a secure job and a relatively minor injury. Speaking of power-speed combinations, I couldn’t drop Broxton any further even though I wanted to. Barring injury or trade, I don’t see how he reclaims enough playing time to be fantasy relevant the rest of the way. Whether he appeals to you is all about roster construction. You’d better have some batting average padding elsewhere.

14. Ozzie Albies (2B/SS)—Braves (Previous Rank: 14)

15. Raul Mondesi (SS)—Royals (Previous Rank: 15)

16. Rhys Hoskins (1B)—Phillies (Previous Rank: 18)

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

18. Chance Adams (RHP)—Yankees (Previous Rank: 17)

I’m not sure any of these guys gets a real shot in 2017, but as I’ve said several time previous, I’d rather gamble on raw skills – speed, power, stuff here – than take a lesser player because of perceived opportunity.

19. Franklin Barreto (SS)—Athletics (Previous Rank: 21)

20. Raimel Tapia (OF)—Rockies (Previous Rank: 19)

21. Jesse Winker (OF)—Reds (Previous Rank: 20)

Not for me. You do you.

22. Ryan McMahon (1B)—Rockies (Previous Rank: 22)

23. Scott Kingery (2B)—Phillies (Previous Rank: 23)

24. Jayson Werth (OF)—Nationals (Previous Rank: 24)

25. Anthony DeSclafani (RHP)—Reds (Previous Rank: 25)

Honorable Mention: Willie Calhoun, Jose De Leon, Lucas Giolito, Adrian Gonzalez, Brent Honeywell, Travis Jankowski, Garrett Richards, Magneuris Sierra, Tyler Skaggs, Brandon Woodruff

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