It's the buying low edition. This week, I'll cover a couple good players who were recently optioned. Their owners may be eager to replace them with major league talent - enough so that they could come at a huge bargain. I'll also turn my eye towards a handful of normal prospects.

Cubs catcher Willson Contreras is probably the most impactful prospect to debut last week. Since he's sharing duties with Miguel Montero and David Ross, Contreras isn't yet a fantasy asset. As is often the case, a slow start to his major league career could create a buying opportunity.

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Dynasty Advice for Week 12

Brandon Nimmo - New York Mets

Rumors are swirling of an impending Nimmo promotion. The Mets team is in active free fall after a sweep at the hands of the Braves. The Braves!!! Michael Conforto is in a deep slump, making him a candidate for a short stint in the minors. A stack of injuries have left the Mets without the depth to survive demoting Conforto without simultaneously promoting a solid replacement. That's where Nimmo enters the picture.

The 23-year-old is hitting .329/.408/.518 in 261 Triple-A plate appearances. He has five home runs and four steals to go along with strong walk and strikeout rates. Plate discipline has long been Nimmo's most obvious talent. Scouts think he'll eventually hit for 15 to 25 home run power, but it's his ability to pick out pitches that gives him a major league floor. In recent seasons, he's done a better job attacking pitches in the strike zone. Concerns about a passive approach have disappeared.

There's a decent chance Nimmo will post a high strikeout rate in his first exposure to the majors. It's hard to understate the difference between Triple-A and major league pitching. It's a big jump for hitters - especially plate discipline specialists.

His modest power limits the fantasy ceiling enough that I wouldn't go out of my way to acquire him. If he happens to be on your waiver wire, go ahead and stash him for the name value. He fits best in OBP leagues and true dynasties where he can be patiently developed for a few more years.

Randal Grichuk - St. Louis Cardinals

Recently, the Cardinals optioned Kolten Wong to Triple-A. After a little over a week, Wong mashed his way back into the Cardinals lineup. He displaced Grichuk in the process. Now it's his turn to get back on track in the minors.

A popular "sleeper" during draft season - you know, the kind that go way too early - Grichuk has posted a disappointing .206/.276/.392 line. A pull heavy approach and low line drive rate led to a .238 BABIP. The rest of his batting profile looks like typical Grichuk.

The Cardinals like to cycle their cold hitters through the minor leagues where they can get a fresh dose of whatever magicks they use to turn mediocre prospects into stars. In one game, Grichuk's already blasted his first home run. If he builds upon that initial success, he could quickly return to the majors.

Depending on his owner's disposition, you may have a buying opportunity. A contending owner may be in immediate need of an outfielder - perhaps an older guy like Rajai Davis, Carlos Beltran, or even a mediocre hot hand like Jon Jay. Grichuk was never guaranteed to be a reliable power hitter, but his upside is still attractive. Remember, he's only 24.

 

Rapid Fire

Brandon Drury - Arizona Diamondbacks

In 217 major league plate appearances, we got a glimpse of two Drury's (Druries?). The first hit a blistering .301/.327/.521 with eight home runs through May 27. The latter version slumped to .171/.261/.195 with a 40 percent strikeout rate over a three week period. The Diamondbacks will undoubtedly reactivate him as soon as he's regained confidence at the plate. Now's the time to acquire him.

Dylan Cozens - Philadelphia Phillies

Cozens is mashing his way through Double-A where he's posted a fantasy dream line of .281/.359/.570 with 19 home runs and 13 stolen bases. He won't offer any help this season - the Phillies brass says he'll stay in Double-A until he's had a full season of experience at the level. Including a short stint last season, he's at 342 plate appearances. Cozens has contact issues against good pitching, making him a similar prospect to Seattle's Tyler O'Neill. As with O'Neill, don't expect stolen bases in the majors.

Josh Bell - Pittsburgh Pirates

Very little has been said about Bell this season - mostly because the Pirates first base platoon of John Jaso and David Freese has performed well. Bell is clearly done with the minor leagues. He's hitting .319/.408/.520 in 287 plate appearances. He's even finally showing some power with 10 home runs. Bell, a switch-hitter, is ready to step in as soon as injuries strike Jaso and/or Freese.

Mark Zagunis - Chicago Cubs

On another roster, people would talk about Zagunis. Aside from a nine plate appearance stop at rookie ball, Zagunis' lowest wRC+ at any level is 139 (read as 39 percent above league average). With middling power and very little stolen base potential, he doesn't have tasty fantasy tools. Instead, he offers value via a ton of quality contact and superior plate discipline. He was recently promoted to Triple-A where he's hitting out of his mind - .381/.469/.595 with a .485 BABIP. Look for him to be dealt at the deadline.

Dan Vogelbach - Chicago Cubs

Speaking of Cubs on the way out, Vogelbach could have appeared in the majors last season for some clubs. Scouts like to complain about his Billy Butler body, but Vogelbach has hit at every level. Presently, he has 12 home runs and a .302/.424/.530 line (.358 BABIP) at Triple-A. Vogelbach's swing has a lot in common with another former bad-bodied star. He's also obvious trade bait for the Cubbies.

 

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