RADIO
Every Thursday for the duration of the Major League Baseball season, I'm going to be discussing players on a team's Taxi Squad or Alternate Site Camp who are worth keeping an eye on or stashing in hopes of reaping fantasy goodness. I'll list league sizes where the player could be relevant and give you information on the situation so that you can make the most educated decision possible, but remember that this is an unprecedented year, so we don't know for sure how teams will make use of additional players or when exactly players will be called up now that the service time deadline has passed.
As a point of clarification before we begin: Taxi Squad and Alternate Site Camp are two different things. When teams go on the road, they are able to bring with them three players who are not on the roster, in case of a medical emergency. This is the Taxi Squad. These players are not on the Active Roster and cannot appear in games unless there is a corresponding transaction, but players on the Taxi Squad are clearly those that are the closest to being "called-up," so it's important to keep an eye on those. They can/will change for each road trip so check them regularly on Roster Resource. The Alternate Site Camp is where all other players in the 60-man pool are and could be seen as this year's "Minor Leagues." They will scrimmage each other and get instruction, but only some of them are potential call-ups this year while others are top prospects who are simply there to get work in. Teams can also add players to their 60-man pool or release them from it, so these will also be fluid.
Now that we've covered that, let's look at some guys who should be on your Pick-Up and Watch List radars. Remember that these are player who are NOT on the active roster, so there will be few pick-ups each week since it's rare you would want to grab a lot of guys who aren't active in a season where every game played counts.
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Priority Pick-Ups
These are players I believe you should put in claims for now (depending on your league size) based on their proximity to playing time.
Spencer Howard, SP Philadelphia Phillies (All Leagues)
By now, we all know the news that Spencer Howard is being promoted to start this weekend. He was supposed to start on Friday, but the Phillies have postponed all games until Saturday, so check for his exact start date. In fact, Riley Mrack wrote a great piece on rookies who were arriving soon and had some good info on Howard, so give that a read. In the meantime, if Howard is available in your league, go get him.
Nomar Mazara, OF Chicago White Sox (12-team leagues)
The White Sox presumed starting right-fielder has reported to the Alternate Site Camp after battling COVID-19. The 25-year old has been a disappointment in fantasy circles based on his outsized expectations from when he was a prospect, but he's a consistent .265, 20 HR bat that will be inserted into a dynamic lineup and be given ample opportunity for runs and RBI. He's not going to win you leagues, but the White Sox clearly saw something they liked when they signed him this offseason, so he's going to play and, in this crazy season, that's valuable in its own right.
Bryse Wilson, SP Atlanta Braves (12-team leagues)
With the Braves designating Mike Foltynewicz for assignment, there is a spot open in their rotation. Many may jump on the prospect sexiness of Ian Anderson or Tucker Davidson, or even suggest that Touki Touissant get another chance, but Touissant was brutal in his first long relief appearance this year, and I think the Braves are likely to "call up" Wilson before Anderson or Davidson since he's been in the big leagues before.
While many don't think of Wilson as having the same amount of upside, he's not some no-name prospect. He features a sinking fastball he can run up into the high-90s with two versions of a slider and an improving change. He spent most of 2019 in AAA with a 3.42 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and an 18.2 K-BB%. He's a ferocious competitor and an innings eater, which could also make him valuable in a short season where bullpens are already being taxed at a rapid rate.
Monte Harrison, OF Miami Marlins (12-team leagues)
Monte Harrison made a good impression in Summer Camp with his power-speed combo and seemed to regain some of the pop that vanished in his 2019 season. He would have likely broken camp with the Marlins had they not wanted an extra year of control. Since then, we've all read about the drama with the Marlins' desire for late nights out and their inability to control the spread of disease within their team.
Obviously, our first concern is for the health and safety of the players, and we hope that everybody infected recovers fully, but from a fantasy standpoint, there are roles to fill and Harrison seems to be a likely candidate now that there are no service time implications. He still strikes out far too much and likely won't hit for a high average, but it's hard to find players with his ability to make an impact in both HR and SB, and the Marlins will likely have little to play for this year, so once he's up, it's hard to see him being sent back down.
Jordan Yamamoto, SP Miami Marlins (15-team leagues)
Another fallout from the Marlins' COVID outbreak was the loss of Jose Urena and Sandy Alcantara. There could obviously be more players infected, but we don't have that information right now. At the bare minimum, there are two open spots in the Marlins rotation, and it seems most likely that Yamamoto would fill one given his flashes of success in 2019.
The 24-year-old pitched to a 4.46 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 9.38 K/9 in 78.2 innings with the big club last year. He features four pitches, led by a four-seam fastball that registered a .171 batting average against last season. However, that 91.5 MPH pitch is at the heart of Yamamoto's misleading numbers from 2019. A .225 BABIP overall screams regression and that .171 BAA on the fastball came with a .242 xBA. His cutter, which registered a .226 BAA also had a .280 xBA, so don't roster Yamamoto looking for last year's numbers; however, he likely has a spot in the rotation and can be successful in the right match-ups, which is important in a season where starters aren't giving us consistent innings.
Lewin Diaz, 1B Miami Marlins (15-team leagues or 12-team leagues with deep benches)
Diaz is another player who could get an opportunity for the Marlins now. Acquired in the Sergio Romo trade in July, Diaz is a left-handed pull hitter who had 27 HR and a 31.9 Hard% during the 2019 season, which demonstrates a little of his upside. His .188 BABIP with Miami last year skews his overall numbers, but the offensive ability is there for him to be a steady contributor.
The Marlins are currently left with only one first baseman, Jesus Aguilar, and may look to add Diaz to form a platoon while also giving them a left-handed DH option. While not as well-known as Harrison, there are those who believe Diaz has evolved into a better prospect over the last couple of years, and he certainly appears safer. He's listed as less of a priority than Harrison because I'm less confident that he gets the call, and he's likely to find himself in a platoon situation, but he is the future at 1B for Miami.
Tony Gonsolin/ Josiah Gray, SP Los Angeles Dodgers (15-team leagues)
With Alex Wood landing on the DL, there have been rumors that Josiah Gray will be called up to take his turn in the rotation. The 22-year-old made it to AA last year, finishing the season with a 2.28 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 10.2 K/9 across three levels. It's been a relatively meteroic rise for the former Division II prospect with a 97 MPH fastball, plus solid curveball, slider, and change-up. His arsenal and aggressive demeanor give him a higher ceiling than Gonsolin, but the 26-year-old was impressive in 11 games (6 starts) with the Dodgers last year, pitching to a 2.92 ERA and 22.7 K%. He lacks Gray's swing-and-miss stuff, but the track record of success, and ability to also throw out of the rotation make me think Gonsolin could get the call first. The only reason neither arm is recommended in shallower leagues is that Kershaw appears likely to return, so this could only be one start for the time being. With starters not being pushed as much this year, that could be 4 innings of work, which isn't enough for you to blow all of your FAAB.
Travis Snider, OF Miami Marlins (NL-only leagues)
Everything I said above about Harrison and Diaz applies for Snider, except he seems even more locked into a call-up since the Marlins signed him in July knowing they needed players. This says to me that the Marlins aren't ready to call up Jesus Sanchez or other left-handed outfielders from their Alternate Site team just yet. Snider hasn't appeared in a major league game since 2015, but if you're in an NL-only league, the fact that he might be on a roster and starting games makes him rosterable.
Watch List
These are players who I don't believe warrant an immediate add but are guys who should be on your radar for a call-up in the near future. If you're in a really deep league, perhaps some of these guys could act as a bench stash, depending on the size of your roster and health of your team.
Forrest Whitley, SP Houston Astros
With Justin Verlander seemingly out for the year, the Astros will need somebody to take his place in the rotation. That will likely be Jose Urquidy, but the right-hander won't be ready until the middle of August, so he's not an immediate solution. The Astros are giving the first shot to the intriguing Christian Javier, which is why Whitley isn't an immediate add, but there are plenty of avenues for their top pitching prospect to make his way to the majors.
Whitley needs some more work after a rough 2019 where he registered a 5.56 ERA in AA, a 12.21 ERA in AAA, and battled through a shoulder injury. However, the raw stuff remains, and his 3.93 xFIP last year is evidence that his poor numbers were exacerbated by ridiculous BABIPs: .372 in AA and .394 in AAA. Even with the inconsistencies, he has flashed clear upside and could hold down a rotation spot for the second half of the short season even with Urquidy back. Whitley could replace Framber Valdez, who wasn't supposed to start when the season began, or take Josh James' place if the erratic right-hander gets moved back to the Astros bullpen. There are many paths to a starting role for Whitley, and you're going to want him if/when he gets that job.
Ryan Mountcastle, 1B/OF Baltimore Orioles
At some point this season, the Orioles are going to call up Mountcastle, we're just not entirely sure when. He doesn't really have a set defensive position, but he has plus-power and hit 25 HR with a .321 average for the Orioles AAA club last year. He doesn't draw a lot of walks but doesn't have an egregious K% either, so he could profile as a .260 hitter with solid pop. If you have deep benches, you can stash him in 12-team leagues since it's a near-lock that he'll be up eventually, but if you're going to wait, keep an eye on the performances of Rio Ruiz, Chris Davis, and D.J. Stewart. If any of those hitters become hard to keep putting inserting the starting lineup, the Orioles could look to turn to Mountcastle at 1B or LF
Jesus Sanchez, OF Miami Marlins
Sanchez is another player that could be promoted when the Marlins finally take the field. As I mentioned above, the signing of another left-handed hitting outfielder makes me less convinced Sanchez will be with the first string of call-ups. Acquired from the Rays mid-season, Sanchez saw his GB% drop considerably with Miami and his FB% rise from 18.2% to 40.4%. He has above-average exit velocity, so the change in approach could lead to more HRs and power production from the 22-year-old. He has more patience at the plate than Mountcastle, which makes me more interested in Sanchez as a prospect, but his potential playing time is less secure. He's another guy that you could stash now if you have deep benches; otherwise, keep an eye on the Marlins likely myriad transactions as they prepare to take the field again on Monday.
Nick Madrigal, 2B Chicago White Sox
Madrigal is the White Sox best prospect with a chance to get called up this season. He's a high-contact speed player, much like David Fletcher with better wheels. The White Sox are off to a rough 1-4 start to the season and could decide to turn to their young prospect to inject some life. Right now Madrigal is being held down by Leury Garcia, who hit an under-appreciated .279 in 2019 with 8 HR and 15 SB. Garcia's ability to also play RF means that he could be kept on the active roster and operate as a super-utility bench bat now that Nomar Mazara is back at the alternate site. Keep an eye on Garcia's stats, and if he continues to struggle, look to add Madrigal.
Bobby Dalbec, 3B/1B, Boston Red Sox
Dalbec is the Red Sox number three prospect and the closest to a Major League call-up. He has tremendous power, clubbing 27 HRs across two levels last year, but he also has inflated strikeouts to go along with it. He's displayed good patience throughout his minor league career, and the Red Sox giving him work at 1B shows that they want to find ways to get his bat in the lineup with Rafael Devers entrenched at third. One way to do that is at the expense of Michael Chavis. A rookie last year, Chavis was a less highly-regarded prospect with a similarly high K% and less power. Now that Chavis has been beaten out for the 2B job by Jose Peraza, he is really only getting playing time at 1B against left-handed pitching. If he continues to struggle to be productive, the Red Sox could try Dalbec in that role, and he has the power to be a difference-maker if he gets on a hot streak.
Stephen Gonzalves, SP Boston Red Sox
Another Red Sox move that is more of a deep cut. Their rotation is nauseating; that's not a surprise when you roll out Matt Hall, Ryan Weber, and potentially Zack Godley. With Eduardo Rodriguez still recovering from the ramifications of his battle with COVID, the Sox need a more long-term answer for the rotation and may have found it when they claimed Gonzalves off waivers from the Mets this week. The 26-year-old has yet to find success in the Major Leagues, but he was a former highly regarded prep prospect who has a 2.50 career minor league ERA and put up a 2.96 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 8.52 K/9 in AAA in 2018. After missing most of last year with an elbow injury, he appears back to full strength and could be a much better option in the Sox rotation than the aforementioned pitchers. If he gets a job, he could be rosterable in deep leagues given the offense behind him or streamable in certain match-ups.
Ian Anderson, SP Atlanta Braves
If you took everything I said about Bryse Wilson and were not convinced, then keep an eye on Ian Anderson, the Braves top pitching prospect. He still needs to refine his curveball, but the 21-year-old has a dynamic fastball and changeup pairing that, if he finds that consistent third pitch, could make him another dynamic young arm in the Braves staff. The key is that curveball, so keep your eye out for news on how he's throwing it in camp, and if you start to read that it's looking legit, it might not be long before he gets the call, especially with Kyle Wright struggling in his first start.
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