Fantasy Baseball Prospect Report

August 26, 2016

We are just days away from the September 1 roster expansion in Major League Baseball. Last week I pointed out some lesser-known names who would likely be of help in AL and NL-Only leagues over the final month of the season. Today I’ll touch on players to target in mixed leagues. We’ve reached the point in the season where you know whether you’re a true contender or if you’re just playing for pride. With most trade deadlines having passed, the waiver wire is the only way to find a competitive edge. Consider these names as you gear up for the final stretch run.

Manuel Margot, Padres

Stolen bases are always a tough category to find on the waiver wire, but Margot is a guy that can be a true game changer almost immediately. With 159 steals over five minor league seasons, it is clear that Margot has no problem running wild on the base paths if given the chance. San Diego’s outfield is a storm of mediocrity right now and if you asked the average baseball fan who was manning just one of the outfield positions for the Padres, it’s unlikely that they’d be able to utter a single correct name. Margot has 20 doubles, 11 triples, and 27 steals this year, so you know exactly what he can bring to the table, assuming he actually hits the ball.

Hunter Renfroe, Padres

While Margot is a big name within the Padres organization, the cream of the outfield crop in San Diego is Renfroe. He’s a country boy from Mississippi with raw power galore. He’s batting .309 with 28 home runs and 97 RBIs at Triple-A this season and has the type of power that will play in Petco Park. One negative issue in Renfroe’s game is that he is a hacker at the plate. He has drawn just 22 walks in 517 plate appearances and things just get harder at the major league level. The good news here is that Renfroe has a clear path to playing time over the final month given how poor San Diego’s current outfield is offensively.

Jesse Winker, Reds

Out of all the players recommended here, Winker’s bat may be the most major league ready. The problem is that he doesn’t hit for much power or steal many bags. Instead, he has exceptional, advanced plate discipline. It’s really hard to move the needle in average or on-base categories, but if you’re desperate, Winker is a solid guy to bring into the fold. He has 51 walks to 52 strikeouts this year to go along with a .295 average and .385 OBP. He has shown power at different stops in the minors (13 homers in 2015), but that hasn’t translated in any way this year. The ceiling isn’t extremely high with Winker, but his floor is and that’s good enough to make a dent in the average department.

Jose De Leon, Dodgers

If you haven’t heard, the Dodgers placed their 27th player on the disabled list this season. That ties a major league record that has stood since 2012 when the Red Sox did it. Many of the team’s injuries have come to their starting rotation with Scott Kazmir and Brett Anderson being the most recent victims. It would seem that the time is just about nigh for De Leon to get a call up. He’s made 15 starts at Triple-A Oklahoma City and has been completely dominant to the tune of a 2.86 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 78 2/3 innings pitched. His K/9 at OKC stands at 11.2, just a tick under his career number of 12.1. We’ve seen rookie pitchers have success this year (Jameson Taillon) and hard times (Jose Berrios), so it’s wise to keep your expectations tempered. Still, now is the time to be bold and if you are looking for wins or strikeouts, De Leon is your guy.

Socrates Brito, Diamondbacks

This one could be tough as AJ Pollock is scheduled to return to the D’Backs lineup this weekend. If you remember, Brito was an early season sleeper, but he faded quickly and was sent to Triple-A by mid-April. At Triple-A Reno this season, Brito batted .295 with six home runs, 33 RBIs, and five steals. These aren’t eye-popping numbers by any means, but he’s one hot streak away from making a difference to your fantasy team. In 2014 and 2015, Brito was much freer on the base paths as he swiped 38 and 20 bags, respectively. If you’re in need of steals, he is a speculative add. With that said, of all the names I am mentioning, Brito would be at the bottom of the list.

Joey Gallo, Texas Rangers

We all know about Gallo at this point. Lots of homers, lots of strikeouts, a decent walk rate—we get it. The question is, can Gallo’s success in the minors equate to triumph in the majors? So far, the answer is no, but that doesn’t mean that the Rangers aren’t going to give him another look down the stretch. Texas is 6.5 games ahead of the Mariners in the AL West and all but guaranteed a playoff spot. Expect Gallo to see semi-regular playing time. He’s hit 25 home runs with Triple-A Round Rock this season and should be added to any team looking to make a jump in the home run category or hold on to a lead.