Stanton heads to the DL with a biceps issue. What should we make of Clint Frazier who has been called up? Wendle heads to the DL for the Rays. Who steps up in Florida? Correa is back and playing for the Astros. Ray also breaks down the FAAB results of five of his leagues. What did folks spend this past weekend to add guys like Rogers, Kennedy and Beckham?
STANTON TO DL
Yes again, Giancarlo Stanton is headed to the DL with a biceps strain. Oddly, no one seems to be aware of when the injury occurred. Stanton has played 158 or more games the last two seasons, but those are his only two seasons of 150 games played in seven years. Sure seams like that number is gonna drop to 2-for-8 this season. As of this writing, there isn’t any clarity as to how much time he will miss.
This injury leaves the Yankees in a tough spot. With Stanton and Aaron Hicks out (lower back strain that still is keeping him from baseball activities), the team has recalled Clint Frazier who appears likely to play on a daily basis for the club. He’s dealt with concussion related woes for a long while, but he’s said to be healthy even after he struggled in spring (.473 OPS with 16 Ks in 49 ABs). Frazier, a top-40 prospect heading into last season, has elite power and knows how to take a walk (his .357 OBP in the minors is a solid number) though there is the expected swing and miss in his game (593 in 544 games).
Frazier becomes a very interesting add in mixed leagues for the following reason – the dude can mash. We don’t know how long Stanton will be out, or for that matter Hicks, so don’t go all in on Frazier on waivers if they are still running in your format, but Clint’s got the it’s seemingly everywhere .250-30 skill set just waiting to be unleashed. He could be a strong power option while in the lineup, but realize that when Hicks/Stanton are healthy, there might be a trip back to the minors for Frazier.
WENDLE TO THE DL
Joey Wendle has been placed on the DL by the Rays with a left hamstring strain (the team is calling up Christian Arroyo). Wendle might have slipped past some of you last season since his performance was by no means elite, but that .306-7-61-62-16 line, with second and third base eligibility, marked him as a potentially cheap asset this draft season. So much for that for in the short run.
Look for the Rays to give plenty of work to Daniel Robertson and Brandon Lowe with Wendle out (Arroyo seems likely to see work against lefties by he’s not a full-time option at the moment – who is with the Rays?). Lowe, a lefty swinger, seems the most likely to get playing time option out of the three options listed. Lowe posted a .867 OPS in 2017 and last season the mark was .949. He’s got a nice bat, and he could hit enough to carve out a pretty substantial role with the club. Of course, this is the Rays, and there’s really no telling what their spreadsheet baseball will have to say about it, but my best advice at the moment would be to add Wendle in the short term, but expect the returns of Wendle and Matt Duffy (back/hamstring) to cause continual headaches for the entire group.
CORREA MAKES DEBUT
Carlos Correa (neck) went 0-for-3 Sunday, his first game of the season. After missing so much time last season with a back injury, picking up a neck injury early has caused a whole lotta consternation for Correa owners. I understand, and share those concerns as a Correa owner. That said, I still hold out hope that the 24 year old will have a comeback season. The start was far from ideal however.
FAAB REVIEW
I’m in too many leagues – eight – but I thought it would be instructive to share some of the results of waivers from the Week 1 run. Here we go.
TOUT WARS (15-team mixed)
Taylor Rogers ($228) – Just too much to spend for me. See Please Do Not Panic.
Tim Beckham ($76) – A decent add, but caution reigns.
Brian Goodwin ($69) – With Justin Upton out, Goodwin figures to see a ton of playing time. Power/speed but holes.
Scott Schebler ($63) – A year removed from hitting 30 homers, and Nick Senzel can’t stay healthy.
Anthony Swarzak ($56) – Not quite healthy, and no one knows how the 9th will work in Seattle.
Jake Odorizzi ($52) – Big strikeout game, decent sized bid. A solid streaming option.
Ryan Yarbrough ($47) – A bit surprising he wasn’t drafted here. Solid add at cost.
Yandy Diaz ($39) – Only DH eligible, or he would have been drafted. Has an exciting bat if he starts to lift the ball.
NFBC (15-team mixed) – $1,000
Anthony Swarzak ($68) – If healthy he could grab role, but murky is the day in the Northwest.
Matt Shoemaker ($59) – Fools fold for me. Can’t stay healthy.
Ian Kennedy ($43) – Reasonable bid for potential closer in a disastrous KC bullpen.
Alex Verdugo ($41) – Platoon guy at the moment, so more of a long-term play.
Christian Walker ($31) – Will be a platoon option early who hopes to gain more playing time.
Sandy Alcantara ($26) – Reasonable cost for a big-time arm that is still searching, despite strong outing.
SiriusXM Host League (12-team mixed) – $1,000
Aaron Sanchez ($107) – Aggressive bid for the oft injured one, but owns a big arm.
Joc Pederson ($107) – Still gonna platoon against lefties despite blazing start.
Taylor Rogers ($88) – Much better level than bid in Tout Wars.
Jeimer Candelario ($78) – Probably a place holder at the corner infield position.
Tim Beckham ($78) – One big week changes thoughts on a guy?
Ian Kennedy ($62) – One save in 293 career outings.
Bryse Wilson ($52) – First outing for Braves was rough (4 BB, 4 ER in 3.1 IP).
FSTA (14-team mixed) – $1,000
Ian Kennedy ($88) – His lone career save was over the weekend.
Ben Zobrist ($57) – He hit .300 last season and qualifies at multiple positions.
Sandy Alcantara ($53) – There’s lots of growing hype over the young arms in Florida.
Hanley Ramirez ($37) – Looks like he will play daily for the Tribe.
AL LABR (12-team only) – $100
Dwight Smith ($7) – Figures to play an awful lot for the Orioles in the OF with Mark Trumbo out.
Cory Gearin ($4) – A reasonable dart throw in an only league.
Jesus Sucre ($3) – Playing more than he should in BAL, but that seems like the plan.
Ray Flowers can be heard Monday-Friday, 8-10 PM EDT on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). Follow Ray’s work on Twitter (@baseballguys) and be sure to listen to his podcast work too.
