Navigating the post-All-Star waters is one of the most treacherous periods for fantasy managers, as it is a turbulent ride filled with small-sample mirages and immense roster turnover at the trade deadline. This week’s column attempts to identify a handful of talented young players set for expanded roles in the coming weeks heading into next week’s trade deadline.
Listen to the Rotoworld Baseball Show for the latest player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.
Tyler Locklear, 1B, Marines
Available on 98% of Yahoo! leagues
Locklear didn’t exactly hit the ground running last month in a brief 11-game cameo for the Mariners, batting .200 (6-for-30) with two home runs and a steal. However, he will have an extended runway to at least showcase his power profile and patience at the highest level following Seattle’s decision to designate veteran first baseman Ty France for assignment. The 23-year-old has demonstrated strong plate skills in the upper minors in recent years and can do some serious damage when he decides to be aggressive. Based on his first stint in the big leagues, there will likely be an initial adjustment period here as he adjusts to everyday life in the big leagues. However, once he feels comfortable, there is an opportunity for him to emerge as a certifiable midfield force for the Mariners, which gives him some appeal to fantasy managers, especially in deeper mixed leagues. This is a purely speculative bet based on his minor league track record and Seattle’s willingness to throw him the metaphorical car keys on the cold corner for at least the next few weeks.
Cade Smith, RP, Guardians
Available on 87% of Yahoo! leagues
Here’s an oversimplification: Smith has become one of the best relievers in baseball this season, posting a microscopic 2.18 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 64/10 K/BB ratio in 45 1/3 innings (45 appearances). . The unheralded 25-year-old right-hander forced his way onto Cleveland’s season-opening roster and has become one of the game’s elite strikeout artists, posting an absurd 42/4 K/BB ratio in his last 30 starts. According to Lance Brozdowski of Marquee Sports Network, who is one of the elite pitching analysts in the public space today, Smith is getting a lot of extension on his fastball, which is causing it to perform relative to the expectations of scouts and evaluators, leading to an astronomical 36.4 percent strikeout rate this season in his first taste of the majors. Unfortunately, there is almost zero avenue for saves for Smith, with All-Star defenseman Emmanuel Clase firmly entrenched in Cleveland’s closer role. However, he has quietly turned into a serious ratio booster for fantasy managers and is worthy of a roster spot across all formats at this point.
Max Schuemann, 2B, SS, OF, Astros
Available on 61 percent of Yahoo! leagues
The ripple effect for the Athletics’ top prospect, Jacob Wilson, who will likely miss at least a few weeks after suffering a hamstring strain last Friday during his big league debut, has the biggest impact for Scheumann, who most once has a clear path to everyday hitting in Oakland. The versatile 27-year-old’s hidden Statcast metrics don’t exactly jump off the page, especially from a hard contact standpoint. However, he has shown some strong swing decisions and ability to get free passes in recent months, which gives him additional opportunities to run. He’s been on a roll lately, batting .391 (18-for-46) with three home runs and three steals in his last 15 contests, which, coupled with daily playing time and eligibility for multiple positions, at least the less makes it worthy of speculation. dice are rolled for fantasy purposes even in superficial mixed leagues.
