Category: Baseball

With the All-Star break in the rearview mirror, it’s time to start positioning ourselves for the championship push. Whether you’re trying to hold onto a top spot, pushing the leader, desperately trying to play catchup, or positioning yourself for the playoffs, reinforcements and upside are vital this time of year.

Most waiver wires have been picked over though and it’s difficult to find impact players readily available in most leagues at this point in the season.

Fear not, because there are still a handful of available players that have the chance to be difference makers that help push us towards glory.

MLB Power Rankings: Blue Jays soar to the top, streaking Mets gain momentum as trade deadline looms

The Blue Jays move into the top spot after taking three out of four from the Tigers.

• D.J. Short
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Here are three players that are under 40% rostered on Yahoo leagues that you should strongly consider adding.

If you want a larger list, Eric Samulski wrote his extended waiver wire piece on Sunday.

Noelvi Marte, 3B Reds

(25% Rostered on Yahoo)

Marte is this exact type of lightning in a bottle player that’s being overlooked. It makes sense why he would be though, coming off a disastrous sophomore season where he missed the first 80 games due to a PED suspension and then struck out over 30% of the time after he returned. It was ugly.

He didn’t make the team out of camp and spent his first week of his year down in Triple-A. After being promoted, he hit three homers and stole four bases in 19 games and it felt like a breakout was happening. Then, he strained his oblique amidst that hot streak and spent two months on the injured list.

Now, he’s been back for nearly a month and while the production has been pedestrian – three homers, two stolen bases, and a .759 OPS – he’s doing a lot of things well.

His raw power is fantastic with a 116.7 max exit velocity – top 98th percentile in the league – and high-end bat speed. It’s translated to game power with three homers already hit at least 420 feet.

Also, his swing decisions have been solid. He’s in the 69th percentile of SEAGER, a metric built by Baseball Prospectus’Robert Orr to assess swing decisions. It takes into account how often a player swings at pitches out of the zone, something Marte struggles with, but also how often they go after pitches in the zone they can do damage on. Marte is great at the latter.

With that, he’s blessed to play in Great American Ballpark, one of the best hitter’s parks in the league.

He’s also started 19 of 20 games since coming off the injured list and 17 in a row. Most of those starts have come at third base and the Reds’ have begun floating the idea of giving him some time in the outfield.

An everyday job with a great home park, good swing decisionsn and great raw power make Marte a fine bet to go on a serious hot streak over these next two months.

Colson Montgomery, SS/3B White Sox

(16% Rostered on Yahoo)

Montgomery has gotten off to an incredible start in his major league career. Through just 20 games, he’s already hit four homers and driven in 16 runs. All four of those home runs have come in his last six starts and his power is very real.

Of all hitters who have taken at least 50 swings this season, Montgomery’s bat speed ranks 17th. That’s right around sluggers like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Yordan Alvarez.

Also, Montgomery’s max exit velocity of 112.2 mph is in the 78th percentile of all big leaguers. He set that max exit velocity in a game against the Rays last Wednesday where he hit three batted balls at least 107 mph, a rare feat in a single game.

He hits the ball hard, he pulls it, and he lifts it. There is no question or concern about his raw power potential. Yet, there may be some concern as to how consistently he’ll be able to access that raw power in the short term.

Considered a consensus top-15 prospect heading into the 2024 season, Montgomery lost a lot of his shine due to dramatic swing-and-miss issues in the upper minors.

He had a 34% strikeout rate at Triple-A this season before being promoted and while that number has sunk to a more palatable 25% through his first 20 career games, his 18% swinging strike rate is in Joey Gallo territory and tells us regression is likely coming.

To make matters worse, he has a 54% whiff rate against breaking balls despite being thrown them less often than league average. Of the same ilk, his chase rate is well below league average while he’s seeing more pitches in the zone than most hitters.

These numbers are a bit skewed though because of how aggressive he’s been so far. In terms of first-pitch swing rate and overall swing rate he’s been one of the most aggressive hitters in the league lately and seems to know he’s at his best when hunting fastballs. Right now, it’s working. We’ll see if the league adjusts back within the next few weeks.

Regardless, he’s added some needed pop and flash to a White Sox lineup that desperately seeks both of those things. Also, he’s graded out as a plus defender at both shortstop and third base over these last few weeks.

At worst, he will have plenty of chances to work through any growing pains that may arise through the rest of the season and will likely hit plenty of home runs along the way as a dual-eligible player.

Ronny Mauricio, 2B/3B Mets

(6% Rostered on Yahoo)

This is my second time featuring Mauricio in this column so far this season. Mostly, because I’m a sucker for flashy tools, but this is the time of year to bet on those tools and hope we can catch lightning in a bottle.

I highlighted him last after a monster series against the Rockies where he had five hits, a 450 foot home run, and two stolen bases. It was those same tools that caught my eye and the potential to seize playing time in a Mets’ infield that was for the taking.

In 28 games after that series, Mauricio slashed .209/.277/.349 with three homers and just one stolen base. His approach was frenetic with a high chase rate, low contact rate, and he spent a few weeks more as a part-time than full-time player.

The tides may be turning again though. He’s hit dramatic, late-inning, game-tying home runs off high profile relievers – Randy Rodríguez and Robert Suárez – in consecutive games. That homer of Rodríguez also came in the midst of the first four-hit game of Mauricio’s career where he fell just one base short of a cycle.

Again, we’ve already seen some significant peaks and valleys in his production. It’s still translated to something like a 25-homer, 12-steal pace over a full season with a .250 batting average and 119 wRC+. If he can smooth out those cold streaks, there’s a quiet stud here waiting in the wings.

Ironically, Mauricio playing closer to his peak more consistently may come at the expense of some playing time. While being a free-swinging switch-hitter, he’s much more in control as a lefty than righty.

The Mets have faced a rash of left-handed starters recently and Mauricio has only started against two of the last eight, ignoring a couple bullpen games started by left-handed relievers. On the flip side, he’s started against nine of the last 10 righties they’ve seen.

The last variable here is Mark Vientos’ status. His name has swirled in trade rumors all week as the Mets seem willing to use him as a chip to clear their glut of young infielders while adding talent to their major league team. If he moves, there isn’t another player to take those reps against lefty pitchers.

Complications aside, Mauricio has unbelievable potential and is on the strong-side of a platoon in a great offense with the possibility for more – albeit less valuable playing time – through the rest of the season.

TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay traded for Miami catcher Nick Fortes after the Rays sent veteran catcher Danny Jansen to Milwaukee in another deal as the trade deadline approaches.

The Marlins acquired minor league outfielder Matthew Etzel, who was traded for the second year in a row. Tampa Bay got minor league infielder Jadher Areinamo in the trade with the Brewers.

The 28-year-old Fortes hit .240 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in 59 games for the Marlins. He hit .300 over his final 29 games with Miami.

Fortes is a .225 hitter over a career spent entirely with the Marlins, who took him in the fourth round of the 2018 amateur draft. He has 25 homers and 96 RBIs in 363 games.

Etzel has been on the injured list since June 22. He hit .230 with five homers and 34 RBIs in 56 games with Double-A Montgomery. The Rays acquired him from Baltimore last summer in a trade that sent Zach Eflin to the Orioles.

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Brewers hitting coach Al LeBoeuf returned to the team after leaving to have surgery for prostate cancer.

LeBoeuf is coaching in the majors for the first time this year. The Brewers named him lead hitting coach last October after he’d worked as a hitting coach in Triple-A the previous six seasons.

“We’re happy he’s back,” manager Pat Murphy said. “Any time anybody goes through something like that, it’s difficult. We kept in good contact and he was eager to be back and be part of it.”

The Brewers have three hitting coaches on staff: LeBoeuf, Connor Dawson and Eric Theisen.

LeBoeuf, 65, is in his 16th season in the Brewers’ organization with many Milwaukee hitters having long ties with him that began as they worked their way through the minors, including leadoff hitter Sal Frelick.

“We love Buffy so much. I’ve been with him for the past four or five years now,” said Frelick, who was one of three Brewers players to hit home runs in an 8-4 win over the Chicago Cubs. “It was really tough losing him for a little bit. Everyone said their prayers and luckily he was able to have a good procedure and he’s healing up quick. So happy to have him back.”

NEW YORK — Veteran catcher Danny Jansen was traded by the Tampa Bay Rays to his hometown Milwaukee Brewers for minor league infielder Jadher Areinamo.

Jansen was in Tampa Bay’s original lineup against the New York Yankees but got pulled about 45 minutes before the first pitch. The trade was announced shortly after the Rays ended a four-game losing streak with a 4-2 win at Yankee Stadium.

Jansen said he found out about the deal after meeting with manager Kevin Cash and president of baseball operations Erik Neander.

“I was getting ready to play the game, and I understand that side of baseball,” said Jansen, in his eighth major league season. “Just grateful for the time spent here with the guys.”

Tampa Bay signed Jansen to a one-year, $8.5 million contract on Dec. 13. He batted .204 with 11 homers and 29 RBIs in 73 games for the Rays, who also sent cash to the Brewers as part of the deal.

“He’s a leader. He’s a hitter. He’s been in big games. I’ve gotten great reports,” Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy said after his team’s 8-4 victory at home over the Chicago Cubs.

Brewers catcher Eric Haase was designated for assignment to clear a roster spot for Jansen.

“It’s a hard day for the Brewers in some ways because Eric Haase for two years has been an incredible team member. When he plays, he helps us win. Anytime we subtract a guy who’s been a leader in that clubhouse, too, it’s a really tough day,” Murphy said. “I don’t know Danny Jansen. I know his reputation. I know he’s a great player. And I trust our front office. I just do. They’re trying to make upgrades in every little area they can.”

The 30-year-old Jansen grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin. He is joining the NL Central leaders to serve as a backup to William Contreras, who is playing through a fractured finger. Contreras is hitting .245 with six homers and 42 RBIs in 100 games.

“I don’t live too far,” Jansen said. “That’s going to be something that my wife and I had never experienced.”

Jansen was moved right around the MLB trade deadline for the second straight season.

Toronto dealt him to Boston on July 24, 2024, and he wound up making baseball history by playing for both teams in a game at Fenway Park that got suspended June 26 and resumed two months later.

“Having gone through a trade last year will probably make this process a little bit easier for me, going into a team as a catcher learning pitchers and all that,” Jansen said. “So, looking forward to the challenge and task at hand with that. I think having a little bit of experience helps.”

Areinamo, 21, was batting .297 with 11 homers, 51 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 94 games for Class A Wisconsin of the Midwest League. He has started at third base, shortstop and second base.

Last season, Areinamo hit .301 with 30 doubles in 110 games for Wisconsin and won the Midwest League batting crown. He was rated the No. 10 prospect in Milwaukee’s system by Baseball America and No. 24 by MLB.com.

The Rays are 8-18 in their last 26 games following a 25-9 stretch from May 20 to June 26. Tampa Bay is 2 1/2 games back of the final wild-card spot in the American League.

CINCINNATI — Chase Burns has reached some elite company in his first six starts in the majors.

However, the Reds rookie right-hander is still seeking his first big-league win.

Burns became the second Cincinnati pitcher since 1900 with three straight games with at least 10 strikeouts against the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, he also allowed three runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings as the Dodgers posted a 5-2 victory.

“I feel like every start I’m kind of learning and getting better,” said Burns, who is 0-3 with a 6.26 ERA. “I mean, the numbers don’t show, but you know, it’s been really fun to go through the process and learn.”

Burns — who had 10 strikeouts against the Dodgers — joined Raisel Iglesias as the only Reds pitchers with three straight double-digit strikeout outings.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Burns is the eighth Major Leaguer age 22 or younger and the first since Pittsburgh’s Oliver Perez in 2004 to post three straight 10-strikeout games since the mound was moved to its current distance in 1893.

He’s also the seventh rookie to do it in three straight games and the fifth big leaguer to have at least 10 punchouts in three of his first six games.

“We’re trying to build for the future with him and win now with him. I think the kid is doing a good job,” Reds manager Terry Francona said.

Burns — the second overall pick in the 2024 MLB amateur draft — has faced some of the toughest lineups in the majors since being called up in late June. Two of his six starts have come against last year’s World Series participants. His debut was against the Yankees on June 24 and he faced the defending champion Dodgers,

Burns’ second start was at Fenway Park in Boston as the Red Sox jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first inning. The 22-year old went only one-third of an inning and allowed seven runs (five earned) on five hits.

“Yeah, it’s why I play the game, dream about playing (and) facing these guys like that, going against a lineup like that. So I’m having a lot of fun,” Burns said. “I’m blessed to be up here, and I just want to keep learning and get better.”

The one thing the Reds could help Burns with is run support. They have plated only four runs when he has been on the mound in his starts and in only one of his outings has he left with Cincinnati in the lead.

“You don’t have time to sit up here and learn slow, honestly,” Burns said. “The boys want to playoff push, and I want to be a part of that, so I got to go out there and perform.”

Despite the record, Francona doesn’t see any frustration from Burns.

“I think he’s fine. He’s a very mature kid or he wouldn’t be here,” Francona said.

It doesn’t get easier for Burns. His next start is likely to be against the Atlanta Braves in the MLB Speedway Classic at Tennessee’s Bristol Motor Speedway, where more than 85,000 tickets have been sold. The major league attendance record is 84,587 at old Cleveland Stadium on Sept. 12, 1954, when Cleveland faced the New York Yankees.

Burns played two seasons at the University of Tennessee and went to high school in Hendersonville, Tennessee, at Beech High School.

HOUSTON — Houston ace Framber Valdez expressed frustration about the defensive positioning on a play in the sixth inning that led to the only run he allowed in the Astros’ 2-1 loss to the Washington Nationals.

There were two outs in the sixth when Valdez walked Josh Bell. Nathaniel Lowe’s groundball double to the right field corner scored Bell and tied the game at 1.

Valdez wasn’t happy that right fielder Taylor Trammell was shifted halfway to center field instead of in right field on the play.

“I saw the right fielder playing center field and, you know, we have a center fielder for that,” Valdez told reporters in Spanish through a translator. “I feel like the right fielder should have been playing right field. I was uncomfortable with that.”

Valdez was asked if he addressed the positioning with the coaching staff.

“I don’t have to ask the coaches about that,” he said. “I feel like baseball is a game of common sense. With me as a lefty pitcher, they don’t hit a lot of fly balls against me.”

Valdez allowed three hits and a run while tying a season high with 12 strikeouts in six innings to become the 10th pitcher in franchise history to reach 1,000 career strikeouts (1,007).

Riley Adams hit a solo homer in the seventh inning to give Washington the win and extend Houston’s skid to a season-high five games.