Fantasy Baseball Today - FBT Express - 10 Prospects to STASH NOW Before the Trade Deadline! (7/24 Fantasy Baseball podcast)

Starting point is 00:00:00 10 prospects who could gain value at the trade deadline. Up next on Fantasy Baseball Today Express. Welcome in to NPT Express on Thursday, July 24th, one week ahead of the trade deadline. I am Frank Stanfield, joined by Scott White. 10 prospects who could gain value at or before the trade deadline, and we will start with this group, Scott Samuel Basayo, of the Orioles, Jordan Lawler of the Debex,

Starting point is 00:00:26 Spencer Jones of the Yankees, Owen Casey, and Moises Bayesteros of the Cubs. What are we thinking with that game? Well, let's see. You mentioned one cub. Two Cubs. Two Cubs. You mentioned two Cubs.

Starting point is 00:00:40 There's another one to come. I'm wearing my Cubs had right now. They have the most tradable assets. So if they wanted to make a big splash, they seem the most equipped to do so. But of course, not all of the players on this list are gaining value because they could be traded. Samuel Bessio's case,

Starting point is 00:00:57 it's because Ryan's, Ryan O'Hern is very likely to be traded out of Baltimore, freeing up that DH-first base spot. And Pesayo should fill it. He should fill it. He has nothing more to prove in the minors. He was my number two prospect when I came out with my mid-season top 50 about a week ago. He impacts the ball like Kyle Schwerber, great eggs of velocities for a minor leaguer, and I think has that kind of upside as a hitter.

Starting point is 00:01:24 He is technically a catcher, but he's not a catcher. and I think they know it, which is why they didn't call him up to replace Adley Rushman. Plus, this would be a more permanent opening created in the lineup. They could go with Kobe Mayo instead, I suppose, to fill that O'Hern spot, but he's gotten a couple chances.

Starting point is 00:01:42 It's gone very poorly. I think Pesayo deserves his look. Jordan Lawler, of course, we've talked about him a lot over the years. He's well overdue for an extended run in the majors, a true job to call his own. And, you know, it could go a couple ways here for Loller at the deadline because it's not clear what the diamondbacks intend to do, whether they are going to be buyers or sellers. They're right there in the middle.

Starting point is 00:02:09 I think the most likely scenario is they're sellers. And I think their best asset to sell is Ehio Henio Suarez, their third baseman. I know the Yankees are one team that would be interested in him. And if that happens, there you go. Third base is Lollers, maybe for the next decade at that point, finally gets. his opening. If they decide to be buyers, then maybe it's Loller himself who gets moved. And again, as overdue as he is for an opportunity, I imagine he'd entered the lineup

Starting point is 00:02:39 of whatever team acquired him. Spencer Jones looks like a great asset for the Yankees all of a sudden. His prospect stock has been like a roller coaster over the years. He dropped off every major top 100 list coming into the season because it just looked like he was getting buried by strikeouts, even in the minors. And for as much raw powers, he has big six-foot-seven guy, he wasn't actualizing it. Well, he's actualized it now. He's homered 10 times in his last 17 games.

Starting point is 00:03:14 I don't know that that's even updated with the latest information. 10 times in his last 17 games, 16 times in his last 30. The power has come for Spencer Jones. This is both the result of him. improving his launch angle with some offseason work. And also very recently coinciding with this hot streak, Spencer Jones changed his batting stance in a way that he thinks helps him react to pitches quicker. We're seeing the results, obviously.

Starting point is 00:03:41 So Spencer Jones prospect stock is taking off again. He still has major strikeout concerns like Joey Gallo-level strikeout concerns, and maybe the Yankees will decide, okay, this is our chance to cash in on him and not have to worry about the strikeouts maybe tanking his future. And if that's the case, Spencer Jones, again, he's doing this at AAA, wherever he goes, probably a very short path to the majors at that point. And then the two Cubs here, Owen Casey and Moises by Esteros. Casey, I think, is the most likely prospect to be traded of anybody.

Starting point is 00:04:18 Because, like, he's blocked twice over with the state of the Cubs outfield right now. they have an outfielder fixed in the D.H. It's, say, a Suzuki. So I just don't know where the path exists for Owen Casey. And he's sort of like Spencer Jones, where you always had that raw power. He's actualized it this year. Already has more home runs than last year in only 78 games. And good on base skills.

Starting point is 00:04:44 I think he's ready for his big league opportunity since it won't come with the Cubs. We want it to come with somebody else. Finally, by Asteroz, blocked twice over himself. as a catcher. Carson Kelly, an unexpected star this year. He's signed for another year at the Cubs. They got Miguel Amaya, soon to come back from the I.L. Biasteros doesn't really profile as a catcher long term anyway.

Starting point is 00:05:05 And because he's 5'7, first base is kind of a reach as well. Quite literally, I mean that. And I've already pointed out, D.H. occupied, say, as Suzuki. So a rebuilding team could pursue any of those three avenues for by Astero's at least in the short term catcher first base DH but the Cubs he's blocked at all three good trade asset for them all right let's take a quick break and we'll be back right after this welcome back in FBT Express five more prospects who could gain value at the trade deadline we have Justin Crawford with the Phillies j J.J. Weatherholt with the cardinals Tyler Locklear

Starting point is 00:05:45 with the Mariners C.J. Kaffis with the Guardians and Kevin Alcantara of the Cubs J.J. Weatherholt, by the way, just had a huge game on Wednesday where he hit two more home runs at AAA. So we are in agreement, Scott. I believe in J.J. Weatherholtz. Yeah, I don't think there's anybody doubting his prospect credentials. It's just a question of how soon until he contributes. And it was only drafted last year, but the fact he's a AAA and already having big performances there, it seems like a guy on the fast track. And the quickest way to get him to the majors, I think, would be to trade Nolan Aeronado, which the Cardinals would be happy to do to unload that salary.

Starting point is 00:06:28 They tried to do it in the rest of that contract. They tried to do it this offseason. He declined the deal. So he has a role in this as well. He has to approve the deal himself. But surely that's something they'll be trying to do with the deadline is move him. And then they could shift Brent to Donovan to third base and introduce J.J. Weatherholt as their second basement. It may not happen on August 1st, but before the end of us.

Starting point is 00:06:50 August, I think it's likely to happen. Justin Crawford's a really interesting case because he's exactly the sort of unconventional prospect that a team loaded with talent would be happy to cash in on while a team that's short on talent would be happy just to try him out because it could go very wrong. He has performed at a high level all the way through AAA, but he has performed. hasn't made the necessary adjustments that would make him better suited for the modern game, which is to say he hasn't learned to elevate. And so the exit velocities Justin Crawford delivers are kind of wasted.

Starting point is 00:07:30 I still think it might work because he has elite speed, very good contact skills, an opposite field approach. I think he could be that rare sort of batting average stolen base standout, which is sort of what his dad, Carl Crawford was. He had some years with 15 plus homers, but mainly he was a stud in fantasy because of. batting average and stolen bases. We haven't seen a lot of that in the 20 years since Carl Crawford.

Starting point is 00:07:55 But Justin Crawford is ready for a major league look and it's not going to come with the Phillies. So maybe they could cash them in and just unload that risk on a rebuilding team. That'd be happy to take it on. Tyler Locklear, I have to spotlight him here because, look, the Mariners could call them up right now. They have Luke Rayleigh and Ben Williamson starting every day. and they've suffered through that enough. Like Tyler Locklear, you know,

Starting point is 00:08:23 they could find a spot for him if they wanted to. I don't know if they're keeping it open just so they could look at the trademark at first, maybe solve their first base situation that way. But Tyler Locklear is demanding, demanding attention right now. He has had back-to-back four hit games. He's eight for his last eight,

Starting point is 00:08:46 three home runs during that time. He has been on a pass. power binge 12 home runs at his past 27 games. He did get a look in the majors last year. It didn't go well. But given the difficulty curve for hitters in recent years, my rule is it takes like two months of uninterrupted play for us to pass judgment on them. I think Locklear, Tyler Locklear, is earning a second look.

Starting point is 00:09:13 Last three here, or last two, I should say, real quick. C.J. Kaffis of the Guardian's similar situation. to Locklear where the Guardians could call him up now but I think it'll be a lot easier to if they trade Carlos Santana which would be very easy to trade if the Guardians decide they're out of it.

Starting point is 00:09:31 CJ KFis has showed good on base skills pretty good pop for a first baseman a profile not that unlike Carlos Santana actually and then finally Kevin Alcantra of the Cubs you know same situation as Owen Casey outfielder who's ready for a major league opportunity

Starting point is 00:09:46 and there's just no room with the Cubs. I don't think He's as good as Casey, or at least he hasn't realized his potential as well as Casey has, but he's strong and athletic. And I could see a team like the Marlins, potentially getting a lot of playing time out of Kevin Alcantra. Maybe an Alcantra for Alcantra trade. Who knows? That would be fun.

Starting point is 00:10:06 They probably need more than just Kevin Alcantra to move on from Sandy, but you can be part of that trade. For more extensive fantasy baseball coverage, listen to our full-length podcast, Fantasy Baseball today on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else podcast. are found. Thanks for listening to Fantasy Baseball Today Express, and we will be back again tomorrow. Bye-bye.

Fantasy Baseball Today - FBT Express - 10 Prospects to STASH NOW Before the Trade Deadline! (7/24 Fantasy Baseball podcast)

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