Comments
The last twenty comments in true blog fasion, with the links to their authors and the player commented upon.
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For some reason we don't have either. Here's the link to Baseball-Reference:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/romerse01.shtml
Steve Cohen's dollars are going to this? An offense-only player in a league without DH (an offense-only player who hasn't really hit for two years)? Plus, slow guys who add grounders are deluding themselves. Where is the what?
BABIP and OB% the same in 2020.....I wonder if anyone's BABIP has ever exceeded their OB% in any season.........probably so a low percentage of the time.
He was the No. 2 overall in the 2011 draft, but could never stay healthy. He announced his retirement today and takes a player development position with the Cubs. Those who can do, those who can't develop. Good luck to him.
Changes things doesn't it. Maybe there will be some growth.
Signs with the Giants. Maybe his old GM can figure out what is wrong. Wood is still pretty young -- 30 -- but has been in the bigs for most of 8 years.
Needs pitching stats.
Needs pitching stats and previous minor league stuff (which may come automatic with pitching stats).
One of several possible closers for the giants along with Tyler Rogers, Jarlin Garcia, and Matt Wisler.
Dropped his pull rate from 41% to 32% which may be why his BABIP and BA were higher (with some luck thrown in). But it dropped his HR rate back towards his 2018 numbers.
.392 BABIP last year. His home BABIP was .423 and his road BABIP was .343 so we'd expect some regression but I still would expect him to hit .300 or so with some sbs.
Not that it helps in ROTO, but he'll also score some points in some DFS formats with Triples and Doubles especially playing at home.
His season was even more abbreviated on fantasy teams.
Julio Teheran (P) - Jan. 13
https://www.rotowire.com/baseball/player.php?id=762266
Teheran will throw for teams at a showcase scheduled for Tuesday, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Teheran was Atlanta's Opening Day starter in 2019, but he left the team in 2020 to join the Angels. He struggled mightily during the abbreviated season, making 10 appearances (nine starts) while posting a career-worst 10.05 ERA and 1.76 WHIP over 31.1 innings. He'll attempt to demonstrate his abilities during his showcase Tuesday, although it's not yet clear which teams will attend.
Stathead Spotlight: Pedro Baez
Batting average allowed below .200, strikeout percentage of 24% or higher since 2018 (min. 500 batters faced)
| Player | BA | K% | ERA | BF | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Hader | .141 | 46.4% | 2.66 | 673 | MIL |
| Jose Leclerc | .174 | 35.3% | 3.09 | 532 | TEX |
| Reyes Moronta | .175 | 29.3% | 2.66 | 508 | SFG |
| Justin Verlander | .185 | 35.1% | 2.56 | 1701 | HOU |
| Adam Ottavino | .189 | 33.2% | 2.61 | 677 | COL‑NYY |
| Pedro Baez | .191 | 24.7% | 3.02 | 583 | LAD |
| Kirby Yates | .191 | 38.4% | 2.04 | 518 | SDP |
| Gerrit Cole | .193 | 36.6% | 2.71 | 1904 | HOU‑NYY |
| Will Smith | .194 | 35.0% | 2.88 | 529 | SFG‑ATL |
| Dinelson Lamet | .196 | 34.1% | 3.11 | 580 | SDP |
| Jack Flaherty | .198 | 29.7% | 3.20 | 1557 | STL |
Could he have kept it up in a full season?
We'll never know. He faded in the last three weeks of the regular season, then came roaring back in October.
Signs with the Astros.
Second offseason in a row that the relievers have gone off the board first
Is it possible a season spent entirely at the alternate site accelerated the progress of a player like this?
From BP:
- 7.
- Travis Swaggerty
- OF
- Born: 1997-08-19
- B: Left
- T: Left
- H: 5′ 11″
- W: 180 lbs.
- Drafted 10th overall in the 2018 draft, University of South Alabama; signed for $4.4 million.
The Report: At times in 2019 Swaggerty struggled, but he finished the second half on a strong note, as he slashed .306/.375/.430 over his final 63 games in the rough offensive environment of Bradenton. He made adjustments controlling his forward movement, getting to his hitting position on time more and honing in his launch position. With these positive progressions, paired with his approach and bat control, a continued, if delayed, surge could happen in 2021. In the outfield, Swaggerty’s instincts and speed make him a plus center fielder. Additionally, in 2019 he swiped 23 bags in the Florida State League, tied for fifth in the circuit, which, along with his defense, will be his two most notable calling cards in the majors.
Development Track: So far, the Pirates have been fairly aggressive with the former first rounder. After scuffling at the end of 2018 in the South Atlantic League, Swaggerty was sent to High-A Bradenton to begin 2019. So an assignment to start 2021 in Double-A Altoona, or even Triple-A Indianapolis after competing at the alternate site, to test Swaggerty’s revamped swing wouldn’t be a shock, especially given the way he finished 2019.
OFP: 55 / Above-average center fielder
Variance: Medium. The glove and speed tools should carry Swaggerty to an outfield bench role in the bigs. How much impact he has with the bat is the question here. —Forest Stulting
Major league ETA: Late 2021 / Early 2022
Mark Barry’s Fantasy Take: It will be very interesting to see how Swaggerty’s adjustments will carry over to competitive action. He already has a solid fantasy skillset with contact/speed, and if he can add anything to it, that’s a super playable profile. I’d be making some inquiries on Swaggerty before we kick off the 2021 campaign, because if he starts out the season hitting, he won’t be cheap.
Up from the depths by virtue of being promoted to the third best prospect on the Pirates by BP.
- 3.
- Liover Peguero
- SS
- Born: 2000-12-31
- B: Right
- T: Right
- H: 6′ 1″
- W: 160 lbs.
- Signed July 2nd, 2017 by Arizona out of the Dominican Republic for $475,000; acquired from the Diamondbacks for Starling Marte.
The Report: Peguero stands out right away when his batting practice starts for loud, hard contact. The swing is incredibly short, but he has elite hand/wrist strength that allows him to punish baseballs. Peguero is still prone to chase, but the barrel control is strong enough that he can get to most pitches thrown his way. He does not cut the most physical figure on the field, but as a player who just turned 20, he already has most of his adult strength. Oh, he is also a plus runner with above-average arm strength in the field. Most of the mistakes I have seen from him at shortstop can be ironed out over time and with more defensive reps—not getting enough on a throw, being too casual, going too fast when not needed.
Development Track: Peguero may partner up with Gonzales as the everyday double-play combination for Low-A Bradenton in 2021. He could also be pushed more aggressively since he is Rule 5 eligible after next season and is an obvious protection candidate. A full season of games could see Peguero shoot up next year’s Pirates list and into the Top 101.
OFP: 60 / First-division shortstop
Variance: Medium. There are enough tools here that even if he moves off SS, he will find an above-average defensive position somewhere. The home run power may be less than you would hope given his frame but this is still nearly a five-tool player, and tools play. —Steve Givarz
Major league ETA: Late 2022/Early 2023
Mark Barry’s Fantasy Take: Reason 2,304,283 that I’m mad about 2020 is that it deprived us of seeing Peguero’s progression in Pittsburgh. The dude makes a ton of contact and could even see some of those high-contact batted balls wind up over the fence. He reminds me a little of Jean Segura or Whit Merrifield (minus some steals), and while those aren’t overly tantalizing names, they still keep Peguero in the top-75 dynasty prospects or so.
Normally you don't earn $17 or $18 in your first 24 games in the majors, but there was nothing normal about this season.
Hayes cemented his position as the best prospect on the Pirates in the most recent rankings from BP.
- 1.
- Ke’Bryan Hayes
- 3B
- Born: 1997-01-28
- B: Right
- T: Right
- H: 5′ 10″
- W: 205 lbs.
- Drafted 32nd overall in the 2015 draft, Concordia Lutheran HS (Tomball, TX); signed for $1.855 million.
- Previous Rank: #3 (Org), #63 (Top 101)
| Year | Team | Level | Age | PA | R | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | K | SB | CS | AVG | OBP | SLG | DRC+ | BABIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | WV | SS | 22 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | .111 | .250 | .222 | 56 | .125 |
| 2019 | IND | AAA | 22 | 480 | 64 | 30 | 2 | 10 | 53 | 43 | 90 | 12 | 1 | .265 | .336 | .415 | 96 | .311 |
| 2020 | PIT | MLB | 23 | 95 | 17 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 9 | 20 | 1 | 0 | .376 | .442 | .682 | 115 | .450 |
The Report: If you got to the park by 4 p.m., Hayes looked like a perennial All-Star in waiting. He’d flash plus-plus raw power at the end of batting practice, and early on when he was taking it easy and getting loose, would still crack laser beam line drives from gap to gap. The plus-or-better glove at third base was obvious as well. At 7 p.m.? Well, he still looked like a very good third base prospect. The glove was more obviously plus-plus as he’d slow the game down, or fire an accurate strike from a step or two into foul territory. There was a strong approach at the plate, and he’d hit the ball incredibly hard—it’s at least 70-grade bat speed. But Hayes didn’t lift pitches consistently, instead ripping doubles down the left field line when he really got into one. He never managed double-digit home run totals until 2019 with the Triple-A rabbit ball, in what was overall a bit of a disappointing campaign. The lack of game power seemed to limit the upside to merely a good regular as Hayes stood on the precipice of the majors.
Development Track: After implying that Hayes could have the everyday third base job if he just signed a cheap extension, the Pirates finally gave him some run at the hot corner at the end of a lost season. If you want a bright spot for the 2020 season—in addition to securing the first-overall pick, I guess—he immediately found that missing over-the-fence game power. And these home runs weren’t cheapies. It’s not a large enough sample size to be sure it will play as plus going forward—he’s still list eligible, after all—but it looked very, very right. As did the rest of the offensive profile and the glove at third. But we’ve long been pretty sure about those.
OFP: 70 / All-Star third baseman
Variance: Medium. Hayes was always likely to be a good regular given the approach, plus hit tool, and plus-plus glove. How real the 2020 power breakout is will dictate exactly how good a regular. —Jeffrey Paternostro
Major league ETA: Debuted in 2020
Mark Barry’s Fantasy Take: I long loved Hayes, believing his minor-league numbers masked his true upside. Then around this time last year, I hedged like a coward and tempered expectations as to whether Hayes could be an impact bat. Yes, it’s fewer than 100 plate appearances, but Hayes looks every bit like That Dude, making a ton of loud contact and finding a way to consistently leave the yard. Hayes is a top-10 dynasty name, for me, pushing top five, and I’m sorry for doubting him.
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Irony -- Bradley traded away by a fantasy owner who is a huge Phillies fan yesterday morning. Bradley signed (apparently but not officially) by the Phillies yesterday afternoon.