I admit I did a bit of a double take prior to the season when I saw that ESPN.com had projected a near 20-homer, 20-steal season for Oakland Athletics outfielder Ramon Laureano. Laureano is a fantastic center fielder and we all can see and enjoy that, but to possess that combination of power and speed and actually show it in your first full season -- and in Oakland's spacious park? It seemed a bit much to ask, but I liked Laureano. Even with my skepticism, I selected him in many, many leagues. That has worked out well!
On Sunday, Laureano homered for the 18th time and stole his 11th base. Though the power is outpacing the speed a bit, nobody is complaining because this is the No. 3 hitter on the Player Rater for the past 15 days, and No. 8 over the past 30. Laureano has homered four times in his last five games and while his plate discipline (19 walks and 98 strikeouts is a nightmare) will keep him from claiming any batting titles unless it drastically improves, everything else checks out.
Laureano just turned 25 years old and somehow, despite his numbers, he remains available in nearly 60 percent of ESPN standard leagues. OK, so obviously there are leagues in which the majority of managers have already turned their collective attention to football. Still, Laureano ranks ahead of Alex Bregman, Anthony Rizzo, Francisco Lindor and all but 28 hitters on the full-season Player Rater, so it makes little sense to leave him in free agency. Laureano showed this versatile offensive upside in the minor leagues, though most thought the power would be merely modest. He was a runner and Gold Glove outfielder first and, like so many this season, apparently a power hitter, too.
Does this all look legit? Well, I have adjusted my thinking over the past year in projecting whether or not power is real, especially as I see more and more measly fly balls sliced off the end of bats flying the opposite way over outfield fences. I'm not saying Laureano's power is a fluke. Everyone's power might be a fluke to some degree, but anyone on pace for 31 home runs, 88 RBI, 19 steals and 95 runs is obviously worthy of fantasy consideration in all formats -- even points ones where the staggering lack of walks is a concern. Again, we do not expect a batting title here. His playing time is safe thanks to his defense. Six more games this season against the Seattle Mariners bodes well, too.
Power is everywhere. I am just glad Laureano found the time for the 11 steals. Would you believe only 25 players have more? I think, in normal times, Laureano would hit something like .250 with mid-teens home runs over a full season (we projected 16), and if there were more of an emphasis on stealing bases, he would be capable of 25 or more. This statistical version works as well since, of the 25 players with more steals, only Christian Yelich, Ronald Acuna Jr., Yasiel Puig and Trevor Story have more home runs. It's quite a group!
The Athletics. as an offense, rank eighth in runs scored, but other than Laureano, third baseman Matt Chapman, and the still-overlooked shortstop Marcus Semien, we see disappointments. Outfielder Khris Davis has battled several injuries and, while he can still get to 40 home runs and his standard .247 batting average, he is not someone to trade for in fantasy. He looks like he is playing hurt, as he has dealt with hip, elbow and hand issues. First baseman Matt Olson has done his job, though 19 home runs should translate to more than just 39 RBI and 36 runs. Yikes! Infielder Jurickson Profar is hitting .212 and, while some of that has been bad luck, what a disaster! Outfielder Stephen Piscotty has not brought the power, and he is hurt. Popular sleeper Chad Pinder has done little.
Weekend takeaways
Then there is Houston Astros corner infielder Yuli Gurriel, the top hitter on the Player Rater for the past 15 days because he is suddenly showing off power that most had given up on. Gurriel, 35, hit five home runs in the first three months. Yawn! He has 11 blasts since June 23 -- over just 15 game -- as he helps carry an injury-depleted lineup. Some might wonder what happens when the lineup gets healthy, but Gurriel clearly has big power and while it didn't manifest for the first 1,500-plus plate appearances of his late-arriving, major-league career, why would it go away now? Enjoy it and, as with Laureano, what are you waiting for to add him?
Speaking of skepticism, Texas Rangers outfielder Hunter Pence could come off the injured list Tuesday and, while I would not activate him in weekly leagues (in part because the Rangers play only five games this week and a few are against good Astros pitching), go get him. Willie Calhoun might still develop into something fantasy relevant, but Pence is already there with the season he is having. Calhoun cannot hit lefties.
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder A.J. Pollock homered and knocked in four runs on Sunday Night Baseball at Fenway Park and, while I do not trust his ability to stay healthy in the least, a potential top-25 outfielder lurks, I suppose. Eh, I'll still take Laureano first. Pollock has played in three games since returning from a long absence. He failed to play in as many as 114 games in any of the past three seasons. The Dodgers have depth and are planning solely for October. Sorry, but be skeptical. I like Alex Verdugo better, and at least you know Joc Pederson will play and hit home runs.
What an emotional weekend for the Los Angeles Angels as they played their first home games since the death of left-hander Tyler Skaggs. The combined no-hitter on Friday by Taylor Cole and Felix Pena and the postgame reaction brought a tear to my eye and I did not think once about fantasy. In other Angels news, we hope Mike Trout and his injured calf is no big deal, but be prepared for an off-day or three. Versatile David Fletcher is a nice points-league option now that he handles regular leadoff duties (since Tommy La Stella broke his leg). It is a small sample, but outfielder Justin Upton is striking out more than one-third of the time since his return. Be wary, as his power comes with a bad batting average. Rookie infielder Matt Thaiss should get a long look at third base and he homered on Sunday, but he has yet to show the power is real.
Some think I look ridiculous for bidding $51 (we have $1,000 budget in FAAB) in Tout Wars Mixed on Tampa Bay Rays infielder Michael Brosseau, and yeah, I can see why. Brosseau homered Sunday for the fourth time in his 12-game call-up, and each off terrible Baltimore Orioles pitching, but the 25-year-old did show power and discipline in the minors. Even when Brandon Lowe returns from his leg contusion (one assumes it will be this week) if Brosseau hits, he plays somewhere. He is eligible at second base, too. Ultimately, I have the money and it is a mixed league, and he replaces Dodgers utility man Chris Taylor in my lineup, so it is not as if I need to save the dough to pounce if/when Will Smith is dealt to the American League. For those in AL- and NL-only formats, save that money a bit longer.
I do not think people realize what San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. is doing: .339/.406/.615 with 14 home runs, 33 RBI, 14 steals and 47 runs in 58 games and 249 PA, and he is 20. Yeah, I am seriously thinking of making him a first-round selection in 2020 fantasy drafts. Tell me why that's silly or wrong.
Health report
Astros right-hander Brad Peacock seemed on track to start Monday, but his shoulder injury remains an issue and the team must look elsewhere. Perhaps fantasy managers should, too. Peacock lost four of five starts in June. He is a strikeout option for a top team, but shoulder woes are scary and often last a while. I have seen enough of left-hander Framber Valdez to pass on investing, and right-hander Josh James misses bats, but also misses the strike zone too much. Collin McHugh? Total guesswork at this point.
Closing time
The Atlanta Braves win so much that saves are common. Right-hander Luke Jackson handled Friday and Saturday in San Diego, though he did permit walks and runs in each game. Erratic lefty A.J. Minter saved the Sunday win. I have to think the Braves trade for a closer in the next 16 days. Remember, the MLB trade deadline is Wednesday, July 31 and there is no August trading. The Braves should look for bullpen upgrades. If you roster Jackson, stick with it -- but be wary in much the way we have all season for Detroit Tigers right-hander Shane Greene, who could supplant him in Atlanta. I do not think adding Minter in fantasy makes much sense.
W2W4
Rays left-hander Blake Snell faces the Yankees in their place and on ESPN+. That seems like something you would want to see. The defending AL Cy Young winner faced the Yankees just before the All-Star break and spun five effective innings of one-run ball, so do not sit him in weekly or even daily formats. Snell has been the unluckiest pitcher in the sport, with the biggest differential in ERA and FIP. Most of his peripherals look similar to his outstanding 2018 season, and his strikeout rate is actually up. This is a pitcher to trade for in fantasy, before his value keeps rising.
I am a bit more concerned about Chicago White Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito. He walked five Cubs in his most recent outing, and has issued 16 free passes in his past five starts. Giolito walked 22 in his first 12 starts. He faces the terrible Royals in a big park on Monday and perhaps I should not worry. Still, if things go poorly here and he starts walking the likes of un-walkable Adalberto Mondesi and slugger Jorge Soler, well, then can we worry? Perhaps this pitcher is too streaky.
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