Backups with skills to step forward
While Major League Baseball plans on a shortened 60-game season in 2020, health issues have and will continue to come into play in the age of the novel coronavirus.
Here are some of the early summer camp developments and some replacements to consider for your 2020 drafts.
American League
Minnesota infielder Miguel Sano tested positive for COVID-19. If he misses any time, the Twins will find it tough to replace the power (34 home runs in 380 at-bats). With the acquisition of Josh Donaldson, Sano shifted to first base; jack-of-alltrades Marwin Gonzalez could see a boost in playing time. While Gonzalez hasn’t reproduced the .303 average, 23 HRs and 90 RBI he put up in Houston in 2017, he could pop a few homers and hit in the .260-.270 range. Ehire Adrianza could also see more time at first base, but with no power or speed, he’s safe to ignore.
The Red Sox rotation looked skimpy due to trades and the Chris Sale injury. Losing presumptive No. 1 starter Eduardo Rodriguez to COVID-19 – at least for the start of the season – intensifies the problem. The Red Sox will need Colin McHugh to get past his 2019 injuries and return to 2018 form, when he racked up plenty of strikeouts to go with a sub-2.00 ERA as a reliever. Now there are questions to whether he will answer the bell. Lefty Brian Johnson will also likely see some time as a starter, but an ERA north of 6.00 with few strikeouts make him a reach. Ryan Weber could start, but other than keeping the ball on the ground, he hasn’t done much. Look for a lot of bullpen games in Fenway.
If any team can handle a closer missing time, it’s the Yankees.
Showing COVID-19 symptoms, Aroldis Chapman won’t be playing soon. Manager Aaron Boone already dubbed southpaw Zack Britton as the standin; Britton totaled 120 saves for the Orioles between 2014 and 2017, with an ERA below 2.00 each year. Adam Ottavino could also see some opportunities, but lack of control limited his opportunities the past few years.
Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka suffered a concussion when he took a line drive off his head during a simulated game last week, which could keep him out at the start of the regular season. Jonathan Loaisiga could secure a few more starts; while he has long been saddled with injury problems, he looked good in the second half of 2019, with a high strikeout rate and fewer walks. Jordan Montgomery, coming off his own injury woes, should also factor in as he tries to re-create the 3.88 ERA he posted in 155 innings in 2017.
A positive test for
Jesus Luzardo
could punch a hole in the Oakland Athletics’ rotation to start the season. A likely candidate for the slot is Chris Bassitt, who made 25 starts in 2019 after a jump in velocity. However, a low swinging-strike rate make a repeat of his 3.81 ERA unlikely. Look for youngster A.J. Puk to man a spot; his 2019 numbers amounted to nothing special after 2018 Tommy John surgery, but his pitch mix will likely work well in Oakland.
National League
With newborn twins in the fold, Buster Posey chose to sit out the season. What’s not currently clear is who will don the tools of ignorance for the Giants. Top prospect Joey Bart flashes solid contact and power but hasn’t spent time above Class AA, so it’s unlikely the Giants will rush him. Tyler Heineman hit .336 with 13 home runs at Class AAA in 2019 but has only five games in the majors. Veteran Rob Brantly, who’s totaled only 64 at-bats since 2013, will also get a look. Look for San Francisco to dip into the free agent market.
Back in the before-days of February, David Price slotted in as the No. 3 starter for the Dodgers after a trade from the Red Sox. But Price decided last week that he would skip the season; Ross Stripling likely steps in. Stripling, who posted a 3.01 ERA in 2018 but stepped back in 2019, keeps the ball on the ground and won’t walk many. Don’t sleep on 22-year-old swingman Dustin May. He walked only five while striking out 30 in 35 innings during his debut in 2019.
First baseman and perennial All-Star Freddie Freeman tested positive for COVID-19, and the symptoms hit him “like a ton of bricks,” according to his wife. With Freeman’s questionable start date, the Braves will try to replace his 38 home runs and 121 RBI with Yonder Alonso, who popped a combined 51 homers in 2017-18 but hit under the Mendoza line in 2019 with only 10. Travis d’Arnaud could also move from behind the plate to see some time at first base and could build on the 16 big flies he hit in 365 at-bats in 2019.
The Braves also must address the opt-out of outfielder Nick Markakis. Likely replacement Adam Duvall recovered from a poor 2018 with 10 homers in only 150 at-bats in 2019. Don’t look for much in the way of batting average from Duvall, who makes poor contact and strikes out frequently. Austin Riley could also see a boost in playing time, but he registers the same high-power, low-average profile as Duvall.
Rockies outfielder Ian Desmond posted a poignant note on Instagram that detailed his thought process on opting out of the 2020 season, noting that “home is where I need to be right now.” Garrett Hampson split time between second base and outfield last season; more playing time appears likely. Hampson’s speed (15 steals in 299 atbats) remains the obvious attraction, but he also shows occasional pop (five September homers). If Hampson plays more outfield, top prospect Brendan Rodgers should see time at second base. Rodgers flashed power and speed in the minor leagues but struggled in his initial exposure in the major leagues (no HRs in 76 at-bats).
Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who had re-upped with the team in January, decided to skip the 2020 season. Recently signed Eric Thames strikes out too much to hit for a high average, but he’s topped 25 home runs in two of the last three years. Versatile Howie Kendrick can also play first base and be counted on for a .300 average with occasional power (17 HRs last year). And if Kendrick moves off second base, Asdrubal Cabrera can hit for enough average and power to earn double-digit value.