NL FAAB Factor: Mid-May Update

Normally, this would be my weekly look at National League free agents. But as we all know, we are not in normal times. First and foremost, I hope you and all of your loved ones are safe and well and remain that way.

To provide you some fresh reading material during this mandated hiatus, this article will look at some interesting NL players to draft and/or add off waivers. The LABR and Tout Wars NL-only leagues are our starting point for the column. Players drafted late or reserve picks are the main focus, though I probably will touch on others whose values I think will exceed their costs. My plan is to cover a handful of names each week, hopefully saving several over for the following column, allowing a new population of players to be covered weekly.

To make this somewhat interactive, as always, if there is a player that was not discussed in the article that you would like to know about, feel free to ask in the comments and I will touch on those the following week. We will see how many weeks this lasts, and hopefully by the time we exhaust all the names we want to cover, we will have baseball or an idea when games will resume, enabling a resumption of the normal column.

Major league baseball proposed the use of a universal DH this week in their submission to the Players Association. All signs point to the ratification of this change — presuming the revenue sharing issues can be ironed out and baseball played — meaning that National League games will mirror those of the Junior Circuit. I previously highlighted a few players, including J.D. Davis, Ke'Bryan Hayes, Austin Riley and Dominic Smith, who will benefit from the universal DH. The next few weeks will include additional hitters who figure to benefit from the addition of another position player in the batting order.

STARTING PITCHER

Sean Newcomb, Braves: Last week, I covered Bryse Wilson and Kyle Wright, who could fill the role of spot starter or long reliever if rosters are expanded beyond 26 players. This week, Newcomb gets the call, since Atlanta, like many other teams, may need 7-10 starters to get through a condensed season. Newcomb has shown that he is better suited to relieving, as his stuff, including his K rate, plays better in the bullpen. But he posted a 2.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and impressive 11:2 K:BB through nine innings this spring and could be a factor starting. The Braves do have several other options besides Wilson and Wright, including non-roster invite Felix Hernandez and Touki Toussaint to earn roles on the parent club. But even in the bullpen, Newcomb is worth owning in single-leagues. LABR: $0; Tout Wars: $2 

RELIEF PITCHER 

Kevin Ginkel/Hector Rondon, Diamondbacks:  Archie Bradley is penciled in as the Arizona closer. But he has relievers at the ready if he falters, and even if he retains the job, Ginkel and Rondon will have value in leagues that count holds. In our preseason outlook, we noted "Ginkel was a 22nd-round draft pick in 2016 and ascended quickly through Arizona's system, riding a dominant 2018 minor-league campaign to his first stint in the big leagues last season. He didn't miss a beat at the highest level, registering a 1.48 ERA and 0.99 WHIP while notching nine holds and two saves in 25 outings had a 2.25 ERA, 1.11 WHIP." He projects as a future closer and will be one of Bradley's primary setup men. Rondon, who notched 15 saves in Houston in 2018 and has 72 in his major league career, signed a one-year contract with the Diamondbacks in January 2020 with his contract including a team option for 2021. His drop in K rate in concerning, which is why Ginkel may be a better handcuff or set up man to own in the Desert. But Rondon has proven to be a solid reliever in the past and could factor in the closer mix. Ginkel - LABR: $2; Tout Wars: $1; Rondon - LABR: Not owned; Tout Wars: Not owned

CATCHER

Victor Caratini, Cubs: Chicago most likely will use Kyle Schwarber as the team's DH, supplemented by Ian Happ and others. But the use of a DH will allow the Cubs to keep Willson Contreras' bat in the lineup, plugging Caratini behind the plate. Caratini has shown he can be effective and utilized at other positions, especially first base. In addition, the potentially compressed schedule will necessitate increased use of backup catchers; with the Cubs not suffering a precipitous drop off in production by using Caratini. LABR: $3; Tout Wars: $2

FIRST BASE

Lewin Diaz, Marlins: Miami has several options for this spot, who I will highlight the next few weeks Jesus Aguilar is likely better suited to serving as the DH, creating a hole at first base. One possible option is Diaz, acquired from Minnesota as part of the Sergio Romo deal, Diaz, an above-average defender, slashed a collective .270/.321/.530 with 27 home runs and 76 RBI in 121 games between High-A and Double-A last season. He continued that fine play into spring, which could give him a leg up on the spot when/if the season opens. LABR: Not owned; Tout Wars: Not owned

SECOND BASE

Garrett Hampson, Rockies: Hampson, who provides speed to the Colorado lineup, was battling for a bench spot when spring training ceased. Brendan Rodgers, covered a few weeks ago, is healthy and could fill a middle infield role, limiting Hampson's chances. But, the Rockies could move David Dahl from center to right field, utilizing Charlie Blackmon as DH, opening center field for Hampson, who was brilliant last September, hitting five homers, scoring 16 runs and stealing nine bases while batting .318. Keep that production in mind if Hampson is afforded playing time, which was baked into his expert leagues cost. LABR: $14; Tout Wars: $12

THIRD BASE 

Jake Lamb, Diamondbacks: Lamb has been unable to remain healthy the last two seasons. But a universal DH would allow Lamb's bat to remain in the lineup, limiting his time in the field and potential for injury. At worse, Lamb, who in 2016-17 averaged 29.5 home runs and 98 runs batted in, should play against righties, against whom he has a career .814 OPS, with Kevin Cron, a minor-league masher who belted 44 home runs between Triple-A Reno and Arizona in 2019, starting vs. righties. LABR: $2, Tout Wars: $2

SHORTSTOP

Luis Garcia, Nationals: Garcia was the youngest hitter in Double-A last year and not surprisingly, he struggled at that level. But he closed strong and continued that fine play into his stint in the Arizona Fall League. Garcia has the size and hit tool to mature into a 20-plus home run hitter along with a solid percentages, due to his eye at the plate and elite bat-to-ball skills. The potential lack of a minor-leagues will hurt Garcia's development, but the universal DH could result in Starlin Castro ceding time at the keystone to Garcia with both bats remaining in the lineup. LABR: Not owned; Tout Wars: Not owned

OUTFIELD

Franchy Cordero, Padres: As requested in the comments, I am covering Cordero this week. His lack of inclusion in the column the last few weeks is in no way, shape or form an indication I like others better than Cordero for the weekly article. Cordero has tremendous skills but he has yet to make it through a year healthy recently, limited to a combined 71 games in the minors and majors over the past two seasons. He built on a strong Dominican Winter League showing with a solid spring training and was expected to break camp with the parent club. The universal DH will help clear some of the outfield logjam in San Diego, opening at-bats for Cordero, who would benefit from not having to play the field, limiting some of the potential for injury. The next few weeks, I will cover others who could benefit from the DH in San Diego. LABR: $4; Tout Wars: $3