NL FAAB Factor: Mid-June 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.

Owners and players continue to play a game of chicken with a deadline for setting a start date rapidly approaching. Negotiations, if you can call it that, are taking place via press releases and presentations rather than face-to-face due to the rancor and acrimony that exists between the two sides. If we think this is bad, just wait until the CBA expires at the end of next season. Maybe cooler heads will prevail and a deal both sides can live with will be reached but the signs point to commissioner Rob Manfred, on behalf of Major League Baseball, mandating a schedule that won't be well received by the Players Association.

STARTING PITCHER 

Mike Leake, Diamondbacks: Leake, who fractured his left (non-throwing) wrist during the offseason, was pitching in B games with a screen and had yet to swing a bat when spring training was halted. The several month delay will allow Leake to be 100 percent healthy when/if baseball resumes. As we noted in our outlook, you know what you get if you own Leake: "he has won 10 or more games in six of the past seven seasons, but the ratios have been anywhere from average to terrible." But his cost in auction due to his injury means that he should return a solid profit, even with the poor ratios, as Arizona, like all teams, will need more than five starters to navigate what should be a compressed and condensed season. LABR: $0; Tout Wars: Reserve pick

RELIEF PITCHER 

Corey Knebel, Brewers – Evil Knebel was brilliant in 2017, regressed in 2018 and looked to open 2019 as the Brewers' closer once again but an elbow injury late in the spring led to Tommy John surgery and cost him the entire campaign. He was not going to be ready for the start of this season had baseball began on time. The delay should allow Knebel to be good to go when action resumes. He projects to be a key member of the Milwaukee bullpen, possibly grabbing some saves from Josh Hader. LABR: $0; Tout Wars: $1

CATCHER

Wilson Ramos, Mets: Ramos' value is in his offense, as his pitch framing and ability to control the run game leave a lot to be desired. He spent time late last season working on improving both aspects to be a more well-rounded catcher. The jury is still out whether that effort will show on the field, but mild gains should enable him to see even more action behind the plate. Last year, Ramos batted .288 with 14 homers and 73 RBIs, and he could see occasional action at DH, enabling his bat to remain in the lineup when not donning the Tools of Ignorance. LABR: $10; Tout Wars: $13

FIRST BASE

Eric Thames, Nationals: Thames signed a one-year deal plus an option with the Nationals in  January. He historically bashes righties, which will be his role in the Nation's Capital. As such, don't expect him to see much action versus southpaws. Injuries wreaked havoc with his 2018 campaign, but he rebounded nicely last season and should bat in the middle of a solid Washington lineup, possibly behind Juan Soto, boding well for potential production.  LABR: $9; Tout Wars: $12

SECOND BASE

Brock Holt, Brewers: Hot, who spent the last seven years in Boston, signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Brewers in February. The contract includes a $5 million team option ($750,000 buyout) for 2021. His playing time may be somewhat limited this season, though he projects to fill a super-utility role for the Brewers, possibly playing everywhere in the field besides catcher and center field. If Orlando Arcia and Luis Urias are unable to hold down the shortstop job, Holt could slide in as the starter at the position. LABR: $0; Tout Wars: Reserve pick

THIRD BASE

Ty France, Padres: France was in a battle to be one of the last players to break camp with the Padres. He put up a monster season at the Triple-A level last season, posting a .399/.477/.770 slash line with 27 home runs, but entered spring training needing a solid showing to break camp with the big-league club. The expanded rosters should benefit France, resulting in him earning a spot on the parent club. France could see time at first, second and third base, as he did last season, and also worked behind the plate this spring to enhance his versatility. LABR: $0, Tout Wars: Not owned 

SHORTSTOP

Erik Gonzalez, Pirates: As I have written in prior columns, at-bats are a hard commodity to find in single leagues. Granted, it goes without saying productive at-bats are what matter, but counting stats require ABs even if they come with a weak slash line. Gonzalez is viewed by the Pirates as an elite defender and he can play any three of those (second, shortstop or third), which should keep him in the lineup on a semi-regular basis. He is expected to serve as a utility infielder, though don't expect a ton of production. LABR: Not owned; Tout Wars: Not owned

OUTFIELD

Adam Haseley, Phillies: Haseley, the eighth overall draft pick in 2017, made the jump to the majors last season despite playing just 18 games at Triple-A and held his own, posting a .266/.324/.396 slash line in 67 games. That performance at the plate coupled with his solid play defensively is expected to be given the chance to prove he's worthy of an everyday role this season in center field. The delay to the start of the season has allowed Andrew McCutchen, recovery from ACL surgery, time to be ready, but the addition of the DH provides all NL teams, including Philly, with another spot in the batting order. Haseley should get every chance to show that the fourth outfielder label on him since he was drafted is misplaced. LABR: $3; Tout Wars: $2 

Matt Joyce, Marlins: When spring training ended, Joyce was projected to start about three times a week in right field as the left-handed hitting part of a platoon, likely with Garett Cooper. His defense has regressed as he has aged, which might mean that Joyce sees most of his action at designated hitter, though that has yet to be determined. The one known is that Joyce struggles against southpaws, so if a lefty is on the bump, Joyce will be on the bench. LABR: $0; Tout Wars: Not owned