
Washington Nationals 3B Mark Reynolds is known for his power, and a lot of strikeouts. Andy says buy him and use him now while Ryan Zimmerman is sidelined and Reynolds is on a monster hitting streak.
We are about one-third of the way through baseball season. There is still plenty of time left and things to stay on top of managing your fantasy baseball team, including identifying players to acquire or to try to move off your squad. Here are my thoughts on three key guys in week 9 fantasy baseball buy-sell.
1B Mark Reynolds, WSH
This guy is amazing. He signs late with the Washington Nationals after a hugely productive year with the Colorado Rockies, and in 44 at bats he’s hit six home runs and driven in eight. Oh and he’s also scored 10 runs. He’s always been able to hit, it’s just a matter of can you handle the high strikeouts he’s going to give you as well. He may fit into a similar category of a Billy Hamilton (speed and not much else). In Reynolds case, power but not much else, but at least power contributes to three categories.
According to cbssports.com, Ryan Zimmerman is supposed to come back, “in a few days.” However with Reynolds production so far and the fact the Nats are half a game behind the surprising Atlanta Braves, I think manager Dave Martinez will ride the hot hand, making sure Zimmerman is at 100%, before making any moves.
Fantasy Advice – Buy
If for no other reason than to ride his hot hitting streak until Zimmerman gets back. He may split time with Matt Adams but Reynolds is the better play right now.
OF Domingo Santana, MIL
Here is one of my, “I truly don’t know what to do with him,” guys. He had a monster season last year hitting 30 homers, driving in 85 and stealing 15 bags. This year Santana isn’t even close to those numbers. Granted it’s early but he has three homers, 17 RBI and one stolen base, with an OPS 100 points less than his career average. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/santado01.shtml
The fact the Brewers have four legit outfielders in Ryan Braun, Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain may be putting pressure on Santana to perform for regular at bats. Although, manager Craig Counsel has played Braun at first base several games getting Santana into the outfield. He is getting his chances to turn things around.
I may have been drinking the Kool-Aid drafting Santana in the middle of my draft but I truly thought he would pick up where he left off from last year. I was wrong. However, I’m not ready to give up on him. I think two months into the season isn’t enough time to say whether or not he was a bust. They say that success breeds success and the Brewers are atop the NL Central. With the lineup he’s in, he’s bound to snap out of it. He’s too good not to.
Fantasy Advice – Buy
If you can get him, do it. I realize I am kicking myself for taking him in the middle rounds but with that lineup, he has a good chance to snap out of it. One week of solid at bats and he’s a hot player again.
3B Josh Donaldson, TOR
Josh Donaldson fits in the same category as Santana in that one, I regret drafting him, and two, I don’t know what to do with him because he is too valuable to drop outright. When healthy, he’s an MVP candidate. Lately however, owning him gives you a rotten feeling in the pit in your stomach.
I love Donaldson’s passion for the game, hitting and life in general but that doesn’t help me win. He’s been battling calf injuries the past two seasons which has greatly impacted his production. As of writing this, he’s hitting .234 with five home runs and 16 RBI.
This shouldn’t last and I suspect he’ll get hot at some point. It’s just a matter of time, but my patience is running thin. I think Donaldson will be gone from the Blue Jays by July 31 and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will be the Jays regular third baseman. They aren’t catching the Boston Red Sox or the New York Yankees, and that division is so tough they aren’t going to make up a ton of games, so keeping Donaldson isn’t benefiting him or the Jays.
Fantasy Advice – Sell
If the Jays continue to hold down Vlad Jr. there may be an outcry for renegotiating the service time portion of the collective bargain agreement. How Donaldson responds to a trade, or gets over his calf problems, is anyone’s guess. Flip him for a player that helps you now instead of holding and hoping for another two months.
Extra Innings
How good is Justin Verlander? A few years ago, there was talk about Verlander hanging it up because he had lost his stuff. Heading into the weekend, he’s 7-2 with a 1.11 ERA and has 98 strikeouts in 80 plus innings. With Verlander followed by Charlie Morton, Gerrit Cole and former Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel, we may be witnessing one of the best starting rotations in recent memory.