This article is part of our AL FAAB Factor series.
Normally on Sundays, I'd be writing and posting the AL FAAB article, highlighting and analyzing players who are worth picking up (or occasionally, trying to talk you out of throwing too much of your budget at a player likely to draw high bids). However, with the MLB season held in suspended animation like a bug in amber, there are no FAAB or waiver periods to worry about. At least I hope not – there's probably a couple of leagues out there that drafted early and might be plowing ahead anyway, but spending any portion of your budget right now would just be silly, when things as fundamental as the number of games that will be played and the size of big-league rosters are still up in the air.
That doesn't mean, however, that there aren't players and roster situations worth discussing in the meantime. Each week until the season is finally ready to begin, we'll take a look at players gaining or losing value, to prepare you for that eventual first FAAB period.
Relief Pitcher
Joey Gerber, Mariners: For those in deep leagues looking for bullpen lottery tickets, Gerber could be one to keep an eye on. He has only about half a season at Double-A under his belt, but the 23-year-old righty tore through the minors last year (69:19 K:BB in 48.2 IP) and had apparently already won a spot on the big-league roster before spring training was shut down. Gerber fires a 95-97 mph fastball that
Normally on Sundays, I'd be writing and posting the AL FAAB article, highlighting and analyzing players who are worth picking up (or occasionally, trying to talk you out of throwing too much of your budget at a player likely to draw high bids). However, with the MLB season held in suspended animation like a bug in amber, there are no FAAB or waiver periods to worry about. At least I hope not – there's probably a couple of leagues out there that drafted early and might be plowing ahead anyway, but spending any portion of your budget right now would just be silly, when things as fundamental as the number of games that will be played and the size of big-league rosters are still up in the air.
That doesn't mean, however, that there aren't players and roster situations worth discussing in the meantime. Each week until the season is finally ready to begin, we'll take a look at players gaining or losing value, to prepare you for that eventual first FAAB period.
Relief Pitcher
Joey Gerber, Mariners: For those in deep leagues looking for bullpen lottery tickets, Gerber could be one to keep an eye on. He has only about half a season at Double-A under his belt, but the 23-year-old righty tore through the minors last year (69:19 K:BB in 48.2 IP) and had apparently already won a spot on the big-league roster before spring training was shut down. Gerber fires a 95-97 mph fastball that he complements with a slider that became a lot more effective in 2019, and both pitches feature plus spin as well as velocity. He even has closing experience dating back to college, for what that's worth. In a Seattle bullpen that lacks an established stopper in the ninth, Gerber's got the tools to seize the job if he gets a chance.
Daniel Mengden, Athletics: Mengden looked set to miss a large chunk of the year after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his elbow in February, but he's now close to being fully healthy and should be ready to go when second training camp kicks off. The right-hander is one of a number of Oakland pitchers in recent years who's managed to post occasionally solid ratios despite middling stuff, and while he'll probably be headed for a long relief role, keep in mind the A's rotation is likely to be one of the most volatile in the league. Jesus Luzardo, A.J. Puk, Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea could all be excellent, but they could also all struggle to stay healthy or in a groove under trying circumstances given their inexperience and track records. Guys like Mengden and Chris Bassitt could therefore see a lot of work filling in for the young guns, or spend a lot of time sitting a socially responsible distance away from the team's other relievers.
Third Base
Jeimer Candelario / Dawel Lugo, Tigers: One position battle that seems likely to continue into the season is at the hot corner for Detroit. Neither Candelario nor Lugo are big-time prospects and neither one did much this spring before the league was put on pause, although Lugo's .238/.238/.286 line in 21 plate appearances with a 0:2 BB:K was arguably a step up from Candelario's .133/.133/.367 line with a 0:8 BB:K in 30 PAs. Lugo has a better hit tool, while Candelario has more power, and with both guys already in their mid-20s (Candelario's 26, Lugo's 25) there likely isn't much more ceiling to be found in either one. In the long run, Lugo probably has the better chance of sticking in the majors, even if it's just in a bench role, while Candelario could be on his last chance to prove he belongs in the majors at all. In AL-only formats, the odds of one of them winning the starting job outright gives them some modest appeal, but expectations should be kept low even in the best-case scenario.
Outfield
Kevin Pillar, Red Sox: With Alex Verdugo looking like he'll be 100 percent for Opening Day, the door is probably closed on Pillar being a starter for the Red Sox, but that doesn't mean he won't have some value. Jackie Bradley's offensive struggles could lead to a platoon in center field, and Pillar's career .281/.313/.453 line against LHP would be promising in that role. His pull-happy batting profile could also allow him to thrive playing wall ball with the Green Monster. In fact. all three projected starting outfielders for Boston are lefties – even if he's not in a straight platoon with any of them, Pillar should see a healthy workload subbing in for them in turn against southpaws.
Yoshi Tsutsugo, Rays: One aspect of the shutdown that's gotten little attention, mainly because it's impossible to predict what the impact will be, is how it will impact Japanese players who were already facing an adjustment to North American ball. Tsutsugo was having a little trouble handling MLB-quality velocity in the spring, and the lack of reps since won't help him speed up the process of learning to handle it. His potential defensive versatility and power output in Japan remain intriguing, but in a shortened season, any time Tsutsugo has to spend making adjustments will make him that much tougher to roster. The other prominent import in the American League is Blue Jays pitcher Shun Yamaguchi, who also struggled during the spring and had already lost out on a rotation job. In a keeper format, both players could still be worth stashing for 2021, but the 2020 season could be over before they finally begin to get the hang of things on this side of the Pacific.
