Graduated from Stash List #6: Cauley Circles The Field: Luis Lara, Cameron Cauley
1. Yankees SS George Lombard Jr. (21, AAA)
Jose Caballero has been consistent as a temporary top-six option in place of Anthony Volpe, but Fangraphs lists him as having a negative WAR on both offense and defense. His best position in the first division list is as a utility player. You could say the same about Ryan McMahon and his .278 on base percentage, though I’d argue you could find a more versatile bench player with that roster spot. Lombard Jr. adapted to Triple-A after a slow start at the level, hitting .308/.429/.617 with seven home runs, five stolen bases and a 23.3 percent batting average over his last 30 games.
2. Walker Jenkins Twins (21, AAA)
I’ve said things like this before about boys being at risk of injury, but it’s my deep belief that it’s easier to stay healthy in higher programs than very young kids because of improvements in travel, accommodation and training staff. Jenkins has been injured enough throughout his career that he is reminiscent of Alex Kirilloff as a left-handed hitter who never hit his ceiling. Since returning from a season-ending shoulder injury up until a few weeks ago, Jenkins has slashed .309 / .356 / .564 with two home runs, two stolen bases and a 15.3 percent slugging percentage in 14 games. Minnesota is a .500 team that has been playing Luke Keachall in the middle field. They are just three games out of the division lead and have made two relief trades in July, acquiring Woo-Suk Go on July 5 and Tommy Nance on July 10. Things that help this organization to change quickly and bet on the 2026 club to stay in contention. Another easy way to make a bet right now is to promote Walker Jenkins and see if he can Leroy his way to finish.
Here’s what I had to say about the issue last year on August 3, 2025 in Prospect News: Electric Padres or The Deadline Lives!
“The Minnesota Twins traded away a bunch of bullpen and contract players. Despite reports to the contrary, I’m not sure how sad Twins fans are to see Carlos Correa go. It’s a built-up feeling about how the owners are nursing, I think, because that contract was underwater. They overpaid him in the first place and they all got him talent on the team. And now he’s got room for everybody that matters. Brooks Lee, Royce Lewis, Luke Keaschall and Kaelen Culpepper should add to the strong base with significant contracts. The 40-man as an infield option. For years this team has struggled to organize and prioritize the lineup. Removing Correa from the lineup makes a big difference as it allows them to improve their defense and open up third base for Lee if Keachall can play second base.
I really thought they were going to hold on to Louis Varland and let him shut down for a while to increase his value, but former Blue Jays LHP Kendry Rojas is an interesting return. While it’s time to beat Minnesota, the Twins have added some interesting arms to join the rotation today in Taj Bradley, Mick Abel and guys like Rojas who should help soon. They’re betting on building another bullpen, one that’s eager and exciting to watch.”
3. Joshua Baez Cardinals (22, AAA)
Baez is ranked 60 percent in Fantrax leagues as the fantasy baseball world awaits his arrival with bated breath. He has 29 homers and 14 steals in 83 Triple-A games. Is that something you might be interested in? One possibility here: the club likes to carry three defenders because Ivan Herrera plays a lot of designated players.
4. Rockies 1B/OF Charlie Condon (23, AAA)
I’m surprised we haven’t seen Condon promoted. He has 20 home runs and a 23.8 percent slugging percentage in 80 Triple-A games, slashing .288/.412/.579. I was probably a little down on him in my last review in part because his continued presence in the minor leagues baffles me.
5. Mariners LHP Kade Anderson (21, AA)
I still don’t know how this guy gets to Seattle, but I know he’ll be there for me. I’m not going to say they’re wasting his innings because I’m sure he’s learning something, but keeping him in that pitcher-friendly park for 72.2 innings with a 1.36 ERA and 0.69 WHIP strikes me as amazing.
6. Cardinals LHP Quinn Mathews (25, AAA)
Quinn’s season-long odyssey to find a strikeout spot has come to a rest in Memphis as he awaits that final call home in St. Louis. In his last seven starts, Mathews has a 0.79 systematic WHIP and a 1.83 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 39.1 innings. This guy should be top notch.
7. Guardians 1B Ralphy Velazquez (21, AAA)
Cleveland could make room for Ralphy by moving DeLauter back to the outfield, though his injury history makes that risky. They currently play Petey Halpin in center field and Kahlil Watson in right field. I like Watson, but Halpin is not a major league-ready offensive contributor (18 wRC+). Angel Martinez is on his way back, and Cleveland doesn’t tend to bring in premium prospects until they can hit, but Velazquez is slashing .313/.411/.542 with three home runs and a seven-to-seven walk average over his last 12 games after taking a month or so to get to Triple A.
8. Tigers 2B Max Anderson (24, AAA)
I’ve said this about a few guys already, but Anderson struggled to get into Triple-A before turning it on with the weather. In his last 32 games, he is slashing .321/.380/.555 with a 10.7 percent slugging percentage. The Skubal talk rightfully dominates Detroit-centric deadline talks, but if they were to trade, they’d be willing to move 2B Gleyber Torres and his expiring $22 million contract if he can come back from a troubled hole in time to make sense to a contender.
9. Blue Jays SS Jay Harry (24, AAA)
Starting shortstop Andres Gimenez can play the position, but that may be the extent of his value these days. He’s drawing walks just 3.5 percent of the time and is working as an automatic or automatic out at the bottom of that lineup with a 77 wRC+. Harry is playing all over Triple-A (2B, SS, CF, RF) as the organization looks to place his offseason bat. In 26 games for Triple-A, he is slashing .309/.372/.545 with five home runs and an 18.2% slugging rate. Can he handle six on the big league diamond? I can’t really tell from here, but it wouldn’t hurt the team in last place to look.
10. Max Clark’s Tigers (21, AAA)
A mainstay on these lists early on, Clark fell out of the top 10 for a while as I figured Detroit wasn’t going to push that button in the first half. Well, we’re no longer in the first division, and Clark has been hot, hitting .303/.389/.475 with four home runs, eight stolen bases and more walks (11.5%) than strikeouts (10.6%) over his last 24 games. He’s only 10th here (when he should probably be higher) because Detroit’s management has confused me all season.
Thanks for reading!
