Athletics 3B Tommy White he hit four hits in the third night in Sacramento, which may have been the start of a 1980 movie but actually describes the effectiveness of his hard-hitting approach during his first week in the majors. He is 7 for 17 with a scoreless streak through four games. Third base is shallow. In 76 Triple-A games, White slashed .303/.353/.465 with 10 home runs and two stolen bases. It looks good but it was actually three percent worse than league average according to wRC+. He’s not the kind of guy I’d trade for in a dynasty, but I would try to open up some space if he floated in free agency.
Arizona hasn’t gotten much of a cold corner since it let its name go. Astros man. Oh, yes, Christian. . . Walker. Hmm. The next guy in line Diamondbacks 1B Tyler Locklearfrom Seattle in the Eugenio Suarez trade at last year’s deadline. He is similar to Tommy White in that he is a right cornerback who controls the strike zone and has a lot of contact. In 54 Triple-A games this year, he slashed .313/.394/.504 with eight home runs and four stolen bases. With Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Tommy Tory and Jordan Lawlar all injured, Locklear has a chance to win the job starting in 2027.
Luis Lara Producers should get extended playing time at the highest level with Sal Frelick on the injured list due to an overpriced tongue tackle. Who can relate, right? Lara is already flashing the plate ability that earned him a long-term contract, drawing five walks against four strikeouts in 30 PAs. That’s kind of all he’s done so far: five singles, five walks and one double, hitting .240 with a .280 slugging percentage, but it’s hard to find your groove playing part-time, and at 5’7” 169 pounds, Lara needs his space to grow his craft.
I know I’ve talked about him before, but I think you should answer Royals OF Tyler Tolbert wherever you need stolen bases, which I think can happen anywhere you’re playing for people’s money at this point in the season. Kansas City has been resistant to playing Tolbert even in this stolen base (and maybe bunt?) era, but they’re running out of bodies as Bobby Witt Jr. tied, and Tolbert is one of their few ready-made assets now that could be strong.
Braves OF Brewer Hicklen he may not have much time to mature at the big league level with Ronald Acuña Jr. starting his rehab assignment Tuesday night, but struggling to stick, posted a .471 on-base percentage and 187 wRC+ in 17 plate appearances. He has had these limited opportunities in each of the last four seasons but has never been suspended for more than half a dozen games. If he finds a way to stay, we’re talking about a 30-year-old who hit 16 home runs and stole 25 bases in a half-season at Triple-A last year.
Cardinals LHP Brandon Clarke (A+) was reportedly throwing 117 miles per hour during his Low-A resume. Well, 101.5 or something, I guess, but it’s all the same past a certain point, no? Clarke was a household name in the off-season but has found himself on the free-agent roster in many of my leagues. It’s worth the space if you have one to spare.
Jaron Elkins Dodgers (21, A) is suitable for the list space as well. An 8th round pick in 2023, the 6’1″ center fielder is breaking out this season, slashing .337/.421/.588 with 11 home runs and 30 stolen bases in 64 games. As an added bonus, he could slide up the organizational chart if Los Angeles makes a move.
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