1 Bold Move Every MLB Contender Should Make
Luck, as they say, favors the bold.
As we enter baseball's summer stretch run, that truism should echo from the front offices and dugouts of every MLB contender.
With that in mind, let's run through each postseason hopeful and identify one bold move they should make to increase their October chances. We're not just talking waiver trades, either. It could be shuffling the lineup or bullpen or calling up a prized prospect.
Some moves will be bolder than others, depending largely on each club's current position and resources.
Speaking of which, we're defining "contender" as any squad with a 30 percent or better chance of making the playoffs, per FanGraphs' calculation. That means several bubble teams didn't make the cut.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Go to Closer-by-Committee
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After a disastrous 2016, the Arizona Diamondbacks are tied for the National League's top wild-card position and own the third-best run differential in the Senior Circuit at plus-110.
Their closer, on the other hand, has been mercurial at best.
Through 39.1 innings, Fernando Rodney owns a pedestrian 4.81 ERA and has blown five of 32 save chances. Overall, meanwhile, Arizona relievers sport the sixth-best ERA in baseball.
Maligned as it is in some circles, the closer-by-committee approach is the D-backs' best bet going forward, with the likes of lefty Andrew Chafin and righty Archie Bradley supplanting Rodney in the ninth as needed.
Boston Red Sox: Ride Rafael Devers
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Boston Red Sox prospect Rafael Devers has been a revelation since his recent call-up, hitting .339 with a 1.074 OPS in 16 games.
So it doesn't seem bold to keep the 20-year-old in the lineup.
Still, if and when veteran second baseman Dustin Pedroia returns from his knee injury, there could be a temptation to slide speedy trade-deadline acquisition Eduardo Nunez back to third and either demote or shelve Devers.
These Red Sox are a veteran team, after all, built to win now.
Devers, though, is part of the present and future. Even when the inevitable rookie slump arrives, Boston should keep trotting him out there. He's shown he has the lumber to help the team now, and this stretch-run experience will be invaluable later on.
Chicago Cubs: Give Kyle Schwarber Reps at Catcher
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The Chicago Cubs suffered a crushing blow in an already-mixed season when they lost catcher Willson Contreras to a hamstring injury.
Veteran Alex Avila, acquired at the trade deadline from the Detroit Tigers, and rookie Victor Caratini will pick up the slack, but Chicago has another option behind the dish.
That'd be Kyle Schwarber, an admittedly complicated case.
Schwarber is hitting a scant .193 and has played only five innings behind the dish since suffering a horrific knee injury in 2016.
At the same time, the 2014 first-round pick has the skills to be an offensive stud and gives manager Joe Maddon another cog for his mix-and-match machinations.
"I still want a game back there," Schwarber said Aug. 2 of donning the tools of ignorance, per Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune. "It would be awesome. The role right now is focused on left field, but if I ever get called upon to catch, I know I can still do it."
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Cleveland Indians: Call Up Catcher Francisco Mejia
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Speaking of defending league champs with issues behind the dish, the Cleveland Indians have gotten little offensive production from their catchers in 2017.
Yan Gomes is hitting .220 with a .671 OPS, while Roberto Perez owns marks of .177 and .524.
One solution? Call up top prospect Francisco Mejia.
The 21-year-old is hitting .307 with 12 home runs in 79 games at Double-A. The Tribe, meanwhile, is in first place in the American League Central but trails both the Red Sox and Houston Astros for the best record in the AL.
A Mejia promotion would carry risks, as former Indians catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. explained to Cleveland.com's Zack Meisel in June.
"Catching is not a position you want to rush," Alomar said. "It's a position [in which] you want to make sure you are completely developed behind the dish, and unless you have an emergency or something like that, it's always good to have those developmental stages."
Fair enough. On the other hand, Cleveland hasn't won a World Series since 1948, the longest active drought in the majors. Sometimes, curse-busting requires boldness.
Colorado Rockies: Bench Carlos Gonzalez
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For years, Carlos Gonzalez was an All-Star on an also-ran team.
Now, the Colorado Rockies are a genuine playoff contender, and CarGo is due for a benching.
Yes, Gonzalez has collected eight hits in his last five games. Overall, though, the 31-year-old is hitting .239 with a .658 OPS. For a guy who plays half his games at Mile High altitude, that's unacceptable.
As Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post put it: "[Manager] Bud Black keeps putting him right field for his defense and with the hope that CarGo will eventually get really hot. Yet that has still not happened, and I'm beginning to think it might not happen at all this season."
Gonzalez may yet have a role for the Rox as they march toward October. For now, as Saunders suggested, Colorado should experiment with other options, including recently demoted Raimel Tapia.
Houston Astros: Acquire RHP Justin Verlander
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While the New York Yankees grabbed ace Sonny Gray at the non-waiver trade deadline and the Los Angeles Dodgers netted Yu Darvish, the Houston Astros mostly stood pat.
That didn't sit well with 'Stros lefty Dallas Keuchel.
"I'm not going to lie," Keuchel said of Houston's inaction, per MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. "Disappointment is a little bit of an understatement."
Of course, trade season isn't necessarily over.
Teams can still acquire players who have cleared waivers and add them to their playoff rosters up to Aug. 31.
And, look at that, Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander cleared revocable waivers and has been linked to Houston, per MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi.
Verlander has a full no-trade clause, but it's reasonable to assume he'd waive it to go to a legitimate World Series contender.
He's owed $28 million in 2018 and 2019 with a $22 million vesting option in 2020, so there are financial considerations.
Lance McCullers Jr. is out with a back injury, however, throwing the Astros rotation into a state of disarray. Verlander brings prestige and postseason pedigree, and he would send a message to the clubhouse and fans that Houston is serious about winning it all.
Los Angeles Angels: Move Albert Pujols out of the No. 3 Spot
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First off, tip your cap to the Los Angeles Angels for even being in this conversation.
While other fringe postseason hopefuls such as the Brewers and Kansas City Royals failed to meet FanGraphs' 30 percent threshold, the Halos cleared the bar despite a minus-four run differential. If the season ended Monday, they'd be the AL's second wild-card team.
There are issues all over for Los Angeles, including a suspect starting rotation and a lineup that hasn't produced consistently outside Andrelton Simmons and reigning AL MVP Mike Trout.
Yet, the Angels lack the minor league piece or financial flexibility to swing a significant post-waiver deal or make a major call-up.
The best they can do is to move veteran Albert Pujols out of the three spot.
Pujols can still clear the fence now and then, but his .230 average and .648 OPS belie a hitter in steep decline. He's no longer equipped to protect No. 2 hitter Trout, plain and simple.
Manager Mike Scioscia apparently isn't ready to make the change but acknowledged it's a possibility.
"Albert would never put his personal goals ahead of the team," Scioscia said, per Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register. "This guy is an exceptional team player. I think he would hit wherever a manager thought would be the best fit."
Los Angeles Dodgers: Say 'Meh' to 117 Wins
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The Los Angeles Dodgers are 83-34 with 45 games left to play. If they win 34 of those final 45 contests, they'll break the all-time single-season win record shared by the 2001 Seattle Mariners and 1906 Cubs.
How much thought should they give to that milestone? None.
Here's something else the '01 Mariners and '06 Cubs have in common: Neither won the World Series. For their part, the Dodgers haven't hoisted a Commissioner's Trophy since 1988, despite winning four straight division titles and being baseball's biggest spenders.
As they enter the stretch run, the Dodgers should focus on gaining home-field advantage, getting ace Clayton Kershaw back to full strength and keeping the rest of the roster healthy.
If that means manager Dave Roberts resting regulars and winning "only" 110 games, or even 101, so be it.
New York Yankees: Acquire 1B/DH Mike Napoli
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The Yankees missed a chance to add thump to their playoff push when Jay Bruce went from the crosstown New York Mets to the Indians.
There are still boppers floating on the market, however, including the Texas Rangers' Mike Napoli.
The 35-year-old boasts an .805 OPS against lefties and could provide a platoon complement for Chase Headley at first while also getting reps at designated hitter. In addition, he brings veterans leadership and a postseason track record.
He's owed $11 million with a $2.5 million buyout for next season, so there are financial considerations. But he'd be a nice ancillary addition for a Yankees team that's in line for a wild-card berth at least.
St. Louis Cardinals: Acquire LF Justin Upton
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After looking like an also-ran for much of the season, the St. Louis Cardinals are suddenly in the thick of the postseason chase.
Their recent eight-game, feline-aided winning streak has them at 61-57, 1.5 games back of the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central.
Their offense, meanwhile, ranks No. 16 in the game in runs scored and No. 18 in home runs.
Hence the suggestion, floated by Ben Markham of Viva El Birdos, that St. Louis go big and acquire outfielder Justin Upton from the Tigers.
Upton's 23 homers would pace all Cardinals players, and he'd solidify a crowded-but-uncertain outfield picture.
He's owed $88.5 million through 2021, but it's possible Detroit would eat some cash, especially for a decent prospect or two.
A few weeks ago, the Cardinals looked like sellers. Now, suddenly, they're back in contention, with a chance to catch the rival Cubbies. Risky as it'd be, a move like this could vault St. Louis into October.
Washington Nationals: Call Up CF Victor Robles
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First off, breathe a sigh, Washington Nationals fans. It could have been a lot worse.
When Bryce Harper slipped on a rain-slicked first base in a game against the San Francisco Giants on Saturday and crumbled to the ground, it looked like his season might be over. Instead, it's merely a bone bruise, per Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press.
Still, Harper will be out for a while. The Nats remain a virtual lock to win the NL East, but they could use an injection of oomph in the outfield.
Here's a crazy idea: Call up top prospect Victor Robles.
Sure, the speedy 20-year-old has spent a scant 19 games at Double-A. Yeah, calling him up now would start his service clock.
These Nats are in a win-now window, however, with Harper's free agency looming after the 2018 season. What if Robles, who owns an .845 OPS with 19 stolen bases across 96 minor league games this season, provides a spark?
Stranger things have happened. And it'd be exactly the kind of jolt Washington would need to not merely make the playoffs but finally get past the division series and defeat the juggernaut Dodgers.
Is it likely? No. Can Nationals fans dream while Harper rehabs? Sure.
All statistics current as of Monday and courtesy of MLB.com and Baseball-Reference.
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