TRADE: Stacks Acquire Semien, Steele in Deal with Tacos

After weeks of discussions, the Alamo Short Stacks and San Mateo Oppo Tacos settled on a five player, three pick deal on Monday. The Stacks will acquire second baseman Marcus Semien (2/$37), left-hander Justin Steele (2D/$5) and a 2024 5th Round Pick (71st Overall) from the Tacos in exchange for right-hander Walker Buehler (2D/$5), prospects Adael Amador (Minors) and Sammy Zavala (Minors), as well as 2024 3rd and 4th Round Picks (30th and 40th Overall).

Semien needed a strong final four months to rebound from a slow start in his first season with the Rangers in 2022, but was much steadier in his second year as he slugged his way to an .826 OPS while finishing third in American League MVP voting. He finished 2023 ranked 8th in hitter scoring overall, trailing only Mookie Betts in scoring among middle infielders with 485.5 points while leading all of baseball in plate appearances for the third consecutive season.

Steele rejoins the Stacks after the club selected him the 2023 Reserve Draft before being included in a mid-season deal with the then Idaho Taters. The 28-year-old southpaw finished last season with a 3.06 ERA and 1.17 WHIP alongside a 176:36 K:BB across 173.1 innings, and he finished fifth in NL Cy Young Award voting. His 427.0 pitching points in 2023 ranked 21st among all starting pitchers. Steele has been named the Chicago Cubs Opening Day starter and will come out of the gates with a duo of tough opponents between the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Tacos continued their off-season overhaul and don't appear to be finished. The club has quickly rebuilt their Farm System with Amador serving as the lead return and rivaling Walker Jenkins as the best prospect in their System behind James Wood. A 6-foot middle infielder with one of the best approaches and hit tools in the minors, Amador has a chance to contend for batting titles in his prime. Unfortunately, injuries limited him to 69 games (including rehab assignments), but he was able to reach Double-A as a 20-year-old. The skilled switch hitter made notable exit velocity gains last year, notching a career-best 110.4-mph maxEV while upping his hard-hit rate and average exit velocity. Even with those gains, he doesn't barrel the ball regularly enough to the pull side to project for more than 15-20 homer pop at peak, and he's not the type of burner on the bases who projects to top 20 steals in a season, even if he's on base all the time. Amador's overall fantasy profile is similar to Rockies era DJ LeMahieu, where batting average/OBP will be his banner stats which aligns well with the RDBL scoring format. He was added to the 40-man roster and could make his big-league debut this summer. Ezequiel Tovar is the superior defender, so Amador's long-term home is likely second base.

For the third offseason in a row, the top traits to point to with Zavala, a 2023 5th Round Pick by the Stacks, are his command of the zone and youth relative to the average age of the pitchers he faced. He slashed .267/.420/.451 with 14 home runs and 20 steals in 101 games primarily as an 18-year-old at Single-A before falling flat (.078 AVG, 33.9 K%) in 14 games at High-A. Much like Amador, Zavala aligns well with the RDBL scoring format with his ability to draw walks arguably being his most tangible skill. He should return to High-A and could reach Double-A by the time he turns 20 in July.

Loaded with early-season options, the Dodgers are delaying the return of Walker Buehler as he continues to build back from his second Tommy John surgery. Early reports have been very positive on the right-hander who is under Tacos control through 2025 with a likely return to a big league mound in May.

Spring Training Notebook: Injuries Piling Up for RDBL Clubs

Initial imaging showed Boston Red Sox starter Lucas Giolito likely has a partially torn UCL and flexor strain and could miss the 2024 season. Giolito, who signed a two-year deal with Boston, may need surgery to repair the right-elbow damage. 

The right-hander was set to be a RDBL Free Agent target in Auction, carrying a 357.0 point projection which likely would have generated a double-digit contract which is another knock to the Starting Pitcher Free Agent Class.

Around the RDBL

• The St. Louis Cardinals are relieved that Sonny Gray's mild right hamstring strain wasn't worse, but Gray's availability for Opening Day is in doubt. John Mozeliak described the timeline as "challenging” but "from the MRI reading, we are definitely encouraged." It’s another blow to a reworked St. Joseph Jokers starting rotation with Kodai Senga (shoulder) also expected to start 2024 on the Injured List as he recovers from a PRP injection. Free Agent right-hander Kevin Gausman did not throw his scheduled live bullpen session Monday due to "general shoulder fatigue," Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports. The good news here is that Gausman's MRI showed no structural damage. However, the fact an MRI was ordered shows there is some level of concern. Gausman has yet to pitch in a game this spring, and since he did not fully bounce back after his last side session, his availability for Opening Day could be in jeopardy. A better picture of his timetable should come into focus in the days to come.

• While it’s not injury-related, Burlingame Blue Ducks right-hander Paul Skenes (Minors) has been told that he will start 2024 in the Minor Leagues according to Pirates GM Ben Cherington. 

• Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said Tuesday that Braxton Garrett (shoulder) will likely begin the season on the injured list, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports. Schumaker noted that Garrett "feels great" as he works his way back from some early-camp left shoulder soreness, but the team does not think it's a good idea to push him to be ready in time for Opening Day. The southpaw has been throwing bullpen sessions and a live batting practice session appears imminent. Garrett remains in play as a returnee for the Spokane Fightin' Fish rotation.

• Free Agent right-hander Justin Verlander (shoulder) is set to begin 2024 on the Injured List as he builds back up.  According to Astros Manager Joe Espada, "He's doing well, but we're running out of days and won't be able to build him up to start the regular season."

• The Lunatic Fringe received positive news on Ronald Acuna (knee) as he was seen by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles last night.  They confirmed irritation in the meniscus of his right knee but Acuña Jr. is set to gradually increase baseball activities and is expected to be ready for Opening Day.

• Sticking with the Fringe, Kyle Bradish (elbow) played catch from 140 feet Tuesday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. Bradish noted afterward that his right elbow still feels good and also added that 140 feet is about the maximum distance from which he usually plays catch. That could indicate he'll be cleared to throw from a mound soon, although it has not yet been revealed when that will happen. Bradish is working his way back from a partial UCL tear in his pitching elbow and will begin the season on the injured list, but he remains hopeful of avoiding surgery, though his spot on the Fringe Keeper Roster is in limbo.

• Injuries continue to limit talented Asti Grape Stompers right-hander Shane Baz. Already slowed with his return from Tommy John surgery, Baz tweaked his oblique while picking up a weight this week. His throwing program will be delayed by an additional week, further clouding his planned return to the mound. Baz still holds a season of control through 2025, but hasn't thrown a big league pitch since 2022.

• Derek Shelton also says that Maulers reliever David Bednar is dealing with right lat tightness. He and the team are playing it safe and he’s currently not throwing.

Spring Training Notebook: Hops Open to Moving First Overall Pick

The Meinert Hops appear open to moving the top overall pick according to league sources with GM Garrett Shelley still evaluating their options for the first selection. Outfielder Roman Anthony and catcher Samuel Basallo have been attached to the Hops, but Shelley has been known to go rogue with their early round selections in year's past.

The club was attached to Detroit Tigers infielder Colt Keith early in the off-season, but Keith inked a long-term big league deal that should have him ticketed for an Opening Day role, pushing him into the Auction Draft later this month.

Around the RDBL

• The San Mateo Oppo Tacos continue to be among the most active clubs in the RDBL entering the 2024 Draft. GM Erik Nielsen has multiple irons in the fire according to sources as the club looks to rebuild their Farm System even after their blockbuster deal of Juan Soto and Chris Bassitt to the Maltese Falcons earlier this off-season. Few have impressed more than acquisition James Wood this Spring with the outfielder looking poised for a big league promotion this Summer. The club continues to shop catcher Will Smith (3/$30) who enters 2024 as CBS' top projected catcher while left-hander Justin Steele (2D/$5) continues to garner interest.

• The Lunatic Fringe are holding their breath on the results of imaging on superstar outfielder Ronald Acuña's knee which should come early Tuesday. Alex Anthopoulos told MLB Network Radio Sunday morning that he's "highly confident" Acuña will be in the Opening Day lineup but he was experiencing meniscus irritation in his surgically repaired knee. The pain was enough to push the Braves to send the outfielder across the country to Los Angeles to meet with the surgeon. Acuña became the second player in RDBL History to win the Hitter of the Year and Playoff MVP in the same season while breaking the RDBL Record for points in a Regular and Full Season in 2023.

• The Fringe entered the off-season with one of the league's top projected pitching staffs, but that has taken a hit in this Spring with Kyle Bradish (elbow) likely to be pushed off their roster while the club continues to wait for Jordan Montgomery (2/$20) to sign with a big league club. With Jackson Merrill (Minors) impressing in Padres camp, Guglielmi is flush with offensive options with the potential to bring back a full group outside of their two catcher spots.

• The Honolulu Hammerheads are hardly settled in their rotation behind Tanner Bibee, Chris Sale and Brandon Pfaadt. The club is encouraged with the early Spring results from Bailey Ober, but also holds Ryne Nelson and Chase Silseth in high-regard according to sources. One thing is clear, GM Ross Horiuchi is not looking to enter Draft Day with a full rotation with eyes on the top of the Free Agent Market to round out their starting staff on Draft Day.

• The Heads' Farm System didn't get much attention this off-season in prospect rankings, but early Spring results look quite positive for Drew Romo, Quinn Priester and Robert Hassell III.

• The Nashville Aristocrats 2023 rebuild looks to have worked to perfection despite some internal conflict that was reported last year. Jackson Chourio and Jackson Holliday are captivating Spring Training crowds with both potentially breaking camp with big league jobs. The roster is loaded with low-priced upside players between Spencer Torkelson (3R/$5), Bryson Stott (2R/$3), Bryce Miller (2R/$3) and Gavin Williams (Minors) among others while Gavin Stone, Hurston Waldrep, Jackson Jobe, Chase Burnes and Max Meyer all have their arrows pointing significantly up this Spring in their club's Minor League System.