Questions to Answer Before the Keeper Deadline

The 2023 Keeper Deadline is right around the corner with multiple clubs still trying to pin down their final Keeper Roster plans. Injuries have multiple clubs scrambling for potential deals while other clubs weigh the trade-off of waiting for Auction to fill in their open spots or seek a deal before Monday.

Here are the latest questions facing RDBL Front Offices with just six days remaining until Keeper Rosters are due to the Commissioner's Office for the 10th season of play.

Grapes Replacement for Quintana?

The Asti Grape Stompers are still awaiting word on a timeline for left-hander Jose Quintana (2FA/$5) who is recovering from a hairline fracture to his ribs making ­their final Keeper spot a storyline to follow this week. The club has reportedly been in contact with Lunatic Fringe GM Tony Guglielmi who is looking to pair down his starting rotation while making calls on a number of potential activations. Potential fits include Lance McCullers (2/$1), Michael Wacha (2FA/$5), Taijuan Walker (2D/$5) and Lucas Giolito (3R/$5) from the Fringe while Chris Bassitt (2/$24) would serve as an upgrade at a higher price point.

Hammeheads Late Flurry of Deals?

GM Ross Horiuchi has been dealt some difficult blows over Spring Training. Planned Keeper Jurickson Profar (2D/$5) remains unsigned, Alex Kirilloff (2R/$3) continues to deal with wrist complications that project to land him on the IL or in Triple-A and Seiya Suzuki (2/$22) is dealing with a Grade 2 oblique strain that will sideline him into April.

The club remains high on Brandon Pfaadt (Minors), for good reason, but a 4.50 ERA in three appearances is likely not enough for him to break camp as the D'Backs fifth starter. That leaves fellow Heads Ryne Nelson (Minors) and Drew Jameson (Minors), as potential options for the job, but they hold 13.50 and 7.45 ERAs respectively entering play Tuesday which has done little to assure them of Opening Day activations.

The club is hopeful Jarren Duran (Minors) can make a push for the Red Sox Opening Day roster, but he will need to overcome some odds in the depth chart to secure daily at-bats while Dylan Carlson (3/$15) could face some early season pressure in the outfield if the Cardinals promote young star Jordan Walker.

With a lethal foursome on offense of Austin Riley (3R/$5), Paul Goldschmidt (3/$25), J.T. Realmuto (2/$28) and Tyler Stephenson (2R/$3) as well as formidable arms in Pablo Lopez (2/$13) and Chris Sale (2/$1), the foundation of contender is certainly in place. It will be interesting to see if Horiuchi waits to address some depth issues in the Draft or jumps back into the trade market this week before Monday's Keeper Deadline.

Fringe starter Lucas Giolito (3R/$5) was attached to the Heads earlier this off-season while Falcons reliever Peter Fairbanks (2FA/$5) appears to have the edge over projected Heads Keeper Jason Adam (2FA/$5) for save chances in Tampa Bay. Multi-positional threat Brandon Drury (2FA/$5) could also line up nicely as the Mission Viejo Mauler continue their off-season firesale.

Who Lands Spots in the Fringe Rotation?

The Fringe are staring at eight legitimate rotation options behind the 1-2 punch of Sandy Alcantara (3R/$5) and Triston McKenzie (1R/$1). Activation options Reid Detmers, Josiah Gray, Clarke Schmidt and Grayson Rodriguez all appear positioned for Opening Day roles. Those activation decisions are especially intriguing after Guglielmi passed on the activation of McKenzie in 2022, a factor that likely kept the club out of Playoff contention.

On the veteran front, Lance McCullers (2/$1), Michael Wacha (2FA/$5), Taijuan Walker (2D/$5) and Lucas Giolito (3R/$5) all have their appeal though McCullers will be delayed to start the season due to more arm trouble. The positive for McCullers and Walker is that each possess 2024 options while Giolito and Wacha are set to hit Free Agency at the end of the year.

Devils Final Keeper Spots

The Mt. Diablo Devils are another club to watch over the week as a number of final roster spots appear in flux. With Merrill Kelly (2D/$5), Cal Quantrill (2R/$3), Adam Wainwright (3/$4) and activation Nick Lodolo (Minors) locked into the top four rotation spots, the fight for the fifth spot remains influx. Jameson Taillon (3/$16) posted a strong 3.91 ERA in 177 1/3 innings and is looking to lock in his spot while fighting off potential activation James Kaprielian (Minors) who made his debut over the weekend after another round of injury concerns.

Jorge Lopez (2FA/$5) looked like a lock for the 2023 Keeper Roster, but struggled after his trade to Minnesota and appears ticketed for a setup role this season which could have his Keeper spot in limbo.

The club holds an appealing option on Brandon Belt (3/$3) who expected to serve as the primary DH in Toronto. He made his Spring debut over the weekend as he continues to build back from knee surgery.

Rounding out the group of decisions, a shallow catching market could play into the decision on Christian Vazquez (2/$10) as a drop would have GM Jason Watson forced to land two backstops in auction.

Stacks Replacements for Lux, Rodgers

The Alamo Short Stacks shored up one of their replacements for injured middle-infielders Gavin Lux and Brendan Rodgers on Monday night, acquiring closer Ryan Pressly (3/$6). That leaves one remaining Keeper opening with the Front Office currently favoring the return of catcher Will Smith (2/$30) due to a barren Free Agent class behind the plate.

The Stacks reportedly had an agreement in place with the Cloverdale Clovers on SS/2B Jorge Polanco (3/$15), but the move was pending Polanco's health and he has yet to appear in a Spring Training game as he continues his return from knee issues in 2022.

If Smith is retained, the Stacks would have just $104 for eight spots, the 3rd lowest projected overall cap space in the RDBL.

How Barren Do the Maulers Go?

The Mission Viejo Maulers have stripped down their roster for the second time in three seasons, but hold a number of intriguing options they must decide on this week. That list is headlined by Cody Bellinger (2/$3) who will enter 2023 with a change of scenery in Chicago and a contract that would allow GM Chris Ferraro more cap space flexibility in Auction.

The club is clearly focused on 2024, but the contracts of Alex Bregman (2/$36) and Brandon Drury (2FA/$5) are worthy of Keeper spots on a RDBL Roster while Trayce Thompson (2FA/$5) could certainly earn himself a role as well.

The Activation Class will be one to watch as well. With his 2022 Playoff activation, shortstop Nico Hoerner is locked into an Opening Day 1R/$1 role while Nolan Jones (Minors) and newly acquired MacKenzie Gore (Minors) have the everyday big league roles to require a strong consideration.

Ducks Seek Final Keeper in Infield

The Burlingame Blue Ducks are largely set but Rhys Hoskins is currently projected as the only returnee in the infield. With one opening remaining on the Keeper Roster, GM Ryan Walsh remains on the lookout for help before Monday's Keeper Deadline making Mission Viejo Maulers utilityman Brandon Drury (2FA/$5) a potential fit. Drury brings eligibility at first, second, third and the outfield and is expected to serve as the primary second baseman in Anaheim this season.

Hops with Room to Work

The Meinert Hops bring back a strong top-end Keeper Roster led by Shohei Ohtani, Shane McClanahan, Zac Gallen, Bryan Reynolds and activation Michael Harris. The club remains up in the air on the activation decision looming over CJ Abrams and still has two openings available on their Keeper List if they choose to use them.

As they work around Ohtani's $88 contract, the Hops are currently projected to have a RDBL-low $80 in cap space making any addition this week likely to be one under a cheap contract.

3 Up, 3 Down: Kelenic Thriving in Spring Training

We are just 17 days out from Opening Day and six days out from the 2023 RDBL Keeper Deadline which has teams in final preparation mode for Draft Day. With many big leaguers away at the World Baseball Classic, some of the top prospects and young players in the RDBL are getting more time to shine in Spring Training on their respective clubs while others are making the most out of their opportunities in the WBC.

On the flip side, injuries across baseball are starting to pile up which has some RDBL teams scrambling for a plan to round out their 2023 Keeper Roster.

Here's a look at the latest 3 Up, 3 Down:

OF Jarred Kelenic (2R/$3), Clovers

With two more hits today and a steal, Kelenic is now hitting .480 with a ridiculous 1.599 OPS as a re-tooled approach and swing have the former top prospect clearly solidifying his spot as a Keeper for the Cloverdale Clovers. Kelenic, acquired along with Andrew Painter and Dustin May from the Alamo Short Stacks last season, projects to be the primary starter against left-handers but will see some playing time eaten up against left-handers by AJ Pollack.

Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said Monday, “Jarred is in a great place. There’s a different kind of confidence, an air about him, that’s been fun to see. In the box, he made a few adjustments to his swing over the offseason, and he’s been locked in since day one (of spring training). The combination of contact quality to all fields, pitch selection and overall consistency from at bat to at bat has been excellent. We are currently seeing a young, five-tool player who is evolving as a person, taking the lessons he’s learned and making the necessary adjustments.”

OF Jasson Dominguez (Minors), Maulers

After an excellent season in 2022, Dominguez has delighted Yankees fans all spring and as the Maulers excited about what's to come. The 20-year-old outfielder socked his fourth home run of the spring over the weekend and is now tied with nine other players atop the spring leaderboard. The longball was one of two hits Dominguez collected in two games.

“He continues to just show why we invested so heavily in him, which is great. He’s an exciting talent. And he’s determined and he’s hungry. So he’s got all the attributes you need,” Yankees GM Brian Cashman said. “He’s got the physical ability matching the competitive fire and the will to succeed. The sky’s the limit.”

C Harry Ford (Minors), Fringe

For the second time in as many days Monday, top Fringe prospect Harry Ford was “knighted” at Chase Field after homering for Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic. This second home run was a pretty big one. With the Brits in desperate need of a win to keep their hopes of advancing out of pool play alive, Ford hammered a solo shot way out to left field that pushed his team’s surprising lead over Colombia to 7-3. At just 20 years old, Ford is the first player in the history of the World Baseball Classic to hit two home runs prior to their 21st birthday, according to MLB’s Sarah Langs.

Ford spent last season with the Modesto Nuts, a Single-A affiliate of the Mariners. In 104 games, he slashed .274/.425/.439 for an .863 OPS with 11 homers, 23 stolen bases, 88 walks, 65 RBIs and 89 runs scored, splitting time between catcher and designated hitter and continues to rise as one of the top backstop prospects in baseball.

Grape Injuries

The Mets are planning to shut down starter José Quintana (2FA/$5) for the next three months, reports Mike Puma of The New York Post. The left-hander had recently been diagnosed with a stress fracture in one of his ribs and was sent for more imaging. It seems the injury is significant enough that he will miss roughly the first half of the season which will result in the left-hander being released by the Grapes according to sources.

The Grapes are also expected to start 2023 without off-season addition Mitch Haniger (3/$11) who is dealing with a Grade 1 oblique strain. His absence isn't expected to be lengthy, but obliques are incredibly tricky to predict.

LHP Carlos Rodon (Free Agent)

On Thursday, general manager Brian Cashman revealed that Carlos Rodón, one of the top available starters in the RDBL Free Agent Class, will begin the season on the IL due to a forearm strain. The 30-year-old Rodón, whom the Yankees signed to a six-year, $162 million deal in mid-December, was roughed up by the Atlanta Braves in his spring debut last Sunday. As he conceded his arm felt “a little cranky” going into the start and had trouble recovering afterwards, the Yankees sent him for an MRI that revealed he’d suffered a mild strain of his brachioradialis, the most superficial muscle of the forearm.

Rodón told reporters he suffered the same injury last May while with the Giants, and pitched through it without missing a start — that in a season where he set career highs with 31 starts, 178 innings, and 6.2 WAR while posting a 2.84 ERA and 2.25 FIP. “I can go out there and perform, but am I performing at my best and how long am I going to last throughout the season if I continue down this road?” Rodón told reporters on Thursday. “I’m not here to pitch until the All-Star break. I’m here to pitch well into October and whenever this team needs me. If it’s Oct. 5th or it’s the ALDS, I’m taking the ball. I want to pitch.”

Cashman said that Rodon’s UCL, which was repaired via Tommy John surgery in 2019, is intact and that the pitcher will be shut down from throwing for seven to 10 days. Barring further setbacks, that would put him on track for a return in mid-to-late April. Concerns over his health are certain to hurt his market, though a $30+ contract is still likely.

RHP Tony Gonsolin (2D/$5), Ducks

Moving from the Grapefruit League to the Cactus League, the Dodgers reported on Wednesday that Tony Gonsolin had sprained his left ankle during pitcher fielding practice on Monday, putting his Opening Day status in jeopardy. The 28-year-old righty is coming off a breakout season founded on an improved split-finger fastball and an ability to handle a larger workload. He set career bests with 130.1 innings and a 2.14 ERA, and made the NL All-Star team, though his season ended on a sour note; he suffered a forearm strain in late August and made just one two-inning regular season appearance after that, nearly six weeks later, then couldn’t get out of the second inning in his Division Series Game start against the Padres.

According to manager Dave Roberts, x-rays have ruled out a fracture, but Gonolin isn’t expected to throw for several days, and could eventually need an MRI depending upon how quickly his ankle progresses. “It’s not something we feel really good about right now,” said the skipper regarding the pitcher’s availability to start the season.

TRADE: Stacks Land Closer, Lowe in Deal with Maulers

The Alamo Short Stacks have been scrambling to fill their final two Keeper spots after Gavin Lux and Brendan Rodgers suffered season-ending injuries early in Spring Training. The club took a big step in that direction Monday evening, finalizing a deal with the Mission Viejo Maulers to land closer Ryan Pressly (2/$6) and outfielder Josh Lowe (Minors) in exchange for left-hander MacKenzie Gore (Minors) and shortstop Cristian Hernandez (Minors).

Pressly turned in another quality season in 2022 and carries the third highest projected 2023 total for a reliever by CBS, only trailing new Stacks teammate Emmanuel Clase and Asti Grape Stompers closer Ryan Helsley.

Pressly made 50 appearances for the Astros during the 2022 campaign, logging a 2.98 ERA and a 2.31 FIP in 48.1 innings of work. He also added 65 strikeouts against just 13 walks while registering a career-high 33 saves. Those saves project to continue as the Astros boast a strong lineup and a deep bullpen of setup options who should hold leads the offense can generate.

Lowe was set to by the Stacks final pick in the 10th Round of the 2021 Reserve Draft before the Honolulu Hammerheads took the outfielder with the pick just before their selection. Funny enough, the Stacks would go on to select Cristian Hernandez who is moving to the Maulers in Monday's deal.

Lowe, 25, is a well-seasoned minor leaguer with lots of production fueled by a friendly Durham Athletic Park, but he has exactly 200 major league plate appearances over the past two season with little to write home about. Some of the limitation are the typical contract stalling techniques Tampa Bay is well known for, but some of Lowe's issues are of his own doing. He has had some issues in the field, which is not a good thing for a team that puts a premium on outfield defense. Lowe has also had a very similar issue to his older brother Nathaniel in struggles with good velocity up in the zone. The power numbers in Triple-A should not be the focus as much as the walk rate and his stolen base prowess as that is where his value truly lies. Lowe is 84 of his last 95 in stolen base attempts (88%) and has a top 50 home-to-first speed just .01 behind Oneil Cruz.

He's been one of the standout performers in camp for the Rays, leading off on most days while launching three home runs with three steals and a 1.049 OPS with the Stacks hopeful he can play his way into an early season activation. Lowe faces a deep depth chart in the Rays outfield with Randy Arozarena, Jose Siri and Manuel Margot penciled in as starters with Luke Raley off the bench.

For the Maulers, a move of Pressly seemed like a foregone conclusion given his age (34) and current rebuild. MacKenzie Gore headlines the return, just as he did for the Nationals in their return for Juan Soto. Gore got off to an impressive start in the majors with the Padres in 2022, with a 1.50 ERA, a 2.20 FIP, 17 walks, 57 Ks, and a .200/.279/.241 line against in his first nine games, eight starts, and 48 IP for the Padres before elbow issues sidetracked his season. He was fully recovered in late September, allowing for a fully healthy off-season that the Nationals and Maulers will hope leads to a full workload in 2023.

Hernandez drew repeated physical comparisons to a young Alex Rodriguez and Manny Machado as an amateur in the Dominican Republic, and some scouts considered him the best prospect in the 2020 international class. The Cubs signed him for $3 million in January 2021 and believed he has more upside than any international player they've landed in at least a decade -- including Willson Contreras, Eloy Jimenez and Gleyber Torres. He debuted in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League at age 17, batting .285/.398/.424 with five homers and 21 steals in 47 games in 2021.

He posted a 30% strikeout rate in his stateside debut in 2022 with a .261/.321/.357 line at age 19, continuing to show a smooth swing with incredible power for his age and position. Much like the GM Chris Ferraro's previous acquisition of Orelvis Martinez from the Stacks, there's substantial bust risk here but the ceiling remains huge which plays well for the rebuilding Maulers.