Through our first four Deep Dives, the 2020 season hasn't been especially kind to RDBL clubs but that changes with the review of the Mt. Diablo Devils -- at least on the offensive side of the roster.
GM Jason Watson looks to have made some valuable additions through trades and while not oozing with high-end talent, the Front Office should have a variety of options to build out a solid offense in 2021.
Things didn't quite match up in the rotation as a quick review of 2020 ERA's on the Devils roster is certainly something to behold with a pair of veteran arms clocking in the double digits.
Value Up
Brandon Lowe (2FA/$5)
The Devils might have found a jewel in Lowe who they acquired from the Maltese Falcons in a 2019 deadline deal. Lowe was outstanding in 2020, finishing 8th in MVP voting while slashing .269/.362/.554 with 14 home runs and nine doubles. He will bring second base and outfield eligibility entering 2021 as a core piece of the Devils plans.
Brian McCann (2FA/$5)
McCann has split time the past few seasons with the Chicago White Sox but after signing a 4-year, $40 million contract last month with the New York Mets, he's prepared for a significant increase in plate appearances. The 30-year-old had a career-best .289/.360/.536 slash line with seven home runs and 15 RBI over 31 games with the White Sox in 2020 and looks like a strong bet to be a Top-15 option at the always difficult catcher position this season.
Alec Bohm (Minors)
Phillies infielder Alec Bohm had a tremendous rookie campaign in 2020, hitting .338/.400/.481 with four homers in his 180 PAs. His .410 BABIP is obviously due for regression, but Bohm projects as a plus-BABIP guy due to his very low 25.4 FB% and above-average contact quality (93.6 mph average airborne exit velocity, 10.3% rate of Brls/BBE). Bohm could potentially improve his power numbers with a higher FB%, but he seems to have made a conscious decision to concentrate on his elite contact ability instead. Bohm's plate discipline numbers were solid in his first taste of big-league action (8.9 BB%, 20 K%), and his MiLB resume indicates that both numbers have room to grow as Bohm gains experience. His high batting average and OBP should produce plenty of counting stats in his projected role as Philadelphia's two-hole hitter as the 24-year-old looks more than ready to be a key piece in the Devils future.
Franmil Reyes (2FA/$5)
The Indians took a shot on Reyes on things clicking and becoming a full-time DH and unleashing his 80-grade power. So far so good for both parties as Reyes mashed 37 home runs in 2019 but paired that with a .310 on base. In a smaller sample size, Reyes took a big step forward there in 2020 with a .340 on base percentage that makes him even more valuable at $5.
Value Down
Starting Rotation
The Devils had planned to move on from Max Scherzer (2/$68) with hopes some other members of the starting rotation could step up. That didn't happen in 2020 as Kyle Gibson (5.35 ERA), Anthony DeSclafani (7.22 ERA), Julio Teheran (10.05 ERA/-48.0 points), Jake Junis (13.09 ERA) and Yusei Kikuchi (5.17 ERA) all pitched their way out of the Devils 2021 plans. The club will monitor the MLB Free Agency of Masahiro Tanaka as they look to make a decision on his $19 option.
Rhys Hoskins (3/$36)
The Devils were set to face a tough decision on Hoskins' $36 option for 2021 but an injury looks to have made the call for him. Hoskins was having a solid season at the plate before suffering a season-ending elbow injury in mid-September. He eventually underwent Tommy John surgery in early October and was given a return timeline that placed his readiness for Opening Day in some question. The first baseman stated recently that he was on track for spring training, but players tend to be on the optimistic end regarding their own timelines, so there's still no guarantee he avoids a trip to the injured list to start 2021 which will likely push him back into Free Agency. A return in Auction isn't out of the question for a potentially more reasonable contract.
Jonathan Villar (3/$5)
Villar dialed back the clock in 2019, posting a .274/.339/.453 line and 457.0 points along with 24 home runs that made his $5 contract look like a steal heading into 2020. Fast forward following a .232/.403/.292 campaign across Toronto and Miami in the shortened season and now the 29-year-old infielder is stuck fighting for a spot on the Devils Keeper List.
Edwin Encarnacion (2/$4)
Encarnacion looked like a valuable asset heading into 2020 after clubbing 34 home runs, his eight straight season with 30+ home runs. But after a .157/.250/.377 line and entering his age 37 season as a MLB Free Agent, it's not clear that the slugger will have a daily role to make him worthy of a Keeper slot in Mt. Diablo.
Early 2021 Keeper List Projections
The Devils roster is fairly deep with affordable offensive weapons which could lead to a busy off-season for the Devils Front Office as they look to patch up their pitching staff.
Assuming flame-throwing prospect Luis Patiño starts 2021 in the Minors with Tampa Bay, the Devils currently project to enter Draft Day with only activation Deivi Garcia as a part of their pitching staff and that's dependent on Garcia retaining his projected starting spot in New York. Fortunately for Watson, the Devils are currently projected for $197 in cap space making them players for the top of a deep Free Agent pitching market.
On offense, the club will be boosted by the activations of Alec Bohm and Bo Bichette while Leody Taveras and Jesus Sanchez could play their way into consideration.
With Hoskins likely out of the picture due to his elbow injury, the Devils figure to be more comfortable forking over the $30 to JT Realmuto in the final year of his contract to form a strong catching duo with James McCann.
Veterans Wil Myers (2/$25), Andrew McCutchen (2/$15) and AJ Pollock (2/$22) could all be potential trade or keeper candidates after each had respectable years at the plate in 2020.
Farm System
The Devils Farm System is unquestionably led by uber-prospect Wander Franco who was ranked by almost every publication as the best player remaining in the Minor Leagues. Franco could push his way to Tampa Bay in 2021, his age 20 season, and position himself for a 2022 activation for the Devils.
Not far behind Franco is the activation-ready pair of Alec Bohm and Bo Bichette who should immediately add depth and production to the Devils big league roster.
Luis Patiño is the highest upside arm in the Farm System though Deivi Garcia is the better bet to be activated first as he is currently in line for a spot in the Yankees rotation.
The remainder of the pitching prospects in the Devils Farm System will face important 2021 seasons. Albert Abreu, Michel Baez and James Kaprielian all saw some form of big league time but each, in addition to Alec Hansen, could face a future in big league bullpens instead of rotations.
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