Just seven periods remain in the 2021 Roger Dorn Baseball League Regular Season and while the Lake Merced Goutfish continue to run away from the competition, the race for the Wild Card spots looks to run six teams deep which cloud lead to a flurry of moves before the August 1st Trade Deadline.
Buyers
Lake Merced Goutfish
Needs: Closer
Off-Limits Prospects: SS Noelvi Marte, OF Yordan Alvarez
Trade Candidates: RHP Dylan Cease (Minors), RHP Sixto Sanchez (Minors)
The Goutfish are dominating the Roger Dorn Baseball League in 2021, pacing the league in both hitting and pitching while entering Wednesday with a 500+ point lead over the second place Spokane Fightin' Fish. While the Regular Season Title is all but wrapped up, GM Ryan Atkinson wants to avoid the fate of the 2019 Asti Grape Stompers who dominated the Regular Season only to finish last in the Playoffs.
Atkinson has depth across the offensive group and starting rotation, but additional help with a multi-positional player will always be of interest before the deadline. Additionally, an injury to Tejay Antone could have the Goutfish in play for a closer to strengthen their bullpen.
The club is expected to activate Yordan Alvarez for the playoffs, giving the league's top offense a major shot in the arm and while Dylan Cease has been rumored to be available, Atkinson could instead activate the right-hander for the right Playoff matchups this season.
Spokane Fightin' Fish
Needs: Starting Pitching, Catcher
Off-Limits Prospects: OF Julio Rodriguez
Trade Candidates: OF Brandon Marsh
The Fightin' Fish are right back in the title conversation in 2021, but GM Michael Tirabassi looks to have some work to do before the Trade Deadline after losing Tyler Glasnow (elbow) and Trevor Bauer (suspension) from their starting rotation while Gerrit Cole has looked human since the crackdown on sticky stuff. All indications are that Tirabassi would need a controllable upper-tier starting pitching and a hitter back if they were going to consider moving top prospect Julio Rodriguez, but that deal hasn't come to light at this point in the season.
The club could use a strong second catcher as well as some additional bench help at the plate, though Period 15 claim Gavin Sheets could be an underrated source of help. Ke'Bryan Hayes will certainly be of help as well as one of the league's most likely Playoff activations.
Asti Grape Stompers
Needs: Catcher, Infield, Bullpen
Off-Limits Prospects: SS Bobby Witt, 2B Vidal Brujan, RHP Hunter Greene
Trade Candidates: C Sam Huff, RHP Mick Abel
The Grapes lead the RDBL in hitting over the last two weeks and look to have solid footing on a playoff spot while currently leading the East Bay Division with the Alamo Short Stacks right in their rearview mirror. The club has had a rash of injuries that have left them short at catcher and in the infield, most notably missing Ketal Marte while suffering through a disastrous season from Keston Hiura. The bullpen has been pieced together behind Lou Trevino and could use an upgrade as well.
After decimating their Farm System in 2019, GM Terry Shelley is in no rush to trade additional prospects away but could leverage their 2021 Draft picks for upgrades. Newly promoted second baseman Vidal Brujan could be an important piece of their playoffs if the club chooses to activate him while the returns of Yasmani Grandal, Marte, Eddie Rosario, Brian Anderson and potentially Luis Severino could give the Grapes some serious depth.
Honolulu Hammerheads
Needs: Outfield, Bench Bats
Off-Limits Prospects: OF Alex Kirriloff
Trade Candidates: OF Cristian Pache (1R/$1)
The Hammerheads have put together one of the league's best pitching staffs and feel the appropriate pressure to capitalize on that group and strengthen the rest of the roster in preparation for a playoff run. The Heads have already been one of the most active teams in the trade market, making a push for Max Scherzer before acquiring Carlos Rodon last month.
Injuries, most notably to Byron Buxton, have left the club short in the outfield which currently stands out as the club's biggest area of need. Yonathan Daza has filled in admirably but is in a 1-for-21 skid while Manual Margot hit the IL Wednesday. Top prospect Alex Kirriloff is expected to be one option, standing out as one of the most likely playoff activations while Jarren Duran could emerge as another option.
Middle infield and overall hitting depth could be another target for Horiuchi. Both Tony Kemp and Christian Arroyo have filled in nicely, but potential upgrades could be available. Jazz Chisholm has slumped since his hot start and return from the IL in May (.239/.291/.380 in 175 ABs), but could serve as another activation option for the Heads.
With their rotation, the Heads certainly have the look of a club that could make a run similar to the Mission Viejo Maulers Wild Card run in 2017.
Alamo Short Stacks
Needs: Pitching, Catcher, Bullpen, Outfield
Off-Limits Prospects: SS Marco Luciano, OF Jarred Kelenic
Trade Candidates: IF Jordan Groshans
The Stacks have been one of the league's most volatile teams as injuries and a lack of depth in their starting rotation have led to some forgettable periods for GM Greg Shelley. The club has wavered in confidence of the roster, making them unlikely to make a major addition before the deadline though they could use a deep Farm System to add help to their pitching staff.
The Stacks are set to get a boost on offense in the coming weeks with the return of Alex Bregman (quad) and potentially Eloy Jimenez (chest) but the backend of the starting rotation continues to falter which stands out as the biggest area of need. Logan Gilbert could serve as an activation option for the Playoffs but a veteran arm is a more likely target with Gilbert potentially having a limited workload in September.
Las Vegas Aristocrats Needs: Pitching
Off-Limits Prospects: OF Garrett Mitchell
Trade Candidates: 3B Carter Kieboom
The Aristocrats have had a Jekyl and Hyde season as their offense ranks 2nd in scoring while their pitching staff ranks 11th with a league-worst 4.16 ERA. It's clearly the club's biggest area of need over the next four weeks with in-season addition Carlos Martinez providing more harm than good since his acquisition from the Maltese Falcons earlier this year.
The Farm System doesn't look like it can provide any help at the big league level for the Playoffs so GM Nick Holz and Assistant GM Nick Kusanovich will need to look externally.
Cloverdale Clovers
Needs: Pitching, Outfield, Bullpen
Off-Limits Prospects: C Adley Rutschman, RHP Michael Kopech
Trade Candidates: LHP Jesus Luzardo (1R/$1)
The Clovers are a team most contenders are hoping miss the Playoffs as a return to health for their starting rotation coupled with some upgrades could make them a scary club to face over the final five weeks of the season. GM Chris Shelley has had to navigate a disastrous season for Jesus Luzardo and Mike Soroka while injuries to Jack Flaherty and Huascar Ynoa have put a strain on the club's depth. The starting rotation has been pieced together to date and stands as the biggest area of need before the deadline.
Marcell Ozuna's injury and investigation into domestic violence have left the club short in the outfield as well which could be another area to address for Shelley in addition to a bullpen that has sprung a leak over the last week.
Mt. Diablo Devils
Needs: Starting Rotation, Outfield
Off-Limits Prospects: SS Wander Franco, OF Riley Greene
Trade Candidates: RHP Brailyn Marquez
The Devils have continued to stay within arm's reach of a Wild Card spot and could be a candidate to make a big splash and push in the standings quickly while allowing time to make a potential sell move right before the deadline. GM Jason Watson has built a strong offense and the top of the rotation (Max Scherzer, Yusei Kikuchi, Adam Wainwright) have kept the club in the race but that group could use a boost.
An injury to Justin Upton and under-performance from Alex Dickerson have left the Devils in need of help in the outfield as well.
If the Devils can find their way to the Playoffs, Wander Franco and James Kaprielian would serve as some immediate upgrades to the roster.
Lunatic Fringe
Needs: Starting Pitching, Outfield, Catching
Off-Limits Prospects: RHP Grayson Rodriguez
Trade Candidates: RHP Josiah Gray
The Fringe have had a strange season, but much like the Clovers, contenders would love to see GM Tony Guglielmi's team miss out on the Playoffs due to the top-end strength of their roster. The club has had to weather rough seasons from Cody Bellinger, Patrick Corbin, Jorge Soler and Marco Gonzales while recently losing $72 starter Shane Bieber (shoulder).
In a similar boat as the Devils, time is running out for a hot streak for the Fringe which could make Guglielmi an aggressive buyer over the next 1-2 weeks while giving the club the opportunity to sell just before the August 1st deadline.
If the Fringe do fall out of the race, few teams can match the value of expiring contracts with Bellinger, Jesse Winker and Ozzie Albies expected to be two of the best players available.
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