Now that we have passed the Trade Deadline with multiple clubs shifting their full focus to the future, we will take a team by team look of the clubs set to finish outside of the 2021 Playoffs.
Our first club is the Meinert Hops who are likely to finish the RDBL Regular Season in last place after dealing with substantial injuries through 2021. There is help on the way from an improved Farm System but the Hops Front Office will face difficult questions on roster construction after a disappointing season all the way around in Meinert.
What Went Right?
Cronenworth Cements Value
The Hops found one piece to build around in Jake Cronenworth who has provided excellent value on his $12 contract as he's on pace for a 420+ point season.
Henry Davis
The Hops selected Davis with the 137th overall pick in the 10th Round of the 2021 Reserve Draft which looks like a boon for Shelley. Davis went on to have a dominant season for Louisville before being selected 1st overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates. A full season in the Minor Leagues is likely on deck for Davis in 2022, putting him in line for a 2023 activation.
Young Pitching Depth Developing
The Hops scooped up a pair of promising pitching prospects in their deadline deal with the Cloverdale Clovers Sunday night. Daniel Lynch and Spencer Howard are added to a group of prospects that includes Shane McClanahan and AJ Puk with each capable of holding down big league jobs at the start of 2022.
What Went Wrong?
Injuries
The Hops were stung quickly by injuries, losing pillars Mike Trout, Luis Robert and Anthony Rendon to long-term injuries while Carlos Carrasco finally made his 2021 debut last week. The Front Office was slow to act on Waiver Claims as well despite their advantageous position, potentially missing out on Keeper options for 2022.
Pitching Staff
If one thing is clear from the 2021 season, it's that the Meinert Hops need to address depth concerns in their pitching staff for next season. The club entered Period 19 with just 95 total starts, an eye-popping 42 fewer than the leading Spokane Fightin' Fish in that category and 22 fewer than the next lowest club (Mission Viejo Maulers). Activation Mitch Keller has posted -10.0 points on the season, a highlight of just how low things have sunk in the Hops pitching staff.
Major Contracts Flop
The Hops invested $146 in Trout, Rendon and Giancarlo Stanton while only getting 471.5 combined points from the three players. Stanton has now been shipped off to the Spokane Fightin' Fish while the contracts of Trout and Rendon will be a main topic of conversation within the Hops Front Office as they plan for 2022.
2022 Early Roster Projection
The Hops will face a series of difficult choices this off-season as they must decide their path forward and if that includes a $71 Mike Trout. The club certainly wishes it could go back and retain the Minor League contract of Andrew Vaughn, but with the young slugger joining Luis Robert in 2R/$3 seasons, the time is now for the club to contend.
The pitching staff has some interesting pieces but depth has been an issue that will need to be address. While McClanahan, Lynch, Howard and Puk could all be lined up for activation, the Hops will likely be better off leaving those slots open and investing more in veteran arms with the young starters waiting in the wings for mid-season activations.
Rendon's disappointing season won't shake off too much of his value, leaving his $44 option probably right on point against the open market. Even if he doesn't return, the infield looks to be a solid shape with underrated assets Cronenworth, Abraham Toro-Hernandez, Garrett Hampson and Luis Urias all expected back for a combined $25.
Farm System
The strength of the system lies in their pitching depth in the upper Minor Leagues who should be ready to help on the Active Roster in early 2022. Disappointing returns thus far from Asa Lacy and a season-ending injury to CJ Abrams have likely pushed back ETA's for both 2021 Reserve Draft picks.
The Hops did well to add Jordan Groshans and Erick Peña in their deal with the Alamo Short Stacks. Groshans looks on track for a 2022 debut with a 2023 activation while Peña provides a sky-high ceiling that the Hops have typically not held in their system.
The duo of Abrams and Henry Davis gives Hops fans some lofty hopes, linking up with the final years of Vaughn and Robert in 2023 when Shelley hopes to open up a window of sustainable contention.
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