The 11th RDBL Draft is a little over three months away, but the difficult Keeper Deadline decisions are already clear for Roger Dorn Baseball League Front Offices. We are wrapping up a Division by Division look at some of the tough Keeper decisions teams will face heading into 2024 with each of the candidates below also representing potential trade options this Winter. With the East Bay Division and Peninsula Division in the books, we conclude the series with the Masters Division which added the Honolulu Hammerheads this off-season.
Honolulu Hammerheads: LHP Reese Olson (2FA/$5)
With rumors swirling that the Hammerheads might have a deal in place to part with both Sonny Gray and Michael Wacha to the St. Joseph Jokers, the decision to retain Olson might have already been made, though a strong Spring is likely to be needed to lock in his spot.
Olson spent the first two months of 2023 with Triple-A Toledo, compiling an unimpressive 6.38 ERA and 1.77 WHIP in 10 starts. However, the Tigers needed a healthy arm and Olson had been pitching better in late May, so he was summoned to make his major league debut in early June. He stayed in The Show the rest of the season, starting in 18 of 21 appearances. Olson didn't miss bats at the elevated rate exhibited in the minors, but his control improved greatly. He throws five pitches, including a 95-mph four-seam fastball and a 95-mph sinker, but his best pitch is a slider he utilized 30.6 percent of the time. Still just 24-years-old, there is a good chance Olson can recapture some of the dominance exhibited in the minors, though only his slider is deemed above average according to Stuff+. Olson has carved out a role in the Tigers staff and enters 2024 with some strong upside for GM Ross Horiuchi.
Las Vegas Aristocrats: RHP Nick Pivetta (2FA/$5)
After eight starts, Nick Pivetta was sporting a 6.30 ERA and 1.55 WHIP with 42 strikeouts and nine homers allowed in 40 innings. He was moved to a multi-inning relief role where he excelled, posting a 2.70 ERA and 0.90 WHIP over 12 appearances spanning 20 frames. He fanned 25 with just one homer in that stretch. Pivetta spent the last three months of the season jumping between the Red Sox and serving as a bulk reliever, registering a 3.27 ERA and .97 WHIP over his final 82.2 innings, punching out 116 while surrendering a reasonable 13 homers. Pivetta's velocity picked up after he was initially demoted to the bullpen, and he started throwing his slider with more cutting action, both tweaks fueling Pivetta's second half success.
He's a bit of a wild card this season as Pivetta exhibited success in several roles, and seemed to be at his best when he wasn't expected to pitch more than five frames, though he ended the season with two scoreless seven-inning starts. Pivetta's second half success can't be ignored, which will likely slot him back into the Sox rotation to start 2024 where he could slot behind Gavin Williams and Bryce Miller in the 'Crats starting group.
Mission Viejo Maulers: 3B Alex Bregman (3/$36)
Bregman has produced nearly identical hitting lines over the last two seasons, averaging 24 homers, a .260 average, .360 OBP and around 200 runs and RBIs. With his elite pitch recognition, he rarely chases and nearly always has a competitive at bat — skills that typically prolong a hitter’s career. Bregman is a consistent contributor who is well suited for the OBP driven RDBL scoring format while entering his final season under contract with the Astros.
A roster squeeze with the talented Maulers will likely push Bregman out the door as GM Chris Ferraro looks to free up cap space, making the third baseman a prime candidate to be moved early this off-season.
Spokane Fightin' Fish: RHP Aaron Nola (3/$43)
Aaron Nola shocked many when he decided to re-up with the Phillies for seven years rather than test the free agent waters in what was a lucrative market with multiple big market teams looking for pitching. Then again, Nola has pitched very well at Citizens Bank Ballpark over the years whereas his struggles have more recently been away from Philly. You may be surprised to learn that Nola pitched to a 3.29 ERA with 12 homers in 87.2 innings at home in 2023, but had a 5.43 ERA with 20 homers in 106 innings on the road last season.
He is a rare bird in that he has not missed a single start since missing a handful of starts in the 2017 season and has pitched at least 180 innings in each of the past five full seasons. He has become rather stingy with walks in recent years while continuing to get 200+ strikeouts year after year. 2021 and 2023 have a familiar look to them with GM Michael Tirabassi being forced to decide if Nola is the right man to be the highest paid arm on the staff ahead of Braxton Garrett and Mitch Keller.
St. Joseph Jokers: 1B LaMonte Wade (2FA/$5)
A string of knee issues derailed LaMonte Wade in 2022 and prevented him from building on his breakout showing with the Giants from 2021, but he managed to stay mostly healthy in 2023 and returned to form as a reliable leadoff presence for San Francisco. He registered a .373 on-base percentage, which ranked 13th-best among all qualified major-league hitters, and he struck out only 95 times in 519 plate appearances while drawing 76 walks. Wade doesn't have a ton of raw power -- he finished in just the 32nd percentile last year in average exit velocity -- but the 30-year-old first baseman and corner outfielder should continue to be a fairly appealing option in OBP leagues. The Giants are likely far from done in Free Agency which could have a negative effect on Wade's playing time, making his $5 option a question mark for GM Rick Steen.
Comments