Kole Calhoun (OF) LAA - Calhoun has hit in 5 of 6 since returning from the DL, going 7-20 with a 2B, 2 HRs, and a SB, a BB:K ratio of 2:2, and 5 runs scored. Many analysts have surmised that Calhoun had been hiding an injury all season when he finally went on the DL for an oblique strain, and after a 2 1/2 week absence he's come back looking like a completely different player. Coming into the season I still expected Calhoun to provide enough value across the board to be a viable OF5 option, and while I've backed off on that stance a bit with the absymal performance for the first month and a half, the skill set that caused me to have that opinion initially is ostensibly still there. I would not be at all surprised to see him perform at that level the rest of the way, and I think he makes for a solid add in many formats.
Austin Romine (C) NYY - Romine should get a nice boost in value while Gary Sanchez misses some time (how much is still TBD, but groin injuries are notoriously tough on catchers, so this could be more than a minimum-type stay), and I do recommend him for pickup in most formats. Romine is having a killer year for a backup, and I attribute it far more to the strength of the surrounding lineup than I do to improvements in Romine's skill set, although there may be some of that as well. Romine is 29 and has picked up about a year's worth of playing time over the last five seasons with the Yanks, hitting 7 homers and not showing much of anything offensively. This season he's hitting 305/370/524 through 92 PAs with 4 homers, a hugely improved hard contact rate (by almost 11 percent to 38+), and a chase rate 10 percent lower than most of the rest of his career. A lot of that, as I mentioned, can be attributed to the change in the lineup mix around him.....he's seeing 10-15% more fastballs than he ever has before, and he's hitting them well. He's also hitting most everything else too, with the aforementioned chase rate improvement, a bit of contact improvement, and a higher launch angle giving credence to some skill gains as well. At the weakest position in the game, a player like Romine thrust into a nearly everyday role for a while should be an easy add for many folks struggling to find production behind the dish.
Eduardo Escobar (3B/SS) MIN - Escobar hit his 33rd double of the season Sunday against Bartolo Colon, and he's now hitting 293/346/563 for the year. For those wondering whether this is for real, it's really neat to watch the evolution of Escobar as a player....it's clear that he has made a very conscious effort to swing more, harder, and at a higher launch angle over the past two seasons. The evidence is as follows: swing%: 50.3, 52.3, 54.1; chase rate: 35.6, 35.7, 40.9; hard contact: 26.1, 31.4, 42.6; GB rate: 39.1, 33.7, 28.2. These are extreme alterations to a swing from a player that was really just a slap hitter with well below average power from ages 25-27.....remarkable. I do think this is real and sustainable in large part, and he has a legitimate shot to break the doubles record (67) for a single-season that has been standing for 87 years.
Jake Bauers (1B) TB - Bauers had a triple and a walk-off HR against NY Sunday, giving him 10 XBH already in just 72 PAs. Bauers hadn't shown much over-the-fence pop in the minors, but he does project to average power at his peak, and he's still just 22. He's a very patient hitter with a disciplined approach and average to average-plus contact ability, as well. The launch angle is more suited to LDs and GBs at present, but the LD rate in the upper 30's and the hard contact rate above 40 illustrate some offensive potential. He's hitting in the upper part of a mediocre lineup and playing most of the time, but with a ceiling of an average to average-minus starting 1B, he's probably still more of a deep league option or a bench player in standard formats than he is a bonafide starter, at least at this point.
Devon Travis (2B) TOR - Travis is flying completely under the radar of late due to an extremely cold start and another injury, but since returning in late May he's 24-81 (.296) with 4 2Bs, a 3B, and 4 HRs. Travis has had very productive stretches during his infrequent healthy periods in the past, and he's still just 27. I think he is an excellent speculative add in deeper leagues right now at a reasonably weak position.
