Regan's Rumblings: 30 Teams, 30 Takes

As I continue to marvel at the rebuilding of the Braves and cringe each time Dave Roberts signals to the Dodgers bullpen, I thought I'd share a random observation of each of the 30 MLB teams. If there is a particular situation or player you want me to cover that isn't mentioned, please direct your questions to the comment box at the end of the article, and as always, thanks for reading.

NL WEST

Arizona

The Diamondbacks are set, except for the back of their rotation. They've obviously been hurt by the injuries to Taijuan Walker (Tommy John surgery), Shelby Miller (elbow) and Robbie Ray (oblique), and with their two top pitching prospects (Jon Duplantier and Taylor Widener) both having just reached Double-A this year, they will have to get by with Kris Medlen and Matt Koch. I do wonder whether they might rush Duplantier, though, considering he's 23. He'd be worth a look in deeper leagues based on his career 1.41 ERA in 25 appearances (24 starts).

L.A. Dodgers

Where to start. The bullpen is a mess, their top hitter is out for the year with Tommy John surgery and players like Chris Taylor and Yasiel Puig aren't hitting. That's not to mention their projected starting second baseman, Logan Forsythe (shoulder), has played in 12 games and has a .504 OPS. The players to watch amid this chaos are Josh Fields (2.08 ERA, 0.83 WHIP) should the Dodgers demote or DL Kenley Jansen and Alex Verdugo, their top hitting prospect. Verdugo should get some of the at-bats that would have gone to Corey Seager given Taylor's move to shortstop. He's 3-for-9 with two walks and in Triple-A, Verdugo already has four home runs last year after hitting seven all last season.

Colorado

With Ryan McMahon finally sent back to Triple-A to get actual playing time, maybe David Dahl is now a full-time player. This would still mean Gerardo Parra would be a backup outfielder, but with Dahl's upside and .852 OPS in 30 at-bats (despite 15 strikeouts), he should be in there pretty regularly.

San Diego

His 6.6 BB% could be better, but Franchy Cordero's fantasy upside remains high. In just 76 PA, Cordero has six home runs and three steals, though a 34.2 K% has him batting a modest .257/.307/.543. Once Wil Myers returns, this probably impacts Carlos Asuaje the most, as Jose Pirela could shift from LF to 2B and replace the .196-hitting Asuaje.

San Francisco

Can we at least get a look at Steven Duggar? Gregor Blanco is 34 and has no power while Austin Jackson has a .496 OPS (not OBP, OPS). Meanwhile in Triple-A, Duggar is batting .296/.384/.417 with a couple homers, four steals and a 14.1 BB%. A poor finish to a spring that started hot led to Triple-A for Duggar, but considering the alternatives, he could get a look soon.

NL CENTRAL

Chicago Cubs

There's really no hole on this roster and no prospects of significance knocking on the door. They do need to figure out what to do with the .236/.286/.389 hitting Ian Happ, who is striking out 45.5 percent of the time and is not at the top of the depth chart at any position. With Albert Almora providing excellent CF defense and sporting a .341 OBP and Javier Baez slashing his K% from 28.3 to 22.2 percent, Happ could find himself in Triple-A or on another team at some point.

Cincinnati

Like everyone, I also want to know when we can expect Nick Senzel's MLB debut. Senzel has hit in four consecutive games at Triple-A (6-for-14 with two HR), but maybe they want to see improvement on his .266/.352/.456 batting line or they are simply waiting for the Super Two arbitration deadline to pass in June. Either way, once he's deemed "ready," we'll see him, and that could be any day. With Jose Peraza getting hot, Adam Duvall and maybe Scooter Gennett would be most impacted by Senzel's arrival it would seem. I'd guess we'll see him by mid-June.

Milwaukee

I'm really having a hard time holding onto Domingo Santana in my dynasty league, even considering he hit 30 homers, stole 15 bases and had a .371 OBP last season (this league is OBP instead of AVG). With the offseason acquisitions of Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain, Santana is still third on the team in at-bats, but perhaps not having certainty that he'll be in the lineup every day has caused some issues. He's yet to hit a home run and has just one stolen base and has been a massive bust at his 101 ADP. The thumb injury to Eric Thames will help his playing time certainty in the short-term, but Santana is not going to the opposite field like he did last year, is not hitting the ball is hard and has seen his GB% spike from 44.9 to 54.7 percent. Maybe he'll figure this out, but with a 29.3 K% last year, perhaps pitchers have figured him out.

Pittsburgh

Austin Meadows has seen his star dim a bit due to injuries and lackluster minor league numbers, but he's gotten hot again in Triple-A and is up to .319/.382/.449. He's only struck out 13 percent of the time, but Meadows has .300 potential with a fair number of walks and 15/15 type ability. The Pirates' outfield is full for now, but there's always the possibility someone is traded, suspended or banished to the bench. Keep an eye on Meadows in deeper leagues should he ultimately be promoted this year.

St. Louis

Alex Reyes is still rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, but his talent is so special that we still have him as baseball's No. 18 overall prospect. He projects as a late-May return, and in all likelihood will be contributing out of the bullpen this year as he ramps back up. When you consider that Bud Norris has never been able to keep the closer role for an entire season and Greg Holland has a 7.36 ERA, it's possible the Cardinals could eventually use Reyes in the ninth inning.

NL EAST

Atlanta

With Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuna at the top of the order, tuning in late to a Braves game these days is ill-advised. They're the most exciting team in the league and will be even more exciting once Austin Riley (.310/.363/.619 in Double-A) debuts late this year or in 2019. I'm looking even more forward to the next wave of young pitchers to make their way to Atlanta. We've already seen Luiz Gohara last year and Mike Soroka this season. In Triple-A they also have Kolby Allard, with Kyle Wright in Double-A and an impressive trio of Ian Anderson, Joey Wentz, and Bryse Wilson in High-A. I think by August you'll see Julio Teheran and Brandon McCarthy traded or on the DL, and Sean Newcomb barely hanging on as the No. 5 starter. Gohara and Allard will be in the rotation and if his control improves, Kyle Wright could also be an option despite being drafted just last year.

Miami

Sorry, but I'm still baffled that the Marlins could deal three All-Star caliber outfielders and still have their top three prospects ranked just 87, 127 and 142 on RotoWire's prospect list. I expect J.T. Realmuto and Dan Straily will be dealt, and possibly Starlin Castro, Martin Prado and Brad Ziegler. If you're going to do a tear down, do a full tear down. I do like their three young relievers, Kyle Barraclough, Drew Steckenrider and Tayron Guerrero. Barraclough is likely to be the next closer, but Steckenrider has a 1.23 ERA, and Guerrero hasn't allowed a run in his last 8.2 innings with a 18:7 K:BB. Can Don Mattingly afford to trot out a closer with a 7.11 ERA much longer?

N.Y. Mets

Adrian Gonzalez has been adequate at best as the regular first baseman, batting .232/.321/.391. Then there's the Mets' top prospect, 1B Peter Alonso, doing this at Double-A: .400/.500/.786 … in what has historically been a pitcher's park in Binghamton. In our season outlook, we called Alonso "mediocre" against RHP, and he walked in just 6.9 percent of his PA — this year, he has a 1.293 OPS against right-handers and a 16.3 percent walk rate. Seems he's made adjustments and should be on everyone's radar.

Philadelphia

The main question I have is what happens when J.P. Crawford (forearm) returns in a couple weeks. After a hot start, Scott Kingery is hitting just .217/.277/.370 and has just one XBH (double) in his last 38 at-bats. He's a candidate for Triple-A despite signing a six-year extension prior to his first MLB at-bat. Alternatively, Kingery could see time in RF (Aaron Altherr is batting .190) or third base. Regardless, Kingery needs to pick it up in the next couple weeks.

Washington

This is a team in desperate need of a catcher. Matt Wieters is hitting .200 and Pedro Severino is no one's idea of a starting catcher. I could see something like this happening in July: Washington deals either Victor Robles or Juan Soto, Erick Fedde and lower-level prospect like Blake Perkins to Miami for J.T. Realmuto. Steep price perhaps, but Realmuto is the best offensive catcher in the game now and is controllable through 2020.

AL WEST

Houston

I can see the Astros beefing up their bullpen in July, but in reality, they have no clear weakness. Maybe they could stand to upgrade the catching position (Yasmani Grandal would be a nice get if the Dodgers are deadline sellers), but that's about it other than adding another bullpen piece. Zach Britton would be a nice addition. In left field, perhaps they pursue an upgrade or eventually turn things over to their top position prospect, Kyle Tucker. I don't think Derek Fisher is the answer, and Marwin Gonzalez has a lot of value as a super-utility guy.

L.A. Angels

The Angels could use a catcher and starting pitcher, but I don't see them rushing top pitching prospect Garrett Canning. The primary need is in the bullpen with Keynan Middleton on the DL with a sore elbow and not much experience behind him. Justin Anderson is intriguing with his 98.1 mph average fastball, but he's also not exhibited much in the way of control, so I can see the Angels pursuing a closer on the trade market. Maybe they can bring back Bud Norris if Greg Holland ever turns things around in St. Louis.

Oakland

I think the A's will end up trading Khris Davis this year given he's making $10.5 million in 2018 and has one final season of arbitration eligibility in 2019. May as well sell him off this year. Either way, I expect Dustin Fowler to be a starting outfielder sooner than later, likely taking over in center field with Mark Canha pushing the Matt Joyce/Chad Pinder out of the picture in left. Fowler is batting .317/.346/.465 for Triple-A with two home runs and seven steals.

Seattle

I've touted Ben Gamel in this column a couple times, so, of course, he has a .427 OPS in 39 plate appearances. Still, I like what he showed last year in hitting .275/.322/.413 in 550 PA, so hopefully he can turn things around. Fortunately, Gamel has no real competition for at-bats and should start most all games when the Mariners face a right-hander.

Texas

First base is the weak spot in Texas, as neither Ronald Guzman nor Renato Nunez have seen their Triple-A exploits translate to the big leagues. The Rangers are in last place, so perhaps a shake-up will happen. One scenario could be moving Joey Gallo back to first base and finally giving Jurickson Profar a position at which he tops the depth chart, left field. Profar is batting .250/.348/.375, which isn't spectacular, but that should improve as he's walking at a 13 percent clip and striking out in just 16.2 percent of his plate appearances. What do the Rangers have to lose?

AL CENTRAL

Chicago White Sox

As White Sox fans await the arrival of their two top prospects, Eloy Jimenez and Michael Kopech, later this season (not sure we see them much before Sept. 1), I'm also awaiting the removal of Joakim Soria from the closer slot. Soria has a 4.35 ERA and 1.45 WHIP thanks to a couple blow-ups while Jones has a 1.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and a fastball that averages 96.6 mph. This switch seems inevitable.

Cleveland

Jason Kipnis hit .346/.424/.769 this spring but is batting .188/.256/.289 with no home runs this year. Sometimes spring stats mean something, but many times they do not. I guess it's possible the Indians shift Jose Ramirez to second base and put Lonnie Chisenhall at third, but that is unlikely. I just want to know when Biebermania will hit Cleveland. Pitcher Shane Bieber has been promoted to Triple-A after putting up these numbers in Double-A: 31 innings, 1.16 ERA, one walk, 30 strikeouts. He's not an overly hard thrower, which limits his ceiling, but Bieber is polished enough to make the jump now.

Detroit

JaCoby Jones has locked down left field for now, batting a respectable .257/.321/.429, but Jones as a big leaguer also has a 37.3 K% and 5.0 BB% in 260 PA. Translation: he could fall off the cliff at any moment. Meanwhile, top prospect, OF Christin Stewart, is having a breakout season at Triple-A, batting .312/.409/.587. He's always had the power (28 home runs in 2017), but he's notably cut his K% year-over-year from 24.9 to 15.1 percent this season, a massive improvement. At 24, Stewart's shot will probably come by June or sooner should Jones hit a slump.

Kansas City

The Royals should continue to be one of the worst teams in baseball this year, but even bad teams need closers, and they can be valuable for fantasy owners. Kelvin Herrera is having a great season, allowing one run in 10.2 innings with a 12:0 K:BB. He'll be a popular trade candidate up to the deadline, and with Herrera being a free agent after the season, he's likely a goner. Up next? No one really stands out. Rule 5 pick Brad Keller is interesting given his mid-90s stuff, but that heat has translated into just a 5.2 K/9. Josh Staumont is a former top prospect now working in relief in Triple-A. He has closer stuff and a whopping 19.6 K/9 in 10.2 innings, but his BB/9 has been higher than 6.0 at every level in the minors, including 6.2 this year. Keep an eye on the situation and hope someone emerges.

Minnesota

With a .503 OPS, Logan Morrison has been a massive bust after hitting 38 home runs last year, and though no decision is imminent this early in the season, the Twins could eventually be forced to make a change. Should that happen, Eduardo Escobar or Miguel Sano could move to DH with prospect Nick Gordon a possibility to take over at short. Gordon is batting .345/.363/.536 in Triple-A and could be a 10 homer/20 SB guy with a .300 AVG in his prime.

AL EAST

Baltimore

With Adam Jones, Zach Britton and Manny Machado headed to free agency after this season, one has to think a full rebuild would be on the table, but this is the Orioles we're talking about, so who knows what they will do? I can't predict anything related to the Orioles, but I do see Austin Hays coming up once he gets hot.

Boston

At catcher, the Red Sox are getting nothing out of Christian Vazquez and Sandy Leon. They could turn to Blake Swihart, but perhaps more likely is a trade. They don't seem to have the pieces to get J.T. Realmuto, but look for them to do something with a lack of options on the farm.

N.Y. Yankees

When everyone is healthy, the Yankees have six infielders for three positions (1B, 2B, 3B), including Greg Bird (ankle), Tyler Austin, Neil Walker, Brandon Drury (migraines/impaired vision), Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar. I think they have shortstop covered, though. Andujar has just two walks in 94 PA, but he's showed promise, hitting .275/.287/.527. Torres is off to a nice start at .316/.366/.395, while Austin has shown good power at first with five homers in 69 at-bats. I think it's safe to say that Torres is the second baseman and Walker a backup. Bird could get healthy and win back the first base job, but he may need to prove he's healthy in Triple-A first. At third, I think Andujar is the starter once Drury returns, but he'll need to start showing more patience to avoid being sent down.

Tampa Bay

Matt Duffy has a respectable .283/.317/.367 line, but for a third baseman, he's shown very little power throughout his career with 18 home runs in the equivalent of two full seasons (1,045 at-bats). I'm not a GM (I only play one on TV), but what I'd do is make Joey Wendle (.329/.390/.493) the full-time second baseman, bring up top prospect Willy Adames (.308/.400/.487 in Triple-A) to play short and go with the surprising Daniel Robertson (.314/.455/.539) at third.

Toronto

I know Josh Donaldson is the third baseman, but can we please see Vladimir Guerrero Jr. this year? I don't care that he just turned 19 in March or that he has just 21 games above A-ball. Because of him, I have already watched more minor league games his year than all of last year, and he's usually done something good when I've tuned in. Vlad is hitting .388/.455/.600, and though he has just two homers in 100 PA, he's also hit nine doubles and has more walks than strikeouts. This spring he went 7-for-13 with a home run … in Montreal … off a pretty good pitcher in Jack Flaherty. I think the Blue Jays can contend for a wild card and I think Guerrero will be in Toronto by July 1, if not sooner.