Thursday, January 4, 2018

Fantasy Focus: Breakout Candidate- David Dahl; Impact Rookie- Ryan McMahon

The Colorado Rockies have spent over $100 M on relief pitching this offseason, which does not seem to leave a lot for filling position holes left by the apparent departures of Carlos Gonzalez and Mark Reynolds.  It does open up opportunities for Breakout Candidate,  OF David Dahl and Impact Rookie Candidate, IF Ryan McMahon.

Dahl was the Rockies' first round draft pick in 2012, #10 overall.  He made steady progress through the farm system putting up impressive numbers along the way.  His career minor league slash line is .307/.354/.511.  He got a late season callup on 2016 and slashed .315/.359/.500 with 12 2B, 4 3B, 7 HR, 5 SB, 6.3 BB%, 24.9 K% in 237 PA's.  I wrote up an Impact Rookie profile on him last year and added him to an N/A roster spot on my fantasy baseball team.  The only problem is he did not get 1 MLB PA in 2017 due to a stress reaction in his rib cage or back or somewhere.  Dahl has now finally been cleared to start swinging a bat and barring any further setbacks and any other offseason additions will compete for a starting OF job with the Rockies in 2017.  His health will need to be monitored closely but who does not want a high-ceiling young hitter who will play half his games in Coors Field on their fantasy baseball roster?

Ryan McMahon was the Rockies 2'nd round draft pick, #42 overall, in 2013.  He crushed the lower minors, but then struggled to a .242 BA in AA in 2016.  He was reassigned to AA in 2017 and slashed  .326/.390/.536 with 6 HR and 7 SB in 206 PA's.  That earned him a midseason promo to AAA where he exploded to a .374/411/612 with 14 HR in 314 PA's.  He only had 24 PA's in a September callup and hit just .158.  He should have an opportunity to play regularly for the Rockies in 2018 either in RF or 1B.  Again, you gotta love young hitters in Coors Field.

4 comments:

  1. WOW. As a avid reader this article is very informative and makes me happy. But as a Giant fan it makes me ill and need some Tums.

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  2. Doc, what's your take on McCutchen for the Giants? What's he worth as a 1-year rental costing $14.5MM and player(s)?
    Then there's the McCutchen of 2016 and the McCutchen of 2017 -- doesn't he carry a great risk?
    Makes sense to be a bridge to the youth brigade coming, but can he perform well in the big spaces in AT&T?
    As for who to give up, is there a line for prospects like your 2018 draft picks "top 7" line?
    Do you have a feel for where on the top 50 prospect list goes from "very good chance" for making the Giants' active roster (if he stays healthy) and where the "long shots" begin?
    Obviously, the HM's have a shot -- you can picture last year's HM Ruotolo being a closer if he can carry his Augusta success up the ladder.

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    1. Cutch would make a nice 1 year rental as long as the price is right. In other words, I would not trade Heliot Ramos, Chris Stratton, Tyler Beede or Andrew Suarez for him.

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    2. Amen. But do the Giants need a 1-year rental at a high monetary cost, let alone enough in the way of prospects that would allow Pittsburgh to mollify angry fans for the loss of beloved Cutch? Would this be a way of filling needs and also avoiding having to hand out a long-term contrast to some worn vet or alternatively gutting the farm for someone really useful and longer-term?

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