Crowded Cincinnati lineup gets closer to clarity

Fantasy baseball managers who may have been avoiding Cincinnati Reds infielders due to an annoying roster crunch got some clarifying weekend news with rookie 3B Noelvi Marte having been suspended 80 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. Marte, a potential 20-HR, 20-SB option this season, hit .316 with three home runs and six stolen bases over 35 games as a rookie in 2023.

The perceived odd offseason signing of 3B/1B Jeimer Candelario makes a bit more sense now, as he can start at third base and not worry about playing time, with 1B/DH Christian Encarnacion-Strand on the other side of the diamond and the duo of SS/2B Matt McLain and SS/3B Elly De La Cruz featured up the middle. 1B/3B/OF Spencer Steer seems to be entrenched in left field, although 2B Jonathan India has appeared there in spring games as well.

There is no such thing as “too much depth,” but the Marte suspension clears things up for the underrated Candelario, and likely opens up playing time for the more intriguing India, a former NL Rookie of the Year award winner and still an attractive option for both points-based and roto formats. India may still be compromised from plantar fasciitis in his left foot, but he did hit 17 homers and stole 14 bases over 119 games last season, many as the team’s primary leadoff option. Consider him a later option even in ESPN’s shallow standard leagues.

Marte, the former Mariners prospect acquired in the Luis Castillo trade, may still become a Reds and fantasy star, but there will be a long delay this season. As for whether ESPN’s fantasy managers should invest this season, Marte, 22, remains a likely impact option, but one we will not see until later in June — and he is not on the IL, so forget about the useful asterisk that permits a non-bench roster spot. Marte likely goes from intriguing mid-round pick to being out of most ESPN drafts.

Spring training injuries

• Milwaukee Brewers RHP Devin Williams finished second among all relief pitchers in ESPN fantasy points last season, but he may have a tough time repeating the feat as he deals with a sore back. The Brewers are sending Williams, who had a 1.53 ERA and 36 saves, to see a spine specialist. This is potentially harrowing news and enough to remove Williams, the No. 2 relief pitcher in Tristan H. Cockcroft’s points league rankings and thus second in ESPN ADP, down in ESPN leagues. For now, we await further clarity on whether or not Williams starts the season on the IL. RHPs Joel Payamps and Abner Uribe figure to be next in line for saves.

• Texas Rangers 1B Nathaniel Lowe figures to start the season on the IL as he heals from an oblique strain, opening the door for prospects Justin Foscue and Wyatt Langford to potentially win starting jobs. Foscue offers power potential and plate discipline. He is penciled in for the DH role, but if he handles first base (former Angel Jared Walsh is also in the mix for 1B action), Langford could be the DH. Lowe, known more for his durability than power output over the last three seasons, is a late-round pick rostered in 30% of ESPN leagues, and this news should remove him from more drafts.

• Tampa Bay Rays OF Jonny DeLuca suffered a broken right hand when an errant pitch struck him on Sunday, and he will be reevaluated in 4-6 weeks. DeLuca, who came to the Rays from the Dodgers in the offseason Tyler Glasnow trade, seemed like a good bet for at least a platoon role in the Tampa Bay outfield, as he can hit for power, steal bases and draw walks. Jose Siri‘s grip on the center field job is stronger today, while Amed Rosario and Harold Ramirez should pick up more at-bats.

• Los Angeles Dodgers RHP Emmet Sheehan has shoulder soreness and will likely start the season on the IL, opening up the No. 5 rotation spot for intriguing RHP Gavin Stone, who tossed four shutout innings on Sunday. Sheehan fanned 64 hitters over 60 1/3 innings as a rookie in 2023, far outperforming Stone, but Stone has a 0.93 ERA this spring. Use a late pick on Stone in case this is his breakout.

Prospects preview

The league is trying something new this week with the much-anticipated debut of the Spring Breakout, featuring 16 prospect-laden showcase games with many of the top minor leaguers in the sport from March 14-17, with each franchise participating.

Many of these games (although not all of them) will be available to watch on ESPN+. The highlight of the four days of action may well be Thursday’s meeting of the Orioles and Pirates, as the past two No. 1 overall draft picks could face off. We’re talking about precocious SS/2B Jackson Holliday (2022) and overpowering RHP Paul Skenes (2023).

• Holliday, a left-handed slugger with speed, hit a grand slam off Blue Jays veteran lefty Yusei Kikuchi on Sunday, and even though he has only 18 games at the Triple-A level, he certainly seems ready for the big leagues. Fantasy managers love the prospects, and Holliday is already rostered in more than 42% of ESPN leagues, despite no guarantee of an Orioles roster spot. Skenes will start the season in the minor leagues, likely in Triple-A, but the LSU product is much-watch TV.

• This is also an opportunity for fantasy managers to check out Rangers OFs Evan Carter and the aforementioned Langford, with the Carter likely to start the regular season in left field. Langford was the No. 4 selection in the 2023 MLB draft.

• Speaking of that 2023 draft, Skenes went first and then the Nationals chose OF Dylan Crews. Crews is not producing big spring numbers and he is ticketed for the minors, but teammate James Wood is getting noticed. Wood, part of the haul from the Juan Soto trade, is hitting .367 with three home runs.

Source: www.espn.com