Ottoneu Hot Right Now: Sep 25, 2024

The 2024 version of Hot Right Now will typically include three sections:

1. Current Auctions: A closer look at players being auctioned at a high rate.
2. Roster Adds: Analysis of players with high add% changes.
3. Hot Performers: Players with a high P/G or P/IP in recent weeks.

The FanGraphs Ottoneu team plans to run this feature weekly, updating fantasy managers on the biggest movers in Ottoneu leagues with an analysis of how these players could or could not help your roster.

Intro

It is always a sad time of the year when you no longer have the daily statistics of your hypothetical baseball team to view while taking in your morning caffeine. Yet, there’s something so exciting about what will happen next year. For those who gave it their best shot, like me, and still finished in the bottom half of the league, it’s time to pick up prospects for $1. Jake Mailhot gave suggestions in his recent Last Minute Players to Add in Ottoneu. For those a few points away from first place, pick up these “Hot Right Now” players…um…now. A word to the wise from Chad Young:

Auctions started Friday, will end Sunday

…so let’s go.

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Current Auctions

Jonathan Aranda – 37 current auctions

The 26-year-old has played 1B and 2B for the Rays and has slashed .344/.596/.940 in September. It’s the only month he has had consistent playing time this season and he’s still only at 64 plate appearances on the month. Back in 2022, Aranda was listed by Eric Longenhagen as the Rays’ 18th-best prospect and wrote:

Arranda’s feel for contact and platoon advantage make him a high-probability contributor. He has fantastic hitter’s timing, and a good-looking, compact lefty stroke that peppers both gaps and can do homer damage to his pull-side….This is the type of player who you try to hide on defense on any given day, playing him when you have an extreme strikeout pitcher starting, or shoehorning him in at 2B/3B depending on where the opposing lineup is least-likely to hit the ball.

He’s done his best defensive work at 1B in 2024 by a few metrics, but that’s Yandy Díaz’s spot. He’s been serviceable at 3B and 2B, but just barely. Aranda’s bat has been hot enough to give him a few shots at DH, 10 to be exact, but with only 19 plate appearances against lefties hitting .176, Aranda is a platoon bat. He doesn’t seem like a great long-term fantasy option given his unclear defensive role and inability to hit lefties, but “get em’ while they’re hot” and hope he can hit the ball out of the park a few more times before the season ends. His current 15-game rolling wOBA is at a season-high .429.

Colby Thomas – 19 current auctions

A slash line of .272/.344/.559 in 314 AAA plate appearances is a great way to end the season. Thomas saw AA and AAA this season and performed well in both leagues. His 18% K% in AA jumped to 30.3% in AAA and striking out that much before you get to the big leagues should raise some red flags. He found himself in the “Tough Profiles” section of the A’s early season prospect report. In it, Eric Longenhagen wrote:

Thomas is an older, physical outfielder at Double-A Midland. He has above-average bat speed but doesn’t track pitches especially well, and it’s going to be a tough left field profile with a 40 hit tool and 50 power.

Roster Adds

Luisangel Acuña – Add% Change (7 Days) – 28.5%

Acuña is a must-add. It may be tough, his roster rate in Ottoneu points leagues is already at 84.3%. In big league plate appearances, he has a slash line of .375/.394/.781. In that time he’s already hit three home runs and he’s not striking out. His small sample big league cup of coffee K% is only 12.1%. In AAA this season, he stole 40 bases. This is not who he will be as an everyday player, but he has certainly made the case that he’s ready to play in the big leagues. It will be incredibly important for him to prove he can play somewhere besides shortstop, but his prospect report makes it seem a move to centerfield is likely:

Acuña’s hands on defense can be clumsy. He’s mostly played the middle infield, but prior to the trade, the Rangers also gave him some reps in center field and the Mets have continued to develop him there some of the time. He looks like a natural center field defender, with plus closing speed and ball skills. His ceiling as a defender there might be really high because he already looks so good despite having not played the position for very long. If he can be a plus center field defender and also play a mix of second and third base, we’re talking about a very versatile utility guy whose streaky offense would be more acceptable than if he were in an everyday role.

Joey Cantillo – Add% Change (7 Days) – 24.5%

One look at Cantillo’s Stuff+ and you might not be too excited. He had a rough first four starts in the big leagues:

First four starts, pre-August demotion: K/9: 7.41, BB/9: 4.76, HR/9: 3.18, ERA: 8.47

But he recovered and stabilized once he was called back up:

Last three starts, post-September call-up: K/9: 12.12, BB/9: 2.20, HR/9: 0.00 ERA: 1.10

While his Stuff+ may not jump off his FanGraphs player page, his extension percentile does jump off his savant page. It’s bright red and in the 99th percentile. That unique ability has not transitioned to results just yet and it could be more of a control issue:

The meatball version of his four-seamer has been slugged for four home runs in 2024. Cantillo is currently listed as the third man in the Guardians rotation and while it doesn’t seem like he’ll be an ace, he could be a good end-of-season add to your fantasy team for $1 as he builds up some experience and develops his control.

Hunter Goodman – Add% Change (7 Days) – 15.0%

Since being recalled from the minors on September 1st, the 24-year-old Rockies outfielder has slugged .596. The rest of his slash line includes a .234 batting average and a .265 OBP, so Goodman is showcasing himself as a power-first player without the walks. He’s striking out 26.5% of the time since being called back up. He has hit 13 home runs in 2024, but they have come with no other fantasy statistics.

Hot Performers

Stats reflect the last 14 days for both hitters and pitchers.

Jonah Bride – (5.9 P/G)

There aren’t many un-rostered players left who can nearly hit a 6.0 P/G mark at this point in the season, but Jonah Bride is one of them. He’s been the DH/1B for most of August and September and is slashing .288/.353/.479 this month.

Eric Wagaman – (4.6 P/G)

At the end of 2023, Wagaman was selected as a Rule 5 draft pick. He’s finally seen some big league playing time in 2024 and is slugging .462 in 52 September plate appearances. He hit a ball 111.7 MPH! He’s making it all count by making contact with balls in the zone at a great 90.8% rate. He has taken over the 3B spot in the field.

Zack Littell – (8.6 P/IP)

Littell has been so good in his last two starts giving up zero earned runs and striking out 12 across 13 IP. It may be too late to catch this train as his last start is likely today, Wednesday the 25th, but Littell has showcased a very good slider all season long and may be worth a look for next year.

Andre Pallante – (7.7 P/IP)

This dude has been low-key good all season (ERA 3.71, FIP 3.80, HR/9 0.62) and he has had two starts where he’s gone seven innings in each and striking out a combined 13. You may be able to get him for his last start in San Francisco if you act now.