Roto Riteup: July 23, 2013

Rather than link to something regarding the Royal baby, here is a video of the Queen (not actually the Queen, but close enough) taken from a classic movie.

On today’s agenda:
1. Mike Olt’s new home
2. A mostly new outfield in Miami
3. Paul Maholm to the disabled list

Mike Olt’s new home
In the wake of yesterday’s trade between the Texas Rangers and the Chicago Cubs, third baseman Mike Olt now has a chance to be the starting third baseman at the major league level (fear not, Mike Podhorzer will be along later today to break down Matt Garza’s new home). The Cubs have been employing a combination of Luis Valbuena and Cody Ransom for most of the season, and while that combination has been good for 3.0 WAR, that value is largely thanks to Ransom going bonkers for nine home runs in 118 plate appearances and Valubena’s glove. Ransom’s 30% HR/FB as a member of the Northsiders is almost twice his career 15.8% rate. Neither the 37-year-old Ransom nor light hitting (career 78 wRC+) Valbuena should stand in Olt’s way.

For now the Cubs are saying that Olt will get the majority of the playing time at third base in Triple-A, but Olt shouldn’t be in the minors for long. Some may see Olt’s .213/.317/.422 line in Triple-A this year and scoff at the idea of picking him up, but his triple slash doesn’t tell the full story. Olt missed almost the entire month of May with vision issues, possibly as a result of a concussion he suffered while playing winter ball. Given that Olt hit .139/.235/.236 in 81 April PA’s then came back to hit for a .255/.364/.520 in 121 June PA’s, it seems as though the vision issues may be past him. Special thanks to the guys at Minor League Central for the MiLB splits. Yes Olt’s strikeout rate is high, however his power is legitimate and Wrigley Field will play up his right-handed power nicely.

All NL-only leagues should be stashing Olt right now, though 12-team mixed leagues can wait until he hits the majors. Olt is available in over 95% of both ESPN and Yahoo! formats as well as 84% of CBS leagues. Keep him on your watch list and don’t hesitate to grab him once he gets the call.

A mostly new outfield in Miami
The Miami Marlins may have sent down Marcell Ozuna and Derek Dietrich, however the club called up fellow prospects Christian Yelich and Jake Marisnick. Both Yelich and Marisnick offer plenty of raw tools for fantasy managers to consider, but at this point both players are more style and name recognition than substance and production.

Marisnick nabbed 29 steals across three levels last year and 37 bags in 2011. He had just 11 steals to his name this year before getting the call, however he was caught six times. Yelich is no slouch himself on the bases, as last year he recorded 23 steals and 32 the year before that. Yelich has consistently posted a higher ISO as well as a stronger walk rate between the two prospects. Neither are fantasy relevant in standard 12-team redraft mixed leagues, though both have the tools and the potential to be impact players in later seasons.

Paul Maholm to the disabled list
Normally a pitcher with a 4.27 career ERA isn’t terribly fantasy relevant, however the ripple effect of Maholm’s injury could be significant. Maholm is being sidelined with a left wrist contusion and is expected to return August 5. Even though it would mean missing the minimum 15 days after being placed on the DL retroactive to July 21, the Atlanta Braves will need to fill his spot three times.

Alex Wood will start in Maholm’s place on Thursday and if he proves effective, has a chance to grab all three of Maholm’s starts. If Wood falters, perhaps Brandon Beachy could be the next in line. Beachy’s last start in Triple-A occurred last Friday and he lasted five innings with three strikeouts on 70 pitches. The Braves want to see at least one more rehab start for Beachy — preferably of seven or so innings — before activating him, thus giving Wood the inside edge.

Wood has put up impressive numbers throughout his rapid rise through the Braves system and is the safer bet to grab for fellow starting pitcher streamers. Wood is currently available in over 95% of ESPN and Yahoo! leagues and over 80% of CBS leagues.