C.J. Cron on the Rise
The Rockies finally made things official on Saturday, as they purchased the contract of 31-year-old slugger C.J. Cron from Triple-A. Cron had been in big league camp as a non-roster invitee.
Usually a bet for a middling batting average, Cron has hit for power wherever he has gone. Landing in Coors Field isn’t going to hurt his cause. While it’s not official that Cron will be the team’s starting first baseman (he’s still technically competing with Greg Bird), the writing is on the wall.
Over the last week of Cactus League games, Cron has spent the majority of his time batting fifth in the Rockies lineup -- especially in lineups with most of the team’s regulars in it. There’s a very good chance that’s where he’ll be stationed when things start counting on April 1. The most common alignment has Ryan McMahon, Trevor Story and Charlie Blackmon in the 2-through-4 spots in the lineup, which should lead to ample RBI chances for Cron during the season.[[ad:athena]]
Remember, Cron smashed 30 home runs in 140 games as the regular first baseman for the Rays in 2018. He followed that up by swatting 25 long balls in 125 games for the Twins in 2019. He knocked four balls out of the yard in 13 games for the Tigers during the truncated 2020 campaign before suffering a season-ending knee injury.
He has been swinging a hot bat during Cactus League play, hitting .306/.342/.583 with a pair of homers and four RBI in 36 at-bats.
If you think that you’re ahead of the curve on Cron and will be able to scoop him up with the last pick that you make in your fantasy draft, be sure to understand your competition and where they are coming from. Cron is not a secret any longer. The days of getting him at an average draft position of later than pick 300 are long gone.
In the top average draft position tool available -- five actual NFBC Main Event drafts from over the weekend -- Cron went at pick 142 on average (with a high of 129 and a low of 155). If he’s someone that you’re planning on grabbing as a late source of power, be ready to pony up.
Watching the Lineups
Over the past few weeks in this space I have taken a look around the league and highlighted interesting lineup tidbits that fantasy managers should be paying attention to during spring training as they could represent real changes or lineup information that we’ll see during the regular season.
I’m still going to point out a few of those juicy nuggets from this week, but I also wanted to alert everyone to an unbelievable tool that has been built for this very purpose. Mike Kurland, who is the host of the @BasesLoadedPod and a contributor to RotoBaller and ProspectsLive has built and shared a Google Doc with the public that tracks each team’s spring training lineup from every single game during the spring -- color coded for ease of use -- and also has Mike’s notes and observations from each one.
It’s an absolutely amazing tool and one that every serious fantasy manager should be utilizing -- check it out here.
Red Sox -- J.D. Martinez started in left field again on Sunday, and has seen a fair amount of time out there this spring with Hunter Renfroe serving as the team’s primary designated hitter. Perhaps it’s an alignment that they plan to utilize more than expected during the season, which would get Martinez -- who’s currently UTIL only -- eligibility in the outfield much sooner than anticipated. Also, Enrique Hernandez seems locked into the leadoff spot in the lineup to begin the season.
Angels -- Whether it was just to get him his at-bats early in the game, or a possibility of something that could continue in-season, Shohei Ohtani batted leadoff for the Angels while also pitching in the game. Not only did he deal on the mound -- and reportedly hit 101 mph with his fastball -- he also went 2-for-2 with a pair of singles and drew a walk. His arrow is definitely pointing upward. ADP of 156 (MIN 131, MAX 197) in Main Event drafts from the weekend.
Indians -- Everyone is all aboard the hype train for Andres Gimenez now that he has secured the starting shortstop job for the Indians, but each of the last three times that he has been in the lineup (with the rest of the Cleveland regulars) it has been in the eighth spot in the order. He could certainly work his way up into a better spot in the order, but this looks like where he’s going to be to begin the season.
Royals -- Manager Mike Matheny continues to toy with his batting lineup, but it’s starting to look increasingly likely that Adalberto Mondesi will bat third to begin the season. The polarizing speedster will have to hit to remain in that spot -- and get on base at a much higher clip than he has throughout his career -- but it’s a positive development for him. That moves Jorge Soler down to the sixth spot in the lineup with Hunter Dozier likely hitting seventh behind him.
Mariners -- Ty France continues to move all around the diamond, but finds his way into the lineup on a near daily basis. Recently, he has done so while hitting second in the order and there’s a good chance that’s where he’ll be when things start counting on April 1. Also of note, Mitch Haniger seems to have usurped the leadoff spot away from J.P. Crawford, who now finds himself batting ninth for the M’s.
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Royals Extend Perez
The Royals made some news on Sunday, locking up six-time All-Star catcher Salvador Perez to a four-year, $82 million contract extension. The deal also includes a $13.5 million team option for a fifth year or a $2 million buyout. The contract, which begins in 2022, carries an average annual value of $20.5 million.
The deal is the largest contract given out in Royals history, surpassing the $72 million deal that Alex Gordon signed in 2016.
The 30-year-old backstop missed the entire 2019 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, but came back with a vengeance in 2020 -- slashing a ridiculous .333/.353/.633 with 11 homers, 32 RBI and a stolen base in just 150 at-bats over his 37 games.
He has been the consensus #2 catcher off the board in fantasy drafts throughout the draft season, behind only J.T. Realmuto. In those five NFBC Main Event drafts from over the weekend, Perez had an average draft position of 98th overall (MIN 90, MAX 105).
American League Quick Hits: The Royals optioned top prospect Bobby Witt to Low-A Columbia, ending the 20-year-old’s chances of cracking the Opening Day roster. … The Angels optioned top prospect Jo Adell to Triple-A Salt Lake to begin the season despite his 1.032 OPS during Cactus League play. He’ll be back sooner rather than later. … Jarred Kelenic smacked a solo shot off of Freddy Peralta during Cactus League play on Sunday and continues to look like he’ll make a significant impact this season once he finally arrives (late April?). ... Asher Wojciechowski left Sunday’s Grapefruit League outing due to discomfort in his right lat. … An MRI revealed no structural damage in the injured elbow of Astros’ right-hander Andre Scrubb, though he is dealing with inflammation. … White Sox right-hander Jimmy Cordero was officially placed on the 60-day disabled list after undergoing Tommy John surgery. … The White Sox then used the roster spot to claim Nik Turley off of waivers from the Athletics. … Adam Engel is going to miss a couple of weeks after suffering a hamstring strain during Saturday’s Cactus League contest. … The Indians sent Oscar Mercado to the team’s alternate training site, meaning that some combination of Bradley Zimmer, Amed Rosario and Jordan Luplow will handle the starting duties in center field… Orioles manager Brandon Hyde indicated that DJ Stewart (hamstring) may not be ready for Opening Day. … Brent Honeywell (elbow) is expected to make his first Grapefruit League start against the Red Sox on Monday -- it’ll be his first start since September of 2017… Ji-Man Choi (knee) is not expected to be ready for Opening Day. … Carlos Rodon punched out five over four shutout innings of one-hit ball in a Cactus League start against the Diamondbacks. … James Paxton piled up eight strikeouts over 4 ⅓ innings of one-run ball against the Brewers. … Shane Bieber fanned six across four shutout innings against the Rangers… Gerrit Cole whiffed eight batters over five innings of one-run baseball against the Blue Jays. His skipper, Aaron Boone, said earlier in the weekend that he expects Cole to log at least 200 innings during the regular season. … Marcus Semien smacked his second homer of the spring -- a solo shot off of Gerrit Cole -- in a loss to the Yankees… Akil Baddoo belted his fourth home run of the spring and swiped a base in a victory over the Phillies. The Rule-5 selection looks like a lock to be carried on the Tigers’ Opening Day roster. … Nick Pivetta was knocked around for six runs over four innings in a forgettable Grapefruit League start against the Pirates. … Willians Astudillo walloped a three-run homer in a victory over the Orioles. … Ryan Mountcastle, homered, doubled and drove in two in a loss to the Twins. … Maikel Franco had a two-run double against the Twins in his Grapefruit League debut with the Orioles.
National League Quick Hits: Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer will officially start on Opening Day- - the sixth consecutive time that has been given that honor with the Nationals… Tejay Antone had to cut his bullpen session short on Sunday after irritating his hip flexor. The Reds are still hopeful he’ll be ready for the start of the regular season, but time is running out… Michael Lorenzen left a “B Game” on Saturday due to right shoulder discomfort and has been diagnosed with a slight shoulder strain… Tyler Clippard will be sidelined for six weeks due to a capsule strain in his right shoulder… The Pirates signed knuckleballer Steven Wright to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training… Joey Votto (COVID-19) returned to Reds camp on Sunday… Mets right-hander Arodys Vizcaino has been sidelined due to lateral right elbow soreness… Todd Frazier was scratched from the Pirates lineup on Sunday due to lower back tightness… J.T. Realmuto was scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut on Sunday, but was scratched due to general soreness… David Bote smacked a pair of home runs and drove in five on Sunday as the Cubs topped the Reds in Cactus League play… Mike Yastrzemski homered, tripled and plated four runs as the Giants defeated the Dodgers… Corey Seager smacked his sixth home run of the spring in a losing effort there… Freddy Peralta continued his impressive spring, striking out five and allowing just one run over 4 ⅔ innings against the Mariners… Blake Snell fired 3 ⅓ scoreless innings against the Angels, extending his scoreless inning streak to 9 ⅓ to begin Cactus League play… Trevor Rogers struck out six -- and induced an eye-popping 14 swinging strikes (seven on his changeup) in an impressive Cactus League start against the Astros… Jazz Chisholm blasted a two-run homer in a victory over the Astros, continuing to state his case to be the Marlins’ Opening Day second baseman instead of the struggling Isan Diaz… Ke’Bryan Hayes continued his assault on Grapefruit League pitching, going 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI in a victory over the Red Sox… Jacob deGrom struck out five over 4 ⅔ shutout innings against the Nationals and now boasts a 21/3 K/BB ratio across 13 ⅔ innings on the spring… Michael Conforto tagged Max Scherzer for his first home run of the Grapefruit League season on Sunday… Francisco Lindor also victimized Scherzer in that one -- a two-run blast, his third long ball of the spring… Victor Robles (back) returned to the Nationals lineup on Sunday, going 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts… Max Fried punched out five over six innings of one-run ball in an impressive start against the Rays.
