Shane Baz is set to make his major-league debut for the Rays on Monday. Wouldn't a prospect of his caliber automatically be must-add?
The short answer, for busy people with things to do, is no. The long answer, for those who can indulge in things like rationale, is a little more complicated.
Before we get into it, let me first just say that if you haven't added Cubs for baseman Frank Schwindel yet, get on it already. I've been banging the drum for him so hard and for so long that I can't afford to devote any more space to it. The same would be true for Phillies starting pitcher Ranger Suarez except that his roster rate is now up to 78 percent, so I can move on him from him at least.
But anyway, Baz.
There's no overstating the caliber of prospect he is. You see the numbers he's put up this year, gaining control of his already electric stuff to make him arguably the top pitching prospect in baseball. I might instead give the nod to the Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez, but this isn't about him. The point is it's close.
The issue with picking up Baz isn't a matter of ability but rather timing. He's arriving for his first stint in the majors during the second-to-last week of the season ... at the position with the most potential for harm ... for the team most known for handling up-and-coming pitchers with kid gloves.
There's a small chance he could throw a seven-inning gem (even though he only once lasted even six innings in the minors this year), but he more realistic possibility is that they cut him off at 4-5 innings -- and that's if he's pitching well.
Of course, there's no predicting whether he's up to the task given that he has yet to be tested at the highest level. It's especially true given that he'll be facing the Blue Jays in his first outing, who you may be aware are rather stacked offensively. If he navigates their lineup well enough, he'll face the Astros next time out, who present an even tougher matchup. Weighing all of those factors, how could you possibly have the confidence to start Baz, whether this week or next?
Granted, it's not as simple as even that. If the Rays decide to remove someone from the rotation with the arrival of Baz -- which I'm not counting on, but it's possible -- then he'll line up for two starts this week, with the second coming against the Marlins. And in that scenario, he would face the Yankees next week rather than the Astros. It would make the risk a more rewarding one, but of course, you can't count on him having that second start this week.
Ultimately, it's too big of a gamble to take with so much on the line. If Baz had arrived a month ago, it would be a different story. As it is, I'm advising these pickups instead ...
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September 20, 2021 at 08:09PM
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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Is Shane Baz worth the bother at this point? - CBSSports.com
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