#Fantasy baseball owners must snag some of these rookies

By Howard Bender, Fantasy Alarm

Service time for youngsters routinely becomes an issue for some MLB clubs, and here in the time of COVID, we expected it to be an even bigger problem. Some of your more frugal fantasy baseball owners prefer to delay the start of any player’s arbitration clock and now were expected to be even less enthusiastic about starting the clock in a truncated season. Nevertheless, some of those owners have learned that a truncated season could mean there is no tomorrow, and if they are going to recoup any lost money with a playoff run, you need your best players on the field, regardless of service time.

The Cardinals are in a very tricky spot, and general manager John Mozelaik knows he can take full advantage. Heading into the weekend, the Cardinals have played just five games while almost every other team has played somewhere between 15-20. With the new format, MLB agreed that non-division winners would get into the playoffs based on winning percentage, and the Cardinals find themselves just one game below .500. Given the sense of urgency, Mozelaik wants wins right now, and that means bringing up highly touted rookie Dylan Carlson right now.

If Carlson is sitting on your waiver wire, the time to act is now. Maybe the fact the team has played so little will help drive the price down, but putting in a strong claim could really help your team’s offense, as the 21-year old switch-hitter offers both power and speed.

None of the four outfielders the Cardinals are using have provided much, which means Carlson’s contributions should provide an immediate boost. His plate discipline has steadily improved during his ascension through the Cardinals system, and he finished 2019 with 26 home runs and 20 stolen bases between Double- and Triple-A. If the surge and continued adjustments we witnessed during spring training and Summer camp hold true, he is a must-own.

The Phillies also have seen the light with regard to rookie promotions and power-hitting third-baseman Alec Bohm has arrived. With Scott Kingery struggling to find his way and Rhys Hoskins failing to provide any shred of power, Phillies GM Matt Klentak has turned to his youth to keep the team’s playoff train moving.

The former first-rounder (third-overall) from the 2018 draft ascended from rookie ball to Double-A last season without losing his plate discipline or ability to get on-base and crushed 21 homers in just 475 at-bats. In his first at-bat in the majors, he yanked a double down the third-base line and looked eager for more.

With a greater sense of urgency for MLB teams, you can expect to see a few more rookie faces in the coming weeks. Don’t waste time waiting to see what happens. Carlson and Bohm are immediate adds and once players like Gavin Lux and Casey Mize arrive, they will be too.

Howard Bender is the VP of operations and head of content at Fantasy-Alarm.com. Follow him on Twitter @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy baseball advice.