Farm Futures: The Best of What's Left, Vol. 2.0

A little over a month ago I profiled the top remaining players in the minor leagues who could still be recalled in 2015 and offer value in single-season leagues. Much of that piece proved to be prophetic, as 10 of the 20 players profiled were promoted to the big leagues over the past month. As the waiver wire starts to dry up, and players like Miguel Sano, Steven Matz and Matt Wisler have already been dispensed to the highest bidder, it's time to take another look at what the minor leagues have to offer for owners trying to contend this season. (Stephen Piscotty was in the original version of this article and his write-up was removed following his call-up Tuesday, but he should still be pursued on the waiver wire in most formats).

Note: For owners in dynasty leagues, the top-200 prospect rankings and the organizational top-10 prospect rankings were updated last weekend for the final time this season and include players taken in the 2015 first-year player draft and the July 2 international signings, as well as all other prospects still in the minor leagues at the time the rankings were released.

Hitters

Corey Seager, SS/3B

On the latest top-200 prospect rankings Seager took over the title of best prospect in the minor leagues after the graduations of Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton. He also ranks as the best prospect to stash in single-season formats, as Jimmy Rollins is hitting .196 so far in July and has been a sub-replacement level player so far this season (-0.5 WAR), according to Fangraphs. While Rollins may still be the better defensive option at shortstop, there's no denying that Seager has more offensive potential at this point, and it's not particularly close. The 21-year-old shortstop is slashing .283/.335/.461 with eight home runs and just a 12.3 percent K-rate in 65 games at Triple-A Oklahoma City. Look for the Dodgers to promote Seager before the second week of August.

Hector Olivera, 3B/2B

The reason Seager gets the edge over Olivera is that the players Olivera would be taking at-bats from at third base or second base (Justin Turner and Howie Kendrick) are more deserving of playing time than Rollins, who would be the odd man out if Seager was promoted. It still seems like a relative lock that Olivera, 30, gets promoted this season, but he may only play four or five days per week once he gets the call up. The Cuban defector has a .348/.392/.493 slash line with two home runs in 19 minor league games this season. If he can prove to be over a hamstring ailment he dealt with recently, we could see the Dodgers promote him in the coming weeks.

Micah Johnson, 2B

Much like with the Seager/Rollins talent disparity, Johnson getting recalled to reclaim the second base job from Carlos Sanchez seems to be inevitable at this point. Johnson is slashing .326/.378/.478 with six home runs and 24 steals in 56 games since being demoted to Triple-A Charlotte. Meanwhile, Sanchez is slashing .192/.230/.249 with zero home runs and zero stolen bases in 56 games with the White Sox. Nobody would suggest that Johnson's defense at second base is on par with that of Sanchez, but the offensive gulf between the two players is too extreme to ignore. Even if the White Sox decide to throw in the towel on the 2015 season, giving Johnson another shot as the everyday second baseman is a move that would benefit the franchise as they take inventory on their pieces for 2016. Look for him to be recalled in late July or early August.

Michael Conforto, OF

This is the toughest one to predict, as Conforto has been aggressively and deservedly pushed through the Mets' farm system, yet it is unclear if general manager Sandy Alderson would be willing to bench Michael Cuddyer, who Alderson felt warranted a two-year, $21 million contract just eight months ago. Cuddyer is now dealing with a sore left knee, so if he ends up on the DL, Alderson may be able to promote Conforto without directly benching Cuddyer. Conforto, 22, is a top-20 fantasy prospect thanks to plus power and the potential for a plus hit tool, and he is slashing .325/.404/.529 with five home runs in 41 games since being promoted to Double-A Binghamton. He has just 87 games under his belt above short season ball, so while Conforto seems to be the Mets' best option in left field this season, it would also be reasonable to determine that he needs just a bit more seasoning before being appointed the offensive savior in Flushing.

Hitters Who Could Be Recalled Following A Trade Or An Injury:

• Nomar Mazara, OF, Rangers
  
• Joey Gallo, 3B/OF, Rangers
  
• Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees
  
• Josh Bell, 1B, Pirates
  
• Peter O'Brien, OF, D-Backs
  
• Rymer Liriano, OF, Padres
  
• Trevor Story, SS/2B, Rockies
  
• Richie Shaffer, 3B, Rays

Note: Joe Ross is anticipated to be recalled for Tuesday's game, otherwise he would have been included here. Make sure Ross is owned as long as Stephen Strasburg continues to recover from an oblique injury. Similarly, Vincent Velasquez, who was sent down before the break to rest and will be recalled to start Tuesday's game, should also be owned in most competitive leagues, as he would have been ranked as a top-25 prospect in the latest top-200 if he were not anticipated to be recalled. Both Ross and Velasquez would be preferable to own over the other pitchers who will be profiled here.

Jose Berrios, RHP

Berrios is the third best pitching prospect in the minor leagues, behind just Lucas Giolito and Julio Urias, and the best arm to stash for those in single season leagues. The 21-year-old hurler has made just three starts at Triple-A, and while his ERA sits at 5.60, his 21:5 K:BB ratio in 17.2 innings and 2.55 FIP are more representative of how well he has pitched. It would not be at all surprising if the Twins did not call upon Berrios, as they may be satisfied with the current makeup of the rotation. That said, if the Twins are serious about contending this season, calling up their best prospect still in the minor leagues in a couple weeks would seem to be a no-brainer, as they could improve the big league club without sacrificing assets for the future.

Daniel Norris, LHP

Norris may already be on his way back to the big leagues if he were pitching a little better at Triple-A. The 22-year-old southpaw has given up at least four runs in three of his last five starts with Triple-A Buffalo, which has allowed Felix Doubront to remain in the big league rotation. Norris still has a realistic mid-rotation projection and the potential to notch 200-strikeout seasons in his prime years, so his long-term stock should not be slipping. If he can get back on the type of run he was on in late-May and early-June, when he gave up three or fewer runs in five straight outings, Norris should have no problem supplanting Doubront in the Jays' rotation in mid-to-late August. If Norris continues to be inconsistent, Matt Boyd could get another shot instead.

Zach Lee, RHP

Lee has given up three runs total in his last five starts (25 innings) with Triple-A Oklahoma City and was called up briefly to provide another arm for a doubleheader against the Nationals, though he did not make an appearance. However, with Brandon Beachy and Brett Anderson currently holding spots in the Dodgers' rotation, it would not be surprising if an injury occurred that cleared a spot for Lee to make his big league debut. That said, the overall upside with Lee (No. 4 starter) does not necessarily warrant stashing him in most mid-sized formats.

Jon Gray, RHP

It seems inevitable that Gray will join the Rockies' rotation sometime before the end of the season, but he is not necessarily a good bet to offer fantasy value in his first attempt at success in the major leagues. The list of Rockies starting pitchers who have been valuable in mixed leagues over the past 10 seasons is relatively short, and only Ubaldo Jimenez in 2009 and particularly 2010, was ever an above average starter for a significant stretch of time in Colorado. Of course, this does not mean Gray will be a mediocre pitcher, but it's easy to see how things could start off pretty bumpy for the young righty. Therefore, Gray should be treated as a potential streaming option in favorable road parks, but not someone who needs to be stashed in most formats.

Wildcards

The following pitchers could be recalled to join their team's rotation or bullpen, or they could quite conceivably not be called up at all this season. That said, they each have the upside to be excellent fantasy contributors over a short stretch, so while they do not warrant stashing in most formats, they should be pursued heavily if it looks like they will get a few turns in the rotation at some point over the next two months.

• Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Pirates
  
• Luis Severino, RHP, Yankees
  
• Jose De Leon, RHP, Dodgers
  
• Blake Snell, LHP, Rays
  
• Miguel Almonte, RHP, Royals

• Julio Urias, LHP, Dodgers
  
• Frankie Montas, RHP, White Sox