Yairo Munoz

Munoz's 2020 season got off to an inauspicious start. He hurt his hamstring early in camp then flew home to the Dominican Republic without informing the Cardinals. St. Louis released Munoz, who was subsequently signed to a minor-league contract by the Red Sox. Munoz stayed at Boston's alternate training site until being summoned Aug. 31. He played almost every day until he was shut down with back spasms Sept. 17. An .844 OPS in 45 PA was enough to earn a one-year deal from the Red Sox for 2021, but team seemed to have a change of heart as it outrighted Munoz off the 40-man roster in December of 2020. Munoz will be just 26 years old this season and has played every position in the majors except first base and catcher. He's slashed .278/.332/.402 in 555 career PA with 15 steals in parts of three seasons, so he's not a total lost cause.

Munoz stuck around as a bench option for the Cardinals for most of the year, though he was unable to build on his modest success from his rookie season. After hitting .276/.350/.413 in 2018, he managed just a .267/.298/.355 line in his sophomore campaign. That came in rather sporadic playing time, as Munoz came to the plate just 181 times all season, but he didn't have much of an offensive reputation as a prospect, so the struggles were hardly a surprise. He did at least steal eight bases, raising hope that he could contribute in that category if he were to win a more significant role. It would take injuries ahead of him for that to happen, though, as nothing on Munoz's resume suggests he deserves anything more than a bench spot. He's not even a great fit there, as his glove has generally graded out poorly, but he can at least get by all around the field, so his flexibility should keep him in the league.

Acquired in the Stephen Piscotty trade prior to last season, Munoz opened the year on the Cardinals' major-league roster and stuck there for much of the season, hitting .276/.350/.413 in 329 plate appearances. That was good for a 106 wRC+, but his glove graded out poorly by UZR and DRS at both shortstop and second base. His profile isn't particularly exciting from a fantasy perspective, as he managed just eight homers and five steals, and his overall performance was in line with prospect reports which had him as a role player. There's a spot for that player both in real life and in certain fantasy settings, as Munoz can fill in at several different roster spots and not tank any categories. Just know that his modest prospect pedigree doesn't suggest a ton of upside, and a part-time role is likely in the cards again this season.

Prior to a December trade that sent Stephen Piscotty to the A's, the Cardinals seemingly had endless close-to-the-majors outfielders and between one and zero MLB-caliber defensive shortstops. Enter Munoz, whom the Cardinals received from Oakland, along with Max Schrock. He may never hit enough to be an everyday player, but he has the glove to handle the six, and is also capable of playing second base and third base. In addition to his defensive chops on the dirt, Munoz fills another need for the Cardinals with above-average speed on the bases. He has hit for power at times in the minors, most notably last year at Double-A when he posted a .216 ISO, but he is unlikely to hit many over the fence in the majors without really compromising his approach. With 272 plate appearances under his belt at Triple-A, the 23-year-old is close to being ready to fill a bench role for the big club. His speed makes him interesting in really deep leagues, as his defense could earn him at-bats if Paul DeJong regresses.

After slashing .320/.372/.480 in the High-A California League in 2015, Munoz was promoted to Double-A Midland. He struggled to find his form, slashing .240/.286/.367 in 102 games with the Rockhounds. Although it was a down season for Munoz, the good news is the glove-first player is still just 21 years old. He made the majority of his starts in 2016 at shortstop, but he also started more than 20 games at second and third base. His true utility-man status makes him a valuable prospect, something the A's have acknowledged by adding him to their 40-man roster. Although he isn't major league ready, Oakland's decision shows how much raw talent the young utility-man possesses. He will likely start off again in Double-A, hoping to settle in and regain his swing before a Triple-A Nashville promotion.