American League Investment Report
Here are players you should consider investing in and a few to keep an eye on.
I posted these on Twitter but decided to delve deeper into each team and player for you all!
Please remember these are my personal opinions, and I always aim for the most low-risk investments. That way, if someone gets injured, I don’t lose stubs.
'Considering' - I do really like these players, and I’ll be keeping my eye on them as the season begins, if not already snagging them.
'Not just yet' - There are multiple reasons why I’m not investing in them just yet: they may be too expensive due to collections, there are injury concerns, or I need to see how their season goes.
Today we’ll run through the American League and next week we’ll do the same with the National League.
AL East
Considering
Orioles, G. Henderson: I think Gunnar will be an easy diamond this year, similar to Adley last year. There is some slight risk to him as he is selling as an 83 and not his actual overall of 82.
Red Sox, J. Durran, V. Grissom: Red Sox don’t have much to trust on their team regarding investments. Devers and Yoshia have crappy defense so they have to hit the cover off the ball for an upgrade. I just think these are the two most likely players to get upgraded this season. (Add in most silver players right now have crappy prices to buy into right now.)
Yankees, G. Torres, C. Holmes: I really like Torres for this season. He had a great spring, can be bought at QS value, and needs to perform for those easy stubs.
Blue Jays, C. Biggio: This would be an EXTREMELY long play as he’s a bronze, but you can get him for 6 stubs over QS value, and if he breaks out this year, we’re golden.
Rays, Any Gold: Honestly, just take your pick or grab all of them. Pretty much all the gold players are at QS value, giving us a no-risk investment to see how they start the season.
Not Yet
Orioles, C. Mullins: I put Mullins here because he’s priced too high on the market right now for the risk. However, I would keep it in the back of your mind if he gets an upgrade at some point or his price goes down closer to QS.
Red Sox, B. Bello: Similar to Mullins, too high price for the investment. He signed a new contract this offseason and is the ace for the Sox this year. Keep your eye on him for now.
AL Central
Considering
Tigers, T. Skubal: Skubal broke out last year and had a sub-3 era and went 7-3. I think he is a strong candidate to potentially hit diamond this year.
Royals, MJ Melendez: He’s my sneaky candidate this year to get hit gold from a bronze-level player. I’m going to watch his first few weeks of the season.
Twins, B. Buxton: Has been a diamond in previous MLB the Shows. Has gold defense, so we just need him to raise his batting over by 10ish points and it’s an easy lock.
Not Yet
White Sox, Y. Moncada, G. Sheets, A. Vaughn: Someone has to go up on this team to be a silver, but who that will be? That is the question right now. With most of them being pretty high over QS value as a bronze, I would hold off on them for now.
Guardians, A. Gimenez: Gimenez has diamond defense with common hitting. He’s a prime candidate to go up to gold if he figures it out at the plate (he had a .340 avg during spring training).
Tigers, K. Carpenter, R. Greene: Both are young and intriguing players for the team to go up this season, but both are just too overpriced on the market to invest right now.
Royals, V. Pasquantino: Pasquantino is getting on a lot of people’s lists for a breakout season in the MLB. Which is why he is on my radar, but price is too high for investing.
Twins, J. Duran, J. Ryan: Duran had a tremendous season last year, but SDS takes it slow with relief pitchers. Ryan fell off on the tail end of the season, so I’m just going to watch him for now.
AL West
Considering
Astros, C. McCormick: I'm putting McCormick here since there is zero risk to holding him. The Astros are loaded, so it may be tough for him to get an update. Watch his splits vs. righties the first week or so, and that’ll give you a good idea.
Mariners, C. Raleigh: Diamond defense + right at QS value = one of my favorite kinds of investments.
Rangers, J. Jung, J. Heim: Similar to the Astros, the Rangers are also LOADED. Both of these players are right at QS and worth the hold to see how the first month goes. I think Jung looks like a great early choice.
Not Yet
Astros, Y. Diaz: Similar to McCormick, you just need to see how the first few weeks go. The Astros are loaded, so getting to diamond may be a little difficult.
Angels, B. Drury, Z. Neto, J. Adell: Drury is right at QS, but at 31 years of age, I think he would end up being a longer investment. Neto and Adell are more potential bronze to gold players if you’re willing to risk 25ish stubs per order to see how they do.
A's, M. Andujar, Z. Gelof: Both a little too high right now on the market to scoop them. The A’s have no gold or diamond players (for obvious reasons), which if they take off, could get looked at really quick. I’d probably scoop Gelof before Andujar, due to the risk.
Mariners, JP Crawford: Career year in home runs last season. If he keeps that up and gets back to a .270+ avg., this could be a major investment play. Give it a week or two to see how he starts out.
The Show Investments is the Chief Market Analyst for Perfect Perfect. Follow him on Twitter at @showinvestments for up-to-the-minute market advice.