Considering the time of year, I figured I would outline a a guy for each team that could be brought up for the last month of the season. Today will be the NL, and the AL will come on Thursday.
Philadelphia Phillies: Scott Mathieson RHP
Mathieson has never really gotten much of a chance in Philadelphia, but I’m not sure why. He has a huge fastball in the mid-to-high 90s, and he adds a average to above-average slider. At 27, he’s getting a bit older, but the Phillies really need to give him a shot in that bullpen.
Atlanta Braves: Julio Teheran RHP
Teheran received a couple starts in the middle of the season, but his shaky fastball command did him in. Working to improve that in his time in AAA, he’s bored through AAA hitters with a 92-95 mph fastball, a devastating change-up, and an average curveball that could be plus. If the Braves were to go to a six-man rotation to rest the rotation, Teheran would have a spot, but otherwise, he might be placed in the bullpen and auditioned for an October bullpen slot.
Washington Nationals: Chris Marrero 1B
Just called up, Marrero came a little bit before September, but he still counts for me. Marrero can play no other position, and if he has to play first, he needs to mash. In his minor-league career, he’s always hit (.285/.353/.457), but that’s not really “mashing”. Scouts worry about the slider-speed bat, but the Nationals want a closer look.
Florida Marlins: Matt Dominguez 3B
Dominguez can really pick it at third base, and he could win Gold Gloves legitimately at the position. But he can’t hit. He shows some pop and some patience, but he has a hard time making solid contact. But that glove will earn him a chance.
New York Mets: Kirk Nieuwenhuis OF
Here’s another guy I’m not sure why people don’t like more. He’s a solid all-around player, but the caveat is that he has no stand-out tools. His .300/.400/.500 line in AAA, however, indicates his offense is really starting to come together, and while he may not have enough speed to cover center (I think he can for at least a few years), he could be an excellent defender in a corner. But there’s concern he won’t hit much in the majors, and if he can’t hit, he’s just a 4th outfielder.
Milwaukee Brewers: Taylor Green 3B
Like Marrero, Green is already in the majors, but unlike Marrero, he has an excellent chance of sticking there. Not terribly great shakes defensively, he’s probably an upgrade over McGehee, and he can really hit. Already blessed with a good eye at the plate, Green’s power has developed as he’s hit age 24, and his .336/.413/.583 line in 120 AAA games screamed promotion.
St. Louis Cardinals: Matt Carpenter 3B
The 25-year old Carpenter needs a chance in the majors because there’s nothing left for him to prove in the minors. His career .303/.410/.454 line tells you he can hit, draw a few walks, and hit for a decent amount of power, but it is that power and his average-at-best defense that keeps him from being an elite prospect. While David Freese might block him in St. Louis, the Cardinals should take the time in September to showcase Carpenter for a future trade.
Cincinnati Reds: Devin Mesoraco C
A Ramon Hernandez trade would have opened the door for more playing time for Mesoraco, but wither way, he needs time in September. Mesoraco has the chance to be an elite bat with average, patience, and power behind the plate, and although his defense isn’t awesome, it should be average. All together, this guy is something to be really excited about.Chicago Cubs: Brett Jackson OF
At 22, Jackson has destroyed AAA pitching to the tune of .319/.395/.583, and while the PCL is a great place for hitters, Jackson isn’t a fluke. Jackson’s plus tool is his speed, and though it’s not 80-grade speed, it will keep him in center. Don’t expect the same power from Jackson, but he can hit, draw walks, and add some pop as well.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Daniel Moskos LHP
No longer the top draft pick the Pirates hoped he was, Moskos is still a big-league caliber pitcher, though it’s now as a reliever. He can still throw 94 mph and snap off an above-average slider, and that should be good enough to be a solid reliever, with the potential for back-of-the-bullpen stuff if he rediscovers his amazing slider.
Houston Astros: Juan Abreu RHP
Abreu is your typical flame-throwing reliever. His fastball can scrape double-digits, but he has little else, including poor control. But he throws hard, and the Astros could always use power bullpen arms.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Trevor Bauer RHP
This is the guy everyone wants to see. Bauer’s fastball sits in the low-to-mid 90s with excellent deception due to his delivery, and he adds a plus curve and change that help him add many, many strikeouts. The third pick of this past draft has destroyed minor-league hitting, and with the Diamondbacks trying to hold on to a playoff spot, Bauer would be an excellent addition to the rotation.
San Francisco Giants: Brett Pill 1B
He’s old (26), plays first base, and has trouble drawing walks, but he can hit and hit the ball hard. If anything, he’d be a nice bench bat come September and maybe October.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Dee Gordon SS
With Furcal’s contract up after the season, the Dodgers need to know what they have in the young shortstop, and although he played a significant amount of time earlier in the season, he should get more time in September. He makes good contact, but he has doesn’t have great secondary skills (power or patience). Gordon’s calling card will be speed and defense, and the Dodgers need to give him time in September to see if he’ll be a cheap option for 2012 and the future.
Colorado Rockies: Alex White RHP
Already in the bigs and having made his first start for the Rockies, White is the first of the two big prospects in the Ubaldo Jimenez trade to make the big-league team. White has a heavy low-to-mid 90s fastball, a ridiculously nasty splitter, and a rapidly developing slider. If his finger is healthy, this is a nice get for Colorado.
San Diego Padres: Anthony Rizzo 1B
There’s absolutely no reason not to give the young man another shot in the majors, and while his AAA home and Petco might be the far extremes of park factors, Rizzo is an excellent hitter with power and patience. Scouts wondered if his bat was too slow for major-league fastballs, so that bears watching.
