This week’s edition of Dynasty Baseball Buys and Sells features two “fantasy aces” that may be losing that title soon. Among the dynasty buys this week is a prospect with massive potential that nobody seems to be talking about, and a player looking at a sophomore season breakout. In case you missed it, you should also check out last week’s edition of Dynasty Baseball Buys and Sells.
Dynasty Baseball Buys
Brenton Doyle, OF, Colorado Rockies
Doyle had a somewhat disappointing rookie year last season for the Colorado Rockies. He slashed .203/.250/.343 with 151 strikeouts in 431 plate appearances. Doyle did have some positive takeaways though with 10 homers, 22 stolen bases, and 31 extra base hits.
He is off to a much better start in his sophomore season and should be considered a strong dynasty buy. Doyle is currently slashing .292/.333/.508. He has found his power stroke this season with three homers in his first 18 games. Doyle is definitely not foreign to the long ball as he hit 26 homers between Double-A and Triple-A in 2022. He also owns a career .209 ISO in the minor leagues.
Doyle has good speed, as evidenced by his 22 stolen bases in 126 games last season. He also swiped 23 bags in the 2022 minor league season. With Doyle showcasing more power this season, he has a legit shot to join the 20 HR/20 SB club. If he can manage to play 150 games, he might even threaten to go for 20 HR/30 SB.
Abimelec Ortiz, 1B, Texas Rangers
Ortiz is a very underrated fantasy prospect. He is a 22-year-old first baseman in the Texas Rangers organization. He is currently playing at Double-A. You won’t find Ortiz ranked on any top 100 lists by Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus or MLB.com. He’s definitely flying under the radar in dynasty leagues at the moment.
He is one of the premier power bats in the minor leagues. Last season, Ortiz hit 33 homers and had 101 RBI in 454 plate appearances. He had a .325 ISO and .619 slugging percentage, both lead the minor leagues among players with at least 250 plate appearances.
Ortiz has gotten off to a hot start this season, slashing .313/.450/.563 at Double-A. Although the most surprising statistic is that he has drawn more walks than strikeouts (8/6 BB/K) through his first nine games. It is a vast improvement from his 49/126 BB/K last season. If Ortiz keeps mashing, he may not need much time in Double-A. I’d scoop him up before he gets the call to Triple-A and starts drawing more attention in dynasty leagues.
Dynasty Baseball Sells
Joe Musgrove, SP, San Diego Padres
Musgrove has been widely considered a top-20 dynasty starting pitcher for a number of years. Since 2020, he has been one of the most reliable pitchers in fantasy leagues. However, the end may be nearing on referring to Musgrove as a fantasy ace.
Musgrove is experiencing diminished velocity on his four-seam fastball. He is averaging 92.6 MPH, which is the lowest mark of his career. It has led to a 6.29 ERA and 1.77 WHIP this season. He has allowed 32 hits and 11 walks in 24.1 innings. He also has hit five batters.
The most alarming statistic though is his noticeable dip in strikeouts. Since 2020, his K/9 has dropped every season. In 202o, Musgrove had a spectacular 12.48 K/9. Last season he had an 8.97 K/9. This season he sits at a lowly 7.4 K/9. His decreased velocity combined with his declining strikeouts make Musgrove an immediate dynasty sell.
Triston McKenzie, SP, Cleveland Guardians
McKenzie was one of the more dominant fantasy pitchers from 2020 to 2022. During that three year period, he compiled a 3.68 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and a 9.61 K/9. McKenzie is still only 26 years old and in the prime of his career, but there are some clear signs that you should be selling him as fast as you can in dynasty leagues.
In 2023, McKenzie only threw 16 innings after dealing with injuries to his elbow and shoulder. The more concerning of the two injuries was the damage to his elbow. He suffered an elbow sprain, which is a partial tear of the UCL. In most circumstances, it’s an injury that typically leads to Tommy John Surgery in the near future.
McKenzie has not looked like himself this season. He currently owns a 6.23 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, and a putrid 3.46 K/9. He is also allowing an absurd 8.31 BB/9. McKenzie is averaging 91 MPH on his four-seam fastball this season, which is the lowest velocity of his career. I fear we could receive news any day now that McKenzie could be headed for Tommy John Surgery. His diminished velocity, poor results this season and damage to his UCL last season make him a dynasty sell.
For more fantasy and dynasty content, you can follow me on X @dynastyinfo411 and on Instagram @dynastyinfo411