No person questions that new San Francisco Giants 3B/DH Rafael Devers was the perfect participant concerned within the sport-shaking, Sunday evening blockbuster commerce with the Boston Purple Sox. However who would be the greatest participant 5 seasons down the street?
It could be hard-hitting James Tibbs III, the 22-year-old outfield prospect acquired by Boston and subsequently filtered to Double-A Portland. Tibbs, the No. 13 choice within the 2024 beginner draft, is a easy, left-handed slugger from Florida State with large energy potential and wonderful plate self-discipline. Whereas he struggled in his preliminary foray with Excessive-A Eugene final season (solely a .455 OPS over 74 PA), he thrived at that degree in 2025 (.857 OPS, 256 PA). Tibbs hit 12 residence runs and drew 42 walks, in comparison with 45 strikeouts.
Neither Purple Sox followers nor fantasy managers are prone to see Tibbs within the main leagues this season, not solely as a result of he wants extra minor league seasoning and months at Triple-A, but in addition as a result of a part of the explanation the group moved Devers was attributable to a logjam of younger hitters. Kristian Campbell, Marcelo Mayer and Roman Anthony all have to play usually and the Boston outfield is packed. Nevertheless, if Tibbs hits as anticipated, he ought to pressure his means into the 2026 lineup.
The truth is, despite the fact that issues are crowded in Boston, one could argue that Tibbs truly noticed his worth improve with this commerce, due to the innate problem offered to left-handed hitters at San Francisco’s spacious Oracle Park. Hitting in Fenway Park is a lot extra enjoyable. Dynasty managers ought to monitor how Tibbs performs this summer time. He might not be Devers or Anthony anytime quickly, however there may be upside. Tibbs needs to be a top-100 prospect and fantasy-relevant subsequent summer time.
In the meantime, again in San Francisco
Whereas many analysts judged Tibbs as San Francisco’s No. 2 prospect and the group lacks impression bats and total depth, do not forget about Giants 1B prospect Bryce Eldridge. Some could imagine Devers is sure to deal with first base for the following few seasons, however that appears unlikely. Eldridge, 20, is the highest Giants prospect — a mammoth presence at 6-foot-7, 225 kilos who will hit for energy (though his residence ballpark won’t assist) with out garnering massive strikeout totals.
Eldridge began this season late attributable to a wrist harm. Then he slugged .512 over 140 PA for Double-A Richmond. Now he’s at Triple-A Sacramento — sure, the California state capital at present juggles two baseball groups from rival organizations — and needs to be on-call for later this summer time relying on how he performs and what the contending Giants want. Devers is the DH. The Dominic Smith/Wilmer Flores 1B platoon is not blocking Eldridge. Don’t assume the Devers commerce adversely impacts the teenager.
Inventory rising
Brady Home, 3B, Washington Nationals: Home, the No. 11 choice within the 2021 beginner draft out of a Georgia highschool, earned his promotion to the most important leagues and debuted on Monday evening. Home was hitting .304/.353/.519 at Triple-A Rochester with 13 residence runs. The Nationals have obtained paltry manufacturing from third base, with solely two residence runs all season and dangerous protection. Home is a free swinger and unlikely to hit for prime common within the majors, however there may be energy.
Jonah Tong, RHP, New York Mets: Tong, 22, boasts a 2.12 ERA, an 0.98 WHIP and an amazing 40% strikeout charge for Double-A Binghamton. The 2022 seventh-round decide has permitted 29 hits in 59 1/3 innings. A promotion to Triple-A Syracuse is imminent, and fantasy managers ought to stash the Canadian upfront of a late-season shot with the massive membership. Tong is rostered in fewer ESPN customary leagues than higher-profile RHP Brandon Sproat, however Sproat has a 5.31 ERA, a 1.43 WHIP and an underwhelming Okay charge for Syracuse. Roster Tong as an alternative.
Sam Basallo, C/1B, Baltimore Orioles: Basallo, nonetheless solely 20 and raking for Triple-A Norfolk, figures to be nearer to the massive promotion with the information of 1B Ryan Mountcastle now prone to miss two months attributable to a hamstring pressure. What are the Orioles ready for? The left-handed hitting Basallo has 14 residence runs, a stable stroll charge and a greater OPS towards lefty pitching. These in multi-catcher codecs ought to preemptively add Basallo. He and Adley Rutschman will coexist properly, with loads of PA accessible.
Along with Eldridge and Basallo, anticipate big-league summer time promotions for Cincinnati Reds RHP Chase Burns, Philadelphia Phillies RHP Andrew Painter and Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Bubba Chandler, in addition to Los Angeles Dodgers SS Alex Freeland, Seattle Mariners C Harry Ford and Houston Astros 2B Brice Matthews. For these needing stolen bases in roto codecs, Tampa Bay Rays OF Chandler Simpson needs to be again within the majors and working quickly.
Inventory falling
Xavier Isaac, 1B, Tampa Bay Rays: Isaac, 21, is a affected person, lefty-hitting slugger who many analysts anticipated to maneuver shortly via the minor leagues. As a substitute, he could also be caught at Double-A Montgomery for a while. Isaac hit .211/.341/.349 for the Biscuits over 132 PA final season, and his .214/.371/.491 line over 140 PA this season is an enchancment for walks and energy, however a 31% strikeout charge stays a priority.
Quinn Mathews, LHP, St. Louis Cardinals: Mathews, 24, missed greater than a month with shoulder woes, and the Stanford product stays reasonably inconsistent throwing strikes since his return to Triple-A Memphis. Mathews has a 4.88 ERA and a gaudy 2.00 WHIP over seven begins and solely 24 innings, with 26 walks and 26 strikeouts. RHP Michael McGreevy has doubtless handed him on the organizational depth chart.
George Lombard Jr., SS, New York Yankees: Lombard, 20, debuted for Double-A Somerset six weeks in the past, however he has hit solely .208/.340/.296 there, with only one residence run. Lombard is healthier identified for his pace and plate method, which attracts points-league fantasy managers. The Yankees may be affected person with Lombard, son of the previous MLB outfielder from 1998-2006, however fantasy managers in dynasty codecs mustn’t anticipate energy.
