Fantasy baseball managers made New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge one of the first picks in most drafts and perhaps even No. 1, regardless of format, and for good reason. Judge and his investors enjoyed big numbers through the first two months of the season, as he hit .291 with 19 home runs and 40 RBIs through 49 games. Perhaps he would not have matched his incredible 2022 achievement of hitting .311 with 62 home runs, but the numbers were not so far off when he awkwardly ran into the Dodger Stadium right-field fence while making a catch June 3.
Unfortunately, Judge has not played since that day, when he tore a ligament in his right big toe. It did not seem like much at the time, but it sure does today.
The Yankees remain unclear about when he will return to active duty and to be fair, perhaps they just do not know. Regardless, Judge's status feels like the biggest question for the second half of the fantasy baseball season. He has already missed more than a month and still nobody seems to know whether Judge returns in a few weeks, sometime in September or even not at all.
If Judge played for a bad team, perhaps his season would already be over, as there are rumors of potentially season-ending toe surgery. Of course, the Yankees are not a bad team, as even without their best hitter and relying on a rotating core of journeymen outfielders such as Jake Bauers and Billy McKinney, the team remains a playoff contender. The Yankees obviously need Judge, as do fantasy managers, but who knows whether he returns to the lineup at full health or physically compromised.
Injuries often derail fantasy managers on their quest to championships, and Judge certainly is not the lone star on the mend from something. Here are other questions fantasy baseball managers are asking in anticipation of the second half, as they get to enjoy a brief respite in a long season.
When will Mike Trout return to the lineup?
Yep, here is another injury to a massive star. Trout recently fractured the hamate bone in his right wrist, and his timetable for return is anywhere from one to two months. That is also not much in terms of clarity, and Trout has an injury that has been well known to sap power. Since Trout was hitting only for power, this is a big deal. Trout was not among the top 50 hitters on the Player Rater when he got hurt, thanks to his lowest batting average since his rookie season and a mere two stolen bases, though he remains valuable. These next months are critical for the Los Angeles Angels franchise, which has incredibly failed to win any playoff games in the Trout era, and unicorn DH/SP Shohei Ohtani may be lost to free agency after the season.
There are myriad other injuries to watch over the next weeks and months, including those to Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw, Tampa Bay Rays LHP Shane McClanahan, Milwaukee Brewers RHP Brandon Woodruff, Houston Astros OF Yordan Alvarez, Miami Marlins 2B/OF Jazz Chisholm Jr., Minnesota Twins SS/3B Royce Lewis and Oakland Athletics OF Esteury Ruiz.
When will Bryce Harper hit for power?
Speaking of power, the Philadelphia Phillies DH returned from Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow two months ahead of schedule, much to the delight of his team and fantasy managers, but his numbers sure look unusual. Harper is hitting .290 through 56 games, but with only three more home runs than you and I have. The last long ball came May 25. The Phillies believe Harper will have a big second half, providing power and competent defense at his likely new position of first base. Still, as with Judge and Trout, trading for Harper in fantasy is risky.
Is Elly De La Cruz already a top-10 player?
This magical Cincinnati Reds rookie infielder is the No. 3 option on the 30-day Player Rater, hitting .325 with four home runs, 16 stolen bases and 28 runs scored in his 30 big league games. It is hard to believe one player can make such an impact so quickly. Atlanta Braves OF Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ohtani lead the full-season edition of the Player Rater, and they are also 1-2 over the past month. Then comes De La Cruz, who stole three bases in an inning against the Brewers on Saturday. He still remains available in some ESPN standard leagues.
Can we trust Alek Manoah and Carlos Rodon?
These very different pitchers returned to the mound Friday, both with positive results. Manoah, a top-10 fantasy pitcher on draft day and Cy Young contender last season, struggled mightily for months before a demotion, then returned to the Toronto Blue Jays and beat the Tigers with six strong innings. However, his big league ERA this season remains a bloated 5.91. Manoah adjusted his mechanics while out of the spotlight in the minor leagues, and if he can throw consistent strikes perhaps he can return to his 2022 form.
Rodon missed the first half of the season with back and forearm issues, a stark reminder that his durability is far from assured. However, Rodon was one of the top starting pitchers over the past two seasons, and the Yankees expect him to perform as an ace. He tossed 5â…“ effective innings against the Chicago Cubs, though he struck out only two hitters.
Who gets moved at the trade deadline?
Much of the interest in fantasy leagues at the trade deadline comes down to newly adjusted roles, whether due to a closer changing franchises or a prospect earning an opportunity when someone else is traded. Most contenders could use starting pitcher upgrades at the Aug. 1 deadline, but most struggling teams have little to offer. Watch the Kansas City Royals to see if closer Scott Barlow gets moved, and all eyes will be on the Chicago White Sox, New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals, expected contenders, to see if they trade veterans such as SS Tim Anderson, RHPs Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer and 1B Paul Goldschmidt.
Finally, there is Ohtani. If you've got him in an American League-only format and he ends up going to a National League squad, the repercussions are massive. How could the Angels move the best player in the sport? Well, check the standings in a few weeks.
Which prospects get the call?
Many of the top hitting prospects on a potential 2023 timetable have already earned promotion, and it seems unlikely we will see Baltimore Orioles SS Jackson Holliday and Milwaukee Brewers OF Jackson Chourio before next season. The contending Orioles figure to give RHP Grayson Rodriguez another chance rather soon, perhaps even this month, and the Phillies remain coy about RHP Andrew Painter as he recovers from elbow woes. The Tampa Bay Rays could give 1B Kyle Manzardo and 2B Curtis Mead a shot, and the Reds have 3B Christian Encarnacion-Strand and SS Noelvi Marte looking ready at Triple-A, should they be able to find room.