Sometimes, what a player does in the spotlight can stick with him. That’s exactly what’s happened to A.J. Burnett.
Burnett was nothing short of a disaster as a Yankee, posting back-to-back seasons with an ERA of 5.26 and 5.15 before getting shipped out of town. But in Pittsburgh, he’s 4-2 with a 3.60 ERA through eight starts. And if we take away one freakish 12-run outing in St. Louis on May 2, he has a 1.52 ERA.
Here are four more guys to consider adding:
1. Dexter Fowler, OF, Rockies – There aren’t many hitters hotter than Fowler right now. Since hitting just .239 with two steals in April, he’s hitting .357 with four steals. The eight home runs already suggest that Fowler is developing power at age 26.
2. Allen Craig, 2B/1B/OF, Cardinals – A minor hamstring injury landed Craig on the DL, but he’s come off it firing once again. The position eligibility is just a bonus as “the wrench” continues to flash an elite bat.
3. Trevor Bauer, SP, Diamondbacks – Rumors continue to swirl that Bauer will be called up from the minors shortly. He’s 9-1 with a 1.96 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 73 1/3 innings in Double-A and Triple-A this season.
4. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Rockies – Arenado is the Rockies’ best minor-league hitting prospect and they have a hole at third base. It’s a perfect situation. Expect Arenado with the big-league club within the next month.
