The Buy and Hold: Week 20

The Buy and Hold will likely only run until the minor league season ends in the first week of September, as once the rosters expand, there's not likely to be a ton more players called up. Not like we haven't already seen a ridiculous amount of prospects called up this year and making an impact, though. Let's look at this week's call-ups, and the updated list.

Justin Nicolino was called up to take the rotation spot vacated by Jose Fernandez going on the disabled list, and it appears that he will be in the rotation until at least Fernandez returns. He is probably going to be a bit up and down for your fantasy team, so I'd definitely be looking at matchups only for him. The hard part with Nicolino is that he may not help with strikeouts, and the Marlins may not get him any wins, either.

Greg Bird was called up by the Yankees on Thursday, and inserted into the lineup at first base for his debut. Bird is an interesting hitter, but it's not clear exactly where he plays on a regular basis both for the rest of this year and into next year. Both Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez are under contract for next year, but he can probably help down the stretch if only because he probably gets 3-4 games a week helping Teixeira and Rodriguez rest through September.

Jose Peraza was called up when the Dodgers put Howie Kendrick on the disabled list, and even hit a triple in his debut. However, the return of Justin Turner from the disabled list left Peraza back at AAA, and we probably don't see him again until the 1st of September. He can be a nice source of speed if he gets into 3-4 games a week during the month, providing a couple steals and a decent batting average.

Chi Chi Gonzalez was called upon to take Cole Hamels' turn in the rotation after he was scratched due to a groin injury, and it's not clear yet whether Gonzalez will take his next turn as well. Gonzalez did not fare so hot in the spot start, allowing five earned runs over 5+ innings with five walks and four strikeouts. If he doesn't make that start, he's still probably back up in September and could see more spot starts. He's probably an AL-only play right now, depending on his matchups.

So who's next? Which prospect is still worth holding onto now for when they are called up to the majors later?

Graduates

Week 3: Kris Bryant, Yasmany Tomas
Week 4: Carlos Rodon, Addison Russell, Kevin Plawecki
Week 5: Dilson Herrera, Blake Swihart
Week 6: Noah Syndergaard, Austin Hedges, Eddie Rosario, Preston Tucker
Week 7: Maikel Franco, Lance McCullers Jr.
Week 8: Rusney Castillo, Wilmer Difo
Week 9: Eduardo Rodriguez, Chi Chi Gonzalez, Michael Feliz
Week 10: Joey Gallo, Joe Ross, Mike Montgomery, Scott Schebler
Week 11: Carlos Correa, Mason Williams
Week 12: Byron Buxton, Francisco Lindor, Kyle Schwarber (sort of), Matt Wisler, Adam Morgan
Week 13: Andrew Heaney (7), Steven Matz (4), Alex Meyer, Justin Nicolino
Week 14: Miguel Sano (6), Wilmer Difo
Week 15: Brian Johnson (15), Kyle Schwarber (3), Aaron Nola (5)
Week 16: Michael Conforto (6), Joe Ross (9), Stephen Piscotty (11)
Week 17: Rusney Castillo (4), Daniel Norris (5), Luis Severino (10), Ketel Marte
Week 18: Henry Owens (7), Richie Shaffer (5), Jon Gray (8)
Week 19: Justin Nicolino (7), Jose Peraza (HM), Greg Bird (NR), Chi Chi Gonzalez

1. Joey Gallo - 3B/OF - Rangers (PR: 1)
2. Byron Buxton - OF - Twins (PR: DL)

This one is a technical move, as the Twins did activate Buxton from the major league disabled list and option him back to AAA Rochester. If for some reason he was dropped in your league, he's definitely worth a grab for the month of September, where he could get (hopefully) regular playing time at the expense of Shane Robinson and Torii Hunter.

3. Corey Seager - 3B/SS - Dodgers (PR: 2)
4. Hector Olivera - 3B - Braves (PR: 5)

Olivera appeared in his first rehab games this week, and it sounds like he could be up by the end of August. The Braves have been running Adonis Garcia at 3B, so they may not try to rush Olivera back up.

5. Jose Berrios - RHP - Twins (PR: 3)

You know, Twins going to Twins, I guess. With the potential to need a starter, I assumed they would at least contemplate bringing up Berrios for that spot. And when Phil Hughes hit the disabled list, it opened up another potential spot for the Twins to use Berrios. Nope. Tyler Duffey and Tommy Milone again. Ugh. Oh, and by the way, he had thrown six no-hit innings before giving up four runs in the seventh.

6. Aaron Judge - OF - Yankees (PR: 4)
7. Robert Stephenson - RHP - Reds (PR: 6)
8. Jose Peraza - 2B - Dodgers (PR: HM)

Stephenson left his start early on Wednesday, with reports of a potential wrist injury or cramping. He had been one of my candidates to replace either Cueto, Leake or the particularly ineffective Michael Lorenzen in the rotation, but that may not happen for a bit still now. The Reds did call up John Lamb instead, who is interesting in that he should get a long look down the stretch, and can provide innings.

8. Dalton Pompey - OF - Blue Jays (PR: 9)
9. Nomar Mazara - OF - Rangers (PR: 10) 
11. Trevor Story - SS - Rockies (PR: 11)

Jose Reyes cleared waivers! Not surprising at all, but if the Rockies manage to trade him for something of value (note: anything involving a return and not paying him is value) during August, it clears the path for Trevor Story for the rest of the year and into 2016.

12. Tyler Glasnow - RHP - Pirates (PR: 12)
13. Trea Turner - SS - Nationals (PR: 13)
14. Mark Appel - RHP - Astros (PR: 14)
15. Peter O'Brien - OF - Diamondbacks (PR: NR)

I don't know where O'Brien would play for the Diamondbacks right now, but the power is real and there's not a lot left for him in terms of development at AAA. It'd be nice to see him take a few more walks, but power hitters are going to strikeout like that in most cases, and could have a five-home run month if given a full set of ABs.

Honorable Mentions:

Blake Snell - LHP - Rays (PR: HM)
Domingo Santana - OF - Brewers (PR: HM)
Josh Bell - 1B - Pirates (PR: NR)

The Pirates have been trying out Aramis Ramirez at first base as a possible platoon when Josh Harrison or Jordy Mercer returns, but an interesting player in this could be Bell, who has reached AAA, can hit for both average and power potentially, and also has to be added to the 40-man roster after the season.

For Those About to Rebuild, We Salute You

If you're already rebuilding with an aim toward the 2016 season (or rapidly looking like you should), you're probably looking for prospects to target that have a reasonably good chance at contributing for a majority of 2016. This list isn't necessarily likely to be drastically different from the list above some weeks, and should more closely resemble the top of the fantasy prospect rankings.

1. Corey Seager - SS - Dodgers (PR:1)
2. Joey Gallo - 3B/OF - Rangers (PR: 2)
3. J.P. Crawford - SS - Phillies (PR: 3)
4. Julio Urias - LHP - Dodgers (PR: 4)
5. Nomar Mazara - OF - Rangers (PR: 5) 
6. Tim Anderson - SS - White Sox (PR: 6)
7. Aaron Judge - OF - Yankees (PR: 8)
8. Trea Turner - SS - Nationals (PR: 9)
9. Tyler Glasnow - RHP - Pirates (PR: 10)
10. Bradley Zimmer - OF - Indians (PR: NR)