There comes a time in a baseball player’s career when getting a fresh start in a new town is exactly what is needed to spark something special, even if good things were happening where they always have been.
Well, unless your name is Ike Davis or Jesus Montero, because nothing seems to help them — not even ice cream.
It never has mattered where Hanley Ramirez (27.2 average draft position) played ball, he always has had the talent to be one of the best. Heck, he finished eighth in the MVP race in 2013 after playing just 86 games for the Dodgers. The biggest concern, from a fantasy perspective, is the fact he can’t seem to chew a piece of gum without getting hurt.
The newest member of the Red Sox is a career .300 hitter who has averaged 19 homers, 65 RBIs and 26 stolen bases per year. Those are solid numbers, but could you imagine his totals if he averaged more than 122 games per season?
Playing the outfield in Boston should reduce the wear and tear on his injury-prone 31-year-old body, and he should be able to flourish in his new home. Where you decide to draft him, however, depends on how comfortable you feel with his fragility. Roto Files believes if he didn’t get hurt while trying to play scratch off lotto tickets, he would be a first-round pick. But because he’s more fragile than rice paper, he should be taken in the second or third round.
Who else will benefit from having a new home? Let’s take a look:
After breaking out in 2013, Josh Donaldson (21.7 ADP) set career-highs in homers (29), runs scored (93), RBIs (98) and stolen bases (eight) last year. The only thing that didn’t go up was his batting average, which dipped from .301 to .255. But he has played 158 games each of the past two seasons, is moving from hitter-hell Oakland to hitter-haven Toronto, and you should expect big things.
With a Cubs lineup filled with young studs, Jon Lester (42.7 ADP) should find all the run support he needs to be atop your rotation.
Matt Kemp (50.7 ADP) hit .309 with 17 homers, 54 RBIs and a .971 OPS in the second half last year, showing he still can be a fantasy stud. His power numbers likely are to drop at Petco Park in San Diego, but if he can stay healthy, he is worth the high price tag.
Despite posting a career-best .931 WHIP, a stellar 2.99 ERA and 202 strikeouts, Jeff Samardzija (64.3 ADP) couldn’t accumulate wins. His ERA and WHIP may rise at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago, but he will get the run support he rarely had and the wins he never could get. He is not the ace, but he is a great No. 2 or No. 3.
Roto Files long has believed Jason Heyward (78.5 ADP) is overrated. But his move to St. Louis is intriguing, and he is playing for a contract. As long as he stays healthy, he can be your No. 3 outfielder with upside.
Evan Gattis (91.7 ADP) strong. He hit with power. Draft strong man. (You won’t get analysis like that anywhere else, folks.)
Can you believe Jimmy Rollins (143.5 ADP) was a rookie with the Phillies in 2001? It’s no longer 2001, but Rollins still provides solid mid-round value at short.
Adam LaRoche (151.8 ADP) remains one of the most reliable fantasy first baseman, and joining the White Sox only should add to his value.
If Mat Latos’ (162.5 ADP) health cooperates, he could be in line for a solid year in Miami. He is a solid late-round pick up for your rotation.
Russell Martin (201.2 ADP) has a .345 career on-base percentage. He likely will be batting second in a Toronto lineup where Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Donaldson will hit behind him and in a stadium where 8.9 runs were scored per game last season. He’s not the sexiest name, but he is a solid No. 2 catcher.
After joining the Yankees, Brandon McCarthy (237.0 ADP) went 7-5 with a 2.89 ERA, 82 strikeouts and a 1.15 WHIP in 14 starts. He pitched 200 innings for the first time in his career and should be a valuable entity sought after in the later rounds.
If Brett Lawrie (259.0 ADP) stays healthy — that is a really big if — he could be a late-round steal as he moves from Toronto to Oakland.
As crazy as it may sound, Roto Files believes Nathan Eovaldi (294.7 ADP) has sleeper potential. Yes, he had a 1.33 WHIP, a 4.37 ERA and hitters hit .282 against him last year. And, yes, left-handed hitters are batting .292 against him in his career, and he is coming to Yankee Stadium, a haven for lefties. But, he is a 25-year-old flamethrower who received just 3.4 runs of support per nine innings last year, and he has looked great this spring, allowing just one run over nine innings. You want a late-rounder, he is worth a shot. Another pitcher to look for late in drafts is Wade Miley (296.3 ADP), who took his talents from Arizona to Boston.
Moving from Pittsburgh to Baltimore’s Camden Yards should help Travis Snider (375.3 ADP), as long as he gets consistent playing time. He hit .264 with 13 homers and 38 RBIs in 322 at-bats. He could be worth a late-round flier, but you’re better off monitoring him on the waiver wire.
Team name of the week: Fresh Prince of Soler
Submitted by @MOver_413
Fantasy Spring Draft preview special
Part 5 of 5 (Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4)
Post Roto Files columnist Jarad Wilk and the Fantasy Sports Network’s Nando Di Fino rank corner infielders.
First basemen Wilk Nando
Paul Goldschmidt (Ari) 1 1
Miguel Cabrera (Det)* 2 2
Jose Abreu (CHW) 3 3
Anthony Rizzo (CHC) 4 4
Jose Bautista (Tor)* 5 5
Albert Pujols (LAA) 9 6
Freddie Freeman (Atl) 6 7
Edwin Encarnacion (Tor) 7 8
Prince Fielder (Tex) 10 9
Chris Davis (Bal)* 11 10
Joey Votto (Cin) 13 11
Buster Posey (SF)* 8 12
Todd Frazier (Cin)* 17 13
Adrian Gonzalez (LAD) 12 14
Victor Martinez(Det) 14 15
Carlos Santana (Cle)* 15 16
Jonathan Lucroy (Mil)* 16 17
Matt Adams (StL) 18 18
Brandon Belt (SF) — 19
Chris Carter (Hou) 20 20
Lucas Duda (NYM) 21 21
Pedro Alvarez (Pit) — 22
Adam LaRoche (CHW) 19 —
Mark Trumbo (Ari)* 22 —
Third basemen Wilk Nando
Miguel Cabrera (Det)* 1 1
Josh Donaldson (Tor) 3 2
Adrian Beltre (Tex) 4 3
Anthony Rendon (Was) 2 4
Evan Longoria (TB) 5 5
Nolan Arenado (Col) 6 6
Chris Davis (Bal)* 11 7
Ryan Zimmerman (Was)* 12 8
Kyle Seager (Sea) 8 9
Todd Frazier (Cin)* 7 10
David Wright (NYM) 9 11
Kris Bryant (CHC) 10 12
Pablo Sandoval (Bos) 14 13
Brett Lawrie (Oak) 17 14
Manny Machado (Bal) 15 15
Carlos Santana (Cle)* 16 16
Xander Bogaerts (Bos)* 18 17
Aramis Ramirez (Mil) 19 18
Yasmany Tomas (Ari) 20 19
Josh Harrison (Pit)* 21 20
Chase Headley (NYY) 22 21
Nick Castellanos (Det) — 22
Matt Carpenter (StL) 13 —
* multiple position eligibility