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Groovin’ with Govier: Fantasy Baseball Roundup (9/26)

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Michael Govier

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Get into the groove as I take you on a stadium tour across the fantasy baseball realm! It is my hope that you will find this article both entertaining and informative. Don’t forget about our stellar season-long fantasy baseball coverage at FTN Fantasy. Save a couple bones with my promo code MJGOVIER when you sign up so you can get access to outstanding pieces like Matty Davis’ Weekly Hitter Planner. Also, I’ve started a weekly video complement to this article. Each week a new episode will be live at 6 p.m. ET every Saturday on the FTN Network YouTube channel. Take advantage of the live chat in real-time to ask questions related to this week’s article or for questions you have for the following week’s action.

 

It is my ultimate goal for you to absorb and apply winning fantasy baseball wisdom from each edition of Groovin’ with Govier. It’s similar to when Neo was offered the blue or the red pill. If you continue reading this, you take the plunge to find out how far my fantasy baseball analysis can take you. This is it. We have reached the end. This final week of baseball will close out championships for some, while being merely a footnote of closure for others. What else can I provide at this point in the season? How about a final look at the 2023 fantasy baseball season through my eyes? Prepare for a total bozo fest in three… two… one…

For Those of Us Who Struggled This Year, We Needed This

Run, Forrest, Run!

I’ll keep it tight here, but I had to mention the rebirth of the stolen base in 2023 thanks to the new rules enacted coming into 2023. As of Monday, 49 different players have stolen at least 20 bases this season. Damn! Last year that number was 24, which includes the final week of the season, still pending for the 2023 players. There could be a few more added to the list over the final week as several players are at 18-19 steals. There is no doubt that 22 steals by Freddie Freeman makes him a top-five player when his hitting prowess is folded into his overall offensive profile. That was the calculation I didn’t make when trying to factor in the new rules limiting pickoff moves for 2023. The guys who run were still going to get theirs, but the lesser-known baserunners like Freeman (who did steal 13 bags last year in his first season with the Dodgers) were where to find the value. On the flip side of that same token, most drafters would not have expected Trea Turner to be at 29 steals heading into the final week regardless of rule changes. We should have though. Turner swiped 27 in a productive and healthy year. His past is lingering for some. Turner hasn’t stolen more than 40 bases since 2018. The mainstream projection systems were right on top of Turner’s steals number. However, it seems as though the mainstream projection systems underestimated the impact of the new rules overall. The following were the projected pre-season stolen base totals for Trea Turner followed by the player with the most projected steals. These are some of the biggest names in fantasy baseball projections. For the record, I don’t care about or use these in my pre-draft process. However, I do recognize their status with a lot of typical fantasy baseball managers:

Projection System Trea Turner Projected Steals Highest Projected Steals
ZiPS 26 36 (Esteury Ruiz)
STEAMER 30 43 (Ronald Acuña Jr.)
ATC 30 35 (Ronald Acuña Jr.)
THE BAT 36 43 (Ronald Acuña Jr.)

Full credit is due to the three systems that nailed Ronald Acuña Jr. as the league leader (ZiPS went with Ruiz, who is currently at 65 swipes, three behind Acuna). They just didn’t know Acuna would unleash a 40/70 season. Yes, I know Acuna is still at 68, but who in their right mind thinks he won’t get two more steals by the end of this coming Sunday? Nobody can predict a season like the one Acuna is having, so there’s no way I am going to come down on projection systems for that. 

The point here is that the impact of steals on the game was hard to predict. Yes, I’m sure there is some nerd out there who has receipts from a spreadsheet time stamped from spring training that was aggressively calling for a massive rise in stolen bases because the success rate on steals would rise dramatically. Great job! Another point to consider are team running strategies to be aware of where individual players buck the trend of the overall team performance in steals. No team provides a better example of this than the Giants, who had little interest in pilfering bags with a league-low 54 as a team. Yep. Acuna and Ruiz both outran the City by the Bay. However, the current team leader for San Francisco (Thairo Estrada) has snagged 22 bags to this point. The next-closest player for the Giants? It’s a tie between Michael Conforto and Blake Sabol at 4. The Cincinnati Reds lead all of MLB in swipes with 181 combined. Their next closest competition are the Royals, Rays and Diamondbacks, currently in the 150s. 

Lastly, what about 2024? Will there be a way for managers to combat this rise in steals in turn causing a deflation of the stolen base totals next year? It’s difficult to imagine how that happens. It will be intriguing to see how the projection systems account for this season being that it’s only one year of evidence. As always, time will tell. 

A Good Time for Reflection and Prayer

Traditions are a pretty neat concept. I’m fortunate and capable enough to have developed a few in my time as a writer and analyst. Last year in this article I wrote in reflection of what went right and what went wrong. To be accountable is a very fulfilling experience. This year has been a tough one for me when it comes to cashing in my leagues. This year will go down as my least profitable yet. I don’t take pleasure in typing those words. Admitting that publicly is a harsh pull to swallow in the ultra-competitive fantasy baseball industry. Yet, it’s important for me to accept the reality of the moment because improvement from the disappointment comes only after acceptance and submission to the truth of the matter. The lessons from 2023 are bountiful. Loaded with potential for success in 2024. I’m not going to let one disappointing season deter me from stepping back into the batter’s box. The following are my preseason predictions from my article March 29. For better or worse, it’s time to pay the piper:

Jonathan India Goes 25/25/.400

This preseason prediction article was not absurd, especially in the running environment that ensued this year. What I mistakenly did though was to expect not just a return, but growth in his OBP. When Jonathan India won the 2021 NL ROY, he finished his rookie campaign with a.376 OBP over 631 PA. Last year India was hampered by injuries over 431 PA closing with a .327 OBP. I thought it would all come together in 2023 as a healthy India would not only get back to his original path in 2021 but increase his patience at the plate thanks to his two seasons of MLB experience. By June 1, India only had 5 dongs. I remember thinking how absurd that was since his team was hitting and because of their home ballpark in the Queen City. He inspired hope though with his .363 OBP at the time. I thought June and July would really be big months for his power production. I was right about the power as he went yard 9 times in those two months. Unfortunately, his production fell off in other ways including a .237 BABIP over those two months. Then India would hit the IL in August after the trade deadline with a heel issue. I could have just written “heel issue.” I’m not saying that’s the main culprit, but based on India’s comment about the original diagnosis, the Reds may have screwed it up with him. Either way, 2024 is a crucial season in my eyes for India. That’s if he doesn’t get traded during the offseason first. 

Julio Urías Leads MLB on Wins

What the hell was I thinking!? This looks really bad now after Julio Urías’ latest arrest for domestic battery. I don’t even know why I got on this bandwagon because I went on Beat the Shift in late March and stated that I thought the Dodgers would miss the playoffs for the first time in forever. The two predictions don’t match up. This is just poor oversight on my part. I will not have two conflicting predictions again for 2024. My bad. 

Ozzie Albies Will Return First-Round Value

At this moment, Ozzie Albies has produced 32 homers, 90 runs, 104 RBIs, 13 steals and a .273 batting average. He might not make the cut for the first round, but he’s definitely a second rounder at worst next year. After his injury shortened 2022 effort, this is just what the doctor ordered. With a solid position on the best offense in baseball, Albies is going be a hot commodity heading into 2024. This is a win in my book. I’m taking this!

Robbie Ray Tops Career-Best 25.4% K-BB

Dude got injured. I’m filing this under an act of god. If he or she existed. NEXT!

Alex Bregman Finishes with a 145 wRC+ Or Better

Alex Bregman Houston Astros Fantasy Baseball Groovin' with Govier

Why did I draft Manny Machado 16th overall and then proceed to double down on 3B with Alex Bregman a few rounds later in my NFBC Main Event draft? The reason has to do with the 3B fallacy that pervaded Twitter and podcasts all preseason. There was this panic about third base having a massive dropoff after the super studs like Machado, Arenado and Rafael DeversWRONG! Josh Jung, Ha-Seong Kim, Spencer Steer, Jeimer Candelario and Jake Burger were all ADP 220 or lower. Plus, there were a bunch of flashes in the pan peppered throughout the season who were useful for stretches. Bregman hasn’t been terrible at all this year. He currently sports a 125 wRC+. That’s a rock-solid MLB player. However, it’s below his career number of 137. I think it’s clear that his career wRC+ is inflated by the two monster seasons he had in 2018-19. Since the Astros were exposed for the garbage can plan, he hasn’t been able to produce similar power. Bregman will be in a contract year next season. It’s possible he approaches a 140 wRC+ next season, but it’s far from assured. The contract year fallacy is another one that pervades fantasy baseball. 

Trevor Rogers Sustains 3.25 ERA or Better

Ha! Injury hell. Next!

Nick Castellanos Finishes Top 10 NL MVP

Whoops! Nick Castellanos has whiffed his way to K rate that has climbed to 27.6% this year. He’s always been in the 20s, but this will be the worst K rate of his career not counting the pointless shortened bozo season of 2020. My entire premise for this case was that Castellanos was feeling the pressure in his new hometown of Philadelphia during 2022. As we all know, Philly can be a little harsh on athletes who don’t live up to the hype. 2023 has been from a disaster for good ole Nicky. He’s produced 29 taters, 106 RBIs, .276 AVG and even 11 swipes! He’s third in the NL in RBIs. This is a solid season, but I don’t think it quite makes him a top 10 NL MVP Candidate this year though.

Alexis Díaz Saves 30 Games

Yes! Hell yes! Watching Alexis Díaz become one of the best closers in baseball has been a highlight for me this season. This is an absolute win that I backed up by drafting Diaz all over my many different leagues. 37 saves in 40 tries for a first-year full-time closer at 26 years old is a fabulous achievement. The only question is will I run it back in 2024? No doubt his ADP will skyrocket and I tend to avoid drafting closers super high. Drafting a closer after the first 100 picks or so is more my style. Great job!

Matt Chapman Lead Blue Jays in Homers

If only it were April every month. Right Matt? I saw a tweet from my pal Eric Cross about how April is Matt Chapman’s good month while he’s terrible in September. Take note of this, H2H players. Chapman’s not even going to crack 20 round-trippers this year. This was a terrible take. Plain and simple. Just because a guy has a 50% HHR, doesn’t mean he is going to put balls over the fence. Hell, Brandon Belt is one dong ahead of him right now. 

Shintaro Fujinami Finishes Top 3 AL ROY

Damn! What was I smoking!? All the signs related to his wildness and lack of command were there before he ever showed up to the Oakland clubhouse. I ignored them. It’s very clear that Shintaro Fujinami is a reliever, not a starter. Since being traded to Baltimore where he has appeared strictly as a reliever, Fujinami has been serviceable. Over 27.2 IP he has a 4.88 ERA (4.05 FIP) with 31 K’s, 13 BBs and only 3 homers. This is a guy who will only be relevant for those rocking the Marmol Method or for SOLDs leagues. 

Adbert Alzolay Finishes with 20 Saves

I think this one brings me the most satisfaction. At the time when I wrote it, everybody was locked in on new arrivals Michael Fulmer and Brad Boxberger. Adbert Alzolay was coming off a 2022 season where he basically missed all but the final couple of weeks. He was also mainly a starter before he returned in relief last season. Plus his slide piece is a devastating pitch that in shorter bursts would be a reliable out pitch for him to close games. Even though he got hurt here in the later part of the year, he secured 22 saves in 25 tries. A forearm strain is always a scary phrase for a pitcher, but he has been long tossing recently so there’s hope he will be OK. No matter what happens with the Cubs and the playoffs, I’m happy for him. Way to go, Adbert.

Detroit Tigers Win 70 Games

I sure butchered that Dodgers prediction, but my bozo Tigers crushed the 70-win plateau as they try to finish in second place in the admittedly terrible AL Central! With Miguel Cabrera finally being off this roster for 2024, I am actually excited about the potential of this team. Full credit to Spencer Torkelson and Kerry Carpenter for providing much needed production for a stagnant offense. Tork is one yambo away from what should be the first of many 30-homer campaigns! The future is bright in Detroit for many reasons. The owner obviously isn’t one of them.

We’re Not Leaving!

The backstop is no longer a fantasy baseball punchline. During 2022, there were only five catchers who met the minimum as qualified hitters. This year that number doubled to 10. Among qualified catchers there were four with a wRC+ of 100 (league average) or higher. This year we jumped up to six/ Beyond qualified catchers, there are a plethora of backstops who contributed at a higher level in varying amounts of smaller doses. He doesn’t qualify, but Mitch Garver has been stroking ropes with 18 homers in 320 PA to the tune of a 141 wRC+. How about the guy who replaced Garver in Minnesota? Ryan Jeffers has a 134 wRC+ in 318 PA as a part-time catcher sharing duties with Christian Vázquez. In fact, Jeffers has outperformed his partner this year offensively, and it’s not really close. The Padres have been a failure as a team, but Luis Campusano has provided fantasy managers with plenty of output since returning to the MLB roster in July. Since July 22, Campusano has 6 homers, a slash line of .341/.387/.523 and a 153 wRC+ over 142 PA. If put in the catcher role next year full-time in that still very potent lineup, Campusano is going to see his ADP skyrocket in the offseason. 

Catcher may be as deep as I can remember since I first started playing fantasy baseball in 1999! Plus, I haven’t even mentioned Francisco Alvarez, Yainer Diaz, Shea Langeliers, Bo Naylor and Riley Adams. We’ve had some low times when it comes to viable catchers. That’s why we should relish in and celebrate the current state of catching affairs. Clearly two-catcher leagues should become the norm now. 

Screenshots (Govier’s Guys For 2023)

Luis Robert Jr., OF, Chicago White Sox

Yes, it seems like Luis Robert Jr. is always on the brink of hitting the IL, but his much-anticipated rise in production this year has been a welcome development. Just the sight of his stat line approaching 600 PA makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Robert was one of my most drafted players this year across all of my leagues. It’s amazing his 38 dongs, 90 runs, 80 RBIs and 20 steals haven’t suffered because of his 29% K rate. I suppose his .264 batting average could be considered a casualty. Either way, we finally have proof at the big-league level of Robert’s massive potential. 

Adley Rutschman, C, Baltimore Orioles

For NFBC leagues, Adley Rutschman was tied as my most drafted player. Multiple times in my two-catcher leagues I drafted Adley first and then Tyler Stephenson a few rounds later. I’ve had better ideas for sure. That plan may have been flawed, but the Adley party certainly wasn’t. The only downside to note is his .267 career batting average so far. I was expecting him to be closer to .300 as a hitter even at the MLB level. There’s no doubt he has a stellar batter’s eye thanks to his 13.5% BB rate after nearly two seasons of work. I want to see what he does in 2024 before I label him as more of an OBP-centric catcher over standard roto leagues. He also doesn’t run. Adley’s real-life value may exceed his fantasy value.

Sandy Alcantara, SP, Miami Marlins

With the sad news about Sandy Alcantara being done for 2023 along with the lingering possibility of Tommy John surgery, I don’t want to pile on my favorite player in baseball. He clearly had a down year this season with moments of standard issue Sandy brilliance peppered throughout the season. Another of my most drafted players, an ERA over 4 doesn’t cut it, nor does a 7.36 K/9 from a front-line starter. We know Sandy has a UCL sprain, so I don’t even think it’s worth speculating on his 2024 at this time. What I do know is Sandy is a rare find in today’s game. His 2022 Cy Young performance was going to be harder to replicate than a fireballer who misses tons of bats like Justin Verlander in his prime. The only takeaway I have after heavily drafting Sandy following his special 2022 season is that I am going to reinforce the barriers preventing me from drafting players after career years. It’s hard to repeat career years. Best of luck.

Ty France, 1B, Seattle Mariners

Oh my poor guy Ty France. Another of my most drafted NFBC players, France has just not been himself this year. I was going to say France had a rough first half, but he’s had a rough 2023. One thing that is the hardest to know about a player is their mental state. I have no idea if France is struggling because of physical or mental issues. What I do know is that he is a career .271/.344/.416 hitter with a 117 wRC+. He isn’t ever going to be a 30-homer hitter, and that’s just fine as long as I know that. I thought 2023 was going to be a career year for France as a 29-year-old veteran on a playoff-caliber team. His pop-up rate jumped to 11.3% this year after being at 8% and 7% the last two seasons. He’s pulled the ball more this year, but his HR/FB rate has plummeted from 14% to 6.6% this year. The Mariners are at risk of missing the playoffs this year. I wonder if there will be more changes to the roster before 2024 and if France will be one of them?

Matt McLain, SS, Cincinnati Reds

I didn’t draft Matt McLain anywhere, but I did add him when he got the call for Cincinnati to make his debut at Coors May 15. McLain is a .290 hitter over 403 PA in his rookie year. Elly De La Cruz gets all the hype, but McLain is the guy I will be targeting in 2024. His home ballpark combined with his skills give him a solid floor that should provide comfort to those fantasy baseball managers living in fear of the inevitable slumps most hitters endure every baseball season. Sure, he has a 28.5% K rate, but look at what Luis Robert has done with a similar whiff rate? I will say that a .385 BABIP isn’t exactly repeatable. McLain is definitely going to have to make some improvements with his contact heading into 2024. 

Zach Eflin, SP, Tampa Bay Rays

Zach Eflin Tampa Bay Rays Fantasy Baseball Groovin' with Govier

I wish I had Zach Eflin on every single team I ran this year. Unfortunately, getting sniped is a real thing so I can’t have it all. Still, I was thrilled to get the production Eflin provided this year where I could. Eflin might have been even better this year than his stellar stat line revealed. 182 K’s to 24 BBs says a ton! Yet his SIERA (3.30) and FIP (2.98) are lower than his 3.44 ERA. His 73% strand rate isn’t special either. He outpitched a lot more hitters than they outhit him this year. When Eflin signed his free agent deal with the Rays, I really only went on the assumption that the Rays don’t sign free agents to three-year, $40 million deals. Period. There must be something to this. Charlie Morton was signed to a two-year, $30 million deal. Remember how that worked out? The biggest risk for me coming into 2023 with Eflin were the injuries and consistency. Eflin never had an ERA under 4 outside of the 2020 bozo season in his career. First year in Tampa Bay: Boom. Based on the fact that Eflin didn’t get lucky this year and really is this good, I am going to be very motivated to draft him in 2024. The only problem will be the helium on his ADP. With all the SP injuries that have happened this season, Eflin is going to rise up the board a great deal in 2024.

Jake Fraley, OF, Cincinnati Reds

If it isn’t obvious, I was high on the Reds offense coming into 2023. I was not a fan of their pitching for the same reasons I liked their offensive potential: Great American Bozo Park. Fraley was putting together a solid season until he had a stress fracture in his toe causing him to miss time Aug. 4-Sept. 1. Since he’s been back, he’s been limited at best. Injuries are nothing new for Fraley. Sure his ADP was in a place where he wouldn’t set back most fantasy managers who took a chance on him. Still, this season has by far been his most available effort eclipsing 376 PA this year. His previous career best was 265 in 2021 with Seattle. Maybe that’s why the Mariners sold him off? I love Fraley’s skill set in OBP leagues, but it’s time I face the music on Fraley’s frailty. 

Nelson Velázquez, OF, Kansas City Royals

Not a draftee this year, but there is no doubt I jumped all over Nelson Velázquez when he received the call to The Show with his new club after the Cubs dealt him at the trade deadline. He’s hit 9 dongs in September alone and has 17 for the season in only 163 PA. Since debuting for the Royals Aug. 10, Velázquez sports a 31% HR/FB rate with a HHR of 48%! Of course, that fly ball rate can’t last. He’s not even in the realm of Robert or McLain in K rate. Since his Royals revival his K rate is at 26.7% over 131 PA. Kansas City is loaded with OF offerings, but this is a new regime in town who seem to know where their bread gets buttered. The closing performance by Velázquez will make him a hot item heading into 2024. Despite my love for him since I first laid eyes on him at the Arizona Fall League in 2021, I still will have to temper expectations. I admit though that it is going to be very difficult for me to do so come draft season. 

Kenta Maeda, SP, Minnesota Twins

Kenta Maeda was one of my most drafted SP on NFBC, and I took a chance on him in a couple other leagues. Though I am consistently dismissing the 2020 bozo season, I still can’t get the images of his dominance that year out of my mind. It’s never a good idea to get hooked up with a pitcher who is coming off a major arm injury. Most of the time. However, the 2023 version of Kenta Maeda has at least gone over 100 IP. His 3.79 SIERA compared to his 4.28 ERA gives credence to the fact that Maeda is still a reliable, quality starting pitcher in this league. Maeda is a pending free agent who turns 36 next April. With 112 K’s to 26 BBs as of Monday, Maeda absolutely still has plenty to offer an MLB team in need of starting pitching. And when are MLB teams not in need of starting pitching? The answer is never of course. 16 homers in 101 IP isn’t great. That’s not going to slow me down though when it comes to considering Maeda as a depth SP option for my roster. As always, where Maeda calls home in 2024 will influence my opinion somewhat. Especially if he ends up in Coors or Great American Bozo Park. That home run rate won’t fly in those ballparks. 

Spencer Steer, 1B/3B/OF, Cincinnati Reds

A lot of Reds hitters, am I right? This is another highlight for me because of how productive and generally consistent Spencer Steer was all year. He was a draft afterthought coming into the year, but he quickly grabbed the attention of fantasy baseball because of three things: He was in the lineup daily, he hit in the upper part of the order, and he produced. Steer came over in the Tyler Mahle (remember him?) trade at the 2022 trade deadline. Christian Encarnacion-Strand was the big headline grabber in that deal, but there’s no doubt Steer has become the most productive player in that deal. I want Steer even more in OBP/OPS leagues. In the final analysis it doesn’t matter. His .270 average, 22 dongs and 15 steals are all format proof! The only question with Steer that is still cloudy to me is whether he’s a keeper in my H2H cats home league known as BYB. We keep six, so it’s tight, but it is OBP instead of batting average. 

Randy Arozarena, OF, Tampa Bay Rays

This was the year. This was the season where Randy Arozarena would at least elevate himself into the conversation as a first-round pick. Wrong! Randy may be my favorite position player to watch outside of the master Ronald Acuña Jr. That doesn’t impact fantasy baseball though. My bias and assumption that Randy would grow into a 30/30 guy with a .400 OBP was misguided. Or was it? Randy increased his patience at the plate this year jumping from a 7% to 12% BB rate. From 46 BBs in 645 PA last year to 77 BBs in 640 PA as of Monday. Plus his HHR jumped from 41% all the way up to 48% this season. That’s an impressive burst of power that should have propelled Randy into 40-homer territory. He also saw increases in his barrel rate (12%) and launch angle (11.4). Yes, I know that average launch angle doesn’t qualify as a sole determining factor for identifying more or less power. So here’s Randy’s GB%, which also dropped from 51% to 43%. That’s a big change in one year! I’m truly baffled! Is this just bad luck? Randy is officially in his prime right now. These numbers are telling me that Randy had some bad luck this year. Yet, he will probably have at least a similar or lower ADP in 2024. That will entice me. Will I be a buyer again? Probably. 

Lucas Giolito, SP, Cleveland Guardians

Where the hell is Lucas Giolito now? I lost track after he was traded, waived and claimed this year. I would be lying to everyone if I said I didn’t think Giolito could make a run at the AL Cy Young this year back during draft season. Giolito’s 2022 SIERA (3.79) was a run lower than his final 4.90 ERA. We all know that talent wise Giolito is among the best starters in the game. However, as some bozo said long ago, “You are what your record is.” A career 4.38 ERA and 1.24 WHIP don’t feel like egregious numbers that are trying to scam us all. Despite his strikeout prowess, the command and control are not there. The walks just keep on coming. He walked 57 hitters in his 2019 breakout season. When MLB returned to grown-up baseball in 2021, Giolito was back to walking 52 more batters. They’ve only increased in the last two years creeping into the 60s with 61 and 64 respectively in 2022 and 2023. It’s becoming more apparent to me that Giolito was likely always living on the edge with his control. It’s just that those sexy strikeouts pull a looky-loo on us. Classic misdirection. The whiffs are mesmerizing, but the walks are soul crushing. It’s hard to recall a pending free agent who screwed himself more in his walk year than Giolito has. It’s a reverse Aaron Judge. I really like Giolito as a dude. In the past I’ve enjoyed his Twitch videos where he’s known as General Gio. Sadly, he’s probably going to have to pull a Cody Bellinger on a one-year prove it deal. The good news is that for fantasy baseball purposes in 2024, he’s most likely going to be an afterthought in drafts. Very low risk. 

Josh Rojas, 2B/3B, Seattle Mariners

I really, really didn’t want to admit responsibility for this one, but I absolutely drafted Josh Rojas more than once with the expectation of a possible 20/20 season. Take my fantasy baseball analyst card immediately! Clearly I know nothing of what I speak. Sigh … Rojas was traded out of his misery in Arizona when Seattle added him in the Paul Sewald trade back at the deadline. It’s also important to note that Rojas was battling back problems this year. He’s not a slugger by any means, but the back issue clearly sapped what limited power he had access to. That’s probably why over 216 PA with Arizona this year, he smacked zero home runs. He also only stole 6 bases over that time as well. In this new running climate, he certainly should have had more than 6. That’s another telltale sign that his back was a nightmare. After getting traded to Seattle, Rojas has looked a little bit more like himself in limited platoon duty. Provided with 114 PA by Seattle, Rojas finally cranked a dong Aug. 15 at Kansas City. He now has 3 as of Monday. How about that? He’s not a regular and he looks like an average player. Nothing more, nothing less. At 29 years old, it’s pretty clear to me who Rojas is. Definitely won’t make this mistake again in 2024. 

Thanks for reading this season! My goal is to keep all the readers aware of the players and trends to be aware of throughout the regular season. And not just the obvious player pickups either. It’s time for a break from baseball, but in the meantime make sure to follow me on Twitter here until I start writing again when January rolls around. Cheers!

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