2015 Batter Profiles: U – Z

by
February 9, 2015

Dan Uggla

Debut: 2006 |  BirthDate: 3/11/1980 | Position: 2B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 537 80 22 2 55 60 .179 .309 .362 .303 -8.0 -4.0 0.4
’14 157 21 2 0 10 14 .149 .229 .213 .209 -11.6 -0.3 -0.8
’15 1 0 0 0 0 0 .195 .297 .335 .287 -0.0 -0.0 -0.0

Profile: Needless to say, Dan Uggla’s 2014 [entire tenure in Atlanta] wasn’t quite what he planned, although he’ll likely be the owner of a World Series ring this time next year. That’s where the positives end, though. Atlanta finally, mercifully (for their fan base), cut bait on Uggla after he threw together a .162/.241/.231 line in 145 plate appearances. Outside of that one magical night in Philadelphia in which he smashed two home runs — the only two he hit! — Dan Uggla ddidn’t do anything well in 2014. He didn’t draw many walks, which used to be a hallmark of his game, and kept his on-base percentage respectable. He still struck out a ton. And, most importantly for fantasy players, his power cratered even further. Without power or walks, Uggla simply isn’t a fantasy option, and thanks to his waning production and bad defense he’s likely not an option in real life anymore, either. (Landon Jones)

Quick Opinion: If Uggla is able to make a roster this Spring, it’ll be somewhat shocking. Either way, his days as a productive fantasy option are over, if they weren’t already. Look elsewhere.

B.J. Upton

Debut: 2004 |  BirthDate: 8/21/1984 | Team: Braves | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 446 72 9 12 26 30 .184 .268 .289 .252 -22.0 2.7 -0.6
’14 582 108 12 20 35 67 .208 .287 .333 .277 -13.8 0.1 0.4
’15 556 106 15 16 51 56 .215 .292 .360 .291 -9.2 -1.9 0.6

Profile: Make that two consecutive terrible seasons in Atlanta for B.J. Upton. If there is any silver lining, it’s that he was considerably better last year than he was the season prior. His average was still miserable but he did manage to hit 12 home runs and steal 20 bases. Like it or not, but that has value in the fake game, especially given the low run scoring environment we now live in. At just 30 years old, Upton still may have some juice left in him, but he is a tremendous gamble in standard leagues and you would likely be better suited letting someone else deal with the frequent swings and misses of the eldest Upton brother. The Braves have also stated that they will not simply just play Upton because he is signed to such a huge contract, which makes drafting him an even bigger risk. The days of 20 homers and 30 steals are certainly gone, but in a full season it is not outlandish to think he could get back to a 15/25 year. Even so, he has over 1,000 plate appearances of absolutely awful numbers in Atlanta and it should not be expected that he will suddenly rebound. (Ben Duronio)

Quick Opinion: Upton struggled again last year and it is unlikely that he will rebound to his Tampa Bay production this year. He is a fairly big gamble, but does still possess some home run and stolen base potential.

Justin Upton

Debut: 2007 |  BirthDate: 8/25/1987 | Team: Padres | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 643 147 27 8 70 94 .263 .354 .464 .357 26.0 -16.3 3.1
’14 641 153 29 8 102 77 .270 .342 .491 .363 24.4 -7.7 3.9
’15 606 134 23 8 74 72 .253 .337 .442 .343 17.6 -9.7 2.8

Profile: After two impressive seasons with the Braves, Upton now moves to a power hitter’s nightmare in San Diego. Even though he will be hitting in a pitcher paradise, Upton finished seventh in average home run distance last year, so he should still be able to muscle enough balls out of Petco Park to make him a high end outfield option in fantasy. The Braves were less willing to allow Upton to steal bases during his two year tenure in Atlanta, but he still stole 16 bags and was caught just five times over the past two years. While he has added some weight, he still has enough athleticism to steal bags and could push himself into double digits now that he is out of Atlanta. There has not been a single year since Upton’s rookie season in which he did not either hit 20 home runs or go 15-15. His average should sit around the .270 and with the Padres new offense, he will likely avoid problems in the runs or RBI department as well. Upton has been a relative model of consistency on an annual basis even if he often goes through immense streaks and slumps during the season. (Ben Duronio)

Quick Opinion: Upton was very solid in his two years in Atlanta and should continue to be just as solid in San Diego even though the park is unfriendly to hitters. Draft the contract-year Upton with confidence.

Juan Uribe

Debut: 2001 |  BirthDate: 3/22/1979 | Team: Dodgers | Position: 3B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 426 108 12 5 50 47 .278 .331 .438 .334 8.8 25.3 5.0
’14 404 120 9 0 54 36 .311 .337 .440 .340 8.7 14.1 3.8
’15 461 108 11 2 50 43 .253 .297 .385 .300 -4.4 11.1 2.2

Profile: Uribe’s 2014 triple-slash line of .311/.337/.440 might look good to prospective fantasy owners, but banking on the same from the Dodgers’ third baseman in 2015 would be foolhardy. That line was propped up by an entirely unsustainable batting average on balls in play of .368, which is 80 points above his career mark and also well above the 2014 MLB average of .299. Considering that he has consistently hit line drives at a below average rate and, conversely, hit infield flies at a very high rate, expect severe regression in those rate stats. To boot, Uribe took walks at his lowest rate since 2006 (and he’s never walked much as it is) and chased more pitches outside the zone than he ever has, the latter of which doesn’t bode well for his contact rate (and thus, his batting average) going forward. Mix in the facts that he’ll be 36 years old before the 2015 season starts and that he’s logged more than 500 plate appearances just once since 2007 due to frequent injuries and cold spells, and you get a recipe for mediocrity or worse. (Robert J. Baumann)

Quick Opinion: With a severe regression due from his 2014 rate stats and a lack of ability to stay on the field holding down his counting stats, don’t expect much from the aging third baseman in 2015.

Chase Utley

Debut: 2003 |  BirthDate: 12/17/1978 | Team: Phillies | Position: 2B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 531 135 18 8 69 73 .284 .348 .475 .356 17.5 3.3 3.9
’14 664 159 11 10 78 74 .270 .339 .407 .325 7.6 10.3 4.1
’15 611 140 14 7 62 65 .258 .330 .403 .321 3.1 7.4 3.1

Profile: In many ways, Chase Utley remains a valuable baseball player. He’s still a plus defender, according to the metrics. He hits for a decent average (.270 in 2014), reaches base (.339 OBP), and is a smart base runner. He’s still good for fantasy baseball players, too, thanks to things like his 11 home runs and 10 stolen bases last season and the position he plays. His age (36) and balky knees put his performance and presence at risk, but he’s learned that year-round training is essential to maintaining them. Other flaws have emerged, however. Injury may have been the catalyst that exposed Utley to southpaws, but even in his recovered state, he’s been unable to hit them the way he used to; his weighted offense numbers say that he was better than league-average in only one of the past four seasons against them after having been 31 percent above league average or better in each of the previous four. His .138 isolated slugging in 664 2014 plate appearances is his worst since the .134 of his 2003 debut (152 plate appearances). Still, he was a starting-caliber fantasy second-sacker last year and could be one (or close to it) in 2015, at least in part because he wants to stay in Philly and will thus occupy a prime lineup position there. There may be some semblance of an old-guy discount again, too. If there isn’t, then let someone else risk a few extra bucks; the upside isn’t that great anymore. Otherwise, Utley is still a decent mid-round bet in mixed leagues. (Nicholas Minnix)

Quick Opinion: Utley has found ways to extend his career after his initial run-ins with knee problems seemed to doom it, and, although age-related decline has clearly set in, he’s still a well-rounded, fairly reliable player. He still comes with risk, of course, so in mixed leagues, he should be priced closer to a high-end middle infielder than a top-ten option at his position.

Chris Valaika

Debut: 2010 |  BirthDate: 8/14/1985 | Position: 1B/2B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 70 14 1 0 9 4 .219 .261 .344 .266 -3.0 -4.4 -0.6
’14 131 28 3 1 13 10 .231 .282 .339 .276 -4.0 1.2 0.1
’15 1 0 0 0 0 0 .230 .279 .333 .273 -0.0 -0.0 -0.0

Profile: A million years ago, Chris Valaika was a third round draft pick, smashing his way through the minor leagues. In modern times, Valaika is a utility infielder with Copper Level dreams. Given that he acquitted himself well in his 44 games with the Cubs last year, the defense-first, glove-last infielder should find a roster to cling onto come warm weather. That roster, however, will not be your fantasy roster. Rather, it is likely to be a Triple-A affiliate that just suddenly realized they need one more player to get the group rate for the team’s bus reservations. Valaika, given his defense apparently translates to any position he finds himself in, could very well reach the majors again in 2015, but his offensive ceiling is so low that hobbits feel cramped when looking at his statistics. This is not the infielder you want on your fantasy team. Unless you’re trying to show off how great the rest of your team is. (Bradley Woodrum)

Quick Opinion: Oh, I think you came here by mistake. Perhaps because the V and B keys are so close, you were actually looking for Chris Bassitt. Because Chris Valaika, with a V, has no fantasy relevance. A real team might like his positional flexibility and all-around defense, but in fantasy baseball, he’s a warm body and that only.

Luis Valbuena

Debut: 2008 |  BirthDate: 11/30/1985 | Team: Astros | Position: 3B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 391 72 12 1 37 34 .218 .331 .378 .315 -2.2 9.7 2.1
’14 547 119 16 1 51 68 .249 .341 .435 .342 9.7 -1.1 2.7
’15 371 76 10 2 38 41 .234 .324 .386 .316 0.7 1.5 1.6

Profile: In 2012, Luis Valbuena looked like a fine waiver wire acquisition for the Cubs bench. In 2013, he looked like a great defensive third baseman with the potential to start on a second-tier team. And in 2014, he looked like a legit starting third baseman, playing great defense and slashing a solid .249/.341/.435 with 33 doubles and 16 homers. Where does that leave him entering the 2015 season? Before his trade to the Astros: Right in the war path of a one Kris Bryant, Galaxy-Class Prospect. Now? He has the potential to be a solid third baseman for years to come — or at least for another year as Colin Moran finishes seasoning in Triple-A. Valbuena will be only 29 heading into the season, and he appears to just now be hitting his stride. Sure, he might hit around league average, but his fielding is strong enough at third to keep him going and with Matt Dominguez as his platoon partner, his offense could peak again like it did in 2014. (Bradley Woodrum)

Quick Opinion: Valbuena quietly developed into a solid third baseman for the Cubs, and now with the Astros, he just about guaranteed a full year manning the big side of a platoon in Houston. An owner hoping for 300 to 400 plate appearances of decent hitting and positional flexibility could do worse than grab Valbuena, but he is entering his post-prime ages and has a good deal of playing time volatility with Colin Moran knocking on the door.

Jordany Valdespin

Debut: 2012 |  BirthDate: 12/23/1987 | Position: 2B/OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 144 25 4 4 16 16 .188 .250 .316 .254 -4.5 -3.1 -0.4
’14 113 21 3 1 10 8 .214 .280 .347 .282 -1.7 -1.0 0.1
’15 1 0 0 0 0 0 .250 .309 .383 .308 -0.0 -0.0 0.0

Profile: The best thing Valdespin has done since becoming a Major Leaguer was respond to a reporters question regarding where he was a hit by a thrown ball. His response: “My dick,” was fantastic. He doesn’t seem likely to top that going forward, and that includes his play. Valdespin’s been suspended for PEDs, performed poorly enough to get non-tendered, and then get designated for assignment the next season. He might hang on for a little while longer, but unless he’s near a microphone don’t worry with him. (Landon Jones)

Quick Opinion: Wear a cup, Jordany!

Danny Valencia

Debut: 2010 |  BirthDate: 9/19/1984 | Team: Blue Jays | Position: 3B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 170 49 8 0 23 20 .304 .335 .553 .381 7.8 -5.2 0.9
’14 284 68 4 1 30 20 .258 .296 .371 .295 -7.8 3.1 0.5
’15 100 23 3 1 11 11 .244 .286 .395 .300 -1.6 -1.4 0.0

Profile: Valencia has gone from full-time third baseman with the Twins to nomadic lefty masher in the span of just a couple years, but when teams stick to letting him just face portsiders he can really rake. There are attitude questions and he’s really not a great defensive third sacker, but he’s hit .327/.368/.502 against lefties in his career (and just .226/.264/.351 against righties). If he can stay in line, he could still have a nice long career on someone’s bench. (Brandon Warne)

Quick Opinion: Valencia mashes lefties. If you’re in a deep league or in Scoresheet and can manipulate his playing time as such, that’s about the only way he’s going to have value.

Scott Van Slyke

Debut: 2012 |  BirthDate: 7/24/1986 | Team: Dodgers | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 152 31 7 1 19 13 .240 .342 .465 .353 2.9 0.3 0.8
’14 246 63 11 4 29 32 .297 .386 .524 .398 15.3 2.6 2.8
’15 293 61 10 4 34 32 .237 .323 .407 .325 2.7 -3.4 0.9

Profile: Two years ago, Scott Van Slyke was heading into his age-26 season with one DFA and nine career hits under his belt. After a surprisingly successful 2013 and a very valuable 2014, he’s now one of the best power bench bats in the majors, one who would be considered for a starting position on plenty of other teams. Though he has fewer than 500 career plate appearances, Van Slyke has shown a combination of good power (.476 slugging percentage, 20 homers, .215 isolated slugging percentage) and the ability to take a walk (11.0% walk rate), enough that his high strikeout rate isn’t a problem. With “right-handed power” being the overused buzzword of the moment, Van Slyke’s reputation may be at its peak, but as long as he’s with the Dodgers, he’ll find his playing time limited to platoon duties in left and backup work in right and at first base. (Mike Petriello)

Quick Opinion: Scott Van Slyke has transformed his career from an unwanted Quad-A type into a valuable righty power source who can take a walk and play multiple positions. With Matt Kemp and Hanley Ramirez gone, the Dodgers may count on him even more in 2015.

Kennys Vargas

Debut: 2014 |  BirthDate: 8/1/1990 | Team: Twins | Position: DH
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’14 234 59 9 0 38 26 .274 .316 .456 .334 3.1 -7.3 0.4
’15 526 120 20 1 69 60 .250 .311 .427 .324 3.8 -12.5 0.9

Profile: Vargas has prodigious power, and if you cross your eyes, he’s almost a dead ringer for David Ortiz. Well, a switch-hitting version who doesn’t walk. But that’s enough for Twins fans, who no doubt have sky-high expectations for the Puerto Rican slugger after not only seeing him double in the Future’s Game at Target Field, but come up for a 53-game cup of coffee that saw him poke 20 extra-base hits and slug .456. Unfortunately, that doesn’t account for the part of his game that may be his undoing. Vargas’ plate discipline was borderline ghastly, as he had a 63-10 strikeout-to-unintentional-walk ratio in his first 234 big league plate appearances. The belief in national prospect circles was that Vargas wasn’t a good defensive first baseman — this much is true — and this his power wouldn’t be propped up by enough contact or pitch recognition skills to truly shine through. The Twins have seen hot stints in short bursts from pretty good prospects before. Chris Parmelee and Josmil Pinto’s Septembers the past few seasons come to mind. But Vargas is going to get the first crack at regular DH at bats at the beginning of the season, and he has the kind of power to truly take your breath away. The odds are probably still against him, but the opportunity is there for the taking. I probably wouldn’t draft him, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be successful. (Brandon Warne)

Quick Opinion: Vargas’ pitch recognition and contact skills will always be in question, but if he can get them going, his power will make him a truly special player. As a utility-only bat in most leagues, he’s a good power threat but likely won’t walk much or have a passable batting average. Roster construction will determine just how highly you should value him. 

Christian Vazquez

Debut: 2014 |  BirthDate: 8/21/1990 | Team: Red Sox | Position: C
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’14 201 42 1 0 20 15 .240 .308 .309 .277 -7.8 7.8 0.7
’15 351 78 5 3 34 38 .248 .313 .352 .297 -6.0 9.9 1.7

Profile: A 55-game trial in 2014 was enough to convince Boston that Christian Vazquez was ready to assume the bulk of playing time behind the plate for the coming season. The defensive specialist can hit a little bit too, thanks to his ability to make a decent amount of contact. He boosts his on-base percentage with a good eye that leads to a healthy number of walks. Vazquez, 24, won’t go deep very often but he has enough pop in his bat to pile up some doubles. The addition of veteran Ryan Hanigan, another strong defender, means that Vazquez will probably top out around 100 games played in 2015, meaning you’ll want another strong backstop in two-catcher leagues. The sophomore has a chance to be an average-ish fantasy performer as a catcher but his on-base skills could make him more valuable in leagues that value that particular ability. (Marc Hulet)

Quick Opinion: Rookies and sophomores are often volatile commodities in fantasy baseball but Vazquez should be a fairly solid option in both AL-only leagues and deeper mixed leagues. With that said, he’s not flashy and won’t help you in the power department.

Will Venable

Debut: 2008 |  BirthDate: 10/29/1982 | Team: Padres | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 515 129 22 22 53 64 .268 .312 .484 .342 16.5 -4.6 2.9
’14 448 91 8 11 33 47 .224 .288 .325 .275 -9.5 4.0 0.9
’15 303 67 8 9 30 33 .244 .302 .393 .306 0.4 -4.3 0.6

Profile: A year after producing a home run per fly ball rate roughly double his career average, Venable went right back to a slightly below average HR/FB rate last year. You obviously could have seen that coming, but it would’ve been harder to predict that he’d steal just 11 bases after topping 20 steals for three consecutive years. That dip in production combined with the fact that he’s entering his age 32 season is enough to render him valueless. But after the Padres went and acquired three big name outfielders, any value Venable had left vanished. (Brett Talley)

Quick Opinion: Will Venable isn’t really that great at baseball and the Padres brought in three outfielders who are, so Venable is a non-factor.

Dayan Viciedo

Debut: 2010 |  BirthDate: 3/10/1989 | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 473 117 14 0 56 43 .265 .304 .426 .318 -4.2 -12.0 -0.1
’14 563 121 21 0 58 65 .231 .281 .405 .301 -7.2 -17.4 -0.7
’15 1 0 0 0 0 0 .251 .302 .431 .322 0.0 -0.0 0.0

Profile: With Melky Cabrera in town, Dayan Viciedo is out of a job. The 25-year-old has shown solid pop over his career, but is still somewhat raw at the plate. Viciedo doesn’t walk, and strikes out a fair amount, so any chance at him posting a high batting average or on-base percentage is based on batted ball luck. Right-handed power is rare these days, they say, so that could lead another club to take a shot on Viciedo, but as of this publication, the player was still in limbo, designated for assignment by the White Sox. Viciedo was fairly raw when he signed with the club, so there’s a small chance he figures things out and turns into a more complete hitter, but after five seasons in the majors, it’s tough to dream on him reaching a higher level. (Chris Cwik)

Quick Opinion: Viciedo is out of a job with Melky Cabrera in town, and he might be out of a roster spot shortly. He would benefit from a trade, but would also leave a park that’s exceptionally friendly to his only skill.

Shane Victorino

Debut: 2003 |  BirthDate: 11/30/1980 | Team: Red Sox | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 532 140 15 21 61 82 .294 .351 .451 .353 14.8 19.5 5.6
’14 133 33 2 2 12 14 .268 .303 .382 .302 -1.8 -2.1 0.0
’15 436 105 10 11 48 56 .266 .324 .412 .326 3.1 1.6 2.1

Profile: According to Shane Victorino, his rehab is going great and he should be the starting right fielder for the Red Sox this year. To just about everyone else on the planet, he’s a guy in his mid-30s who is recovering from back surgery and should be promised absolutely nothing this year. How those two views square will be entirely on Victorino. If he proves in spring training that he is healthy, it will be decision time for the Red Sox, who may be faced with the prospect of demoting or trading some of their other outfielders in order to accommodate Victorino. If Victorino is healthy, he could be a good late-round sleeper, but we won’t know whether he will be or not until late March. The conservative bet would be to bank against such a development. Even if healthy, 34-year-olds with back problems aren’t likely to steal a lot of bases, and in recent seasons, much of Victorino’s value was tied to his ability to swipe 20 bags a year. He has never homered 20 times in a single season, and he has never hit .300 in a single season. Those are also unlikely to change. Victorino’s upside then, figures to be a bench bat who occasionally gets starts if the pitching matchups are favorable for him to slot into your fantasy lineup. In other words, not someone you need to draft. (Paul Swydan)

Quick Opinion: Shane Victorino has brand-name recognition, but as a 34-year-old coming off of back surgery, he is not likely to provide brand-name production. Steer clear.

Jonathan Villar

Debut: 2013 |  BirthDate: 5/2/1991 | Team: Astros | Position: SS
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 241 51 1 18 8 26 .243 .321 .319 .289 -4.6 -5.6 -0.2
’14 289 55 7 17 27 31 .209 .267 .354 .275 -6.5 -5.2 -0.3
’15 53 11 1 3 5 6 .222 .289 .338 .282 -1.1 -0.3 0.0

Profile: Jonathan Villar, 23, is one of those “tease players” that looks really good for five or six games but, over the course of a two month or more stretch, who cannot put it all together. After frustrating Astros management for parts of two seasons, he may have lost his opportunity now that the organization has committed to veteran Jed Lowrie — at least until stud prospect Carlos Correa is ready. Should the unexpected/expected happen (such as an injury to the veteran infielder) Villar may once again receive some regular at-bats, but he’s going to have to learn to make consistent contact and get on base more regularly. He has some speed (17 steals in 21 attempts last year) and can occasionally step into a ball and give it a ride. More than likely, though, it will be up to a trade for Villar to receive another shot at regular playing time… which means he’s going to enter 2015 as a non-entity as far as fantasy baseball is concerned. (Marc Hulet)

Quick Opinion: The signing of Jed Lowrie likely seals Villar’s fate in Houston and he should open the 2015 season in the minors. He’ll have to await an injury or trade to receive another shot at playing shortstop regularly — especially for the Astros, a club that has star shortstop prospect Carlos Correa perhaps less than a year away from making his big league debut.

Stephen Vogt

Debut: 2012 |  BirthDate: 11/1/1984 | Team: Athletics | Position: 1B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 148 34 4 0 16 18 .252 .295 .400 .301 -2.2 2.1 0.5
’14 287 75 9 1 35 26 .279 .321 .431 .329 5.1 -2.6 1.3
’15 434 103 10 2 48 47 .260 .312 .402 .314 1.5 10.3 2.8

Profile: The 2014 season was a breakout for Stephen Vogt, as he hit 14% better than league average while appearing in games behind the plate, in the outfield, and at first base. While a .279/.321/.431 line isn’t spectacular, most of his damage was done versus right-handed pitchers. Vogt tore up righties to the tune of a .291/.331/.439 and hit eight of his nine home runs. Going into 2015, Vogt is tabbed to be the A’s starting left fielder and should post a moderate triple slash. at least against opposite-handed pitchers. His extreme fly ball nature — his 33% ground-ball rate was the 12th-lowest in baseball, min. 250 plate appearances — will probably prevent him from ever regularly hitting .300, however Vogt does have a little power. He probably owns enough upside to hit 12-15 home runs. While he didn’t post a great walk rate last season, just 5.6%, Vogt tied for the 19th-lowest swinging strikeout rate at 4.9%. With a 88.2% contact rate that tied for 21st-best in baseball, count on Vogt to maintain a relatively low strikeout rate and perhaps even boost his walk rate a few points. He won’t fit as the cornerstone of any team but he does have enough of a bat to be relevant in daily leagues deeper than standard 12-team — as long as the A’s are facing a right-handed pitcher. (David Wiers)

Quick Opinion: Best used as a platoon player against right-handed pitchers, Vogt does offer value in that role. Don’t make the mistake of simply extrapolating and nearly doubling his 2014 counting production, but Vogt could be a sneaky pick up late in the draft or off of the waiver wire.

Joey Votto

Debut: 2007 |  BirthDate: 9/10/1983 | Team: Reds | Position: 1B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 726 177 24 6 73 101 .305 .435 .491 .400 45.4 -10.1 6.1
’14 272 56 6 1 23 32 .255 .390 .409 .359 5.4 -3.7 1.1
’15 550 124 18 4 64 72 .280 .409 .470 .384 26.1 -6.3 4.0

Profile: In 2014, Joey Votto disappointed for the first time in his career. Even in his injury-shortened 2012, he was still the most productive hitter in baseball while he played. But Votto’s always-elite average dipped considerably and his power took a hit, too, as he dealt with a quad injuries to both legs throughout the season. The low batting average is almost unexplainable, as nothing changed in his fantastic walk, strikeout, and line drive rates, and it’s almost impossible to see him hitting anywhere near .260 again. He might not be much more than 20 homer guy at this point in his career, but that’s fine considering what he does in other areas. And if you’re in a league where OBP matters, Votto could arguably still be a top-10 first baseman, as he had an incredible .390 on-base percentage in the “worst” season of his career last year. In non-OBP leagues, he becomes a still-solid guy who’s better in real life than fantasy. Knee surgery and double quad injuries within the last three years are worrisome, as is the drop in production. But at 31, it’s far too early to even begin writing Votto off as some frustrated owners wanted to last year, as he’s still one of the most pure all-around hitters in baseball. (August Fagerstrom)

Quick Opinion: Votto was a disappointment to fantasy owners who wasted a high draft pick on him in 2014, but his approach leaves him nearly immune to prolonged slumps and we’re still talking about a guy with a .390 OBP in a “disappointing season.” With a high floor and still tremendous upside, I wouldn’t sleep on Joey Votto in 2015, especially in OBP leagues.

Neil Walker

Debut: 2009 |  BirthDate: 9/10/1985 | Team: Pirates | Position: 2B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 551 120 16 1 53 62 .251 .339 .418 .333 8.4 0.6 2.7
’14 571 139 23 2 76 74 .271 .342 .467 .356 21.5 -4.8 3.7
’15 529 128 16 3 62 63 .273 .343 .439 .345 14.0 -2.8 2.9

Profile: After being the model of consistency for the first four full seasons of his career, the 29-year-old Walker flashed some power upside with 23 home runs in 2014 — seven more than his previous best from 2013. Given his always-solid batting average, RBI, and run totals, that newfound power sneaks Walker up close to the top ten among second basemen. He probably still falls a bit short in that respect—mainly because of the lack of steals and the track record of power—but Walker remains as safe a middle infielder as you can find. (Scott Spratt)

Quick Opinion: Walker has been one of the most consistent middle infield options in baseball over the last five seasons, and his career high 23 home runs in 2014 offer some additional upside. He could potential reach the top ten among second basemen despite his lack of steals.

Christian Walker

Debut: 2014 |  BirthDate: 3/28/1991 | Team: Orioles | Position: 1B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’14 19 3 1 0 1 1 .167 .211 .389 .263 -0.8 -1.0 -0.1
’15 100 23 3 1 11 11 .247 .301 .403 .311 -0.4 -2.6 0.0

Profile: A strong year at Double-A pushed Walker up the Orioles prospect list. While he’s not a perfect prospect, it appears he is the heir apparent to Chris Davis at first base. Walker’s strikeout rate has been fairly high throughout the minors, and that’s not something that typically gets better as a player advances. He’ll be able to spend most of the year at Triple-A, so there’s a chance he can iron some things down there. Walker has some pop, but will need to refine some of his other skills before he’s ready for the majors. With Davis entering a contract year, that should give Walker most of the season to develop before possibly taking over in 2016. If Davis disappoints again, it’s possible Walker could get an early chance to prove he belongs. (Chris Cwik)

Quick Opinion: Walker pushed himself up prospect lists with a strong year at Double-A. He has power, but will need to work on other parts of his game before he’s ready. He should spend most of the season in Triple-A, but could find his way up if Chris Davis falters again.

Zach Walters

Debut: 2013 |  BirthDate: 9/5/1989 | Team: Indians | Position: DH
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 9 3 0 0 1 2 .375 .444 .625 .454 0.9 0.2 0.2
’14 137 23 10 0 17 16 .181 .241 .441 .300 -1.3 -3.7 -0.1
’15 111 24 5 1 14 13 .236 .276 .433 .310 0.0 -1.7 0.2

Profile: Walters is basically the second coming of Michael Morse — a not-so-athletic player with limited defensive value who can hit some home runs but strikes out too much and doesn’t like to walk. He might find some playing time with Cleveland in 2015 after spending time at five different positions (second, third, short, left and right field) in ’14. However, the playing time with the Indians will likely have to come from third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall regressing, sophomore shortstop Jose Ramirez falling on his face (combined with some regression from top prospect Francisco Lindor), or an injury to one of the club’s top four or five outfielders. And even then, Mike Aviles will likely be the first beneficiary of additional playing time. (Marc Hulet)

Quick Opinion: Power is not easy to come by in the ‘new MLB’ so Morse is a name to at least keep in the back of your mind. But he doesn’t project to receive much playing time in Cleveland in 2015. And even if he does, the power comes with a modest batting average and lots of strikeouts.

Logan Watkins

Debut: 2013 |  BirthDate: 8/29/1989 | Position: 2B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 42 8 0 0 0 2 .211 .268 .237 .233 -3.0 0.8 -0.1
’14 68 16 1 1 6 10 .246 .269 .338 .264 -2.9 -3.1 -0.4
’15 1 0 0 0 0 0 .231 .294 .325 .279 -0.0 0.0 0.0

Profile: Watkins’ major league debut was a bad one. In 2013, he got 42 plate appearances and managed only seven singles, one double and three walks. It was a cup of coffee to forget. And somehow, he did worse with his sophomore coffee. Despite raising his weighted offense from 61% worse than league average to ‘only’ 48% worse, Watkins managed to collect six errors in only 13 starts at second base. That’s nearly an error every other game. For a prospect who was supposed to bring both the bat and glove to second base, Watkins has looked like a double disappointment so far. It would be another can of worms if he were killing Triple-A pitchers, but in his two seasons in the Pacific Coast League, Watkins has only managed a .249/.330/.372 slash. Watkins can bring some speed and could conceivably re-find his plate discipline (he routinely had .350+ OBPs in the lower minors), but now that the Big Wave of prospects is starting to overcrowd the Cubs infield, Watkins’ chances of being more than a reserve infielder are quickly slipping away. (Bradley Woodrum)

Quick Opinion: The Cubs have too many good infield prospects to give Logan Watkins any patience at second base. Injuries might make him relevant again — so would a resurgence in his OBP — but until steals from the bench become a market inefficiency, the typical fantasy owner will have no need for Watkins.

Jemile Weeks

Debut: 2011 |  BirthDate: 1/26/1987 | Position: 2B/SS
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 9 1 0 0 0 3 .111 .111 .111 .099 -1.4 -0.6 -0.2
’14 45 11 0 2 3 8 .297 .372 .432 .354 1.7 -0.2 0.3
’15 1 0 0 0 0 0 .261 .336 .361 .313 -0.0 -0.0 0.0

Profile: Jemile Weeks had that fantastic rookie campaign where he hit .303/.340/.421 over 97 games, stealing 22 bags along the way. He never got started in 2012, and since then he’s been irrelevant in real and fantasy baseball formats. Now with the Boston Red Sox, he’ll likely start the season in Triple-A Pawtucket and unless disaster strikes Dustin Pedroia, he’ll likely stay there until rosters expand in August. Now 28 years of age, he’s organizational depth at this stage, and can be ignored in all formats. (Michael Barr)

Quick Opinion: From exciting younger brother hot prospect to organizational depth, Jemile Weeks has fallen out of fantasy relevance.

Rickie Weeks

Debut: 2003 |  BirthDate: 9/13/1982 | Position: 2B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 399 73 10 7 24 40 .209 .306 .357 .299 -7.0 -8.3 -0.4
’14 286 69 8 3 29 36 .274 .357 .452 .359 9.1 -7.0 1.2
’15 380 79 10 6 38 42 .238 .322 .385 .317 0.6 -5.2 0.8

Profile: Despite being only two years removed from a 21 homer, 16 stolen base season, Weeks is a free agent as of this writing. If some team thinks they’re in such a bad way at second that they need to sign Weeks and give him 500+ plate appearances, Weeks’ power/speed combo could make him somewhat relevant as a 15/10 season might be in play. But given that it’s January 2015 and no one has signed him, it’s highly unlikely he’s going to be given the opportunity to get to the plate anywhere near enough to be fantasy relevant. (Brett Talley)

Quick Opinion: Unless some team is desperate enough at second base to give Weeks 500 plate appearances, he’s no longer relevant. As of this writing, he’s a free agent, so it’s highly unlikely he’ll be signed by someone who will give him regular playing time.

Jayson Werth

Debut: 2002 |  BirthDate: 5/20/1979 | Team: Nationals | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 532 147 25 10 82 84 .318 .398 .532 .403 35.7 -9.0 4.6
’14 629 156 16 9 82 85 .292 .394 .455 .377 33.3 -8.5 4.8
’15 536 132 16 6 65 69 .285 .374 .454 .366 20.3 -10.5 2.8

Profile: After a resurgent 2013 campaign, Werth didn’t produce at the same level, seeing his isolated power decline to a modest .163. Despite that decline, Werth’s patience and health — he suited up a 147 times, his highest total since 2011 — won the day. And even though his power output declined, his average fly ball distance was still respectable, dropping only five feet to 285 feet. He was able to produce positive value in every category, and his profile at the plate, which seems to be aging extremely well, combined with his place in a lineup that should be rather potent, still leaves room for a little more despite the fact that he’ll be 36 next season. He might not be a consistent 20+ home run hitter any longer, but in this state of depressed power he doesn’t have to be, because of the value he provides in multiple categories. Among outfielders with at least 400 plate appearances, only thirteen combined for more runs plus RBI; fifteen hit for a higher average; three got on base a higher clip. Those numbers are worth a little something. Offseason shoulder surgery makes Werth a little more risky, especially from a power standpoint, so it might be fair to dock him a little, but he’s still more than useful in all leagues. (Jayson Werth)

Quick Opinion: Werth’s above average production seems likely to continue as long as he’s on the field; age and injuries are a factor, and will continue to be one, but until he shows signs of slowing down, keep believing.

Ryan Wheeler

Debut: 2012 |  BirthDate: 7/10/1988 | Position: 1B/3B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 42 9 0 0 7 1 .220 .238 .268 .225 -3.7 -3.7 -0.7
’14 64 13 2 0 13 6 .232 .281 .375 .286 -2.8 -1.2 -0.2
’15 41 10 1 0 5 4 .262 .306 .401 .312 -0.9 -1.2 -0.1

Profile: Wheeler has gotten at least a cup of coffee in each of the last three seasons. Through 225 major-league plate appearances, he has a .233/.280/.335 slash line. Not exactly what major-league teams are looking for in a corner infielder. (Scott Strandberg)

Quick Opinion: Wheeler will be a non-roster invitee with the Angels in Spring Training. Fantasy owners are recommended to keep him on their non-rosters, as well.

Zelous Wheeler

Debut: 2014 |  BirthDate: 1/16/1987 | Position: 3B/OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’14 62 11 2 0 5 6 .193 .230 .298 .236 -4.4 -0.5 -0.3
’15 1 0 0 0 0 0 .238 .297 .373 .299 -0.0 0.0 0.0

Profile: Wheeler (and his .230 OBP) made such an impression on the Yankees that they sold his rights to Japan’s Rakuten Golden Eagles (Masahiro Tanaka’s former team) for $350,000. (Jeremy Blachman)

Matt Wieters

Debut: 2009 |  BirthDate: 5/21/1986 | Team: Orioles | Position: C
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 579 123 22 2 79 59 .235 .287 .417 .302 -11.1 14.8 2.5
’14 112 32 5 0 18 13 .308 .339 .500 .365 3.6 1.0 0.9
’15 476 105 17 3 56 54 .246 .311 .418 .321 0.1 13.0 3.1

Profile: Not many hitters have Tommy John surgery as Wieters did last June. Jeff Zimmerman looked at the situation in October and reminded us that, historically, there’s not much long term negative effect on hitters who have TJ, which is obviously good news for Wieters. Right now, he seems poised to be mostly ready for spring training, so the question at this point seems to be whether or not Wieters will be able to catch right away in 2015. Even if he isn’t, he could still see time at designated hitter in the early going, which might actually help his fantasy value, keeping him fresh later into the year. Wieters was off to a great start in 2014, hitting .333/.381/.544 with four home runs in 74 April plate appearances before the elbow started to bother him. From 2011-2013, he averaged 22 HR, 77 runs batted in, and 66 runs scored — very good for a catcher. Steamer likes him to be top-ten catcher again in 2015 if he can top 500 PAs. Pay attention to him in spring training: if he looks healthy enough to open the year on the Orioles’ active roster, draft him as a top-ten catcher for sure. (Robert J. Baumann)

Quick Opinion: Historically, Tommy John has not sapped the production of hitters as it has with many pitchers. If it looks like Wieters will start the year with the big league club, he should be as solid as ever. If his return is delayed, discount his value accordingly.

Andy Wilkins

Debut: 2014 |  BirthDate: 9/13/1988 | Team: White Sox | Position: 1B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’14 45 6 0 0 2 2 .140 .178 .186 .167 -4.8 -0.9 -0.5
’15 33 7 1 0 4 4 .238 .292 .417 .310 -0.2 -0.6 0.0

Profile: With a monster year in Triple-A, Wilkins put himself on the map as a potential middle-of-the-order hitter. He swings across his body and has mostly dead-pull power as a result, with decent contact ability. He’s stuck behind pretty good first base options with the White Sox, but he could put up a 20 homer season with an okay average if given the chance. (Dan Farnsworth)

Josh Willingham

Debut: 2004 |  BirthDate: 2/17/1979 | Position: DH/OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 471 81 14 1 48 42 .208 .342 .368 .322 -3.2 -13.2 -0.1
’14 364 64 14 2 40 48 .215 .346 .397 .333 6.5 -8.6 1.1
’15 1 0 0 0 0 0 .223 .331 .402 .328 0.0 -0.0 0.0

Profile: Willingham retired after seeing sparse playing time in Kansas City’s improbable playoff run after the Minnesota Twins dealt him in a mid-August waiver deal. Willingham’s retirement ends a career that spanned 11 seasons, and started with him as a catcher with the Florida Marlins back in 2004. The left fielder was often plagued by injuries, but when healthy provided good power, plenty of strikeouts and a good number of walks to go along with shaky outfield defense. Ultimately, the Alabama native opted for retirement to spend time with his young boys over taking a 1-year deal with low base pay to be someone’s designated hitter. Happy trails, Josh. (Brandon Warne)

Quick Opinion: Willingham retired this winter after 11 big league seasons with the Marlins, Nationals, A’s, Twins and Royals.

Josh Wilson

Debut: 2005 |  BirthDate: 3/26/1981 | Position: 2B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 65 12 1 0 4 9 .200 .262 .300 .253 -3.1 1.8 0.1
’14 72 16 0 1 8 7 .239 .271 .299 .256 -3.0 3.8 0.3
’15 1 0 0 0 0 0 .215 .257 .297 .248 -0.1 -0.0 -0.0

Profile: Josh Wilson had 65 and 72 plate appearances his last two seasons, and it’s difficult to expect more than that from the free agent shortstop, no matter which team he lands on. Wilson’s career triple-slash of .226/.278/.316 and lack of speed render him irrelevant in fantasy. His likeliest scenario in 2015 will be as a backup and defensive substitute. (Scott Spratt)

Quick Opinion: Wilson does not yet have a job for 2015, but wherever he lands, he does not have the bat, power, or speed to be useful in even deep fantasy leagues.

Kolten Wong

Debut: 2013 |  BirthDate: 10/10/1990 | Team: Cardinals | Position: 2B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 62 9 0 3 0 6 .153 .194 .169 .168 -6.0 1.5 -0.3
’14 433 100 12 20 42 52 .249 .292 .388 .299 0.9 4.3 2.0
’15 516 122 11 17 51 55 .257 .305 .383 .304 -2.6 3.4 1.8

Profile: Wong had a nice debut season and looks to build on it in 2015. He’s a low-risk option at second base with the potential to hit .300, hit 15 bombs and steal 25 bases. The power is likely to be the most volatile tool in his skill set, similar to someone like Jacoby Ellsbury. He could have a year or two hitting 20, but for this season and most in the future you can expect 10-15. He has a great swing with a lot of room for error; think Victor Martinez with less authority to drive the ball. The power comes mostly from pulling the ball, so his homer totals will be dependent on how many mistakes pitchers make down and in, while driving doubles the other way. Look for him to hit .280 with an ok walk rate this year as he gets acclimated to the league and learns opposing pitchers. (Dan Farnsworth)

Quick Opinion: Wong is an exciting young second baseman who can contribute on all sides of the game, with power being his weakest tool (and yet still not a liability). A .280 average with 15 homers and 20 stolen bases is a pretty safe bet for him in 2015.

David Wright

Debut: 2004 |  BirthDate: 12/20/1982 | Team: Mets | Position: 3B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 492 132 18 17 58 63 .307 .390 .514 .391 35.4 5.4 6.0
’14 586 144 8 8 63 54 .269 .324 .374 .308 -2.7 3.1 1.9
’15 576 141 16 9 65 66 .275 .347 .432 .342 14.2 3.0 3.8

Profile: David Wright dropped from 55th in average home run and fly ball average distance (291.4 ft.) in 2013 to 242nd (266.5 ft.) last year — most likely from an ailing shoulder, which did not end up requiring surgery this offseason. Maybe Wright will profit from the right-field fence moving in, but Jeff Zimmerman makes things look ominous in his MASH Report on the subject. If Wright stays healthy, we should still see some power and speed and good run production combos with a .275 batting average — but that comes with risk. Last year, the 32-year-old was outside of the top 35 third-basemen in isolated slugging percentage. I would personally expect something closer to his 2009 outcomes without the stolen bases and batted ball luck. It is tough to assess David Wright from a fantasy perspective. In a time of third base commoditization, where the positional value is less clear, he remains an asset. But not the asset he once was. (Dan Schwartz)

Quick Opinion: Wright may have fallen into Xander Bogaerts and Manny Machado territory by now. Both have worse contact rates than Wright, but due to age and shoulder health, they’re both better bets for power growth than the Mets’ captain. In re-draft leagues, you might prefer David Wright one more year, but this does mean he’s a bottom-tier third baseman in mixed leagues. 

Christian Yelich

Debut: 2013 |  BirthDate: 12/5/1991 | Team: Marlins | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 273 69 4 10 16 34 .287 .370 .396 .341 9.5 -5.0 1.4
’14 660 165 9 21 54 94 .284 .362 .402 .341 16.1 4.0 4.3
’15 674 160 13 19 56 83 .269 .345 .403 .332 9.8 -1.8 3.1

Profile: Yelich has established himself as an average big league bat in his first two years with the beloved Marlins. He already has demonstrated the ability to contribute a solid batting average and on-base percentage, with above average contact rates and excellent plate discipline for a young hitter. Add in 21 steals and a great defensive performance in 2014, and it’s easy to dream on him figuring out his power stroke to become a legitimate five-tool athlete. The only problem with that dream is his propensity to kill the infield grass with all the ground balls he hits. He has a swing that is consistently on a downward plane to the pitch, making it unlikely he adds a lot of power to his game unless something changes dramatically. Either he figures out how to create some loft with his swing, or he gains so much strength as he matures that he’s able to drive a few more balls out with sheer muscle. Don’t count on any big swing changes; as the adage says, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. He’s already a big league hitter who can impact the game as a table-setter and fly ball-getter. Expect more of the same for this year, with some upside in the batting average department and a max of 10-15 homers if you’re generous. (Dan Farnsworth)

Quick Opinion: Yelich is an exciting young player with an elite pedigree, but he may be a young Nick Markakis clone, a better real-life baseball player than fantasy MVP. Look for him to use his line drive swing to challenge for a batting title, with little contribution in the power department.

Rafael Ynoa

Debut: 2014 |  BirthDate: 8/7/1987 | Team: Rockies | Position: 3B
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’14 71 23 0 0 13 5 .343 .380 .463 .371 0.3 3.7 0.7
’15 49 11 1 1 4 5 .255 .305 .351 .292 -1.9 -0.7 -0.1

Profile: Rafael Ynoa closed out the 2014 season as the Rockies’ third baseman, and had a heck of an introduction to the big leagues. He hit .343/.380/.463 in 71 plate appearances — not too shabby. Of course, it was against expanded September rosters during a time when no one was paying the Rockies any mind, and it was coupled with a .397 batting average on balls in play, but still, it’s more than you’ve done, chump. Going forward, Ynoa is incredibly unlikely to sustain that batting line, and also not likely to sustain an average offensive line overall. Steamer pegs him for weighted offense that’s 32% worse than league average in 2015, and ZiPS has him with a weighted OPS that’s 25% worse than league average. The Rockies also still have Nolan Arenado around, and if he’s able, he’ll get 95% of the team’s starts at the hot corner. So there may not be much of an opportunity for Ynoa to play there anyway. Which is actually fine, since Ynoa has spent most of his professional career in the middle infield. And there are generally opportunities to be had in the Rockies middle infield — Troy Tulowitzki is good for at least one injury per year, and incumbent second baseman DJ Lemahieu couldn’t hit water from a boat. So if Ynoa can somehow keep up his magic act heading into 2015, he may find a reserve role. But with the Rockies committed to LeMahieu (and Arenado and Tulowitzki, obviously) you shouldn’t get your hopes up about a repeat performance from Ynoa. (Paul Swydan)

Quick Opinion: If you happen to scroll batting leaders and set the plate appearance threshold to zero, you might stumble upon Rafael Ynoa, who hit to the tune of .343 in 71 PAs last season. Don’t spend too much time on him though, as he is unlikely to repeat that or find a starting spot lined up for him.

Delmon Young

Debut: 2006 |  BirthDate: 9/14/1985 | Team: Orioles | Position: DH/OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 361 87 11 0 38 30 .260 .307 .407 .314 -3.5 -15.0 -0.8
’14 255 73 7 2 30 27 .302 .337 .442 .345 5.9 -5.6 0.9
’15 308 75 9 1 35 33 .261 .302 .410 .314 -1.3 -8.8 -0.0

Profile: Delmon Young surprised everyone last year with a .302/.337/.442 batting line, good for a 20% better than league average in 255 plate appearances for the Orioles. That was buttressed by a .359 batting average on balls in play, but Young is still likely to put up a league average batting line even when his batted ball profile regresses. Young re-upped with the Orioles this offseason and should see playing time against left-handed pitching. Steve Pearce’s magical season cuts into everyday at bats for Young, but Young should see time in the lineup when a southpaw is on the bump. Young has been around seemingly forever but he’s still just 29 years old on Opening Day and in his theoretical prime. I couldn’t project a breakout from him but the Orioles do have a solid history of reclamation projects in Chris Davis, Steve Pearce, and Nelson Cruz. Young still has absolutely no plate discipline but would be an acceptable streaming option against lefties (career 114 wRC+ against) in shallow leagues. (Ben Pasinkoff)

Quick Opinion: A small-side platoon designated hitter is not what dreams are made of. Even if a few similar dreams were realized on the Orioles last year, the 29-year-old Delmon Young is who he is by now.

Eric Young

Debut: 2009 |  BirthDate: 5/25/1985 | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 598 134 2 46 32 70 .249 .310 .336 .288 -4.6 -6.3 0.7
’14 316 64 1 30 17 48 .229 .299 .311 .275 -4.1 5.7 1.2
’15 353 77 3 25 25 39 .243 .311 .334 .290 -4.1 -3.0 0.4

Profile: Eric Young’s contact and swinging-strike rates were his best in a three year span, however his strikeout rate jumped to 19%, particularly due to issues with putting balls in play when he had two strikes on him. In fact, for hitters with a swinging-strike rate between 8.6% and 8.9%, only Marcus Semien had a worse strikeout rate (27.5%). All others in this range had some fantasy value: Starlin Castro, Pablo Sandoval, Adeiny Hechavarria, Anthony Rizzo, Lonnie Chisenhall, Brett Lawrie, and Gregory Polanco. Matt Holliday and Josh Reddick are next up with strikeout rates under 16%. Of this group, Eric Young has the least value as a speed-only asset. The Mets agree as they non-tendered him. There is not much difference from which side of the plate he bats (.294 weighted on base average either way) so moving forward, I wouldn’t even consider him a platoon option to stream for stolen bases when you know he is starting. (Dan Schwartz)

Quick Opinion: At 30 years old, Eric Young will only slow down.

Chris Young

Debut: 2006 |  BirthDate: 9/5/1983 | Team: Yankees | Position: OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 375 67 12 10 40 46 .200 .280 .379 .289 -6.8 -1.5 0.4
’14 366 72 11 8 38 40 .222 .299 .385 .303 -0.2 -7.4 0.4
’15 429 86 14 9 47 48 .228 .308 .397 .312 -1.0 -2.2 1.2

Profile: Chris B. Young re-signed with the Yankees for another year to be their fourth outfielder. Young is long removed from his 30/30 potential, but with enough plate appearances, he can still hit 15 homers with 10 stolen bases. It will take Martin Prado taking up residence in the infield, or injuries to Jacoby Ellsbury or Brett Gardner in order for Young to get enough at-bats to become an asset again. (Dan Schwartz)

Ryan Zimmerman

Debut: 2005 |  BirthDate: 9/28/1984 | Team: Nationals | Position: 3B/OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 633 156 26 6 79 84 .275 .344 .465 .353 20.4 -12.3 2.9
’14 240 60 5 0 38 26 .280 .342 .449 .346 4.8 -1.1 1.2
’15 570 140 19 3 71 70 .275 .344 .449 .348 13.8 0.1 3.4

Profile: When healthy, Zimmerman has still proved to be an incredibly useful hitter. Problem is, it’s getting hard to depend on him to be healthy. Yes, Zimmerman played at least 145 games in both 2012 and 2013, but that dropped to 61 games in 2014. Prior to that, he played in just 101 games in 2011. While his shoulder remains problematic, and should move him over to first base this season, it seems to only impact his defense. Zimmerman has produced strong numbers in the past despite the shoulder giving him problems. Typically, the club will resort to cortisone shots, and that seems to work. Thumb and hamstring issues kept him on the shelf last year, though both should be healed heading into 2015. He’ll miss a chunk of games, but should still produce when he’s in the lineup. He’ll have eligibility at third, outfield and, eventually, first base this year, and that’s intriguing. (Chris Cwik)

Quick Opinion: Zimmerman can still hit when he’s healthy, but he’s been on the bench more often than most fantasy owners would like. Expect him to miss his fair share of games, but the production should be there when he’s in the lineup.

Ben Zobrist

Debut: 2006 |  BirthDate: 5/26/1981 | Team: Athletics | Position: 2B/OF
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 698 168 12 11 71 77 .275 .354 .402 .334 16.3 11.0 5.4
’14 654 155 10 10 52 83 .272 .354 .395 .333 16.2 14.4 5.7
’15 657 152 12 9 66 82 .266 .353 .406 .337 14.4 5.4 4.5

Profile: Not too long ago, fantasy owners found themselves reaching for Ben Zobrist in their fake drafts for the slight speed and power combination to go along with multiple position eligibility. It seemed like the perfect match for your roster, and it probably was from 2009-2012. But since then, fewer balls are clearing the fences due to an increase in ground balls, a decrease in fly balls, and a decline true home run distance. He’s not running as much either. At least he did continue to score runs and hit for at least a .272 clip at the dish. In the offseason, Billy Beane acquired the super utility man from the Rays in exchange for John Jaso and a couple of prospects. Zobrist will likely play the cornerstone and hit in the top of the A’s lineup. Entering his age 34 season, I can’t imagine BenZo will come close to meeting or exceeding his career best numbers of 2009, but he should still be able to pull off double digit longballs and swipes. Zobrist will still be a value in AL-Only formats, but consider him the later rounds of your mixed leagues if you’re pegging him to rebound on the West Coast. (Alan Harrison)

Quick Opinion: Ben Zobrist doesn’t pack the punch at the plate — or on the basepaths — that he once did, but he still carries multiple position eliibility and could likely reach double digits in both home runs and stolen bases while maintaining a .270 average. Keep him on your draft list for a potential late-round bench or middle infield stash.

Mike Zunino

Debut: 2013 |  BirthDate: 3/25/1991 | Team: Mariners | Position: C
Yr PA H HR SB RBI R AVG OBP SLG wOBA Off Def WAR
’13 193 37 5 1 14 22 .214 .290 .329 .280 -4.3 -1.8 0.0
’14 476 87 22 0 60 51 .199 .254 .404 .290 -8.9 8.9 1.7
’15 452 91 19 3 55 49 .219 .275 .407 .300 -3.1 13.1 2.7

Profile: Mike Zunino is one of the rare catchers who have shot quickly to the big leagues, and the Mariner showed why that’s the rarity in his full-season debut. He looked lost at the plate, striking out once every three plate appearances, and walking just 17 times in 131 games. Zunino is an extreme fly-ball hitter, and possesses good raw power that transfers over into games — the righty has hit 27 homers in 669 career plate appearances. Zunino’s power numbers could even improve if he can make some more contact, and simply reaching the Mendoza Line would technically qualify as an improvement. With catcher production leaving much to be desired, he can be a top-12 fantasy option if he can hit just .230 next season while maintaining the rest of his production. If you’re in an OBP league, though, leave Zunino in the dust. (Zach Sanders)

Quick Opinion: Zunino is a powerful catcher, and he can be a top-12 backstop if he hits just .230. Entering his age-24 season, it’s possible he makes that improvement.





 

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