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Andrew Gould

FantasyPros

Ryan McMahon (1B,2B,3B - COL)
Thu, Mar 28
Player Note on Ryan McMahon (1B,2B,3B - COL)
After hitting .424 with nine doubles and three homers in spring, McMahon made the Rockies' roster and Opening Day lineup. Also heavily hyped entering 2018, he managed a meager .232/.307/.683 slash line in 202 plate appearances. He'll also still have to compete with Garrett Hampson for playing time at second base, but all managers need to pay attention to a promising 24-year-old hitter who gets to play in Coors Field. The breakout may be coming a year later than anticipated.
Dallas Keuchel (SP - CWS)
Thu, Mar 28
Player Note on Dallas Keuchel (SP - CWS)
Keuchel will open 2019 without a team. Even if he signs, don't get too excited. Remember how a prolonged free agency worked out for Alex Cobb, Lance Lynn, and Greg Holland last year? After posting a 3.74 ERA and 1.31 WHIP with an underwhelming 153 strikeouts in 204.2 innings, the 31-year-old lefty isn't particularly alluring in shallow mixed leagues anyway. Drafters shouldn't feel too guilty about dropping him in a 10- or 12-team mixed league with limited bench slots.
Alex Wood (SP - FA)
Thu, Mar 28
Player Note on Alex Wood (SP - FA)
Wood will open 2019 on the IL with a back injury, but don't forget about him. Even before getting hurt, he was overlooked in drafts despite carrying a career 3.29 ERA and 3.36 FIP and gaining job security with a move from the Dodgers to the Reds. The park change and diminished velocity have caused valid concerns, but the 28-year-old righty should remain a solid No. 4 or 5 starter when healthy.
Nolan Arenado (3B - COL)
Thu, Mar 28
Player Note on Nolan Arenado (3B - COL)
Drafters know what they're getting in Arenado, who has batted no lower than .287 with at least 37 homers and 110 RBI in the last four years. He has played all but 16 games in those four seasons, making him a durable beacon of consistency worthy of a first-round selection. He signed an extension during the offseason, so investors no longer need to worry about a midseason trade removing him from Coors Field. A lack of steals is an unfortunate, but acceptable tradeoff for locking in bankable production at every other category.
J.D. Martinez (LF,RF,DH - BOS)
Thu, Mar 28
Player Note on J.D. Martinez (LF,RF,DH - BOS)
Martinez is a rare first-round hitter who rarely runs, but he'll make up for it in every other spot. While the 31-year-old probably won't win another batting title at .330, he's a .307 hitter since 2014's breakout who has exceeded .300 in three straight years. He boasts an MLB-high .655 slugging percentage in the past two seasons with 88 long balls. Last season, he placed within the 97th percentile or better in exit velocity, hard-hit%, xAVG, xSLG, and xWOBA. Hitting in the middle of Boston's lineup also makes him a strong bet to drive in and score over 100 runs. Limited fielding reps helped him stay healthy, but he played enough OF (25 games) to maintain fantasy eligibility, making him a strong four-category star.
Luis Urias (2B - MIL)
Thu, Mar 28
Player Note on Luis Urias (2B - MIL)
Urias will open in Triple-A after the Padres surprisingly gave his spot to uber-prospect Fernando Tatis Jr. As a contact-orientated hitter, Urias doesn't elicit as much excitement from a fantasy perspective. He's not a necessary stash in re-draft mixed leagues, but dynasty players should try to use the demotion as a buy-low opportunity.
Francisco Lindor (SS - CLE)
Thu, Mar 28
Player Note on Francisco Lindor (SS - CLE)
Originally expected to return from a calf injury in early April, Lindor suffered an ankle ailment while rehabbing. There's now no timetable for his recovery, and it's increasingly hard to see Cleveland letting him run once back on the diamond. Investors have little choice but to wait and hope for the best, but they shouldn't expect him to return first-round value.
Fernando Tatis Jr. (SS - SD)
Wed, Mar 27
Player Note on Fernando Tatis Jr. (SS - SD)
The Padres presented a pleasant surprise by including Tatis on their Opening Day roster. Arguably MLB's best prospect behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the 20-year-old shortstop batted .286/.355/.507 with 16 homers and steals apiece in 88 Double-A games last season. He also recorded a 27.7% strikeout rate, so expect some growing pains in his debut. An early slump could send him back to the minors, where Luis Urias will wait for another call-up. Like Yoan Moncada, Tatis could offer double-digit homers and steals with a low batting average, but he's certainly worth rostering just in case he breaks out sooner than expected.
Pete Alonso (1B,DH - NYM)
Wed, Mar 27
Player Note on Pete Alonso (1B,DH - NYM)
While Jed Lowrie and Todd Frazier both starting 2019 on the IL, Alonso forced the Mets' hand and won an Opening Day by displayed his Herculean power throughout spring training. The rookie could promptly crush 30 long balls if locked into the starting role all year. Their infield, however, could get crowded when Lowrie and Frazier return, so he may need to hit out of the gate to preserve a big league role.
Adam Jones (CF,DH - FA)
Wed, Mar 27
Player Note on Adam Jones (CF,DH - FA)
Steven Souza's season-ending knee surgery will likely clear up a starting spot for Jones, who still hit .281 with 15 homers in a down 2018. The durable veteran has averaged 151 games played over the past nine seasons, and he had gone seven straight seasons with at least 25 long balls before last year's decline. He's a boring depth piece who can help fill an injury void in deep leagues.
Ryan McMahon (1B,2B,3B - COL)
Thu, Mar 28
Player Note on Ryan McMahon (1B,2B,3B - COL)
After hitting .424 with nine doubles and three homers in spring, McMahon made the Rockies' roster and Opening Day lineup. Also heavily hyped entering 2018, he managed a meager .232/.307/.683 slash line in 202 plate appearances. He'll also still have to compete with Garrett Hampson for playing time at second base, but all managers need to pay attention to a promising 24-year-old hitter who gets to play in Coors Field. The breakout may be coming a year later than anticipated.
Dallas Keuchel (SP - CWS)
Thu, Mar 28
Player Note on Dallas Keuchel (SP - CWS)
Keuchel will open 2019 without a team. Even if he signs, don't get too excited. Remember how a prolonged free agency worked out for Alex Cobb, Lance Lynn, and Greg Holland last year? After posting a 3.74 ERA and 1.31 WHIP with an underwhelming 153 strikeouts in 204.2 innings, the 31-year-old lefty isn't particularly alluring in shallow mixed leagues anyway. Drafters shouldn't feel too guilty about dropping him in a 10- or 12-team mixed league with limited bench slots.
Alex Wood (SP - FA)
Thu, Mar 28
Player Note on Alex Wood (SP - FA)
Wood will open 2019 on the IL with a back injury, but don't forget about him. Even before getting hurt, he was overlooked in drafts despite carrying a career 3.29 ERA and 3.36 FIP and gaining job security with a move from the Dodgers to the Reds. The park change and diminished velocity have caused valid concerns, but the 28-year-old righty should remain a solid No. 4 or 5 starter when healthy.
Nolan Arenado (3B - COL)
Thu, Mar 28
Player Note on Nolan Arenado (3B - COL)
Drafters know what they're getting in Arenado, who has batted no lower than .287 with at least 37 homers and 110 RBI in the last four years. He has played all but 16 games in those four seasons, making him a durable beacon of consistency worthy of a first-round selection. He signed an extension during the offseason, so investors no longer need to worry about a midseason trade removing him from Coors Field. A lack of steals is an unfortunate, but acceptable tradeoff for locking in bankable production at every other category.
J.D. Martinez (LF,RF,DH - BOS)
Thu, Mar 28
Player Note on J.D. Martinez (LF,RF,DH - BOS)
Martinez is a rare first-round hitter who rarely runs, but he'll make up for it in every other spot. While the 31-year-old probably won't win another batting title at .330, he's a .307 hitter since 2014's breakout who has exceeded .300 in three straight years. He boasts an MLB-high .655 slugging percentage in the past two seasons with 88 long balls. Last season, he placed within the 97th percentile or better in exit velocity, hard-hit%, xAVG, xSLG, and xWOBA. Hitting in the middle of Boston's lineup also makes him a strong bet to drive in and score over 100 runs. Limited fielding reps helped him stay healthy, but he played enough OF (25 games) to maintain fantasy eligibility, making him a strong four-category star.
Luis Urias (2B - MIL)
Thu, Mar 28
Player Note on Luis Urias (2B - MIL)
Urias will open in Triple-A after the Padres surprisingly gave his spot to uber-prospect Fernando Tatis Jr. As a contact-orientated hitter, Urias doesn't elicit as much excitement from a fantasy perspective. He's not a necessary stash in re-draft mixed leagues, but dynasty players should try to use the demotion as a buy-low opportunity.
Francisco Lindor (SS - CLE)
Thu, Mar 28
Player Note on Francisco Lindor (SS - CLE)
Originally expected to return from a calf injury in early April, Lindor suffered an ankle ailment while rehabbing. There's now no timetable for his recovery, and it's increasingly hard to see Cleveland letting him run once back on the diamond. Investors have little choice but to wait and hope for the best, but they shouldn't expect him to return first-round value.
Fernando Tatis Jr. (SS - SD)
Wed, Mar 27
Player Note on Fernando Tatis Jr. (SS - SD)
The Padres presented a pleasant surprise by including Tatis on their Opening Day roster. Arguably MLB's best prospect behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the 20-year-old shortstop batted .286/.355/.507 with 16 homers and steals apiece in 88 Double-A games last season. He also recorded a 27.7% strikeout rate, so expect some growing pains in his debut. An early slump could send him back to the minors, where Luis Urias will wait for another call-up. Like Yoan Moncada, Tatis could offer double-digit homers and steals with a low batting average, but he's certainly worth rostering just in case he breaks out sooner than expected.
Pete Alonso (1B,DH - NYM)
Wed, Mar 27
Player Note on Pete Alonso (1B,DH - NYM)
While Jed Lowrie and Todd Frazier both starting 2019 on the IL, Alonso forced the Mets' hand and won an Opening Day by displayed his Herculean power throughout spring training. The rookie could promptly crush 30 long balls if locked into the starting role all year. Their infield, however, could get crowded when Lowrie and Frazier return, so he may need to hit out of the gate to preserve a big league role.
Adam Jones (CF,DH - FA)
Wed, Mar 27
Player Note on Adam Jones (CF,DH - FA)
Steven Souza's season-ending knee surgery will likely clear up a starting spot for Jones, who still hit .281 with 15 homers in a down 2018. The durable veteran has averaged 151 games played over the past nine seasons, and he had gone seven straight seasons with at least 25 long balls before last year's decline. He's a boring depth piece who can help fill an injury void in deep leagues.
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