Fantasy Baseball Player Notes

Yordan Alvarez set a career-high by playing in 147 games this season. He showcased his power with 35 home runs, complemented by 88 runs scored, 86 RBIs, and a career-best six stolen bases. Alvarez posted an impressive .308/.392/.567 slash line, ranking within the Top 7 across several key offensive categories in all of baseball. While his walk rate dipped from 13.9% to 10.9%, his strikeout rate also improved, reflecting a continued ability to make selective, quality swings. Although stolen bases won't be a significant part of his game, Alvarez remains a reliable contributor in four key categories, cementing his status as a strong first-round option heading into 2025.

Jose Altuve bounced back from his injury-plagued 2023 and played 153 for the Astros in 2024. He hit 20 home runs and stole 22 bases, the most since 2017. However, he is now entering his age-35 season, and we need to ask if the decline is in store sooner rather than later. His expected stats suggest Altuve experienced more luck than usual last season. His xBA was .262, compared to his final line of .295. Hix xSLG is perhaps even more concerning, dropping below .400 for the first time since 2015. The chances of him reaching 20 steals again seem low, but he can still get to the 15 mark fairly easily. Second base remains a difficult position to fill, so Altuve still has plenty of value. But don't pay for the player of yesteryear in case Father Time arrives early in 2025.