Fantasy Baseball Player Notes
2024 Fantasy Baseball Draft Notes
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7.
Fernando Tatis Jr.
RF
In 2023, Fernando Tatis Jr. showed a deceiving decline, batting .257/.322/.449 post-suspension. Yet, a deeper look reveals a promising expected slash line of .282/.332/.511, with a low BABIP (.299) impacting his performance. Tatis achieved a career-low strikeout rate (22.2%), hitting 25 homers and swiping 29 bases. A weaker team offense hinders him, so his overall stats don't reflect his potential. Avoiding off-field mishaps, Tatis, at 25, is a strong candidate for a significant rebound. He's a steal in drafts if available at a reduced price.
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45.
Manny Machado
3B,DH
Manny Machado had a down year by his standards and by the standards of fantasy managers who took him early in 2023 drafts. In 138 games, he hit 30 home runs and drove in 91, which is in line with his career average. However, his batting average (.258) and OBP (.319) did not hold up their end of the bargain. Of course, neither did the Padres All-Star lineup. According to Statcast, he is right around average in Batting Run Value, which should drop his draft cost considerably, and his counting numbers may not hold steady with the departure of Juan Soto in the offseason. When you take into consideration the overall increase in talent at 3B and couple it with an aging Machado (he will turn 32 in July), there may be better value on the board in 2024.
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83.
Xander Bogaerts
2B,SS,DH
Xander Bogaerts signed an 11-year contract with the Padres to join what looked like a deep lineup but turned out to be disappointing. The 31-year-old had 19 home runs and 19 stolen bases (a career-high), but his other counting stats took a hit. He slashed .285/.350/.440, but his expected slash numbers were .255/.318/.401. Those red flags should steer fantasy managers off the shortstop until later rounds at the earliest. With news he will gain second-base eligibility in 2024, his value gets a slight boost, but only if he falls to you.
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86.
Ha-Seong Kim
2B,3B,SS
Entering the 2024 season, Ha-Seong Kim has established himself as a valuable asset for fantasy baseball managers. At 28 years old, Kim's versatility on the field is evident with his multi-positional eligibility. His performance in 2023 was impressive, as he racked up 84 runs, 140 hits, 17 home runs, and an exceptional 38 stolen bases, ranking fifth in the NL for steals. This was a significant increase from his 12 stolen bases in 2022. Kim had 626 plate appearances and 538 at-bats during the season, highlighting his consistent presence in the lineup. His advanced metrics indicate an increased comfort at the plate, reflected in his improved walk and strikeout rates and his on-base plus slugging (OPS) reaching .749. Kim's blend of speed, improving power, and position versatility make him a strong asset for fantasy teams. His growth at the plate and on the field suggests the potential for an even more impactful 2024 season.
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89.
Joe Musgrove
SP
Joe Musgrove dealt with an injury-plagued 2023, where he started only 17 games for the underperforming Padres. He pitched 97 1/3 innings and struck out 97 batters with a 3.05 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. The 31-year-old pitcher remains in the 90th percentile in BB% at 5.3, but his K% has decreased in each year since 2020. If he stays healthy, he profiles as a decent SP3 for 2024, but be prepared for an uptick in his ERA.
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92.
Dylan Cease
SP
Dylan Cease had the letdown in 2023 that many fantasy experts predicted. After being the Cy Young Award runner-up in 2022, the 28-year-old returned and threw 177 innings with an ERA of 4.58 and an ugly 1.42 WHIP. Sure, Cease was snakebit by an unsustainably high BABIP (.330) and a terrible defensive squad behind him (27th in fielding runs above average at -64). He is an intriguing bounceback candidate with an xERA of 4.07 and xFIP of 4.08, but fantasy managers must note that none of his metrics suggest the 2022 version is ever coming back. Cease is best as an SP3/4 on fantasy squads.
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127.
Tanner Scott
RP
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134.
Luis Arraez
1B,2B,DH
Last season was a landmark year for Luis Arraez. He became one of baseball's best hitters known for his exceptional contact skills, underlined by his .354 batting average, .393 on-base percentage, and .469 slugging percentage. He tallied 203 hits and 10 home runs over 617 plate appearances. Arraez's success is attributed to his elite strike-zone recognition and smart swing decisions. While chances are high that he won't hit .354 again, his xBA was still .325, and he is in the 100th percentile in K% and Whiff%. Arraez is THE stereotypical "empty batting average" player, but he is a nice offset to a power-only guy.
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135.
Michael King
SP,RP
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157.
Yu Darvish
SP
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247.
Robert Suarez
RP
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252.
Luis Campusano
C
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293.
Jackson Merrill
SS,CF
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297.
Jake Cronenworth
1B,2B,DH
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319.
Yuki Matsui
RP
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340.
Elias Diaz
C,DH
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344.
Jason Adam
RP
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474.
Jhony Brito
SP,RP
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519.
Martin Perez
SP,RP
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602.
Wandy Peralta
RP
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652.
Randy Vasquez
SP
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677.
Matt Waldron
SP
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678.
Tom Cosgrove
RP
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687.
Jurickson Profar
LF,DH
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695.
Tyler Wade
2B,3B,SS,LF,RF,DH
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744.
Nick Ahmed
SS
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782.
Kyle Higashioka
C
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801.
Eguy Rosario
3B
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866.
Drew Carlton
RP
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929.
Alek Jacob
RP
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941.
Adrian Morejon
RP
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958.
Donovan Solano
1B,2B,3B,DH
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977.
Ethan Salas
C
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1088.
Jackson Wolf
SP
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1108.
Logan Gillaspie
RP
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1166.
Tim Locastro
LF
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1169.
David Peralta
LF,RF,DH
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1219.
Ryan Bergert
SP
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1228.
Nabil Crismatt
RP
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1288.
Jeremiah Estrada
RP
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1320.
Kevin Kopps
RP
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1323.
Austin Davis
RP
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1344.
Jayvien Sandridge
RP
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1373.
Stephen Kolek
RP
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1430.
Sean Reynolds
RP
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1439.
Jay Groome
SP
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1470.
Bryan Hoeing
SP,RP
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1490.
Luis Patino
RP
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1518.
Brett Sullivan
C
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1592.
Tucupita Marcano
SS
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1595.
Matthew Batten
3B
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1611.
Cal Mitchell
RF
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1640.
Brad Miller
DH
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1670.
Bryce Johnson
CF,RF
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1685.
Tirso Ornelas
LF
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1717.
Mason McCoy
SS
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