Anthony Franco99 posts

With a couple of weeks of the season now in the books, some early-season performances can start to become meaningful predictors for the rest of a player’s season. While we have not quite hit the stabilization point for most batted-ball statistics, trends are beginning to emerge which may be predictive of the player’s future results. In this edition, one of the league’s hottest hitters, one of its coldest pitchers, and a post-hype prospect who is showing some signs of offensive maturation. Jed Lowrie, 2B, Oakland A's Lowrie…

With a couple of weeks of the season now in the books, some early-season performances can start to become meaningful predictors. That said, results-based data (and even batted ball data) have not had enough time to really find their level yet. More granular changes become meaningful more quickly, though, and there is a ton of potential value to be had for owners who identify sustainable early-season breakouts. Case in point: Ketel Marte, a player whose surface numbers were not doing him justice, raised his batting average…

After only one week of MLB play, every stat comes with a number of sample size caveats. Players’ actual results mean very little for the rest of the season (sorry, Matt Davidson and Yolmer Sanchez). On the other hand, there is a full season’s worth of potential value to be had for owners who identify sustainable early-season breakouts, so it’s worth examining some players who have shown interesting underlying skills, which are more likely to be meaningful than a player’s batting average or home run total to this point.…

Bold Predictions Khris Davis eclipses 50 home runs It is unquestioned that Davis is one of the league’s elite power hitters; he has hit 42 and 43 homers, respectively, in the past two seasons. He still seems to be improving, though. Davis became more selective at the plate last season, he trimmed his ground-ball rate a few percentage points, and there seems to be some remaining upside for Davis based on his batted-ball profile. Despite ranking second among qualified hitters in average exit velocity on balls in the air last…

With spring training getting underway, the 2018 fantasy baseball season is very nearly approaching. Each week, I will be evaluating one player’s stock for this year. This week, a former top prospect coming off a forgettable season, but who presents an interesting buy-low opportunity for 2018. Jorge Soler, Kansas City Royals 2017 statistics: .144/.245/.258, 2 HR, 0 SB General Overview Jorge Soler entered 2017 as a potential breakout player, a former top prospect who, in just over a full season’s worth of playing time from…

As the 2018 season approaches, here is a list of players at every position I like more than their current average draft position. Catcher J.T. Realmuto The high-end fantasy catchers are currently divided into two tiers: Gary Sanchez, Willson Contreras and Buster Posey in the top group, with Realmuto, Salvador Perez, and Evan Gattis the second trio. Realmuto should probably be in that first tier, though, based on his bat-to-ball skills and durability. He led all catchers in plate appearances last season and ranked 11th at…

With spring training getting underway, the 2018 fantasy baseball season is very nearly approaching. Each week, I will be evaluating one player’s stock for this year. This week, another starting pitcher who fantasy owners, despite a strong pedigree and above-average MLB results, are curiously undervaluing in drafts to this point. In all likelihood, this is due to a couple of misleadingly high ERA marks in recent seasons. Join or start a fantasy baseball league at Fantrax today! Keeper, dynasty, re-draft. Fully customizable.…

With spring training getting underway, the 2018 fantasy baseball season is very nearly approaching. Each week, I will be evaluating one player’s stock for this year. This week, a player who used to be one of baseball’s best pitching prospects, and who tapped into his upside in the second-half last season thanks to a dramatic uptick in the quality of his stuff and an emerging offspeed pitch. Join or start a fantasy baseball league at Fantrax today! Keeper, dynasty, re-draft. Fully customizable. A+ customer service. Play for…

The Rays will sign outfielder Carlos Gomez to a one-year contract worth about $4 million, according to various reports. Gomez had a bit of a bounce-back season in Texas last season after a dismal season and a half in Houston. Given the Rays’ well-publicized sell-off over the past week (Steven Souza was traded to Arizona, and Corey Dickerson was designated for assignment), Gomez should be able to find regular playing time in the corner outfield. That said, he is not a particularly exciting fantasy option at this stage of his…

With spring training getting underway, the 2018 fantasy baseball season is very nearly approaching. Each week, I will be evaluating one player’s stock for this year. This week, a former MVP candidate whose value has taken a hit from numerous injuries in recent years. Michael Brantley, Cleveland Indians 2017 statistics: .299/.357/.444, 9 HR, 11 SB General Overview From 2014-2015, Michael Brantley was one of the league’s best hitters, compiling nearly 1,300 plate appearances with a .319/.382/.494 line, good for a 142 wRC+.…