The Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres and Philadelphia Phillies made rather large financial investments in free agent shortstops this past offseason, pushing Nico Hoerner, Ha-Seong Kim and Bryson Stott, respectively, over to second base. More established veterans Dansby Swanson, Xander Bogaerts and Trea Turner cashed in with lucrative, long-term contracts and fantasy managers gleefully invested in them for the early rounds.
A funny thing happened in another unpredictable fantasy season. Hoerner and Kim were far more valuable in fantasy than the players they moved positions for, though they went considerably later in drafts, if they went at all. Turner was a top-three pick in many leagues. Stott was more valuable until a recent Turner hot streak. Extracting major statistics from late-round picks or free agent additions is crucial, and Hoerner, Kim and Stott have been among the most valuable players in fantasy.
Hoerner and Kim each surpassed 30 stolen bases for the season with more than a month to spare, while also hitting for high batting average and scoring myriad runs leading their respective lineups. Stott may still get to 30 steals. No, these players are not as valuable as Los Angeles Dodgers 1B Freddie Freeman and OF/2B/SS Mookie Betts, Kansas City Royals SS/3B Bobby Witt Jr. or a host of others chosen in the first rounds of ESPN average live drafts, but Hoerner, Kim and Stott were fantastic values. We expect top-20 players to perform as top options. We do not expect players outside the top 200 to do so
Some will argue Hoerner, Kim and Stott failed to supply enough power to warrant this fantasy accolade, but power isn’t everything, and it surely isn’t hard to find. Fantasy baseball managers knew stolen bases were going to rise this season thanks to new rules, but they may not have known who would supply them. Hoerner, Kim and Stott combined for 44 steals last season. We’re already double that figure in 2023. They were not close to being top 10 fantasy shortstops. They are today.
Fantasy MVPs (Infielders)
Hoerner, Kim and Stott: It is not all about the home runs for roto or points formats. Hits, runs and stolen bases do matter. We should also add that multi-eligibility is worth a few bonus points, too. Other infielders who stole myriad bases and added big value include Washington Nationals SS CJ Abrams and Toronto Blue Jays 2B/OF Whit Merrifield.
Justin Turner, 3B/1B/2B, Boston Red Sox: Turner’s final season with the Dodgers went fine, considering he was 37 years old, though he hit a mere 13 home runs. His first season with the Red Sox has been much better, with much more power and a legitimate shot at 100 runs and RBI for the first time in his career. Turner was a late draft pick.
Yandy Diaz, 3B/1B, Tampa Bay Rays: Diaz hit .296 during the 2022 season but had only nine home runs, far below expectations for corner infielders and seemingly incongruous with his muscular body type. This season, entrenched as the leadoff hitter, Diaz has doubled his home run output and may win the batting title and score 100 runs.
Spencer Steer, 3B/1B/2B/OF, Cincinnati Reds: This rookie brought third base eligibility and modest promise of regular work into the season, then proceeded to hit 20 home runs and steal double-digit bases. With apologies to Baltimore Orioles 3B/SS Gunnar Henderson and Texas Rangers 3B Josh Jung, Steer is the lone rookie infielder among the top 50 on the Rater.
Isaac Paredes, 3B/1B/2B, Rays: We love when free agent pickups go for 30 home runs and 100 RBIs. Paredes is on his way. Other undrafted slugging infielders included Reds rookie Matt McLain and, for the latter part of the season, Minnesota Twins SS/3B Royce Lewis.
Note: Betts and rejuvenated Cub Cody Bellinger will appear in the outfield blog entry, since they only added their infield eligibility during this season.
Fantasy LVPs (Infielders)
Jake Cronenworth, 2B/1B, Padres: Cronenworth was a top-100 pick in many leagues, the No. 4 2B in ESPN ADP after Marcus Semien and Ozzie Albies and went seven rounds ahead of then-injured Jose Altuve, a durable compiler who hit only .229 with 10 home runs before an errant pitch fractured his wrist in August.
Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B, Royals: Selected a few rounds after Cronenworth but still in the first half of most drafts, Pasquantino hit .295 with power and plate discipline as a rookie. He hit .247 with nine home runs in 61 games in his follow-up campaign, with shoulder surgery truncating his season.
Josh Bell, 1B, Miami Marlins: Bell hit .233 with 11 home runs over 393 plate appearances for the Cleveland Guardians, and while he has rebounded some after the deadline trade to Miami, this 12th-round pick is not close to being among the top 20 first basemen for the season.
Carlos Correa, SS, Twins: Correa blames plantar fasciitis in his left foot for his poor season, and perhaps he bounces back to prior levels in 2024, but this season has not gone well for him, or, for that matter, the shortstop left behind in Houston, Jeremy Pena.
Jose Abreu, 1B, Houston Astros: The No. 13 first baseman in ESPN ADP — ahead of Yandy Diaz, Bellinger and Bryce Harper! — is delivering career worsts across the statistical board in his age-36 season, and the Astros must regret the three-year contract. Other disappointing first basemen include Angel/Rockie C.J. Cron and Blue Jay Rowdy Tellez.
Fantasy MVP (Catchers)
William Contreras, C, Milwaukee Brewers: Rangers C Jonah Heim led the Player Rater for much of the summer, but then he hit the injured list with a wrist injury and struggled upon his return. Contreras was the No. 10 catcher in ESPN ADP, a free agent addition in many leagues who went well after his more publicized older brother Willson, who signed the big contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. William has been much better. In fact, he entered September leading all catchers on the Rater, not because he had the most home runs, but because of safe batting average and high runs scored production, a byproduct of regularly hitting second in the lineup.
We thank Heim and Houston Astros rookie Yainer Diaz as well (top 10 on the Rater) and note that precocious Baltimore Orioles youngster Adley Rutschman boasts a sizable lead in standard fantasy points for the position, thanks to myriad walks and runs. Rutschman was a top-50 pick in ESPN ADP, though.
Fantasy LVPs (Catchers)
Daulton Varsho and Alejandro Kirk, C, Blue Jays: These two were the Nos. 4 and 5 backstops in ESPN ADP, Varsho going among the top 100 overall and Kirk 10 rounds later, but neither has been worth the investment. Varsho’s fantasy appeal coming over in trade with the Diamondbacks was that he would play mostly the outfield with his catcher eligibility and provide big power with stolen base output. Instead, Varsho who has played nary a game behind the plate — losing his catcher eligibility for 2024 — has barely hit his weight, albeit with a chance at 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases. It was not worth the top-100 investment.
Kirk hit .285 with 14 home runs in 2022, his first season as the starter. He was supposed to improve. He has not improved. Royals C/OF MJ Melendez has also disappointed this season, and he may lose catcher eligibility for some in 2024.
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