Fantasy baseball: Analysis of offseason trades and free-agent signings

Tracking the offseason MLB trades and signings with fantasy baseball implications for the upcoming season, Eric Karabell and Tristan H. Cockcroft volition analyse and supply an outlook for each of the cardinal players involved. Check backmost often arsenic players similar Aaron Judge, Trea Turner and Jacob deGrom find their imaginable caller homes for 2023.

Players volition beryllium separated by position, and past listed successful bid of phantasy relevance wrong each positional grouping. Also included are links to immoderate stand-alone investigation stories and/or videos regarding free-agent signings and trades.

Note: Players who extremity up re-signing with their erstwhile squad volition not beryllium included.

Jump to: Catcher | First Base | Second Base | Shortstop | Third Base | Outfield | DH | Starting Pitcher | Relief Pitcher

First base

Houston Astros motion 1B Jose Abreu: Abreu is simply a bully acceptable successful Houston, wherever helium should station akin numbers to past twelvemonth and stay a top-10 1B option. Batting successful the No. 6 slot, he'll person plentifulness of RBI opportunities. -- Cockcroft.

Go deeper connected the Abreu signing with Tristan's video investigation here.

Pittsburgh Pirates motion 1B Carlos Santana: A historical points-league dynamo, finishing among the top-50 hitters successful points scored successful each play from 2013-20, Santana has seen his roto-relevant batting mean crater, with "the shift" being partially liable (he batted sub-.185 from the near broadside successful each of 2020-22). Perhaps 2023's caller displacement rules volition dependable his downward aging curve, but the rebuilding Pirates aren't a large destination for an violative rebirth, keeping him much on the lines of being phantasy corner-infield filler. -- Cockcroft

Outfield

Los Angeles Angels commercialized for OF Hunter Renfroe: Don't panic pursuing this quality arsenic Angel Stadium has really played comparably HR-friendly to Milwaukee's American Family Field ever since the Angels lowered the right-field obstruction successful 2018 (oddly, including for right-handed hitters). Renfroe should again present his somewhat one-dimensional, 30-HR production, and if the Angels lineup tin enactment healthy, helium mightiness spot a tiny boost successful his RBI totals arsenic a middle-of-the-order bat. -- Cockcroft

Starting pitcher

Tampa Bay Rays motion SP Zach Eflin: The Rays could compression a batch of worth retired of Eflin, à la Corey Kluber past season, giving phantasy managers a sneaky-good backmost of your unit piece, truthful agelong arsenic you're consenting to enactment successful the lineup/matchups homework. -- Cockcroft

Go deeper connected the Eflin signing with Tristan's video investigation here.

Detroit Tigers motion SP Matthew Boyd: Back successful Detroit pursuing an 11-month lack portion recovering from September 2021 flexor tendon surgery, followed by a little stint arsenic a reliever with the Mariners, Boyd shouldn't person overmuch occupation landing a rotation spot with the 2023 Tigers. He'll request to support the tiny velocity and spin-rate bumps helium saw successful constricted clip to crook a nett connected his apt phantasy dart-throw stock, but Boyd did person a beardown three-month agelong arsenic precocious arsenic 2019 (3.72 ERA, 30.8 K% from April-June). -- Cockcroft

Chicago White Sox motion SP Mike Clevinger: Not each returnees from Tommy John country person flawless comebacks, and Clevinger's 2022 wasn't the smoothest. His mean fastball velocity was down astir 2 mph (consistently each year) and his play marred by assorted bumps and bruises. He's a worthwhile speculative adhd for the White Sox, but for phantasy purposes, would request to amusement either a betterment of his mislaid velocity oregon past ferocity with his slider during outpouring grooming to beryllium much than a mixed-league dart throw. -- Cockcroft