Fantasy Baseball Spring Training Roundup (3/25)

This is the fourth installment of our offseason transactions roundup. The FTN Fantasy MLB team will discuss fantasy implications from the latest MLB trades and free agent signings.

Our fourth segment is covering transactions from March 21 to March 24. I’ll be using the most recent week of NFBC Draft Champions ADP data.

NL East

There have been so significant transactions that would result in somebody having a fantasy impact.

NL Central

Cincinnati Reds: Tommy Pham (OF), Hunter Strickland (P)

The Reds signed Tommy Pham to a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2023. I’m not really sure why the Reds made this signing as they have been selling off players, looking to shed salary all offseason. My assumption is that they will look to move Pham at the trade deadline for younger, controllable players. As of today, Pham lands in an optimal spot from a park factor perspective, as Great American Ball Park is ranked first in home runs with a grading 30% above average. The Reds’ offense no longer has Nick Castellanos, Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suárez, making the lineup much thinner than in 2021. Pham’s ADP was 264 prior to heading to Cincinnati. I would anticipate that rising with Cincinnati being a great landing spot while a season with double-digit homers and steals still in Pham’s range of outcomes.

Hunter Strickland’s new home is in Cincinnati. This is actually one of the more optimal spots from a fantasy perspective as the Reds don’t have a defined closer as of now, and their most talented reliever (Lucas Sims) has been hurt in the past while currently dealing with elbow issues. Sims is likely to begin the season on the IL, which helps increase the chance of Hunter Strickland getting late inning work. Strickland has 21 career saves, so it wouldn’t be shocking if he were to fall into a few with the current state of the Reds’ bullpen.

NL West

Arizona Diamondbacks: Zach Davies (P)

29-year-old Zach Davies gets a guaranteed $1.75 million from the Diamondbacks with an additional $2.5 million in bonuses on the table based on the number of starts Davies makes. Davies will likely crack the Opening Day rotation for the Diamondbacks, but that doesn’t do much for us from a fantasy perspective. Health hasn’t been great for Davies, who has battled shoulder and back issues in the past. Performance is a big issue as well, as he has a career 9.5% strikeout minus walk rate. That isn’t going to get the job done in fantasy leagues. The ratios from the shortened 2020 season aren’t coming back with his 2.73 ERA and 1.07 WHIP being huge outliers when looking at his career stats and metrics. Last season, Davies pitched 148 innings for the Cubs, registering a 5.78 ERA and 1.60 WHIP with 114 strikeouts. Numbers like that aren’t even promotable in NL-only leagues, but I’ll regress to say that Davies should be a late round target in NL-only leagues. If you aren’t aware, you’ll end up being interested in anyone with a pulse who has a job in a starting rotation when drafting in an “only” league. Zach Davies has at least that.

Colorado Rockies: Randal Grichuk (OF)

Randal Grichuk is getting shipped to Colorado, making him an appealing fourth or fifth outfielder now that half of his games will be played in Coors Field. Grichuk was likely going to be buried in the Blue Jays’ lineup, and it’s no secret they have been searching for a left-handed bat. There is a good chance Grichuk gets a bump up in the batting order with the Rockies not having as deep a lineup as Toronto. Grichuk’s ADP (344) had him going in the 23rd round on average. With Coors Field on the horizon, his ADP is likely to ascend with the new landing spot being the best possible scenario for Grichuk.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Kevin Pillar (OF)

Kevin Pillar gets a minor league deal with a chance to compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster. If Pillar can get one, he would be a piece off the bench. The Dodgers are a team that love to utilize their depth, giving their veterans days off for rest. A.J. Pollock is the first that comes to mind, and we know health is never a certainty. Best case scenario, I visualize Pillar being awesome off the bench, getting Dodger Stadium fired up at times with the electricity he brings to the field defensively. With the Dodgers talent and depth, Pillar is best left on free agency.

San Diego Padres: Luke Voit (1B)

After being a downgrade in a previous article, Luke Voit now becomes an upgrade. Voit gets out of a murky situation with the Yankees and finds himself with an everyday role in San Diego. The Yankees’ current depth would have Voit being a player off the bench with them bringing back Anthony Rizzo. The Padres are oddly looking a bit thin offensively with Fernando Tatis Jr. set to start the season on the IL (wrist). Voit goes from being a reserve bat to an everyday player, likely hitting in the heart of the Padres’ lineup.

High-Level (NL)

Upgrade: Hunter Strickland (15s, NL-Only, DCs), Luke Voit (all formats), Randal Grichuk (all formats)
Downgrade: Dan Straily (NL-Only, DCs), Tyler Gilbert (NL-Only, DCs)

AL East

Toronto Blue Jays: Raimel Tapia (OF)

Fantasy managers who have been drafting Raimel Tapia are likely to be disappointed with the outfielder getting traded to the Blue Jays. Tapia leaves Coors Field and a thin Rockies’ lineup to join the offensively stacked Blue Jays. Tapia had more projected plate appearances with Colorado, with his new role being a player off the bench in Toronto. Even though the Blue Jays lack left-handed hitters, Tapia is probably going to be a reserve piece unless there is an injury to either George Springer, Teoscar Hernández and Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

AL Central

There have been so significant transactions that would result in somebody having a fantasy impact.

AL West

Seattle Mariners: Sergio Romo (P)

The Mariners continue to bolster their already deep bullpen, adding Sergio Romo to the mix. This transaction likely doesn’t have much impact for fantasy purposes as Romo won’t have many opportunities to close out games with Drew Steckenrider, Paul Sewald, Diego Castillo and Ken Giles all set to split those duties.