Austin Slater DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Chicago White Sox outfielder Austin Slater (oblique) was scratched from Monday's starting lineup due to a left oblique strain. Fantasy managers should expect the 32-year-old to be sidelined for a few games. The team has not provided an update regarding the severity of the strain. Earlier in the offseason, the White Sox signed Slater to a one-year $1.75 million. Last season, Slater spent time with the Giants, Reds, and Orioles. Across 84 MLB contests, he held a .209/.321/.266 slash line with two home runs and three stolen bases. He showed an elite eye at the plate as he drew walks at a 12.3 percent rate but only generated a modest .232 xBA. When healthy, Slater will likely operate in a platoon role but could be in line to see more opportunities at the start of the season with Andrew Benintendi (hand) sidelined with a hand fracture.

Free-agent veteran outfielder Austin Slater agreed to an undisclosed major-league deal with the Chicago White Sox on Monday. It's not the greatest landing spot for Slater in terms of fantasy purposes, but he should at least see a short-side platoon in Chicago against left-handed pitchers in 2025 on what will likely be a one-year deal. The 31-year-old right-handed-hitting outfielder has traditionally handled lefty pitchers well in his career, although he struggled against them in 2024 with the San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles, slashing .188/.310/.231 against them with one of his two home runs on the year and 11 RBI in 142 plate appearances. Slater will be hoping to bounce back offensively for the Pale Hose next season. With a low ceiling and low floor, Slater should only be considered in deep mixed and AL-only leagues in 2025.

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Austin Slater will be batting leadoff for the Orioles on Saturday as they face the Cleveland Guardians and scheduled starter Joey Cantillo. Slater was acquired by the Orioles from the Cincinnati Reds at the trade deadline and has made one plate appearance for the Orioles, a pinch hit single in Friday's 10-3 loss to the Guardians. Slater was generally used in a platoon role against southpaws when he was with the Giants and batted near the bottom of the order in his short time with the Cincinnati Reds. It's too early to tell if Slater hitting leadoff will be a regular thing for Baltimore, or if he'll be relegated to a platoon role like he had with the Giants, but fantasy managers looking for the 31-year-old to show his .543 OPS is a fluke will hope he gets plenty of opportunities in the leadoff spot to crank that number up.