San Diego Padres DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Miami Marlins second baseman Luis Arraez said Tuesday that while he "100 percent yes" would be interested in a contract extension, the team has not started any related conversations. The 26-year-old and the Marlins just completed his arbitration case, in which he will earn the $10.6 million the Marlins filed for in 2024, rather than the $12 million he had filed for. Arraez slashed .354/.393/.469 with 10 home runs and 69 RBI in 2023, earning his second batting title. President of baseball operations Peter Bendix said, "I love that he wants to stay here... That's something that we're going to keep internal." While his lack of high-level contribution in other categories limits his overall fantasy value, Arraez's elite batting average skills are undeniable.

San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt said Tuesday that newly signed relief pitcher Yuki Matsui will make his Cactus League debut in Thursday's opening game against the Dodgers. The 27-year-old lefty signed a four-year, $21 million contract this off-season after spending the past decade pitching for the Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan. Matsui was a successful closer, but the Padres also signed KBO reliever Woo-Suk Go and have Robert Suarez as the incumbent for the closer's role. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye and ear out in the Padres' camp as things progress.

Free-agent outfielder David Peralta (elbow) and the Chicago Cubs agreed to an undisclosed deal on Monday, according to sources familiar with the deal. Peralta joins the Cubs after hitting .259/.294/.381 with seven home runs, 25 doubles, a triple, 55 RBI, four stolen bases and 47 runs scored in 422 plate appearances over 133 games in 2023 for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 36-year-old left-handed hitter had a disastrous second half of the season, though, and then had flexor-tendon surgery on his left elbow in late October. It remains to be seen if Peralta will be ready by Opening Day, but if he is, the veteran outfielder will mostly likely serve as a reserve outfielder for the Cubbies in 2024. Fantasy managers in mixed leagues shouldn't have him on their radars.

Miami Marlins relief pitcher Tanner Scott won his arbitration case over the Miami Marlins, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB Network. There was a $550,000 delta between the two sides, with Miami wanting to pay Scott $5.15 million, and the closer wanting $5.7 million. The 29-year-old will be a free agent after this season and is certainly worth the salary he will make given what he provided last year for Miami. He compiled a 2.31 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 104:24 K/BB over 78 innings to go along with 12 saves. He should open the year as the Marlins' closer and is therefore worth securing in upcoming fantasy drafts.

San Diego Padres second baseman Ha-Seong Kim will return to shortstop in 2024 with Xander Bogaerts being moved full time to second base, according to manager Mike Shildt. While Bogaerts was solid defensively at shortstop in 2023 in his first year with the team, Kim has been the better defender overall, so the two will flip-flop positions. Offensively, Kim broke out last year, setting career-highs in batting average (.260), on-base percentage (.351), slugging percentage (.398), OPS (.749), home runs (17), RBI (60), stolen bases (38) and runs (84) in 152 games. The 28-year-old Korean infielder was one of SD's better all-around players, which has in turn increased his price in fantasy drafts in 2024. Adding shortstop eligibility will only increase his value to fantasy managers as he looks for an encore.