Starters Finally Healthy:
Chris Sale: This is a story line every year but I'm especially interested to see Chris Sale. Boston could certainly use some good injury news for once this off season. When Sale has been healthy he's been pretty good still. The problem is that's been a small sample size. Is this finally the year? You can roll the dice on him but he's a lottery ticket at this point.
Freddy Peralta: On Fantrax Freddy Peralta's ADP has hovered around 130-140. The metrics are so good but the shoulder just wasn't last year. He's not pitching in the WBC which I'm grateful for. Here's to hoping he looks good this Spring. If you can get him at a discount right now and have room to roll the dice I would. If he's healthy this spring that ADP is going to soar.
Kenta Maeda: Remember him? Finally coming back from TJ surgery. His last season before injury was a little disappointing but if you're looking for a late dart throw you could do worse. He's expected to have a normal Spring Training so we should have a good sense of where he is by opening day and late March drafts.
Tyler Glasnow: Glasnow came back briefly at the end of 2022 for just a handful of innings but looked good. He should hit the ground running, hopefully with not too must rust after a normal off season.
Young Opportunities:
Position battles may benefit some from WBC as some young guys may get a longer look. Here's some young guys I'm excited to watch
Vaughn Grissom: Dansby walked and right now the SS options are Grissom, Orlando Arcia, and....Ehire Adrianza? This feels like Grissom's job to lose. If he struggles the Braves could roll with Arcia but I can't imagine that lasting long. Maybe the Braves bring in an Elvis Andrus or someone late, but I'll be watching and cheering for Grissom to take this job and run with it. 2B rankings need him to.
Position Locks: Guys like Corbin Carroll, Gunnar Henderson, Logan O'Hoppe, Josh Jung, Francisco Alvarez, and Miguel Vargas shouldn't have much trouble cracking the Opening Day roster, but these guys are still some of my favorites to watch. A few of these would really have to have an awful spring to start in AAA. Some do have a little to prove, but all could be contributors to fantasy lineups early.
Sneaky Value: Spencer Steer has a real chance to make some noise in GAB. He has a little experience under his belt and ample opportunity in a great place to hit. He just needs to earn the job this spring.
Everyone is crazy for Estuery Ruiz and he absolutely should play after being the centerpiece for Sean Murphy. But my favorite sneaky speed guy is Ji-Hwan Bae. He had a great 2023 swiping 30 bags with a great average and OBP. He can play 2B or OF. The Pirates do have some options....I guess you'd call them...for OF. But at 2B he needs to beat Rodolfo Castro and NRI and very well could give you 30+ steals with a solid average and OBP. The power is still coming along. He just needs to win the job.
Some guys I honestly have no clue how it shakes it. Cubs did everything they could to block Matt Mervis but how long does that last? What do the Yankees do with Oswaldo Cabrera and Peraza? Does Grayson Rodriguez actually have a shot and breaking in the rotation? Same with Andrew Painter? What prospect will make it almost impossible to send to AAA? Elly De La Cruz?
Bullpens:
Who closes in LA? Yankees? Texas? Miami? Is Chapman back in KC? Oakland? There's always sneaky value it seems in guys who grab the closer job. This is usually more listening to managers and who they talk about than actually what we can learn in the spring but for some of these battles the hot hand may at least get the first look.
Lineups:
This is kind of position battles too, but how do the need rules impact lineups? Do speed guys return to top of the lineups? Who opens in the Yankees Outfield? The Dodgers actual have a number of lineup openings so how does that shake out? This is the suttle stuff that shakes out in the final days when you see who actually is in the lineup and where as Spring Training comes to a close.
I'm sure there are many, many more. Who are you watching?
