Dynasty Fantasy Baseball 700 Stock Watch – Volume Two
Image credit: Carlos Rodón (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images)
Welcome to the second installment of the dynasty stock watch, a regular review of recent movement and comings and goings on the Dynasty 700 list.
Leading up to and throughout the season, we will provide insights on the trades, signings, injuries and playing time battles impacting value across dynasty fantasy baseball leagues.
Below we have listed players with notable updates. Some of these players will move onto or off the list, others moving up and down the board. This is a good reminder that value can change quickly in the weeks leading up to the season.
Gary Sanchez – signed with Brewers
The enigmatic backstop signed with the Brewers for 2024 with a mutual option for 2025. The Brew Crew already have William Contreras behind the plate and Jeferson Quero looming (and already on the 40-man). Although, even as a backup catcher, Sanchez can potentially hit 20 home runs, albeit with a bad batting average and OBP, his long-term value is low. He can provide 2024 value, though. And because he can be productive for a competitive fantasy team, we have him at the back of the 700.
With Kris Bryant essentially moving to first base and Charlie Blackmon likely becoming the primary DH with Sean Bouchard potentially being the starting right fielder, Montero becomes a 2024 bench bat. Although he probably will still get 300 plate appearances, the fact that he won’t be a regular in the middle of the batting lineup, coupled with his firm placement at the lower end of the defensive spectrum, has him tumbling in 2024 value with future value potentially at risk. We’ve moved him near 500.
Jorge Soler – signed with Giants
The good news is that he is leaving LoanDepot Park. The bad news is that Oracle Park is even worse for righthanded hitters (per the three-year rolling statcast park factors). Although no park can constrain the Cuban’s huge power, he still gets a slight drop off in his offensive projection, even with more games at Coors on tap. It’s a negligible change in rank, though—perhaps more a perceived drop than an actual drop.
Kyle Bradish – UCL sprain and PRP injection
Kyle Bradish was a favorite sleeper coming into 2024 based on his second-half performance and the steps forward he showed with his hellacious slider. Unfortunately, that all came crashing down with the news that he has a UCL sprain and had a PRP injection. Although he is not succumbing to Tommy John surgery for now and throwing at 90 feet, the precarity of his situation where he might be lost for 15 months inevitably must lower him in the ranks. He was around 100th on our list and we (sadly) drop him slightly, pending further news.
Prior to 2023, Rodon was one of the most sought after dynasty assets—especially after signing with the powerhouse Yankees. Unfortunately, an early-season forearm strain knocked him out until July, whereupon he found himself on the IL in August for a hamstring injury. Coming into 2024, the question is whether Rodon will be closer to the pitcher who threw over 300 innings in 2021 and 2022 with an ERA in the mid 2s—or the pitcher whose back may never be 100%, as reported this offseason. Well, in his first spring training start, optimism that it’s the former is rising as the southpaw touched 97 mph. Although this is not conclusive in any way, this is positive news and we have swapped him and Kyle Bradish, whose health concerns we’ve mentioned are potentially heading in the opposite direction.
Xander Bogaerts – primarily playing 2B in 2024 (giving him temporary dual eligibility)
This is more of a lateral move, but because he will have dual eligibility (early in the season depending on your league settings), the flexibility increases his value for 2024. Likely only having second base eligibility in 2025, it is a temporary boost but a boost nonetheless. As a result, we give him a small bump.
Ricky Tiedemann – arrived in camp with 19 lb of muscle and was replaced last minute before his first spring training start with hamstring tightness.
In the words of Olivia Rodrigo, it’s one step forward and three steps back with Tiedemann. After dealing with a biceps strain for much of 2023, it was important for Tiedemann to enter the season healthy after a season and a half of inconsistent work. Tiedemann will be worth monitoring as he looks to get back on track heading into the season.
After a forgettable 2023 season, Alek Manoah entered the offseason with the goal of dropping weight and getting back into shape. Manoah achieved the goal by arriving in camp noticeably trimmed down, but his first spring outing did not go as planned. Manoah struggled with command as he hit three batters over 1.2 innings, en route to allowing four earned runs.
After missing all of 2023, there was hope that Shane Baz would return to the Rays rotation early this season. In a recent update, Baz stated that he may not return to the big leagues until later this summer. This doesn’t impact Baz’s long-term value much, though it does call into question how recovered his elbow is a year plus removed from surgery. Because of the less-than-full-season projection, we lowered him slightly.
Whit Merrifield – signed with Phillies
Although Merrifield signed with the Phillies—a World Series contender with a good batting lineup—it is precisely that very reason why Merrifield’s value actually lowers slightly. Because of the strength of the Phillies lineup, it’s hard to envision Merrifield getting more than 400 plate appearances in a utility role, injuries notwithstanding. As a result, we nudged him slightly downward.
Josh Jung – calf injury, shut down for a few weeks
Although it’s a spring training injury that shouldn’t impact his ability to be in the opening day lineup, there is a chance he has a setback or starts the season with some rust. Out of an abundance of caution, we lowered his rank slightly, though he is still in the top 100.
Sal Frelick and Tyler Black – Frelick taking reps in the infield
The Brewers made clear their plans that with their crowded outfield situation, Sal Frelick will take reps around the infield. The athletic Frelick played on the dirt in high school and has the athleticism to handle the switch, but this has an impact on Tyler Black’s value. Prior to this news, the expectation was that Black would be a contributor in 2024, even after the Joey Ortiz acquisition. With the Frelick news, it seems like there is no reason to rush Black into the big leagues. Although his long-term value as a speed threat with solid on-base ability and average power remains the same, the expected positional flexibility that Frelick will gain paired with the potential delay in Black’s fantasy contributions, led to us swapping them in the rankings.
Evan Carter – gained muscle in the offseason
The Rangers No. 1 prospect showed up to camp having gained about 15 lb of muscle. Although countering some of the concerns about how much game power he may manifest, we’ve been confident from the beginning and already have him in the top 50. No need to change where we have him.
Justin Foscue – taking reps at 1B
Although this provides some clarity on Foscue’s positional future, the opportunity for our No. 4 prospect for the Rangers has not exactly opened up. He is on the 40-man roster and will more than likely get 2024 major league at-bats, but for now we will keep him unchanged.
Amed Rosario – signing with the Rays
After attending Driveline in the offseason, the 28-year-old Rosario signed with the Rays on a one-year deal. Although the middle infielder will likely only play a utility role, he finds himself in a strong lineup where performance is rewarded with continued playing time. As a result, we’re betting on a bit of a rejuvenation and have raised him slightly in the ranks as a result.
Tim Anderson (signing with the Marlins), Manuel Margot (traded to Twins), Mitch Keller (signing an extension), Cody Bellinger (re-signing with the Cubs)
No change in dynasty value.
Pete Crow-Armstrong – fallout from Bellinger signing
As a result of Bellinger returning to the Cubs on a three-year deal, the main outfield trio of Bellinger, Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki seems set for 2024. This relegates PCA to a part-time role at best. Although we think that eventually he takes over in center field on the strength of his elite defense, the barriers to opportunity in 2024 have led to us lowering him slightly.
