RADIO
BALLER MOVE: Target ~300
CURRENT ADP: 320
ANALYSIS: Robinson Chirinos looks to be in the catbird seat as far as the Texas Rangers’ starting catcher job goes. He isn’t going to turn into anything different as far as his average goes -- his batting profile doesn’t call for anything higher than the .230s -- but that is because of his uppercut swing. He does strike out a lot (22.7% last year), but he did take a big step forward with drawing walks (10.3% last year, 5% in 2014). As such, in OBP leagues, he should prove to be a little more palatable compared to AVG leagues.
The aforementioned uppercut swing does yield results, as he hit 10 homers in 273 plate appearances last year, and 13 HR in 338 PA in 2014. A strain in his left shoulder essentially ended his season at the end of July, but if he were get a full season’s worth of work in as the starting catcher for Texas, then 15 homers should be quite realistic. In deeper leagues, this could prove to be a nice difference maker.
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