RADIO
Starling Marte 2019 Outlook: Excellent Power-Speed Contributor
6 years agoAfter a PED suspension disrupted his 2017 season, Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Starling Marte played in 145 games in 2018, his highest mark in a single-season since 2015. He didn’t disappoint, managing his first 20-homer season while also racking up 33 steals. That accomplishment was enough to put him in rarified status as only Jose Ramirez and Mookie Betts also put up 20/30 seasons. Marte’s power production came on the strength of a 14 percent HR/FB, a mark he’s surpassed only twice in his six full seasons at the major-league level. Because he regularly hits half of the balls he puts in play on the ground, 12-15 home runs may be a more realistic expectation heading into 2019. On the other hand, he is a safe bet for 25-30 stolen bases to go along with a strong batting average and at least 75 runs scored. While that pales in comparison to the likes of Betts and Ramirez, Marte’s current ADP indicates that a late-third or early fourth-round pick is all that will be needed to roster him this season. Given the difficulty of acquiring stolen bases, that’s a fair asking price for fantasy owners that fail to draft a speedster early on.
