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Even though the Winter Meetings are now behind us, there’s still plenty of offseason left when it comes to baseball news and rumors – especially with a number of the offseason’s top free agents still without a team. And that’s all without mentioning potential trades as there hasn’t been an overabundance of deals made so far. The reports and rumors of free agent interest and trade interest, combined with actual free agent signings and trades, will continue to have significant ramifications for fantasy managers ahead of drafts this Spring.
The aim of this column is to provide you with the latest fantasy analysis on both rumors and reports, as well as official signings and trades, and how it pertains to redraft fantasy baseball leagues this Spring. Moves, or rumors and reports, tabbed as “Buying” are obviously good moves or potentially good moves from a fantasy standpoint. Moves or potential moves and reported interest that are filed under “Selling?” Not so great.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into the news with a look at some reported news regarding a pair of veteran free agents.
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(Potentially) Buying For Fantasy Baseball
David Peralta Reportedly Joining The Dodgers
Veteran outfielder David Peralta, according to a tweet from FanSided’s Robert Murray on February 10, has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, pending a physical. Per a tweet from ESPN’s Jeff Passan later that day, it’s reportedly a one-year deal worth $6.5 million with incentives that “can take the deal to $8 million.”
Peralta hit .251 with a .316 on-base percentage in 490 plate appearances last season, adding 12 home runs and a stolen base in the process. The longtime Diamondback started his ninth-straight season in Arizona before being dealt in late July to the Tampa Bay Rays.
It’ll be a decidedly better fantasy environment for the outfielder, going to a Dodgers lineup that should once again be one of the league’s best despite the departures of Trea Turner and Cody Bellinger.
It’s certainly an upgrade over the fantasy environments Peralta was in last year. In the first half, 21 different teams scored more than Arizona last season. In the season’s second half, 19 different clubs outscored Tampa Bay.
Digging into the outfielder’s numbers, there are certainly some metrics to like. Despite just 12 home runs, the 34-year-old registered his best hard-hit rate (44.4%) since 2018 and logged a higher barrel rate (8.5%) than he has in any of the past seven seasons. With similar numbers in 2023, he could easily top his 59 RBI and 39 runs scored from last season. Now, the only question here is playing time.
Peralta hit decidedly better against right-handed pitching last season.
David Peralta 2022 Splits:
- Against Right-Handed Pitching: 417 PA, 8.2 BB%, 22.5 K%, .182 ISO, 116 wRC+, .267 average, 11 HR
- Against Left-Handed Pitching: 73 PA, 9.6 BB%, 27.4 K%, .062 ISO, 38 wRC+, .154 average, 1 HR
However, with Trayce Thompson also struggling against left-handed pitching last season, it’s possible Los Angeles could start one of the two full-time. If that’s the case and Peralta does step into a full-time role with the defending National League West champs, he’ll be a quality late-round selection in drafts for fantasy managers with all kinds of sleeper potential.
(Potentially) Buying For Fantasy Baseball
Michael Fulmer Reportedly Signing With The Cubs
The Chicago Cubs’ bullpen was decidedly not great last season. The Cubs finished with the third-lowest collective fWAR among Major League relief corps last season and head into 2023 without the team’s best relief pitcher from last year (Scott Effross, who posted a 1.2 fWAR in 42.2 innings for the Cubs before being traded to the Yankees) and the club’s 2022 saves leader (David Robertson, who posted 14 saves in 36 appearances before being traded to the Phillies).
Rowan Wick, who logged nine saves in 2022, is still around, but he also walked 4.08 batters per nine frames and logged both an ERA and a FIP over 4.00 at 4.22 and 4.19, respectively.
In short, there’s plenty of opportunity to be had here, an opportunity that could have a significant impact on both saves+holds leagues and more standard-scoring fantasy leagues.
Enter Michael Fulmer, who per a tweet from The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal on February 10, is reportedly “in agreement with the Cubs.” Rosenthal tweeted the following:
“Free-agent right-hander Michael Fulmer in agreement with Cubs, sources tell @The Athletic.”
The former starter has been an effective relief option the last two years, switching to the bullpen full-time for the Detroit Tigers in 2021. He split last season with the Tigers and Twins after being dealt within the American League Central mid-season.
The right-hander pitched to a 3.39 ERA and a 3.57 FIP in 63.2 innings over the course of 67 appearances, registering 61 strikeouts and 28 walks in the process. The veteran also finished with 25 holds, five pitcher wins, and three saves. Over the course of the last two seasons as a high-leverage reliever, Fulmer has accumulated nine total pitcher wins and 17 cumulative saves.
He should step into a similar high-leverage role in Chicago on a team with no clear-cut closer and a vastly improved lineup that now features Dansby Swanson, Cody Bellinger, Trey Mancini, and Eric Hosmer. If Fulmer steps into a closing role for manager David Ross and the Cubs, his fantasy ceiling could skyrocket.
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