RADIO
BALLER MOVE: Target ~295
CURRENT ADP: 385
ANALYSIS: Over the past two seasons, Joe Panik has put up eerily similar numbers, averaging 10 homers, 64 runs and 58 RBI. The only fluctuation was his batting average, where an unlucky .245 BABIP in 2016 resulted in a significantly lower .239 BA versus his career .282.
Now 27, Panik should benefit from a revamped offense in San Francisco and his strong defense will allot him starts indefinitely. Panik needs to progress in several areas to be fantasy-relevant. His .133 ISO ranked in the bottom-20 and he struggled with hard contact (84.6 MPH exit velocity). Without improvement, Panik's power is trapped in mediocrity. His buoy in value is average and potential in runs and RBI. A career .299 BABIP and .345 on-base percentage shows his plate prowess. A better offense in 2018 means more opportunities for counting stats.
Panik's risk is his spot in the batting order; the roster overhaul may knock him down to seventh or eighth. He is not flashy but could be a useful spot-starter for owners or a handcuff for flash-in-the-pan risks like Whit Merrifield or Marwin Gonzalez. His consistency also makes Panik! At The Disco a viable dance partner for a volatile Rougned Odor. Commodities like Panik normally find a place on rosters and drafting him late allows managers to avoid frenzy on the waiver wire.
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