Connor Joe Swats A Grand Slam On Wednesday
Connor Joe went a combined 2-for-7 with a grand slam, two runs scored, a walk, and a strikeout in Wednesday's doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs. Joe went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in game one but came through in game two with a grand slam in the top of the fourth inning to give Colorado a brief 6-5 lead. He also drew a walk and singled in the ball game. The 29-year-old has done a fine job serving as the Rockies' leadoff man over the last few weeks and now has his season batting line up to a solid .292/.376/.500 with eight home runs and 33 RBI over 154 at-bats. He's been useful in deeper mixed leagues and as a streamer.
Source: MLB.com
Colorado Rockies outfielder Source: MLB.com
Connor Joe Likely To Platoon In Left Field
Connor Joe is likely to be stuck in a platoon situation to begin the season. Right now, the expectation is that Joe and Jason Heyward are going to split time in left field. The Padres are attempting to fill the vacant spot left by Jurickson Profar, so this is the route they plan to use. In theory this could work given Joe's success against left-handed pitching. In his career, Joe is slashing .254/.350/.415 with 14 home runs and 65 RBI in over 600 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers. Despite his success, Joe is unlikely to warrant being rostered in most fantasy leagues due to the fact he probably won't be an everyday player.
Source: San Diego Union-Tribune
San Diego Padres outfielder Source: San Diego Union-Tribune
Connor Joe Inks Deal With San Diego
Connor Joe to a contract. Earlier in the offseason, the Pittsburgh Pirates non-tendered the 32-year-old. Joe has spent the previous two seasons in the Steel City. During this stint, Joe held a .238/.330/.396 slash line with 53 doubles, 20 home runs, and five stone bases. He showed a strong eye at the plate with a 10.6 percent walk rate, which placed him in the 78th percentile among qualified hitters. He was also graded as an excellent defender, placing him in the 84th percentile in arm strength. However, he struggled to generate hard contact at the plate, generating a weak 4.7 percent barrel rate and a 32.7 percent hard-hit rate. Fantasy managers should expect Joe to operate as a rotational piece in the lineup, seeing time in the outfield and at first base.
Source: Jon Heyman
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the San Diego Padres have signed outfielder/first baseman Source: Jon Heyman
Pirates Expected To Non-Tender Bryan De La Cruz, Connor Joe
Bryan De La Cruz and first baseman/outfielder Connor Joe, according to a source. It will make both players free agents this winter. De La Cruz didn't impress the Bucs after the acquired him from the Miami Marlins at the trade deadline in the summer, as he hit just .200/.220/.394 with three homers, 17 RBI and 52 strikeouts in 168 plate appearances in the second half. The 27-year-old did manage a career-high 21 round-trippers in 149 total games in 2024, though, so he will attract interest on the free-agent market. Joe, 32, hit .238/.330/.396 with a .726 OPS, 20 homers, 78 RBI and five steals in 256 games the last two years in Pittsburgh and will look for a platoon/utility role with another organization on the free-agent market. The former first-rounder had a career-high 11 homers in 2023 in his first year in Pittsburgh.
Source: MLB.com - Alex Stumpf
The Pittsburgh Pirates are expected to non-tender outfielder Source: MLB.com - Alex Stumpf
Connor Joe Not Playing Thursday
Connor Joe is taking the day off on Thursday against the hosting St. Louis Cardinals. It's a good day for Joe to get some rest, as he's in a bit of a funk right now at the plate, going 2-for-27 in his last eight games to drop his season line to .255/.331/.426. Outside of his recent slump, the 31-year-old has been one of the team's more consistent hitters all year. The former 39th overall pick in 2014 out of the University of San Diego has added seven home runs, 28 RBI and 36 runs scored in 60 games in his second year with the Pirates. With Joe out of the lineup in the series finale, Edward Olivares is in right field and is batting cleanup against Cardinals right-hander Lance Lynn. Olivares is hitting only .229 (30-for-131) but will profile as a DFS sleeper on Thursday in the cleanup spot.
Source: MLB.com
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Source: MLB.com
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