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January 3, 2013

Resident Fantasy Genius

Fantasy Shakeups

by Derek Carty

Happy New Year, everyone! Let’s catch up on some of this off-season’s moves and their fantasy ramifications.

Jason Vargas | Mariners to Angels | SP
Vargas gets a very nice boost moving away from Seattle. We’ll start with the one drawback, which is that Safeco has played as one of the best parks for strikeouts in baseball over the past few years; Angel Stadium is neutral. After that, though, we see a slew of positives. The two parks have both been pitcher’s parks, but with the fences moving in at Safeco this year, Angel Stadium looks like the preferable destination. Even if Chris Iannetta is far from a defensive wiz, Vargas will benefit from leaving behind part-time backstop Jesus Montero. Finally, he’ll receive a big offensive boost and a moderate defensive one. Overall, Vargas stands to benefit pretty significantly, making him a solid AL-only sleeper and maybe even a late-round mixed-league option.

Garrett Richards | Angels | SP
With all of the moves LA has made this offseason to acquire starting pitching, Richards has been pushed down to the sixth man on the totem pole.

Edwin Jackson | Signed with Cubs | SP
About the only positive to this signing, in terms of E-Jax’s fantasy value, is that he remains in the National League. Chicago is still a couple years away from competing and won’t offer him much in terms of offensive, defensive, catching, or even bullpen support, and Wrigley Field is a relatively neutral field. I’m sure Jackson loves the money, but his stats will likely take a hit.

Brett Myers | Signed with Indians | SP
Myers gets an up arrow because Cleveland will give him a chance to start, something other teams might not have done. Progressive Field is a great place for a guy with homeritis, although the Lou Marson/Carlos Santana catching tandem is the worst in baseball, and the supporting defense profiles as below average. I’ve seen some tout Myers as a mixed-league option again, but I’m not convinced. AL-only for me.

Trevor Bauer, Cory Kluber, David Huff, Josh Tomlin | Indians | SP
The Indians had a lot of serviceable fourth- and fifth-starter options before the Myers signing, but now they’ll all have to battle for one spot. The rotation figures to be filled by Ubaldo Jimenez, Justin Masterson, Myers, and Zach McAllister, with Bauer the favorite for the fifth spot.