Key Spring Training Storylines to Consider Before Drafting
Spring Training is in full swing, and we’re just under a month away from the Regular Season kickoff. Teams and fans alike are dissecting every player move, gearing up for the 162-game marathon that lies ahead. Below, find a few intriguing headlines for fantasy managers and fans alike. While decoding the spring maneuvers of our favorite teams can be puzzling, one thing is certain—we all share the excitement of being back in the game.
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When and where do the rest of the Boras’ Four sign?
Scott Boras, a renowned sports agent, represented a notable quartet of players—Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, Jordon Montgomery, and Blake Snell—leading into the offseason, sparking speculation about their signings. Notably, both Cody Bellinger and Matt Chapman secured deals with their respective teams after the start of Spring Training. Bellinger re-signed with the Cubs on February 25th, securing a 3-year deal with opt-outs after 2024 and 2025. Meanwhile, the Giants inked Matt Chapman to a similar contract on March 1st. Initial concerns continue as both Jordon Montgomery and Blake Snell remain unsigned well into Spring Training. Their prolonged absence raised concerns, particularly for starting pitchers requiring time to build stamina and arm strength. The delay forces potential signing teams to strategize integrating these pitchers and extending their arms to the necessary pitch range. The urgency for their signings intensifies, as each day without a contract limits their availability at the beginning of the regular season. Montgomery remains linked to the Red Sox while Snell is linked to the Angels, Giants, and most recently the Phillies. For fantasy draft considerations, cautious optimism surrounds Bellinger and Chapman, expected to be game-ready for Opening Day, while caution is advised for Montgomery and Snell due to potential readiness challenges.
International FA Signings Adjusting to the MLB
Top international stars joined MLB teams this offseason, featuring Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shota Imanaga, and Jung Ho Lee. While the transition to the MLB may not be as difficult today, the adjustment to the pace and speed of the MLB will still take some time. With the global increase in talent and the development of leagues like the KBO producing more skilled players, the days of international free agent signings struggling in the MLB seem to be behind us. In his first start, Yamamoto threw 2 scoreless innings with 3 strikeouts and just one hit allowed. He threw 19 pitches, 16 for strikes, showcasing a variety of pitches. The Dodgers plan to start him every 6-8 days during the regular season, allowing for potential starts in the Opener in Seoul and then returning to start 8 days later at the Dodgers’ Home Opener. He appears to have settled in well with the Dodgers. Imanaga made his first start for the Cubs, throwing 2 innings with mixed results. He tallied 5 strikeouts, delivering a perfect inning but allowing a 3-run home run in the next. Despite failing in his goal to ‘not give up a home run,’ Imanaga views it as a learning experience. On the offensive side, Jung Ho Lee has quickly adapted with the Giants, boasting a hit in every game played and maintaining a 5-game hitting streak, including an impressive 418-ft home run. All three signings seem to have settled in well and will continue to use upcoming appearances to learn and integrate into the MLB.
Prospects to Watch in 2024:
It’s hard to believe Jackson Holliday, the highly anticipated minor leaguer, was only 20 years old in December. Having grown up around high-level baseball, the son of former All-Star Matt Holliday doesn’t appear to be too intimidated by all the eyes. The MLB’s #1 prospect has impressed for the Orioles so far, hitting .333 with two doubles and two triples in 7 games. The main challenge for the 20-year-old moving forward might be transitioning to a full-time 2nd baseman, with Gunnar Henderson expected at SS. Pete Crow-Armstong had a mixed call-up last September, showing great defensive ability but going 0-for-14 at bat. Recently sent down by the Cubs, his defense continues to appear to be MLB-ready, but his plate presence needs work. With Bellinger returning, it appears as though the Cubs will opt to play it slow with PCA. Colson Montgomery, the former No. 22 pick, ranks 9th in MLB’s prospect rankings for 2024. Last year, Montgomery hit .287 with an OBP of .456 over 64 games, adding 20 RBIs in 20 Arizona Fall League games. While Tim Anderson is gone, the White Sox signed Paul DeJong, likely bridging the gap until they call up Montgomery. Though he might not immediately impact this season, keep an eye out for Montgomery storming into the big leagues.
Tampa Bay Rays
I don’t even know where to start with the Rays. They entered Spring Training without Glasnow, Rasmussen, McClanahan, and Jeffrey Springs, all for different reasons. Glasnow was the subject of an offseason trade to the Dodgers; Manuel Margot was also sent in that trade. Obviously, the loss of Glasnow was big, but Margot was a solid rotation piece in the outfield. The trio of Rasmussen, McClanahan, and Springs are all going to miss time after all three underwent Tommy John surgery at various times last season. Springs is anticipated to be the first back in July-August, with Rasmussen expected to return shortly after that. Given the timing of the injury to McClanahan, he is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2024 season. If the Rays are out of playoff contention, I wouldn’t be surprised if they played it safe and kept him out the entire season. To add insult to injury, former superstar in the making Wander Franco is unlikely to ever play in the MLB again. To not spread misinformation or discuss a situation that I have not followed closely, click here for more information on Franco. With a rotation headed by Zach Eflin and Aaron Civale, it feels safe to say this team should safely expect to sit at the bottom of the AL East this year. Outside of Randy Arozarena, it’s difficult to trust any player enough to draft them ahead of their ADP. If you are searching for potential upside later in your drafts, Junior Camineromay be worth a flier as a potential breakout candidate (maybe even an AL ROY).
Battle for NL Supremacy: Dodgers vs Braves
A storyline to follow in Spring Training that will continue to loom large throughout the regular season is who will reign supreme in the NL. The Dodgers committed more than $1.2 BILLION to the payroll this offseason. They traded for Tyler Glasnow and signed players like Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, to name a few. They brought back Clayton Kershaw and signed James Paxton for added rotation depth. All this leads to them sitting at +350[DraftKings] to win the WS. After hearing all this, you’d expect them to be the clear favorites, yet only a few steps behind them sits the Atlanta Braves. Sitting at +450 [DraftKings] to win the WS, the Braves had a relatively quiet offseason. Their big moves consisted of trading for a 34-year-old Chris Sale and OF Jarred Kelenic. With Kelenic expected to be rolled out as the everyday LF, the Braves are merely hoping for him to be a solid supporting piece. The same goes for Sale; if he can stay healthy and provide quality innings for the team, they will be happy. This is because the Braves lineup was already loaded with stars, including Acuna, Spencer Strider, Matt Olson, Austin Riley, and Michael Harris II. No matter how you look at it, this is a battle between the best of the best in the NL for the regular-season crown. I see this as a race to 100 wins, with both teams filled to the brim with talent that I recommend drafting up and down fantasy draft boards. All I can say is, enjoy the regular season and don’t take anything I said here as future advice for the playoffs given both teams’ recent history in October.
