Daulton Varsho, one of many extra fantasy-relevant catchers of the previous two seasons, is on the transfer. Along with his commerce to the Toronto Blue Jays, there is a larger probability his days behind the plate will quickly come to an finish. Fortunately, he’ll carry his eligibility ahead to 2023 because of his 31 appearances at catcher final season.
Varsho ought to take over because the Blue Jays’ beginning proper fielder, giving them a fantastic protection in any respect three outfield spots, a minimum of when each Kevin Kiermaier and George Springer are wholesome and on the market. That is large information for the staff’s pitchers, none of whom has an particularly heavy ground-ball leaning. Chris Bassitt, Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman, Alek Manoah and Jordan Romano are all value an additional buck, contemplating the Blue Jays’ concentrate on defensive enchancment this winter.
Moreover, Varsho’s left-handed bat provides the Blue Jays some much-needed lineup steadiness, as that they had by far baseball’s fewest plate appearances from left-handed hitters final season (a 351 PA hole between first and second). That’s useful to the opposite members of the batting order, who may sneak in a handful extra advantageous at-bats in opposition to lefty relievers because of the three-batter-minimum rule, but it surely would possibly work in opposition to Varsho, who has a 166-point OPS platoon break up in his profession, contemplating there aren’t that many lefty bats opposing managers would possibly goal with their premium bullpen lefties late within the recreation.
Finally, Varsho’s fantasy inventory should not shift an excessive amount of in Toronto, as he was my No. 3 catcher getting into the week and stays that following the deal. What did change, nevertheless, is his 2023 ceiling. As a catcher-eligible participant who would possibly function an on a regular basis outfielder, he stands an opportunity at exceeding the 592 plate appearances — second-most amongst catcher-eligibles behind solely J.T. Realmuto‘s 612 — even when he serves because the Blue Jays’ No. 6 hitter reasonably than at leadoff, a job he occupied on 62 events final season. Batting behind that loaded prime half of the order may imply a considerable increase in RBIs, giving Varsho an out of doors probability at a uncommon 30-homer, 100-RBI, 15-steal season — solely Carlton Fisk (1985) and Ivan Rodriguez (1999) have ever achieved that, amongst major catchers. Varsho has a robust case to be the place’s No. 1 rotisserie decide, and he has narrowed the hole in factors leagues too.
It is future years the place Varsho’s dynasty league managers ought to now fear. In Toronto, he is unlikely to see as a lot time behind the plate, the place it seems the staff will go along with an Alejandro Kir and Danny Jansen tandem subsequent season. Varsho would possibly battle to get to even the 20 video games required to hold that eligibility into 2024, so preserve it in thoughts that the outfield transfer would possibly now be everlasting, apart from the occasional time the place the Blue Jays shake up the lineup to offer Kirk and Jansen a defensive break day.
The Arizona Diamondbacks‘ haul within the commerce, catching prospect Gabriel Moreno and outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., is fantasy related as nicely.
Moreno won’t start the season because the Diamondbacks’ beginning catcher, however he is unquestionably now their future on the place. He’ll be a participant to look at throughout spring coaching, because it’s solely a matter of time earlier than he pushes Carson Kelly for the beginning job. Moreno’s hit instrument is extraordinarily polished for a catcher of his age (22) and expertise (122 video games mixed between Double-A, Triple-A and the majors), one thing he confirmed throughout his temporary big-league stint in 2022. He hasn’t but proven a lot energy on the greater skilled ranges. In some methods, he is harking back to the participant he as soon as performed behind, Kirk, and Moreno’s 2023 fantasy attraction is analogous, a higher-than-typical statistical flooring with the potential to be a locked-in, top-10 positional choice if he takes maintain of the job come Opening Day.
Gurriel may very well be the sneaky inclusion of the commerce. He has at instances proven good energy all through his profession and has improved his contact charge in every of the previous three seasons. Maybe a change of surroundings will do him good, although the transfer from Toronto’s Rogers Centre to Arizona’s Chase Subject represents an influence downgrade, the latter extra of a doubles-and-triples venue for the reason that introduction of the humidor there a number of years again. Gurriel’s large hazard is that he is becoming a member of a staff with three younger, left-handed, incumbent outfielders (Corbin Carroll, Jake McCarthy, Alek Thomas) in addition to a number of designated hitter varieties (Pavin Smith, Seth Beer), placing him vulnerable to a weak-side platoon function. He is value a fourth-or-fifth-outfielder gamble in leagues that use that many, however be ready to maneuver on rapidly if he begins the season slowly.