Fantasy baseball managers will get pleasure from investing in new San Diego Padres SS Xander Bogaerts as a result of he’s dependable, constant they usually know he’ll present sturdy statistics 12 months after 12 months. Is he the very best shortstop in fantasy? Nope, however Bogaerts completed the 2022 season as each the No. 35 hitter on the Player Rater and the No. 35 hitter in points leagues.
Whereas he is not a high supply of energy and final stole double-digit bases in 2017, the previous Boston Red Sox star offers batting common and stability — and absolutely that’s value fairly a bit. No, he is not Trea Turner, however as annual fourth- or fifth-round fantasy picks go, whatever the format, Bogaerts is at all times an excellent one.
Little ought to change as he leaves for the Nationwide League, and maybe Bogaerts even trades in a few of the doubles he’d flick off the Inexperienced Monster into house runs at San Diego’s Petco Park, which performs effectively for right-handed energy. Bogaerts hit solely 15 house runs this previous season, lower than half of his whole from 2019, and maybe a lingering shoulder difficulty performed a task.
Regardless, Bogaerts enters his age-30 season as a fantasy stalwart positive to hit someplace on the high of a loaded lineup and surrounded by different superstars in OF Juan Soto, 3B Manny Machado and, ultimately, the group’s now former shortstop.
Sure, maybe the large information coming from his signing could also be that the Padres signed a shortstop and Fernando Tatis Jr. appears more likely to transfer to the outfield. The truth is, the Bogaerts signing creates a string of strikes, with Gold Glove caliber SS Ha-Seong Kim seemingly shifting to second base, and 2B Jake Cronenworth sliding to first. It is probably not the wisest defensive alignment, as absolutely Kim is a greater shortstop than Bogaerts and Cronenworth loses appreciable worth leaving second base, however the Padres can do what they need.
Tatis famously didn’t play in 2022 and can’t debut in 2023 till late-April, however when he does it is going to be within the outfield. Don’t be concerned, fantasy managers, as he retains SS eligibility from 2021, however will add OF eligibility quickly after he returns to the sector. Maybe taking part in a nook outfield spot retains him more healthy. In spite of everything, does it matter that he’ll lose SS eligibility in 2024? There could also be much less depth within the outfield than at shortstop, at the least for fantasy functions.
As for the Pink Sox, until they make a play to signal one of many high accessible shortstops (Carlos Correa, Dansby Swanson), it seems that Trevor Story will take over the place. Story’s debut season in Boston went relatively poorly, as he hit solely .238 with 16 house runs over 94 video games, whereas coping with quite a few accidents. His lack of sturdiness and considerations with hitting exterior Denver’s Coors Discipline have been elements in him slipping out of the highest 50 in preseason drafts.
Looking back, he wasn’t even a top-100 participant. Story brings 2B eligibility into 2023 and can presumably add SS eligibility early within the season, however it is going to be a danger relying on him to remain wholesome or to anticipate a return to top-10 SS standing.