| Story Views | |
| Now: | |
| Last Hour: | |
| Last 24 Hours: | |
| Total: | |
Fantasy Fallout: Is There Any Potential Fantasy Value from Luis Valbuena Signing with the Angels?
by Ray Kuhn
At first glance, the Angels signing of Luis Valbuena doesn’t quite make sense. Los Angeles is trying to cut costs, yet they gave the corner infielder a $15 million commitment over the next two seasons without him having a true role.
However, that is exactly the point. Valbuena happens to be a very valuable insurance policy who will most certainly have a role with the Angels in 2017.
While Albert Pujols isn’t showing any signs of slowing down, he also isn’t getting younger. Combine that with the fact that he is coming off foot surgery this winter and the distinct possibility for him not to be ready to start the season, and it is difficult to fully count on Pujols.
Last season he didn’t show any signs of slowing down in the power department as he hit 37 home runs and drove in 119, but we can’t expect to see Pujols play in 152 games again. Currently, Pujols is being selected as the 13th first baseman with an ADP of 127, and that is not a risk I’m willing to take without more information regarding his health. However, teaming up Valbuena (ADP of 535) with Pujols (at a potentially more reasonable ADP) will likely result in 40 combined home runs.
So that takes care of one of Valbuena’s three possible positions. We should also note that would give him duel eligibility along with his natural position, third base. Currently, that is where Yunel Escobar is slotted, but he will be a free agent at the end of the season and likely will not be retained.
In each of the last two seasons, Escobar has eclipsed the .300 mark, but he does so without any power which creates a huge liability based on his position. However, in the three prior seasons, Escobar hit between .253 and .258, so it’s hard to truly trust his improvement. Escobar also struggles against right handed pitching, although last year he had reverse splits while driving in just 39 runs in 517 at bats.
The other possible position for Valbuena is DH, but C.J. Cron appears to have a firm grip on that. In 407 at bats last season, Cron hit .278 with 16 home runs and 69 RBI. He has proven that he is ready to take on a greater role, and that will likely happen in 2017.
With Valbuena’s playing time covered, early season work for Pujols along with more frequent rests and a potential platoon with Escobar, let’s take a closer look at him.
First, Valbuena’s OPS has consistently been better against right-handed pitching (.841 to .741 last season), so that sets him up perfectly to platoon with Escobar. The Angels’ incumbent third baseman’s best, and really only, asset is his batting average. But that cannot even be trusted, and Valbuena has shown he can hit around .250 (his expected batting average last season) thanks to his 72% contact rate and 32% hit rate.
Then we get to Valbuena’s power which cannot be ignored. Last season, in 292 at bats, he went deep 13 times while driving in 40 runs. With a 15% home run/fly ball rate, and a 129 Power Index (134 expected Power), 20 home runs is a reasonable expectation. In 2015, Valbuena hit 25 home runs in 434 at bats, so there is a track record of success.
Don’t immediately dismiss Valbuena as a random signing without much fantasy impact. Now, that isn’t to say he should be snapped up in all leagues or counted on as much more than a bench or depth option (aside from AL-only leagues), but he will have value this season and will find his way into the Angels’ lineup.
Source – Baseball HQ
*** Order Rotoprofessor’s 2017 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide for Just $7.00 By Clicking Here!! Not only will you get all the help you need to dominate your fantasy draft, but you will also be entered to win a Noah Syndergaard autographed baseball, complete with “Thor” inscription! ***
Make sure to check out our other Early 2017 Rankings:
|
Position
|
Last Updated
|
|---|---|
| Catcher | 01/09/17 |
| First Base | 01/16/17 |
| Second Base | 11/23/17 |
| Third Base | 11/14/16 |
| Shortstop | 11/21/16 |
| Outfielder | 12/05/16 |
| Starting Pitcher | 12/13/16 |
| Relief Pitcher | 01/02/17 |
Source: http://rotoprofessor.com/baseball/?p=31940
