James Paxton Dodgers Fantasy Outlook
The Dodgers continue to spend big bucks this offseason. Some of the big names they have added so far include Shohei Ohtani, Yoshi Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Teoscar Hernandez. Paxton is just icing on the cake for a Dodgers squad that looks to be a powerhouse in the National League once again. Despite his injury history, Paxton has fared quite well when he is healthy. He is a big-time strikeout pitcher who currently comes at an amazing cost in drafts. Before signing with the Dodgers, Paxton’s ADP sat at 386 with a min pick of 239 and max pick of 438. Since the announcement of his signing on January 23rd, his ADP has moved up to 351 and will continue to climb over the next few weeks. If you can get him after pick 300, you are getting a pitcher with upside in the 20th or 21st-round draft pick in 15-team leagues. That is pretty incredible for a pitcher who owns a career 3.69 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 9.9 K/9 across 156 games and 850.2 career innings. It also helps that Paxton is joining an elite team and will pitch as their first SP compared to when he pitched as a top-of-the-rotation arm earlier in his career with the Mariners and Yankees.
Fantasy Outlook Of Kenta Maeda On The Tigers
Maeda has had some injury concerns over the past few seasons, which has affected his fantasy baseball value. He is healthy heading into spring training, though, and has landed in a good spot in Detroit. It’s a big ballpark, and he remains in the AL Central, which is the worst division in MLB. He will have plenty of great matchups against weak-hitting teams and will provide stability to your rotation as long as he is pitching. The good news with Maeda is that he has a great draft day price right now. His ADP is at 249, and he has gone as late as 303 overall. Even if you get him right at his ADP, we’re looking at a mid-16th round pick who would be your sixth or even seventh SP. He provides depth for your rotation at that draft price and does have upside because he has had seasons with a mid-low 3.00s ERA to go with a career 1.16 WHIP and a career 9.9 K/9.
Eduardo Rodriguez Diamondbacks Fantasy Baseball Outlook
E-Rod is coming off a big bounce-back season. His first season in Detroit in 2022 was disappointing, especially after leaving Boston for a pitcher-friendly environment and one of the worst divisions in MLB. His 2023 season, however, happened to be the best of his career, and he parlayed that into a nice payday with the D-Backs. Over the past month, E-Rod has an ADP in the 180s with a min pick of 130 and a max pick of 217. Clearly, with such a discrepancy in his min and max picks, the fantasy baseball community is torn on which E-Rod they will see in 2024. As good as he was in 2023, he is going to a much more competitive division and will face tougher matchups throughout the season. I do like him as an SP4/5 type in the 180s range of your drafts, but do not draft him expecting a repeat of his 2023 season, certainly don’t draft him in the top 150, and please don’t set the new minimum pick by taking him in the top 130.
