Welcome back friends. I hope you enjoyed the pilot article of this segment detailing the breakouts at 2B, SS, and C in 2015. This edition is more of a buzzkill - the busts at each of these positions.

My selections will be influenced by their respective ADP (Average Draft Position) coming into 2015. That means while Jedd Gyorko had another rough campaign, most fantasy pundits weren't shocked by the lack of production. No need to pour salt in the wounds.

In addition to focusing on the busts and what went wrong in 2015, I'll provide some context as to whether a bounceback can be expected for 2016 of if this past season was a sign of things to come. Let's get started.

 

Bust Players at 2B

Chase Utley (LAD - 2B)

2015 Statistics: 423 AB, .212/.286/.343, 37 R, 8 HR, 39 RBI, 4 SB

Fantasy owners who decided to wait at second base and hoped for a resurgence from Chase Utley were not only defeated by Father Time. They were slaughtered.

Utley had a miserable 2015 campaign that saw him post career-lows in every category listed above over 107 games. A career .260 hitter versus left-handed pitching, he managed a paltry .186 over 97 AB. In fact, you could argue the most memorable moment in Utley's season was his aggressive slide into Ruben Tejada in the NLDS.

Injuries were a big part of Utley's demise. He's been dealing with balky knees for years now and suffered with right ankle inflammation that sidelined him in June. But injuries can't be used as an excuse. Utley, now 37, had his $15M option declined (no surprise) by the Dodgers and has likely seen his last days in the National League.

Utley will likely find a home in the American League where he can be spared tread on those tires, but it's hard to see him being fantasy relevant. The only second baseman at the age of 37 or older to hit 10 or more home runs were Jeff Kent and Craig Biggio, two Hall of Fame hitters (Kent is on the ballot) with much shorter health charts. AL-Only participants may have interest, pending where Utley signs, but you can ignore him in standard leagues come draft day.

 

Josh Harrison (PIT - 2B, 3B, OF)

2015 Statistics: 449 AB, 287/.327/.390, 57 R, 4 HR, 29 RBI, 10 SB

Harrison plays the game with an energy and passion that's ubiquitous with playoff contenders, and his 2014 breakout was a joy to watch. Injuries allowed him to see 550 PA (his previous high was 276) and he turned them into a .315/.347/.490 split with a 13/18 line to boot.

Unfortunately the same circumstances that freed up at-bats for Harrison in 2014 were repeated in 2015, just with the scripts flipped. Harrison suffered a torn left ligament in his thumb in July during an otherwise solid campaign (.278 AVG, 4 HR, 9 SB). Unfortunately the power was sapped from his bat upon his return (0 HR) and even worse, his job was taken. Jung Ho Kang replaced him at 3B and eventually Aramis Ramirez, leaving Harrison to his super-utility role (a really good one, I should add).

As things currently stand Harrison will once again be relegated to the super-utility role. He may start temporarily at third base to begin the season as Jung Ho Kang recovers from a torn MCL. There's also a chance the Pirates move Neil Walker to open a spot, although I'm of the mindset they value Harrison's role on the bench more.

In regards to Harrison's fantasy prospects going into 2016, everything hinges on him eclipsing the 500 AB marker. Steamer currently projects him at 575 AB (we'll call that a stretch) which would allow Harrison to easily crack the 10/15 marker. I'm of the mindset that the power is more like 2014 (13 HR) but the average is still closer to 2015 (.287), while the double digit steals are there to stay.

 

Bust Players at SS

Hanley Ramirez (BOS- SS, OF)

2015 Statistics: 430 AB, .249/.291/.426, 59 R, 19 HR, 53 RBI, 6 SB

You don't need to be told HanRam had a rough 2015. He posted an abysmal .291 OBP and .308 wOBA (both career-lows) along with a 89 wRC+ that was tied with Didi Gregorius, DJ LeMahieu, and Marcell Ozuna. Those aforementioned players weren't drafted in the second round of fantasy leagues. He also never learned how to play left field, posting -22.9 defensive runs allowed, second worst in baseball. He can thank Matt Kemp for letting him off the hook.

Shoulder problems were a big factor to Ramirez's disappointing 2015. Even though Ramirez increased his HR total (six more in 2015), he swung at more pitches off the plate, his soft contact rate rose by 28%, and his walk rate was his lowest ever (4.9 BB%). These are troubling signs from a player making $22M next season.

The days of Hanley Ramirez being a top 30 player are likely over. Fantasy owners drafted Ramirez for the power/speed combo at the scarce shortstop position, but he hasn't amassed 20 SB since 2012 and he's losing the SS tag in 2016. The Red Sox are expected to play Hanley at first base, lowering his draft value even further. Why overpay for HanRam when you can settle for Eric Hosmer or Brandon Belt, both safer plays that will likely go later in your fantasy draft.

Assuming Ramirez enters the year pain-free, he should see drastic improvements in his splits; Steamer projects him to improve in every category aside from HR. A .284 AVG, 19 HR, 74 RBI, 8 SB campaign would easily be in the top-10 for shortstops, but that tag is gone. Those numbers are more in line with a back-end 1B or OF in fantasy terms. Look elsewhere in 2016.

 

Jimmy Rollins (LAD - SS)

2015 Statistics: 563 AB, .224/.285/.358, 71 R, 13 HR, 41 RBI, 12 SB

Remember all the excitement surrounding J-Roll after moving from batting ahead of Ryan Howard and Utley to Adrian Gonzalez and Yasiel Puig? That was fun, and short-lived.

Rollins came out of the gate batting .185 in April and continued to frustrate Dodger fans and fantasy owners with a .213 average in the first half. His .224 average, .285 on-base percentage, and 12 steals were all career-lows. If the low steal count didn't scare you, the 60% success rate will (another career-worst). It was just the second time Rollins failed to amass 20 SB in a season, the last time being in 2010 (88 games). Don Mattingly inexplicably continued to play Rollins over rookie Corey Seager until a sprained right index finger in September allowing the youngster to take over.

Now Rollins finds himself as a 37-year old free-agent, although he should find a home given the lack of depth at the shortstop position. Don't expect a resurgence though. The last shortstop to produce a useful fantasy line at 37 or older was Derek Jeter in 2012 (.316, 99 R, 15 HR), but Jeter hadn't begun as drastic a decline as Rollins is experiencing.

Steamer has Rollins projected for an 11/16 combo and a .237 average, numbers that drop him outside out top-10 for 2016. In deeper leagues I'd rather take a chance on a youngster like Brad Miller than pay for J-Roll's services.

 

Bust Players at C

Jonathan Lucroy (MIL - C, 1B)

2015 Statistics: 371 AB, .265/.326/.391, 51 R, 7 HR, 43, 1 SB

I hate including players who were held back by injuries, but given the lofty expectations put upon Lucroy last March, it felt necessary to include the Milwaukee backstop.

Lucroy was off to an awful start (.133 AVG, 1 XBH) until he broke his toe on a foul ball in April, causing him to miss the month of May. Lucroy did play better upon his return (.282/.342/.420) but a concussion in September ended his season on a sour note.

While the injuries shouldn't be a concern moving into 2016, the plate discipline is reason for caution. His 15.4% strikeout percentage was his worst since 2011, a season that looks eerily similar to his 2015 stat line. Steamer currently projects a .273/.339/.417 split with 13 HR and 58 RBI, numbers I can get behind.

There's rumors that Lucroy has been made available via trade by the Brewers, a move that would in most scenarios be a boost to his fantasy potential. The Brewers were 22nd in runs scored in 2015 and no longer have Carlos Gomez to set the table. Lucroy is still a top-10 option, but it's worth letting him slide and addressing over areas of need in your draft.

 

Wilson Ramos (WAS - C)

2015 Statistics: 504 AB, .229/.258/.358, 41 R, 15 HR, 68 RBI, 0 SB

The Good: Career high in AB and RBI (8th among C)

The Bad: .229 average and .258 on-base percentage, both last among qualified C

Ramos has yet to translate the potential he showed in his minor league career. He's hampered by a mix of injuries and poor plate discipline. His 20.0% strikeout percentage was second-worst among qualified catchers, and the poor walk rate makes it difficult to believe he'll even crack .300 in the on-base department. He ended the season on a terrible note, batting .197 in the second half.

The power is still there and he can easily surpass 20 home runs in 2016 should he stay healthy. He did crank 15 last year and hit 16 in 78 games back in 2013. The average should see a boost next year as well after a career-low .256 BABIP (career average is .281).

Steamer only projects 98 games for Ramos, a rather pessimistic outlook. The Nationals should remain a top-10 offense next season and there's no real competition behind Ramos in Washington aside from his body. If Ramos can eclipse 130 games he should produce top-10 numbers in 5x5 leagues for practically no cost come draft day. As for OBP leagues, you're on your own.

 

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