TAP FOR 6 MONTHS OF PREMIUM FREE 💰
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Four Draft Targets On New MLB Teams

Same players, but new environments. It happens every year. For any number of reasons - including trades, free agency, new team directions, or just plain old chemistry issues -  MLB players switch to new teams in the offseason.

Over the years, we’ve seen these moves work out in all sorts of different ways. Now I'm here to predict how some of these will be successful transitions, and identify some hitters who I think will perform well in their new environments. There were plenty of candidates, but here are four intriguing names to consider targeting in your 2016 fantasy baseball drafts.

 

Same Faces, New Places

Gerardo Parra, Colorado Rockies

Parra is coming off a career year in 2015. He hit 14 home runs, stole 14 bags, and posted a .291 average. His numbers took a hit after his move from Milwaukee to Baltimore though, as he batted nearly 100 points lower in 55 games in Baltimore than he did in 100 with the Brewers. A move to Coors Field should be great for Parra's fantasy value in 2016.

The lineup isn't what it used to be, but Coors is still a hitter's paradise. I'm not saying Parra is going to turn into Carlos Gonzalez, but I think a performance similar to last season's first half is very doable for him. He's a top 40 OF in 2016 so don't sleep on him.

 

Justin Upton, Detroit Tigers

I'll say this for Upton, he's consistent...at least when it comes to starting strong and then fizzling out. Last season was no different as he was awesome for the Friars in the first half. He was on pace for a 30/30 season after stealing 17 bases in the first half too.

Unfortunately for his fantasy owners, he only stole two more in the second half and hit a sickly .221 over the last four months. His end of season numbers were still passable, even though the .251 average was his lowest since 2008. Nonetheless, owning him in the second half was rough on fantasy owners. So will the move to Detroit help him?

My money is on a rebound season for Upton with the Tigers. Comerica Park is more hitter friendly than Petco Park, and the lineup in Detroit is significantly stronger. Upton will likely hit in the two hole in front of Miguel Cabrera, so he is well protected and will score runs. The best part is that you can likely get Upton for cheap this season. I guarantee many owners won't want to experience another second half debacle, so you can feel free to draft Upton should he fall past the first four/five rounds.

 

Brett Lawrie, Chicago White Sox

It's hard to advocate for Lawrie after the sub-par year he had in 2015, but here I am. So let's face it, second base is thin, and you are looking for any upside after the top guys. Lawrie is eligible at second and third so he gets an immediate boost in value right there. The fact that he has some pop also helps.

Oakland was clearly a bad fit for him in that sense, as Lawrie only hit six of his 16 homers at O.co Coliseum. The good news is, Lawrie still put up passable counting stats with the exception of his OBP and AVG numbers. U.S. Cellular Field promises to be an upgrade, as does the lineup that Lawrie will join in 2016. Because of this, I see Lawrie as a nice player to take a flier on towards the end of drafts.

 

Denard Span, San Francisco Giants

Span is the man...when he's healthy. He was good when he took the field for the Nationals in 2015, but a core injury and then a torn labrum in his hip ultimately ended his season. Span is now in the city by the bay and it's an even year. You all know what that means.

Well regardless of whether or not the Giants make another World Series run on an even year, I think Span will be very important to their offense. He has solid history of good OBP and strong average with speed. As the leadoff hitter in front of Panik, Posey, Belt, and Pence, Span is poised to do what he does best. He should score a lot of runs and steal 20+ bases. The injury risk is still very present, but I think the move to San Fran helps Span's value and he has top 25 upside.

 

MLB & Fantasy Baseball Chat Room

[iflychat_embed id="c-12" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]

 


Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Evgeni Malkin

Collects Two Points in Win Over Flames
Christian Dvorak

Notches Three Points in Wednesday's Loss
Clayton Keller

Saves Mammoth From Loss Wednesday Night
Lukas Dostal

Overcomes Avalanche With 40 Saves
Dylan Larkin

Leads Red Wings Past Maple Leafs
Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Exits With Lower-Body Injury Wednesday
Josh Doan

Lands Seven-Year Extension From Sabres
Keyonte George

Iffy for Thursday's Tilt
Lauri Markkanen

Remains Unavailable Thursday
Josh Giddey

Holds Questionable Tag Thursday
Jamal Murray

Probable for Juicy Fantasy Matchup Thursday
Paul George

Could Miss Third Straight Game Thursday
Joel Embiid

Considered Probable Thursday
Kawhi Leonard

Questionable Thursday
Kevin Porter Jr.

Out Indefinitely With Oblique Strain
Brandon Sproat

Dealt to Brewers in Four-Player Trade
Jett Williams

Brewers Acquire Jett Williams From Mets
Freddy Peralta

Mets Acquire Freddy Peralta From Brewers
Jonas Valančiūnas

Jonas Valanciunas Questionable Versus the Wizards
Seth Jones

to Miss Olympics
Christian Braun

Remains Sidelined on Thursday
Martin Pospisil

Makes Season Debut Wednesday
Jalen Suggs

Questionable Versus Charlotte
Teddy Blueger

Available Wednesday Night
Tom Wilson

Comes Off Injured Reserve
Luke Hughes

Devils Place Luke Hughes on Long-Term Injured Reserve
Valeri Nichushkin

Returns to Action Wednesday
Kris Letang

a Game-Time Call Wednesday
Caris LeVert

Sidelined Wednesday
Cade Cunningham

Unavailable on Wednesday
Tre Mann

Available Versus Cavs
Ja'Kobe Walter

Out of Action Again on Wednesday
RJ Barrett

Remains Sidelined on Wednesday
Collin Murray-Boyles

Ruled Out on Wednesday
Domantas Sabonis

Sidelined Wednesday
Kyle Tucker

Expected to Bat Second or Third in Dodgers' Lineup
Brandon Aiyuk

has "Played his Last Snap as a Niner"
Cody Bellinger

Signs Five-Year, $162.5 Million Contract With Yankees
Adam Scott

Looks to Overcome Putting Woes at American Express
Billy Horschel

Looking to Rebound at The American Express
Josh Allen

Might Need Foot Surgery
Russell Henley

Looks to Build on Strong Start at The American Express
Jason Day

Looking to Start 2026 Strong at The American Express
Wyndham Clark

Looking to Regain Form at The American Express
Sam Burns

Looks to Continue Success at The American Express
Akshay Bhatia

Looking to Flip the Script at The American Express
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Looking to Build on Strong Fall in Season Debut
Kurt Kitayama

Hopes To Continue Strong Start to 2026 Season at American Express
CFB

Princewill Umanmielen Expected to Sign with LSU
Scottie Scheffler

Returns To American Express After Missing Last Year's Edition
Robert MacIntyre

Keeps Momentum Rolling Heading Into American Express
Brian Harman

Can Challenge at American Express if His Putter Stays Hot
Ben Griffin

Outstanding Form Continues Heading Into American Express
Matt Fitzpatrick

Continues Playing Well Following Outstanding Finish to 2025 Season
Patrick Cantlay

Looks to Get a Jump Start on His 2026 Season
Blades Brown

Set to Make First PGA Tour Appearance of 2026
Kevin Roy

Has Some Confidence Heading to Southern California
Josh Morrissey

Has Three-Point Night Against Blues
Min Woo Lee

Poised to Make Bigger Impact in 2026
Miro Heiskanen

Records Three Helpers Tuesday
Brandon Hagel

Stays Hot Tuesday Night
Ryan O'Reilly

Extends Scoring Streak With Three-Point Effort
Max Homa

Needs a Better Start for 2026
Konsta Helenius

Bags Three Points In Tuesday's Win
Tony Finau

Trying to Reverse Disturbing Trend
Anthony Cirelli

Injured Versus Sharks
Cam Davis

Aims for More Accuracy at American Express
Darcy Kuemper

Hurt on Tuesday Night
Isaiah Hartenstein

Unavailable Against Bucks
Myles Turner

Uncertain for Wednesday Night
Luisangel Acuña

Luisangel Acuna Sent to White Sox in Trade
Kevin Porter Jr.

Questionable Wednesday
Luis Robert Jr.

Mets Acquire Luis Robert Jr. from White Sox
Los Angeles Chargers

Mike McDaniel Expected to Become Chargers Offensive Coordinator
Carlos Beltran

Andruw Jones Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame
CFB

Alberto Mendoza Expected to Land at Georgia Tech
Malik Nabers

Giants Hope Malik Nabers Will be Back for Start of Training Camp
CFB

Duke Suing Quarterback Darian Mensah
Cam Skattebo

Should be Ready by OTAs
George Kittle

Expects to Return "Well Before November"
CFB

Alberto Mendoza Entering Transfer Portal
Mookie Betts

Plans to Retire at the End of his Current Contract
Tennessee Titans

Titans Set to Hire Robert Saleh as Next Head Coach
Miami Dolphins

Dolphins Expected to Hire Jeff Hafley as Next Head Coach
Zach Charbonnet

has Torn ACL
Zach Charbonnet

Needs Knee Surgery, Out for Rest of Playoffs
Tennessee Titans

Mike McCarthy a Finalist for Titans Head-Coaching Job?
Colston Loveland

Suffers Concussion in Divisional Round Loss
Kyren Williams

Scores Two Touchdowns in Divisional Round Win
Buffalo Bills

Bills Fire Head Coach Sean McDermott
Rhamondre Stevenson

Returns in Sunday's AFC Divisional Round Game
Ha-Seong Kim

has Finger Surgery, Out 4-5 Months
Rhamondre Stevenson

Questionable to Return on Sunday With Eye Injury
Woody Marks

Returns Following Brief Exit on Sunday
Dalton Schultz

Won't Return in Sunday's AFC Divisional Round Game
Aaron Rodgers

Steelers Open to Aaron Rodgers Returning in 2026?
Jarrett Stidham

to Start AFC Championship Game
Zach Charbonnet

Questionable to Return Against 49ers
CFB

Darian Mensah Entering Transfer Portal
J.T. Realmuto

Signs Three-Year Deal to Return to Phillies

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP