RADIO
Evan Longoria 2020 Outlook: Still a decent fallback option at the hot corner
5 years agoLongoria had a rough first half in 2019, as he put up a .222/.300/.371 line with seven homers across 271 plate appearances. A .262 BABIP played a role in his struggles, though, and he rebounded in the second half. Despite missing a few weeks with a foot strain, Longoria hit .293 with 13 home runs in 231 second-half plate appearances. All told, his final 2019 line looked very similar to 2018, and most of the underlying metrics were better. Longoria did strike out more than usual in 2019, but he recorded his highest Hard Hit % and average exit velocity since 2016. He doesn't offer a particularly enticing ceiling at this point of his career, and his durability is fading, as he's missed some time in each of the past two seasons. Longoria's playing time looks safe as long as he's healthy, though, and he appears likely to finish with about 20 home runs and a batting average in the .260 range again. The secure role makes him a viable option in NL-only leagues. Longoria can also be a useful depth piece for owners weak at 3B in deeper mixed leagues, and with an NFBC ADP of 487, he's basically free.
