For now, Jose Abreu is still a White Sox after agreeing to a one year, $10.875 million deal to avoid arbitration. I say “for now” because it’s clear that the White Sox have a plan this offseason and it unclear if Abreu is part of that plan or not. Abreu barely saw a raise on the $10.5 million he would have made if he didn’t opt out of his initial contract, so this wasn’t some financial windfall for the first basemen. Abreu, who some folks now look at as a minor disappointment (so stupid), is still a fantasy monster even if he settled in to being the player I warned everyone he would be after his rookie season (if you remember I was bashed miraculously by every person in the industry in 2015 for suggesting he wasn’t a first round pick – I said he wouldn’t be a top-5 first baseman. I was proven 100 percent correct). Abreu has three straight seasons of 25 homers, 100 RBI and 30 doubles to become the first player in White Sox history to do that each of the first three seasons he was in the big leagues. Moreover, he’s just the seventh man to ever accomplish that. #RockSolid

Ryan Howard wants to keep playing. The 37 year old former MVP is a shell of his former self, but he can still power the ball against righties if a team is willing to give him work. Howard has hit at least 23 homers the last three seasons, and last season he had 25 homers with 59 RBI in just 331 at-bats. Howard hit a pathetic .205 against righties last year, but he did power 24 balls into the seats in 298 at-bats leading to a .480 SLG. Sounds like the Rays are interested in the former stars services. The Rays are also interested in Jose Bautista though that seems like an insane match given the coin that Bautista wants. Bautista is 36 years old and has failed to appear in 120-games in three of five seasons, but when on the field he’s still mighty productive (23-69-68 with a .817 OPS over 116 games last season).

Need a place to stay this holiday season?

J.D. Martinez continues to be available as the Tigers look to cut salary can get a bit younger. Martinez, who will turn 30 next August, has been a star for the Tigers the last three seasons. Check out that slash line of.299/.357/.540 from 2014-16. More goodness can be found in his 150 game pace the past three seasons where he’s produced a fantasy line of .299-31-92-82 with a .898 OPS per 150 games. Every team in baseball could use that kinda bat. 

Are you having problems with your holiday lights? There might be an explanation.


Yes, it happened. We released the 2017 MLB Fantasy Alarm Draft Guide. I know it’s only 2016, but you need something to read if you don’t have anyone to share the holiday with. You might need something to read if you hate the people you’re spending the holiday with (I know you are out there). You might want to give your significant other a special gift? Maybe you should just reward yourself for a good year? Whatever the reason, the Guide is available right now! For more, check out this description of the Guide and why it is so amazing this season. It will end up being our best effort yet, no doubt... and it’s available right now. Find out how you might be able to get it for Free as well...


Pablo Sandoval is fat. Just being brutally honest here. The guy has nearly eaten himself out of the league. Forever fat, forever told to get in shape, his career is now at the crossroads. The Red Sox have moved on from Yoan Moncada and Travis Shaw this offseason (Winter Meetings report) seemingly opening up the starting third base spot for Sandoval to take if he can stop stuffing his face with goodies. He’s seemingly gotten the message. Reports suggest that Sandoval is down below 250 lbs, which is still really big but miles from where he’s been the past few seasons. In fact, he almost most looks normal. Sandoval, who is just 30 years old, had just three games of action last season due to shoulder woes, has also apparently changed his diet. Still, despite all the good news here, it’s been a long while since Sandoval was anybody in the fantasy game. The last time he had 80 RBI was 2009. The last time he hit .285 was 2011. In his last healthy season, 2015, he went .245-16-74-43 in 126 games. At this point he’s simply not draftable in mixed leagues.

Brad Ziegler (2-years, $16 million) and Javy Guerra (minor league deal) are now part of the Marlins bullpen joining  the recently signed Junichi Tazawa (see Ugly Sweater Day). Ziegler has closing experience with 52 saves the last two years, but he will open the year operating as a setup man for A.J Ramos. Moreover, it’s not clear that Ziegler is second in line for saves in Miami, it might be Tazawa, but Ziegler would likely be considered the fall back option. That’s not to say I think he should be pitching the ninth inning, I don’t, but he’s effective and just got a pretty big deal financially speaking. It also wouldn’t hurt for the Marlins to drive up his trade value with some save chance and then send him out of town. Ziegler is one of the best ground ball arms in recent history and he owns an insane 66.3 percent ground ball rate. His mark last season was 63.3, a six year low, but still an insanely good numbers. He did jack up his swinging strike rate to 11.7 percent last season, only his second season in double-digits, as he struck out 7.68 batters per nine, a career best. That number will regress, and with a 3.44 BB/9 rate last season, a six-year high, we might be entering the danger zone with the 37 year old submariner so be cautious on the bidding.

 

Ray Flowers can be heard Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday, 8 PM EDT, Wednesday 7 PM EDT on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 9 PM EDT PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).