Five Potential Stars Without Everyday Roles – NL Edition

Playing time rules the day in fantasy baseball. The more of it your players have, the better you will do. It should go without saying that you want quality players logging that playing time, but in case anyone was unclear, I obviously believe that to be the case. It can be difficult to take a platoon player (under 130 gms) – even a good one – over someone playing at a slightly lesser clip but doing so 85%+ (~140+ gms) of the time.

Brett Gardner isn’t as good as Jesse Winker on a per plate appearance basis (103 to 125 in wRC+ since 2018), but he has 416 more PA giving him massive counting category edges. Finding the guys who can increase their playing time load in season is often a key separator in the winners and the losers. Here are five players who could fantasy stars if they find regular reps.

Edwin Ríos | LAD | 4C (1B-3B-LF-RF)

Rios would start and bat in the top half of the lineup for at least half the league right now. While he is hardly a standout defender, his flexibility would help so many clubs fit his strong bat somewhere. Unfortunately, the Dodgers are definitely not one of those teams. All four positions he can play are blocked off by All Stars, but that same flexibility paired with the overall flexibility of this entire roster will give him a chance to be LA’s first man up should virtually any injury occur. The pieces can move to make Rios the man to cover any injury except catcher.

He has been a standout in limited opportunities with a robust 152 wRC+ including 12 HR, 25 RBI, and 23 R in 139 PA. Rios smashed 31 HR in just 444 PA at Triple-A in 2019 and also posted an ISO of .216 or better in 3 of his last 4 minor league stops (the .178 at AAA in ’18 at least came with a .304 AVG). The bottom line is he can hit and the power is legit. There is some substantial swing-and-miss in his game, but he could easily pop 25 HR if he found even just 400 PA.

Jonathan Villar | NYM | 2B-SS

I’m not sure I have to go that deep on Villar as he’s a multi-year fantasy star but he is coming off a brutal 2020 season (66 wRC+, though still had 16 SB) and now finds himself in a primary bench role for the Mets. The beauty of Villar is that he is obvious long-term fill-in for virtually any injury that might hit the Mets with catcher being the lone exception. He is averaging 11 HR and 28 SB per 400 PA over the last five seasons so there is some intrigue here even if he is only a super utilityman for the Mets. We know he can be a monster if his playing team reaches 500+ PA.

Josh Rojas | ARI | 2B

Buzz sparked on Rojas after a 2019 trade to Arizona as he was in the midst of a huge minor league season (23 HR/33 SB/1.023 OPS) that continued with his new organization and eventually led to a call-up. Unfortunately, the performance didn’t translate to the majors (67 wRC+ in 157 PA) and then just an even more difficult small sample (24 wRC+ in 70 PA) last year. The D’Backs seemed to make multiple acquisitions that further blocked Rojas last offseason, but this year Asdrúbal Cabrera was the only hitting pick up of note.

He still seemed a bit blocked heading into Spring Training, but an injury to Kole Calhoun combined with a fast spring start (3 HR, 1.189 OPS in 28 PA) has once again brought Rojas to the forefront. He still doesn’t have a guaranteed role so I felt comfortable including him in this piece, though his outlook could definitely change as we get deeper into spring. Alex Chamberlain is forcing me to say that Rojas’ downside is 88 HR and 412 SB so there’s that, but I see more of an upside around 14-17 HR with 20+ SBs if he can carve out 500+ PA.

David Bote | CHC | 2B-3B

Bote has settled into a solid fill-in role for Cubs and they committed to him with 5-year, $15 million dollar deal in 2020 (plus options for ’25 and ’26). He has been a league average bat over 711 PA (101 wRC+, 24 HR, 10 SB), mostly in a substitute role, and I wonder if there is more here should he land an everyday gig. It doesn’t seem like there is an avenue to such a role with Nico Hoerner feeling like the choice at second base, but he does have just a 73 wRC+ in 208 PA as a major leaguer.

Additionally, Bote could become the immediate fill-in if and when Kris Bryant is traded. In the meantime, he will continue to fill the utility role and bounce around the infield and maybe even catch a taste of the outfield here and there. I can’t really see drafting him in mixed leagues, just be ready to act if that Bryant trade comes through and clears Bote’s path.

Shogo Akiyama | CIN | OF

I was a big fan of Akiyama coming into 2020 as his performance in the Japan League suggested he could be a solid 15/15/.270 OF4 type atop the Reds offense, a lineup I thought would excel and give him a chance to score 90+ runs as he was also bringing a 10% walk rate with him. He ended up being a major disappointment as his transition to the major leagues wasn’t instant and frankly, my expectation that it would be was lofty, even for a 32-year-old veteran.

He struggled badly through the first month-plus with a meager .196/.299/.255 line through 37 games but did offer a glimmer of hope down the stretch with a .340/.462/.377 line in his last 17 games (65 PA). There still wasn’t any power to speak of, but hits were falling, and he had a 1:1 K/BB ratio in that time (12 apiece). In fact, the plate approach was his best skill throughout the season (19% K, 14% BB) and I wonder if he would have continued to rebound over the course of a 6-month season.

The outfield is set with Jesse Winker, Nick Senzel, and Nick Castellanos locked in as the primary guys, but both Winker and Senzel have struggled with injury issues regularly in their careers so the Reds may be reluctant to drop 600 PA on either. Plus, Winker often gets platooned, though that doesn’t help Akiyama as much because he is also a lefty. Akiyama is completely off the draft radar (400+ ADP in 50-round Draft & Holds), but I’m keeping an eye on him should time come available because I’m encouraged by his finish and the power-speed capability. He could be a perfect NL-Only reserve option.





Paul is the Editor of Rotographs and Content Director for OOTP Perfect Team. Follow Paul on Twitter @sporer and on Twitch at sporer.

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wagnerhof
3 years ago

All NL – any AL names for us AL only types?

willintomember
3 years ago
Reply to  Paul Sporer

Another ALonlier here, so please do,Paul.

Stephenmember
3 years ago
Reply to  Paul Sporer

Thanks, Paul! I am sure that the NL has more glaring “openings” due to lack of DH, but an AL list would be great.

pmccurry
3 years ago
Reply to  wagnerhof

came here to post this same thing