Welington Castillo, catcher, Arizona
The catcher position drops off significantly after Buster Posey, but Castillo has shown to be more than competent in multiple categories compared to other catchers.
Castillo played in only 80 games last season, but still finished sixth among catchers in home runs with 17. He also tallied 50 RBIs, giving me hope that he could be a solid contributor in the power-hitting category. The position is absent of many power hitters, so if Castillo can keep up the power streak, he can provide some value.
Castillo has been in the league for a few years, but just got an opportunity last season to be an everyday player. He took advantage of it, and in the second half of last season when he manned the catcher position on a consistent basis, he improved in every category. He’s currently ranked 13th among catchers, according to Fantasy Pros, a site showing several fantasy experts’ opinions. He’s ranked 244th overall, making it likely he will be available at the end of fantasy drafts or on the waiver wire when the season begins.
Jeff Samardzija, pitcher, San Francisco
A return to the National League should do Samardzija some good. And with a ranking of 40th among pitchers, he has the ability to be a top-20 fantasy pitcher option if he returns to form. That’s why I like Samardzija so much in terms of value. It’s not what he has done recently. He’s been extremely average in the American League during the last two years. Now, though, he’s getting a new start in San Francisco and the last time he was in the National League, he was dominant. He’s shown in the past to be solid in the ERA department and can throw in some strikeouts, too. He’s ranked 142nd overall, so if you can grab him in the 11th round or beyond, that would be a solid pick.
Shelby Miller, pitcher, Arizona
Win/loss record isn’t a great barometer for success in Major League Baseball. Sure, it’s a nice stat to have as part of Fantasy Baseball, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. That’s why Miller, who’s ranked 47th among pitchers, can be a solid starting option for fantasy owners this season. Miller was 6-17 last season for the Atlanta Braves. That’s atrocious. However, he still had a 3.02 ERA, a top-15 number in MLB last season. He’s still young and with the improvements the Diamondbacks have made since last season, which includes Miller joining the roster, he should have more opportunities for wins. He won’t be dominant in strikeouts (he averages 7.6 per nine innings in his career), but he should see plenty of action, since he’s logged more than 30 starts in each of the past three seasons.
Daniel Norris, pitcher, Detroit
Sometimes you have to take a chance. That’s why Norris is worth a late-round flier. Norris was the main piece Detroit received in the David Price deal with Toronto, and showed last season that he had the stuff to fool Major League hitters at times. He should earn a spot in the rotation to start the season and he has enough potential to possibly be a pleasant surprise for fantasy owners. He’s currently ranked 325th overall, so don’t expect many to be on the Norris bandwagon. But why not risk a late-round pick on potential? He averaged 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings in the Minor Leagues and won 19 games. The worst that could happen is that he doesn’t do anything, forcing you to comb through the waiver wire for other pitchers. If he works out, though, he could be a stellar weekly option that could provide valuable numbers in the strikeouts category.
