What To Expect In Fantasy Baseball From Hitters On New Teams: Alex Verdugo, Rhys Hoskins, Joey Gallo

This MLB off-season has seen a ton of player movement. Let's take a look at three hitters who have changed teams this offseason, and how their landing spots impact their fantasy baseball values. 

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Alex Verdugo Yankees Fantasy Outlook

This trade came as a surprise to many, especially when you consider that it was the rival Boston Red Sox who traded Verdugo to the Yankees. Verdugo was a solid player in Boston, batting .281 with a .337 OBP in 493 games. He also set his career high in home runs as a Red Sox, which is noteworthy because, as a slap-hitting lefty, he played half of his games in a stadium that is built for right-handed hitters and power-hitting lefties. Now Verdugo heads to the Yankees, where he should hit toward the top of the order and play half his games in a left-handed hitter's paradise. Verdugo is positioned to have a career year in all the counting stats and should also be able to get back to being a .290-.300 hitter, which he was back in 2019 and 2020. Verdugo is an excellent value this season in fantasy baseball as well. His current ADP since the start of 2024 is 299, which is towards the end of Round 19 in 15-team leagues. He has gone as late as 354 overall and as early as 223 overall. The minimum pick is a little too early for my taste; however, if Verdugo takes well to Yankee Stadium like I believe he will, he could provide top-200 value. 

Joey Gallo Nationals Fantasy Outlook

Gallo is a better real-life player than he is a fantasy baseball player. He can play multiple positions and plays them all well. He has a keen eye at the plate, sees a ton of pitches, and draws a lot of walks. In a batting average league, you are best to leave Gallo undrafted, unless it’s a 15+ team league or a 50-round Draft and Hold. In an OBP league, though, Gallo is worthy of a pick. He has had excellent seasons in the OBP department, and even in his down seasons, it isn’t bad enough to hurt you. Gallo is also a big power bat who can hit 20+ HR even if he is in a platoon situation, which looks like the case. 

Rhys Hoskins Brewers Fantasy Outlook

This is a great signing for both Hoskins and the Brewers. The Brewers needed thump in their lineup and a 1B, and Hoskins was in need of a fresh start after missing the entire 2023 season. The Phillies moved on from him after deciding that Bryce Harper was moving to 1B full-time. In his final two seasons in Philly, Hoskins hit 57 home runs, scored 145 runs, and had 150 RBIs. He has hit .245 or better in three straight seasons, and he has a career .353 OBP, .492 SLG, and .846 OPS. Hoskins will hit in the middle of the Brewers' lineup and could be one of the premier power hitters at the 1B position. His ADP has been inside the top 200 (185 overall) since his signing, and he has been picked as high as 146 and as late as 225. It’s doubtful that you’ll get Hoskins after pick 200 at this point, but he has a very good ADP and should be considered one of the better values at 1B right now.