Corbin Burnes to Orioles: Fantasy Baseball Impact 2024

For just over a month, the baseball community eagerly awaited news from Shohei Ohtani’s camp, speculating on which team he would join for the upcoming MLB season. Numerous rumors circulated, some without solid foundation. The anticipation finally ended on December 9, 2023, when Ohtani announced on Instagram that he had signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Since then, it appears that the Dodgers have been successful in acquiring desired baseball players through trades and free agency, creating a perception of near-unstoppable recruiting.

Shortly after Ohtani’s signing, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the standout pitcher from the Nippon Professional Baseball League, also joined the Dodgers 13 days later. Yamamoto is expected to quickly establish himself as one of the team’s top starting pitchers, likely becoming a formidable force in MLB with his striking ability. The Dodgers’ roster enhancements didn’t stop there, as they continued to make significant deals, impacting fantasy implications across various teams.

While the Dodgers appeared to dominate the Hot Stove League by acquiring numerous players, other teams were also actively making moves that will significantly impact fantasy baseball in 2024. For fantasy managers who have been focused on football recently, here’s a brief overview of some major and minor offseason acquisitions and their potential fantasy implications.

It’s worth noting that notable players like Blake Snell, Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, and Jordan Montgomery might bring additional changes to this landscape once they sign with new teams.

In the realm of significant moves, the Dodgers made a splash with the addition of Shohei Ohtani, widely regarded as the best player in the game. His move to Chavez Ravine is deemed the most impactful free-agent signing since LeBron James joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018. Despite the disappointment that Ohtani won’t pitch until 2025, his offensive prowess promises to make a significant impact.

Batting at the top of the Dodgers lineup alongside Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, Ohtani’s stellar 2023 performance, featuring 44 home runs, 20 stolen bases, 102 runs, 95 RBIs, and a 1.066 OPS, could just be the beginning. The RBI opportunities for hitters like Will Smith and Max Muncy behind him are expected to be plentiful. Without the burden of pitching duties, there’s speculation that Ohtani could excel even further at the plate in 2024. Even as a designated hitter, Ohtani is anticipated to be an early first-round pick, given his exceptional power-speed combination.

In response to significant departures impacting their pitching staff, the Los Angeles Dodgers made a strategic move by signing Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a teammate of Shohei Ohtani from Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic. The 25-year-old pitcher has an impressive track record, winning the last three Sawamura Awards (Japan’s equivalent of the Cy Young Award). Yamamoto’s diverse pitch mix is expected to translate well to the major leagues, and in his most recent season, he boasted a remarkable 1.16 ERA alongside a 17-6 record.

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Spencer Strider and Yoshinobu Yamamoto will turn heads in 2024. pic.twitter.com/4x3TVw12I2
— MLB (@MLB) January 23, 2024

Despite the adjustments needed to acclimate to a different baseball and the increased pitching frequency in the MLB, Yamamoto is anticipated to thrive with his elite pitching skills in a pitcher-friendly ballpark, supported by a strong defense and a potent offensive lineup. His contributions are expected to be substantial in categories such as wins, ERA, WHIP, and strikeouts.

Adding to the Dodgers’ pitching arsenal is Tyler Glasnow, considered one of the most talented pitchers in baseball. While Glasnow has a history of injuries, he completed last season with 120 innings, the highest in his eight-year career, recording an impressive 162 strikeouts. His health at the end of the season bodes well, and the Dodgers’ track record with pitchers adds confidence to his potential success. However, fantasy managers are cautioned against relying on Glasnow as their primary ace. It is advised to build a deep pitching staff to account for any potential missed time due to injury concerns.

Teoscar Hernández’s move to the Los Angeles Dodgers came as a surprise, positioning him in left field to strengthen an already formidable lineup. With the departure of J.D. Martinez in free agency (replaced by Ohtani), the Dodgers sought another right-handed bat, and Hernández, coming off a season with the Mariners where he hit 26 home runs and tallied 93 RBIs, fits the bill. Having recorded at least 20 home runs in each of his last five full seasons, Hernández, projected to bat after Smith and Muncy, is poised for numerous RBI opportunities. He is a potential candidate for the 2024 Raul Ibañez All-Stars, recognized for putting up solid fantasy numbers quietly, especially for players past age 30.

In the realm of significant acquisitions outside the Dodgers, Juan Soto joins the New York Yankees, adding a versatile hitter to their lineup. Soto’s impressive track record includes six seasons with more walks than strikeouts, five seasons with at least 20 home runs, and a lifetime OPS of .946.

The Shuffle that never sleeps.

#22, Juan Soto. pic.twitter.com/8NKfYvX2ub
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) December 12, 2023

Approaching his age-25 season, Soto, traded by the Padres, is expected to form a potent duo with Aaron Judge, making them arguably the most powerful pair in baseball. The dimensions of the short porch in right field and the hitter-friendly ballparks in the AL East could contribute to Soto’s impressive projections of 40-plus home runs, 100-plus runs and RBIs, along with a double-digit steals mark. Anticipated to be a first-round pick in fantasy drafts, Soto’s move is noteworthy. On the Padres’ side of the trade, Michael King, with a 2.75 ERA and 127 strikeouts in 104.2 innings, represents a valuable piece, potentially worth a late-round selection in drafts.

On February 1st, the Baltimore Orioles made a significant acquisition by trading for Corbin Burnes, the ace pitcher from the Milwaukee Brewers and the 2021 Cy Young Award winner. This move adds a high-caliber pitcher to one of the most exciting young teams in baseball. Despite Baltimore’s impressive 101-win season, there was a need for frontline starting pitching, and Burnes, currently ranked as the No. 3 pitcher in the 2024 rankings, fills that void. His performance over the last three years includes 93 starts with an impressive cumulative 2.94 ERA and 0.994 WHIP. During this period, Burnes struck out 677 hitters, allowing only 408 hits in 562.2 innings, all while pitching in a hitter’s park in Milwaukee.

As Burnes transitions to the Orioles, he assumes the role of an ace supported by a potent offense, raising expectations for a high win total, especially given his tendency to pitch deep into games. With 193.2 innings pitched, he was tied for 10th in the league. Being in the final year of his contract and approaching free agency, Burnes is poised for a standout season, showcasing his pitching prowess for a team with playoff aspirations.

In another notable move, Josh Hader joins the Houston Astros, causing Ryan Pressly, with 90 saves in the past three seasons, to shift to a setup role. Hader, arriving with an impressive three-year run featuring 103 saves, 268 strikeouts, and a 2.45 ERA in 165 innings, brings a dominant presence to the Astros’ bullpen. Playing for a team with 291 wins over the last three seasons suggests ample save opportunities for Hader, making him a likely early pick in fantasy drafts.

Looking ahead, the prospect of Hader facing Shohei Ohtani in the World Series adds an exciting element to anticipate, making it a compelling storyline for baseball enthusiasts.

In the international player acquisitions, two standouts transitioning from Asia to the major leagues are worth monitoring for fantasy managers.

Former KBO MVP Jung Hoo Lee has reportedly been posted by the Kiwoom Heroes.

Where will the 25-year-old outfielder land? pic.twitter.com/Kyb4lXD0Ri
— MLB (@MLB) December 4, 2023

Jung Hoo Lee (San Francisco Giants): Nicknamed “Grandson of the Wind,” Lee was a premier hitter in the KBO with a .340 average, .407 on-base percentage, and .898 OPS in his seven-year career. At 25, he hit 23 homers with 113 RBIs in 2022, although he missed part of the 2023 season due to ankle surgery.

Shōta Imanaga is going to fit right in at Wrigley Field. ? pic.twitter.com/pVTjXQbXqW
— MLB (@MLB) January 12, 2024

Shōta Imanaga (Chicago Cubs): Imanaga, a lefty, arrives from Japan with impressive credentials, going 12-4 with a 2.04 ERA in 2022 and 7-5 with a 2.66 ERA last year. Over these two seasons, he struck out 339 hitters in 317 2/3 innings.