Marwin Gonzalez

Gonzalez appeared in 53 of last season's 60 games as the 10th man who filled in for injured or resting players. He continued to display versatility and effectiveness in the field, but his production at the plate declined with just a .606 OPS. Gonzalez played seven or more games at 1B, 2B, 3B and OF. He had a DRS of 0 to 1 at all the positions and was in the 95th percentile in Outs Above Average, according to Baseball Savant. He suffered a power outage at the plate with a career-low .320 SLG and the worst hard-hit rate (26.1%) since his rookie season. However, many of his peripheral numbers were not as poor as he had similar walk, strikeout and exit velocity rates as prior seasons. He may have been a bit unlucky with career-low .241 BAPIP and low 9.6% HR/FB. Gonzalez may not get as much playing time as in Minnesota, but he could rebound at the plate giving deep-league managers a positional flexibility option.

Gonzalez joined the Twins knowing he would not have a set spot in the lineup; he started 108 games as the 10th man who filled in for injured or resting players. He got most of his playing time early in the season at third base when Miguel Sano was hurt and later in left field when Max Kepler was struggling with a sore leg. He played just three games between shortstop and second base which will cause him to lose MI eligibility in most formats. His 2017 season (.904 OPS) looks like a clear outlier as he has since returned to career norms. After missing most of the final month with an oblique injury, Gonzalez was able to return for the playoffs. He had just one steal as Minnesota largely phased out the stolen base from its playbook. He'll return in a utility role again and offers 10-15 HR power, but his lack of middle-infield eligibility and decline in speed drop him out of most mixed-league conversations.

Gonzalez was unable to follow up on his monstrous 2017 season, which was to be expected as the leading indicators foretold a collapse coming as there was a 54-point gap between his actual wOBA and his expected wOBA based on contact in 2017. A late-season surge salvaged Gonzalez's season to finish just above the league average offensively. The power surge in 2017 looks like the outlier against the backdrop of the past five seasons, and was fueled by an abnormally high HR/FB (18.1% vs. a 12.3% career rate). The switch-hitting Gonzalez historically hits for a better average from the right side of the plate, but his overall offensive production is rather split neutral. His average exit velocity year over year was identical, but the regression of the HR/FB ultimately brought him back to Earth. He qualifies at four positions on draft day, which certainly helps his appeal.

Gonzalez, the former Rule 5 pick, had a breakout year in 2017 for the World Series champs. 2016 was a sign of things to come when the versatile fielder went for double-double homers and steals, but he took his game to another level in 2017, doubling his walk rate (to 9.5 percent) and launching nearly as many homers as he had the previous two seasons combined. That increased walk rate came from more selectivity as Gonzalez improved his chase rate by six full percentage points as he instead went hunting for fastballs to elevate and drive. Although a switch hitter, he does a majority of his damage from the left side as 18 of his 23 homers came off righties. Gonzalez has the rare 1B/2B/SS/OF eligibility for 2018 and should once again have no problem finding playing time in this high-octane offense.

Gonzalez offered some fantasy viability as a utilityman with eligibility at upwards of five positions, depending on league rules, while offering a double-double (10-plus HR and SB), though that obfuscates the fact that all three of his rate stats dropped and it was actually his worst season since 2013 by OPS. He hit just one more homer than 2015 despite 148 more plate appearances. He was much worse against fastballs and changeups, which drove his rise in strikeouts and drop in power. Gonzalez has seen his strikeout rate rise yearly while his walk rate has held at a weak four-to-five percent. He will also enter 2017 with just first base and third base eligibility, which certainly curbs his draft day value. His utility role, modest power offerings and career 47 percent success rate on the basepaths make it hard to envision a repeat of his 2016. Without middle infield eligibility, he is an AL-only end-gamer at best.

After spending a good chunk of 2014 as the Astros' starting shortstop, Gonzalez filled a super-utility role for the club last season, playing all over the diamond while adding 15 appearances from left field as a bonus to his fantasy owners in deeper leagues. The 26-year-old logged career highs in games played, plate appearances, batting average, home runs and RBI. Gonzalez didn't display much patience at the dish (4.3-percent walk rate) and he struck out at a 20 percent clip, but his .759 OPS far exceeded expectations. The Astros certainly value his versatility, and he should see plenty of action at third base and first base while the team awaits the arrival of prospects A.J. Reed and Colin Moran to take over at the infield corners.

Gonzalez played all over the diamond in 2014, logging starts at every position except pitcher, catcher, and center field for the Astros. Most of them came as the team's primary shortstop, however, as he took over the position upon Jonathan Villar's demotion to Triple-A. Gonzalez delivered a solid, yet unspectacular .277/.327/.400 batting line with six homers and 23 RBI in 285 at-bats (103 games) for the Astros. With the return of Jed Lowrie via free agency, Gonzalez may face an uphill battle to match his 2014 workload, as the front office found a veteran shortstop capable of holding the job until Carlos Correa is ready for the call.

Gonzalez opened the season in a timeshare with veteran shortstop Ronny Cedeno, but a hot-hitting April (.297/.388/.516) earned him enough starts (19) that it looked like he was separating himself from Cedeno as the clear-cut starter. When the calendar flipped to May, Gonzalez disappeared at the plate (.179/.188/.209) and was subsequently demoted to the minors when his struggles continued into June. Gonzalez was recalled later in the season, but he was relegated to a bench role with Jonathan Villar taking over as the Astros' starting shortstop. Should he return to that role, Gonzalez's fantasy upside is limited. That is, of course, assuming he makes the roster out of spring training, which is no guarantee.

In his first taste of big league action, the 23-year-old Gonzalez found his way into 80 games, filling in for an injured Jed Lowrie and spelling Jose Altuve at second. His numbers were far from overwhelming, but it looks like Gonzalez could be a decent role player across the infield, or in a pinch, fill in for longer stretches at short or second. With the burden of being a Rule 5 pick lifted, Gonzalez can start the year in Triple-A if need be. Even if he doesn't break camp with the team, he will likely wind up coming off the bench for the Astros at some point this season.