Kennys Vargas

Kennys Vargas

34-Year-Old First Baseman1B
 Free Agent  
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Kennys Vargas in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Signed a one-year, minor-league contract with the Tigers in January of 2020. Released by the Tigers in July of 2020.
Released by Tigers
1BFree Agent  
July 8, 2020
Vargas was released by the Tigers on Wednesday, Andersen Pickard of MLBDailyDish.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Vargas signed a minor-league deal with the Tigers in January, but he was released by the team Wednesday after being left off the 60-man roster. The 29-year-old was a non-roster invitee during spring training, but he went 0-for-7 with four strikeouts. Whether Vargas will be able to land with another team remains to be seen.
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Kennys Vargas See More
The Z Files: Prepping For the Stretch Run, Part Four
August 31, 2018
Todd Zola completes his look at players and strategies that can move the needle over the final weeks of the season and wonders if Josh Donaldson will find himself in a new uniform.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2018
2017
2016
2015
Vargas split last season between Triple-A and Minnesota, moving up and down from the minors five times. He had stretches where it appeared he would take over regular DH duty and showed prodigious power - hitting the third longest home run in MLB last season at 483 feet. Vargas struggles to make contact (68 percent contact rate), however, and his walk rate declined slightly last season. His main problem is his position as he faces too much competition at DH and first base. The Twins will have to risk exposing Vargas to waivers if he doesn't make the 25-man roster coming out of spring training, as he has run out of minor-league options. At age 27, he could still surprise if he finds extended playing time, but it may take an injury or two for that opportunity to arise.
After struggling as Minnesota's DH in 2015, it looked like Vargas was set to languish at Triple-A amid a logjam of DH and first-base types on Minnesota's roster. He had a middling Triple-A season (15 homers and .785 OPS), but surprisingly thrived when called up to the majors after several players ahead of him on the depth chart were hurt. Vargas had 10 home runs in 47 games, along with a .833 OPS and 13.6 percent walk rate, but he still strikes out too often and needs to make better contact (63 percent contact rate) to survive in the majors. Vargas has plus power, but his main problem is his position as he's buried on a Twins roster that has too many corner infielders. He could surprise if he lands somewhere with a clearer path to steady playing time.
Vargas began last season as Minnesota's starting DH after hitting .274/.316/.456 with nine home runs in 53 games in his major league debut in 2015. He struggled in his second season with a .642 OPS and just five home runs in 47 games before being demoted to the minors in early July. Vargas found his power stroke again the minors with 13 home runs and a .910 OPS between Double-A and Triple-A. He got just 16 at-bats in a September callup as he struggled to find a role, and that may be a similar case in 2016. His defensive liabilities limit him to 1B and DH, where the Twins have a logjam. Vargas has tremendous power but has struggled to make contact (26.9% K% in the majors). However, he showed some signs of plate discipline in the minors with a good walk rate (13.2%). Vargas could still be a source of power in the majors, but he may need to move to another organization to get the opportunity.
Vargas wasn't thought to be a top prospect, as he was older than his competition at age 23 in his breakout season at High-A in 2013. However, Vargas thrived at Double-A by hitting .281/.360/.472 with 17 home runs which resulted in the Twins calling him up at the end of July. Vargas stayed hot in the majors as he clubbed nine home runs in 53 games and hit .274/.316/.456. At 6-foot-5, 275 pounds, Vargas has tremendous power but has struggled to make contact (26.7% K% in the majors). However, he showed signs of plate discipline at Double-A with a good walk rate (10.6%) and manageable strikeout rate (16.8%). He'll thrive as an everyday player if he can carry over those trends to the majors. Where Vargas will play is an issue, as his defensive liabilities limit him to 1B and DH, where the Twins are crowded with veterans and prospects. GM Terry Ryan says Vargas can play the outfield, so he could find at-bats there as well. He enters 2015 a the leading candidate to start at DH for the Twins and could be a up-and-coming power source.
More Fantasy News
Latches on with Detroit
1BDetroit Tigers  
January 27, 2020
Vargas signed a minor-league contract with the Tigers on Monday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
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Heads overseas
1BFree Agent  
November 6, 2018
Vargas agreed to a contract Tuesday with the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japanese Pacific League, Seth Stohs of TwinsDaily.com reports.
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Clears waivers, outrighted to Triple-A
1BMinnesota Twins  
March 27, 2018
Vargas was outrighted to Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
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Claimed off waivers by Twins
1BMinnesota Twins  
March 24, 2018
Vargas was claimed off waivers by the Twins on Saturday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
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Heads to Cincinnati
1BCincinnati Reds  
March 22, 2018
Vargas was claimed off waivers by the Reds on Thursday.
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