Alexi Amarista

Alexi Amarista

35-Year-Old Second Baseman2B
 Free Agent  
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Alexi Amarista in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Released by the Phillies in July of 2018.
Signs minor-league deal with Phillies
2BPhiladelphia Phillies  
March 26, 2018
Amarista signed a minor-league contract with the Phillies on Monday, Chris Cotillo of SB Nation reports.
ANALYSIS
Amarista spent the spring in camp with the Tigers but failed to earn a spot on the team. The 28-year-old has a good deal of positional flexibility, having played everywhere except catcher and first base in his seven-year major-league career, though according to UZR he only grades out positively at third base and left field. Combined with a career .231/.275/.323 slash line, that makes Amarista little more than minor-league depth. He could earn a brief call-up at some point again this season but is unlikely to be much of a fantasy asset even if he ends up with unexpected playing time.
Read More News
Batting Stats
Loading Batting Stats...
2017
2017 MLB Game Log
calculator icon
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
Sorare
Loading Batting Game Log...
Minor League Game Log
calculator icon
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Loading Minor League Batting Game Log...
Advanced Batting Stats
Loading Advanced Batting Stats...
Additional Stats
Games By Position
Defensive Stats
Loading Games Played by Position...
Loading MLB Defensive Stats...
Batted Ball Stats
Loading Batted Ball Stats...
Stats Vs Upcoming Pitchers
Want more matchup stats?
Loading Matchup Stats...
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Alexi Amarista See More
NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
July 9, 2017
Jan Levine runs down the possible waiver-wire options for this week, including the return of Kyle Schwarber to the Cubs.
NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
July 2, 2017
Jan Levine profiles the top waiver-wire pickups for the week, including Randal Grichuk, whose power streak has followed him from the minors back to the Cardinals.
NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
May 14, 2017
Jan Levine digs through the waiver wire to find the top players for NL squads this week, including Milwaukee's Junior Guerra, who is working his way back from an injury in his first start of the year.
FanDuel MLB: Tuesday Value Plays
May 2, 2017
Kevin Payne looks over Tuesday's slate and thinks Manny Machado's salary is too low to pass up given his recent form, even in a matchup against Chris Sale.
NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
July 31, 2016
Jan Levine explores the National League free agent pool this week in advance of the August 1 trade deadline.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
Amarista had a rough 2018 campaign, to put it nicely. After playing almost exclusively in the majors each year since 2013, the “Little Ninja” had to settle for a minor-league contract with the Tigers. He failed to make the big-league roster out of camp and was granted his release, eventually latching on with the Phillies on another minor-league deal. He spent a good portion of the season with their Triple-A affiliate, producing just a .573 OPS with two steals. He ultimately was released by Philadelphia as well, forcing him to finish the season in the Mexican League. Amarista’s lack of success in the minors in 2018 hardly makes him an appealing commodity in free agency this winter, even with his defensive versatility. His time in affiliated baseball may be done.
Nicknamed "Little Ninja," Amarista signed with the Rockies prior to 2017 essentially at the request of manager Bud Black, who had managed Amarista during their time in San Diego. However, this reunion wasn't enough to make him relevant in most fantasy formats. His batting average was abysmal (.238), his power was absent (.113 ISO) and his playing time was sporadic. Thankfully, expectations for him heading into the season weren't high, but this performance was still disappointing, especially given half his games were in Colorado. One bright spot heading into 2018 is that he actually hit better on the road last season. Amarista signed a minor-league deal with the Tigers and will fight for a utility role in camp, but it's tough to expect much fantasy production from him.
Amarista posted career highs in average and OBP last season, but that's not saying much. His defensive versatility landed him a job with the Rockies this winter as a utility man, but even with the favorable landing spot, there's still very little to get excited about. Nothing in his profile suggests he will ever provide more than a modicum of speed (he's 38-for-48 in his career as a basestealer over 605 MLB games). Moreover, he's struggled against lefties, posting a paltry .510 OPS in 299 career plate appearances against southpaws. His limited appeal in 2016 was in the fact that NL-only players could slot him as a shortstop, but Amarista begins 2017 with eligibility solely at second base in formats that require 20 games played at a position. Simply put, there are better ways to utilize endgame roster spots even in the deepest of leagues.
The Padres entered the 2015 campaign with concerns about their defense, and the Friars did little to quell those worries with a .683 defensive efficiency that ranked 23rd in the majors. As a result, Amarista moved around the diamond with holes everywhere, making double-digit appearances at shortstop, second, and left field. That bodes well for position eligibility for Amarista, but that's where the fun ends. At the dish, he had his share of problems, batting just .204 with extremely low OBP (.257) and slugging (.287) rates across 324 at-bats. Even though the team declined to pick up Clint Barmes' option for 2016, Amarista's hold on the shortstop position is still very much in question heading into spring training. Should the Padres find an everyday shortstop before camp, Amarista's already-low fantasy stock would likely reach rock bottom as a utility man off the bench.
Amarista slotted into the Padres' injury-riddled lineup wherever his services were required last season, and the result was at least 13 starts apiece at shortstop, second base, third base and in center field. The super-utilityman earned most of his run at short after Everth Cabrera hit the disabled list with a strained hamstring as the calendar turned to July, which combined with a DUI citation in early September to cap Cabrera at 40 at-bats the rest of the year. While Amarista contributed to the Padres’ season-long hitting woes, he engineered a fair two-month stretch at the plate in July and August, assembling a .272/.326/.343 line, seven extra-base hits (including two home runs), seven stolen bases without a failure, and a 14:26 BB:K in 169 at-bats. For the season, though, he deviated little from his historical norm, offering scant contributions to fantasy endeavors. Following the Padres’ decision to not tender a contract to Cabrera, Amarista enters the spring as the starting shortstop by default, but he’ll have to fend off free-agent addition Clint Barmes for the position.
The Padres were once again hammered by injuries in 2013, which benefited a fringe player like Amarista, who garnered at least five starts at second base, shortstop, and left and center fields. He spent a fair portion of the year in a platoon at the latter with Chris Denorfia due to Cameron Maybin's lost season, entering the lineup against right-handed starting pitchers. As a whole, Amarista grades out as a stellar defensive option due to a combined .982 fielding percentage, which will aid in him receiving playing time about the park. He has yet to display the base-stealing prowess from his minor league days, though, succeeding just 12-of-18 times in 695 career at-bats, which will do little to allay his poor eye at the plate. Consequently, expect him to settle into a super-utility role yet again.
Amarista played 18 games at Triple-A Salt Lake in the Angels organization, before being traded to the Padres in early May. From there, he had a short stint in the minors, before playing the rest of the season in the big leagues with the Padres. Part of what makes Amarista intriguing to fantasy owners is the position flexibility he brings, as he played at every defensive position in 2012, outside of first base and catcher. Offensively, he is challenged by the fact that he does not make much contact and he has very limited power. If he were to flash the speed he showed in the minors in 2011, when he stole 15 bases over 396 plate appearances, he would be quite the endgame sleeper, entering 2013. As is, however, he is a player that needs to refine his eye at the plate and continue to bring all of his gloves to the park as he serves as the ultimate utility player for the Padres.
Amarista made his major league debut last season, but he hit just .154 in 23 games. While it remains to be seen if Amarista can hit at the top level, his ability to play both infield and outfield makes him a valuable defensive replacement. Amarista will have a shot at earning a bench job with the big club during spring training.
Amarista began last season in High-A, but he advanced all the way to Triple-A by the end of the season and finished with a .309 batting average, 42 extra-base hits and 25 stolen bases. Amarista has been a high-average/high-stolen-base player throughout his minor league career, so it is now time to start getting excited since he will likely open 2011 in Triple-A again. Still, don’t expect much at the major league level this season unless Amarista tears it up and forces the Angels to deal one of their infielders.
More Fantasy News
Granted release
2BFree Agent  
March 24, 2018
Amarista was released by the Tigers on Saturday, Evan Woodbery of MLive Media Group reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Invited to Tigers camp
2BDetroit Tigers  
January 23, 2018
Amarista signed a minor-league deal with the Tigers on Tuesday which includes an invitation to spring training, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Set to become free agent
2BFree Agent  
November 5, 2017
Amarista had his $2.5 million 2018 option declined by the Rockies, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Uptick in power in 2017
2BColorado Rockies  
October 3, 2017
Amarista concluded the regular season with a .238/.269/.351 slash line.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Homers in win over Indians
2BColorado Rockies  
August 9, 2017
Amarista went 1-for-3 with a solo home run during Wednesday's win over Cleveland.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.