Danny Valencia

For the second straight season, Valencia played in 130 games after averaging 72 from 2012-2015. The Mariners played Valencia primarily at first base, depriving him of the third-base and outfield eligibility he’s enjoyed the previous two years. After batting .290 and .287 in 2015 and 2016, Valencia’s average plummeted to .256, a result of a drop in contact in tandem with a below-average hard-hit rate. Valencia’s down season was punctuated by a terrible September where he slashed just .148/.333/.259 after rosters expanded. He maintained his mid-teens power, but in today’s power-happy climate, that’s nothing, especially from a first baseman. Valencia played 2017 on a one-year contract, setting himself up to play for his eighth organization since debuting in 2010. There’s a chance Valencia picks up position flexibility in-season, but he will begin the season eligible at just first base in most leagues and is at best a corner or utility in single league formats.

With Oakland in 2016, Valencia fell off the fiery pace he had in an abbreviated 2015 season, with significant drops in homer rate, hard contact and RBI. He sustained many peripherals hinting at the once intriguing upside he had earlier this decade and has shown power, compared to his light-hitting past. Unfortunately, his batting average and on-base percentage since 2014 look fluky because he's had walk rates of just 7.7 and 7.9 percent in the last two years. Last year's .348 BABIP was a career high -- suspect because of the drop-off in hard contact, despite his boost in line drives. Perhaps going to the opposite field more often has sustained his ability to keep those high clips. Valencia, still only has moderate power, he swung and missed a career-high 12.0 percent of the time last year, and still struggles to reach the acceptable 80.0 percent threshold for contact rate. He will start at first base for Seattle this season with Daniel Vogelbach optioned to the minors.

The A's snagged Valencia off waivers from the Blue Jays in August and slotted in him in the lineup almost every day. After appearing mostly as a platoon bat for the Jays in 2014 and 2015, Valencia thrived in his time with the A's with full-time at-bats. In his 47 games in an Oakland uniform, Valencia hit 11 homers and posted a .886 OPS over 183 at-bats. Valencia regularly hits the ball with authority, shown by his strong 34.7% hard-hit rate in 2015. The most encouraging sign from Valencia's 2015 is that he actually had a higher OPS against righties (.881) than lefties (.834), perhaps paving the way for full-time at-bats in 2016. The A's are considering slotting Valencia in at third base as they did late in the season and if he is given that opportunity, he presents a nice sneaky pick in drafts for a team looking for some cheap power.

Valencia saw occasional starts around the Kansas City infield the first two months of the season, but a sprained left hand, suffered in late May, forced him to the DL and ultimately cost him close to a month of action. Upon his return, the Royals continued to use Valencia sparingly before trading him to Toronto, where he hit .240/.273/.364 with two homers and 19 RBI in 50 games (165 PA). His struggles against right-handed pitching continued, as Valencia hit just .211/.238/.303 against righties in 2014, from .203/.250/.422 a year before, and his strikeout rate ticked back up to 21.8%. A slightly above-average defender at the corner infield spots, Valencia also hits lefties well (.327/.368/.502 career), but he is no lock to exceed 250 plate appearances again, and thus can be left alone for fantasy purposes.

Valencia shuttled between the Orioles and Triple-A, but he emerged with as nearly an everyday player in August and September. During that audition, Valencia hit .385 with 14 extra-base hits and he had a .248 ISO in 170 at-bats. His 22 home runs across all levels accounted for a career high. Traded to Kansas City in December, Valencia may be used in a platoon role with Mike Moustakas at third base. Moustakas struggles against left-handers, and Valencia posted an impressive .371/.392/.639 slash line in 97 at-bats against southpaws at the big league level last season.

Valencia completely fell apart in 2012, hitting a combined .188 for Minnesota and Boston. Most of his season was spent in each organization's minor league affiliates in Triple-A. He was designated for assignment in the offseason and wound up being traded to Baltimore for cash. He will give the Orioles some infield depth and has hit lefties well in his brief MLB career. He has options left, so it is likely that he opens the season as Triple-A Norfolk's starter at third base. He also has some experience at first base, having played 20 games there in the minors.

Valencia enters 2012 as Minnesota's starter at third base, but he may not have much job security after a disappointing sophomore season. Valencia hit .311 with a .799 OPS in 2010 in a breakout season that had many thinking he was Minnesota's long-term solution at the hot corner. However, his strong rookie season was largely fueled by a high BABIP (.350) and large home/road splits (.979 OPS at home vs. .658 OPS on the road) that were not sustainable (he hit about equal at home/road last season). His glove was seen as an asset in the minors and in his rookie season, but he struggled in the field last season and was frequently in manager Ron Gardenhire's dog house for mental lapses in the field (he went from 5.9 WAR with the glove to -6.1). There are some reasons to think he'll rebound as his BABIP over-corrected to a low .275 and he actually hit more home runs in spacious Target Field (nine) than he did on the road (six). Still, a slow start to his season could see the Twins explore other options at third base.

Valencia enters 2011 as Minnesota's starting third baseman after a breakout rookie season. Valencia was hitting .298/.350/.381 with no home runs at Triple-A in June and was called up just as a temporary replacement but caught fire in the majors and took over the starting third-base job. While his rookie numbers were impressive, there are reasons to temper expectations for his first full season in the majors. He had large home/road splits (.979 OPS at home vs. .658 OPS on the road), and he may not be able to hit as well at Target Field again. He also doesn't draw walks at a great rate (just six percent) and had a high BABIP (.350) last season. Still, he makes good contact, has moderate power and is a good glove at third base. Even with a modest decline in his production he should still be a productive starter at third base.

Valencia could be the future at third base for the Twins after he showed decent power, a good glove and the potential to draw walks (although his walk rate declined at Triple-A). If the Twins don't sign or trade for an established veteran third baseman, Valencia could be in the mix before too long next season.