Derek Dietrich

Dietrich started off hot in his first season with the Reds but was unable to maintain a consistent role due to injuries and ineffectiveness. The 30-year-old hit just .187/.328/.462 in 113 games in a platoon role, starting just once against a left-handed pitcher. His Z-Contact% plummeted to 80% and his swinging-strike rate rose to 13.8%, both of which were career-worst marks. The second half was downright bad, with Dietrich hitting .099/.283/.207 from June 2 through the end of the season. In the end, Dietrich hit a career-high 19 home runs and brought his walk rate up to 9.2%, but it wasn't enough to save his roster spot, as the Reds outrighted him after the season. It's safe to wonder whether Dietrich's injuries lingered and played a role in his lack of production down the stretch, but regardless he's shown to be a lackluster fantasy option throughout most of his career even when healthy.

A year after slashing .307/.402/.413 against lefty pitching, Dietrich reverted back to his old ways against southpaws and had to lean on his .274/.342/.420 line against righties for much of his production. Hidden in there, however, were five homers against southpaws -- his first since 2015 -- and a .288 first-half average. Dietrich mostly played left field and earned more reps at first base after the Justin Bour trade, losing eligibility at second and third base and in turn hurting his fantasy utility. Maybe he'll regain some eligibility with a new team after Miami DFA'd him. Almost any other park would help the 29-year-old (.290/.363/.496 on the road, .239/.297/.347 at Marlins Park last year). However, the tradeoff will be playing time, almost certainly. Expect Dietrich to continue compiling mediocre numbers in patches of playing time against right-handed pitching while falling back below 500 plate appearances in total.

Martin Prado's repeated injury setbacks paved the way for Dietrich to hold down the fort at third base for most of last season. Though he sacrificed his second-base eligibility in most settings as a result, Dietrich at least regained the power stroke he was missing for much of the 2016 campaign. With his hard-hit and flyball rates aligning more closely with his career norms, Dietrich used the extended playing time to set new career highs in home runs, RBI and runs. A strict platoon player for much of his career, Dietrich also showed improvement against lefties with a .307 batting average over 87 plate appearances, though a .404 BABIP in those matchups likely had much to do with his success. With Prado expected back during spring training and third-base prospect Brian Anderson ready for a longer look in the majors, Dietrich may transition to a full-time role in the outfield in 2018.

Despite enjoying a big boost in playing time filling in for the suspended Dee Gordon and injured Justin Bour, Dietrich never got the power stroke going in a season where everyone was hitting the ball out of the yard. Dietrich's flyball rate and HR/FB both plummeted, resulting in a paltry seven homers in a healthy 412 plate appearances. On the other hand, the lefty made better contact while enjoying some batted ball luck, resulting in a career-high .279 average. As usual, Dietrich was much more productive with the platoon advantage, sporting an .852 OPS versus right-handers as compared to a .556 mark when facing a southpaw. With Gordon and Bour back, and the venerable Martin Prado manning the hot corner, there's no room for Dietrich, even in a platoon. Barring a move, this pushes Dietrich off the mixed-league radar. However, he's an intriguing endgame NL-only option since he's one injury away from a sizable role.

Dietrich is a bat-first utility man that should never see the light of day against lefties. He hit .273/.361/.502 with a 19 percent strikeout rate in 238 plate appearances against righties, but his overall numbers were dragged down by a .178/.275/.244 line with a 38 percent strikeout rate against southpaws. Dietrich has pop, but his defensive liabilities and his issues against lefties will limit his playing time on a better team. The good news is that he plays on the strong side of a platoon situation, so there may be more at-bats for him in 2016 depending on how the Marlins shake up their roster this offseason. He could hit 15-plus home runs with 450 plate appearances. Dietrich, 26, is only third base and outfield eligible at draft time, but picked up first base and second base eligibility in-season for one-game qualifying leagues last season. He is an intriguing asset in NL-only formats, but is only reserve material in mixed leagues.

The good and the bad Dietrich flashed during the 2014 season as the powerful second baseman was given a short chance in the Marlins’ starting lineup. His bat continues to play at the major league level as he piled up 13 extra-base hits in just 158 at-bats, but Dietrich was a defensive liability and ultimately lost out to some more polished defenders. All told, Dietrich put up a .228/.326/.386 slash line in the majors while compiling a massive .316/.396/.622 line in 98 at-bats over two minor league levels while playing around a minor wrist injury. The 6-foot, 200-pound infielder has shown gap-to-gap power throughout his career and projects as an impact infield bat at the major league level, but he will only earn as many starts as his defense will allow. With Dee Gordon and Martin Prado now in the mix for Miami, his path to playing time with the Marlins is heavily obstructed.

Thrust into a major-league job in early May, Dietrich put some impressive power on display during his time with the big club, smacking 21 extra-base hits in just 215 at-bats. Of course, he posted a meager .214 average and .275 OBP during that time, largely due to an ugly 11:56 BB:K, and the rookie found himself back in the minors in mid-July -- though there have been rumblings that a disagreement with former hitting coach Tino Martinez may have provided the impetus for Dietrich's demotion rather than his on-field performance. After continuing to swing well at Double-A down the stretch and wrapping up his minor-league season with an impressive .271/.381/.509 line, Dietrich will get a shot to crack the Marlins' Opening Day roster with a solid showing in the spring. He quietly offers plus power from the keystone, and if he's able to earn everyday at-bats, Dietrich has a chance to be a nice run producer in Miami's young lineup.