Jon Jay

Jay rattled off a .307/.363/.374 line in 59 games to start 2018 with the Royals, who went on to ship him to the injury-plagued Diamondbacks in June. Jay dipped to .235/.304/.325 across his final 84 games with Arizona, losing reps as his performance stabilized and other outfielders returned. The veteran maintained a useful contact rate throughout the season (82.2%), but his BABIP dipped by 49 points while he barreled just 1.8% of his batted balls. His connections are offering meager rewards, and he hasn't topped three homers in any of his past five seasons, though at least he continues to show a pulse against right-handed pitching. The 34-year-old landed with the White Sox on a one-year, $4 million deal in free agency and will likely take over as the primary center fielder -- perhaps his final opportunity as a regular starter in the major leagues.

The Cubs inked Jay to a one-year deal last winter prior to losing Dexter Fowler via free agency. A left-handed hitting veteran, Jay offered a nice complement to Albert Almora as part of a platoon in center field. With the ability to handle all three outfield spots in a pinch, and to get on base at a good clip, Jay's value to big league teams exceeds his contributions to rotisserie squads as he's hit a combined five homers and stolen eight bases over the last three seasons. As a roster filler, Jay's batting average prevents him from being an overall liability, and his ability to use the entire field paired with a low soft contact rate (11.5 percent in 2017, 16.4 percent career) supports his flirtation with hitting .300. Now 33 years old, there is little reason to think 2018 will bring more in terms of offensive output or playing time, but he's a steady player nonetheless.

After being acquired by the Padres in December in the Jedd Gyorko trade, Jay opened the 2016 season as the team's starting center fielder and leadoff hitter. Injuries limited his playing time for the second straight season, as he suffered a broken forearm after getting hit by a pitch in mid-June. Upon returning in September, the San Diego outfield was more crowded, which limited his playing time down the stretch. After signing a one-year deal with the Cubs this offseason, he projects to hit in the eight hole despite handling himself well as a table-setter with the Padres (.339 OBP). Given his career splits (108 wRC+ against RHP, 100 wRC+ against LHP), he should occupy the strong side of a center field platoon with Albert Almora. Jay hasn't flashed a modicum of pop or the ability to contribute more than a small handful of steals in recent years, so in order to be useful, he will need to get on base at a steady clip and rack up runs in a potent Cubs lineup.

Jay struggled to fully recover from his wrist surgery last winter and was only able to accumulate 210 at-bats of an anemic slash line. At 30 years old, he's shown some positive flashes over the years, but with age no longer on his side and troubles that his wrist gave him all year long it's unclear if Jay will be able to provide much at the plate. Jay still provides plus defense in center field, which likely enticed the Padres to take him back in a trade that sent Jedd Gyorko to St. Louis. The Padres will find ways to get him in the lineup for his glove, either in center field or in left, likely depending on the production of Travis Jankowski. If he can find everyday at-bats and his wrist is 100 percent again, then he can provide doubles power and a few stolen bases to his fantasy owners.

It took a few months, but by the midway point of 2014, Jay was entrenched as the Cardinals' starting center fielder. Jay rode a .363 BABIP to a .303/.372/.378 line in 413 at-bats. He battled an inferior Peter Bourjos for much of the 2014 season but looks to be the clear choice for the center field job heading into the 2015 season. In September, Jay hit out of the first or second spot in the lineup an encouraging 17 times, and if Matt Carpenter is moved down to the second or third spot it could mean that Jay could be the Opening Day leadoff hitter for an improved Cardinals' lineup in 2015. Jay drew a walk in just three of those 17 starts, however, and he will need to improve on his career 6.8% walk rate. If Jay can stay healthy and rack up at-bats at the top of the lineup, he could crack 100 runs in 2015 to go along with a solid batting average and OBP.

Jay failed to impress as the Cardinals' leadoff hitter to start the season, eventually losing the role to Matt Carpenter thanks in part to a .213/.293/.337 line in April. The slow start likely cost the Cardinals' center fielder dozens of runs after being dropped to the bottom third of the order. Jay was much better after April, slashing .288/.362/.377 and stealing nine bases, which is more along the lines of what the Cardinals were expecting. Still, it's likely that Jay missed his opportunity for a full-time role with the club and with new addition Peter Bourjos and top prospect Oscar Taveras waiting in the wings, Jay's playing time will probably take a dramatic hit in 2014. If he has a future as a regular in the big leagues, it appears to be with another organization at this point.

After hitting .305 in 2012, Jay is now a lifetime .300 hitter in the big leagues. While only 30 of his 135 hits were for extra bases, Jay helped his owners with a career-high 19 stolen bases and drew enough walks to finish with a .373 OBP. Still, it's tough to hit .300 as a singles hitter and a lifetime 86:202 BB:K ratio, so expect a mild correction in 2013, especially if that .356 BABIP from last year comes down to more normal levels.

After hitting .300 due to a bloated BABIP in 2010, Jay was expected to be nothing more than a platoon outfielder and spot starter last year. Instead he played 159 games - including 107 starts - in the outfield as the Cardinals battled injuries all season. As we said last year, Jay will hit for a can't-hurt-you batting average, but doesn't possess enough power or speed to warrant a double-digit bid in most NL-only leagues, and his career-worst 28:81 BB:K ratio indicates that he could struggle if gets extended playing time again this year.

Jay finally made the majors in 2010 and managed to hit .300, but his .352 BABIP might have something to do with it, because the rest of his numbers were nothing to write home about. He has decent speed and should have a can't-hurt-you batting average most years, but there's not a lot to like from a fantasy perspective. He'll be the fourth or fifth outfielder for the Cards with Lance Berkman signed to join Colby Rasmus and Matt Holliday in the St. Louis outfield.

Jay is already 25, so his good-but-not-great year with Triple-A Memphis has to be considered a disappointment. He's got good speed and a little bit of pop, but his ceiling in 2010 is probably as a fifth outfielder in St. Louis.

The 23-year-old Jay got back on track in 2008, hitting .312/.382/.463 in 430 at-bats. Considering his disappointing and injury-filled 2007 campaign, Cardinals officials were happy to see him bounce back. A strong defensive center fielder, Jay is blocked on the organizational chart by Colby Rasmus. He'll spend at least one more year in the minors.