Kris Bryant

Bryant signing in Colorado was supposed to be much more enjoyable for fantasy managers than it was in 2022. Last year's outlook painted some risks with Bryant, new big contract in new location not withstanding, but nobody saw him playing in just 42 games with back and foot troubles costing him most of the season. When he did play, he certainly hit for average and got on base, but the power was disappointing which was to be expected given the back troubles and foot problems that shelved his running game as well. He has lost his dual-eligibility now, so his offensive profile under the light of an outfielder is rather different than it would be if he retained his third base eligibility. That, and the recent injuries should help discount him a bit in drafts if you are still a Bryant-stan, but we are clearly into a different phase of Bryant's fantasy career. Pour one out for his former early round status.

Bryant was slashing .267/.358/.503 at the trade deadline. The Cubs sent him to San Francisco as part of their fire sale, where he hit .262/.344/.444. The drop in power reflected the better pitching venues in the NL West, where he'll remain for the foreseeable future after signing with the Rockies. For his career, Bryant's average exit velocity has been below league norm, but his flyball velocity has been around league average, so he was able to take advantage of the friendly confines of Wrigley Field, especially once the ivy turned green. As a flyball hitter, Bryant should log a below average BABIP, but he's managed to keep an elevated mark with a high line drive rate and could receive some help at Coors Field. It's a batted ball profile that can work, but there's risk the line drives, hence base hits lessen, especially in a pitching venue. He's set to primarily play left field for Colorado and his dual eligibility adds to his allure, but entering his age-30 season, Bryant is a complementary piece as opposed to a foundational cornerstone assumed at the beginning of his career.

Like a lot of people, Bryant would love to forget all about 2020. The third baseman posted a career-worst .644 OPS. For comparison, his next-lowest mark was the .834 OPS he recorded in 2018, and he finished with an OPS north of .900 in three of his first five MLB seasons. Bryant battled a variety of injuries and only played in 34 of the Cubs' 60 games. Injuries have been an issue the past few years. He played in 147 games in 2019 and just 107 in 2018 after playing in at least 150 games each of his first three seasons. Bryant is still a talented player, but he's lost more than a little bit of his luster since that a magical 2016 season when he won NL MVP and the Cubs won the World Series. The organization now has to decide whether to pay Bryant or trade him in his final year of arbitration. If Bryant stays healthy, a bounce-back season could be in order, either with the Cubs or a new team.

In a way, Bryant has become a victim of his own potential. He's not a perennial first rounder, so what? Bryant is a consistently solid fantasy asset with slightly depressed numbers hitting out of the two hole as the added plate appearances don't completely mitigate the lost RBI opportunities. Last season, Bryant rebounded from a disappointing 2018 campaign which was hindered by a lingering shoulder issue. In 2019, Bryant avoided the IL, though he did sit out the last week with an ankle sprain. The result were numbers just a smidgen lower than the previous two campaigns. It will be curious to see if new Cubs skipper David Ross keeps Bryant batting second. His career .385 OBP is worthy, though a .516 SLG plays in a run-producing spot as well. Third base isn't as deep as usual. Securing Bryant early, maybe even at a discount, locks up a reliable performer at the hot corner with added outfield eligibility.

Bryant hit .280/.383/.481 with nine home runs up until Father's Day before hitting the disabled list for the first time with a left shoulder injury that never really went away. The front shoulder is necessary for the extension on a swing that helps a hitter drive through the baseball and provide the distance sluggers need, and it was clearly a challenge for Bryant to do what he had done the previous two seasons. He hit .256/.356/.416 the rest of the season, with four home runs. All in all, the bum ball and socket joint shoulders (ahem) most of the blame for the drop in production, but leaves fantasy owners in a conundrum for 2019 drafts. This could be another Matt Carpenter situation where injury uncertainty leads to a drop in draft-day price and early production that evolves into a MVP-caliber season. It could also lead to a repeat of 2018. Either way, it is unlikely many are going to take Bryan in the top 15 this time around.

At a glance, the 2016 NL MVP had a disappointing season in 2017 -- his home-run total fell from 39 to 29, and he drove in just 73 runs after racking 102 RBI the previous season. A closer look reveals signs of improvement in the underlying numbers, however, as Bryant struck out a career-low 19.2 percent of the time while drawing walks at a career-high 14.3 percent clip. While his RBI output was lighter than expected, Bryant racked up 111 runs scored, finishing eighth in MLB in 2017 after he cracked the top-five in 2016. He spent more time in the No. 2 spot in the batting order last season, which paired with the Cubs' lack of an OBP machine in the leadoff spot following the departure of Dexter Fowler, reduced his opportunities to drive in runs. The slight drop in power should slightly deflate Bryant's price at the draft table this spring, but there's no compelling reason to think that he can't be one of the most productive hitters in the league in 2018.

If there were any doubts about Bryant's ability to ascend to MVP levels of production following an impressive debut in 2015, the uncertainty was erased by the performance in his sophomore campaign. Bryant trimmed the fat from his 30.6 percent strikeout rate as a rookie to 22.0 percent last season, pushing his batting average up 17 points by swinging-and-missing less often, and by making contact on pitches outside the strike zone at an increased rate. It's hard to believe, but Bryant's raw power could push his home-run total even higher, though the pitcher-friendly tendencies of Wrigley Field are on the short list of things working again him (22 of his 39 homers came on the road). In addition to his step forward at the plate, Bryant's defense at third base has improved to the point where he's become an asset with the glove, quelling concerns about a full-time move to another corner spot for the foreseeable future.

Bryant was called up in April and went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in his debut. That was the last time a fantasy owner had a problem with him. The National League's top rookie just missed driving in 100 runs, and with 26 home runs, 87 runs, and a surprising 13 stolen bases, he was one of the top fantasy players around in 2015. Yes, he still strikes out too much (30.6% K-rate), but he draws plenty of walks (11.8% walk rate) and only Giancarlo Stanton and Bryce Harper receive higher power grades in the National League. All signs are pointing up for the third baseman, but his .275 batting average was fueled by a .383 BABIP, so it's possible his first 40-home-run season could be accompanied by a .250 batting average if that figure normalizes. Prospective owners can live with that.

We knew this guy was good, but Bryant's power as a 23-year-old third baseman makes him the top prospect in all of baseball. Bryant destroyed the Southern League in half a season with Double-A Tennessee, and he didn't slow down when he was promoted to Triple-A Iowa. While he struck out a lot - a combined 162 times in 2014 - he also drew 43 walks apiece in his two stops. He doesn't have much left to prove in the minors, so expect him to win a spot at the hot corner for the Cubs this year. It may not happen on Opening Day, however, as the Cubs stand to benefit from having Bryant spend a few weeks at Triple-A Iowa to prevent him from accruing a full year of service time in 2015.

In an organization full of shiny hitting prospects, Bryant may shine the brightest. The second pick in the 2013 draft only has 128 professional at-bats under his belt, and his defense at the hot corner is underwhelming, but his power is through the roof and he's been known to draw a walk or two. And just in case anyone didn't notice, he raked in the AFL as well. While he'll probably start the year at Double-A Tennessee, he should move up very quickly and could see action in Chicago sometime in 2014. Put a star next to his name so you don't forget him.