MLB lockout is over: What fantasy baseball players should expect now

Phew! After months of playing with the emotions of their most loyal fans, MLB owners and players have finally ended the lockout by coming together on an agreement on Thursday for the 2022 season and beyond. We will soon see baseballs flying out of stadiums in Florida and Arizona, with Opening Day to be salvaged in early April.

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The lack of news during the past two months may have been frustrating, but the end result of a longtime logjam will be a flood of player transactions in the coming days. We will see a massive wave of players joining new teams in the next week or two, as free agents scramble to find new homes and general managers complete trade talks that were simmering all winter.

For fantasy managers, this is going to be a head-spinning time that will drastically change the values of so many players. Here are the biggest storylines to monitor between now and late March.

Free Agent Frenzy

Although several star players signed free-agent deals before the lockout began, there is still plenty of talent waiting for their next big contract. Freddie Freeman and Trevor Story headline this list, and both could see an improvement on their ADP by finding an advantageous situation. Kris Bryant, Nick Castellanos, Carlos Correa and Michael Conforto are among the other big-name sluggers who will soon find a 2022 squad. And the biggest March signings in terms of fantasy impact will come from lower-tier players such as Jorge Soler, Eddie Rosario and Jonathan Villar, who could make a major impact or end up on the waiver wire, depending on the intentions of their new clubs.

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On the pitching side, the biggest fantasy impact will be seen in how teams choose to handle their closer situations. Kenley Jansen is the most prominent domino who needs to fall, as the right-hander will likely sign into a full-time closer’s role that will cause another reliever to slide to the eighth inning. Other available relievers who may or may not sign into ninth-inning gigs include Ian Kennedy and Alex Colome. And there are several relievers, such as Scott Barlow and Taylor Rogers, who will either be coveted closers or mixed-league afterthoughts depending on how their teams proceed in the coming days.

NL Designated Hitters

The addition of the universal DH means that 15 teams need to make major changes to their position-player plans. I recently detailed the players whom I believe will benefit greatly, but admittedly those predictions are based on the rosters as they stand right now. In the next few days, many NL teams are going to sign veteran players such as Soler or Nelson Cruz to fill their DH spots. At the same time, other clubs will decide to mix and match their DH opportunities among players who are already on their roster.

Rehabbing Players

Spring Training 2022 includes so many star players who are returning from major injuries and could be first-round caliber studs or massive disappointments. Here are some key names who need to be monitored as soon as they arrive at their respective camps.

Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels

The Millville Meteor may still be baseball’s best offensive player, provided that he can move past a nagging calf injury that cost him most of last season.

Jacob deGrom, New York Mets

The best starting pitcher in baseball, deGrom last appeared on July 7 before being shut down with a forearm injury. The right-hander has thus far been selected in the second round of fantasy drafts but will soon slide one way or the other.

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Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres

After passing on offseason surgery, Tatis needs to show that his left shoulder is ready to reward fantasy managers who draft him first overall.

Shane Bieber, Cleveland Guardians

A first-round pick in most 2021 drafts, Bieber missed half of last season with a shoulder injury and also dealt with diminished velocity. He not only needs to pitch this spring — he needs to pitch well.

Trades

Although players and management weren’t talking with each other over the past few months, there is no doubt that plenty of executives were still talking trades. We should see several pre-arranged deals made official in the next few days, which will undoubtedly reshape the fantasy landscape.

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The Reds were rumored to be shopping starting pitchers Luis Castillo and Sonny Gray, both of whom could benefit by changing to a team with a spacious home park. Castillo is also notorious for struggling in cold weather and may enjoy pitching for a southern squad.

The A’s are once again in the market to shed payroll, with Matt Olson, Matt Chapman, Chris Bassitt and Sean Manaea among the players who could bring back a substantial return.

An Exciting Arrival

At age 27, Seiya Suzuki is determined to bring his substantial talents to North America. Playing in Japan last season, the outfielder hit .317 with 38 home runs across 134 games. He is unlikely to have that level of success in the Majors but is clearly someone who can hit for average and power while also chipping in a few stolen bases. The addition of Suzuki will have a major impact on one team’s lineup, provided that an organization immediately makes a substantial offer.