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Fantasy

Marcell Ozuna Will Be A Fantasy Baseball Star In 2016

Miami Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna had a promising 2014 season, with a .269/.317/.455 slash-line, 23 home runs and 85 RBIs over 612 plate appearances. But things turned the other way last season, with a minor league demotion Ozuna described as being like jail and a lack of production (.259, 10 home runs and 44 RBIs) when he was up with the Marlins.

Trade rumors have surrounded Ozuna all offseason, with as many as 10 teams with reported interest, but Joe Frisaro of MLB has suggested that Tuesday’s signing of Wei-Yin Chen has ended any idea that Ozuna will be traded for a starting pitcher. A trade could obviously still happen, but as of now Ozuna looks likely to stay in Miami if the team remains set on swapping him for a starting pitcher.

New Marlins manager Don Mattingly, along with new hitting coach Barry Bonds, have reportedly pushed back against the idea of trading Ozuna with the assertion the young outfielder can be shaped into a 30/30 performer. That is a fairly aggressive proclamation, considering Ozuna has just 10 stolen bases in 346 major league games with no more than 17 in any minor league season, but it’s clear a couple of significant voices in the Marlins’ dugout are in Ozuna’s corner.

Being traded would actually be good news for Ozuna’s fantasy value, since virtually anywhere else would be a more hitter-friendly home park. But Miami has a solid-looking lineup, with outfielder Giancarlo Stanton and second baseman Dee Gordon as prominent pieces, so Ozuna carries some fantasy potential that might not be obvious if he remains a Marlin.

Power numbers will drive Ozuna’s fantasy value until further notice, but he shouldn’t be a drag in batting average and any steals he contributes should be considered a bonus. There’s serious value potential here on draft day, and with the 30-homer plateau well within reach, under Bonds’ tutelage, we’ll look back on 2016 as the year Ozuna became a fantasy baseball star.

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