BALLER MOVE: Target ~350
CURRENT ADP: 398
ANALYSIS: Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Alex Avila was great last year with a .264/.387/.447 line and 14 bombs in 376 PA. Avila has two elite skills (plate discipline and contact quality) and is a disaster everywhere else. OBP and power are more than most fantasy catchers bring to the table though.
Moving to Chase Field could potentially help Avila's power numbers. Both Comerica Park (98 HR factor) and Wrigley Field (97) suppressed left-handed power slightly in 2017, while the ball flew out in Phoenix (110). However, there are whispers that the Diamondbacks plan to start using a humidor in 2018, a change dramatic enough to render previous ballpark factors unreliable.
Arizona signed the backstop for less than $10 million guaranteed over two years, so the market apparently was not that high on his skill set. If your league-mates make the same mistake, pounce on this potential top-five fantasy backstop.
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