Logan Forsythe

Forsythe signed with the Dodgers after consecutive seasons of above-average offensive production with Tampa Bay, but appeared to have left his bat and health behind in Florida. His career with the Dodgers was a terrible disappointment and he was dealt to Minnesota in a deal for Brian Dozier at the deadline where he continued to disappoint. Statcast says his average exit velocity has fallen from 90 mph in 2016 to 88.9 in 2017 and down to 87.3 mph last year. That is a scary trend, as is his GB:FB rate that has taken noticeable leaps to the groundball side of the equation the past two seasons. Injuries have certainly been a factor, but this has been an incredible decline from his ascension in Tampa Bay. He could be a utility infielder for a club and play the short side of the platoon, but it appears the Rays squeezed every bit of juice out of this berry.

Forsythe had a surprising collapse at the plate in 2017. After swatting 20 homers for the first time the year prior, Forsythe's power plummeted from 20 homers to six, and his slugging percentage bottomed out at a career-worst .327. In addition to the lack of long balls, Forsythe struck out at a career-worst 24.8 percent clip despite chasing pitches outside the strike zone at the lowest rate of his career (18.9 percent O-Swing%). Injuries were an issue at various points last season, beginning with an injection for his knee in March, and subsequent hamstring and toe ailments in the first half. Now 31, Forsythe's contract includes a club option for 2018. If he returns to the Dodgers, Chris Taylor might push him for regular playing time at second base, and it's easy to see a scenario in which Forsythe becomes a part-time player with the bulk of his starts coming against left-handed pitching as his OPS (.870) was nearly 300 points higher than his mark against righties (.576) last season.

Forsythe started off like a house afire in 2016, slashing .341/.426/.610 in April, but he missed a month with a shoulder injury and was up-and-down the rest of the way. He finished with a .233 average over his final 116 at-bats. The veteran hit a career-high 20 homers while posting career highs in HR/FB rate (14.7 percent), hard-contact rate (36 percent) and ISO (.180), marking a second consecutive season of improved power numbers. Still just 29 years old, Forsythe would appear primed for another season of useful production in multiple categories if he can avoid the injury bug, although a batting average rebound is certainly no lock. Following an offseason trade to the Dodgers, he enters 2017 with a firm hold on the starting second base job and is a strong candidate to lead off.

Forsythe turned a full season of health into a career year. Historically, his overall numbers have been limited by his inability to do much against righties as he came into 2015 with a paltry .215/.283/.296 line against them. He bumped that to .274/.354/.376 in 2015 without demonstrating any improvements in his plate discipline. In fact, he expanded his strike zone and made less contact against righties in 2015 than he had previously had. The other oddity with him has been his inability to hit with men in scoring position. Ideally, Forsythe would hit in the two hole for the Rays because he is very good at setting the table as evident by his .313/.379/.521 line with the bases empty in 2015. That line fell to .221/.324/.286 with runners in scoring position last season, matching a poor performance in 2014. He was a top-10 second baseman in 2015 but that won’t happen in 2016.

The rebound from injury the Rays were hoping for with Forsythe when they traded for him did not happen. Outside of a few weeks early in the summer, Forsythe struggled all season at the plate as he did in 2013 with San Diego. His strikeout rate is slightly below league average, and he does better at the plate when he is facing lefties, but even those numbers are a bit inflated. His .271/.337/.423 line against southpaws is heavily influenced by the outlier .384/.465/.545 line he had in 2012. He has hit just .215/.283/.296 against righties in his career which is why he doesn’t get more playing time. Forsythe is best used in platoon situations but there is not any upside here. Sean Rodriguez may be dealt this offseason which could open up a few more plate appearances, but he’s bench material for fantasy players.

Forsythe endured a season afflicted by the annoyance known as plantar fasciitis, which enabled Jedd Gyorko to nail down second base in spring training. After two-plus months on the disabled list, Forsythe made his season debut on June 10, which coincided with a DL stint by Gyorko himself, allowing the former to start every day at the keystone. The mid-July return of Gyorko was soon followed by Everth Cabrera's 50-game suspension, thereby affording Forsythe a near-daily gig at shortstop. However, Forsythe's plantar fasciitis resurfaced and held him to pinch-hit appearances in September, and he ultimately disappointed in his 220 at-bats, slashing .214/.281/.332 with six home runs. Forsythe was traded to Tampa Bay as part of a seven-player deal in January, where he has a clearer path to part-time at-bats given the Rays' effective use of platoons.

Forsythe didn't do much in 2012 to get fantasy owners' attention. He only had 350 plate appearances and used them to hit .273/.343/.390 with six homers and eight stolen bases, hardly numbers worth getting excited about. If he were pressed into more playing time, he would likely show that he has good plate discipline and speed that he has yet to showcase. In 2013, he could be a real asset to the Padres and possibly fantasy owners, especially if he were put in a platoon, as he does much better against lefties (career .301/.405/.462), than righties (.219/.285/.309).

Routinely a third baseman in the minors, Forsythe split his time in the majors last year between the hot corner and second base. Given the fact that the Padres are actively looking to trade Orlando Hudson during the winter, Forsythe could begin the spring competing for second base duties this year. He did seem a bit overmatched at times last year posting a slash line of just .219/.281/.287 while his walk rate more than halved from where it was in the minors, but he is normally a high-OBP hitter and is known for his outstanding plate discipline and above-average contact rates.

Forsythe spent 2010 at Double-A San Antonio where he dealt with a broken hand and produced modest numbers. To his credit he stole 17 bases and continued to show good on base skills. At this point, it's almost certain that he won't hit for enough power to be a third baseman, where his glove has played well in the past. At second base, he's going to need to hit for a better average to be of much use to fantasy owners. Look for him to spend 2011 working on his game in the minors, waiting for a callup.

Fresh off a six-week run as the hunky stranger on "Days of Our Lives" -- come on, "Logan Forsythe"? -- another product of the Padres' 2008 draft advanced all the way to Double-A in his first full season. There's a tinge of Sean Burroughs here, with such a lack of power that he'll have to hit .310 to be good, and the contact rate may not support that. He's also a lousy third baseman, and the bat certainly won't play anywhere else. He could be Dave Magadan if it all works out.