Addison Barger

Barger, who broke out in 2022, transitioned from shortstop to third base, second base and right field while treading water at Triple-A for most of 2023. He missed time early in the season with an elbow issue and hit .255 with a .361 OBP, eight home runs, four steals and a 19.1 percent strikeout rate in 71 games after returning to play in mid-June. The lefty hitter wasn't so bad in 2023 that he couldn't break through this year, but wasn't good enough at Triple-A (92 wRC+) to comfortably project as a big-league regular. Perhaps he will get work at second base against right-handed pitching, or he could get regular work at the hot corner if the likes of Cavan Biggio, Santiago Espinal and Isiah Kiner-Falefa aren't getting it done. Barger turns 25 next offseason, so this is a big year for him to try to break through with the big club. He saw the most time in right field last season, so that's where he will be eligible this year in most formats.

Barger doesn't have the greatest approach in the world, but he has plus power and is likely to make his MLB debut sometime this season. A 23-year-old lefty-hitting infielder, Barger primarily played shortstop and third base while climbing from High-A to Triple-A last season, and he also saw time at second base in the Arizona Fall League. Barger slashed .306/.375/.544 with 26 home runs, nine steals on 14 attempts, a 25.1 K% and a 8.9 BB%. For what it's worth, his K% and BB% steadily improved with each promotion against theoretically better pitching, so Barger seemingly got better as the season progressed before laying an egg (.638 OPS) in a small sample in the AFL. Santiago Espinal is the best second baseman on Toronto's roster, so the keystone is Barger's best avenue to breaking through with MLB playing time. The Blue Jays could also opt to trade him to a second-division team, which would be good for his dynasty value. He is pretty aggressive at the plate, but his .830 OPS against same-handed pitching leaves open the possibility that he could eventually be an everyday player who hits 25 homers per season.