Josh Fleming

Fleming made 12 appearances for the Rays in 2023, each lasting at least three innings even though only three technically counted as starts. Just one of those outings came in the second half, as elbow issues cost him more than two months. He returned for a single appearance in mid-August before being optioned, never to return. He was designated for assignment after the season, claimed by the Phillies, and then non-tendered. Fleming's numbers make it hard to see him as a lock for a rotation role wherever he winds up, as his 4.70 ERA was an exact match for his SIERA. Fleming is an expert at keeping the ball on the ground, with a 59.7% groundball rate last season and a career mark of 59.0%, and he doesn't have a control problem, but he simply can't miss bats. His 11.3% strikeout rate was the lowest among all pitchers who threw at least 50 innings in any of the last five seasons. That hurts Fleming's fantasy value directly in leagues which count strikeouts, and even in leagues which don't, it means he has to rely on his defense to a potentially uncomfortable extent.