Welcome back to the 2015 Last Word on Fantasy Baseball Guide. Over the next several months we will be releasing player profiles, projections, position rankings, and a number of other articles that will help you dominate your fantasy league this season. Whether you play rotisserie or head-to-head; whether you have a standard draft, a snake or an auction league, and whether its keeper league or a one-year deal; we have all the fantasy information you need.
For the rest of our fantasy baseball profiles and articles, please check out our Fantasy Baseball Guide Page.
FANTASY PROFILE: JOEY VOTTO, 1B, CINCINNATI REDS
LWOS Ranking 11, Captain’s Value $13.20
In 2010, Joey Votto has a monster season – 106 Runs, 37 HRs, 113 RBIs an average of .324 and 16 stolen bases thrown in the mix. That season was not far from the season Albert Pujols had that year. Votto was projected as a late first round or early second round pick and many liked him better as that selection as taking Albert with the first or second pick. Votto’s totals declined in 2011 in every area but he still ranked as a premier fantasy league first baseman. In April of 2012, the Reds signed Votto to a contract of $251.5 million, 12-year deal. When asked if it was a risky contract, Reds owner said, “No doubt, but that’s the environment we live in, especially as a small market”. And he proved to be prophetic. Money has changed Baseball and not always for the best.
Votto suffered through two injury seasons during 2012 and 2014 and his totals for the 2013 season declined in comparison to his last full season in 2011. A big concern, perhaps even more so than his quad and knee injuries, is his seeming inability to drive the ball as he did in 2010, 2011 and 2012. His OPS last year was .799, much different than his 1.024 OPS in 2010 and a 1.041 OPS in 2012. The Reds line-up continues to have questions with the injuries to Jay Bruce, the decline of Brandon Phillips, the low productivity at shortstop and questions in left field. The emergence of Todd Frazier and Devin Mesoraco are the bright spots in the Reds line-up. But with Votto’s contract, they need big production for him if they are to compete. From a fantasy standpoint, you cannot expect first or second round or perhaps even fifth or sixth round stats from Votto. Hopefully his average will rebound to give prospective owners some hope. Rankings at first base have him anyone where from 8th to 15th. I would lean toward closer to 15th but you would have to get some power numbers from someplace other than first base. BUYER BEWARE!!
| Year | Team | Pos | G | PA | AB | R | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| 2011 | CIN | 1B | 161 | 719 | 599 | 101 | 29 | 103 | 8 | 110 | 129 | 0.309 | 0.416 | 0.531 | 0.947 |
| 2012 | CIN | 1B | 111 | 475 | 374 | 59 | 14 | 56 | 5 | 94 | 85 | 0.337 | 0.474 | 0.567 | 1.041 |
| 2013 | CIN | 1B | 162 | 726 | 581 | 101 | 24 | 73 | 6 | 135 | 138 | 0.305 | 0.435 | 0.491 | 0.926 |
| 2014 | CIN | 1B | 62 | 272 | 220 | 32 | 6 | 23 | 1 | 47 | 49 | 0.255 | 0.390 | 0.409 | 0.799 |
| 2015 Projection | CIN | 1B | 640 | 514 | 82 | 19 | 74 | 5 | 116 | 118 | 0.297 | 0.428 | 0.480 | 0.909 |
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