Richie Martin

If he wasn't a Rule 5 pick, Martin wouldn't have spent the entirety of the 2019 season in the big leagues. After hitting .208/.260/.322 in 309 plate appearances, he's not likely to do so this season with the Orioles no longer obligated to roster him or risk losing him. His 10 steals in roughly half a season worth of plate appearances hint at modest fantasy value should he secure a regular role, but he has some development still to do before that's a realistic option, even for a rebuilding team. His bat needs to take more than just a small step forward, and he was surprisingly bad defensively, with DRS and UZR both suggesting that he was a fairly significant negative. Martin probably needs to spend a fair portion of the year at the Triple-A level, which he skipped over last season. He doesn't project to have more than utility upside, so those in dynasty formats have little reason to hold onto him.

Selected with the first pick of December's Rule 5 draft by the Orioles, Martin will make the jump from Double-A to the majors in 2019. The 24-year-old was surprisingly left unprotected by the Athletics after slashing .300/.368/.439 with a 16.9 K% in 118 games at Double-A Midland last season. Baltimore's middle-infield depth is essentially non-existent, so the former Florida Gator seems likely to take over immediately as the team's starting shortstop. The 2015 first-round pick certainly has the defensive chops to be a major-league shortstop, but there may be an adjustment period at the plate, while the lack of established talent in the Orioles' lineup will limit his counting stats. Martin did steal 25 bases in 2018 and could provide some value on the bases, but he's more likely to provide long-term value than be a significant contributor in 2019.

The A's drafted Martin out of the University of Florida with the 20th overall pick in the 2015 draft. After hitting .299 at Florida with a .399 OBP as a junior, Martin reported to short-season Single-A where he hit only .237 with two home runs and seven steals over 190 at-bats. The 21-year-old projects to stick at shortstop defensively, and while there are some questions about whether his power will develop beyond the gaps as he advances in the system, there is no doubt that Martin possesses plus speed. Martin will likely start the season at Single-A and the A's hope that he will move quickly through the system.