Josh Rojas

Rojas played all over the field for the Diamondbacks in 2021-2022 while posting decent numbers, but he was unsuccessful in his 59 games with Arizona last summer with a .589 OPS, and was traded to Seattle in the deal for Paul Sewald. Once added to the Mariners roster, Rojas was in the lineup on a regular basis against right-handed pitchers, and he improved his slash to a respectable .272/.321/.400 while swiping six bases over 46 games.While it was encouraging to see the numbers increase upon joining his new club, the overall numbers were still ugly, and he ranked near the bottom of baseball in hard-hit percentage, expected slugging, barrel rate and expected weight on-base average. He also remained a liability against left-handed pitching with a .562 OPS, and it seems likely he won't be in the lineup in 2024 against southpaws very often. Rojas should have eligibility at second and third base and has a chance to carve out a regular role with the Mariners, but his fantasy value is severely limited as a player that isn't likely to contribute in many categories.

Rojas suffered a Grade 2 right oblique strain in the spring, keeping him out about a month. Rojas finished with 125 games, a few less than the previous season, but he posted similar numbers while stealing more bases. He doesn't do anything especially well, but Rojas does a little of everything. That said, last season's 19.2 strikeout rate was a career-low, so if he maintains that, Rojas' contact will be above average and provide a solid floor. Last season, his HR/FB dipped, but a higher fly ball rate salvaged his power. There's some latent pop in his swing of Rojas can sustain the elevated fly ball rate while hitting them with a little more authority. Pulling it together, steals are the key as Rojas has a chance to benefit from the new rules. The signing of Evan Longoria could squeeze him for playing time, though the veteran is likely to see a fair amount of action at DH. Combining Rojas' speed with dual second and third base eligibility and he could be an undervalued asset, especially for those looking for mid to late round speed.

Rojas parlayed a strong spring into regular playing time at second base. He also played right and center field along with shortstop and third base, appearing in a career-high 139 games. It would have been more, except Rojas missed time with a dislocated pinky finger. Rojas' K% and BB% were in line with levels posted previously, but he carried a bloated .345 BABIP. Unfortunately, the underlying metrics point to at least 15 lucky hits, so expect some batting average regression. That said, Rojas could improve his contact, especially since he's not prone to chasing. He has below average power with above average, but not blazing speed. Rojas' biggest allure is lineup motility as he qualifies at second base, shortstop, and outfield. He needs volume to be mixed-league worthy and should get it, likely playing all over the diamond again. There isn't an obvious pathway to a breakout, but Rojas can be an asset.

The ability to play all over the diamond, along with expanded rosters to open the 2020 campaign, resulted in Rojas making the Opening Day roster despite poor performances at the plate in spring training and summer camp. He only appeared in one game, fanning in his only plate appearance before the Diamondbacks sent Rojas to their alternate training facility. He was recalled Sept. 1 and played in 16 of the next 19 games before lower-back inflammation mercifully ended his season. Rojas was excellent at the Double- and Triple-A levels in 2019, but that's less impressive considering he was 25 years old. While it's encouraging that Arizona wanted to see Rojas down the stretch, he failed to take advantage. He has stolen-base appeal, but not enough to occupy a mixed-league roster spot unless he has a big spring training, and even then, there is no obvious position for Rojas to play.

Rojas was part of the four-prospect haul Arizona received for sending Zack Greinke to Houston at the trade deadline. He is a jack of all trades defensively, and could add second-base eligibility in season. The power he showed at Double-A and Triple-A didn't carry over in the big leagues, but he was able to maintain a high walk rate (11.5 BB%). After sporting a 14.8 K% at Triple-A, he struggled making contact at the big-league level (26.1 K%) after getting promoted in August. While that is not unusual for a prospect seeing MLB pitching for the first time, it's worth noting that Rojas was already 25 years old. His minor-league steals totals oversell his pure speed, but he is an above-average runner and attempted six steals in 157 big-league PA. If he earns more than a bench role in his first full season with Arizona, he could steal double-digit bases with double-digit homers.