Tampa Bay Rays Logan Forsythe: Expect a Decline in 2016

The Tampa Bay Rays offense was middle of the road throughout the 2015 season. While the team’s superstar third baseman carried the team, the breakout season by second baseman Logan Forsythe helped the offense greatly. This season was his best season to date. However, I think 2015 will be the best it will ever get. If you can, avoid drafting Forsythe as your starting second baseman in 2016.

Forsythe spent three years with the San Diego Padres before being traded to Tampa Bay. He wasn’t much of a hitter in those three seasons, hitting a combined 12 home runs, 57 RBI and a .241 batting average.

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The move to the East Coast gave Forsythe the opportunity to show off his skills on a better team, but ultimately couldn’t get the job done. In 110 games, he hit another six home runs, 26 RBI and a .223 batting average. The only benefit he was to the Rays was his flexibility on defense. He played five of the eight defensive positions (first, second, third, shortstop and left field).

Then, 2015 happened. This past season was a career-year for Logan Forsythe, by a mile. He played in 153 games, had 152 hits, 17 home runs, 68 RBI and .281 batting average, all career highs. He settled in as the team’s second baseman, but still spent some time at first and third base.

Logan Forsythe made some improvements at the plate between 2014 and 2015. His 8.9 walk percentage was a career low and 18.0 strikeout percentage was the best since 2012.

While all of these numbers look great, and they are, but I don’t expect Forsythe can repeat this performance next season. He finished as the 10th-best second baseman on the Player Rater, but that will be the highest he’ll be ranked. The rest of the division is improving. The Toronto Blue Jays are the best team in the division. The Red Sox and Yankees, while aging, have good pitching prospects, and the Baltimore Orioles can score.

With very little offensive options in the Rays lineup, outside of Evan Longoria and Forsythe, Tampa Bay will struggle in 2015. This will force Logan Forsythe to swing for the fences, and fantasy owners are not fans of that, especially if the player swings and misses. Just look at Chris Carter of the Houston Astros.

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The second base position is slowly gaining depth. There are some talented players that caught they eye of fantasy players and experts. As a result, I think Logan Forsythe slips in the rankings and will not be drafted as a starting second baseman. But I don’t think that is a bad thing.

Projections: 120 hits, 13 home runs, 53 RBI, four stolen bases, .265 batting average

Draft: Round 15