2024 Active Rosters: Aries
While the next-highest scoring sign is technically Pisces, rather than talk about three Water signs in the top four, I’m skipping ahead one spot to the top Positive sign: Aries. The most impressive Rams player was NL Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale, followed by bounceback Rangers closer Kirby Yates, but their offense was anchored by an impressive trio of Rookies.
Jackson Merrill was a shortstop prospect during his time in the minor leagues, but San Diego decided to put him in center field for his MLB debut at the start of 2024. That move worked out for both Merrill (the Rookie of the Year runner up) and Aries, because it allowed Cardinals rookie Masyn Winn to slot in at shortstop. The third rookie in question is Colton Cowser, who qualified at all three outfield spots for the Orioles.
No returning Aries batter had a truly standout season. Luis Arraez did win the NL batting title, but behind mostly empty singles – his 200 total hits were offset by a sub-.400 slugging percentage. Matt Olson was the number two (2) scoring player in 2023, but he’s now in danger of being caught by Christian Walker on the first base depth chart. Sticking with Atlanta Braves who had disappointing seasons, Austin Riley didn’t even sniff the starting lineup in 2024, falling behind Alex Bregman, Jake Burger, and Nolan Arenado at the hot corner.
When Aries won the Fantasy Astrology Baseball League title five times between 2013 and 2018, Chris Sale finished 1st, 2nd, or 3rd among Rams starting pitchers all six years. His age-35 bounceback in 2024 led to his first career Cy Young Award… does it also herald the start of a new Aries dynasty? There’s a big dropoff after Sale, with number two starter Zach Eflin experiencing a deficit of more than 1,000 total points and 30 points per game.
The Aries bullpen was quite impressive, however, with the aforementioned Kirby Yates returning to prominence with the defending champion Texas Rangers. Lefty Josh Hader’s excellence is well-known, leading the sign in reliever fantasy points for four of the last five years. Going back to 2017, Edwin Diaz led the non-Hader years, and would have contributed more last season, had he not hurt his knee in a freak World Baseball Classic celebration-related injury. With this many top end starters, it doesn’t even hurt that Clay Holmes lost the Yankees closer job late last season.