2021 All-Acquired American League
My goal of this project is ultimately to look back at Fantasy Astrology lineups through baseball history. But as I probably should have predicted, I find myself getting caught up in the excitement current season. So I think I’ll start devoting one of my three weekly posts to 2021 (Tuesdays), while still getting through one year of FABL history (Fridays) plus some year-related commentary (Sundays). We’ll see how long I can keep this routine up before it all falls into a big jumble again… But either way, this week’s 2021 post is the continuation of the All-Acquired analysis I started last Tuesday. As you’d know if you clicked the link in the preceding sentence, today I’ll be focusing on the real-life American League.
While I’ll still be providing Astrology-related commentary, these particular rosters are organized by real-life league (i.e. American and National) rather than fantasy polarity (i.e. Positive and Negative). They’re also sorted by 2020 fantasy points and only include players on MLB rosters – I’m sure the makeup will change significantly when we start factoring in preseason rankings and non-roster invitees.
The first thing to notice about the 2021 American League All-Acquired lineup is that more than half of them are Virgos. New Blue Jays centerfielder George Springer is the top scorer in terms of points per game, and he might be able to avoid his share of sign stealing-related boo’s given that he’ll no longer be with the Astros when fans (unwisely) return to the stadiums. His new teammate in Toronto Marcus Semien should gain second base eligibility soon into ’21, since he’ll slide over to the other middle infield spot in deference to Pisces future star Bo Bichette. His former teammate in Oakland Robbie Grossman will serve as a placeholder / midseason trade chip for the rebuilding Tigers. A rare free agent who was signed BY the Athletics, Mitch Moreland will replace Khris Davis as DH. Judging by 2021 fantasy rankings, infielder Andres Gimenez was the top return received by Cleveland in the Francisco Lindor trade. Kíke Hernandez signed with the Red Sox as a superutility threat. And that’s not even counting shortstops Elvis Andrus and Andrelton Simmons, who went to the A’s and Twins, respectively.
In other signs, Libra outfielder Eddie Rosario, who had the most total points out of any AL acquired batter, will try to help Cleveland make up some of the production that Lindor takes with him to the Mets. Elsewhere in the AL Central, the Royals made the curious win-now move to sign Aries first baseman Carlos Santana, even though the rest of their roster isn’t exactly built to compete. Libra catcher Kurt Suzuki could be relegated to backup duty with the Angels if Max Stassi’s offensive breakout is for real. Speaking of offensive breakouts, Jose Iglesias is unlikely to maintain his in Anaheim after coming over from the Orioles. On the bench, lefty Adam Eaton and lefty-masher Hunter Renfroe make up a pretty good platoon fourth outfielder situation.
No Virgos in the AL All-Acquired rotation, but their best pitcher is also an Earth sign. Taurus Lance Lynn pitched like an ace in Texas and will now add a solid veteran presence to a strong core for the White Sox. Chicago AL also added this team’s top reliever: Aquarius Liam Hendricks, fresh off a tremendous season for the A’s. Oakland is hoping that the next man up in this bullpen – the resurgent Gemini Trevor Rosenthal – will provide a good real-life replacement for Hendriks… similar to how Hendriks himself took over for Blake Treinen a couple years ago. Jumping back to the rotation, Rosenthal’s sign-mate Garrett Richards will settle into the middle of this rotation, hoping to revive a once promising career in Boston.
Let’s just pretend they were called the Aquarius Athletics this year, since I’m not adept enough at Photoshop to change the wording… YET!
Rounding out the bullpen is new Twin (Minnesota, not Gemini) Alex Colome, who is hoping to take closing duties away from Trevor Rogers. Also going to Minnesota is veteran left-handed starter J.A. Happ, taking the role played last year by Rich Hill, who this year goes to Tampa Bay. What’s interesting about these two Twins acquisitions is that a pair of each of their sign-mates make up all of my honorable mentions: Colome’s fellow Capricorns are once and future Royals left-hander Mike Minor, and new Angels closer Raisel Iglesias - meaning Anaheim has now traded for both major league Iglesiases in the same offseason. Happ shares the Libra sign with yet another new Angel, Alex Cobb (also from Baltimore), and new Mariners closer Rafael Montero (at least until Ken Giles is healthy).
Next time, we’ll look at the award winners of the 2011 FABL season. But after that, I will take a deep dive into how some of the top performers in MLB history stack up from an Fantasy Astrology perspective.