Base-lifts: Hot Stove’s top upgrades for ’17

Between now and Opening Day, teams will continue to look for ways to improve, plugging a hole here and supplementing their depth there. But this Hot Stove season already has seen plenty of transactions that should make a significant impact.

Which of these acquisitions represent the biggest upgrades? That is a complicated question, but projection systems, in this case Steamer, help provide an answer by forecasting the 2017 wins above replacement (WAR)* for every player .

• Hot Stove Tracker

Here are the 10 players acquired so far this offseason via free agency or trade whose 2017 projections provide the biggest increase in value over the players they are replacing.

10. Edwin Encarnacion, DH/1B, IndiansProjected 2017 WAR: 2.2 Replacing Mike Napoli: 1.0 in ’16 Upgrade: +1.2

In Encarnacion, the defending American League-champion Indians are getting a player who is similar to Napoli, but a year younger and with a more impressive recent track record. If Encarnacion matches his 2016 production (.263/.357/.529, 134 weighted runs created-plus) he will bring a much more significant boost, but he is projected to slide a bit offensively in his age-34 season (123 wRC+).

9. Ian Desmond, 1B, RockiesProjected 2017 WAR: 1.5 Replacing Mark Reynolds: 0.1 in ’16 Upgrade: +1.4

Signing Desmond to a five-year, $70 million contract to man first base, a position he has never played, may have been an unorthodox move for Colorado. But the club did need help at the position after Reynolds surprisingly hit for average but not only moderate power last year, resulting in a slightly below league average 99 wRC+. Desmond bounced back with the bat after a rough ’15, although it remains to be seen how he will handle his second position switch in as many seasons.

8. Dexter Fowler, CF, CardinalsProjected 2017 WAR: 2.1 Replacing Matt Holliday: 0.7 in ’16 Upgrade: +1.4

By snatching Fowler away from the division-rival Cubs, the Cardinals didn’t replace Holliday directly, but the signing allows them to shift Randal Grichuk from center field to left. That should improve the club’s overall outfield defense considerably, while Fowler brings his patient approach to the top of the lineup. The switch-hitter is projected to notch a .359 OBP, in line with his career mark of .366.

7. Taijuan Walker, SP, D-backsProjected 2017 WAR: 2.2 …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com