Yirsandy Rodríguez
@yirsandy.bsky.social
I write about baseball for my Substack newsletter, yirsandy.substack.com. Sr. baseball writer at baseballdecuba.com. Sabermetric analyst & SABR member. Let's talk baseball if you'd like!
The risk is glaring: -32 DRS, -27 OAA career at SS. Mets will try him at 3B, a position he’s never played.
They’re not paying for a glove. They’re paying a superstar premium for a singular, volatile skill. High-reward. Monumental risk.
They’re not paying for a glove. They’re paying a superstar premium for a singular, volatile skill. High-reward. Monumental risk.
January 17, 2026 at 2:09 AM
The risk is glaring: -32 DRS, -27 OAA career at SS. Mets will try him at 3B, a position he’s never played.
They’re not paying for a glove. They’re paying a superstar premium for a singular, volatile skill. High-reward. Monumental risk.
They’re not paying for a glove. They’re paying a superstar premium for a singular, volatile skill. High-reward. Monumental risk.
The Dodgers didn't just add an All-Star. They plugged a proven, top-3 positional asset into the middle of their order. The data has spoken for years. Now the league has to deal with it.
January 16, 2026 at 9:16 AM
The Dodgers didn't just add an All-Star. They plugged a proven, top-3 positional asset into the middle of their order. The data has spoken for years. Now the league has to deal with it.
Soto's OBP is a superpower that almost single-handedly creates his value.
Judge exists on another planet. The gulf between 1 and 2 is as big as between 2 and 8.
Judge exists on another planet. The gulf between 1 and 2 is as big as between 2 and 8.
January 16, 2026 at 9:16 AM
Soto's OBP is a superpower that almost single-handedly creates his value.
Judge exists on another planet. The gulf between 1 and 2 is as big as between 2 and 8.
Judge exists on another planet. The gulf between 1 and 2 is as big as between 2 and 8.
13. Mookie Betts (13.9 fWAR): The WAR/162 here is still elite. His ranking is a function of games played, not decline.
The Takeaways:
Tucker's separation from the pack (3+ WAR over Julio) is massive and underscores his staggering consistency.
The Takeaways:
Tucker's separation from the pack (3+ WAR over Julio) is massive and underscores his staggering consistency.
January 16, 2026 at 9:16 AM
13. Mookie Betts (13.9 fWAR): The WAR/162 here is still elite. His ranking is a function of games played, not decline.
The Takeaways:
Tucker's separation from the pack (3+ WAR over Julio) is massive and underscores his staggering consistency.
The Takeaways:
Tucker's separation from the pack (3+ WAR over Julio) is massive and underscores his staggering consistency.
4. Julio Rodríguez (21.6 fWAR): The engine. Historic power/speed combo with durability. The floor is a star.
The "When Healthy" Superstars (Tier 2)
5. Ronald Acuña Jr. (19.4 fWAR): The 2023 MVP peak is the highest of anyone here. The 5-year WAR is just a calendar testament to injury.
The "When Healthy" Superstars (Tier 2)
5. Ronald Acuña Jr. (19.4 fWAR): The 2023 MVP peak is the highest of anyone here. The 5-year WAR is just a calendar testament to injury.
January 16, 2026 at 9:16 AM
4. Julio Rodríguez (21.6 fWAR): The engine. Historic power/speed combo with durability. The floor is a star.
The "When Healthy" Superstars (Tier 2)
5. Ronald Acuña Jr. (19.4 fWAR): The 2023 MVP peak is the highest of anyone here. The 5-year WAR is just a calendar testament to injury.
The "When Healthy" Superstars (Tier 2)
5. Ronald Acuña Jr. (19.4 fWAR): The 2023 MVP peak is the highest of anyone here. The 5-year WAR is just a calendar testament to injury.
The Franchise Pillars (Tier 1)
3. Kyle Tucker (22.7 fWAR): The new Dodger is the model of complete, consistent elite production. Power (127 HR), speed (96 SB), elite contact skills (14.6% K%), and plus defense. No weakness.
3. Kyle Tucker (22.7 fWAR): The new Dodger is the model of complete, consistent elite production. Power (127 HR), speed (96 SB), elite contact skills (14.6% K%), and plus defense. No weakness.
January 16, 2026 at 9:16 AM
The Franchise Pillars (Tier 1)
3. Kyle Tucker (22.7 fWAR): The new Dodger is the model of complete, consistent elite production. Power (127 HR), speed (96 SB), elite contact skills (14.6% K%), and plus defense. No weakness.
3. Kyle Tucker (22.7 fWAR): The new Dodger is the model of complete, consistent elite production. Power (127 HR), speed (96 SB), elite contact skills (14.6% K%), and plus defense. No weakness.
The Untouchables (Tier S)
Aaron Judge (33.9 fWAR): A statistical singularity. A 196 wRC+ is video game stuff. He laps the field.
Juan Soto (29.7 fWAR): The offensive foundation. An .418 OBP is his floor. A category of one...
Aaron Judge (33.9 fWAR): A statistical singularity. A 196 wRC+ is video game stuff. He laps the field.
Juan Soto (29.7 fWAR): The offensive foundation. An .418 OBP is his floor. A category of one...
January 16, 2026 at 9:16 AM
The Untouchables (Tier S)
Aaron Judge (33.9 fWAR): A statistical singularity. A 196 wRC+ is video game stuff. He laps the field.
Juan Soto (29.7 fWAR): The offensive foundation. An .418 OBP is his floor. A category of one...
Aaron Judge (33.9 fWAR): A statistical singularity. A 196 wRC+ is video game stuff. He laps the field.
Juan Soto (29.7 fWAR): The offensive foundation. An .418 OBP is his floor. A category of one...
Tucker is a top-3 OF in fWAR since 2021 (22.7), trailing only Judge & Soto. Elite bat (.279/.365/.519, 144 wRC+), elite defense (Top-5 RF in DRS), and he slots in as their fifth hitter. They bought his age 29-32 seasons. Pure peak. No decline. A short-term, high-AAV masterpiece from Andrew Friedman.
January 16, 2026 at 8:32 AM
Tucker is a top-3 OF in fWAR since 2021 (22.7), trailing only Judge & Soto. Elite bat (.279/.365/.519, 144 wRC+), elite defense (Top-5 RF in DRS), and he slots in as their fifth hitter. They bought his age 29-32 seasons. Pure peak. No decline. A short-term, high-AAV masterpiece from Andrew Friedman.
The Dodgers didn't need a long saga. They saw the best player available, identified their clearest need (corner OF), and executed. This is what they do.
January 16, 2026 at 8:32 AM
The Dodgers didn't need a long saga. They saw the best player available, identified their clearest need (corner OF), and executed. This is what they do.