With the 2023 MLB Trade Deadline passed, many fantasy leagues have deadlines approaching as well. In dynasty baseball formats, managers should have a good feel for what direction their roster is heading. While there’s still an important task at hand — a 2023 dynasty championship — it’s never too early to begin thinking about 2024. Not only could this list of players help your roster down the stretch now, but they’re also quickly gathering steam for a value boost heading into the 2024 campaign.
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5 Players Picking Up Momentum for 2024
Ha-Seong Kim – Padres
Not only is Ha-Seong Kim having an underrated season, but he’s also been one of the best players in the league. Coming into 2023, he was a decent bat with extra value as a multi-position plug-in. Now, seemingly out of nowhere, Kim has produced a .288/.384/.454 slash line through 108 games. He’s gone deep 15 times while swiping 241 bags, both easily setting new career highs already.
Kim’s terrific season has resulted in him securing the leadoff spot in San Diego’s potent lineup. The 27-year-old has led off every game he’s started since the start of July, slashing .352/.466/.556 with a 21:17 BB:K during that stretch. His (unrealistic) 162-game pace using that sample size is incredible: 34 home runs, 6 steals, and 140 runs scored.
While those numbers aren’t sustainable over a full season, Kim should enter 2024 locked into the leadoff role in San Diego. With a full season in the top spot of that lineup, he’ll be a legitimate five-category contributor with eligibility at multiple infield positions, making him a strong dynasty asset. Plus, if you’re a believer in the contract-year boost, he’s eligible to become a free agent next offseason.
Chas McCormick – Astros
Speaking of underrated bats, Chas McCormick has taken off this year. Coming into the year, he was drafted as OF115 in NFC formats, behind names such as Myles Straw and Aledmys Diaz. McCormick has soared above expectations, already setting new career highs in home runs (15) and stolen bases (12) while registering a .275/.368/.522 slash line through just 72 games. His hard-hit rate is lacking a bit but a strong barrel rate and walk percentage help lift the underlying numbers.
On top of having a great season in general, McCormick has been even hotter since the All-Star break. He’s slashing .319/.438/.667 over his last 21 games. During that span, his 1.105 OPS ranks ninth among all qualified hitters. On top of that, McCormick’s walk rate of 16.9% during that stretch is a sizable boost from his 10.8% season mark.
McCormick came into 2023 with a career 109 OPS+ while hitting exactly 14 homers in each of his first two MLB seasons. He was slightly under-drafted to begin with but he’s going to climb draft boards heavily next year. The 28-year-old has secured a regular role in Houston’s lineup moving forward, though his placement in the bottom half of the lineup limits his fantasy ceiling. Still, he’s gone from an afterthought to a legitimate dynasty outfielder in just a few months.
Tyler Glasnow – Rays
Tyler Glasnow isn’t exactly a hidden gem; he’s a potential ace that just couldn’t stay healthy through the prime of his career. Now that he’s recovered from Tommy John surgery and an early-season oblique issue, the 29-year-old is showing exactly why dynasty managers have been holding out hope for his return to form.
Over his last seven starts, Glasnow has compiled a terrific 63:9 K:BB with a 2.08 ERA over 43.1 frames. For the year, he’s sporting a 3.15 ERA, 3.18 FIP, and 12.6 K/9 in 12 starts. He dominates opposing batters with his 96 mph fastball and a combination of sliders and curveballs to follow. His impressive numbers come with some underlying issues, though, including a 47.2% hard-hit rate.
| Pitch | Opponent BA | Whiff % | % Used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fastball | .243 | 25.4% | 43.5% |
| Slider | .221 | 43.4% | 34.6% |
| Curveball | .123 | 52.3% | 21.4% |
Glasnow’s dynasty value may never reach the peak that it was expected to a few years ago before his long string of injury troubles. Even now, the injury concerns are enough to prevent him from being a legitimate fantasy ace. It’s a big ask at this point, but if Glasnow can stay on the mound for all of 2024, he should be one of the most dominant arms in the game. Like Kim, he’s also set to hit free agency heading into 2025, adding some extra motivation for next season.
Brady Singer – Royals
Brady Singer’s 2023 season has been filled with highs and lows but he’s gotten better as the season has progressed. He produced an atrocious 7.12 ERA through 11 starts. Since the start of June, he’s registered a 3.48 ERA and a 55:15 K:BB through 11 outings. Singer allowed two or fewer runs in seven of those appearances.
Even better, the 27-year-old righty has posted a 23:3 K:BB while yielding only four runs over his last three starts, including eight shutout frames against the Mets. However, Singer’s allowing the second-highest hard-hit rate in the league. His underlying metrics are a good explanation for why he’s prone to some truly brutal outings between strong performances.
Singer has a long way to go before becoming a real sought-after dynasty piece. Limiting the ugly appearances would be a good place to start. He registered a 3.23 ERA in 2022 while giving up three or fewer runs in 21 of his 27 starts. This season, he’s given up two or fewer runs 12 times but coughed up at least five runs on eight occasions.
Triston Casas – Red Sox
Triston Casas is becoming a perfect example of why it’s often necessary to give top prospects time to get adjusted at the MLB level. From his MLB debut in 2022 through June 1, 2023, Casas registered a .690 OPS with 18 extra-base hits through 271 plate appearances. His .191 average during that stretch was the third lowest among all batters with at least 250 plate appearances.
Then something clicked. Over his last 50 games, Casas is slashing .309/.401/.599 with 11 home runs and 23 extra-base hits across 187 plate appearances. That 1.000 OPS ranks seventh in the league behind only a short list of elite stars, such as Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuna. In his first full MLB season, Casas has raised his OPS to .832 with 17 long balls and a 13.8% walk rate.
The 23-year-old was a high-end prospect for several years and showed off his hit tool and strong plate approach at each minor-league level on his way up. Not every top prospect transitions to the big leagues seamlessly. Dynasty managers that showed patience and didn’t panic about Casas’ slow start are now being rewarded. If his hot streak continues down the stretch, he’ll enter 2024 as one of the top dynasty first basemen.