Curtis

Granderson

Granderson has been working out at the Yankees’ spring training complex and was cleared for a throwing program last week. He continues to make slow progress, but could begin swinging a bat as soon as this weekend. Despite missing all but five preseason games, the Yankees are optimistic that Granderson won’t require a lengthy rehab assignment.

Expect Granderson to get most of the starts in center field, perhaps for the rest of the season. He needs to be owned in AL-only leagues.

Rondell White might be back later this season, but it would be for the best if Granderson spends the rest of the season as the Tigers’ primary center fielder. Expect him to have quite a bit of value in AL-only leagues.

He went 1-for-4 yesterday. Granderson is capable of putting up solid numbers across the board, so he should be claimed in all AL-only leagues if he’s still available.

Granderson played 16 seasons for seven different clubs, finishing with a .249/.337/.465 batting line, 344 home runs and an even 1,800 hits. The outfielder made three All-Star teams and finished in the top-10 in MVP voting twice. Granderson will turn 39 years old in March.

It depends on the interest out there and right now there doesn’t appear to be much. Granderson turns 39 in March and batted just .183/.281/.356 with 12 homers over 363 plate appearances with the Marlins in 2019. It was easily the worst year of his career. He’s sitting on 344 career homers.

His longball in the ninth inning served only to prevent a shutout in the blowout loss. The 38-year-old is a part-time player on the worst team in the National League and that should tell you all you need to know about his fantasy value -- he has none. He owns a paltry .188/.277/.380 slash line with 11 home runs and 32 RBI in 271 at-bats. The homer was the 342nd of his long career.

Granderson tagged Anthony Swarzak for a solo shot in the eighth inning, pulling the Marlins to within two runs at 3-1. He then singled and came around to score as the Marlins scored four times in the ninth to tie the game. He’s having a rough season overall at the dish, slashing just .186/.273/.368 with 10 homers and 31 RBI.

Granderson was most of the Marlins’ offense on this night, collecting two of their four hits and driving in their lone run. The run came in the fourth inning when Granderson ripped a Jake Odorizzi inside fastball into the right field corner, allowing Starlin Castro to race around from first base to slide in ahead of the throw. In 91 games this year, the 38-year-old Granderson is hitting .185/.273/.365 overall.

White Sox starter Dylan Covey tried to come high and tight with a fastball in the fourth inning but Granderson caught up to it and yanked it to right field for a two-run blast. The homer was the ninth of the year for the 38-year-old. There’s no indication the Marlins are ready to cut ties with Granderson despite his .181/.271/.363 line, but it’s hard to imagine they won’t soon pivot to giving a younger player those at-bats instead.