HealthSportsThe Future is Now: Projecting Every MLB Team's Opening Day Lineup for...

The Future is Now: Projecting Every MLB Team’s Opening Day Lineup for 2024

Predicting Every MLB Team’s 2024 Opening Day Lineup, Version 3.0

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    SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 16: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Los Angeles Dodgers prepares to bat during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Saturday, September 16, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Liv Lyons/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

    Liv Lyons/MLB Photos via Getty Images

    The start of spring training is right around the corner, yet there are still a number of notable free agents looking for a new home, including Blake Snell, Matt Chapman, Jordan Montgomery, J.D Martinez and Jorge Soler.

    For now, it’s time for another update to our Opening Day lineup predictions, with version 1.0 published on Nov. 29 and version 2.0 released on Jan. 4.

    Ahead, we’ve assigned all of the top remaining free agents to logical landing spots on the way to predicting each MLB team’s Opening Day lineup for the 2024 season.

    Last season’s lineup data from Baseball Reference, the projected rosters from FanGraphs and a healthy amount of speculation on where remaining free agents will sign went into compiling each team’s batting order.

    This will be updated throughout the offseason, so stay tuned for further updates.

    Note: Names in bold indicate a projected acquisition.

Arizona Diamondbacks

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    Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

    Lourdes Gurriel Jr.Norm Hall/Getty Images

    Projected Starting Lineup

    RF Corbin Carroll
    2B Ketel Marte
    3B Eugenio Suárez
    1B Christian Walker
    LF Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
    DH Joc Pederson
    C Gabriel Moreno
    CF Alek Thomas
    SS Geraldo Perdomo
    SP Zac Gallen

    Notes

    -The D-backs have essentially replaced Evan Longoria and Tommy Pham with Eugenio Suárez and Joc Pederson this offseason, and that should end up being a net positive gain in terms of overall value.

    -It will be interesting to see if top prospect Jordan Lawlar can push Geraldo Perdomo for playing time this spring. After earning an All-Star selection in 2023, Perdomo hit just .214/.322/.297 in 221 plate appearances during the second half, so his hold on the starting shortstop job may be tenuous at best.

Atlanta Braves

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    Michael Harris II

    Michael Harris IIMitchell Layton/Getty Images

    Projected Starting Lineup

    RF Ronald Acuña Jr.
    2B Ozzie Albies
    3B Austin Riley
    1B Matt Olson
    DH Marcell Ozuna
    C Sean Murphy
    CF Michael Harris II
    LF Jarred Kelenic
    SS Orlando Arcia
    SP Max Fried

    Notes

    -The Braves could still use a right-handed-hitting platoon partner for Jarred Kelenic in left field, but the options are dwindling in free agency, and there has been little talk of a potential reunion with Adam Duvall. Keep an eye on Randal Grichuk as a potential low-cost option.

    -What’s the backup plan at shortstop now that Vaughn Grissom and Braden Shewmake have both been traded this offseason? Offseason additions David Fletcher and Luis Guillorme both look like strong candidates for a bench spot, and Fletcher could be a nice bounce-back candidate following a change of scenery.

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