Fantasy Faceoff: Troy Tulowitzki vs. Corey Seager

Houston Astros SS Carlos Correa is the clear No. 1 fantasy shortstop entering 2016. But there's an intriguing battle shaping up for the No. 2 option.

Can Tulowitzki find his groove for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2016? Can Seager maintain his incredible, yet brief, success to begin his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers?

The Case for Tulowitzki

Tulowitzki will also go down as one of - if not the best - hitting shortstops of his era. He has had six 20-home run seasons. He's no longer a threat on the base paths, but brings tremendous power at a position where such a quality is rare. Owners will notice only a slight decline in home runs as Tulowitzki moves from Coors Field in Colorado to Rogers Centre in Toronto.

The potential decline in home runs will be boosted by a full season in Toronto's dangerous lineup. The Blue Jays led baseball with 891 runs scored in 2015, over 150 more than the Rockies. The Jays' .797 OPS was also best in baseball, and Tulowitzki will benefit regardless of where in the order he hits.

The Case for Seager

Seager was a high-average hitter all across the minor leagues. He also routinely demonstrated an ability to get on base, regardless of which level he was in. His strikeout rates dropped since moving to Double-A in 2014, and they've stayed low as he's climbed the final two levels. His walk rate spiked at 12.4% in the major leagues.

Seager never demonstrated immense power or speed at any minor league level. He hit four home runs and stole two bases through 27 MLB games. He'll both score and drive in runs while hitting near the top of a Dodgers lineup which shouldn't be drastically worse than that of the Jays.

Key Stat

4,485: The number of career MLB plate appearances separating the two players. Tulowitzki enters his 10th major-league season with 4,598 plate appearances. At 31, he still has prime years left. Seager remains eligible as a rookie after compiling just 113 plate appearances last year.

Verdict

Side with the proven bat of Tulowitzki. Seager isn't immune to a demotion to Triple-A in the event of early struggles at the plate or in the field. Tulowitzki's poor performance in the second half of last season should rebound toward his career averages, while Seager's inflated .387 BABIP can only come down. He posted a BABIP of .298 through 464 plate appearances in Triple-A.