It’s the most wonderful time of the year !
Spring training is in full swing, March Madness a mere week away, and the Masters on the horizon.
Today we are going to take a look at targets of mine for this upcoming fantasy baseball season. I made sure not to use the word” sleeper” as I feel it gets thrown around way too much and really is just a click-bait word.
So here we go:
Catcher:
Anyone outside the top 150
Catcher is a notoriously shallow position, and many teams end up drafting a player that isn’t really elite at the plate because of this scarcity. So my point is to wait, use draft capital on strong pitching and hitting (around the diamond) in the earlier rounds and worry about catcher post pick 150.
Targets of mine include Tyler Stephenson, Alejandro Kirk, and Sean Murphy.
1B:
Rowdy Tellez
Another player the Blue Jays kick to the curb who ends up becoming an above average player. While there is potential for Rowdy to hit near the bottom of the order when a southpaw is on the mound, or even just sit entirely, he will be penciled in as the everyday Brewers 1B and clean up hitter. His batted ball profile was eerily similar to Matt Olson, who is going in the 30 pick range.
2B:
Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Incredible batted ball profile and a major speed threat, only thing keeping him down is the injury risk and MLB The Show curse. You’ve been warned
SS:
Willy Adames
Ended 39th overall on the Razzball 5×5 player rater, yet is being drafted near pick 100 on Yahoo… Slam dunk pick
3B:
J-Ram/Austin Riley/Nolan Arenado/Gunnar Henderson
The reason I threw in four players for 3B is because this position is incredibly shallow. Pay up for one of these players (ranked them in order of their value) and go on with your draft. After Henderson the position falls off big time, don’t be stuck with Bregman or Hayes.
OF:
Tyler O’Neill/Corbin Carroll/Lars Nootbar
Steals ? Check. Power ? Check. Average ? Half-check.
O’Neil had somewhat of a disappointing year last year, but his batted ball profile is still amongst the leagues best. The Cardinals outfield is pretty loaded, and there is a chance he is platooned with Dylan Carlson, but I still love the beefy Canadian.
Corbin Carroll will be this years Bobby Witt Jr, draft him in the 5th round and be happy.
Nootbar is an Eno Sarris favorite, who made solid plate improvements towards the end of last year and also has a strong batted ball profile. If you can get him as your third outfielder you’re in a great spot.
SP:
Alek Manoah
Finishing 3rd in AL Cy Young voting, and he is going in the pick 60 range on Yahoo ? Yes please. The Rogers Centre dimensions have gotten smaller, which will hurt Manoah, but the innings, his exceptional ability to limit hard contact, and playing behind a top team in the AL gives him an elite floor.
RP:
Pete Fairbanks
Closers are almost as bad as 3B this year, the truly elite ones go in the first three rounds and the rest not too long after. While I wouldn’t take Fairbanks as my first closer, he’s a solid number two.
Not only did Fairbanks have some of the best Stuff in baseball last year, the Rays just signed him to an extension and no longer have to worry about his saves impacting arbitration. Assuming he stays healthy, 20 saves are a real possibility with elite ratios and K’s.
Best of luck drafting