ESPN’s 2016 Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Don’t Kill My Vibe

1. I just love when you sing to me…

   • @FrankGrimes: Where’s my vape?

     • @Grey:
       haha it should have arrived Friday!

       • Fo reals?! Damn, I’m over here patting my arm veins like I’m a Silk Road customer and you’re holding back the shizz!

2. Check your math on Syndergaard.

   • @Connor: ditto the math on Polanco …those.fools.have him ranked 58 after your ranking Fantasy Master Lothorio….it’s good to be a fastball follower. Many thanks

     • @henncoop: damn auto correct ….good to be Razzballer!!!

       • @henncoop: We the followers of the fastball!!!

     • @henncoop: Fixed, thanks!

   • @Connor: Oops, fixed

3. Thanks Grey. Do you know anything about how companies such as ESPN treat its fantasy analysts? Do they have to prescribe to a specific philosophy of ranking and drafting whether they agree with it or not?

   • @RaiderRob: It’s not a philosophy that they are prescribed to, but the wrong type of medication.

     • @The Great Knoche: Ha

   • @RaiderRob: I don’t think anyone cares what their people do with rankings

4. Hey Grey,

   First up – thanks for all the superb work in draft preparation! Always a joy to see this site warm up as spring training looms.

   Sorry to take you back to the draft pairings but I was a bit late. To be fair, it’s sort of rankings related.

   Quick question. For Rizzo (and to a lesser extent Goldy), you mention also grabbing Upton or Springer. Is there any reason not to look for Marte who is ranked fairly highly by your good self? Going by mocks on Yahoo, it looks like Rizzo and Marte would be quite common to get. (I do realise you say grab anyone who isn’t an 1B but just checking whether there’s anyone to be avoided).

   Thanks in advance!

   • @Chuzwozza: No reason to not take Marte, I was just assuming he’d be gone already, but if he’s not, go for it

     • @Grey: Super – thanks as always for the reply. In one mock (real results may vary), I was able to grab Upton as well as Marte!

       • Nice!

5. Grey!

   a. Thanks, just thanks sooooo much. Just when I thought I might have a leg up (when I need an elephant’s leg up) in my league with Jack, you go and do this! Damn you, Grey!!!

   b. Actually, I ain’t mad ya but made the exact same observations doing mock drafts over the past 4 days. Incredible how JoFer is ranked so low. Even more incredible is how full draft rooms in 12-team mock drafts are BLINDLY following ESPN’s rankings just as they do in CBS leagues!!! I thought 12-team and roto and 5×5 was supposed to be more cerebral but it would appear that that is not the case.

   c. Thanks for this very cerebral article and for putting it in an easy to read table.

   Cheers,
   Ante

   • @Ante GALIC: A. Ha B. That is insane C. No problem

6. Grey!

   An addendum. It’s not bad enough we have the grammar police still sniffing around NOW we have the math police! As indicated above, check your math dude! 68-48=20 and not 38 as you incorrectly indicated for NOAH. Please make the headache go away!

   Cheers,
   Ante

   • @Ante GALIC:

     When the “obnoxious twat boots” are strapped to you – which planet’s orbit do you aim for?

     • @Kid A: Haha! What up, Kid A? Haven’t seen you on-board in some time. Looking forward to reading your insightful stuff soonest.

       Cheers,
       Ante

       • @Ante GALIC: hahaha.

     • @Kid A: You used your one phone call to dump on Ante. Classic Kid.

   • @Ante GALIC: Yeah, kinda like when you explicitly said Goldy went in Rd 2 of your draft, but when called on it, you said he went #8 overall and never said he went in round 2….and by “kinda” i actually mean not even close b/c you clearly just made shizz up

   • @Ante GALIC: Oops, fixed

7. Grey:
   Great job with your ranking prep. Really appreciate the insight.

   Need some help with my keeper league draft.

   League: 16 Team, 5 X 4 (no whip), & weekly lineup. Line up consists of 9 hitters (standard) & 6 Pitchers (4 Spers & 2 Rpers). 28 team roster.

   Players owned going into draft:
   Definite Keepers: Marte Pit OF, Polanco Pit OF, Ellsbury NYY OF (no choice, salary player) & Davis KC RP

   Potential Keepers: Teix NYY 1B, Seimen Oak SS, & Castellanoes 3B Det….maybe McHugh Sp Hou (last resort)
   All above players contracts will expire at the end of the season, but I would have the matching rights to all of them.
   Currently, for this auction, I have the matching rights to Gordon Mia 2B, Abreu CHW 1B, JD Martinez DET Of, Salazar CLE SP, Ventura KC SP & Kluber CLE SP.

   I have $$$ to spend but cannot match ALL of the above and sign an impact bat at 3B.

   We keep 10 after the auction & then do a straight draft (18 rounds) based on order of league finish.

   After my auction, which potential team do you like the best going to into the straight draft?

   Team 1:
   1B Abreu (2 year deal)
   2B: Gordon (2 year deal)
   SS: Seimen
   OF: Marte, Polanco, Ellsbury
   DH JD Martinez (2 year deal)
   SP: Kluber (2 year deal) & Salazar
   RP: Davis
   Note: I think Castellanoes can fall to me. Last year I chased 3B all season, had zero luck.
   SS is very shallow in the auction (no one worthwhile is unprotected), Seimen will not make it to me if I drop him.

   Team 2
   1B Teix
   2B Gordon (2 year deal)
   SS Seimen
   3B: Arrendao COl (3 year contract)
   OF: Marte, Polanco, Ellsbury
   SP: Kluber (2 year deal) & Salazaar
   RP: Davis
   Note: Or I could pass on Kluber to get either Abreu or Martinez, but 2 SPers would be Salazaar & Ventura.

   Team 3:
   1B Abreu (2 year deal)
   SS: Seimen
   3B: Machado (3 year deal)
   OF: Marte, Polanco, & Ellsbury
   DH: Teix NYY
   SP: Kluber, Salazaar, & Ventura
   Note: I trade Davis for picks, but would be chasing saves all year. Top 25 Closers will be gone before I pick. Again, I could pass on Kluber to sign Martinez… would have another hole at Sper.

   Any suggestions or alternatives with the players above? I really want an impact bat at 3B. Almost all of the top 3B bats are available. Bryant CHC will be matched. Arrenado can be matched, but owner has too many holes to fill to sign such an expensive contract. Machado is an unrestricted FA so a pretty strong bidding war will occur.

   Thanks for all of you hard work. Keep up the great work

   • @Hewhohesitates…islost: Team 3

     • @Grey:
       Thanks grey. One more follow up.

       Going with team 3, should I draft those 3 spers including paying for kluber or should I use the money for Martinez OF instead of kluber?

       • Isn’t it a 3 outfielder league?

         • @Grey:

           yes, 3 OFers. I thinking about loading up at OFer. Martinez would have been my DH providing power. I thought I was a little thin in power.

           Sounds like it may overkill now that I think about at your question.

           • Yeah, it’s overkill

8. Doing some research last week I also noticed the following:

   ESPN has Carlos Rodon ranked as the 98th best SP and completely outside their top 300, behind guys like Wade Miley, Ubaldo Jimenez, Henderson Alvarez, etc. Meanwhile, Cockcroft, who you would think would have quite a bit of say in those same rankings, has Rodon as his 49th best SP. How can ESPN’s most visible baseball writer have a guy 50 places better than their site rankings? Just for comparison, Yahoo has him at #134 overall. It makes absolutely zero sense.

   • @Don: I did a mock yesterday and when I saw where Rodon was I was appalled. In some leagues i’m in I could see him still being around for one of my last couple picks

   • @Don: That is bizarre, I honestly don’t understand who does ESPN’s rankings, I don’t swear to you that I don’t think it’s ESPN’s writers

9. Name a place and time.

   • @I’mgettingsomeHeadley: ignore please.

   • @I’mgettingsomeHeadley: 17th century Budapest

   • @I’mgettingsomeHeadley: October 1, 1961, Yankee Stadium.

   • @I’mgettingsomeHeadley: January 18th, 1908

10. dynasty with 7 RP, 5 or 6 SP slots. min 35 innings per week H2H 20 teamer. holds, double plays, QS, K/9, relief wins, relief appearances, OBPA added.
    which side of quintana/k-rob
    for
    boxberger/cobb?
    league set up like the ones JB just started, so minimum amount of players from real life teams. WSOX is offering me cobb side for my 2. I’m not TB. so far (just post draft) my SP/RP are
    SP darvish, quintana, liriano, hammel, fiers
    RP k-rob, giles, tolleson, kela.
    till darvish is back i’ll be rostering 2 of about 15 pretty bad SP out there (think c.anderson/hughes/colby/hellickson as “best” ones, unless my waiver nets me vince V), and after he’s back streaming one of them. also have urias stashed. adding cobb would be two very injury prone types.

    • @For an Armenianless vacation come to Akron: 5 DL spots, which seems relevant.

      • @For an Armenianless vacation come to Akron: after looking at cobb’s injury history again, and k-rob vs boxy’s skill stats this is a clear no. even if we rule out the hit by pitch’s missing 60 days it’s still 53/38/183 in 3 out of last 5 years with rib/oblique/forearm stuff. 2012 only good year with lack of missing time.

    • @For an Armenianless vacation come to Akron: Quintana

11. Hey Grey,

    Question about league scoring setup. Having our annual league meet tonight to make minor adjustments to league settings and scoring. We are a 12 team 7×7 head to head category league (keeper league). We plan to keep our hitting the same with OBP and total bases as the extra two categories. But pitching is where we look to adjust. Last year we had: W, L, saves, ERA, WHIP, Ks, and Holds. Last year we did holds for the first time over complete games. So my questions are:

    1. What’s your quick take on holds?

    2. Would you replace holds with quality starts which someone suggested, or is that too redundant with also having wins?

    3. What do you favor between quality starts and wins as categories? Someone suggested replacing wins with quality starts which I understand rationale for but I just seem reluctant to take out that category.

    Thanks for your feedback as always.

    • @G: my 2 cents. 1. Holds are a fantastic category. It opens up the world of great middle relievers. It also sometimes makes teams chooses between Holds and Saves, which offer nuances in strategy. Replace W with QS, if anything.

      • @Rufus Xavier Sasparilla: thanks Rufus. Appreciate the feedback

    • @G: 1. Holds are better than CG 2. Nope, it is too redundant 3. Wins

    • @G: does your format have saves + holds?

      • @J-FOH: Have had SV+HD in main hometown league for last 4-5 years. So much better than saves. Completely devalues shitty closers and allows for playing good relievers regardless of role. Can’t believe more leagues don’t do this instead of chasing saves.

12. I’ve got a keeper question Grey! I’d really appreciate some help! League Settings: 10 team, H2H Points, weekly lineups
    C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, CI, OF, OF, OF, U, U
    6 SP, 2 RP
    Hitting: standard setting but with no penalty for Ks
    Pitching:
    +1 for IP
    +10 points for a W,
    +5 for QS
    -5 for L
    -1 for BB
    -1 ER
    no penalty for Hits Against
    A good pitchers can net 25+ points in a single start, Arrieta and Kershaw finished with more points than any hitter. I’m tempted to just stack up on pitchers considering this is a keeper.

    3-5 keepers…next year, their keeper value is this year’s minus one round and so on…so Marte would be a 7th round pick next year if I keep him…1st rounders can’t be kept.
    Sale (forfeit Rd. 2 pick – can be kept for 1 year)
    Arrieta (Rd. 5 pick – 2 years)
    Cole (Rd. 6 pick – 2 years)
    Marte (Rd 8. – 2 years)
    Hosmer (Rd 12 – 3 years)
    Pollock (Rd. 18 – 3 years)
    L. Cain (Rd. 10 – 2 years)
    Salazar (rd. 10 – 2 Years)
    Maikel Franco (Rd. 10 – 2 years)

    Thank you!

    • @Noam: Cain
      Cole (Rd. 6 pick – 2 years)
      Marte (Rd 8. – 2 years)
      Hosmer (Rd 12 – 3 years)
      Pollock (Rd. 18 – 3 years)

    • @Noam: Tough choices, btw

      • @Grey:

        You wouldn’t keep Arrieta in the 5th?

        • Over Cain, sure

13. Hey Grey

    Im seeing a pattern in my mock drafts that I tend to end the first 5 rounds with a 1b, 3b, and 3 of. For example Rizzo, Bryant, Springer, C Davis, Upton.

    This early in the draft are you in favor of taking the best player available and filling your 2 utility slots or take the best available player that fills a position of need like MI or SP?

    If these players were available how would GM Grey use picks 6 and 7 in this scenario?

    Pujols, Frazier, Polanco, Heyward, Bogaertes, Dozier, Syndergaard, Carrasco

    • @Wacha Wacha: Don’t fill your UTIL spot in the first 7 rounds of a draft

    • @Wacha Wacha:
      Turbs, you follower.

14. Hi Grey,

    A pairing question. Two keeper Yahoo league with usual 5 cats plus OBP and SLG. I have Trout. Also Mig in 2 or Mookie in 3. I know you recommended Miggy If available as second pick but in this circumstance what would you think of keeping Mookie in third and taking best available 1B in second? I doubt Mig would be there but based on Yahoo ADP, the list would likely include at least one of Rizzo, Abreu, Incarnacion, Davis, Votto, Agon and Fielder. Thanks.

    • @Streaming Leake: 12 team league.

      • @Streaming Leake: Hard to imagine Rizzo not being kept even if people like ESPN or Yahoo rankings. I’d personally keep Miggy because there are so many OF available. Maybe target a guy like Polonco who falls in a lot of drafts. I love Mookie too, but to shore up that 1b slot will be very convenient for you

        • @Jason E.: Thanks.

    • @Streaming Leake: That works for me

      • @Grey: Thanks.

        • No problem

15. Can confirm much of this… I just left the second round of my offline ESPN dynasty draft (pick 12 out of 16) with bot Rizzo and Marte.

    • @ichirosan: That’s so goofy

16. Hey grey,

    Wacha Wacha and Soler a good return for Braun in a keeper?

    • @Nightpandas: Yes, take it.

    • @Nightpandas: Not crazy about it

    • @Nightpandas: Id take it, but im not a Braun guy

17. Grey spitting hot fire!

    Sat on that Rizzo keeper offer over the weekend (which would have had me giving up cheap Archers and Fraziers) and ended up getting a offer for Betts ($25 compared to $30 Rizzo) and a couple cheap ransoms for Archer only. Works for me!

    After this trade, keepers will be pretty below priced Abreu, Frazier, Betts, Blackmon, Hosmer, Stras, and Darvish. Woo!

    • @Duda Want to Build a Snowman?: Nice!

18. Oh please let the mofo’s I’ll be drafting with be ESPN ranking followers.

    • @Lville Jim: Exactly

19. I have many (possible) closers and need to move 1~2 rooms.

    Soria, Jeffress, Hoover, Cishek
    Which one or two to drop? Thanks.

    • Soria is furthest from saves, assuming Wade Davis stays healthy; and Hoover is worst of the bunch.

      • @Tigres:

        It seems Jeffress is in committee to close the door, will he get final closer job in your guess? I thought Cishek is also worse … , Cishek over Hoover? Thanks.

        • Honestly, I don’t like any of those guys. Cishek ain’t great but Mariners seem to want him to close. I think Jeffress wins the job with a good spring. Brewers likely to trade Will Smith in season, and as LHP he has trade value even without saves, so speculate on RHP as likely closer until ST performance says otherwise.

    • @Wilson: Agree with Tigres

20. I know you do this with ESPN & Y! rankings. If you don’t already, I think a similar post comparing your rank vs. NFBC ADP would be valuable. NFBC ADP is more like what your readers will actually experience in their competitive leagues. ESPN & Y! are just fish in a barrel, which is fun but less instructive.

    Granted it’s just a VLOOKUP away in my Excel table…

    • @TheTinDoor: I’m not going to do NFBC, but Rudy should, he uses them

      • These posts are Grey’s thing, not mine. I suggest just taking my rankings and putting them side-by-side to NFBC ADP.

        Kinda weird that my first 4 LABR picks (Bryant, Marte, Upton, Syndergaard) all showed up on Grey > ESPN.

21. Sir Greymalikin-
    In a H2H dynasty (16 teams), should I give Cano and Trevor Bauer for Starlin Castro and Kenley Jansen? I’m trying to Youthanize (not euthanize) my infield. I’m deep enough at pitching. Many thanks!

    • @Rufus Xavier Sasparilla: Sure

22. Great article and perfect timing. I’m in the middle of a slow draft (16 teams). We did the MiLB first, which was weird, but it has been quirky the whole draft. I really don’t think anyone reads razzball in this league, which suits me fine. But just wanted to throw out what I have so far (minus the minors)..head to head. Weekly lineup set (only for pitchers) and you can’t have more than 5 SP on your bench to limit streaming (which is lame). 6 points for a QS and 5 for a W. 2 for SB and everything else seemed standard. It’s a keep forever dynasty on all players (which intrigued me). I know you guys don’t know who is available, but what should my next pick be? I’m thinking Nola, Starlin, or Schoop. Or what stat am I lacking? Thanks! (I know I should have grabbed a better 1b but Springer in round 3 was a guy I felt like I couldn’t pass on)

    C:
    1b: Brandon Belt
    2b:
    SS:Orlando Arcia (MiLB pick)
    3b: Nolan Arenado
    MI:
    CI:
    OF: Starling Marte
    OF: George Springer
    OF: Gregory Polonco
    U:
    SP: Danny Salazar
    SP: Tyson Ross
    SP: Taijuan Walker
    SP:
    SP:
    RP:
    RP:

    • @Jason E.: Obviously using Greys rankings, Nola is the third highest rated pitcher left behind Hisashi and Samardzija. I just preferred Nola in this format.

    • @Jason E.: I would take Starlin than Schoop than Nola if you are in a Yahoo league.

      • @Mike: CBS

    • @Jason E.: Thanks! I’d go Castro, Schoop then Nola

23. Enjoying your commentary as usual. Read it with my first cup of java BEFORE deleting spam.

    I have a problem in my Schwarber?

    1. Is he keeper material?
    2. Schwarber over Rendon?
    3. Schwarber over Chris Davis?
    4. Schwarber over Syndergarrd?

    • @Michael Robinson: Nice, thanks! 1. Yeah 2. Yeah 3. No 4. No

    • @Michael Robinson:
      shitburger will be a bust this year

      • @FrankGrimes: I agree, staying away from him

24. Sean Manaea what do you expect of him this year?

    • 5 months in the minors

    • @Mike:

      Unlikely to “break camp with A’s but not impossible.” Depends on health of the rest of the staff. Could be 5 months in the minors, could be up early depending. He is 24 so not like he’s fresh of the HS campus. A’s have so many wild cards. Hill, Parker, Bassett, Hahn, Graveman, not at all hard to see a call up as early as late April.

      The A’s are gaga. They’re giving out Randy Johnson comps. Doolittle’s brother who played with him in AA last year says he has the best stuff he has ever seen live. Definitely keep an eye.

25. Thanks. I was watching MLB network and they believe that he will make the rotation out of spring.
    They were comparing him to Randy Johnson.

    • @Mike: I’d be shocked if Beane puts him in the rotation out of spring

      • @Grey: Yea he has never pitched AAA and only 180 innings in the minors.

        • Exactly

          • @Grey: Guy I know was at Indiana State with him. Thinks he could be real deal, but agree no way he’s not touching AAA first. Beane will get the extra year of service time out of him. They have so many options at least until Parker and Hill fall apart…literally.

            • I agree, Knoche

26. The Cano and Papi ranks make total sense….for the marketing department at ESPN. I know Cano is no longer a Yankee but everytime he is flashed on the screen they can reference him being an ex Yankee

    • So true, I think it’s a matter of who they think readers will know

      • @Grey:
        “Um boss, Barry Bonds retired years ago”

        “I don’t care, get him in there”

        • I think it goes something like this, “Hey, Cockcroft, the rankings are in.” “These are crazy, I’m doing my own.”

          • @Grey: I bet Jeter is in there

            • Prolly

27. Jeez, they must pull these rankings from a hat

    • I was saying this above, I don’t even think it’s Cockcroft, Karabell and company that do these rankings

      • @Grey: I got that vibe last year frI’m Tristan. Like the content department and the rankings department are seperate groups that don’t talk.

        • Yeah, exactly…I actually think the rankings are from Rotowire…

      • @Grey: Yeah really just seems like there is no thought put into it at all.

        • It’s odd because Cock and Klara do rankings, it just doesn’t seem factored into espn’s…

28. Long term keeper league, H2H, cat. I have an offer for Strasburg on the table, basically I can choose from Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, Jason Heyward he’s also willing to package Moncada in the deal, we have a spot for young keepers basically an NA spot that he would fall into

    to put it into perspective for pitchers I already have Sherzer and G Cole along with Eduardo Rodrigues, so Strasburg is some what expendable, my offensive keepers are Frazier, N Cruz, A Rendon, along with the options of Kyle Seager, Blake Swihart, Corey Dickerson

    So I could use an upgrade in terms of offense, should I shop Strasburg around more, should I keep him and go pitching heavy with keepers (we keep 8 total)

    • I’d take Heyward and Moncada, but you can shop for more if you like

29. I think your Pujols ranking might be a little high if he misses the first month.

    • Yeah, I might drop him a little if we get to mid-March and injury news isn’t good

      • @Grey:
        really hoping to get first base in first round this year

        • Agreed

30. Grey,
    Great stuff as usual. I have a Keeper question for you. I have the following potential Keepers and the rounds they would be kept (we keep 2): Goldy (1), C. Davis (6), Carrasco (7), Correa (12), Syndergaard (12).

    I have the second pick in the Draft of our Yahoo 12 Team H2H League so I will most likely pass on Goldy and draft Rizzo (long story – other top players are being kept). I am also going to keep Correa. My question is Davis in Round 6 or Syndergaard at Round 12. Leaning towards Thor, but I wanted to ask.

    Thanks very much Grey.

    • Go Thor

      • @Grey: Many thanks. Keep up the most excellent work.

        • No problem

31. Thanks for your good work as always Grey!

    Just wondering, will you be doing something similar for Yahoo rankings? I guess I could just compare their projections to yours, but you know… I’m lazy, haha

    • @Big W: P.S. Sorry if someone already asked above

    • Yahoo comes tomorrow

      • @Grey: Thank you!!!

        • No problem

32. If you could do one of these posts for Yahoo rankings that’d be hawt. I think they are sightly better than ESPN. And on a related note, how does your pitcher aversion manifest itself in your batter/pitcher split for auctions? I’m not talking valuations, I’m taking what you actually spend.

    • I’ll do Yahoo tomorrow

    • @Owen Simring: Same rule applies. Don’t pay for pitching. Grabbing your first SP in round 6-9 is the equivalent of spending $20 r less on your first auction SP.

33. Looks like there is an open spot in an RCL jack put together that I joined up in case anybody wants to jump in…

    • @GhostTownSteve:

      should be a fun league. some good commenters in there it looks like.

      • @GhostTownSteve: we got 12

        • @J-FOH: You sure? Team 10 shows no owner?

          • @The Great Knoche: I see it now.

            • @J-FOH: Open? Let me know.

              • @Vegans: still open

34. Sorry if I missed this somewhere but will you be doing the same comps for Yahoo?

    • Tomorrow

35. Thanks to your rankings last year, I ended up with these players in a 6 keeper ESPN h2h league, 10 team:

    Goldy
    Rizzo
    Kershaw
    Arenado
    Betts
    Marte
    Upton

    A: thank you for the high Arenado ranking last year, I traded very little to get him, B: I’m trying to trade Upton, who is the 7th ranked out of these, for draft picks (which is allowed), but due to his awful ESPN ranking no one wants him. Damn you ESPN rankings. Should I try to trade Marte for a high pick or just let Upton go?

    • Nice! Trad him for a high draft pick and keep Upton

36. You’re not doing a Yahoo auction value one are you? Because if I spent the last two weeks identifying the best values against Yahoo, cross referencing with guys I actually like, and testing the market on these players in mock drafts, and then you went “Here’s a list of the biggest discrepencies and best values.”, I’d be really annoyed.

    • @Cram It: I think you should prepare to be annoyed. Haha!

      • @The Great Knoche: Ha. Probably my own fault for doing it a month a half away from draft day!

        • @Cram It: less annoyance!

    • Haha, no I’m not

      • @Grey: Ok cool. My work will mean something then!

        • Who were some of the biggest values?

          • @Grey: Well, I’ll list they’re avg draft cost, which is always higher than their projected value, because everyone overpays for everyone, so even still, great value:
            Polanco $13
            Frazier $19
            Kyles Seager $8
            Belt $7
            Starlin Castro $2
            Rodon $3
            Hanley $9
            Deshields $2
            And my personal favorite: Maikel Franco $4
            Upton at $22 is nice for a stud
            So is JD at around $27.

            Should save some bucks on quality.

            • Great value for all of those guys… Rodon at $3… HAHAHAHA… Seager at $8? I don’t think any of Yahoo’s experts would even say he’s less than $20

              • @Grey: Like ESPN, who knows where they get their expected “Projected Value” from ? As long as it keeps their actual costs down.

                • Yeah, exactly… I don’t think the people that work there know fully where the values come from, not even joking

37. will you’ do the same thing with cbs this year. My league commissioner just switch from ESPN. if not, can anyone tell me if there is a way to upload rankings to cbs.

    • Nope on CBS

38. Grey! Your rankings are like another version of the emmaculate conception…first being the birth of Drazen Petrovic (of course) and second being the birth of my son 9 days ago! Question for you, will the ‘Hitter/Pitcher Tiers’ link on the 2016 Rankings page be updated? If so, when? Thanks for all you do.

    • Ha, thanks! Congrats! Someone else does the tiers, no idea if they’re doing them

39. Love these posts.

    In the “thank you” I would add Matz, who espn has like 180th, and Yasmani Thomas, who they have 600th or somthing.

    It’s insane how good my teams have looked doing mock drafts on espn.

    • Thanks!

      • @Grey: I should say how good the mock team looks using your rankings and their adp.

        Was curious if you unintentionally left off Matz and Tomas or was there a reason they didn’t show up on the thank you list?

        • I didn’t list everyone, just went through some that jumped out at me

40. Grey,
    In a 12 team standard hth format, how soon before the season begins is the best time to draft? Is there a best time?
    Thanks

    • Right before the season

41. Does anyone believe in a Jimmy Nelson breakout this year?

    • I go over him in my rankings

42. Now that the Betts and co for Archer trade went through, got a really interesting offer for Frazier…

    My Frazier ($16) for his nicely-priced Rodon ($3) Buxton ($4) and Corbin ($8) (Corbin would prob be a nonkeeper trade piece).

    Go for it?

    To keep Rodon and Bux, I’d let my $14 Darvish fall to the auction pool (and hopefully get him again at or below that price). Freeing up this salary would also give me a lot more to work with come draft day.

    • @Duda Want to Build a Snowman?: *keeper league btw

    • Hold

43. Grey,

    10 team keeper league, total of 7 players kept. So right of the bat 70 players off the board.
    I have the 7th or 8th pick in the draft.

    I plan to keep Arenado, Lindor, JDMart, Kershaw, Strausbug, Kershaw, Salazar and Darvish.

    Other possible keepers, CarGo, Buxton..

    Another owner offered me a deal for Corey Seager for my 1st rd pick with would the 7th or 8th I have and he would return back to me a 4th rd pick.

    What would you do? Keep what I have up top, go get Seager or drop Darvish for either Cargo or Buxton?

    • I’d want Seager

    • Darvish over Buxton…Seager over CarGo

      • @Grey: So move my 1st pick for Seager, take the owner 4th. btw i traded my 3rd pick last year for JDmart. just in case you need to know that that.

        Keep: Seager, Arenado, JDmart Kershaw, Strabusbug, Salazar and Darvish?

        I just feel having a 2nd and 2 4th rd picks, if 70 players gone, the list will be limited.

        • The list will be limited, that’s why you have your 7 keepers

44. I love The ESPN bashing Grey. As Freud would say sometimes a steal is just a steal.

    • @Zeus: I posted before reading the whole thing. Schoop after Utley? Wow, unless you’re a racist Philly fan attending Wing Bowl or a Jimmy Buffett concert that makes no sense. As for me get you lips wet cause it’s time to have pep.

      • Yeah, it’s bonkers

    • Ha, yup

45. I am torn on whether or not to keep the Carl Everett persona…ANYWAY…

    Thank you for caring too much Grey ;)

    • The real Carl Everett would never evolve into another name

      • @Grey: Aha!

46. Mattingly institutes no facial hair policy in Miami. (ironic since he once was benched for it as a Yankee) Yelich is only one excited, “now I’ll only look 15 years younger than everyone instead of 25” he says.

    • HA! Nice

    • @The great knoche: wow, so that simpsons sideburns joke will be reenacted with mattingly as mr.burns.

47. Categories are HR, R, RBI, SB, OBP, and SLG.
    Start 1 at each infield position, 4 OF, 1 DH, no CI/MI.
    Barring trades I’m keeping Gordon, Rendon, Springer, Marte, and Buxton.
    I can keep Cutch in the 1st OR Abreu in the 3rd?
    Abreu is a slam dunk right?

    • Yes, Abreu

48. 10-team 5×5 keeper league … keep 6 players … no restrictions how long you can keep player.

    My existing potential keepers are: Encarnacion, Lindor, C. Davis, Carlos Gonzalez, Blackmon, Archer, A. Jones and Sano

    I was sent a few trade offers featuring Machado. Are any of these trade a decent value to get Machado?

    Charlie Blackmon and Miguel Sano for Manny Machado and Hanley Ramirez

    Charlie Blackmon, Archer and Miguel Sano for Manny Machado and Joc Pederson

    • I’d take Machado in the 1st one

      • @Grey:
        Thanks for the feedback! :)

        • No problem

49. Whos the better keeper – in a keep forever league:

    2 of 3
    Piscotty or Ozuna or Javier Baez?

    My other keepers:
    posey
    rizzo
    cdavis
    desmond
    polanco
    cain
    eaton

    JoFer
    Harvey
    Kluber
    Arrieta
    Melancon

    I should probably trade pitching for an infielder

    • Not Baez

50. dynasty with a bunch of defensive stuff added. this makes 1B more valuable than 3B due to putouts/double plays. categories added are: BB’s, putouts, assists, outfield assists, fielding %, double plays, OPS, hits. 20 team H2H
    C sal perez (he’s worth even more since he plays so much, it’s why i held zunino for so long last 2 years)
    1B fielder (this is ugly to have a DH at 1B due to these categories)
    2B. forsythe
    3B beltre
    SS andrus
    LF upton
    CF delino
    RF stanton
    util franco
    BN choo, hicks, gallo, profar, mazara (at least 2 of these last 3 get NA’d soonish)
    NA t.anderson
    these categories made hosmer 4th overall in putouts and 5th in double plays.
    would you do franco for hosmer? an owner needs 3B more than 1B, i’m the opposite from fielder not playing defense almost at all. hosmer also is only 3 years older (would’ve thought more). hosmer is of course weaker (slighty, so far) in OPS.

    • @Aubrey Plaza’s Pillow: this starts to look like a no when i find out hosmer owner wants more than franco anyway. this owner would have only fatt adams as starter (and he doesn’t like fatt adams) and he’s worried about doing that. longer term i might get lucky if franco can just get some starts at 1B (or even better if he actually got moved there)

    • Sure

51. BFF! Looks like the Jays are trying to acquire Bruce, too bad it’s 3 years too late.

    • @Teddy Heater: not really, he’d have cost a lot more 3 years ago.

      • @Aubrey Plaza’s Pillow: I was referring to fantasy, not real baseball. I’ve been a Bruce owner every year until now, so I’m sure if he gets traded he’ll crush it cause I won’t own him anywhere.

        • @Teddy Heater: yeah.

          • @Aubrey Plaza’s Pillow: crap, this is probably bad for a-jax getting a starting spot too (i’ve got him for way too expensive in a very deep league, would cost me to cut him, and i can’t trade him until he signs, and since it’s taking him this long to sign one place i could’ve traded him to has since obtained other OF’ers)

    • Yeah, might be bad news for Pillar…

52. Keep forever league, no costs. Should I deal my Hosmer+Glasnow for LoCain+Orlando Arcia?

    • Sure

53. Just got done drafting…12 team yahoo roto standard, with 2 utility spots had the 6th pick

    C. W. Castillo
    1b. Rizzo (6)
    2b. Schoop (209)
    3b. Frazier (43)
    SS. Bogaerts (67)
    OF. J.D. Martinez (19)
    OF. Springer (30)
    OF. Billy Hamilton (102)
    Utl. Joc Pederson (126)
    Utl. Delino DeShields (222)
    Bench. Domingo Santana (257)

    PITCHERS
    Noah (54)
    Salazar (78)
    Familia (91)
    G. Perkins (150)
    S. Tolleson (161)
    JJ. Hoover (198)
    Carter Capps (270)
    R. Iglesias (115)
    C. Rodon (137)
    M. Fiers (174)
    L. Severino (185)
    A. Nola (246)

    • You look a little light on average and saves… Neither thing are a major deal at this point… Saves come into the league and average is fluky… Looks solid overall, F!

      • @Grey: Agree with the average..I think I’ll be alright with saves 4 closers and a possible fifth…I do plan on trying to trade a starter for another though…Yahoo’s rankings aren’t much different than ESPN ha…made it fairly easy.

        • @JeF WiTh 1 F: Everyone is sleeping on schoop and DeShields

          • @JeF WiTh 1 F: i’ve traded for deshields now in 3 dyansties in last 3 weeks
            1. for calhoun str up
            2. for heaney + 3rd rounder + 4th rounder (this is in league where those picks are garbage value)
            3. for joe ross str up

            • @Aubrey Plaza’s Pillow: Nice..hopefully it’s still like that in a month

54. ok, post NA draft (can only draft those) waivers come off tomorrow. this team
    C beef welington/mesoraco (one catcher league, but they were clearly better options than demoted/minor league pitchers to keep, we have huge benches)
    1B E5
    2B pedroia/harrison
    SS k.marte
    3B franco/harrison
    LF upton/k.davis
    CF cain sugar/delino
    RF soler/polanco
    1 util
    BN tapia
    NA swanson/t.anderson/dom smith/mcmahon/b.zimmer
    SP carrasco/arreita/kluber/richards/iglesias/carmart/cashner/k.hendricks/bauer (later will grab at least 4-6 more of these, but they are all streamer types)
    RP f-rod/perkins/osuna/strop (1 spot open)
    BN stephenson/reyes (STL)
    Later unless Stephenson stays up to start year i’ll need to cut at least 1 NA guy (i’m already cutting tapia)

    1. who is the cut? (probably dom smith or mcmahon)
    2. if i can waiver mazara (dropping tapia) tomorrow should i cut a 2nd NA guy? I know mazara is ranked higher in a vacuum but my team is 1B/SS/2B weak and RF strong. other options to waiver are b.park, SS improvement (semien/segura small increase), buchholz (best SP), or just grab my 5th RP.
    3. harrison seems useful as backup 2B/3B but am i better off dropping him for park? (if i already got mazara or buchholz). there seem to be a lot of guys similar to harrison in FA.

    • 1. McMahon 2. Smith 3. Yes

55. Yoan Moncada shows up to ST jacked as hell. Is he worth stashing in a keeper as someone that can be worth a top 50 rank next year, or will he not see any playing time this year?

    • @Fungazi: no playing time this year, very unlikely.

56. In a keeper league (no penalties for round kept), is my Schwarber for Springer even? I look at projections for this season and see even HR, runs, RBI, and similar average, OPS. Are the steals worth giving up the C eligibility and 4-5 years of age? I’m leaning heavily towards ‘no’-opinions?

    • @Matt: You want Springer there. ..do it while you can

      • @JeF WiTh 1 F: agreed.

57. 8 keepers – keep forever
    Roto 6×6 (ops + holds)

    Keeping
    Rizzo
    Cabrera
    Abreau
    Marte
    Braun
    Tulo

    Choose 2 from
    Puig
    Soler
    Carrasco
    Felix

    Also, generally with 8 forever keeps, how many pitchers would you typically like?

    • @ferris: Solar, Carrasco

      • @JeF WiTh 1 F: *Soler

58. how weird is it when you see these espn “perts” at functions, it’s gotta be funny. no matter how nice of humans they might be (like with FOH and cockraft, or whichever one of them he’s buddies with) they are simply a joke at their jobs, while being thought of by a lot of people (and likely paid like it) as great. yet they keep on working there (the $ i’m sure) doing that joke of a job each year. be hard to look somebody like that in the face and not laugh out loud. kinda like the $10 handjob crack whore standing next to the $500 an hour call girl who looks exactly like a model while giving a third person technique advice as if her opinion holds the same weight.

    • @What’s a Drexl?: and of course by “nice people” we’re having to look past the whole contempt or not caring for their readers, so, that kind of “nice”

59. I like your work and I absolutely love it when you rip into ESPN but I think you were too hard on them regarding Altuve. I think having him at 6 is bold but not crazy and I could see someone drafting him over Rizzo. Rizzo is a stud and will prob put up .280/95/35/105/11. The 11SBs to be is the icing as that is rare in the position. There are a few guys in that position though that can somewhat hang with the rest of that line as 1B overall is pretty deep. 2B is is pretty decent this year but no one but Dee is touching Altuve. Altuve might be only 2B to hit .300 and get 90 runs. He also has a little power to keep him in there with the rest of the 2Bs. Then He offers the most steals aside from Dee. Not a lot of positions offer SBs that makes steals at 2B very important. The scarcity of SB and 2B to me bumps Altuve up the ranks. Even in points leagues hes up there in pts. All of that is why I would draft Altuve before Rizzo and not have an issue with it

60. Pillar/Pompey hurt by trade…This has to be good for Billy Hamilton though right? Makes Duvall and Cozart middle of order guys now, as sad as that sounds. He should now lead off. Poor Votto, he has no one around him now.

    • @The Great Knoche: yikes, cozart middle of an order.

61. Hey, Grey, Corey Seager or Kang?
    Currently own Kang, but was offered Seager.
    Love me some K-power, but Seager a very tempting 98-AB having young stud.

    • @Mikey U: I would take seager and not even think twice about it

      • @Nuke Laloosh:
        Well, I did think twice, and then I took it.
        Maybe living in Korea has made me irrational for Kang.

62. ESPN loves steals, but still didnt rank Rickey Henderson?!?!?

    Perplexed Chef is

63. Was offered Rizzo for Corey Seager straight up. Very tempted. 12 team keeper. We keep 15 year to year. Either would be kept.
    I already have Votto so 1b is not necessarily a hole.
    I also have Russell and Machado who can slide in at short for the season.

    • Not sure why you wouldn’t

64. Hey Grey, I asked you about keepers at the end of last season and I wanna see if you still feel the same way. Here’s my roster as it stands:

    Batters: Pierzynski (lol), Hoz, Dee, Arenado, Bogaerts, J. Upton, Calhoun, Gordo, Abreu, Prince, A. Jones

    Pitchers: Yordano, DeGrom, Salazar, Stroman, Darvish, aaaaaand the rest are mainly trash streamers from last year’s playoffs.

    Currently keeping: Arenado, Abreu, Dee, DeGrom, Upton

    Look good? Gracias gracias

    • Yeah, those keepers look right still

      • @Grey: Sounds good, thanks. I’m ready to get this season rollin’!

        • Me too!

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