We (me) have gone over the catchers to target, 1st basemen to target, 2nd basemen to target, shortstops to target, and 3rd basemen to target, cause I have to do everything around here! Look at me, throwing shade like a beach umbrella! That makes sense…if you don’t think about it! That’s what I want my bumper sticker to say, “That makes sense….if you don’t think about it.” Okay, so this post is all the outfielders that are being drafted after 200 overall that elicit uber-sexy feelings. Last year, I featured Ramon Laureano, Austin Meadows and Daniel Palka, who could still breakout (I’m kidding; it’s an inside joke with myself). As for the coronavirus aka Covid-19 aka “The Disease That Apparently Hates Baseball,” I’m not pretending it’s not going on, but some people still have drafts, and if I liked these guys before the virus started karaoke’ing to Public Enemy’s Shut ‘Em Down, I still like them. So, I’m getting these “To Target” posts out in case people are still drafting. There are upcoming RCL drafts, and I plan on doing another NFBC league for s’s and g’s to pass time until the National Pastime returns. Is there more interest from you in another NFBC draft vs. me vs. youse? Let me know in the comments. Now, this is a (legal-in-all-countries-except-Canada) supplement to the top 100 outfielders for 2020 fantasy baseball. All Steamer hitter projections have been updated to 100 games, and all 2020 fantasy baseball rankings have been updated. Click on the player’s name where applicable to read more and see their 2020 projections. Anyway, here’s some outfielders to target for 2020 fantasy baseball:
Andrew McCutchen (NFBC 204) On the surface, McClutchin-My-Knee is one of the most interesting guys to appear on one of these “target” lists. Usually NFBC is where the ‘smart money’ is and their ADP is more highly attuned than ESPN or Yahoo’s. How’sever, McClutchin is an oldie and ESPN and Yahoo loves those. How’sever II, The Return of Hows’ever: This is list of guys I like and I don’t usually like The Olds. How’sever III, Can You Believe They’re Still Making Them, there’s a small buying opportunity for McClutchin’. He’s not going to wow your genitals out of your pants, but at the top of a strong lineup has value, and, with the new “corona timeline,” he should be healthy.
Jo Adell (NFBC 213, ESPN unranked, Yahoo 283) No one knows what to make of Adell and when his smash hits are gonna turn into a multiplatinum baseball career in the majes. (I’m now saying majes instead of majors. Maje time saved shortening words, then explaining them in parentheticals.) My guess is Maddon wants to get to the locker room where Manfred is giving out pieces of metal and will push Adell’s ETA up like Maddon wasted no time with Kris Bryant in 2015. Also, on the new “corona timeline,” what are they going to do, send Adell to the minors for two weeks in June when they only have to win 60 games to make the playoffs?
David Peralta (NFBC 258, ESPN 228, Yahoo 205) We’re still in the “not that exciting, but extremely helpful” portion of the target list. I don’t have the figures in front of me, but I’m gonna guess Peralta has produced more than his draft-day value every year of his career. Sure, he’s gone for like $7 and produced $12-15, but there’s value in there. Also, that new “corona timeline” I keep hearing about makes me think Peralta could actually stay healthy for 100 games — a full season!
Austin Hays (NFBC 256, ESPN 249, Yahoo 313) And now for the “sexy hump-hump” portion of the target list. Take me out of the equation. Steamer’s projections for Hays are 13/6/.258. That feels low on speed, but even if you were to take it at face value, that’s the same as McClutchin’. But in a half season last year, Hays stole 8 bags in, and, as I said for Villar last year, what do the Orioles have to do this year besides lose? Anything? No? Right, nothing. So, why not just send Hays on the basepaths a shizzton of times? Hays could steal 15-ish bags in a shortened season, and that’s surprising great for 100 games.
Austin Riley (NFBC 273, ESPN unranked, Yahoo 301) Hold your hand up above your eyes like you’re blocking the glare of the sun like a ship’s captain looking out over the ocean. Okay, but instead of looking across the bow or stern or some shizz, you’re looking for draft day values which could become huge by June. That’s Austin Riley. He’s been essentially forgotten early on with the assumption being the Braves aren’t going to use him. So, let’s get this straight. The Braves promoted Riley, started his clock, but are now turning to Johan Camargo, who they’ve never used in any everyday capacity before? Okay, that logic seems flawed. Maybe Riley doesn’t get the 3rd base job, but for his price (absolutely free), he’s worth the gamble.
Sam Hilliard (NFBC 293, ESPN unranked, Yahoo 303) People must be severely burned on Rockies rookies — Roockies? — because Hilliard isn’t being drafted anywhere. Does everyone know what he did last year? Between Triple-A and the majes, he went 42/24/.270. Oh…*walks from Key West to Georgia in a Hazmat suit*…kay.
Shogo Akiyama (NFBC 296, ESPN unranked, Yahoo unranked) I’ll be honest, I’m surprised there’s so little heat on the guys coming in from Asia this year. I get the platoon-slash-playing time concerns, but Shogo was a 20+ homer, 12+ steals, 300+ average guy with great plate discipline. At the worst, he’s Adam Eaton, who’s being drafted about a 100 picks earlier. At worst, he’s droppable. Any guys being drafted this late in shallower leagues are droppable, so you want upside, said Mr. Obvious. In deeper leagues, he’s being drafted between Corey Dickerson (major bleh, and platoon issues in Miami), and Niko Goodrum (bleh in Detroit). Maybe Cincy helps Shogo’s power fo’ sho go, and maybe he can swipe 15 bags. For his price, there’s no downside.
Trent Grisham (NFBC 340, Yahoo 259) I just drafted him in my Tout Wars league and I’m looking at drafting Grisham everywhere, and that’s not based on a book with a backdrop of a Southern courtroom.
Domingo Santana (NFBC 347, ESPN 213, Yahoo unranked) Like a Gregorian calendar fanboy, I’m a serious lover of Domingo. Have been every year he’s been in the league. You show the ability to go 30/15/.270 and I’m signed, sealed, delivered, I’m yours. He’s also, get this, only 27 years old. I know, surprised me too. A full season of at-bats over 100 games from him could led him right back to the top 50 overall fantasy value he had in 2017, before the Brewers just dusted him.
Yoshitomo Tsutsugo (NFBC 355, ESPN unranked, Yahoo unranked) See what I said about Shogo for the lack of interest being surprising. Nothing else is the same with Tsutsugo though (rhyming points!). He could be a cheap(er) Hunter Renfroe. Call him Shooting Fish In A Barrel Renfroe.
Anthony Santander (NFBC 365, ESPN unranked, Yahoo unranked) Now is as good a time as any to mention, there are a ton of outfielder options after 200. That’s good because the outfielders in the early to mid rounds are a bit yawnstipating. Okay, take Castellanos if you want, but Santander is him minus 20 points in average. Fine, try Michael Brantley, but Santander is him minus 20 points in average, but extra power. Okay, you like Kepler, but he’s Santander with only a few more homers.
Teoscar Hernandez (NFBC 376, ESPN unranked, Yahoo 364) Honestly, if you were to stop (drop and roll) and try to figure why certain guys are being drafted where they are, you’d give yourself a massive headache. Steamer projections: Teoscar’s 15/5/.230 vs. Gregory Polanco’s 14/6/.247 vs. Kyle Tucker 13/9/.248 — there’s about 150 draft spots separating Tucker from Polanco, and then Teoscar is another sixty picks after him.
Aaron Hicks (NFBC 523) Until the world starting filming the MTV show, Covid-19 and Single, I hadn’t ranked Hicks, because he wasn’t due back until June/July. Well, on the new “corona timeline,” I’ve added Hicks into the top 100 outfielders for 2020 fantasy baseball, and removed Clint Frazier (at a later time, I’ll go through all post-plague changes). Hicks is likely just a 5th to 6th outfielder flier in this new world where I can’t touch my face, but if he’s back and in the Yankees’ lineup, he’s worth a much higher pick than in the 500s.
Franchy Cordero (NFBC 528, ESPN unranked, Yahoo unranked) You’re in Petco, the sun is setting over the stadium, the man next to you holds up his glass of Rosé and asks, “Who are you here to see?” You reply, “I love long Franch flies,” then burp and turn to show him your Franchy jersey, telling him, “When I put my Franchy jersey on, I say I’m Franch dressing.” I also enjoy Cordero, and his 12+ steal speed. The average might be gross, but at the low, low, low price of free, I could see the flyer, excuse me, frier. Franch, that is.
