My FYPD rankings have changed more over this winter than any I can remember. Some of it is just the OCD in action, but I think it’s mostly because class is especially tricky to sort. This sequence is the best I could come up with for now for a typical dynasty league, but every context is different in every dynasty league. I just drafted Red Sox C Carlos Narvaez at the end of the 2nd round in a league I won last year. Sure, I could’ve tried to draft a prospect and trade that for a catcher, but sometimes it’s better just to take the guy who best fits your build during a contention cycle. Good luck out there in your leagues.
1. Mariners LHP Kade Anderson
Anderson is the best combination of talent, proximity and organizational context in this year’s class.
2. Blue Jays 3B Kazuma Okamoto
How often do you get to draft a third baseman stepping into the middle of a World Series lineup?
3. Blue Jays SS Jojo Parker
4. Astros RHP Tatsuya Imai
5. White Sox 3B Munetaka Murakami
6. Rockies SS Ethan Holliday
I had Imai ahead of Parker until I got offered Imai for Parker in one of my leagues. The other team wanted me to kick in with Parker, but I was thinking of it as a straight up situation anyway and was surprised to realize how easy it was for me to choose Parker once I had him on my roster. Perhaps he won’t hit, but he feels like a top ten prospect in waiting at the moment.
7. Cardinals LHP Liam Doyle
8. Pirates RHP Seth Hernandez
While I might like the bats in the next tier, nobody is trading Kyle Stowers to get them, probably, and that’s exactly what I saw someone do to get Seth Hernandez. Specifically, pick 1.12 and 2.12 were sent for Kyle Stowers, and pick 1.12 was used on Seth Hernandez.
On the Doyle front, Fangraphs just ranked him ahead of Kade Anderson. Oh? Doyle rules? Maybe so, in the sense that his stuff is very stuffy.
9. Reds SS Steele Hall
10. Cubs OF Ethan Conrad
11. Marlins SS Aiva Arquette
Each guy here feels like a good value where we’re getting them.
12. Brewers 3B Andrew Fischer
13. Red Sox RHP Kyson Witherspoon
14. Guardians OF Jace LaViolette
I don’t have much to say between these tiers except that this is a very good class for contenders. Not a super wide split between the top of round one and the bottom.
15. Yankees SS Dax Kilby
16. Giants SS Luis Hernandez
17. Nationals SS Eli Willits
You could move any of these guys up a tick if drafting for long runways (guys who can sustain dynasty value for a while without having to do much).
18. Nationals SS Gavin Fien
19. Astros SS Xavier Neyens
20. Phillies OF Francisco Renteria
21. Royals OF Angeibel Gomez
22. Mets SS Wandy Asigen
23. Orioles C Ike Irish
I’m nudging the international signings up a bit this year due to the relatively soft class for hitters.
24. Padres 2B Sung Mun Song
25. Twins SS Marek Houston
26. Diamondbacks SS Kayson Cunningham
27. Giants SS Gavin Kilen
28. Dodgers OF Charles Davalan
29. Angels RHP Tyler Bremner
30. Athletics LHP Jamie Arnold
Felt better about Song before Castellanos signed in San Diego. Still have an ear out for him. He might have to hit early to earn his spot though, and that adds a lot of risk. Anyone can have a slow start, especially someone starting a new phase of their career in a new league.
Thanks for reading!
Nice write-up Itch – great insight as always! That other owner who that wanted to trade you Imai for Parker must be a cool guy… ;-)