Baseball, like a flower, blooms in the spring. They also share equally effusive PR people. Just the other day I read about how a petunia’s branches gained 15 pounds and was in the best shape of its life. Sure, it’s always good to look at spring training numbers to give you an idea what you can expect from guys during the season — can I draft Jarred Kelenic yet?! Dude is mashing like the ball’s a potato! Players in spring training are facing the top pitchers who are all displaying their best stuff. No one needs time to get warmed up. No one’s trying new pitches or getting a feel for the ball. They are at the height of their game in the beginning of March. Our former commissioner, Bud, once doffed his toupee and tried to have the World Series played in March. That’s the true pioneer of a sped-up game. Forget the pitch clock, just play the World Series at Spring Training. Since these spring training numbers mean so much, I decided to look at some players stats so far:
Edward Olivares – When I mouth the words “olive juice” I’m not saying “Olive juice” or “I love you.” I’m saying Olivares, that’s how much I love him. I wrote an Edward Olivares fantasy sleeper, so you know this love be real. He has three homers and is hitting .500 in the spring! Let’s go!
Jose Rojas – Three homers and hitting .444? That’s Jose not Josh? Wow, don’t I feel red-faced! Well, Josh darn it, there’s a new Rojas in town!
Keston Hiura – Four homers and a .393 average?! Like a teenager’s face, the break out is here!
Kyle Higashioka – Has seven homers, one in front of Diego Castillo, and up is down and cats and dogs are harmonizing together.
Nick Pivetta – Leads the majors in strikeouts with 22 and I’d buy that for a dollar or three!
Eduardo Rodriguez – Not that far behind Pivetta and finally Red Sox pitchers are doing well, just not on the Red Sox!
MacKenzie Gore – Has a 0.92 WHIP and someone get me a handkerchief that I can put to my forehead so I can faint.
Patrick Corbin – A 0.00 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP and 10 K/9. Means’while, Brandon Woodruff has a 10.80 ERA. Oh no, baby, whatchu doin’?
Okay, stop. This is such nonsense. Now we get to grade everyone’s reading comprehension because these are LAST YEAR’S spring training stats. If someone can read everything but capped words, I apologize in advance if you draft Keston Hiura. (I DON’T.) I like to do this post every year because every year I get the same comments about how well a player is doing in the spring and if I’m going to change my fantasy baseball rankings because of it. Spring training stats are a joke. They mean nothing. Let me say it again for emphasis, spring stats mean nothing.
The only takeaway from Spring Training stats: Are those stats helping a guy win an every day job?
Kyle Higashioka had the best spring training in the history of spring trainings last year, and that led him to do what last year? He couldn’t even keep the starting job away from Jose Trevino! How did Jose Rojas do? I still like Edward Olivares, because daddy can’t quit that, but was he good last year? Nick Pivetta and Eduardo Rodriguez were Tweedle-blech and Tweedle-oh-boy.
Yoan Moncada was talking about stealing 40 bags last spring. Sure, just like he did the spring before, and the spring before that. Willy Adames had one of the worst springs last year, and went on to be a top 40 guy overall on the Player Rater. Cody Bellinger was awful last spring and, well, he remained awful. Patrick Corbin went on to do what? Woodruff went on to do what? That guy in 4th grade class who peed himself went on to do what? Seriously, you should only be looking at who’s healthy, who’s winning position battles, and who’s winning rotation spots. The rest is meaningless. With that said, things I am seeing in Spring Training that have affected my thinking:
Grayson Rodriguez – This is going to be a common theme for the guys who I am seeing something from in the spring. I rank in November and release on the Patreon in December. There’s just no way I can be on top of everyone months before Spring Training. So far I have Grayson Rodriguez in multiple leagues, his top 500 ranking is still fine, but it might not fully convey how excited I am for him. I gave you a Grayson Rodriguez fantasy that I wrote back in October, but people might forget how special he will be. People not paying that minuscule price right now of 200 ADP are very silly people. They’re gonna look back in May and be like, “Hunh, guess I didn’t need to draft the 500-year-old J.D. Martinez.” Draft Grayson Rodriguez in every league.
Jordan Walker – Wrote a Jordan Walker fantasy way back in October, and released in November. I loved him then, just didn’t know the playing time. My Cards’ contact told me recently the Cards are intentionally putting Walker in a position where he can break with the team. Ideally, that’s exactly what they would want. He is a young Giancarlo or Judge, and I love him. If you need any convincing, watch him for literally one at-bat. Go to my outlook post that I linked to and watch the video in there. Not to gild the hype lily too much with Jordan Walker, but people tripping over themselves to try to find this year’s Julio Rodriguez while drafting Andrew Benintendi in front of Jordan Walker are very funny. I had Walker ranked too low in my rankings, and moved him way up in my 3rd basemen rankings. You should be drafting Jordan Walker in every league. If you need to drop him in April, then so be it. Upside is worth it.
Oswald Peraza – So, this one sucks, because I was so close. They have practically the same name! But I think I messed up my love for Oswaldo vs. Oswald. One freakin’ letter off! I still like Cabrera, but the Yankees seem like they might give Peraza the everyday job and Oswaldo Cabrera is not being giving the same kind of reps. I’ve updated my shortstop rankings to reflect this. I stand by Cabrera is better than Aaron Hicks, but I can’t convince Aaron Boone, and I’m standing outside his hotel, screaming, “Boo Boone,” dressed as a monkey but it’s not working.
Hi Grey. Great work as always. Question for you.
I’m in a 15 team auction league with 9 keepers. You can trade for an extra slot
I have a trade offer on the table.
Who would you rather keep
Triston McKenzie $14
Hunter Brown $5
Or
Tyler Glasnow $1
Anthony Volpe $6
CJ Abrams $7
All players would go up $5 next year and each year after.
Thanks a lot.
Triston
Ok thanks.
My keepers are
Triston $14
Brown $5
Tatis $16
Tucker $16
Michael Harris $6
Jordan Walker $1
Corbin Carrol $1
Grayson Rodriguez $8
who should I keep as my 9th player
Volpe at $6 or Clay Holmes $2. Volpe would be the long term play. Holmes would be worth keeping for at most 3 years but would help me more this year.
Thank you
I can’t give up Volpe there, just draft an RP
Yeah my thinking also. Thanks a lot.
On a separate note this is my first year using Rudy’s War room for my drafts. . Let’s see how it goes. Thanks. You guys are the best.
No problem!
Every year you write this very same article and every year you basically say the same thing. You say it’s absurd to pay attention to spring training stats, then in the same breath you say run out and grab a share of Jordan Walker in every league you play and tell everyone else to do the same.
This is the epitome of hypocrisy. Either mean what you say or say what you mean. I assume this philosophy doesn’t apply to prospects? If so, you should clarify it.
Meh, no it’s not…I’m saying Walker bc he could be winning a job…That’s all that matters
Large league, keep 4
Would you consider keeping Walker as a 4th keeper over Gallen? No other hitters to consider.
Obviously a lot more risk, but top keepers don’t move much in our league so acquiring walker without keeping/overdrafting could be difficult
On the other side, the potential to put myself in a huge hole for this year is there.
Keep Walker dude. Easy decision. And it’s exactly why you’re asking.
Been offered Manny Machado and Jordan Walker for Kyle Tucker. 10 team H2H. Would you do it?
Almighty Grey, I’m in dire need of your wisdom. Yahoo 12 team Dynasty, 6 forever keepers no cost, plus a NA prospect. I’ve got 8 guys for those 6 spots, and this league values youth and tends to draft young players in rounds 8-9 and I traded my 8th round pick already.
My six:
Soto
Albies
Carroll
Adolis García
Dustin May
Grayson Rodriguez
NA Eury Perez
On the fence:
Xander Bogaerts
Kevin Gausman
Should I keep one of the fence guys instead? I’m hooked on Grayson, even though this year may be a wash. I think Dustin could have a big year, and I worry about the age of X and Gausman. Maybe even Adolis too.
So is tossing Xander and Gausman back into the pool insane? HELP ME OBI GREY
Um EDIT for HUGE THANKS as always for killer content that keeps me up late at night agonizing over my life choices
Grey,
I have a chance to get Paul Sewald ($8) they are asking for Jordan Montgomery ($6). Make the deal?
the lack of “o” oswald also previously WAS also oswaldo so it’s much easier to do that.
pretty sure previously to these 2 the last oswaldo was arcia
fairly sure moncada only once said anything that stupid as “i’m stealing 40 bags this year” last year. but the point of anybody saying they’ll do whatever remains, nothing these players say correlates to anything. giolito did supposedly lose like 40 lbs, and if that’s true you can see it (check pujols at least 40 lbs from end of 2021 to STL signing last year); but don’t listen to what the player says about himself or the team or anything else. it’s noise. just as spring stats are (unless those lead to new jobs/innings/at bats they didn’t previously have, or show a likely injury that’s being hidden etc)
Yeah
coach(es) too, doesn’t matter what they say either. remember 2 years ago when some comment made from the KC coach got like 50-70% of even usually smart prospect guys blowing up “witt’s UP everybody!” (no i didn’t buy that, i listened to itch previously, i was NOT burned by that) move him up those draft boards. yeah his zero 2021 at bats sure were fun those that trusted something a coach said to drum up interest in his bottom barrel team. coach wasn’t even the one that made that decision so why even listen to what he say even if he actually wanted witt up.
Ha, yeah, exactly
reading the varsho overrated post, and good night, does that say a lot that he had 8 runs in 122 at bats (your quote was 1 vs lefties, and that was his lone HR against lefties, the 1 HR is right, i’m looking at 8 runs though now) vs lefties about both him and ARI’s lineup behind him last year.
1 run against was barely believable, but 8 in 122 at bats is also very very awful (along with that .555 OPS vs lefties, vs just over .800 vs righties). the old .066 runs per at bat vs .174 vs righties.
Oh gotcha…Still awful…No way does he see many, and you should bench him vs. lefties anyway
yep, so overpay for the catcher elig guy who’s about to either.
(1): get platooned and ends up with similar at bats to other actual catchers, the whole hack you had in him last year is gone (and if you ever intended him to start in OF, well then you’ll need a BN guy open for against lefties)
(2): actually still gets those against lefty at bats but does so badly with them (likely) he’s certainly not better than anybody with C near him for ADP.
i’d never have paid that ADP, but it gets more interesting in keepers (i mean clearly as a catcher, i’d not keep him in anything other than dynasties or deep keepers if using at OF) where it’s just him vs other options (assuming no round costs).
Right, yeah, exactly
In a H2H League where you can make daily changes, would you say that Ohtani should be the #1 pick in the draft?
spanks!
No: https://razzball.com/2023-fantasy-baseball-rankings/
If you would, help me to understand this..
In my league in 2022, Shohei was the 13th ranked hitter and the 3rd ranked pitcher. Since he can be moved freely from UTIL to SP on a daily basis, you get the benefits of both and his aggregate value far exceeded any other player. When you draft him, you’re getting a stud hitter AND a stud pitcher with one pick, and it would seem that is more valuable than anyone else in the draft….
Am i wrong to look at it that way?
But you don’t get his hitting stats when he’s pitching, do you? So you’re losing at least 75 ABs
True you do not. But- you get to put a replacement player in the UTIL spot on days that he pitches. It’s not Ohtani, but you do take back some of the hitting stat loss while enjoying a stud pitcher.
I’m not certain but I’d think if you crunch the numbers, he’s probably more valuable than anyone, as long as he keeps performing at this level. I’m searching to see if anyone has done this analysis…
it’s pretty easy to just add together his pitcher and hitter player rater numbers and find out he’s the best player if you get both, even with subtracting 1/6 of the stats for hitting on his hitting days.
more valuable is a different story now that he’s at least close to ADP appropriately being drafted. previous to last year he was way cheap compared to value.
sorry, you lose 1/6 of the hitting stats as you’ll have him pitching on that day. he does occasionally get pitching days off too (been rare lately), so it’s really slightly more than 5/6 of his hitting stats.
Yeah, I suppose, but you’re also not getting Ohtani…I don’t give Trout credit in his projections for the 40+ games he misses
yes, but Trout isn’t pitching to a 2.33 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 219 Ks in those 40 missed games..
there’s been more “Yes butts..” in this conversation than the last J-Lo Kim K. pudding wrestling match.
I get it, he’s in the 1st tier of players…That means I can see drafting him 1st…Not sure how much higher you can push him than that
Yeah, Grey should’ve “crunched the numbers” before ranking Ohtani…why didn’t he think of that??? *eyeroll headache*
David Peralta starting against righties for LAD. Would you take him or Grisham as a 5th or 6th of’er?
Trent, but depends a little on the league
Who would you rather have as a keeper, Francisco Lindor for $29 or Ezequil Tovar at $8
Can only keep either for 2 more years
Lindor
Hey Grey!
Thanks again for all the preseason content – I’ve been doing pretty well so far in my slow drafts!
Keeper q for ya :
Keep 3 forever , no round/penalty/w/e
Olson
Randy Arozarena
Eloy Jimenez
ONeil Cruz
(also T. Anderson Ketel Marte)
Scherzer
Triston Mckenzie
Urquidy
Rodon
By gut I would probably do Olson, Eloy, Scherzer but trying to figure out if its worth keeping cruz over one since I could keep him indefinitely
Thanks! Olson, Oneil, Scherzer
Hi Grey – thanks for the great write-ups as always. Who do you prefer in an AL-only keeper auction league ($260 budget, same positions as LABR/Tout).
Judge @ $45
OR
Witt @ $10 + Pasquantino @ $10
Judge
Grey,
The guy with Diaz came back tyo me saying that he wants to make a deal with me. When asked about who he would wangt in return, he said and I quote, “Any really amazing players that I would legitimately start on my team instead of a player I start.” Who would you move to make it happen or just hold and make the deal for Sewald?
This is my mlb roster:
C / 1B J. T. Realmuto (PHI) $27.00
1B Freddie Freeman (LAD) $36.00
1B Vladimir Guerrero , Jr. (TOR) $11.00
2B Jose Altuve (HOU) $22.00
2B / OF Mookie Betts (LAD) $51.00
2B / 3B / SS Tommy Edman (STL) $20.00
2B Vaughn Grissom (ATL) $5.00
3B Jose Ramirez (CLE) $40.00
3B / SS Bobby Witt, Jr. (KC) $6.00
SS Bo Bichette (TOR) $13.00
SS Royce Lewis (MIN) 60 IL $6.00
OF Yordan Alvarez (HOU) $11.00
OF Steven Kwan (CLE) $6.00
OF Cedric Mullins (BAL) $8.00
OF Luis Robert (CWS) $18.00
OF Julio Rodriguez (SEA) $6.00
OF Mike Trout (LAA) $44.00
OF Kyle Tucker (HOU) $13.00
UT/ SP Shohei Ohtani (LAA) $16.00
SP Sandy Alcantara (MIA) $13.00
SP Walker Buehler (LAD) 60 IL (+) $34.00
SP Kevin Gausman (TOR) $18.00
SP Max Fried (ATL) $21.00
SP / RP Cristian Javier (HOU) $20.00
SP Clayton Kershaw (LAD) $26.00
SP Jordan Montgomery (STL) $6.00
SP Robbie Ray (SEA) $15.00
SP Chris Sale (BOS) $22.00
SP Max Scherzer (NYM) $35.00
SP Luis Severino (NYY) $13.00
SP Julio Urias (LAD) $14.00
SP Justin Verlander (NYM) $15.00
SP Brandon Woodruff (MIL) $21.00
RP Jason Adam (TB) $6.00
RP Felix Bautista (BAL) $6.00
RP Kendall Graveman (CWS) $11.00
RP Ryan Helsley (STL) $6.00
RP Liam Hendricks (CWS) $23.00
RP Raisel Iglesias (ATL) $15.00
RP Michael King (NYY) $8.00
RP Evan Phillips (LAD) $6.00
RP Ryan Pressley (HOU) $16.00
Kwan? Altuve?
i said kwan for diaz and a couple of picks
Grey,
He offered me Edwin Diaz ($21) and a 1st rd pick in ’25 for Bobby Witt jr. ($6). Thoughts?
No
Hey Grey,
18-team H2H weekly points league…
currently doing a slow draft.
who should I go for? Gallen or T Mckenzie?
thanks
Gallen
thanks for the quick response!
No problem
Grey,
Which one will have to go in a 5*5 OBP keeper league? I know it sucks. I can only keep 4 offensive guys but I have 1st pick after bad year last year.
Freeman
G Henderson
Arenado
O Cruz
J Walker
C Carroll
Walker
i might pass on cruz in a obp league
20 team, 5×5 H2H, keep forever:
A; Albies, Monaoh
B: Kyle Tucker, Manning
I also have Vaughn Grissom
*Matt Manning
or
A; Albies, Monaoh
B: Kyle Tucker, Patrick Sandoval
Tucker
Tucker either scenario?
Oh yeah
albies/manaoh
Speaking of Walker, I have a trade opinion for you in a points keeper league. Right now I’m keeping Tatis, (11th round keep) Yordan (12th) Carroll (15th) and O’Neill Cruz (15th) and deciding on my last one. I currently have Luzardo that I can keep as a 15th, or I can trade my 6th round pick for Walker and a late pick. Would you rather have Luzardo and a 6th or Walker and a later round pick? It’s a 12 team league, so 60 guys are kept.
Go with Luzardo
Have you taken Christian Yelich OVER Tyler O’Neil or Jake McCarthy yet? I have to decide one one of the 3 and I keep flip floppin’
You know its bad when Yelich is the “safe” one.
I have not…I have reached for McCarthy…I think in that area of the draft I’m usually taking a 2nd SP
Grey,
You are 3 weeks early with your April fools post! lol You got me with that one!
Haha, yup!
Hey grey man!
Gotta pick 6 keepers based on rounds. Who would your top 6 be? Rounds are in parenthesis
Nola (24), Schwarber (21), Bichette (18), Soto (17), trea Turner (11), Devers (4), Betts (1), Carroll (27), Henderson (26), Fried (13), McCarthy (25), Riley (23), Lynn (24)
Thanks!
Insane keepers you have… Nola (24), Schwarber (21), Bichette (18), Soto (17), trea Turner (11), Devers (4), Betts (1), Carroll (27), Henderson (26), Fried (13), McCarthy (25), Riley (23), Lynn (24)
Bichette, Trea, Soto, Nola, Schwarber, Corbin
Just wanna say how PUMPED I am to be in RazzSlam – for many reasons, not least of which is that I just drafted Ohtani for the first time ever.
Let’s go, Mike Trout’s back muscles or whatever! Let’s go, interchangeable parts whose names I always forget! The big dog needs his MVP this year!
Ha! Nice! You had 1st pick?
Yeah, I went 1.1 which is always a tough draft position for me to plan for. Fun to have a two-way player in this format, though — takes some of the edge off the wait for the 2/3 turn…
One of my favorite evergreen posts…
Hungry for some draft reviews of yours soon!
I’m writing up LABR right now
20 team 5×5 H2H forever keeper league
A: Albies
B: Luis Robert
I do also have Grissom but I am kind meh on Robert, he never stays healthy. Whats your opinion?
Hmm…Prolly Albies
Morning Grey! How are you feeling about Alek Thomas so far this ST? He’s been killing it and has a chance to prove himself some more in the WBC for Mexico. Just nabbed him in my league for a bench role, but hoping the upside is still there after his lack of production last year!
I drafted him once already…I like him, but you need to be in a deeper league for now
grey,
Would you trade an 8th round pick in ’24 to acquire Paul Sewald?
Yes
i also asked for $6 back in the deal. So the deal would be:
I send an 8th round pick in ’24
I get: Sewald ($8), and $6 back in cap room
Is the deal fair?
Yes
With Walker getting so much attention (rightly so) what about Masyn Winn? I know spring training stats can be overblown, but it’s been a very interesting situation to watch this soon to be 21 yr old excel. Can’t help getting excited seeing him in most lineups with the regulars, even knowing full well he hasn’t played above AA. But with none of Edman, Gorman or Donovan being true shortstops I believe the Cardinals just might have 2 potential impact rookies in 2023. Keep that monocle on!
Winn looks insane too…The Cards are so stacked….I just don’t think Winn is as close…Maybe a call up if there’s an injury?
Yeah, prolly right. Took him with pick #542 in a recent DC and will stash for now.
Nice!
Kelenic?
He’s been great every Spring Training
Yeah, I am really really hesitant to draft Kelenic. He’s had 500 at bats of .168/.251..338/.589 baseball at the MLB level Sure that includes 21 home runs, 60 RBI and 11 steals in MLB but man, that batting average and OPS are killers. Could be a Quad AAAA player like Brandon Wood and Lewis Brinson.
Yeah, you might be right, I’m not convinced
After three seasons from 2017 to 2019 Brison had roughly 600 MLB at bats and had a BA of about .180 with a sub .550 OPS, 13 Hrs, 60 RBI and 4 steals. And he never did figure it out and had to sign with a Japanese team this January in order to keep playing professional baseball. I tend to believe that 500 to 600 at bats at the MLB level are more meaningful than any minor league stats. Maybe Kellenic will end up disproving this theory but I’m gonna let someone else draft him to find out.
Yeah, it’s telling Kelenic hits in the minors and spring training bc those pitchers aren’t as good…But hopefully, fingers crossed…His price is cheap enough to risk it too
Grey, had a medium stakes draft last night, 12 team roto.
I’m worried I’m a tad light on power. Wondering if you could alleviate my concern or tell me my season is over before it started.
Sal Perez
Ryan Mountcastle
Gleyber Torres
Austin Riely
Trea Turner
Cedric Mullins
Tyler O’Neill
Christian Yelich
Utility: Amed Rosario + Lars Nootbar
Used the player rater heavily for hitters and Stuff+ models for my SPs
You’re finished! Nah, it looks solid…But see a problem
Give me the bad news Grey ! I can take it
Ha, it’s not bad news, man!
Keeper question time. 10 team NL-only league, do you keep any of the following:
Zac Gallen – $17
Joe Musgrove – $15
Kyle Wright – $10
Fransisco Alverez – $5
Jon Berti – $5
Patrick Wisdom – $9
Rowdy Tellez – $14
Juan Yepez – $5
Willie Adames – $25
Why wouldn’t you?
fair point. Let me rephrase the Q. Pick five.
Adames, Tellez, Gallen, Wright, Musgrove
Dang it, now you’ve gone and ruined my plan to draft Jordan Walker early on. I’ve got the pick a few picks ahead of the biggest Cardinals fan on the planet and was going to snap Walker up early, or at least earlier than I thought he might draft him.
Haha, you have to get him!
Razzball Commenter League drafting tonight at 10 PM ET needs 6 more managers to fill it, click here and you’re in:
https://www.fantrax.com/newui/fantasy/joinLeague.go?leagueId=tb56xygzldp87yy9
Let’s fill it up!
Will tweet it out
is this a payed league Matt ? Or like TGFBI
It is a free league
It’s filled
Looks like 1 spot left.
Oops
Still need 1 more for tonight!
Oops, sorry
Just one spot left!
am i missing something. where does olivares have 3 home runs
See just below Patrick Corbin:
“Okay, stop. This is such nonsense. Now we get to grade everyone’s reading comprehension because these are LAST YEAR’S spring training stats.”
Unless you were just kidding around.
Oh yes, i definitely skipped the intro today. got me
Gotcha
GM Grey, thanks for all your work. 12 team, points, keeper league, Need to keep 2 of these 3, or hold. Including round:
S. Murphy-23
J. Peña-26
K. Wright-27
Thanks man
Pena and no one? I guess Wright
Hey Grey – I think you’re looking at the 2022 stats for Hiura.
As he stated right there in the article.
Before the article was edited it said nothing about the stats being from last year. I read it through three times to be sure. Unless I’m going senile. Which is possible.
It wasn’t edited, that’s the whole point of the article
Gotcha
Draft evaluation.
C Wilson Contreras
1B Vlad Jr
2B Thairo Estrada
3B Witt Jr
SS Oneil Curz
OF Betts
OF Eloy
OF Bader
U Alonso
U Matt Olson
Bench Colas
SP Cease
SP Musgrove
SP Julio Urias
SP Max Fried
SP Giolito
SP Grayson Rodriguez
SP Joe Ryan
SP Clevinger
SPJosiah Gray
RP Edwin Diaz
RP Graveman
RP Clay Holmes
12 team head to head BA HR OPS R RBI SB, ERA K K/BB QS S+H WHIP
Any areas of concern? Id like to flip a pitcher for a hitter and get some depth.
I like the hitting…If I had to quibble, I guess some of the SPs you have aren’t great…I don’t like Urias, Giolito or Clevinger…I guess they’re fine, if you like them
I would love to know how u got Betts, Vlad, Whitt and Alonso on the same team? Is it like 2 or 3 team league?? Usually all of them are gone by round 2 in 12 team league
Spring training performance means nothing, unless it does. Sometimes it’s a harbinger of something.. I remember a spring that Andruw Jones was utterly raking and led all spring hitters in HRs, he just looked great. He then proceeded to hit 50 HRs that year and led the MLB. I know cuz I drafted him that year.
But yes often it will deceive ye. In spring my antenna is up for something.. or I’m just happy to see you.
Yeah, sometimes, but it’s mostly noise unless it’s winning a guy a job
In auction drafts, what would you be willing to spend on Walker?
Depends on the size of league, I spent $12 yesterday in LABR for him — that was 12 team mixed
Really like that team in LABR! Good mix of power/speed even have some upside plays
Thanks!
Keeper question for you…
League context: 6×6 h2h categories (OPS and holds), 10 teams with up to 12 keepers each
Is Jordan Walker #12 for this team?
My current keepers are:
Olson
JRam
Wander
Acuna
Julio
Soto
Ohtani (U/SP)
deGrom
Manoah
Grayson
Hader
Other options are:
Varsho
Logan Gilbert
I can also leave a spot open and pick my 12th from the supplemental draft which consists of all the non-kept players. Worst case scenario, there’s no one from another team available that’s an upgrade and I just take one of my currently rostered options back.
Nah, Varsho — you have too many great keepers for him
hah! You had me until Higashioka , then I remembered the bit. My favorite spring training star so far is Zac Veen with his 7 SBs and that .1000+ OPS
Haha, yeah, exactly
Miguel Vargas has a very smooth swing. Reminds me of Pujols a bit. Here seems to hit high arching homers looking at clips.
Is it out of the question he hits 25 this year?
Not out of the question, but it would be a pretty big uptick for him from previous showings
Hey Gray
Love the preseason stuff like gold. Trying in BBQ terms to figure out who is burnt ends and who is burnt brisket that you turn into chili or taco meat.
1) A couple of valuation questions. I got Hunter Brown in September so HE has a 20 dollar price tag. Who is comparable to him if he stays in the rotation for me to check comparable value?
2) if Mitch Garver had catcher eligibility on draft day, which catcher is he comparable to? Ho much more value does catcher eligibility does he get and how many AB’s could he pick up if he remains healthy enough to catch all of the season?
Hunter Brown isn’t worth $20 in any league, even an NL Only…I believe he went for $5 in my 12 team mixed yesterday
$4 actually
Ah, there ya go…I going off top of mind
Always dangerous.
Ha, yes!
Oswaldo Cabrera is interesting.
Everyone thinks he’s deserving…yankees have too many junk pieces hicks mainly, but I think they want him to be the utility man which I think makes him more valuable in fantasy.
Theoretically most of the non Aaron Judge players are getting 1 to 2 days off a week. Cabrera can play SS, 2b, LF, CF, RF. I think he playsb5 days a week and off the bench the other days due to his legs.
That is valuable to me.. .I think he spends a majority of time in left, but will play all over.
If you can move Cabrera in and out of your lineup, he might be worth it…But the Yanks have too many mouths to feed
So if Jordan Walker gets the spot from the get-go, which of the Cardinal OFs sit (or have playing time reduced)?
Yepez is in the most in danger at DH imo. Carlson and Nootbar have not had much success vs. RHP (even tho Nootbar is a lefty) both could rotate with Walker at the corner OF spots/DH. O’Neill could be injured at literally any moment.
I don’t think they care about Carlson anymore vs. righties, and Yepez at DH…basically what slappy said
I saw you adjusted Walkers at-bats and projected stats upward (significantly upward). Were there any adjustments made to Carlson or Yepez?
Not yet…They’re later picks that won’t hurt as much to miss on but it’s worth keeping in mind that they could get lowered
So if Walker gets a spot on the roster is he going to be in a platoon? Seems hard to imagine they would give him a spot and not play him everyday
If he breaks camp, he’ll play…Unless he struggles…Like with any high priced rookie…The team wants to play a guy like that
Grey,
Loving all the preseason content as usual.
Trying to figure out my keepers for a 5 keeper 12 team mixed H2H league categories league. OBP instead of AVG, QS instead of W, SV+H instead of SV. 4 OF, 2 UTIL, 7 IL
Options:
Trea Turner (1st Rd) or Aaron Judge (1st Rd) can’t keep both, 2 years of keeper eligibility left
Corbin Carroll (13th Rd), 2 years of keeper eligibility left
Jazz Chisholm (13th Rd), 1 year of keeper eligibility left
Jake McCarthy (13th Rd), 2 years of keeper eligibility left
Luis Castillo (9th Rd), 2 years of keeper eligibility left
Logan Webb (24th Rd), 1 year of keeper eligibility left
Tyler Glasnow (23rd Rd), 2 years of keeper eligibility left
Before the Glasnow injury, he felt like a lock of a keeper.
Currently thinking 1 of the 1st rounders, Carroll, Jazz, Webb, and either Castillo or Glasnow
Thanks! Judge, Carroll, Jazz, Webb, and either Castillo
Always love this post! And every spring never fails!
Very psyched on Walker. Unfortunately I think him doing too well in spring will also bump up his price a lot. He managed to not be on any team in my keep forever 12 teamer last year, so he’ll be open season for drafting. I’m basically budgeting “pay whatever it takes” to get him as my CI. Did the same thing with both Acuna and Yordan in past years and it worked those times at least!
Yes! I was crazy impressed by him in Florida this weekend
Now afraid how much his price has been driven up with all this chatter about him?? Guess have to decide how much is too much??
Wish I would have taken him in prvious drafts where he was going around round 15-17 at one point. Stupid me!
Yeah, same
Ha, yeah
Yanks are a bit of a log jam mess. They’ve been trying Cabrera in CF so maybe some reps there in a quasi platoon with Bader certain days. I think they want to use him but just need to figure out how. If anyone thinks Hicks will be everyday for the whole season, well that’s just crazy talk.
Also, a bit of a rumble about Diner going to the Dodgers. Meh, maybe something there. And, they still have Volpe who might be doing enough to get nthe job out of camp- or would one most other teams.
I think Bader is in trouble too, tbh…Volpe ain’t up for a while is my guess
-You got me. I went scrambling for Huira’s adp.
-Have you noticed how outfield depth is shallow in shallow leagues but deep for deep leagues..
-Can you give me some high floor, boring SP you like to draft after pick 300? Thank you.
Haha, I have noticed that in OF…It’s like, damn, I have to have Carl’s Jr. Jr. as my 5th OF or, wow, great, I have Carl’s Jr. Jr. as my 5th OF!
Maeda, Eflin, Lauer, Ranger Suarez, Civale, Quantrill
Where’s Oswaldo?
The O’s are going to have 2 fantasy worthy SPs this year… Grayson and Bradish. I’m fully in on Bradish carrying over his late season success last year.
Haha, I like Bradish too, but he’s going pretty deep for most people
Grey!!!!!
Awesome!!!
a. In other ST news, saw your boy Cobb strike out 6 in 3IP. Well done!
b. Saw that ‘The Sleeper and the Bust’ team on fangraphs gave Mervis the Chris Carter comparison. Thoughts?
c. Jerry Seinfeld quote of the day for March 6, 2023
‘The fact is: almost everything is funny. You just have to have a way of looking at it.’
Stand-Up Confidential (1987)
Haha, thanks! B. A’s/Astros Carter? Or X Files Chris Carter? Think Mervis is way better at contact C. True
Grey!!!!
I meant well by done him (but by you too by extension)! Gaaa!
Cheers,
Ante
Haha
LAS VEGAS — Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper says he will report to spring training Wednesday as he continues recovering from elbow surgery and then determine when he can return full time.
Is it possible that he will actually be DH-ing much earlier? With this “insight”, how much higher should Bryce be rated*he;s currently ~ 250 with 270 ABs)?
Maybe, but I have him returning mid-July…So he returns mid-June adds an extra 70 ABs
I was wondering if it might be early May. Would this make him ~100?
Nah…That puts his projections at roughly 150 overall
Hi Grey! A good new fantasybaseball season from Italy! Another year, here we go! And thanks for every article and rankings in this pre season.
In my 12 team keeper league(1C, 2CI, 2MI, 3OF, 1 EXTRA,4P, 1RP) I have to choose my K between these groups. 7 bats (3+4 or 4+3 in the two groups) and 3 P (1+2 or 2+1). Who would you choose?
Thanks again!
Hitters $
Austin Riley 41.6
Luis Robert 31.9
Vinnie Pasquantino 17.7
Teoscar Hernandez 13.0
Xander Bogaerts 10.8
William Contreras 7.5
Adolis Garcia -1.0
Jose Miranda -4.1
Gunnar Henderson -4.9
Miguel Vargas -7.4
Triston Casas -10.3
Javier Baez -14.0
Josh Jung -28.7
Pitchers $
Nick Lodolo 11.4
Robbie Ray 10.2
Nestor Cortes -0.2
Jordan Montgomery -5.7
Lucas Giolito -13.4
Brady Singer -14.1
Tony Gonsolin -23.4
Ciao! I was in Italy in November!
Riley, Robert, Vinnie, Teoscar, Contreras, Adolis, Gunnar
Nestor, Lodolo, Ray
Where was you?
Ps: I can only choose two P from the first group, i need the third one from the second
Ah, sorry! I went to Firenze, Roma and Modena — did a tour of Bottura’s ristorantes for 5 days
Sorry, Lodolo, Cortez…Singer
I live in Parma! 30 minutes from Modena! Next time consider yourself invited here to take a Tortelli and Torta Fritta tour
I made tortellini with Massimo! Shame I didn’t ping you…I drove a Ferrari at the factory too…Great time!
No, not Tortellini!
That’s Tortelli
Oh yeah! Not that
My family is from Parma.