One word about this top 100 for 2020 fantasy baseball, before I give you another 5,000 words. I’m going to avoid repeating myself from the position rankings in the 2020 fantasy baseball rankings. If you want to know my in-depth feelings about a player, then you need to go to his positional page, i.e., the top 20 1st basemen for 2020 fantasy baseball, the top 20 outfielders for 2020 fantasy baseball, the top 20 Patterns In Queso That Look Like Messages From Another Planet for 2020– Okay, but I almost got you. This post is meant to give you an idea where guys from different positions are in relation to each other. Since this post is only the top 100, there’s more players where this came from. 467 more, to be very exact. Next up, there will be a top 500 that will go to 567. Then, after that, there will be a top 7,500 that will go to 8,602, then a top 25,000 that will go to 28,765, then a top 600,000 that will go to 892,121, until we end up with a top kajillion in April that will go to a kajillion and one. Or maybe I’ll stop at the top 500. Yeah, that makes sense. Not to get all biblical on you, but this is the gospel. Print it out and take it to Mt. Sinai and it will say, “Win your 2020 fantasy baseball league, young prematurely balding man.” Projections were done by me and a crack team of 100 monkeys fighting amongst themselves because there were only 99 typewriters. Somebody please buy Ling-Ling his own typewriter! Razzball Subscriptions are also now open. Early subscribers get Rudy’s War Room, and you can go ad-free for a $9.99. Anyway, here’s the top 100 for 2020 fantasy baseball:
ALL PROJECTIONS ARE BASED ON 60 GAMES PLAYED, DUE TO COVID-19. BE SAFE OUT THERE!
1. Ronald Acuña Jr. – The number one THOT. When I ranked Tildaddy 4th overall last year, it was too aggressive for some and his ADP was 9th overall. ESPN ranked him 16th; CBS ranked him 12th and Yahoo ranked him 9th. ESPN is especially a jizzoke. Can you imagine being that awful at your job and not just keeping your job, but being revered as an expert? I will now cackle for 45 minutes until I’m dragged away by lab-coated doctors until they realize I don’t have insurance. Tildaddy says you can stay under his insurance coverage if you get a fake ID that claims you’re 25! 2020 Projections: 44/15/36/.287/15 in 219 ABs
2. Christian Yelich – Because I had the page open to last year’s rankings, I had Yelich ranked third overall last year and ESPN had him 8th. Just so very117 bad. No kidding, ESPN could hire a person who doesn’t know anything about fantasy, give them my rankings, have them make a few tweaks so it’s not too obvious of a ripe-off job, and clear their previous year’s hurdles. Who are we fooling, Klara Bell could honk his clown nose while an intern puts together rankings and it would be better. By the way, I’m in a league with Klara Bell this year. It’s gonna be fun! 2020 Projections: 43/14/41/.312/6 in 204 ABs
3. Cody Bellinger – There’s a little birdie in the back of my brain saying, “You loved Bellinger, ranking him in the top 20 in 2018, but missed him last year. Now you’re ranking him high again and he’s going to screw you again. Also, who started calling it an insanity plea and not a loco motive? You ever think about that or is just me? Also, do you–” Shut up, little birdie! 2020 Projections: 40/16/43/.292/4 in 208 ABs
4. Trevor Story – I see a lot of people being drafted above Story, so let’s just grab one random name I see drafted ahead of him who share Coors: Sam Hilliard. Kidding, Arenado is being drafted above Story in most leagues. Their projections are great/37/great/great/20 vs. great/40/great/great/garbage. Honestly, don’t see how you can go great/40/great/great/garbage there. Don’t think it’s close. 2020 Projections: 39/14/38/.293/6 in 216 ABs
5. Mookie Betts – There was a huge trade update for Betts in the top 10 for 2020 fantasy baseball, which was un-updated when the trade fell through, then re-updated. 2020 Projections: 43/10/33/.292/7 in 218 ABs
6. Francisco Lindor – It seems doubtful that his value will go down wherever he’s traded, and, I’m not joking when I say he’ll be traded. The Indians seem so determined they might send him to the Mariners for Tom Murphy and the rights to sell Seattle’s Best Coffee in stadium kiosks. 2020 Projections: 41/13/33/.287/8 in 229 ABs
7. Trea Turner – Unlike some, I don’t think Treat Urner will stay healthy just because he missed time last year and is due to stay healthy. That doesn’t make any sense. I do think that if he stays healthy, he could challenge the top 5 overall. If he misses time (as long as it’s not more than a month to six weeks), he’ll still be worth this draft pick. 2020 Projections: 41/7/23/.287/15 in 229 ABs
8. Juan Soto – Sexy Dr. Pepper is everything you want when building a real baseball team, but real teams are not fantasy teams. For one, real teams have players who aren’t reprimanded by their mothers when they scratch themselves. My worry is, and I’ll keep it super short, because saying negative things about Sexy Dr. Pepper is illegal in 46 states and Guam, Sexy Dr. Pepper is just about maxed out on fantasy value. He’s not a huge steals guy, so you’re approaching territory where he’s starting, I know this is blasphemy, to be overrated. 2020 Projections: 37/13/40/.294/4 in 199 ABs
9. Mike Trout – Can’t remember a time before where it was so advantageous to have the third pick in every draft. Third pick is better than the first pick. Not because Trout is better than Tildaddy. If he were, I would’ve ranked them that way. But if you’re getting Trout at three, then able to draft two slots earlier in the 2nd round, there’s an advantage. Though, now that I write it out, the difference between Acuña and Trout and the two picks difference in the 2nd round might be closer to even or in Acuña’s favor. Wow, had a theory that I shot down in the matter of, like, 15 words. UPDATE: See top 10 for 2020 fantasy baseball for why he’s ranked 9th vs. 3rd. 2020 Projections: 40/16/43/.285/4 in 190 ABs
10. Fernando Tatis Jr. – So, I wrote my top 10 about seven weeks ago (back in December) and it hasn’t changed. Then, someone asked in the comments in December, about a week after I wrote it, what my top 10 was, and, I said something like, “You’ll have to wait and see in January,” and then Donkey Teeth said, “I’m gonna guess…” and he literally listed my exact same top 10. When I told him what he had done, he was shocked, but I thought that it wasn’t that weird at the time. This top ten just feels so locked in. More so than years past. First three are obvious, four thru nine seem like they have to be that way, and ten, well, ten does feel a little surprising, but how surprising is even FTJ? Fun The Jewels is just too exciting to pass up. Maybe Jo-Ram or Torenado over him, but 30/30/.260 vs. 27/27/.260 vs. 40/3/.305? Feels less surprising when you say that, right? In retrospect, as I see so many other top tens, it is slightly nuts Donkey and I had the exact same top 10. 2020 Projections: 39/12/25/.259/11 in 220 ABs
11. Jose Ramirez – I look at what I project for players, then rank, then adjust based on likelihood the projections come true, age, upside, downside, etc. What I don’t do is look at other rankings. Until afterwards. Now that I’m seeing where others ranked Jo-Ram, there is some overcorrecting happening for how much they screwed the pooch last year. Everyone ranked him 3rd overall, now they’re ranking him in the 20s. Think it goes back to the overriding theme that dictates most rankings. People are trying to rank based on what they think you want to see. 2020 Projections: 33/10/36/.263/10 in 213 ABs
12. Nolan Arenado – Thinking about drafting Torenado this low gives me life, but it also makes me want to l’chaim some steals in the draft before it’s too late. 2020 Projections: 39/15/42/.306/1 in 219 ABs
13. Anthony Rendon – Here’s my Anthony Rendon fantasy. It was written after saying I have to hit the head, then banged my head into a wall. 2020 Projections: 39/12/41/.312/1 in 194 ABs
14. Pete Alonso – I don’t believe in sophomore slumps. They’re a made-up thing and you can find hundreds of examples of players who were actually better their sophomore year. With that said (here’s where I turn this ship around), hopefully Albombso doesn’t sophomoreso slumpso. 2020 Projections: 35/16/41/.263/1 in 218 ABs
15. Alex Bregman – I saw he was drafted 4th overall in one league. Someone (me) might have to write themselves (youselves) a schmohawk post for Bregman, and, honestly, I’m not concerned at all with all that banging coming from just offscreen. 2020 Projections: 38/11/40/.284/3 in 204 ABs
16. Gerrit Cole – Here’s my Gerrit Cole fantasy. It was written while tending to my sheep. 2020 Projections: 6-2/2.61/0.93/109 in 77 IP
17. Bryce Harper – Member what I said in FTJ’s blurb about how locked in the top 10 is? Exact opposite for 11 thru 20. I keep wanting to move Harper up and Rendon down and Bregman down and Devers up and Jo-Jo-Ram down and Mondesi up and all of them up and down! 2020 Projections: 39/14/41/.261/4 in 208 ABs
18. Rafael Devers – You know what’s a fun thing to do? Don’t say sniff your own junk. That’s not cool. A fun thing I do is totally forget why I ranked a guy somewhere, then go back to look while writing this post and see his stats and think, “Hmm, maybe I should’ve ranked Devers even higher.” Grey hearts Devers forevers! 2020 Projections: 40/12/42/.303/3 in 219 ABs
19. Adalberto Mondesi – If you draft Mondesi anywhere, please put your team in the comments so I can gently touch the screen where Mondesi is. My God, man, I love him! 2020 Projections: 31/6/29/.258/19 in 206 ABs
20. Matt Olson – How much do I want Olson this year? It wasn’t that I ranked him this high overall, it was that I strongly considered ranking him in the top 12. If he stole five-plus bags or was a better bet for a .300+ average, I would’ve had no problem doing it. *adjusts kufi and black rimmed glasses, kneels, bows* Allahson, my aim is true. 2020 Projections: 35/14/40/.273 in 224 ABs
21. J.D. Martinez – Think about my Miguel Sano sleeper, then keep in mind how Just Dong was once also considered “injury prone.” 2020 Projections: 34/12/36/.288/1 in 191 ABs
22. Javier Baez – There’s just too many players who deserve to be in the top 20. There’s so little reason Baez isn’t ranked in the top 20, I can’t even make one up. The Cubs became a small market team this offseason so Baez will rebel against ownership–Yeah, I can’t even finish that thought because it’s so dumb. What’s also dumb, Baez’s ADP is about 20 spots after this. It most be an OBP bias because there’s no reason he’s not in the top 20, but even less reason why he’d be drafted around 40th overall. 2020 Projections: 38/11/40/.286/6 in 220 ABs
23. Xander Bogaerts – If you draft Tildaddy and Bogaerts with your 1st two picks, may you enjoy multiple fantasy championships, they will get you into heaven. 2020 Projections: 39/13/41/.307/2 in 221 ABs
24. Jacob deGrom – Exhibit A why my rankings will never get top five in any contest. I know deGrom will be more valuable than this spot (at least I’d imagine he will), but drafting a starter in the top 25 will hurt your team in other ways. Not having a top 25 bat hurts you more than having a top 25 arm helps you. So PantasyFros can say so-and-so had the best rankings, but, honestly, I would beat those people in a league nine out of 10 times. Also, not to go too far down this rabbit hole, but HOW can anyone have the best rankings that doesn’t rank specifically for, say, NL-Only? Or 15-team OBP? Or 12 team? Or whatever. It’s impossible. If someone says Bandy Ehrens or Pott Scianowski have the best rankings, I say, “For what league?” By the way, we have all of those different league rankings on our 2020 fantasy baseball rankings page. My rankings are heavily favored for 14-team and shallower. Though, my thoughts in each blurb in the positional rankings apply across any league. Moving on! 2020 Projections: 6-3/2.58/0.96/98 in 77 IP
25. Jack Flaherty – There is no Exhibit C! 2020 Projections: 6-4/2.69/0.99/89 in 75 IP
26. Gleyber Torres – Not to put logic into your feelings, but Gleyber is regularly being drafted before Bryce because…? You like Gleyber better as a person? I do too, but it makes no sense. Last year Gleyber had an insane year, and Bryce was his usual whatever self, right? Well, no. On the Player Rater Harper was the 21st best value and Gleyber was 48th. Bryce being whatever is better than Gleyber at his best. 2020 Projections: 33/12/35/.264/2 in 204 ABs
27. Shane Bieber – Couple of more thoughts on starters. I’m bummed I won’t own Bieber, but I was bummed I wouldn’t own Snell or Sale last year, and guess what? I wasn’t bummed once the season started. Starters only seem safe in the cold, dankness of February and March. It’s June, the ball is flying out of parks and your starter who you spent a top 25 pick on has a 4.25 ERA and you’re like, “What have I wrought?” 2020 Projections: 6-3/2.81/1.01/92 in 76 IP
28. Jose Altuve – His last three years for steals: 32, 17, 6. So, my nine projected steals is being optimistic. A closer projected line for Altuve might be 5′ 1″. 2020 Projections: 30/8/34/.303/3 in 216 ABs
29. George Springer – If 11 Greys were all drafting against me, and we had time to draft after complimenting each other on our hair, I’d own Springer on every team because he’s the only player from like 25 overall to 39 that I could conceivably draft. Unfortunately, as wonderful as 11 Greys sounds, there’s no way all of the 1st 30 players are drafted by this point. I could draft Springer at 31 overall, but more than likely I’ll be drafting Mondesi, Olson, Baez or Bogaerts. Yes, I have Olson at 21 overall, but would likely draft him at 31. Know why? ADP. 2020 Projections: 40/11/31/.281/2 in 204 ABs
30. Max Scherzer – There’s legitimately no way I’m owning Scherzer this year. I had a robot run 40,000 simulations to see if I would get Scherzer anywhere and the robot said, “Boy are my arms tired.” Sounds like Scherzer. 2020 Projections: 5-2/2.83/1.02/93 in 66 IP
31. Walker Buehler – Still not drafting a starter; feel free to look at the top 20 starters for 2020 fantasy baseball for my thoughts on these guys. 2020 Projections: 6-3/2.91/1.03/87 in 73 IP
32. Stephen Strasburg – This whole sub-tier of starters have no chance of a full season of innings. Mansplainingly, only four pitchers have 200 IP in each of the last three years (Cole, deGrom, Greinke and Verlander), so it’s pretty good odds betting someone won’t throw 200 IP. Think about that when you want to draft a top starter. Also, think about how they don’t give you saves, which is, at last blush, an actual category in your league. Oh, and wins are fickle. You, who wants to draft a top starter, is drafting ERA, WHIP and Ks — three categories. Imagine drafting a top hitter who only gave you homers, steals and runs. 2020 Projections: 6-4/3.03/1.03/83 in 71 IP
33. Starling Marte -In my top 20 outfielders for 2020 fantasy baseball, I updated Marte after his trade. The Starling one. 2020 Projections: 2020 Projections: 36/8/32/.289/8 in 215 ABs
34. Jonathan Villar – Went back to my Jonathan Villar sleeper post from last year to read the comments to see if anyone was massively disagreeing, and, damn you all, you all kinda agreed. Blessings to frequent commenter, Knucks, who posted the ADP from last year. NFBC was 102 and ESPN was 126. I was at 89. Now, he’s being drafted in the 20s in some leagues. Y’all a bunch of over-correctors! 2020 Projections: 31/6/25/.257/11 in 209 ABs
35. Ketel Marte – Back in December, I drafted Ketel at pick 39 overall in my way too early NFBC draft. (We’ll do a few more NFBC leagues in February/March. Stay tuned. Or not. Your choice.) 2020 Projections: 35/10/29/.308/3 in 221 ABs
36. Ozzie Albies – Something I may or may not have mentioned in the top 20 2nd basemen for 2020 fantasy baseball, Albies feels like he could sneak into a 30/30 season. What he has going against him, which isn’t really an objective reason, could Acuña and Albies really be 30/30 on the same team? If Howard Johnson and Daryl Strawberry or Ellis Burks and Dante Bichette could do it, why not? When I list those players who were 30/30 on the same team, really makes you think, huh? By the by, whatever happened with Alfonso Soriano? Is he in the Hall of Fame? How about Sammy Sosa who once had a month of 30/30? And you thought offense was only goofy nowadays. 2020 Projections: 38/9/29/.291/6 in 232 ABs
37. Keston Hiura – You know what would be interesting? A psychological study why some guys who have less than 100 games in the majors like Hiura are consensus top 50 picks, but guys like Dannys Antana, who just had a great season, are ignored. My guess is people prefer guys who have only succeeded and never failed, even if the guy who once failed has corrected issues. This assumes Hiura has no possible route to ever failing, which is what I type as I’m ranking Hiura damn high myself. 2020 Projections: 30/10/34/.264/4 in 211 ABs
38. Anthony Rizzo – R to the anking for R to the Izzo! Did I do that right? 2020 Projections: 34/11/39/.295/1 in 209 ABs
39. Jose Abreu – New writer, Dan Richards, gave you his Jose Abreu fantasy, while writing more about Jose Abreu than anyone has ever written before. 2020 Projections: 33/13/40/.280/1 in 225 ABs
40. Lucas Giolito – Draft a starter! 2020 Projections: 6-3/3.27/1.05/90 in 73 IP
41. Patrick Corbin – “I pardon you,” Ralph Fiennes giving you permission to draft a starter too. 2020 Projections: 6-2/3.36/1.09/90 in 75 IP
42. Eloy Jimenez – This is going to be my toughest draft pick in every single draft. Not Eloy, but everyone within ten spots of him. I have to draft a starter around here, but I also wouldn’t mind drafting any of the hitters you see here either. Of course, Austin Meadows…Well, continued in next blurb. 2020 Projections: 32/13/38/.284 in 216 ABs
43. Austin Meadows – I would draft Meadows, but it might be lip service ranking him this low. If you can make a strong case for why a 25-28 homer, 10-15 steal guy who doesn’t have an elite batting average should be ranked in the top 25 overall as I’ve seen Meadows drafted, let me know. 2020 Projections: 34/10/33/.277/4 in 215 ABs
44. Freddie Freeman – One concern with this little sub-tier of corner men is how fickle runs and RBIs are. Hard to imagine Freeman (or any of these corner men) getting 85 runs and 95 RBIs, but those stats are a bit out of his control. Not saying 85/30/95/.303/7 would be a bad line, but that does take someone down a peg in value. Another way of me saying how important it is you get an early pick that gives some speed. UPDATE: Tested positive for Covid. 2020 Projections: 39/11/40/.303/3 in 223 ABs
45. Manny Machado – I could see two scenarios for Machado this year: 1st scenario has us in October laughing at us preseason herbs (bringing that word back!) for ranking Machado so low. 2nd scenario is you own Machado expecting the 1st scenario, end up yawnstipated, thinking of Machado as a Michael Conforto clone who disappears for huge chunks of the season. 2020 Projections: 33/13/38/.269/2 in 219 ABs
46. Eugenio Suarez – As I draft a starter in this part of the draft, there’s little chance I get Eugenio (or prolly Machado), so please give me an early prayer for my 3rd base spot, which I have a feeling is going to mess in every league. 100% expect to draft Matt Chapman way too early in every league, justifying it to myself that I need a 3rd baseman. As for the news that Eugenio just had a water wings incident in his swimming pool and needed shoulder surgery to remove loose cartilage and will be limited in spring training, Rudy subtracted eight games from his hitter projections. I’m not changing them yet. If Suarez gets to the end of March and is limited still, I might change my mind. We’re still very far away from meaningful games, don’t overreact. 2020 Projections: 30/14/39/.274/1 in 215 ABs
47. Luis Castillo – Bit surprised there’s a chance I could own Castillo after his previous year, even more surprised people are drafting Aaron Nola before him. I’m pretty sure if you drafted starters based on their previous year SwStr% you couldn’t go that wrong. Here’s the top 10: Cole, Scherzer, Verlander, Castillo (!!!), deGrom, Giolito, Corbin, Boyd, Bieber and Flaherty. Boyd has a bit of wonkiness, due to his high homers allowed, but otherwise? That is a loud, echoing chef’s kiss that can be heard by Dr. Manhattan on Mars. (By the way, pitchers ranked 11 thru 20 on SwStr% aren’t bad either.) 2020 Projections: 6-4/3.32/1.09/88 in 73 IP
48. Mike Clevinger – With the delay to the season and rest Clevinger will get, it’s hard not to like him in a very short, fantastic season. Shoot 120 innings from Clevinger right into my veins, then let me make snow angels in a giant pile of coke while twirling a phone cord around my pinkie as I talk to Pablo Escobar. 2020 Projections: 6-3/3.07/1.06/83 in 71 IP
49. Chris Paddack – Feel a bit like I won’t own Paddack this year. Not that I won’t, I mean, I won’t but not because I don’t like him. Who doesn’t love The Sheriff? Well, not Bob Marley, but otherwise? No one. Unfortch, I have Paddack after Giolito, Corbin and Castillo, so it seems unlikely I’d miss on one of those and take Paddack instead. 2020 Projections: 4-2/3.03/0.96/73 in 64 IP
50. Jorge Soler – Bit surprised at how much I like Soler this year, but maybe, and this is gonna be some galaxy brain shizz right here, I should be surprised at my surprise. Or maybe, and this is going to get real confusing now, it’s most surprising that I’m surprised at my surprise. That’s like going into Plato’s Cave for the echo. 2020 Projections: 31/13/38/.271/1 in 216 ABs
51. Yoan Moncada – As I said in the Suarez blurb, 3rd base feels almost assuredly like a punt for me early on, which is what I say before I overcompensate for my fear of not having a 3rd baseman and reach two rounds early for Moncada, because I really want to own him. 2020 Projections: 31/10/35/.272/4 in 206 ABs
52. Matt Chapman – Imagining one of my teams owning Laureano, Chapman and Olson and staying up late to watch an A’s game, then punching a hole in my TV when Dallas Braden appears. 2020 Projections: 35/14/39/.256/1 in 214 ABs
53. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – Another guy who seems so unlikely to end up on any of my teams. It’s not thankful. It’s Glad Vuerrero Jr. 2020 Projections: 29/11/34/.291 in 211 ABs
54. Yordan Alvarez – Trying to figure out why I have Yordan ranked 41st overall and his daddy, Nelson Cruz, who has done what son hopes to do, for 27 straight seasons, tying the Yankees’ championship record, about 25 picks later, or why Yordan’s ADP is 60 picks before Cruz. Age does make a difference. Fan them flames of upside with my pants tent. Yordan’s making money moves; Cruz is a goofy, is a opp. Okay, now I’m just singing Cardi B. Yordan’s exit velocity is ridiculous. He ranked/raked 13th overall in majors, but Cruz ranked 3rd, so *raspberries lips* I don’t know. The comparison gets more without the can, i.e., uncanny. They both averaged 411 feet on homers. Yordan is top 2% of xSLG; Cruz was top 1%. Cruz is top 2% of wOBA; Yordan is 1%. Yordan’s HR/FB% was 32.9%; Cruz’s was equally crazy at 31.3%. Yordan’s chase rate was 30.7% and Cruz’s was 30.5%. Holy crap, Nelson Cruz isn’t getting old, he’s getting younger and is now playing under different name for a different team and OH MY GOD! Really, only thing I can think why Yordan over Cruz is latter was born in 1962 and gave birth to Yordan. UPDATE: Tested positive for Covid. 2020 Projections: 29/10/31/.291/1 in 181 ABs
55. Max Muncy – Last two years in a row he has 35 homers. If Muncy gets three years in a row, Khris Davis will send him a framed pic of “.247,” signed and dated. It was a limited run. You can guess how many were made. 2020 Projections: 34/13/36/.265/1 in 187 ABs
56. Marcus Semien – Member those specialty baseball cards with Vida Blue and Bud Black pictured that was labeled Black & Blue? Hoping Fleer brings that back for Jazz Chisholm and Semien for “Jazz Hands.” 2020 Projections: 40/9/30/.282/4 in 229 ABs
57. Yu Darvish – Since you might be wondering on his SwStr%, Darvish was 13th on that list from Castillo’s blurb, between Strasburg and Morton, and Darvish was 7th in the 2nd half with a 15% SwStr%. 2020 Projections: 5-4/3.41/1.09/86 in 67 IP
58. Tyler Glasnow – Due to the shortened season, I’m jazzed about the idea of Glasnow in less innings. Jazznow? *insert GIF of Jack Nicholson with a Cheshire cat grin while nodding his head* 2020 Projections: 5-3/3.77/1.20/73 in 63 IP
59. Charlie Morton – Old pitchers just hit different this year. This is a new feeling for me, and I’m still getting used to it, but when I see fifteen of the top 20 starters from last year are over the age of 30, I can’t continue to ignore it. 35 is the new 25 for pitchers. What’s old is new again. *searching Idioms dot com* An old apple falls from any tree because it’s ripe. (I made that up, but it sounded good, right?) 2020 Projections: 6-3/3.36/1.10/86 in 71 IP
60. Ramon Laureano – Another guy who gets very little love elsewhere. I have Austin Meadows ranked above him too, but not by an insane amount like when I see Meadows being drafted in the top 20 in some leagues. Can you imagine Laureano being drafted anywhere near that? Well, he’s nearly as good with the potential to be better. 2020 Projections: 30/10/29/.272/6 in 213 ABs
61. Josh Donaldson – This post is going on 56,000 words, so I direct you to my top 20 3rd basemen for 2020 fantasy baseball for my thoughts on Donaldson on his new team. 2020 Projections: 35/12/36/.254/1 in 189 ABs
62. Mike Moustakas – Pro tip! Bet on the 2020 Reds/White Sox World Series now and cash boku checks later. 2020 Projections: 29/13/33/.252/1 in 211 ABs
63. Tim Anderson – In only 123 games last year, he went 18/17. Year before he went 20/26 in 153 games. He is a .275 hitter, give or take some. (Not .335 hitter like last year with a .399 BABIP.) So, 20/20/.275 isn’t a top 75 pick? Okay, then why is Bo Bichette, with 46 games in his career, a top 70 pick? We judging on same scales or nah? 2020 Projections: 32/8/27/.272/8 in 216 ABs
64. Bo Bichette – Speaking of the devil, or as Larry Walker used to call him, “That little devil put Icy/Hot in my jockstrap!” Don’t take my Tim Anderson blurb as a slight on Bichette. Could see Bichette being great, but there’s a lot more unknown with him (for better or worse), i.e., Bichette will happen or Bichette happens. 2020 Projections: 36/7/27/.284/7 in 218 ABs
65. Sonny Gray – You know what’s gonna be fun? When we all own Sonny Gray this year and people are like, “You are so dumb for drafting him so high,” then, when he’s a top three vote getter for NL Cy, people are gonna be like, “You are a witch and I will now burn you at the stake.” 2020 Projections: 5-4/3.27/1.10/80 in 73 IP
66. Eddie Rosario – For those with short memories or have been hit on the head too many times, Rosario was a 2018 sleeper for me. Been nailing them since Pontius was doing pilates. 2020 Projections: 35/11/40/.281/1 in 214 ABs
67. Nelson Cruz – See Yordan Alvarez’s blurb or 7 inches above or 14 inches above if a girl is reading. 2020 Projections: 33/13/37/.283 in 176 ABs
68. Giancarlo Stanton – Okay, so I keep talking about people over-correcting for good years or bad years, and I might 100% doing just that with Giancarlo, but how long can I dream he’s dressed as a giant tongue while I’m dressed in a bikini of whipped cream only to wake up to find him being IL’d? 2020 Projections: 31/13/33/.272/1 in 190 ABs
69. Aaron Nola – Nothing’s taken a worse turn in the last year than The Circle Game. I can’t even watch Malcolm in the Middle reruns anymore, you bastards! Second worse recent turn is Nola, but there’s hope for him. The Circle Game, though? I think that’s lost for good. 2020 Projections: 6-4/3.51/1.07/87 in 78 IP
70. Aaron Judge – If anyone can hit 30+ homers in only 100 games, it’s Aaron Judge, so I still don’t trust his health, but I had to move him up in the rankings. 2020 Projections: 39/15/34/.262/1 in 187 ABs
71. Charlie Blackmon – A beard flowing on romance novel cover. The book’s title, Chazz Noir Saves The Accidental Princess. Opens to the first page. “Hey, Princess,” Chazz Noir hops off his horse, “Can I be of some service?” The Accidental Princess courtesies, then tumbles into a pile of manure. That’s from a novel where the author mistakenly confused accidental with accident-prone for 275 pages. 2020 Projections: 39/10/29/.288/1 in 211 ABs
72. Blake Snell – People either gave me crap for ranking Snell in a tier of pitchers I didn’t want last year or just drafted him anyway, ignoring me. He ended up as the 284th best fantasy value, just behind Tanner Roark. Good stuff! UPDATE: Elbow problems already. Whee! Enjoy your early starter picks. They always work out great! 2020 Projections: 4-3/3.12/1.09/57 in 70 IP
73. Justin Verlander – Exhibit B. UPDATE: Dealing with triceps soreness. See what I said on his injury(ies — is that how you make a plural of that?) at the top 20 starters. 2020 Projections: 5-1/2.66/0.98/71 in 56 IP
74. Zack Greinke – At some point, Greinke will be drafted more like a top 50 starter rather than a top blackjack starter! Oops, I used the thesaurus for “21.” 2020 Projections: 6-3/3.44/1.09/68 in 76 IP
75. Paul Goldschmidt – Might play around and stop calling him Au Shizz and start calling him Just Shizz. 2020 Projections: 34/11/36/.264/1 in 217 ABs
76. Clayton Kershaw – Toyed real hard with drafting Kershaw, but I am out for, like, well, his whole career. “Toyed real hard” is also the explanation you use when a doctor is looking at an x-ray of your butt and seeing a Matchbox car. 2020 Projections: 2020 Projections: 5-3/3.42/1.05/60 in 61 IP
77. Josh Hader – SAGNOF and all that, but I’m starting to believe there might be some buying opportunities to the top closers now. For a dozen or so years, there was never a top closer drafted after top 50 overall, but now no one seems to want them. I get it — hey, I invented it! — but are they this bad? *looks at Player Rater for values of closers last year* Okay, they were this bad. Not a good time to be a closer. No bigger sign of this that the number one closer, Hader, saved less than 40 saves last year, and, as someone who owned him last year I can say he was far from a guarantee. His Ks tho *emoji of eggplant emojis falling on a smiling face emoji* 2020 Projections: 2-1/2.48/0.84/47, 15 saves in 26 IP
78. Kirby Yates – Was about to say that Yates has going for him an added bonus that I can’t see anyone behind him getting any real saves instead of him, which sounds remarkably similar to what I would’ve said last year for Edwin Diaz. Oops, jinxed Yates! 2020 Projections: 1-1/2.37/0.91/36, 16 saves in 23 IP
79. Aroldis Chapman – Not sure if everyone saw that Aroldis weighed in on the Astros’ cheating scandal, i.e., a scandalous trash person weighed in on Trash can scandal. Ya know, Cheaty Cheaty Bang Bang aka Banghazi aka Bang A Gong (Chasing Pitches Is Gone) aka Fiers Festival. I will say this though, it does seem like a pretty sizable advantage to know a guy who can touch 100 MPH is about to throw a change. Sizable is a pun there, because the hitter was Altuve. 2020 Projections: 1-1/2.41/1.10/34, 14 saves in 22 IP
80. Jose Berrios – His last three years ERAs: 3.89, 3.84, 3.68. So, Steamer projects him for 4.49. I don’t love that his velocity fell a tad last year, but he changed his pitch mix and it seemed to work for him. From what I’ve seen, I’m a high man on Berrios, and I’ll take all the shares. 2020 Projections: 5-3/3.54/1.11/76 in 75 IP
81. Trevor Bauer – As I go over in the top 40 starters for 2020 fantasy baseball, I’m drafting Bauer this year. Please pray for me. 2020 Projections: 5-3/3.61/1.16/96 in 80 IP
82. Kris Bryant – Anyone looking to draft Bryant, just go and read my Hunter Dozier sleeper. You don’t have to agree with Dozier, but for the Bryant info. 2020 Projections: 38/10/30/.278/1 in 207 ABs
83. Joey Gallo – I was searching March Madness on WebMD recently. Some of the symptoms it listed were, “Overuse of the phrase ‘my bracket,'” an “inflamed Gonzaga” and a “hunger to gamble on things you know nothing about.” Then I remembered I was supposed to be looking up Gallo’s injury. I oop! This brings me to my point, I have no idea what to expect of Gallo’s injury. He could be absolutely fine and a steal this late, but I’m pretty shook. Typing “pretty shook” into WebMD says I’m too close to a fault line. 2020 Projections: 28/12/13/.247/2 in 184 ABs
84. Tommy Pham – Since this post is pushing 7,000 words, just go check out what I wrote at top 40 outfielders for 2020 fantasy baseball. 2020 Projections: 29/6/26/.271/9 in 214 ABs
85. Oscar Mercado – Already gave you an Oscar Mercado sleeper. It was written while listening to old Future songs. 2020 Projections: 29/6/23/.261/11 in 209 ABs
86. Luis Robert – Already gave you a Luis Robert fantasy. I wrote it while sniffing an old horse that a farmer named Glue. 2020 Projections: 28/8/22/.248/9 in 190 ABs
87. Victor Robles – Confession, I wrote a Robles sleeper post, but I never published it because I write my sleeper posts in November, and usually this isn’t an issue, I have a good idea of when players will be drafted (or should be drafted) as soon as the previous season ends. Was wrong on Robles. In most leagues, he’s being drafted way above where I’d draft him. So, I like him, but at his top 50 overall price tag? Might be the first guy to go from sleeper to overrated before mid-February. 2020 Projections: 31/5/23/.261/12 in 210 ABs
88. Marcell Ozuna – OZUNA landed in Atlanta. OZUNA is ready for fights with Kenya and to marry Nene. OZUNA knows his Real Housewives. 2020 Projections: 31/11/36/.274/2 in 216 ABs
89. Michael Conforto – If you click his name, you see his Steamer projections (and we added all of my position blurbs onto the player pages). We’re not far off, two homers and steals, and 10 runs and 15 RBIs, but on the Steamer rankings, he’s down in the 140s. Interesting, because last year Conforto ranked 72nd on the end-of-the-season Player Rater. Interesting as in I’m right. UPDATE: He was moved after his injury, see top 500 for 2020 fantasy baseball for new rank and projections. UPDATE II: To make sure Conforto would be ready for the start of the season, the Mets sent their doctors out to all drive-through coronavirus checkpoints.2020 Projections: 34/12/38/.254/2 in 216 ABs
90. Nicholas Castellanos – The GGoHC jammed up the Reds’ outfield is spectacular ways. I moved Aristides Aquino to the top 80 outfielders for 2020 fantasy baseball because now it’s Shogo, Aquino and Winker for two outfield spots, and updated the GGoHC in the top 40 outfielders. If I didn’t like GGoHC before (which I didn’t), this makes me more aggro. 2020 Projections: 33/9/30/.277/1 in 225 ABs
91. Lance Lynn – Not sure what’s more insane, that I want to draft Lynn, but I’ve projected him for 238 Ks. Here’s hoping One-Week-Ago Grey knows what the hell he’s doing. 2020 Projections: 6-2/3.58/1.20/88 in 76 IP
92. Eduardo Rodriguez – I’ll go over exactly how to draft a pitching staff in another post on Friday, but just think about this for a second. I’ve seen people draft Blake Snell and Max Scherzer on the same team. Skills-wise? Those guys are amazing, but what you have been better off with them or Lance Lynn and Ed-Rod last year? Of course, we’re drafting for this year, but don’t be so sure guys taking top ten starters are going the “safe” way. 2020 Projections: 5-3/3.64/1.24/81 in 76 IP
93. Josh Bell – This guy has one of the widest ranges of ADP I’ve seen this year, which makes me think there’s as many people who trust Bell’s great 1st half as there are people who think he was more of shizz-stain of the 2nd half. Like kids who wanna become firemen, I’m in the latter summer camp. 2020 Projections: 32/11/36/.271/1 in 203 ABs
94. Yuli Gurriel – When I wrote up the top 20 1st basemen for 2020 fantasy baseball, I didn’t like Yuli, and still don’t especially, but now that I’m seeing ADP, I guess there’s a remote chance he’s available to me, but it’s moot because if things go correctly I will be drafting my 2nd starter around here. 2020 Projections: 26/9/30/.294/2 in 206 ABs
95. DJ LeMahieu – Since I’m in a “looking at Steamer’s projections”-type mood, let’s take me out of the equation with LeMahieu. His Steamer projections are 89/18/71/.284/7. Different positions, but that’s slightly worse than Bryan Reynolds’s 83/19/74/.288/7. That makes DJ LeMahieu about as good as a quinceanera DJ who forgot his Despacito record. 2020 Projections: 35/6/29/.288/2 in 221 ABs
96. Eduardo Escobar – Samesies on what I said for Yuli. With how I draft and wait on my first starter, the need to draft a 2nd starter in this range is exceptionally important, because if you don’t grab a 2nd starter in this range, then your staff gets wonky super fast without a top five starter, i.e., a person who drafts Gerrit Cole in the 1st round could be happy with Bumgarner as their number two. Whereas, I’ll have Giolito (possibly) as my number one and will need a higher number two earlier. On the other hand (were we using our hands?), the person with Gerrit Cole will likely be looking at the Yuli, Bell andf Escobars of the world as their corner man, and I will likely have a much better one. Check it: You want Gerrit/Yuli or Bellinger/Giolito? That’s just one example, but you get the picture. 2020 Projections: 29/10/35/.264/1 in 211 ABs
97. Whit Merrifield – If I had a larger set of cojones (mo’jones?), I would’ve ranked Merrifield about 100 spots later, but I’m still a low man on him by about four rounds, and not drafting him. 2020 Projections: 34/5/26/.305/6 in 226 ABs
98. Jeff McNeil – His previous year was so shocking it actually could cause controversy that I’m out on McNeil this year. If you would’ve told me last February that people would care if I were low on McNeil, I would’ve told you you were crazy with a small, but noticeable gesture of a circling motion of the index finger at the ear or temple. 2020 Projections: 38/7/26/.306/2 in 218 ABs
99. Brandon Woodruff – Because I couldn’t end the top 100 with a series of downers like the last few, here’s one of my absolute boo/bae/loves. Check out my Brandon Woodruff sleeper. 2020 Projections: 6-2/3.43/1.12/77 in 68 IP
100. Dinelson Lamet – Okay, okay, OKAY! One more. Here’s my Dinelson Lamet sleeper. Here’s basically an R-rated GIF from Uncut Gems in human form. I wrote this post while icing my fingers as I prepared to write the top 500 for 2020 fantasy baseball. 2020 Projections: 4-2/3.86/1.22/81 in 62 IP
Altuve, Meadows, Suarez
Dynasty keeper league (12 teams)
I’ve own Altuve for years but considering Meadows/Suarez for 2020
Thoughts?
Take questions for me to my newest post https://razzball.com/fantasy-baseball-war-room-2020-edition/
Grey,
I’m loving all your thoughts and insights. I did FBB for years but have been away for 8 now. I’m jumping back in, taking over the worst team in the league this year so I have the first pick…and I HATE IT! I’d much rather be middle to late first pick, but whatever.
SO… you LOVE Acuna, so I want to love Acuna too. But when I look around, many other so-called “experts” or the computer simulations (one of which has him at 36!) don’t seem to share the love. I’m guessing they’re not seeing the jump in production that you are. Tell me what they’re missing that you’re seeing. I want to be the smartest guy in the room (not too hard in that room).
HELP ME! I’ve been a past champion and I have a rep’ to live up to. I don’t want to walk up and hang a name that never produces 1/1 numbers. I want to get it right! Am I just too chicken? Should I just be a puss and take Trout? Maybe I’m not ready to be a champ again :)
I wish I could say I was a super genius ranking Acuna #1, but he’s going on average 1st overall in more drafts than anyone
My thoughts on him: https://razzball.com/top-10-for-2020-fantasy-baseball/
Do you have any thoughts as to why CBS leagues and rankings seem to be skewed against the grain of most other outlets? They have him ranked very low and that is being reflected in his ADP up to this point. If accurate it’s saying no player has taken him higher than 3rd so far.
You’re awesome! Thank you!
I don’t think CBS knows what they’re doing
5 days till pitchers and catchers reports. The buzz is in the air.
Short and sweet – Keeper wise – Hiura for $5 for Modesi for $17
Let’s get this money!
Hiura
Who would you pick between Luis Robert and Wander Franco, not for this year but for a long term fantasy?
Wander
Thanks! He was my choise also but… coming from you now it’s clear! Oh and also, Paddack, Soroka or Hudson (wins only)
No problem
Soroka
I quit reading when I saw Bieber ahead of Max and Walker. What you smokin cous ?
Mighty fine work! Man, I was haulin ass then BAM the list stopped! Concussed
as homage your pitching strategy last year I was blessed with a rotation of Buehler (4th round), Clevinger (7th), Darvish (11th), Castillo (12th), Glasnow (13th), and waiver wired Gray and Gallen… I will own them by different names this year ya ;).
Thanks for being cool
Oh SHIZ — this was definitely something I wanted to say: somehow I overpaid NY State taxes in 2018. Moved apts in 2019. Mail got shuffled in the move. Gf finds mail. Begs me to open it after I repeatedly tell her, “babe, you’re beautiful, almost as good-looking as Grey, but I promise you, there’s nothing interesting in there.”
Lo and behold, the NY State Gov sent me a check for $960! Woot, woot!
But it comes w/ all this language that makes the gf concerned. I skimmed the papers, and was like, “don’t worry babes, it’s a check, and I’ll cash it this week.” She’s like, “but, while I know you’re super handsome, and always getting away with stuff, telling stories nowhere near as funny as Grey’s, it says here that you needed to cash it by July 2019.”
Naturally, I told her not to worry. I brought the check to work, let it sit on my desk a couple weeks, because, as they teach you in Finance 101, checks get better w/ age — you know — Time Value of Money. Just simple math, I tell ya.
Anyways, I got to the bank today. Cashed it. Had zero issues!
Now I got mo money, which also means, I got mo problems!! Thanks gf–this is why I don’t listen to you!!!
“10 years from now we’ll still be on top
Yo, I thought I told you that we won’t stop
Now what you gon’ do with a crew that got money much longer than yours,
And a team much stronger than yours?
Violate me, this’ll be your day, we don’t play
Mess around, be D.O.A. be on your way
‘Cause it ain’t enough time here
Ain’t enough lime here for you to shine here
Deal with many women but treat dimes fair
And I’m bigger than the city lights down in Times Square”
Thanks for dropping the ranks, G!
Feels nice that this was an enjoyable read having labored over your posts the last couple weeks. Just made a couple small tweaks to my board, and now I’m nearly ready to draft!!
1. Speaking of which–need those reliever ranks! AHHH!!!
2. Had something else to say that might’ve been interesting, but TOTALLY forgot!
3. This wasn’t it, but feels like I need to make up for #2 — don’t do it on Bauer man, just don’t!!
4. Thank God I didn’t draft Paxton yet. Sucks as a Yanks fan, but feels like the wake up call we needed heading into drafts. Over the winter, everything is perfect, you’re a genius — your board is like a Picasso — you tell yourself before bed each night. One of my strengths has always been the game theory part of the draft / ADP, and avoiding early round duds. Pick 100 is a premium pick — don’t want to F that one up.
5. Sox fans rationalizing the Mookie trade is something else. Think this is what #2 might’ve been. *Looks up, room is empty, thought bubble appears* “What have I done?”
Senior of high school, me and my buddy climbed the watertower behind our school and spray-painted the word ‘herbs’ on it as an homage to the rest our class.
Probably my crowning moment.
No Hoskins? Last year you ranked him #23 overall and entering All-Star Break he was on pace for a better season than ‘18. Hit in hand in August and production plummeted but seems like a major bounceback/buy low candidate ala Bellinger last year. I dont think he can be #1 overall like Belli but a return to Top 25 overall seems very doable.
Awesome as always G
Espn is the Matt Carpenter of fantasy baseball….
Haha
Hello Grey,
Sharing your love for K. Marte this year, however just read an interesting 2nd base bold prediction article where he was mentioned. Last year in 202 AB’s at 2B he had a .287 BA with 11HR 24R 27 RBI .837 OPS . In 338 AB’s in CF he had .361 BA 23 HR 73R 64 RBI 1.095 OPS.
With S. Marte slated to man CF now and K. Marte at 2B, am I overly concerned about too much regression or do you think he will be OK once he settles into his everyday role at 2B?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts here in AZ
Meh, it’s irrelevant where he plays, I’m not worried
Just what I needed to hear. Thanks!
No problem
You live in California right?
So you have to stay all the way up to 7-730 for an A’s game
Ha, yup
Thanks for everything Grey!! I am in 5 keeper league. My no brainers are Acuna (22nd round), Soto (24 Rd), Freeman (9 rd)
Could you pick 2 out of this bunch please:
Baez (rd 8), Paddack (rd 23), Albies (rd 7), Bieber (rd 11).
No problem! Baez, Bieber…damn good keepers tho
Jordan Montgomery becomes relevant with the Paxton injury. Late flier on him around 220 overall for sure
Yeah, maybe for first six weeks…
10 team Mixed 6×5 Weekly H2H (Standard + OPS). One year keeper – 3 players max:
Gotta pick 3 between:
Story
Soto
Jo-Ram
FTJ
Ideally I’d throw back Fernando with the hopes that I could redraft him and keep him through 2021, but not knowing my draft slot, there’s a good chance he’ll be gone if I don’t have a top pick. Who get’s the axe for 2020?
Thanks
Lose Jo-Ram
Looks like we won’t be trying to draft Paxton this year! Out 3-4 months :(
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2874950-yankees-news-james-paxton-out-3-4-months-after-surgery-on-back-injury
He’s been updated https://razzball.com/top-80-starters-for-2020-fantasy-baseball/
Biggest problem I see is that Giolito, Corbin, Castillo will likely be gone at their rankings. Paddack has fallen to me, but Darvish will likely be gone, as will Paxton, and definitely Woodruff.
I love Villar’s a.b.’s, and if you miss a s.b. top 10, and Mondesi is gone, and Marte will also likely be gone (Starling), Villar will give you s.b.’s. If your prediction of 31 is correct (I’ll be $10k on the over), I’d take Albies before him.
Giolito is ranked way lower in ESPn and Yahoo — in NFBC, he’s going around where I have him ranked, so could be there — I’ve already drafted him once — I love Albies too, so no qualms there
Who do you like better in a dynasty, Ian Happ or Scott Kingery?
Kingery, no question
thanks, amigo!
Paxton, even in the off-season Yankees are being curse by injuries..ugh
Ha, yup
Greyt write up! Getting me super excited for the season to begin. Just out of curiosity, I know your philosophy on drafting pitchers and I follow this religiously, but the biggest (or one of) gaps I say between you and Yahoo was with Tyler Glasnow. Am I reading wrong, or is he not in the top 100? Yahoo has him at 14, absurd, but curious why so large a gap between you and them.
Thanks!
Let’s get this money!
Glasnow is around 120 for me…Dude is not making it through May in one piece
Today is a great day.
Dinelson and Pham are the apples of my eye on that team. SO glad to see you in lock step.
DJ La may hue, La may not hue is a tough call for me. I usually end up with this guy, but I also usually don’t have to pay for him. I think .300 is the basement for the average… and 15 is the basement for the HRs in that joke of a ballpark. So we shall see. I have always drafted him for his floor. Might have to stay away based on pricetag.
With Donaldson so high, I feel like Grey might actually end up owning him this year… whoa. That being said, 3B seems like a pretty easy position to get a very good bat in this year…
I know… I am very alone here, but I hate Villar. I don’t know what it is… maybe it’s the soft Ls because I also am not a fan of Castellanos… but Villar man… I just can’t buy in ever… Not saying I am right. I’m not. But he is a guy that I just will never own.
Meh I don’t love Villar either…yeah, it’s weird, but Donaldson looks good right now…what is the world coming to? Blech on DJ
It’s kinda wow to think about not long ago Au Shizz, Machado, Stanton etc. were top 10 picks.
Much respect to The Fish for staying power.
Looking at my team’s six keepers, everyone is the Top 100 except PEDmeister Montas. Hope he makes it for the 2021 list.
I like Montas a lot but it scares me a little Papa Smurf has him
I am due for some good luck! At least that is what i tell meself ;)
Haha, I like that you talk like a leprechaun
Look at Villar party pooping the Marte Parte
Why ya gotta destroy him like that
In 10 team (OBP) keeper, fairly deep rosters (28 roster spots + N/A), where around 40% of top 100 are kept before the draft, I am keeping Acuna, Soto, Alonso, Eloy, Moncada and Luis Castillo. For the last two keeper spots I am choosing between Morton in the 8th (1 year keeper), Darvish in the 11th(two year keeper) and Wander Franco late (3 year keeper). Obviously Morton/Darvish are now players, while Franco is for 2021 and 2022, but I got to my keepers being what they are by being early on Acuna/Soto/Eloy and having them ride my N/A spot for good long while.
Which two would you keep for this year?
Wander, Yu
being offered Rizzo 1b and Snell SP
for
Garrit Cole SP and Carlos Santana 1b
12t h2h 5×5 QS not wins 12start max per week espn rules. Dynasty.
I dont know why but I cant seem to send Cole away.
My pitching is dominate I won the league last year first time in 15 years. punt saves
Cole, Degrom, Flatery, giolito, Morton, Kershaw, Gray, Yu , minor and Mcclures
Hmm…tough call, think you have to pass
Hey Grey, thanks as always for the rankings.
Yahoo keeper league. Get to keep 5 out of a group of Acuna, Yelich, Jose Ramirez, Clevinger, Alonso, Scherzer, Bogaerts, and Mondesi.
Acuna and Yelich are locked, but I can’t decide on my other 3. I’m leaning toward JoRam, Alonso, and Clevinger. What do you think? Which 5 would you keep?
Thanks!!
Those three work, they’re all great tho
Acuna, yelich, JOJO-RAM, Alonso, Mondesi
not many can steal 50 at the SS position.
Yea, I love Mondesi, just wasn’t sure who to bump for him. Maybe I’ll keep all batters and focus on pitching in the draft.
Can see that too
Hey again – seems like the Betts trade woke everyone in my leagues up + reminded them that baseball is coming! Speaking of . . .
In a keep forever league (12 team roto $260), a very interesting offer just landed in my lap.
I give my $7 Eloy (the part that hurts) + $34 Scherzer (he owns Vlad and has been trying to snag Eloy all year).
I receive a $22 Rendon + $16 Bieber.
Is the Rendon/Bieber side an easy slam dunk for me, or is there a world where you’d prefer the Eloy side?
Seems solid for Bieber side
Thanks.
Need to decide on final keeper (currently keeping Acuna in 6, Snell in 13). Who do you prefer in 12 team points league:
K Hiura (11)
J Bell (17)
Hiura
You should do one of those ‘This not that’ columns this year starring Rizzo and Rendon. Their projections are almost identical.
Yeah, I hear ya
Dynasty keep forever 7×7 w hits/ops and holds/qs
Guy offers me Villar, Eddie Rosario, Stammen for my Bogaerts. Thoughts? I am trying to win this year and maybe I could use stolen bases a bit, not really that much. Offense is pretty stacked currently.
Meh, it’s fair, but nah
Would you stay clear of Mondesi in an OBP league. 7 offensive stats w OBP included.
He’d need to drop a bit, we have OBP rankings https://razzball.com/playerrater-preseason-espnmlb12-5X5obp/
My Angels to win the west bet just got a whole lot better. It’s happening. $20 returns $200. Think the line will drop now some but still a good bet imo if you can still get 8:1
Yeah, solid bet in hindsight
From Trent rush in twitter (numbers before it was known Stripling was also going to the Angels)
Projected WAR has to be taken with a grain of salt, however…
According to Fangraphs, the Angels new projected Batting WAR is 32.5, 2nd in MLB only behind Houston. Dodgers are 3rd at 31.7.
Overall, Fangraphs now projects the Angels as 4th in AL behind HOU, NYY and MIN.The computer now sees Angels as a top 5 team.
Also, the difference between MIN & LAA is razor thin. Twins fWAR is 45.6, Angels is 45.5.
Should Angels land an MLB starting pitcher in rest of deal with Dodgers (as reported), they’d almost certainly move past Twins for 3rd in AL.
They landed Stripling
Oh, I see, you were copying from someone — gotcha
oh baby i hope they get andy pages, big power upside guy, outside chance of like a 55/60/50 guy in hit/power/speed from at least one prospector, probably easier path to playing time on LAA (maybe not though with a few OF prospects in next few years for LAA too). i just drafted him in the mid rounds (6 round draft per year) of my 30 team/40 prospect slots league.
Yeah, saw that on Pages
One more request, is Verdugo’s projection changed with the change of Leagues and ball parks? Like more 2B and less HRs.
Yes https://razzball.com/top-60-outfielders-for-2020-fantasy-baseball/
Hi Grey, i got your projection for eight of my 13 keepers (Tatis Jr, Alonso, Buehler. Machado, Castillo, Paddack, Moustakas, Woodruff) out of your top 102 players. Can you give me the projection for the other five? (LHP Urias, OF Renfroe, Reyes, Verdugo and C Ramos) and 2B Wong, in case i make a change.
https://razzball.com/2020-fantasy-baseball-rankings/
Love this in the Draft Day arsenal! Thanks, Grey. Ross Stripling apparently headed to the Angels. Initial thoughts? Huge reality pickup for the Halos. But how high is he vaulting for us? New Tier here he comes!!
Meh, I’ll write him up, that’s good tho at 1st blush
https://razzball.com/top-80-starters-for-2020-fantasy-baseball/
Thanks!
No problem
Nice list, esp w/ the SP ranked throughout. Not to baaaaadd.
@1:10 on tape – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubKFn8_9znY
Do you make your own clothes?
Haha, I wish!
I will say, as a Fantasy Lothario Renaissance Man myself, I am impressed you own sheep.
Suffolk, Merino or Hampshire?
Suffolk!
I skipped my earlier –Keeper question I need to choose one—Meadows, Rosario, Mancini, Clevinger Paddock or L.Castillo?
Meadows
You forgot to add DeShields to your #86 entry. Should be a fun timeshare!
Looks like I’m with Rudy in the early rounds this year. I like the deGrom pick, and Albies and Stanton are two guys I’m targeting. He’s taking a leap of faith on Carrasco, but it could pay off.
Yeah, Rudy’s team looks solid…He bounced back nicely with a lot of hitting after the deGrom pick…I’m scared of Giancarlo, but I recognize what he can do if he’s healthy — I love Albies
DDS!
Grey! Great job on the rankings!
10tm Keeper league question….6×6 that uses OBP. Keepers can be kept forever.
I won it all last year and had to trade some picks to make it happen so I’m a little light in this years draft. I’ve been offered Mookie and a 1st and 5th round pick for my Mike Trout and a 6th and 9th round pick. My keepers are: Trout, Acuna, Yelich, Trea Turner and Pete Alonso. Are you pulling the trigger on Mookie and picks for Trout?
Thanks! Nah, I’m keeping Trout
Keeper question I need to choose one—Meadows, Rosario, Mancini, Clevinger Paddock or Igleasias?
Or L. Castillo?
I’m not down at all on Olson, but man, you have him loaded in your bong and ready to rip. I noticed you picked Alonso #22 in our DC. If he was gone would you really draft him over your next guy, K-Mart(e)?
Yeah, prolly, but you also have to try to feel out when you can get guys…If I could wait until 3rd round (which I prolly could), I would
A guy who wants Villar has a $3 Ketel Marte. Would you ship your $8 Villar + $12 Glasnow for Ketel? Keep forever. FWIW, I’m not keeping Glasnow as it stands.
If he says no to that offer, he might counter with a $11 Meadows. Would you do give that Villar/Glasnow package for Meadows?
Thanks!
Yes for Ketel, 100%
Meadows seems fine
What kind of bump do you give price in his projections after getting out of the AL east? Thanks
https://razzball.com/top-40-starters-for-2020-fantasy-baseball/
i don’t see david price there
Me praying Lance Lynn doesn’t go sideways like Travis Shaw did last year… I have a feeling knowing how my league mates draft, that I’ll end up with a staff of Berrios, Paxton, Lynn, Woodruff, and Lamet
Also, F* Quintana…
Haha, yeah, I hope same, but Lynn’s perfs look tasty
OBP dynasty keep forever league…which side?
Strasburg, Bryant and Jon Gray
or
Degrom, AJ Puk, Mike Soroka and 2nd pick in the first year player draft
Undrafted prospects that are available in the draft along with all the new players from 2019 draft/intl signings: Spencer Howard, Dylan Carlson, Downs, Skubal, Casas, Groshans. 1 and 2 will most likely be Vaughn/Dominguez though.
DeGrom
Some of your average projections seem like you rolled three dice in the alley behind 7/11.
Trout Career .305 you have him at .285 and he just hit .291 with a BABIP .50 below his career average.
Goldy career .292 you have him at .264 and he just posted a BABIP .45 below career average.
Blackmon Career .304 and you have him at .288, he just posted .314 at career norm BABIP.
Hitters count for 5 categories – and that’s me paraphrasing you. I’d take the over on all these guys.
It’s a Wawa, but close
I keep six in my 10 teamed and I need help deciding my last keeper.
Keeping ;
Acuna (7th round) – 1year
Soto (15) 2 years
Tatis (17) 3 years
Paddack (18) 3 years
Vlad Jr (21) 2 years
We are required to keep at least one pitcher which is why I’m keeping paddack .
My last keeper options are:
Jd Martínez (6) one year
Muncy (14) 3 years
Villar (14) 3 years
Strasburg (3) 3 years
Bell (22nd)
Do I really pass JD here ? Muncy’s postion flexibility is really enticing here, plus I’m already have Soto and Acuna at outfield.
Meh, I’d just go JD
Thanks for this awesomeness!! Drafted my main league today. 12 team 5×5, h2h daily. What do you guys think? I am good with this squad, especially if Lamet comes through.
C – Alfaro
1 – Olson, M
2- Hiura, K
3- Muncy, M
ss-Marte, K
of- TILLDADDY (throw some respec’ on it)
of- Soto, J
of- Harper, B
u- Robert, L
u- Kingery, S
SP- Berrios
SP- Lamet, D
SP- Maeda, K
SP- Wheeler, Z
RP- Kimbrel
RP- Robles, H
P- Leclerc
P- Chirinos
Bench
JD Davis
J Adell
M Keller (P)
R Stripling sp/rp
Houser, A. sp/rp
You waited a while on SP, which I don’t mind, but that’s a tad longer than I say to wait…You might think more of Berrios than me tho
Your hitting is rock solid
Cool, thanks!
No problem
Which three of the following players would you keep? Based on rankings and average stats, I would keep Turner, Cole, and Harper but I keep on going back and forth between either Alvarez or Harper. Do you see any reason to not keep the top three?
Trea Turner: $31
Bryce Harper: $35
Gerritt Cole: $12
Aaron Judge: $16
Yordan Alvarez: $6
Jacob deGrom: $20
I’d go Turner, Cole, Alvarez but you have tons of good options there.
Agree with DT
Betts trade seems like a huge win for Maeda – I know you have him at 44, but my immediate thoughts were exactly the same as yours – this can’t be bad, and he’ll get to face a ton of terrible teams in a pitcher friendly park.
I lucked into a $34 Scherzer keeper via trade last year (he’d go for 50-60 at auction) + have been thinking of who to pair him with as my SP2, since I usually draft the Razzway without a traditional ace. I had been penciling in Odorrizi as my SP2 (who gets no love and seems easily attainable for $10 or less in a 12 team non-pert league) if I can’t get Lynn/Lamet/Ryu, but now I’m seriously thinking about targeting Maeda hard. What do you think of that Scherzer/Maeda pairing?
Verdugo is interesting. I wonder if most people will think it’s a boon for him too, or if they’ll still be down on him. Definitely someone I’m now keeping an eye on too.
Thanks!
Yeah, exactly on Maeda… WE’VE FINALLY MADE IT, ME AND MAEDA
Scherzer and Maeda sounds lovely, but prolly throw in a guy like Lamet too
Verdugo went from 230 overall in Rudy’s rankings to 75
The Maedalorian cometh!
Great to know on Verdugo. Gotta bump him up in my draft cheat sheets.
Yeah, big time
Keeper question for h2h league. Using your rankings as reference would you trade Bregman, Clevinger and Conforto for Bogearts, Berrios and Olson? The reason I ask is you seem low on Bregman and Clevinger and high on Olson and Berrios.
Nah, these are redraft
Thanks Grey. Always appreciate you and this site.
No problem
Love this day each year! Looking forward to digging in.
Seems like the big “must draft” on my list is Olson, given your ranking compared to his ADP of about 40+ picks later. I can currently trade for him for $19 in a keeper league, but his current owner is almost certainly not keeping him + seems like ~$20 is about the average cost of a ~ADP 60 guy…so, just waiting patiently to pounce in the draft!
Thanks!
Nice on Olson, you do have to get him, or else
I could trade for him now, but if I did, I’d be faced with having to drop a $50 Yelich, $7 Matt Chapman, or $8 Villar (great for roto bc I’ll bank his SB then trade in June). Plus, the guy isn’t keeping him, so don’t want to show my hand too much!
Nah, just draft him
Tho, over Chapman maybe
Thought about over Chapman too, but they’re just too similar for 2020 to drop one to take the other at +$12 salary. Would rather just take both bash bros!
Oh, I forgot or didn’t realize there was $12 difference, yeah, doesn’t make sense
Damn. In the middle of a DC draft right now and had no idea that I was picking such a “Grey” team so far…
Turner / J-Ram / Giolito / Springer / Rizzo / Gray / Soler / Edwin Diaz / Contreras / Ed-Rod / Lourdes Gurriel / JD Davis / Heaney / Kela
8 of the top 100 and a few sleepers
Haha, you’re doing the Lord’s work!
Haha. Need an SP with my next pick and Stroman and Musgrove are the top 2 on the board. More Grey sleepers keep popping up. Must have something to do with the fact that I am on a plane to LA. Well, Orange County.
Stroman or Musgrove are both tasty!
My heart is sad after losing Betts in my 10-tm AL only. But! League rules state I get my pick of the spoils that moved to the AL. I can only take one though… Given my remaining keepers below, should I take Joc? Maeda? Verdugo? Not concerned about their 2020 Price… (pun intended)
C Sean Murphy
1B
2B Brandon Lowe
3B Raffy Devers
SS Marcus Semien
CI Jose Ramirez
MI
OF Ramon Laureano
OF Eddie Rosario
OF
OF
OF
DH Nick Solak
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
RP Jose Leclerc
RP
RP
It’s a Two Catcher league, for those curious why I would keep Murphy…
Ouch!
I’d go Verdugo.
Agree with DT
Thanks Grey & DT- is it even close between Verdugo & Maeda for you guys? I worry that Verdugo has big shoes to fill and there might be an attitude adjustment (he was criticized for having poor work ethic by anonymous Dodgers coaches in the LA media). Maeda might help me more in my current setup, since I always seem to have trouble identifying good SP value in both my auction and waiver wire for this league. Slap me out of thinking twice about this!
Yeah, it’s close — if you think Maeda helps your team more, then go that way, I like Maeda a lot
Awesome, thanks for your blessing FML!
No problem
I see the LABR mixed league was completed last night, 4 pitchers gone in the first round, Rudy getting in on the action and 5 more taken in the second round any thoughts?
Pretty standard stuff. Rudy’s in on Stanton!
Here’s the draft board for those interested:
https://www.rtsports.com/baseball/draft-board.php?LID=503843&UID=fantasybaseball&CONF=0&X=1580837109849
A lot of people like taking SPs early…This shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone, people been doing it forever…I wouldn’t…I like what Podhozer did early, but he went a little wonky later with Gallo etc
does anybody have any clue why BOS is suddenly dumping one of the best players in his prime? i get getting out of the price contract, that just makes sense and was a stupid contract when they signed it, but BOS is the exact kind of team that can afford stuff like that (LAD too of course). that’s the kind of trade you see done in dynasty leagues where there actually is a set cap budget and you say “oh yeah a top 10 player and a contract dump for a top 150 (at best) player” and understand why, since the contract dump is a real thing when X is an actual cap. this isn’t the NHL or NFL who have caps though. is the BOS owner suddenly cheap and knows he won’t stop selling out seats no matter what he does? (the CUBS sold out seats for decades of years no matter how awful they were)
Maybe they see him as the next Andrew McCutchen, small build guy who undoubtedly will have some very good seasons but perhaps not a 400 million superstar.
I understand trading him before he hits FA where he’ll command a small fortune. But the timing of it and what they got in return is terrible.
Agreed, though loving it as a yankee fan.
right, but BOS is the exact kind of team (out of like what 6) who can afford these 400 mil deals. the way MLB’s structure works i would entirely get it if BOS was NOT one of those 6 or so teams that can actually pay a 400 mil contract. some teams make and have like 10 or so times the amount that the poorest teams have. if PIT or KC moved mookie out right now that would make complete sense, as he’d never cost near what they could pay by next year and might as well get when they could for him now. unless BOS is suddenly becoming like a richer version of what STL is, a team that hands out large but certainly not the biggest contracts (however they tried to overpay heyward until he took less from CUBS, and they barely underbid the price contract that BOS gave him) and tends to make sure they are at least competitive at all times so they also don’t give away their best prospects usually. BOS has had NO problem overpaying and /or moving out their best prospects for a long time. could be an entirely different way of thinking for them now.
They needed to dump Price and once they reset under luxury threshold they will be in a good position to sign Betts.
Hopefully
He wont sign longterm and wants to hit free agency next year. This way they get some return and got two good prospects instead of him walking next year for nothing.
They tried to get something for him before he left on FA market, but why they couldn’t afford him on FA market is baffling…Suddenly the Red Sox and Cubs becoming small market teams is weird
grey’s point is what i was getting at. i get he wants the big money (and if others can get that he should too of course) but BOS can certainly afford that, while very few others even can.
Exactly…Gonna be wild next year when Betts is choosing between the Dodgers and the Yankees
Perhaps baseball isn’t as profitable as it once was… or at least they see headwinds in the market. And the Ricketts and Henrys need to maintain profit margins.
Yeah, I guess
I was wondering when I’d see Ohtani as a hitter on one of your lists, since I think he’s only Utility eligible. Alas, he’s not even a top 100 player offensively? I guess you don’t see him getting much more than 400 ABs….ever?
Rudy likes Ohtani enough to draft him last night in LABR 8th round
8th round in 15-teamer ~120
FWIW, I have him around there too
That even seems way too generous to me. You hedging to please the body-politic Mr. Albright?
Meh, ~120 seems ok…Not saying I’m taking him….Didn’t DT draft him around 100 overall? What a mess
Meh, I have him ranked, but I see him outside top 100, so much unknown…If I knew he was getting 400+ ABs or 120+ IP, but alas
In a 5×5 al only obp Roto – where you can flip ohtani into a U spot and only use him as a hitter or a pitcher each week, does he compare better or worse than Nelson Cruz as a U asset.
Some owner cant keep him because he has Alvarez who is U only on draft day. Ohtani is $23 like my nelson Cruz who I was going to keep despite the daft day U handcuff. I just feel owning ohtani is a Curse but I might kick myself when he ramps up pitching and I have the ability to put him in for prime matchups
Keep Cruz? Trade for Ohtani? Skip both and keep u flex for the draft?
Ohtani is worse than Cruz in redraft — in a keeper, I’d go Ohtani
I’d trade for Ohtani, and draft Cruz back if you want him
Its a keeper but I am contending. Do you agree with the merits of holding cruz for around 25 bucks as a reliable masher with great OBP.
Here is my planned keep (keep up to 12)
Gleyber 20
Lastella 2
Mondesi 11
Mercado 5
Hays10
Rosario 32 or Nelson Cruz 25 or both
Sisco at 4 or Clint Frazier at 4 or neither
Cole 40
Bassit 7
Baliey 4
Civale 6
Robles 2
Minors
Graterol
Jordyn Adams
How do you feel about the keeps? Springer or JD Martinez will cost 40 at the draft. hell Trey Mancini might be at least 30 hell Domingo Santana went for 35 last year. I think Rosario is value
Please rip this apart
I’d lose La Stella and Hays; keep Rosario, Ohtani and Cruz…Just put Ohtani as SP
Funny thing is you may be out on McNeil, but I will take your projections any day of the week at 2B. Roto avg. is a tough category to account for.
Plus…is he that much worse than Rendon or Vlad..
Yeah, McNeil 18-ish homer power…Vlad and Rendon 32-ish
“Everyone who owns him this year will be disappointed. 2020 Projections: 14-6/2.97/1.04/236 in 191 IP”
Well if those are his projections, sign me the heck up to be “disappointed”!
Ha
Great post as always!
4 keepers in a standard yahoo scoring H2H 14 team league
I’m going with story, Marte, Flaherty and FTJ ..only other realistic option is Scherzer
Thinking I should look to trade story or FTJ for a top3-5 1B, or top 10 OF.
could probably get Soto or JD Maritnez straight up, might have to include marte if I want Bellinger. I know you prefer steals but is it worth carrying two SS? Thoughts?
I’d more him for Soto.
Would also probably keep Max over Marte.
Thundergunn!
Just my 0.02$. Drafted Story and Treat Urner last year 1 and 2. When they weren’t injured I was forced to play both – one in the ss and the other in the MI. It really handicaps your options. So, IMHO, don’t draft 2 SS 1 and 2.
Cheers,
Ante
Agree with DT
Can Verdugo be a top 40 OF now in boston?
For sure he could be
Yes
Don’t I have him ranked at 42 now?
Mercado or Robert for a 4 year keeper contract – no round or $ implications – 40 total league keepers that are taken out of player pool prior to draft.
Robert
Agree with DT
In the words of Ron Swanson, “Give me all the Verdugo & Maeda!”
Yes!
Only have the budget room for two of theses options
McNeil $8
OR
Woodruff$7
Mountcastle/Andujar/Hampson/Hays $1
Woodruff for me
Agree with DT
Ugh. Dallas Braden is the worst, isn’t he?
Literally the worst
FP Santangelo does give him a run for his money, though
Right?!?
if I had a gun with two bullets…
and I was in a room with Hitler, Bin Laden and Dallas Braden.
I would shoot Dallas Braden twice.
HA
You obviously line them all up and shoot them through the neck. Here, let me demonstrate.
Thanks, this is amazing! Early keeper question now that I’ve seen yahoos pre-ranks and your top 100:
We keep 6 in a 6×6 (ops, k:bb ratio) mixed league at the average cost of the players 2019 draft position and this years yahoo ranking. Who gets the boot here (draft round cost in parentheses)?
Bogaerts (3)
Acuna (5)
Alonso (10)
Muncy (12)
Alvarez (14)
Olson (16)
S. Gray (17)
Many thanks!
I’d ditch the 3rd round Bogaerts
Thanks! Agree with DT