Hiyo, whaddup, it’s ya boy, Grey Albright, the King of SWING! SWING, which abbreviates to Swiss National Guard. See, I got this certificate with my Swatch watch–Any hoo! Today is the top 60 starters for 2020 fantasy baseball. You think we’re late into the 2020 fantasy baseball rankings here, but, in this post alone, you might be able to put together a pitching staff. So, let’s do this! Here’s Steamer’s 2020 Fantasy Baseball Projections for Hitters and 2020 Fantasy Baseball Projections for Pitchers. All projections listed are mine and I mention where I see tiers starting and stopping. Anyway, here’s the top 60 starters for 2020 fantasy baseball:
ALL PROJECTIONS ARE BASED ON 60 GAMES PLAYED, DUE TO COVID-19. BE SAFE OUT THERE!
41. Kyle Hendricks – This tier started in the top 40 starters for 2020 fantasy baseball. This tiers ends at Stroman. I called this tier, “Sideways bosom.” As for Hendricks, hHe is such a peak-a-boob, because his stuff has peaked and reads like a sideways bosom every year. It’s ironic he’s a peak-a-boob, because he’s so not flashy. Hendricks is a throwback to a time when just the smallest glances of a sideways bosom could excite and all pitchers threw 7+ K/9, except for Nolan Ryan. This peak-a-boob just makes me nostalgic for another time. Guess I can just say thanks for the mammaries! 2020 Projections: 5-4/3.41/1.12/57 in 68 IP
42. Kenta Maeda – Already gave you my Kenta Maeda sleeper. It was written while burning the roof of my mouth with a slice of pizza. WTF, pizza, why don’t you love me like I love you? UPDATE: Traded to the Twins, because all, and I mean, all things I touch turn to gold. *touches lamé jumper* I’m Beyonce, snitches! This can’t be bad for Maeda. If you want, like, actually facts, fine. The Hubert H. Homerfree Dome is also towards the bottom of the league for homers allowed — it’s in the name of the stadium; the park has always has been terrific for pitchers; the division is goofy with terrible teams. He’ll face the Tigers how many times? The Indians are bad and trying to be worse every day. The Royals had almost as many inside-the-park homers last year as regular ones. Maeda’s about to be a top 20 starter, but I will temper expectations and leave him here. For now. Cue evil laugh! *starts coughing* My evil laugh never comes out right. 2020 Projections: 4-2/3.67/1.10/60 in 56 IP
43. Marcus Stroman – Already gave you my Marcus Stroman sleeper. It managed to be written while inside a refrigerator box. 2020 Projections: 5-2/3.47/1.27/64 in 67 IP
44. Julio Urias – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until Luzardo. I call this tier, “Nirvinyl.” When everyone’s out of the house, for a brief moment, you can put away your khaki pants and daddy issues. Take out your collection of Starling Lineup figurines to keep you company, lift your record player you call Nirvinyl and play from your Wilco record collection. Then your wife and daughters come home early, because the movie was sold out, and want to watch Little Women. So, you put on your too-small-for-your-head headphones and uncomfortably listen to Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. This tier is you chasing bliss, but there’s a chance you’ll never get there. If the last tier was mostly 7-8 K/9 guys who didn’t feel that risky. This tier is slightly different. They’re potentially higher strikeout guys, but with a higher level of risk. In other words, the safety of the bosom doesn’t feel as strong with them. They’re friends of the bosom. Call ’em Bosom Buddies. In general terms, these guys are risky number threes. As for Urias, he’s a top 20 starter if he gets 200 IP. With 200 IP, he gets 245 Ks and 3.50 ERA. I might like him more than Buehler if Urias was guaranteed 200 IP. Let’s just grab a few of the highlights that have my trackpants tingling. Urias had the lowest exit velocity in all of baseball when sorting by 50 batted ball events. That means, he’s the best when including most relievers. When sorting by his 200 BBEs, he has the best exit velocity by almost one full mile per hour. DeGrom’s exit velocity was 85.8 MPH and 12th best; Urias’s was 83.2 MPH. That’s legit crazy. He had the 15th best fastball value, right behind Scherzer. His 95.2 MPH fastball is also a hair better than Scherzer’s. His fly balls were a bit high (literally), and ground balls were a tad low (literally), but he’s a 10+ K/9 guy, who can get his walk rate under 3. So, who cares where people are hitting the ball, because they’re either not making contact at all or very weak contact. It took all the restraint I could muster to not rank Urias in the top 20 overall, because I know it might be irresponsible or just plain dumb to throw him more than 140 IP. While Dave Roberts might have lapses of judgement or just do laps on the bases as he reenacts his steal in the playoffs for the Red Sox, I don’t think the innings will be there. Think Paddack last year. 2020 Projections: 4-2/3.13/1.10/61 in 53 IP
45. Frankie Montas – Already gave you my Frankie Montas sleeper. It had some extra stank on it. 2020 Projections: 5-2/3.45/1.14/65 in 60 IP
46. James Paxton – One thing almost all of the guys in this tier have in common is they were either in the top 20 starters last year or I could foresee them being in the top 20 starters next year. Paxton’s in the former and latter camp. He’s like the Jewish kid going to sleepaway camp in Minnesota to learn kayaking and then afterwards going to the camp in California, which teaches people to not be scared of the water after a traumatic kayak accident. Paxton won’t throw more than 160 innings, but he’ll throw a decent 150+ innings. UPDATE: Paxton is out for 3-4 months with cyst removal surgery. The Yankees are so far ahead of every other team, they’ve already ramped up their scheduled injuries. Ba dum cyst! I was all-in on Paxton prior to this, but now I’m both-feet out. Figure he returns tentatively in May/June, has to ramp up activity and is at risk of setbacks. That’s a no from me dawg. 2020 Projections: 6-2/3.88/1.19/73 in 63 IP
47. Luke Weaver – One major strike against Weaver is the Cardinals gave up on him. The Cardinals don’t give up on good pitchers. The Cardinals make good pitchers out of bad pitchers, then give those bad pitchers away to be bad again on another team. It’s the Cardinals way. That and Yadier Molina singing, “Tradition…Fielder on the roof of my Corolla…tradition!” That’s how that song goes. Weaver had an iffy first full season with St. Louis in 2018 — 8 K/9, 3.6 BB/9, 4.45 FIP. Luckily, that looks like the outlier. His last year — 9.7 K/9, 2 BB/9, 3.07 FIP — matches up with his great partial seasons with St. Louis in 2016 and 2017. He now has a 9.3 K/9, 3 BB/9, 3.88 FIP in almost 300 career innings with a 94 MPH fastball and a newly added cutter. He didn’t limit hard contact as much as I’d like and he could be homer prone. He should be able to throw 170+ IP, even though he just threw 64 1/3 IP, but I’d guess he comes closer to 140 IP. With just about everyone in this tier, I nearly wrote a sleeper for him, and ra-ra-ah-ah-ah, so you can see I’m pretty gaga for him. 2020 Projections: 3-2/3.55/1.12/55 in 51 IP
48. Andrew Heaney – Already gave you my Andrew Heaney sleeper. It remembered my birthday. 2020 Projections: 3-2/3.88/1.22/68 in 58 IP
49. Jesus Luzardo – Already gave you my Jesus Luzardo fantasy. It was Meek Mill’s favorite rookie post. 2020 Projections: 3-2/3.18/1.11/50 in 39 IP
50. Sean Manaea – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until Foltynewicz. I call this tier, “Summer Soystace.” So, you’re seeing this new guru who has his doctorate from the University of Guam and he’s telling you to find inner peace you need to stop eating beef and picking beefs with strangers who drive too slow and/or don’t signal. It’s working so far, and you’re finding your inner ohm while dating this hippie chick at this festival called the Summer Soystace. So, my question for you is, HOW DID THINGS GO SO WRONG?! Which is this tier too. If it’s not clear, I’m not drafting these guys and get out of the Summer Soytace and stop eating seitan! As for Manaea, to figure out what Manaea is going to do this year, you have as much a chance polling 100 randos what Manaea is going to do as reading projections you trust. Plus, there’s a chance here that he could be a 3.50 ERA, 9 K/9, 2 BB/9 guy, and on his way to be a top 20 starter next year. There’s also a chance that his 89 MPH finally catches up to him. I fully expected to trust him this year, but I just can’t. He’s a 7.3 K/9, 4.10 FIP with good command for his career. I’m ignoring his 9+ K/9 in 29 2/3 IP last year, because it makes no sense. His velocity was down and he was a 6.1 K/9 the last year he was healthy. His exit velocity was terrible and his .194 BABIP is goofy low. He just makes no sense to me. Sorry, I tried to understand his appeal. The Samoan thing is cool, but, oh poi, his stats are yucca. (Dropping island disses in my puns like a baller!) 2020 Projections: 3-1/3.91/1.15/51 in 58 IP
51. David Price – Assistant Red Sox GM said Price’s wrist surgery went well and they expect him to be ready for Spring Training. We’ll see what happens once he picks up the controller for Fortnite. Weird narrative that might be completely true, David Price is secretly a 12-year-old maxing out his mom’s credit card for more lives at Candy Crush. UPDATE: Traded to the Dodgers. The phone call to the Dodgers lasted two months for Price/Betts. It was a variation of this since December: “What’s your price for Betts?” “Yes.” “God damn it and your playing-hard-to-get, just tell us your price!” “You got it.” “What is it?!” “What is what?” “The price for Betts.” “No, Price and Betts.” “WHAT?!” And so it went in circles for many months. Finally, the Dodgers and Red Sox got on the same page with a quick Facetime call. “This is our Price.” “Is that David Price? Oh, crap, now we get it.” Okay, so David Price wasn’t bad in Fenway. Are you happy? I said it. Pitchers are good at home; that’s a secret to fantasy that no one wants you to know. Price will be good in Los Angeles. That has not been the issue. Literally everything else has been the issue. Prior to this trade, I didn’t like Price at all. Now, I’m pretty meh on him. I can see a future Price being worth his, uh, price. Just won’t be on my teams. He turns 35 years old this year; the velocity has been falling for two straight years and he hasn’t had a positive year for his changeup since 2016. Also, can you imagine how many tickets Price is gonna have to get now for all his relatives in Los Angeles? “Your last name is Price? But you’re a white kid with a Jewish Star of David. I don’t think we’re related.” What a headache. 2020 Projections: 4-2/3.87/1.25/53 in 51 IP
52. Mike Minor – Clearly, I believe in the Lance Lynn and Jake Odorizzi breakouts from last year, but not Minor’s major one. For those of you unable to open his player page, he had a breakout previously. It was in 2013, and then went sideways for five years. His Ks weren’t even that great (8.6 K/9) for his completely average walk rate (2.9 BB/9). His velocity (92.6 MPH) isn’t bad, and he was really about the change that worked great, but his slider that he throws 20% of the time is the third worst slider in the majors. This is drilling down more than he deserves, because I’d be shocked if he gets 170+ IP and comes close to his career year again. 2020 Projections: 4-3/4.04/1.27/53 in 57 IP
53. German Marquez – He just hurt me soul, Lupe Fiasco. That’s all. Nothing really scary in his peripherals. They look about as good as they looked when I ranked him in my top 20 starters last year. I should be back in on Marquez this year, but after the absolute disaster he wrecked on my fantasy teams and the ulcer? There’s just no way. The good thing with avoiding him is exactly the same as the bad thing that makes us avoid him. Even if he’s good, he’s still going to be in Coors half the time and you’re gonna want to bench him, which is just a nightmare to deal with, because: You in-season, “He had a great start in Dodger Stadium? Oh, man, I have to start him vs. the Marlins in Coors.” Then kaboom. 2020 Projections: 4-4/4.07/1.18/70 in 67 IP
54. Lance McCullers – He has full clearance ahead of Spring Training to fully ramp-up and make them cash registers cha-ching with fantasy value. Lance McCha-ching! Right? Can I get an amen?! Are you with me?! Say hoo-rah if you’re with me and impersonating Al Pacino from Scent of a Woman! Well, he’s good for about 120 IP, at least. He hasn’t thrown more than 128 1/3 IP in one year in his entire major league career. He’s like Ohtani without the DH eligibility. Throw in “returning from Tommy John” and I just don’t want any part this year. The best and worst thing going for him is Dusty may throw him 220 IP and call him Lance McPriors. 2020 Projections: 4-1/3.67/1.19/49 in 45 IP
55. Matthew Boyd – You know what’s fun for me? The first 100 or so people who say something like, “If you don’t want to draft (anyone from this tier), why are they ranked so high?” First of all, they’re not ranked high. These guys are being drafted about ten starters before this. Second of all, and this is a big ‘of all,’ if I’m saying a guy like Odorizzi should be drafted and I’m ranking him 20 spots before he’s being drafted, and saying the same for Gallen, Lamet and Woodruff and Stroman and Urias and so many others, you aren’t drafting 17 starters for your team. You’re drafting at most seven and prolly closer to five. (I suggest six, which I will go over in my pitchers’ drafting tool post coming in a few days.) So if you’ve drafted Odorizzi, Lynn, Woodruff, and Giolito, why the hell would you even be looking at drafting another starter here when I say don’t draft them? It makes no sense. Third of all, there’s no third of all. As for Boyd, his K-rate is interesting — I’m intrigued, y’all! — but his home run allowed rate is silly awful and only one of his pitches is lights-out. The slider’s sexy, but not enough for me to take the journey. 2020 Projections: 4-4/4.27/1.21/77 in 67 IP
56. Mike Foltynewicz – Feels like the guy who is going to get axed for one of the multitudes of Braves sexy armed prospects and there will be more stories than you want to read about how the Braves were so smart to make Faultytukiswitz the long man out of the bullpen. Maybe not smart, but, I don’t know, shot in the dark here, maybe he’s a really iffy pitcher who just had one good season as a starter. 2020 Projections: 3-3/4.21/1.27/50 in 54 IP
57. Joe Musgrove – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until Lucchesi. I call this tier, “Fourcast starring Rainn Wilson and Dew Barrymore.” This tier is filled with starters who the forecast calls for you to get wet. That could mean the NSFW definition of getting wet or you just getting all wet from screwing up by drafting one of these guys. This tier is risky number fours, but I like them all. As for Musgrove, already gave you my Joe Musgrove sleeper. It was written on the napkin under a million dollar idea. 2020 Projections: 4-4/3.87/1.19/62 in 66 IP
58. Carlos Martinez – No joke, I seriously thought I wrote a Carlos Martinez sleeper, and maybe I can still, though time is crunched once I start doing my rankings. He has a 3.48 FIP in 864 2/3 IP in his career with a near 9 K/9. If he’s healthy, is there any doubt that he will be good? I know, I know, I KNOW! That if has its own zip code. But there’s a ton of question marks for everyone ranked this low. Could it be possible that C-Mart becomes the closer again? I guess, but the Cards have said they want him in the rotation and he wants to be in the rotation, so unless there’s some issue getting him into the rotation — have you tried Waze? — everyone seems to be on the same page with getting him into the rotation. Honestly, if I drafted him here and got 30+ saves instead of 120 IP, 3.50 ERA innings, I’d be okay with that too. In fact (Grey’s got more!), when I rank him in the top 500, it’ll be around 180ish (give or take 20 spots) and if they announce he’s going to close, I wouldn’t move his overall ranking. C-Mart feels to me like a guy who will move up in everyone’s mind once everyone sees him in the spring, like he’s some kind of groundhog. 2020 Projections: 3-4/3.51/1.25/50 in 47 IP
59. Adrian Houser – He had a 3.72 ERA and 9.5 K/9 in 111 1/3 IP in Milwaukee and you’d be lucky eh-eff to own him. Move him fifty spots up in the rankings! Wait, he had a 5+ ERA in Triple-A. Hmm, maybe it’s better we leave him here. Girl, I will house Houser for the right price, but while last year was encouraging, it doesn’t fully coalesce with his previous seasons. There might be something here though. He recorded a ton of weak contact and the launch angle (4.4) he elicits is hilarious. That was the 5th best in the majors. As you can imagine, everything he throws ends up hitting a worm, anthill or, even worse, a sand castle. Honestly, I should’ve prolly wrote a Houser sleeper post and I’m drafting him at least once. Girl, I will house Houser! Damn, now that’s stuck in my head. 2020 Projections: 4-3/3.81/1.22/60 in 59 IP
60. Joey Lucchesi – Full disclosure alert! I can’t see myself actually drafting Lucchesi. I would, so he’s in this tier, but will I be able to? You see Houser and others ranked above him and being drafted below him, so chances I get all the way into this tier and am still drafting Lucchesi seems remote at best. I’m kicking myself that I likely won’t own Lucchesi, but you have to draw the line somewhere. Yes, guys in one tier are all interchangeable, so who knows, maybe, but there’s a bunch of pitchers in this tier who I really like who are above him. As for Lucchesi specifically, he has going for him the exact opposite as Marquez. He has meh stats, but Petco for at least half the starts, where he had a 2.56 ERA in almost 100 IP last year. 2020 Projections: 4-4/4.05/1.24/65 in 67 IP
CLICK TO SEE TOP 80 STARTERS FOR 2020 FANTASY BASEBALL
8
Hi! Dynasty keeper question. I can keep 5 out of this 6 in a 7×7 roto league with no round or money value.
Yellich
Lindor
Jose Ramirez
Areando
Rednon
Flaherty. Part of me wants to keep the 5 hitters and just draft pitching. Part of
me also wants to keep Flaherty over Rednon. Thoughts?!!
How many teams? Take questions to my newest post
8
Manaea is one of those guys who’s name sounds cool — similar to his teammates’ also cool-sounding names — Luzardo and Montas — but the #s don’t match up. So you rationalize by looking at last year’s nice small sample and let it rip!
Fantasy Baseballers all about that name value!!
Yeah, not into Manaea at all
Since I’ll be here pretty much all year, some quick insights into my board: pretty much have 5 tiers/colors for how I look at players.
1. Target, very undervalued, or sleeper (Yellow and bolded in Excel!) — e.g. Moncada, Lynn, Mercado
2. Undervalued (yellow) — Laureano, Rizzo, Conforto
3. Fair value (clear; no color) — Muncy, Semien, Lamet
4. Overvalued / volatile profile, but interested a round or two later (blue) — Biggio, Danny S, Bauer
5. Not interested (grey, (not Grey!)) — Altuve, Realmuto, Kershaw
My initial quick and fast pass through, before looking at numbers, had Manaea as a potential value / target. Now he’s blue — needs to fall.
Idk, just perspective from someone who’s obviously into this madness we call fantasy baseball, but not as deep as you. Might explain why people hyped! Might explain why I’m unhinged!
Haha, good stuff! Agree with almost all of these…Manaea I thought I might be into until I looked at him
Touche!
Haha
Grey- It was a 12 teamer. I do 1 Draft Champions in early january. Not a fan of 15 teamers. I answered your reply above at 9:47. Would like to get your reply to my reply.
Thanks.
Replied above
Soto has never gone past 15. Stras has never gone past 34. Alvarez hasn’t gone past 39 since maybe the 1st draft. I reached for Magill because I will need a 3d closer if CMart starts. I reached for Madrigal because I thought I needed s.b.’s, and a good b. avg. always helps. I know you don’t like drafting catchers early, but Grandal at 106 looked too good to pass up. I drafted Antana at 130 because I could use a 1b/of and needed s.b.’s. My option was Edman, but I was able to get Biggio @159, 2 rounds after his adp.
So I’m interested with where you see a problem. I respect you and would want to hear your take. I’m going to be doing 3-4 more drafts.
Good news is that Fantasy Pros gave my team a C+, the same score they gave my championship team, as well as my Super team, and 2 other lg. champions. haha
Hey Grey — I’m in a 12-team, 6×6 OBP/QS league, can keep at least 10 with the option to add on draft picks (everyone’s first 10 picks are designated keeper slots). Right now my keeper options (roughly in order of preference) include Trout, Trea Turner, Corbin, Cole, Altuve, Eddie Rosario, Muncy, Gray, Mancini, Walker, Escobar, Hoskins, and Carlos Martinez.
I love Trea, but I think there are some minor reasons for caution and I’ve gotten a bunch of trade offers: Trea for Giolito or JV/Benintendi, Trea for JDM/K. Marte, Trea for Stras/Mercado or Biggio/pick, Trea for Stras/Donaldson
Given that I’ve already got a good base of pitching, not sure it’s the best allocation of resources but wondering your thoughts. Thanks!
These trades are not good
End of prior league roster includes following position players and pitchers from which I may keep as many as five: Wilson Ramos, Paul Goldschmidt, Nick Senzel, Starlin Castro, Trea Turner, Javier Baez, Matt Olson, Cody Bellinger, Marcell Ozuna, Jorge Soler, Victor Robles, Adam Eaton, Alex Kirilloff, Mitch Garver, Gerrit Cole, Roberto Osuna, Hansel Robles, Jake Odorizzi, Ty Buttrey, Ryan Pressly, Rich Hill, Aaron Nola, James Paxton, Forrest Whitley, Michael Kopech, Chris Sale. Thinking of keeping Cole, Bellinger, Turner, Baez and Olson. Any suggested alternatives?
Works for me
what’s yr thoughts on j.lindblom MIL SP, for my 30 team league he’s up in week 1 out of 5 for FA bidding. i’ll want 6 SP at end of it before season and have sale/yarbrough/rey lopez. he’ll probably cost about nothing, the player rater has him as a .9 total and barely negative per game (so for normal sized leagues he’d be at best a streamer, for here though nice solid cheap guy). player rater expects 151 innings. there are big name SP to bid on (most of them in weeks 1 and 2) with:
ryu, boss tanaka, maeda in week 1 and
greinke, in week 2. but having 21 mil on sale for 2 years i’d probably not want to spend on greinke’s likely cost and ryu will probably be over bid too due to ERA. maeda i’m probably better targeting as a top end type (relatively of course, not 20 mil money). currently roster is:
C (1)
CI (2) mcneil (MI/OF)
MI (2) barreto, dannys antana (CI/OF)
OF (3) fraley, e.rosario, d.fisher (could and probably will cut, as i have money to bid on others and would get back half of his 2.35 mil)
util (1) demeritte (OF)
SP: sale, reylo, yarbrough
RP (room for 6): b.martin
also have adell coming up possibly soon so bidding on OF at all should be far behind getting one of these per position at least:
MI: mostsuckass (he’s CI too), cesar, peraza, arraez, wong, andrus (only andrus is week 1 bidable in this list), la STELLA (CI too), edman (MI/CI/OF)
CI: c.cron (he’s probably who i’m going after in week 1, not many good HR guys + playing time out here), canha, votto, thames, franco, hosmer, j.turner
my remaining budget is just over 73/115 mil, and at most 15 spots to fill (if i drop d.fisher) so 4.87 per roster slot. will probably try to get at least 2 RP that might get saves or at least a ton of holds (and might overbid on those to 6-8ish as the very top guys just went for 12-15 but i’d never spend that on a RP). week 1 bids are due in just under 12 hours.
https://razzball.com/player/458676/Josh+Lindblom/
All of my blurbs are on player pages
sheeit, my ass, forgot you just got up to probably more than 60, been busy as of late.
scratch that he’s probably a good deal lower than 60th. but having the blurbs indexed at the player pages is a quite new and good idea for sure.
Yeah, Duda suggested and we implemented it
No problem
hehehe, i’ll come off looking like i have some kind of asian fetish, the only SP in this week i just bid on are in this order:
ryu (but our max bid for a 1 year deal is for 12 and he simply won’t be won for that)
maeda
tanaka
lindblom (not asian but was playing in asian league)
Jumped in a 7:00 p.s.t. draft after I got an e-mail from NFBC offering me a $40 discount, as they needed to fill it up. I’ve become such a junkie (that’s what winning an overall could do) that I did. Draft actually went off at 7:06 (time to set KDS preference).
10th draft slot (not my favorite);
Story(back to back nights)
Soto
Strasburg
Yordan (hope he gets his o.f. eligibility by June)
Paddack (back to back nights)
Hader (1 of my m.v.p.’s last year)
Woodruff (wanted to own him somewhere)
Muncy (back to back nights)
Grandal (had to take him @106)
Tim Anderson
D. Santana (hoping for close to a repeat)
Neris
Fried (3d time I drafted him out of 4 drafts, but this draft @154)
Biggio (there at 159)
JD Davis
H. Dozier
C.Mart (@202 and read your comments on him)
Walker
Yarbrough
Molina
Renfroe( was short on o.f.’s)
Madrigal (may need the b.avg. and s.b.’s he’ll bring when he comes up)
Magill (assuming C.Mart starts, I needed a 3d “closer”)
Canha (back to back nights)
McKay(@298)
Goodrum
Matz(not a fan but Chirinos was taken in the 24th round)
Cueto (in case CMart closes, I need a 6th s.p.)
Adames
Fletcher (haha, back to back nights, but I read your comment to me that you honestly don’t mind Fletcher in the 30th round).
Thanks for your input, past and present, now that I’ve earned some deference from you. haha
Is this a 12 teamer? Nice team. He doesn’t have the profile that I usually look for, but I think that Tim Anderson is being undervalued. 20/20 player coming off of a batting title. Even if that average drops down into the .275-.280 range, that’s a steal. Fried should provide a nice profit. Dozier and Walker look like good values too. Matz and Cueto for matchups. Solid.
If it’s not too much trouble, could you tell me where certain players went off the board? Albies, S. Marte, Kershaw, Stanton. Machado, Cruz, Berrios, Bichette, Mercado, Hampson, K. Hendricks, Weaver. Just some players that I have my eye on, and I’m curious how their ADP matches up with your draft results. Thanks.
Online Championship- NFBC
Love Albies and drafted him at 32 the night before last. ADP around 36-38. Was prepared to draft him at 34, but Strasburg was there. Don’t remember if Albies was there at 39, but Yordan was there, and that was a no brainer.
Starting around 29-30.
Stanton/Machado mid 60’s.
Berrios right before Woodruff.
Bichette early- mid 70’s.
Love Mercado but went before I could take him. 10th round. I’ve taken him in 2 of 4 drafts.
Hampton/Hendricks 13th round.
Weaver went 16th round last night. Had been going 17th where I drafted him.
I keep an eye on adp, but will jump when I like a player. Last night was the 1st draft I missed on Olson. Had 58th pick and was drafted a few picks before, I took Paddack over Yu. Then drafted Hader @ 63.
On my Championship team last year, I got Hader in the 12th round @139. Then again I drafted Kimbrel in the 8th.
I like all of your guys except for Giancarlo who has burned me 2 or 3 years in a row.
Your welcome.
Yeah, I’m high on Albies too. Hasn’t reached his power peak yet, and has the speed and success rate to swipe more bags. Great contact rate, switch hitter, sandwiched between Acuna and Freeman, etc. .280/25/15 floor, and .300/30/20 wouldn’t surprise me. Eyeing him in the 3rd.
I’m diggin the bats in the 5-7 range. Stanton, Machado, Cruz, Rizzo/Goldy/Abreu if you need a 1B. Just seeing if there’s any variance there.
Might roll the dice on Hampson and hope his September convinces Black to play him. Tough to find players with his type of upside that late on draft day (in-season callups are a different story).
Already piecing together different potential rosters from various draft slots. I live for this time of year, and I get the sense that you do too, that’s why I hit you up. Thanks for the response, man. And good luck!
My pleasure buddy. I loved this time of tear before I won the overall. I’ve already done 4 drafts, excluding my 1 Draft Champions which I use for preparation for the 12 teamers. Can’t believe I won 2 of my lgs. in Draft Champions. No juice w/out FAAB.
I shy away from injury prone players. Drafted Stras on 2 of my teams already, but I’m hoping he’s relaxed and confident enough now to give me another injury free year. He looked effortless last year, and at his age, pedigree, and with his new contract, I trust him more than Snell or Sale or even Scherzer and Kershaw, given their multiple trips to the I.L. last year.
So even as a Yankees fan, I shy away from Judge, and Giancarlo has burned me 2 years running, at least. Machado, Rizzo, Goldy, and Abreu are as reliable as they come. Cruz is a freak, and my hat is off to him big time, but age plays into it for me.
Don’t trust Black, and don’t trust Maddon, which is why Happ may findlly get consistent a.b.’s.
Signed up at the last minute last night, and I wasn’t entirely prepared for the 10th slot. Agree w/ Grey that b.avg. is a concern, which is why I jumped up for Madrigal. Probably bid on a replacement for Fletcher since I just don’t envision playing him. V. Reyes, Dubon, and and a couple of others undrafted can help with b. avg.
G/L this year.
Very nice. Tough to follow up those results, but gotta try, right?
Stras scares me. Hasn’t been the most durable guy over the years, and just had his heaviest workload ever. Lots of extra postseason innings. Should be excellent if he can stay on the mound though.
I’m fading Snell, Sale, and Scherzer too, but I do like Kershaw. His profile is still very strong even with the lost velo. Settling in as a sort of better version of Greinke, imo. He’s cheaper than those other guys too.
Stanton is a risk, but he’s still only 30. He’s had a long time to recover back to full health now, and he’ll see lots of time at DH. Most affordable he’s been in years.
I don’t trust Black or Maddon either, but I’m betting on Hampson’s talent finally winning the day. I think that guys like Murphy and Desmond will have a short leash this year. We’ll see. La Stella is intriguing too, even though Maddon didn’t play him back in Chicago. Super cheap. Probably a fool’s errand to pull the trigger on those guys, but they could pay off in a big way too.
Your batting average doesn’t look too bad. Story, Soto, Alvarez should be around .290, Anderson and Davis around .280. Don’t see too many sub-.260 players. Maybe Grandal, Biggio, Renfroe. Should be fine if you keep an eye on it.
Love Grandal. I’m talking Muncy, Biggio, and Renfroe. That’s why I jumped om Madrigal. When he comes up (hopefully by early May), he has a magic bat and super speed. So I have him. I’ll likely replace Fletcher, who I can’t envision playing, for a high b.avg. player who’ll play every day. There are 3 or 4 players left on the waiver wire who I’ll bid on week 1. Biggio may surprise, but Muncy won’t and I have season tix to Padre games for 35 years, and Renfroe will hit h.r.’s and be lucky to bat .250.
Thinking Victor Reyes, Nico Hoerner, or Hansel Alberto.
Good news is that behind Stras I have Paddack, Woodruff, Fried, Maeda, CMart, and Yarbrough. If you have a chance look at my pitching cats from last year.
Cole/Corbin/Clevinger/Castillo/Hader/Hendriks/Rogers, and added Lynn early on.
I drafted out of the 10th spot. 10/15, and then add 24 spots, then 5 and so forth.
Agree with Magoo…I like this team a lot, don’t have a problem with much of it, it does look like a 12 teamer, even though I know it’s not…Which is a huge compliment!
Thanks, but unfortunately , it is a 12 teamer. Same on line championship as the night before. I did my one and only Draft Champions. I’m not a fan of 15 teamers. If the Main Event was a 12 teamer, I’d enter a few teams.
Guess the huge compliment was misplaced. haha
Good news is that Fantasy Pros gives it a C+, the same grade it gave my championship team last year, as well as my Super lg. winner.
Where do you see a problem ?
Ah…It is a 12 teamer…Well, that’s fine, it looked like a 12 teamer! I thought it was insanely stacked for a 15 teamer…
Only thing that jumps out as a real concern is AVG, but not terribly… As I said, I like the team
And Fantasy Pros team evaluator is useless, as your last year’s team proves
There you go. Thanks Grey Man ! Yeah, b. avg. Muncy, Biggio, Renfroe for starters. One of the reasons I reached for Madrigal. If he can get his magic bat up to the bigs sooner than later that would help. Dozier and Walker shouldn’t be that bad, but Muncy, Biggio, and Renfroe are negatives.
Appreciate you pointing that out. If I want to repeat (cough cough), better find a way to fix that. Getting Moustakas would have helped a little, but Biggio’s s.b.’s will come in handy.
Too bad there’s no trading. haha
Yeah, I love Madrigal for that reason on your team… He should hit .290+, and be up by May… I really don’t hate the team though…Good balance of power/speed and nice pitching…
Kendrick, Alberto, Sogard, Victor Reyes, Hoerner, and Dubon on waivers….guess I can flip Fletcher for 1 of them since I don’t envision playing him.
Would you recommend any of them ?
I’d probably rank them, with playing time the biggest consideration :
Reyes
Alberto
Dubon
Hoerner
Kendrick.
If Kendrick would be every day, he’d be #1.
Yeah, but Howie won’t play…Hanser is interesting for AVG
Yeah, too soon to know who you should move on to, but there’s some options there
If it was a 15 teamer, I would have had pick 10, then pick 20, then add 30 picks from the 10th pick, and so on and so forth. Zero chance (and I mean zero chance) you can draft this team in a 15 rounder. If I could, I’d play in the Main Event. 360 players v. 450 players.
Yeah, gotcha…Magoo’s comment threw me off for a bit…
Kendrick, Alberto, Sogard, Iglesias, Victor Reyes, Hoerner, and Dubon are all on waiver wire, and all hit .280 or better last year. Problem is I like the power that Muncy, Biggio, and Renfroe provide.
Yeah, too soon to know who you should move on to, but there’s some options there
Thanks again, Grey. Enjoy the Super Bowl.
You too!
Hey grey, I was offered a first round pick for scherzer. it’s a 12 team 5×5 roto keeper with no costs. We keep 8. As of now I’m keeping Trea, Bregman, Baez, Alvarez, Freeman, JDM, Bieber and Max. If I traded max I would be keeping one of Giolito, Corbin, Bauer, Meadows, Villar or Hoskins. Is a first rounder enough for Max considering I would have a decent replacement?
And which guy would you keep from that group if I dealt Max. Thanks!
Works for me…Take Giolito and the 1st rounder
Grey! Was chatting the other day about taking good ratio RPs in a 10 team svhd cats league as opposed to traditional closers. Would you reach for guys like Gallegos, Nick Anderson, and Ryan Pressly to ensure you get them? Or hope they make it to their approximate ADP? ADPs listed in yahoos mock draft room are as follows: 179, 200, 239 (respectively). 212, 262, and 385 on NFBC though…
You can take any of them and I’d wait until around 200 before doing so
Perfect that’s what I needed. I’m super bummed that our draft won’t be until April 4th this year. We are all in optometry school and have our national boards exam in the middle-end of March. Not enjoying the wait. Hoping that doesn’t drive the price of guys like Gallegos and c mart too high come draft time.
Sadly it prolly will drive up theirs prices… good luck with your boards!
Yo grey – would you trade an 8th round and 12th round pick for a 5th round and 15th round pick? Not sure how to evaluate draft pick trading.
I’d want a 5th rounder
I was thinking if I did that I could make a play for both darvish and Olson. I looked at olsons statcast data on your recommendation and it is legit bonkers. Thing is – it isn’t too far off from his previous years!
He’s coming into his own…Yu/Olson obviously works for me too
Just think about the players who would be going there…Ketel/Joe Jimenez vs Rhys/Maeda
Yup! We have about 20 keepers so the names are a bit different but the concept remains.
Yup!
Traded $10 Jeff McNeil for $2 Ramon Laureano. H2H Points league, $260 cap. What side do you you take? K’s count -1
Nice!
mitch
12 team auction/13 player keeper league: Who would be your last 3 keepers
1. Ozuna $21
2. Keller $4
3. Heaney $4
4. Montas $4
Keller? Mitch?
Not him
It’s Mitch Keller.
Ayo Grey, just starting to dig into baseball for the upcoming year. We play in a 5×5 12 team roto keeper that allows us to hold 8 with no costs. Who should I be keeping?
So far I have : Trea Turner, Bregman, Freeman, Yordan Alvarez and Baez.
I have 3 spots left for some combination of :
JD Martinez, Meadows, Villar, Hoskins, Scherzer, Corbin, Giolito, Bieber, Bauer.
Who ya got?
Thanks.
JDM, Bieber, Scherzer — Nice keepers!
Thanks! I have been offered a first round pick (8th overall) for Scherzer. Think it’s worth it to make the move? And who would you keep in place of Max out of that group.
Who is your Trevor Williams of 2018 this year??
https://razzball.com/ryan-yarbrough-2020-fantasy-baseball-sleeper/
Last question before kickoff. Between JoRam and Freeman (@17) ?
Jo-Ram
I was all set and poof, must have seen your rankings. Ended up with Muncy as my 3d baseman. Literally had 1 3d baseman until the 30th round. Panicked (can you really panic @ pick 353) and took Fletcher. I would rather have taken Longo, Frazier, or Maikel, but I was burnt out. He’s certainly not JoRam, but Story, Albies, Laureano, Mercado, Swanson, and Madrigal (please come up by May) should give me a decent base of s.b.’s.
Like mt outfield of Laureano, Rosario, Mercado, Gurriel, and Canha. Added Happ and Calhoun in the 300’s.
Nabbed Olson for my 3d straight draft.
Buehler, Castillo, Paddack, Hendricks, Maeda, Stroman, DeSclafani, and Chirinos as my 8 man staff.
Read your blurb on Jimenez, so after he was taken, I grabbed Kennedy. I think K.C. is better than Detroit, and @$14 mil. I think he has a long leash.
Looks like a solid team! I don’t mind Fletcher that late honestly
With Rendon locked in, where’s he going to play ? Not at s.s. Rather have Fletcher than Longo, Frazier, or Maikel ?
Fletcher can play everywhere on the field
Thanks , bro !
No problem
Grey,
I’ve got 12 decent keepers in a keep 11
Would I be giving up too much in Paddock and Ohtani (p only) for Buehler?
Sounds a bit much
1st draft ever, I won’t be drafting a starter until 4th round. I’ve taken Giolito on both of my drafts, so thinking Castillo/Corbin if they’re there at 41., and maybe Darvish, if he’s there at 56. But these guys bid up starters like crazy.
Sounds like a plan! I love those guys
Stay close. haha Have 15 picks between odd and even numbers, with 8 my 1st pick. I owe you, Grey Man.
Haha
thanks bro. Like Albies over Ketel ? multi position v. 23 yr.old stud who can get 700 plate appearances .
Sounds fine
Grey, if you’re still around. Have the 8th pick. I love Story. Probably take JoRam at 17. Then it’s Albies or Gleyber. If you’re around. Thanks
Draft starts at 6:30 our time.
What’s the question? I like Albies between him and Gleyber
I’m drinking a boba tea rn. Fav flavor?
I also have a mustache and prefer cougars. Am I your son?
I’m drinking boba flavor right now too! Strawberry Matcha latte — yeehaw!
You are my son
Sorry, son, Mancini isn’t real
Just gonna ignore that last part. The waitress recommended I get strawberry, but she said it was “basic” so I went with peach.
You are so basic!
Welcome back (to me… I can see you’ve been here).
6 player keeper league w/ OBP.
1- Got offered Rendon for Mondesi. Much as you love the guy, I think I have to say yes to this one, right?
2- Set keepers are-
– Acuna
– Mondesi/Rendon
– Alonso
– Machado
Choices then become 2 out of-
– Benintendi
– Hoskins
– Puig
– Tucker
– Franmil
– E Escobar
– Danny Santana
– Clevinger
– Kershaw
– Glasnow
Thoughts? Excited to be back!
1. Yeah
2. Clevinger, hmm…Tough call…Franmil?
thanks. we can trade keepers for higher draft picks, so i may try to push some guys and see who’s left. I’ll likely be repeating a version of this question to you in about a month.
No problem
Why does Houser miss bats? A sinker baller with a bad curve has 9.5 K/9, I’m confused!
I don’t follow your question
Sorry I don’t know how to explain this without being long winded.
If you look at the top 3 guys by groundball rate that qualify you get Castillo, Stroman, and Hudson. Houser falls right below them at 53.4% (great). The problem is that Stroman and Hudson have K/9 of 7.8 and 7.0 respectively. Castillo has his sick nasty change-up which is why he broke out to a double digit K % last year.
Houser doesn’t have that. If you look at his statcast splits the only pitch that rates better than a .275 xWoba is the sinker. And his curve/slider spin rate is the 3rd percentile (yuck).
So basically the question is why should we expect him to reproduce a decent K/9 versus where Stroman and Hudson are?
I want to put this in perspective. Houser is ranked around 210 overall in my rankings as of right now, so we’re deep. Stroman is at 150. I’m not saying he’s Castillo or even Stroman… Castillo is a #1, Stroman is a #3, and Houser is an upside 4… .275 wWOBA is arbitrary… He had a 29.7% Whiff% on his fastball and a .203 BA (.190 xBA)…His Sinker was great like you said… So he’s a two pitch guy who added a slider for the first time and it was awful, as you said…If his 2nd year is better with his slider, or if he just throws it less, for his price at (ADP: 265), he’s well worth the gamble on a guy with a 8.75-9.20 K/9 ability and great ground ball tendencies…
The Mets signed Matt Adams. There goes Dom Smiths playing time..I hate the METS!
Meh neither are gonna be much of a factor
True. Do you like the DH for the NL?
Yup
Good stuff as usual Grey! I prolly should have waited on my first 3 drafts cause you have some sweet pitching gems that I missed out on. Oh well…still have 5 more to go!
Just curious, for amusement only, what might be your sleeper(s) for World Series this year. I think the payouts on the following are intriguing:
Cin-30-1
Ari-40-1
CWS-40-1
Tex-50-1
TB-25-1
Clev-25-1
I think my order of preference is listed above. Of those above, or those not listed, which grab your kilbasa?
Thanks! Cincy vs. CWS
Some of Houser’s stats came in relief innings, he was over 4.50 ERA as a starter. Also only had 2 starter wins and 2 QS. Apparently he starts yakking on field if he goes longer than 4 IP.
Yup, hopefully he’ll be more stretched out, bc he was great overall
If Albies and Mondesi are available (3d round-12 teamer) who are you taking. Have them in a virtual deadheat.
Mondesi
Draft strategy question: in a svhd league would you be ok completely letting known commodities pass and just grab a bunch of Giovanny Gallegos/Nick Anderson/Ryan Pressly types in round 18-25 (10 team)? The more I look at it, the more I believe there is basically no reason to waste a draft pick on a RP before then…
(For what it’s worth I doubt anyone in my league will be hunting for non closing RPs)
Yes, SAGNOF — though I do like guys like Joe Jimenez who will get saves and are cheap
In the past I’ve always taken sagnof with a grain of salt and drafted at least one top ten type closer. But especially in this casual svhd league I’m committing to full blown sagnof. Excited to reap the benefits!
Unrelated question: 6 of your top 20 starters will be kept in this league (snell, Bieber, clev, Giolito, Castillo, and Corbin – plus ryu or paddack)… are you ok with severino or darvish leading your staff in this case?
Oh, yeah, in SVHD leagues, I wouldn’t mess with any closers, I’d just draft good ratio RPs — I’m fine with Darvish, Severino
Loving the overall top 60 SP over the past few days.
Standard 5×5 NL only 10 team league – based on your write ups And projections on Castillo and Soroka, can you identify a few guys you would recommend joining with them in my starting rotation; recognizing Soroka is lighter on ks, I think I would still want him as my number 3 in NL only. I would love a few off the cuff suggestions.
I’ll be going over exactly how to draft a rotation next week after the top 100 SPs
best post of the year!!!!
love grey’s draft strategy for sp
Thanks!
Trade Puig for Giancarlo?
Sure
Why doesn’t Weaver get a pass for forearm strain while Glasnow gets bumped down because of it? Just because Weaver is being taken later?
Yeah, pretty much… If Glasnow was going around 200 overall, I might be in on him too
What ya think of this one ?
Trade Ohtani (pitcher only yahoo) and Dahl for Benintendi and CMart.
15 team keep 11 obp
Besides Ohtani my other pitchers I may keep are: Paddock, EdRod, Wheeler, Ryu, Gallen
Happy Friday!
Honestly, that trade could go either way
Great stuff again.
Love the breakdown on Julio Urias. Hoping they’ll push him to 150 innings this year. It really is time to let him and run with the ball and do his thing. Next year, yeah, he could be really huge. Wouldn’t shock me at all.
It also wouldn’t shock me if they held him to 120 innings. I mean, at this point, why not coddle him another year. Baby steps. He’s done fine with how they’ve handled him. No reason to get greedy with all the pitching they have and burn his arm up when he’s on the cusp of something special. So yeah, we’ll see.
Either way, I think 2021 is looking really good for Julio.
Yeah, will depend on IP for Urias…I am officially worried the Dodgers will trade for Price and bump Urias (or Maeda)
It’s a close finish and the judge has asked for a photo! And it’s Houser by a nose! Ha – now you got me thinkin ’bout Hose as a mid to late guy. We shall see, thanks man
It’s a full House!
10 team H2H points league
I can only keep one SP and have both Beiber and J. Flaherty. Who do I keep?
Thanks.
Damn, tough call…Flaherty
ah another season!! good to be knee deep in razzball rankings again. i’ve inherited an nl-only team in keeper league where extending contract brings salary up $5/season. would you be extending (or just keeping for 2020) these guys with expiring contracts & their current salaries: urias @ 1, mcneil @ 8
$280 salary btw
and ten team roto, classic 5×5. i’m amateur hour over here missing the vital info
Good to see you, man! In NL-Only, I’d extend them, that’s Julio Urias, not Luis? $6 and McNeil $13
Thanks, good to be seen. Yes, Julio. Not drafting for character.
would you go $1 each for flyers on Haseley and Hoerner? i’m leaning yes at the price but sometimes better off with more open roster spots going into the draft. also am already planning on a lot of MI (though some can play elsewhere) – mcneil, baez, albies, edman.
rest of probable keepers: carson kelly, bryce harper, gallen, musgrove, urias, lugo. good bargains on most of these imo.
don’t need to decide until i believe march so i can also watch for spring training news.
Haha
Yes for $1, for sure… But of course PT in spring could make a difference
This is one of my 8 team leagues. This my current list of possible keepers and their 2020 salaries. Freeman $26. Devers $5. Lindor $13. Turner $10. JD Mart $16. Betts $16. Trout $71. Acuna $5 Cole $19 Scherzer $30 Verlander $16. Which 3 would you NOT keep? I think Verlander and Cole are no brainers but need little help with the rest.
Out of how much $? $71 seems like a lot for Trout… Scherzer, Freeman, Trout, maybe…Can’t you make any trades?
$260 budget. Sure I can trade someone but for what. Maybe Story or Bellinger would be an upgrade for a few. but I think I’m prey set with choosing from this group. Nice dilemma to be in I guess
Yeah, it looks good
Dinelson the MET!?!?
Wait, what? Did he get traded?
LOL, didn’t see that coming. I was trying to be my witty self, as in Dinelson Lamet, La =the in spanish. Oh never mind, not as funny as I thought.
Ah…Haha
Say it aint so
Maybe more of an Itch question – but anyone else see the Dipoto interview about Julio Rodriguez earlier this year? Sparknotes: he loves Julio, mentioned that Julio wants to debut in MLB at age 19 (current age) + said he’s not against that if his production early this season proves it. He’s been projected to debut mid/late 2021, but this makes me think he’s got a strong chance to show up this summer.
Really? I wonder how much is to motivate him tho — Julio, not Jerry or Itch
When asked if there’s any chance we see Julio this summer (still long shot, but enough for me to burn one of my 7 reserve spots on him in 12 team+ keepers):
“He wants to not only play in the big leagues, he wants to play in the big leagues as a 19-year-old,” Dipoto responded. “He’d obviously need to earn it, but based on his physical abilities, it’s not entirely out of the question.”
Very interesting… All of these clubs who aren’t competing really should promote their prospects (not that they will)
For sure. I still think its more likely than not that he’s only a Sept. call up or 2021 debut guy . . . BUT there’s definitely a plausible scenario he comes up this year for the second half. Feels something like . . . he kicks ass in the minors then agrees to a Robert-style long term deal to get the call up.
Yeah, for sure… He likely should just come up too!
Guess what, Duda?
https://razzball.com/player/10155/Mike+Trout/#blurb
Not Chicken Butt
Oh hey – that looks great! You did that super fast too.
But who’s this Trout guy?
I don’t know but his projections look good!
Not sure if I liked the Hendricks blurb because I like word play or because I like boob play…. but nevertheless, tit made me chuckle.
Also, that Urias blurb hit a little too close to home. I don’t even have any kids but I am such a dad-rocking, vinyl loving, fantasy baseballer. Yeesh.
Haha, yay for tits!
Nirvinyl, man!
Yankee
Hotel
Foxtrot
That blurb hit way to close to home. Well done sir, very well done *handclap emoji*
Haha, it is a great album
Hey Grey – any guess on when your top 100 or top 500 will be dropping? Got my big draft early this year next weekend. Thanks!
I believe Wednesday and Thurs of next week
Do you still have a mustache? I honestly don’t know anyone else who has a mustache. I myself have grown a salt and pepper beard that my wife has just noticed after a few months. It’s sexy af tho.
My wife is taking my 12 year old daughter to LA in February for a week!
Your wife has already contacted me!
My mustache is a national landmark and state of California has said it can’t be removed
Great list + good point on Urias. Given how much you love him long term, how much would you bump him up in dynasty leagues? Maybe top 20?
He went 132 in an upstart dynasty mock I did with the CBS guys last night, just for reference.
Someone asked above, Duda, I wrote longer response there
Ah, didn’t see – thanks!
No problem
Great Post! Some sobering stats on Manea
Unrelated to this post but..did you write thoughts on the Marte to Zona trade?
I wrote up Marte and updated top 20 OFs https://razzball.com/top-20-outfielders-for-2020-fantasy-baseball/
Only 19 pitchers on this list. Number 47 is missing. Who could it be?!?!?! Stop messing with my mind.
Yeah man, I’m dying to know. Talk about a sleeper!
Haha
I goofed, fixed
Grey!
Rankings are awesome so far and was hoping you can help with my keepers. It’s a 10 team H2H 5×5 scoring and get to keep 10 players. I have 11 keeper options that I really like but will need to drop one. My team is:
Acuna
Bellinger
Story
Tatis
Alonso
Bregman
Yordan
G. Cole
Walker Buehler
Flaherty
V. Robles
A) who is the odd man out above
B) would you trade Flaherty or Buehler for Albies given I don’t have a keeper 2B? Your top 5 2B will be kept but after that available in the draft.
Thanks and look forward to the season Grey!
LG
A) Robles
B) Hold
Thanks!
Agree with DT on A
B) Hmm…You have so many SPs, I’d prolly do Walker
Thanks guys! – your rankingS have Villar higher than Albies. Given it’s a keeper league would you rather have Albies over Villar?
Yeah
that team is absolutely filthy lol
Hey Grey / DT / others
Have been playing roto a few years but graduated to a keeper league last year. Took over bottom team and moved up to 3rd (mainly on the back of your pitching suggestions) but could really do with some help about how to assess value for keepers in this sort of league:
10 team, OBP roto, 23 man rosters with 2C and 5 OF.
We keep up to 10 – So i assume it’s all about ceiling not floor in a ten teamer?
Which of these stand out as obvious value in this sort of league and should definitely be kept
Pitchers:
(Cole, Scherzer, De Grom will all be in draft for $45-55, rest of your top 10 already being kept for less than $10). I own:
Strasburg: $30
Castillo: $ 17
Darvish: $18
Ryu: $6
Lamet: $1
Kela: $4
Melancon: $4
Ohtani (hitter and SP – daily moves league) – $9
Hitters: (2 catcher and OBP)
I”m keeping Albies -$7 and E Suarez – $7. Then any views on:
Josh Donaldson: $13
Harper: $48
Bogaerts $28
Gregorius: $1
J Polanco: $3
Sean Murphy $2
Wilson Ramos $8
Rubbish hitting I know in a 10 team league!
I was thinking: Ohtani, Castillo, either Darvish or Strasburg, Lamet, Kela, Melancon, Albies, Suarez, Gregorius, either Murphy or Donaldson?
Thanks for any insight…!
Id go with
Castillo: $ 17
Darvish: $18
Ohtani $9
Lamet: $1
Albies $7
E Suarez – $7
Josh Donaldson: $13
Bogaerts $28
Gregorius: $1
J Polanco: $3
Thanks MP, appreciated!!
Bogaerts surprised me? You see ‘value’ there at $28 or just see him as a top 20 player and i’m not going to win without him and others like him in a ten teamer?
Agree with MP except I’d want $6 Ryu over Gregorius. Might also take $30 stras over polanco.
Agree with DT. 6 starters though…
Stras
Castillo
Darvish
Lamet
Ryu
Ohtani
Albies
Suarez
Donaldson
Bogaerts
Thanks bigbear, appreciated
In ten teamer I agree. Top players go high and u get good 1 $ players at end of draft
Thanks Al
Agree with DT, and, yes, Stras over Polanco — Polanco is so replaceable
That’s so helpful, thanks Grey and DT. So basically in this sort of league you are prioritising keeping the best talent rather than the best prices?
Much to learn…..!
No problem
Except for a few minor differences (Stroman, Musgrove), we’re pretty much in lockstep with this group. Especially the Manaea tier. I’m fading all of those pitchers as well. Consensus!
I always shout my love for Hendricks from the rooftops, and Maeda is someone I’m targeting as well, but the most interesting guy here to me might be Weaver. He refined his changeup to the point where it was one of the best in baseball last year. Really helped him neutralize lefties. His cutter was a menace to righties. You mentioned his hard contact rate, but his barrel % was lower than guys like Verlander, Sale, Bieber, and Corbin. As for his HR rate, if you throw out his cup of coffee in ’16, he’s allowed 32 HR in 261 IP (1.1 HR/9). Not too shabby. Darvish allowed 33 HR last year in 178 innings for comparison’s sake. If he gets enough starts, could be a top 25 SP.
Like how you’re thinking on Weaver — Think there’s gonna be some real value in these group of SPs… Really hoping a Price trade to the Dodgers doesn’t hurt my Maeda — I’d let him hurt my Urias, that I’m fine with more than Maeda
I think you made some good points. Ive been on the fence with him. I still cannot believe he has no relation to Jeff and Jered… or even Earl!
Haha!
Btw, any determination on what other NFBC leagues you’re hosting? I’ve got my fill of DC’s already but I’d be up for a $150 Auction Championship ship or maybe something else if you branch out from DC.
You’ll do 3-4 more leagues in Feb, like we did last year…
Huh? I’m not clear what you’re saying.
Like last year, we’ll put together 3-4 NFBC leagues…I’ll be in one, Rudy in another, Donkey in another, Truss hopefully in 4th
Ok so only DC or something new?
You already did a DC so I was thinking it might be nice if you personally hosted a league with a second format
They will be like last year…A few DCs
Not gonna introduce another format, but we have the RazzSlam which is Best Ball (though it’s a big contest vs. a league)
I personally will do a Best Ball and will tell you if you want in, but it won’t be announce formally
Sure. Just let me know whenever
Will do!
They have a new $150 auction format for 2020
Meh on that
Grey!!
So good this top 60 for SP!
a. Like a lot of these guys but not too many. I’m picky, man. Sorry.
b. Think MadBum will be good for one glaring and blaring reason….
He gets to face SF as a team.
He’ll be a little different but not too much, so I’d agree with your assessment.
c. MLB quote of the day
‘When I stood up there as a pinch hitter, I honestly believed I was the best hitter in the game. That’s the only attitude to have.’
Manny Mota, LAD
Cheers,
Ante