The top 80 starters for 2021 fantasy baseball is around the 225th overall mark in your drafts to about the 275th point. This is your late fourth thru the beginning of the sixth starters. This is just about it for 12 team leagues, though the last tier in this post is still in 12-team league territory, so you’ll have to wait until the next post to finish off that tier. Grey knows how to keep ’em coming back! Here’s Steamer’s 2021 Fantasy Baseball Projections for Hitters and 2021 Fantasy Baseball Projections for Pitchers. Rudy’s downloadable War Room is available to early subscribers to our Razzball Tools. As always, where I see tiers starting and stopping are included with my projections. Anyway, here’s the top 80 starters for 2021 fantasy baseball:
NOTE: All 2021 fantasy baseball projections are based on a 162-game season, and will be until we hear definitively there will be less games.
NOTE II: All my rankings are currently available on Patreon for the price of a Starbucks coffee, if you get one of those extra grande frappuccino jobbers. Don’t wait for the rankings to come out over the next month, and get them all now. Also, we’re giving away spots in the RazzSlam to ten Patreons.
NOTE III: Free agents outside the top 100 are not yet written up or projected. They are approximately ranked, obviously subject to change.
61. Cristian Javier – This tier started in the top 60 starters for 2021 fantasy baseball. This tier ends at Urquidy. I called this tier, “Flavor town.” As for Javier, life’s too short for me to figure out why everyone is drafting Javier about twenty spots before here. My guess is y’all a bunch of hoo-ahs for strikeouts and upside, and you’re standing on the edge of your desk screaming, “Hurt me, Javier! Make me rue this day, and every day I roster you.” 2021 Projections: 8-9/4.23/1.31/129 in 126 IP
62. Jose Urquidy – Sounds like I want to pinch his cheeks whenever I say his name. “No, Urquidy,” cheek pinch. Last year he did nothing to warrant a ‘you’re a cutie’ though, with lots of garbage thrown. Yo, trash day was Tuesday, get that shizz out of here. Might’ve been an injury, might’ve been something else, but as I’ve tried to instill in you from Day One. If you have questions, not worth owning for answers unless the price is so cheap. 2021 Projections: 10-11/3.92/1.08/129 in 151 IP
63. Sean Manaea – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until Dunning. I call this tier, “Broken emergency anchor glass.” This tier is usually filled with safe number five starters who you can get cheap and they anchor your staff. In the past, this was a condom tier. Something that could glue the team together. A Dollar Store condom, so there was some risk, but the wrapper says it’s safe. Not this year. No one is safe. These guys are the closest guys I can find to anchor your staff, but the emergency glass is broken and the anchor is hanging out on the floor. You can see I’m very familiar with ships, thinking anchors are behind emergency glass. Usually this tier is cheap, older guys. I’m going to do my best to find safer guys, but I purposely put actual ‘safe’ guys earlier this year (Bassitt, Means, Stroman, etc.) because safety will be harder to come by and Dollar Store condoms can’t be found. As for Manaea, what’s the opposite of a Statcast darling? Unbeloved by Moni Torrison? Okay, that. Manaea is a poor man’s Dustin May with an actual rotation spot. Call him Sweeping-Dust-Under-Rug-In May? Sure, that. He’s kinda reliant on a “lucky” BABIP. Doesn’t quite need a .194 BABIP like he had in 2019, that produced a 1.21 ERA, but a .247 BABIP in 2018 that produced a 3.59 ERA? Yeah, that would help. You’re hoping for that, and a 50% GB rate, and 1.5 or lower BB/9. Two things he did last year. He’s not as safe as a porcupine-skin Dollar Store condom, but he’s gonna have to do. 2021 Projections: 10-8/3.71/1.10/144 in 154 IP
64. James Paxton – Signed with the Mariners. “I’m coming home…I’m coming home…Tell the world I’m coming home…” That’s Skylar Grey, which is different than Looking-Skyward Grey, which is me at my 3rd best angle. I’ll let you decide which are my first two. Outside of a horrendous 2020, Paxton hasn’t ever been bad bad, and, honestly, no one had a good 2020, so you get a pass…you get a pass…*Oprah screaming*…everyone gets a pass! Paxton still had a 11.5 K/9, usual low-3 BB/9 and he’s actually a huge steal this late if he can stay healthy, but that is his bee in his bonnet, isn’t it? Due to health concerns and a six-man rotation in Seattle, Paxton’s ranked here, but could be a sneaky upside guy vs. the relative ‘safety’ of this tier. 2021 Projections: 9-9/3.91/1.24/147 in 132 IP
65. Jake Odorizzi – Finally, he signed with the Astros. Was super convenient that the Astros had Odorizzi to fall back on when Framber got injured. Lucky for Odorizzi too, since no other teams needed a starter, apparently. The Jays trotting out one and a half starters and not signing Odorizzi is gonna look dope in July when they’re scoring 14 runs per game and giving up 15 runs in every Robbie Ray start. Dopey instead of dope also works in that sentence if you prefer to avoid sarcasm. Real gentle sensibilities from you, huh? So, Odorizzi brings his brand of always underrated pitching — 9-ish K/9 and under-4 ERA in 1000+ career innings. AL West isn’t a bad landing spot either, with the Rangers trying to make Rougned Odor a thing going on 15 years and Rangers, A’s, M’s and Angels playing in solid pitching parks. I’m once again asking you to draft Odorizzi. Also, here’s Coolwhip’s Jake Odorizzi fantasy. 2021 Projections: 10-8/3.94/1.31/163 in 162 IP
66. Griffin Canning – Kinda wanna just link to my last year’s sleeper on Canning. Wouldn’t that be uncanning? Linking to old sleepers worked for Stroman and I’m not trying to make all this content canned’ing. Don’t think I’m capable of doing more puns? I canning and I will! Seriously, folx, don’t forget to tip your waitresses. I just gave one a tip on how to open a pickle jar using the counter top. Canning’s 2020 wasn’t a step forward for his peripherals, but at least he was on the field, and if he can continue to do that, he should be no worse than a number five starter — think 9 K/9, 3 BB/9, 4.15 xFIP, which means with some luck he rolls a 3.00-something ERA. 2021 Projections: 8-9/3.97/1.26/142 in 141 IP
67. Brady Singer – A 24-year-old pitcher who just exceeded rookie eligibility and the next guy is a 26-year-old rookie who has thrown 34 IP in the majors. Super safe stuff! All I can say is people are drafting guys like Triston McKenzie way before this and others who are way riskier. Brady Singer, excuse me…Here’s a story…of a pitcher that I said this about last year, “I’m gonna have to dig in on this Singer in the offseason like I’m Simon Cowell and Clive Davis sending shovel emojis back and forth to each other and understanding what they’re talking about without any context. My quick takeaway is Singer looks like a borderline number four fantasy starter.” And that’s me quoting me while kinda predicting me! This is more of a five starter spot, but I’m going on what he did vs. what he can do. He’s a three-ish pitch guy with everything setting up the slider. The safety comes in with an incoming 2.5-ish BB/9, a 50+% GB rate and a solid pitchers’ park. 2021 Projections: 8-10/3.81/1.14/133 in 141 IP
68. Dane Dunning – Here’s what I said this offseason, “Went the other way in the Lynn trade. Any pitcher who steps into that giant grill they call a park in Texas is suddenly interesting. A Dunning turn of events! Dunning gets it, uh, done with a 92 MPH fastball that feeds four other pitches, nomnomnom. Most notably, an 82 MPH slider that produced a .135 AVG and 43.5% whiffs. In the minors, he regularly produced a 10+ K/9, and struggled at times with his command, but tightened it after some work. Last year was an okay 34 IP, but he’s a great endgame flyer right now in all leagues, even if price tag sucks helium from this trade. My biggest concern is how does he go from not throwing in 2019 to 34 IP last year to 150+ IP this year. You trying to give Tom Verducci an aneurysm?” And that’s me quoting me! 2021 Projections: 7-9/3.89/1.16/141 in 132 IP
69. Freddy Peralta – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until the top 100 starters for 2020 fantasy baseball. I call this tier, “I’m using the milkrowave.” Is using the microwave fun? No. Is it fun to use the microwave and call it the milkrowave? Yes, undeniably. That’s this tier. Guys who are likely just using microwaves, but it’s late and I’m enjoying myself by pronouncing it milkrowave, making these guys fun. As for Peralta, will start the year in the rotation. It had been so long since we heard any good news, I had forgot what it sounds like. This right here is what it sounds like. The milkrowave brings all the boys to the yard! I can teach, you but I have a credit card that is maxxed and won’t charge. Or however that song goes. Peralta could be a 12+ K/9 guy with a 3.5 BB/9, i.e., what people think they’re getting from Robbie Ray but are not. His projections are like “Redd Foxx gasping for air, clutching his chest” good. I won’t go too crazy, because he still needs to throw more than 125 IP to really make a huge difference, but no one is throwing a lot of innings this year. 125 IP of 12+ K/9 could look like a top 25 starter. 2021 Projections: 8-4/3.77/1.21/151 in 107 IP
70. Dustin May – Last year, The Human Carrot had a 2.57 ERA, and I think there’s gonna be a season where he throws 180+ IP with an even lower ERA. May will be the ace of the Dodgers at some point. Thus far, he’s not generating strikeouts like his stuff reads. His sinker is clocked at 98 MPH, and should be a good morning/good night, but is instead a good morning/I’ll make you some coffee to start your day/oops, we’re out of coffee, but I can get you a Sanka. It’s nasty, but not lights out. I’m not Dave Duncan, but sinkers induce weak contact vs. get Ks. His sinker Whiff Rate was 11.4%. You don’t need a degree from the College of Fantasy Baseball at Charleston to know that’s not great. He has ~19 inches of horizontal movement on that pitch, which is like watching the sunset at 7 frames per second. My supposition is if he lifts his 4-seamer, his sinker will induce more Ks, but supposing makes a suppository out of you and me. Even if the Ks don’t come, you don’t need carotene to see The Human Carrot is special. Full disclosure! May was ranked and projected higher until the Dodgers signed Bauer. Gonsolin took the hardest hit — I wrote a Tony Gonsolin sleeper, and now I’ve removed him from my top 100 starters; he will appear as a reliever in the top 500 overall — but May took the 2nd hardest hit. A ground ball pitcher like May out of the bullpen piggybacking with Urias sounds like someone’s giving The Human Carrot a ride on their shoulders, but it might just come to fruition — is a carrot a fruit? Hmm… Keeping in mind that Price, Kershaw, or Urias will get hurt or have a phantom injury, so May will see time in the rotation too. Remember, in March guys don’t seem like they have a shot at the rotation, but you get to June and it’s May time for two months and, well, that’s confusing–You get to June and it’s May time? Is that a riddle? All I’m saying is the season is long, and I’d bet anyone an imaginary $5 that May will be as valuable as a top 80 starter. UPDATE: Made a slight adjustment to him, failing to move him up as high as I had him before the Bauer signing (around 40th starter overall). Still can’t imagine him staying in the rotation for longer than 12-15 starts, but oh, what a glorious 12-15 starts they shall be for The Human Carrot. 2021 Projections: 9-4/3.03/1.05/92 in 107 IP
71. Triston McKenzie – Already gave you my Triston McKenzie fantasy. It was written while splishing and a splashing. 2021 Projections: 7-3/3.76/1.12/98 in 84 IP
72. Nate Pearson – Already gave you my Nate Pearson fantasy. It had three dolphins as pets. UPDATE: Suffered a setback with his groin. Damn, from punchouts to punched in. Pearson’s gone pear-shaped. The following only partially makes sense and don’t try to figure out what part. Pearson’s still in my very late 12-team mixed league pitchers to draft. Yes, I’d simply put him in my IL slot. It’s not like he was pitching 200 IP this year anyway. 2021 Projections: 5-6/4.27/1.24/109 in 102 IP
73. Adbert Alzolay – This is a tip of the ol’ cap to the commenters this offseason who have been pushing me to look at Alzolay. They promised me if I looked at him it would be like lounging in a hot bath, telling my bubbles, “Alzolay, take me away.” I wasn’t disappointed. How’sever, we do have a hater in our midst. Prospect Itch said, “If 2020’s stretch run is any indication, Alzolay’s best self is a dynamite reliever with a nasty new slider that pairs well with a sinker he’s started using as his primary fastball. He might be higher on the list if I knew the Cubs were going to keep him in the bullpen, but I’m worried he’ll remain a back and forth, multi-inning type who struggles to find a role that can help us in fantasy. As is, he lacks the command to turn a lineup over multiple times, at least he’s not Grey who lacks all.” What the heck, my dude? I see what Itch means on the command, and it’s why I decided to put him after a few other prospects. Alzolay looked great in 21 1/3 IP last year (2.95 ERA, 12.2 K/9), but his (5.5 BB/9) is not going to look great if the Cubs give him 100+ IP. Also, I might’ve just ranked a middle reliever. 2021 Projections: 6-7/4.34/1.38/104 in 91 IP
74. Mitch Keller – I saw his BB/9 last year was 7.5 and I laughed myself to sleep. Later, when I woke, I had no pants on, and I was standing on train tracks. What happened and does anyone know a good private eye? So, the sample was small, and Keller could still materialize into a solid starter, who is then traded to another team for someone like Kyle Gibson. When it will all click is anyone’s guess like a lot of this tier. I wouldn’t put money on Keller’s breakout coming this year, and because I have no faith in the Pirates, if he broke out, I’m not sure I’d trust him next year either, but we’re in that sexy flyer section, so let’s just say he’s capable of 9+ K/9, 2.5 BB/9 and a 3.50 xFIP. 2021 Projections: 7-9/4.33/1.37/117 in 127 IP
75. Michael Pineda – Full disclosure alert! I ranked him in three different tiers before landing him. At one point, I put him in the top 60 starters for 2021 fantasy baseball, while saying not to draft him, then I moved him into the top 80 saying the same, to avoid, then I landed him here — a very late tier that’s saying he’s fine to draft. A hedge for all hedges? Sure. Yes. But whatever. You’re drafting Pineda confidently? Puh-leez. He could be a 4.70 ERA pitcher, or he could be a low-3 ERA pitcher if you hit your head and imagine it. Nah, he was last year a 3.38 ERA pitcher in a walloping 26 2/3 IP. Of course, his allure is, as it’s always been, nice Ks and few walks. It is unfortch he gives up five homers per game. I will call you Michael Phileda Hughes. Maybe “Rob Manfred Presents: Baseball, The Deadening” will help him. 2021 Projections: 8-8/4.13/1.18/135 in 141 IP
76. Justus Sheffield – No Justus…no peace! No Justus…no peace! No Justus…no peace! Which is what I chant outside the door at your house during the last rounds of your draft. If you could slide a beverage through the mail slot, it would be appreciated. Yes, I’m still here and thirsty. Nothing with too many bubbles. I have a sensitive colon. So, Sheffield kinda broke out last year — 55 1/3 IP, 3.58 ERA, 3.17 FIP, 4.27 xFIP, 7.8 K/9, 3.3 BB/9, 51% GB rate, literal joke plate discipline numbers and there’s a reason why he’s not ranked higher. I guess there’s good news that he threw a lot of first pitch strikes, and what is this Little League? Okay, I gave you the FIP number, because he might suppress homers with better command. Hey, it’s late and I could see the flyer. 2021 Projections: 9-12/4.12/1.28/126 in 142 IP
77. Luke Weaver – Was going over last year’s rankings prior to this year, and here’s one that got influenced a lot by what was going on last year at this time. Here’s what I wrote last year, “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.” And that’s me quoting me! So, what happened last year? He was massively unlucky in every way. If his 52 IP from last year was in a normal year, I would’ve been screaming buy low. Maybe he’s not a 9.5 K/9, 2 BB/9, but he’s also not a 6.58 ERA guy. 2021 Projections: 7-8/4.14/1.28/135 in 141 IP
78. Caleb Smith – He was one of the players who contracted the plague, so I’d just chuck out his previous year. Doesn’t mean anything. *doing a mental rewind, going back to previous year’s thoughts on Caleb, briefly coming across Zac Gallen, thinking they’re the same, rewinds past that* Okay, back in 2020 preseason, I didn’t want anything to do with Smith, but his price was way higher than this. If I’m remembering correctly without doing another mental scrub, Smith was being drafted as a 3rd to 4th starter. Now, he’s an afterthought? I’m adding extra f’s to my pfft just for you. 2021 Projections: 8-10/4.22/1.25/141 in 136 IP
79. Jameson Taillon – Here’s what I said this offseason, “Traded to the Yankees for a bunch of prospects who will either be bad or be traded away by the Pirates for more prospects in a never-ending cycle. Absolutely ridiculous what’s going on in Pittsburgh. The Pirates’ payroll is, “Hey, we get those stimulus checks yet?” The Pirates’ social media team has a “Thanks for being a great teammate” tweet in the drafts for every player. The Pirates are the guy who hears they’re charging $10 at the door, so he brings his own solo cup and pretends he was inside already. I’m 100% convinced if you gave the Pirates the option to sit out a season without fans in the stadium, they would agree. Who is pitching for them this year? At least one member of the Pirates’ rotation this year is going to be a scarecrow stuffed with hay. Any hoo! I keep liking Taillon and he keeps testes’ing me. He should enter Spring Training with no restrictions following Tommy John surgery, which is what is always said prior to a clamping down of restrictions. If I had a dollar for every time a guy was due back in April who then had a setback and didn’t return until July/August, I’d be a ten-dollaire. The Yankees, honestly, might get 200 IP combined from like five of their starters.” And that’s me copying and pasting me! 2021 Projections: 8-3/4.21/1.29/108 in 119 IP
80. MacKenzie Gore – Already gave you my MacKenzie Gore fantasy. It was written while jokingly saying Happy Chewsday, which caused a Brit to ask if that was an insult about his teeth. 2021 Projections: 7-1/3.05/1.08/104 in 82 IP
CONTINUE TO TOP 100 STARTERS FOR 2021 FANTASY BASEBALL
Hey Grey,
Time to pick keepers in my 12 team H2H keeper league(keep 10). I have a ton of depth so the last couple of picks should be tough.
So far I am definitely keeping
ACUNA, SOTO, TROUT, ALBIES, ARENADO, BREGMAN, BIEBER ,
Need to pick 3 of
L.CASTILLO, K.TUCKER, B.SNELL, T.GRISHAM, C.BIGGIO
What do you think? Was considering working on a trade to try to land Vlad for some combo of the above. Maybe a Snell/Castillo with Biggio/Tucker
Struggling with a keeper decision – 10-team 5×5 league w/ OBP. 4 OFs, 1 IF slot and 1 UT. 10 Ps.
Already have kept:
Bichette
Devers
Soto
Jose Ramirez
Albies
Flaherty
Final choice is down to two: Hiura and Ketel Marte. Basically the same cost so no distinguishing there.
Advantages for Hiura: should be 1B eligible soon, which is the current gap in my IF (right now, if I keep him he clogs my UT spot going into the auction)
Advantages for Marte: it’s Yahoo so he’s still eligible at SS (back-up for Bichette) and OF (fills my second OF slot after Soto) in addition to 2B – gives me more roster flexibility heading into the auction.
If it weren’t for roster flexibility, I’d probably lean Hiura. But that three-position flexibility with Marte feels like it gives him the edge for me (especially since I already have a very crowded IF with 2 3Bs, a SS and a 2B already being retained).
Where would you come down here?
Benintendi to the Royals, Franchy Cordero to Boston just now. Minor league OFer going to the Mets (K Lee).
Grey! Good stuff … 12 team Roto .. 5/5.. dynasty … I gotta keep 10 …
Robert
Yordan
Alonso
Flaherty
Abreu
Those 5 are for sure ??
K Marte
Lamet
Teoscar
Dansby
Lourdes Gurriel
Hendricks
J Urias
Laureano
Need 5 from that .. (I’ll be bringing up Tucker when season starts for more context)
Thank you as always!
Thanks! Marte, Swanson, Lourdes, Urias, Laureano
Will be interesting to see how the new ball will affect J-Ram based on his contact and fly ball profile. Fewer HR, lower average and more fly outs in store?
Could be, but also out of 17 HRs last year only 3 were iffy
Grey-
Just took over an abandoned team in a 5×5 12 team roto – keep 5 players no minors… Current keepers are Devers, Albies, Lindor, Alonso & Nola. I have first pick in the draft and am tempted to take Wander Franco at 1.1 so that I can be sure to have him as a keeper going forward… Should I reach that early to be certain and have him? I think I can make up the talent drain from that lost early pick in 2021 season and then reap the benefits for eternity – muhahaha! Thanks in advance!
So, he’s a 6th round keeper? Who else will be available…Seems okay if you keeo forever at that price
No penalty for which round he’s selected, we just take the 60 keepers off the board and snake from there…so no benefit to when he is selected, just risk that I will get sniped if I delay. Other candidates for my pick at 1.1 are players like Matt Olson, Yu Darvish, & Nelson Cruz.
Meh, I don’t think your league is deep enough — how did you get Devers, for instance? Before he was up, or after?
I just took over the team, so don’t have the history… Based on your reaction I think I will wait several rounds before I pounce on Wander and plan to keep him over Nola or Alonso next year. Sound like a plan?
Yeah, could be, but might not be a keeper until 2022, hard to say w/out knowing how the minors will play out this year
Thanks for the insight. You are truly THE – Fantasy Master Lothario!
Ha, No problem
The dead-ball era of 2021 is here – maybe you can make a list of certain players that this might affect – they say that the average homerun distance will be cut by 5 feet
Yeah, and 5 more teams are also using a humidor this year, and no one knows which teams
MLB just making up new rules on the spot
Thank that moron commissioner !
Yup!
Theo in his new advisory role got hold of Manfred’s ear and said “Look, we can’t keep the live ball with the pitching lineup the Cubs are rolling out there this season, might cause some deaths on the mound and in the stands. Better deaden that ball up.”
Hey Grey,
Pardon my gripe………why in the world does baseball still use K/9?
Doesn’t it make more sense to leave the extra math behind and give it a hip name, like KIP?
Oh well, gripe over.
Thanks for everything!
Haha, nice gripe tho!
What do you think of Lourdes Gurriel’s playing time? Are you at all concerned whether Grichuk or Rowdy Roddy Tellez takes some time away (sometimes Tellez plays first, Vladdy shifts to 3B, Biggio goes to OF, and Alejandro Kirk bats DH)? Or do you think that 145+ games played is his floor?
I think it’s going to be a lot tighter than people are thinking considering where Lourdes and Teoscar are being drafted — 135 is prolly floor
Then Toronto is dumber than I thought. Lourdes should be playing every day. They seriously need to trade Grichuk or Tellez for a s.p., but they’re happy, I guess, with Ray, Pearson, Roark, Matz, and Chatwood. In the a.l. east, these guys will get shellacked. I love Ryu, but jeez, I wouldn’t draft any of these starters, and I didn’t in a 50 rounder.
Sitting Lourdes for 24-25 games a month is a crime. Lourdes is twice the hitter Biggio is, at least. I’d say a better hitter than Vlad as well. And Teoscar.
Of course he should, but they have a lot of mouths to feed for ABs
There are self proclaimed experts (see mlb network) who think Toronto will challenge for the A.L. East. Unless they all of a sudden acquire a couple of starters several notches above their current roster, I’d be surprised if they make the playoffs.
One of Tellez or Grichuk should be traded, and perhaps 1 of their young stars.
$18 mil. for a year of Semien was ridiculously stupid. Who is this genius g. mgr. ? Make zero sense. Actually made negative sense. Had to be a starter or starters other than Bauer (if he’s a $42.5 million pitcher then deGrom is a $75 million pitcher), to whom they could have paid the money that went to Semien. Not winning anything w/out solid pitching.
The Jays’ starters won’t be able to keep them in the race — Agree with you, they should trade Tellez or Grichuk for an arm, pronto Toronto
Lourdes, Springer, Teoscar is a winner
Have some concerns with Teoscar, but why on earth did they need to acquire Semien.
Yeah, it crowded things in a not ideal way
They had plenty of speed with Bichette, Biggio, and Teoscar, plus Lourdes will swipe a bunch. Don’t they sit down and analyze their NEEDS, before shelling out $18 mil. for a player that they absolutely don’t need ?
Ha, would make too much sense, right? Even someone like Mike Minor would’ve been better for their needs — they have Robbie Ray as their #2!
Robbie Fucking Ray. What a joke. Personally, as great as yates was for 1 1/2 years, they could have taken the $5.5 mil. they gave him, and the $18 mil. they paid Semien, and made a down payment on Bauer. haha
I mean $85 mil. for 2 years is why baseball needs a serious review. I was never big on salary caps, but c’mon, Bauer is a very good pitcher, but to allow the Wealthiest teams in baseball to corner the market because they can afford what 90%+ of the other teams can’t, just isn’t good for competitive balance.
Padres traded away prospects as the keys to their deals. I can’t even comprehend how Bauer got $85 mil. for 2 years.
Bauer got paid off a joke of a season, it’s truly incredible… Jays didn’t even need him tho, they could’ve traded for Lynn
Don’t get me wrong, Teoscar was 1 of my best draft picks last year.
Yeah, same, hard to have same level of excitement on him tho
Yeah had him last year too. Turned out well, but going too high TY
Yeah, totally
Sounds like you have quite a few shares of Lourdes already for this upcoming season.
Actually, only finished a Draft Champions, and went with Conforto over him. But I do like him a ton. Problem is Toronto. Batting him 7th, and with Grichuk needing playing time, and Tellez needing p.t. Just a terribly run organization. Agree with Grey that they could have traded for Lynn, or made a run at Castillo. Keep hearing how great they are offensively. Not comparing them to the Kansas City Chiefs, but they also had a great offense.
1 very good s.p., and a bunch of garbage won’t get you too far. Frankly, I think Gurriel , outside of Bichette, is their best hitter. I guess Springer may be.
But Lourdes won’t play more than 140 games, and that sucks. He’s being drafted where Conforto is going, and I think I prefer Conforto. So if I play 4 OC teams, I may reach for Lourdes in 2 of them.
Yeah, I hear ya
I 100% agree with you. They have very little pitching, and way too many bats, and Lourdes would be a beast if given the max amount of playing time. He’s arguably their third best hitter (behind Bichette and Springer, despite all the Vladdy hype), and it’s a travesty that I’m asking whether he will get enough ABs. This kid is a very good hitter and could really break out if given the max and full opportunity, but the BJ front office is simply dumb not to comprehend this.
If I saw their roster, I’d say trade Rowdy or Grichuk for whatever decent SP you can get
Not going to get a whole lot for just 1 of those guys.
Nah, that’s why I’m saying like a Minor type
St Louis got Arenado for Austin Gomber.
Hahahahaha — fair!
Would a shallower league with no MI/CI and just 3 OF change your opinion on not drafting a top C? Does Realmutos talent over the rest of the field of Cs and the value of the worst rostered guys at other positions being pretty high make you more inclined to take him (other options for this pick would be people like G Springer, M Ozuna, L Castillo)
Well, at a certain point the league is so shallow you have to draft a catcher earlier…But Realmuto still does little for me
I’m in a 10 team dynasty ranking and not thrilled about my pitching. Is this staff okay in a 10 team H2H league?
Gray, Lamet, Burnes, Gausman, Marquez, dunning, mckenzie, taillon, Howard, mize.
The only pitchers in your top 80 that aren’t kept are Means, Bassitt, Eovaldi, Morton, Yarbrough and alzolay. Streaming in this league is really difficult to do.
Yes, it’s fine, but it is a risky staff with Lamet/German/Howard and Mize — few guys I have major question marks on
Thanks Gray. I was in a rebuild and traded for mize and howard before they came up last year, but with the potential they have long term I can’t let them go.
Yeah, they’re fine long-term, but I have questions for this year
Sanka! Azolay take me away! A 4 month look-see! Hahaha
On top of your game, just don’t camp outside my house chanting on draft day!
Needed that, thanks man
Haha, thanks!
Sure you’re not an OG?
Oh, gee…
These pitching rankings are great, I’m planning on following them exactly for my draft.
I got a trade offer in a dynasty league: my Glasnow for Fried and Dustin May. We do QS instead of wins.
My other keeper pitchers are Maeda, Plesac, and PabLo
Would you do it? Thanks!
Sounds decent in a dynasty
Thanks!
No problem
Great Stuff Grey !!
I think I enjoy this part (SP’s) of your rankings more than any of the positional ranks.
I am in a 12 team dynasty roto league, 7×7 (QS,W,K,SV,HLDS,ERA and WHIP) with a 1600IP limit. I own Scherzer, Lynn, Luzardo, Price, Elesier, Kluber, Manaea, Justus, Freeland. I suspect I know the answer, but do I have too much starting pitching ?
How many should I cut?
Best wishes,
Another Dan
1600 IP is a lot, so I don’t think you have too many pitchers. But you could stand to upgrade a few of them.
Thanks! Agree with Cram — Freeland is pretty whatever either way tho
14 team h2h keeper league. Was offered Arenado in a trade for Glasnow, Blackmon, Edman. My current 3B is Donaldson (turd emoji). I don’t mind getting rid of Blackmon, I still have Trout and Grisham in CF, Edman is my backup for Hiura and Mondessi (rest of INFIELD) . Glasnow, is risky I know.
My SP:
Lynn, Dunning, Gallen, Maeda, Yarborough, Bassitt, Ordorizzi (probably will not keep), Glasnow.
My initial feeling is I’m giving too much, although I want to get rid of Blackmon. Still have draft to fill Glasnow’s spot if needed.
Do the deal?
Thankyou!
Also he offered to include Deivi Garcia with Arenado. I don’t know much about Garcia, shows ADP of 480ish..
I’d take Arenado
Thanks
Agree with Cram
Thankyou
No problem
YES OR NO should I make the trade
Rafael Devers for Wander Franco in s dynasty Keeper League
Josh Hader for Dustin May in Dynasty Keeper League
Id want Wander and May, but that’s just me.
Devers for me.
Probably May, because SAGNOF.
Devers/May
Grey!!!
Awesome top80 for pitchers report! Just awesome!
MLB quote of the day for February 10, 2021
1. Herb Pennock, born February 10, 1894
‘Herb Pennock was probably the best left-handed pitcher in the American League during the 1920s. Hailing from historic Kennett Square, Pennsylvania (the ‘Mushroom Capital of the World’), Pennock had a silky smooth deliver and used a variety of pitches and speeds. Babe Ruth considered the crafty southpaw one of the all-time best pitchers, noting, ‘If I had to use one word to describe Pennock, it would be class.’
Author Frank Russo in Bury My Heart at Cooperstown: Salacious, Sad, And Surreal Deaths in the History of Baseball (Triumph Books, 04/01/2006, ‘Herb Pennock’, Page 137)
2. Lenny Dykstra, born February 10, 1963
‘He (Lenny Dykstra) was, not all that long ago, the poster child for the uniquely American ideal that dreams, buttressed by grit and determination, can actually come true. Raised in the working-class Anaheim, California suburb of Garden Grove, Dykstra—the second of three boys—was the prototypical short, scrappy kid who snarled and cursed and refused to be denied, an approach to the game that later won him the nickname Nails. From the earliest of ages, little Lenny told anyone who would listen that one day he would play major league baseball. Nobody listened. ‘He was always underestimated,’ says Brian Dykstra, his older brother. ‘People didn’t take Lenny seriously, because he didn’t look all that imposing. But he was a pain in the ass who never took no for an answer.’
Columnist Jeff Pearlman in Maxim Magazine (10/14/2011, The Fall of Lenny Dykstra, Source)
3. Lance Berkman, born February 10, 1976
‘In Baltimore last year I forgot how many outs there were and ran off the field. I got to the line, and I was like, Oh, my gosh, nobody’s running off (the field). I immediately went to the fake knee injury. The trainer came running out and was like, ‘Are you O.K.?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I just forgot how many outs there were.’ That was right after I came back from my knee surgery so I had a built in excuse.’
Lance Berkman in Sports Illustrated (Life on & Off the Field, 04/17/2006)
4. Dario Lodigiani, died February 10, 2008
‘When I caught that ball, I thought a train hit me. You know, I tagged him and he plowed into me and knocked me over on my back and everything. And I got up and I said, ‘Hey, Joe (DiMaggio), what’s going on here?’ He didn’t say. He just brushed his pants off and ran over in the dugout. And I thought, well, if that’s the way he plays ball, you’ve got to be careful when he gets on base.’
Dario Lodigiani in the San Francisco Chronicle (Tom FitzGerald, 02/13/2008)
Cheers,
Ante
2. Lenny was on our Patreon podcast, as he laid in bed, trying to lay his wife, from the sounds of it
Grey!!
Yep I heard that one and would agree with you. He was probably snorting something (maybe from her belly button), then he took the call, then he remembered his commitment to take your call, then he went off on another tangent and we’re still waiting for that BIG NEWS story to break and he never did do Lenny part deux on the patreon podcast. His brother Brian sure loved him!
Cheers,
Ante
Haha, exactly!
Thanks Grey!
Would this SP rotation be solid enough in an 11 team/points league?
Framber, Plesac, Burnes, Lopez, Gausman, Mahle & Dunning?
Thanks!
Risky for me, but it could work.
Thanks for the input. Its a keeper league (10 players) and risk is something I’d like to avoid to some degree.
I have Plesac, Burnes, Strasburg and Glasnow. The last two seem really risky. However, would you keep Stras and Glasnow over either Plesac or Burnes?
Most of Grey’s top 20 are going to be kept with the possible exception of Ryu, Sonny and Lynn. It’s possible one of them is available with my first pick (at about 110).
Thanks again!
I’d grab one if you can
You don’t have a #1
*Which makes it risky
I’ve had Thor, Sale and Kluber as my #1’s, and we all know how that worked out! And your so right…….we spend far too much time worrying about our opening day lineup/rotation that will be a shell of itself by Memorial Day.
Exactly!
As a patreon subscriber, I knew Tony Gonsolin hadnt made the top 80 cut but having a hard time cutting him in a keeper league. My staff is so deep that i’ll be fine
1. watched a youtube video on “Toe” Nash – crazy but worthwhile – either that or the one one nyjer morgan aka tony plush!
2. based on the above rabbit hole of youtube videos, came across the TBauer and GCole are cheating videos – scary to draft any pitchers in the early rounds when a crack down on a foreign substance could derail the value of a lot of SP. they think 70% of pitchers are using a substance and named dropped a few “elite” SPs that are linked to Brian Harkin as their supplier (Cole, Scherzer, Verlander…). An increase in 300rpm spin rate is more effective than increasing 10mph from 90 to 100mph – bananas – bauer increased his spin rate by 400rpm
3. Cant wait for the league where you draft 2SPs in the first two rounds
you see that tv special on Framing Brittany ? haha I was “forced” to watch it but the one on the teenager who hacked twitter was more compelling
appreciate the insight and always love the podcasts with Ralph.
i forgot, did you see Canseco get embarrassed in this “boxing” event (love rough n rowdy though!)?
He got beat up by the intern?! Haha, I hadn’t heard
1. His story is so nuts — and those feet!
2. You mean Brian Bubba Harkin — yeah, everyone is cheating, but they’re deadening the balls too — so might be a wash, who knows — still doesn’t pay to draft SPs crazy early
3. Ha
Framing Brittany? What’s that? Sounds amazing
Thanks!