It’s that time of year again: 14 managers drafting 280 players in about 80 minutes. Here’s what happened in the 2015 BaseballGB Fantasy baseball draft.
Draft day is a real highlight of any baseball fan’s year. The anticipation, the excitement and the knowledge that the new season is not far away. Then you log into the draft room and learn your draft position. Out of 14 teams, I was picking… 11th. hardly ideal, but all is not lost. I had done three mock drafts, picking at the front middle and back of the order, so after consulting my late-order mock, I prepared to draft.
No major surprises in the first six picks, as the yahoo rankings were followed. I was interested to see who would go second, as you could make good cases for a number of players, but Jesmond did what I would have done by taking Cutch and sorting out CF straight away. The first surprise came with Puig going 7th. I had hoped he would be around for my second pick, but not to be. I’m not sure I would have taken Puig over Abreu or Bautista, but it looks like he’ll be hitting third for the Dodgers this year, so his RBIs should rise and he has been hitting for power this spring. Having found the outfield tough in mock drafts, I was hoping for one of Bautista or Jones here, and the Slugs make my mind up for me.
I had decided to hold off taking an ace until the third or fourth round, so it was a question of which hitter to pair with Jones. I seriously hovered over Hanley Ramirez and Rendon here before going for Altuve. I would normally opt for more power here, but the average and steals at 2B are hard to ignore. I just hope I don’t regret it. Newcastle grabbed Donaldson early, and I completely get it, as moving to such a hitter-friendly park should see his already great numbers go up further. Iron Men gamble on Tulo’s health while Harper goes earlier than I was expecting, but if he hits in the middle of the Nats’ lineup and can stay healthy, maybe this is the year Bryce really puts it all together. Pineda was a guy I was considering for a late-round gamble, but second round? No way. Strasburg also gets drafted before Sale, Price, MadBum and Kluber.
This is the round to grab an ace for my team, and after seeing MadBum, Price and Kluber go, I opt for Sale. I was slightly put off by his injury, but it looks as if he’ll only miss the first week or so. I like the Frazier pick here for Beck ‘Nams. Dozier and his 20/20 skills goes early, while Newcastle add more power with Upton. The A-Rod pick sticks out like a sore thumb here. A late-round gamble, sure, but there’s no way he should be drafted this early now.
Having got my ace in the last round, it’s time to add another bat. having taken Altuve, it’s all the more important to add some power here. Pujols is nabbed by Newcastle, so I go for Ortiz over CarGo and Springer. had I not already got Jones, I would have been tempted with Marte, who goes the very next pick. Votto should be good value for the RBIs here, while Chapman is the first closer to go.
When my turn rolls round again, Wainwright is still available. I wasn’t expecting him to be there and can’t turn him down as my second starter. Teaming him and Sale should mean I can afford to load up on bats for the next few rounds too. Had V-Mart still been around, it would have been a tough decision, but Iron Men got there first. Betts is an interesting pick, as he has had a great spring but can he find enough playing time in a crowded Red Sox OF once Castillo and Victorino are fully healthy.
I know Nelson Cruz won’t hit 40HR again this year, but he still should be good for 25ish in Seattle. I almost went for his team-mate Seager, who I rate very highly, but I know OF bats are scarce this year and there are other 3B I’d be OK with. I considered Holliday here before taking Cruz. Norwich go for Bryant, obviously hoping he either starts in the majors or won’t be in AAA for long. He could also be getting OF eligibility as well.
Round 7 sees a run on arms, including four closers, but I still want another bat. I still have holes on the left side of my infield, and opt to fill one of those with Sandoval, although I was tempted with Wright. More young talent is picked here, with Norwich and Cheshunt wanting to see what Wong and Soler can do in a full season.
It’s soon my turn again and Wright is still available. I strongly consider taking him as my UT but decide some power at C with Mesoraco is the better choice here. Wright goes the very next pick and two more closers go, but I’m content to hold off on relievers for a bit longer. I like the Calhoun pick here by Cheshunt – good numbers across the board and batting ahead of Trout and Pujols. I’m now looking ahead and worried about the hole at SS. I’d really like Alexei Ramirez, but will he make it to me? I have a long wait until my next pick…
Surprisingly, I get my wish as Alexei is available and i waste no time in grabbing him here. Having taken 7 hitters with my first 9 picks, now is the time to start thinking about a third starter. Phil Hughes or Ryu? Jesmond have swiped Richards, which could prove to be a wise move and Hughes is soon gone. Ryu it is then, hopefully.
Ryu is still around, so I snap him up in round 10, even though he may miss a couple of weeks at the start of the year. I thought about Tanaka, but his elbow scares me more than Ryu’s injury. I was tempted with Machado, Carpenter and Adams here for my UT, and if I hadn’t already got Sandoval I may well have gone for one of them here. Street and Perkins are grabbed. I was hoping for one of them in the next round.
Past the halfway point in the draft now, and I decide I can’t wait any longer for a closer. Rodney seems the best of the rest, although I thought about Papelbon. That empty third OF spot needs to be filled soon, ideally by Werth. Kendrick should drive in a few runs batting 5th for the Dodgers, so I like Iron men’s pick, while the improved Padre offense should see Cashner get the wins his ERA and WHIP deserved last year.
Werth is still around, but for for much longer when my turn arrives in round 12. I was annoyed to see Britton go as I had thought he would be a good second closer option for the next round, and Papelbon is snapped up too. Had Werth gone before my turn, I would have gone for Melky Cabrera, who is is drafted by the Chasers soon afterwards.
Nine arms taken in this round and after seeing starters snapped up I decide to take a gamble of Jose Fernandez. He’ll miss the start of the season, but if he can be anything like his old self in the second half, he could really pay dividends down the stretch. I had thought about a second closer here, but it seemed too early to reach down the rankings for a guy like Casilla, McGee or Clippard. Next round, hopefully. Not sure about the Mercer pick here, as he may lose playing time to Kang. Erick Aybar may have been the better choice.
Casilla is nabbed, and although I’m tempted by McGee, I decide to go for Clippard who will close while Doolittle is out. Ideally, I’d grab Doolittle in the next round to guarantee saves from Oakland. Martin had a great 2014 and may even hit more in Toronto’s hitter-friendly stadium, so Battteries Essential make a very worthwhile pick here. Jesmond plan ahead by taking Giles, who should take over as Philadelphia closer if Papelbon is dealt.
Disaster! After McGee goes at the end of round 14, Batteries Essential takes Doolittle. Curses! I can’t gamble on Clippard keeping the closing job all year, so I take Reed here who will get some saves, albeit with high ERA and WHIP, but I feel that’s the best I can do. Now to switch my attention to rounding out my rotation.
Choo, who had been hanging around at the top of the undrafted players list for a while, is finally taken by Cheshunt. I go back and forth with SP options and opt for Lohse over another SP who actually ends up going undrafted. Not exactly a sexy choice, but reasonable enough. I still need a UT, so either a hitter or another starter with my next pick. Arcia provides late-round power for the Slugs while Norwich take a flier on talented youngster Paxton.
A couple of young OF go in Souza and Castillo, and I think Ramos is very good value here for Iron Men. I take a punt on Holland having a fully healthy year and he did come back strongly at the end of last season. That leaves me with three picks remaining and I know I want a UT, a bench hitter and a set-up reliever for holds.
I go back and forth between Ramirez, Khris Davis and another hitter who goes undrafted but take the safe route with A-Ram. His power numbers may have dropped, but he still should provide a decent average and 70-80 RBIs. Norwich and the RBIs back Gyorko and Cabrera to bounce back for sub-par years, while Beck ‘Nams grab 20+HR power in Teixeira and Batteries Essential nab Tomas, who has 3B and OF eligibility.
Some nice late picks here as Bit & Bytes grab Cuddyer, Jesmond get an underrated reliever in Smith and Beck ‘Nams grab a savvy veteran in Lackey. I take Janssen as my set-up reliever before Newcastle backs d’Arnaud to carry on from his strong finish last season.
The final round goes to show you really can wait for saves as Gregerson, who should close for Houston is taken with the 268th pick. Khris Davis and his power become my bench hitter as I fill my roster, while the Chasers take a very worthwhile punt on Carlos Martinez grabbing a rotation spot with the Cards and the Sox pick up 90+ runs and 30+ steals in Span.
Overall, I felt my draft went fairly well especialy considering my position towards the back of the queue. I would say my team might be the strongest offensive lineup I’ve ever drafted and I have taken more risks with the pitching staff, although I would have to be very unlucky for all of the injury doubts to fall apart at the same time. Missing out on Doolittle was a blow, and I’m not thrilled with Reed, but I felt I needed another saves option behind Rodney if Clippard is only closing temporarily.
Here are my quick thoughts on the other teams:
Bits & Bytes: #1 pick but not present at draft. Left with strong lineup, and decent but thin pitching staff. Needs to use offensive depth to trade for more pitching but at least has two closers.
Jesmond Dennings: Like the rotation depth but needs Giles to pick up saves soon. Average may suffer if Davis, Santana and Myers hit like last year but RBIs shouldn’t be a problem.
Batteries Essential: Pretty strong offensive lineup. Tomas and Castillo could be interesting trade chips or lead to other hitters being dealt to boost good but thin pitching staff.
Beck ‘Nams: What a rotation. Seriously, go and look at it. Stunning. Two closers too. Lineup may be weak at 2B and SS, especially if Baez doesn’t win playing time straight away but there are arms to dangle as trade bait.
Sox: Nicely balance lineup with power and speed but could maybe use one more big 30HR bat. Three starters and three closers all good, but need more arms.
Chasers: Another nicely balance lineup. Could maybe afford to trade one of Posey or Lucroy for more power at 1B, but should hit for very good average and RBIs. Pitching staff nicely rounded out with mix of veterans and promising youngsters.
RBIs: Feast or famine lineup. Lack of big power bat could be an issue, also missing a big RBI guy. Average may be a problem too. Rotation’s fairly good but bullpen needs another closer.
Norwich No II: OF could make or break this team, depending on what sort of year Harper has, whether Springer can hit for a higher average as well as power and whether Dickerson can repeat or improve on last year. If so, look out. Two top closers but rotation could use a legit ace.
Slugs: Power, power and more power. Lineup is well stocked and the rotation is impressive too with both Price and Lester .Needs Cecil to claim Toronto closer job, even better if Boxberger nabs some saves for the Rays and Soria replaces Nathan as Detroit closer.
Iron Men: Veteran infield should be good if Tulo stays healthy and OF has nice power and speed combo. Like the 1-2 punch of Kluber and Cole and if Tanaka stays healthy… bullpen short on saves though.
Riverkings: Really strong pitching staff with King Felix, Cueto, Harvey and two very good closers. OF power could be a problem until Pence returns, but intrigued to see how Joc Pederson does.
Newcastle: Loaded with power throughout lineup, which should come in handy when talking trade to boost pitching staff. Bullpen looks good, just needs an ace and maybe another mid-level starter for what should be a strong team.
Cheshunt: Tough picking last but did a nice job. Team is nicely balance offensively, although may need to sacrifice some bench hitters to boost the pitching staff. Fiver very good starters and two closers. Maybe needs another SP and some holds, but this should be relatively easy to do via trade or free agent pickups.