Mini mock: Trout the top catch in '15 drafts
With the fantasy gridiron game now on the backburner for at least a few months, the Yahoo fantasy crew decided it was a good time to take a preliminary stroll around the diamond in advance of the official opening of Fantasy Baseball '15. This particular drill consisted of six Yahoos tasked with drafting for two separate teams (to simulate a 12-team draft), with each team comprising a roster of 12 players - C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, OF, OF, OF, SP, SP, SP, RP. Here's a round-by-round account of how our abbreviated mock exercise played out:
ROUND 1
SCOTT PIANOWSKI 1 - Mike Trout, LAA, OF: Even if he doesn't feel like running too much, he offers the mix of upside and floor that you demand from this slot.
SCOTT PIANOWSKI 2 - Miguel Cabrera, Det, 1B: We'll see where his health is at in the spring. Nonetheless, he was hobbling in September but still mashing. He's had 11 straight dominant years. That means something.
BRANDON FUNSTON 1 - Clayton Kershaw, LAD, SP: Through age 26 season, he's picked up three Cy Young awards and has logged six straight seasons with an ERA under 3.00 (under 2.00 in each of past two) and five straight with 200-plus Ks.
BRANDON FUNSTON 2 - Andrew McCutchen, Pit, OF: Five-tool stud sitting right in the middle of his prime years - in PED-crackdown era, not too many left that have proven .300, 25/25 upside
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BRAD EVANS 1 - Paul Goldschmidt, Ari, 1B: Admittedly, I have an unhealthy obssession for the guy. If not for broken hand, would've likely set pace at 1B. Finished top-6 in per game value among hitters with at least 100 games.
BRAD EVANS 2 - Jose Abreu, CWS, 1B: Power and persistent contact from Cuba translated beautifully to the bigs. Despite missing 18 games, still tallied a .317-36-107-80 line. 40-plus long balls a foregone conclusion.
ANDY BEHRENS 1 - Giancarlo Stanton, Mia, OF: We're not drafting a 2002 fantasy roster here. These days, power is a scarce commodity. No individual player possesses as much of it as Stanton. I'll gladly take the $325 million man.
ANDY BEHRENS 2 - Carlos Gomez, Mil, OF: Gomez has given us back-to-back-to-back seasons with terrific power and speed totals, plus he offers respectable contributions in runs, RBIs and average. At the top of a draft, you want bankable multi-category assets.
DALTON DEL DON 1 - Jose Bautista, TOR, OF: I'm not expecting him to hit .286 again, but Bautista was one of only seven players to hit 35 homers last season, as power continues to come at a premium.
DALTON DEL DON 2 - Adam Jones, BAL, OF: He had a 2.8 BB% last year and owns a career 48.0 FB%, but Jones has hit at least .280 with 25 homers or more in each of the past four seasons, so it's hard to argue with the results. He's yet to turn 30 years old.
MICHAEL SALFINO 1 - Edwin Encarnacion, TOR, 1B: Power is at a premium and he can't be lower than .270 with that K/BB profile. And he easily could be closer to .300.
MICHAEL SALFINO 2 - Michael Brantley, CLE, OF: He took me by surprise last year but I enjoyed the ride and it's really hard to find any red flags in his uniformly productive game. You strike out 56 times in nearly 700 PAs today and you're going to hit at least .310.
ROUND 2
SALFINO 2 - Anthony Rizzo, CHC, 1B: The K/BB gap narrowed. Obviously this is a key consideration for me overall. The power hasn't peaked, I will wager. Lineup improvements will significantly boost RBI.
SALFINO 1 - Yasiel Puig, LAD, OF: Like the increase in walk rate. The Ks are manageable. So I expect a .300 average and the raw power can translate into an elite HR total at any time. Plus you can pick up 15 bags in the bargain.
DEL DON 2 - Anthony Rendon, WAS, 2B: He was the No. 12 ranked fantasy hitter last year as a sophomore and plays second base. There's an injury history here, but Rendon has a nice pedigree and is just 24 years old. He's the No. 1 second baseman on my board.
DEL DON 1 - Jacoby Ellsbury, NYY, OF: He's averaged 12.5 homers and 45.5 steals over the past two seasons while missing a total of 41 games. With Bautista and Ellsbury, this team (DD1) has a nice power/speed combo start.
BEHRENS 2 - Robinson Cano, Sea, 2B: Cano remains a reliable multi-category asset at a tricky position. I'm not ready to guarantee that Altuve can repeat his 2014.
BEHRENS 1 - Troy Tulowitzki, Col, SS: I can't quit him. It's a sickness. Help.
EVANS 2 - Chris Sale, ChW, SP: Trailed only Kershaw and Cueto on a per start basis last year. He's practically the AL version of Kershaw, a low ERA/WHIP, high-K hurler who's not yet reached his peak.
EVANS 1 - Madison Bumgarner, SF, SP: A true king of consistency, the World Series MVP is a top-shelf producer in every starting pitching category. Logging four straight seasons with 200+ IP, he's practically disaster resistent.
FUNSTON 2 - Ian Desmond, Was, SS: Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the only 20/20 player in each of past three seasons and only top 5 ranked fantasy shortstop for each of past three seasons (h/t to Scott Strandberg of FanGraphs).
FUNSTON 1 - Josh Donaldson, Tor, 3B: He's been a top 30 fantasy commodity out of the hot corner each of the past two seasons (averaging 26.5 home runs) while playing home games in one of the tougher hitting environments. His home/road splits suggest he'll prefer the home cooking north of the border more.
PIANOWSKI 2 - Jose Altuve, Hou, 2B: Dominates two categories, not a zero in the power area, should score more runs with team on upswing, plays a scarce position.
PIANOWSKI 1 - Freddie Freeman, Atl, 1B: Probably a mistake given where similar first basemen landed in this mock, but I'm happy to pay for his floor (last year) or his upside (2013). And his best season still hasn't happened yet.
ROUND 3
PIANOWSKI 1 - Buster Posey, SF, C: Doubtful I'd play this card if catchers weren't mandatory, but no one disputes Posey is the blue chip at the position. Chunk of 1B starts keep him in lineup but lessens wear and tear.
PIANOWSKI 2 - Ryan Braun, Mil, OF: He was hurt for most of 2014, so I'll throw those numbers in the shredder (along with giving him credit for sticking it out). Just 31, doubt the tank is close to empty.
FUNSTON 1 - Victor Martinez, Det, 1B: One of just two players (Jose Abreu the other) to hit .300 (.335) with 30-plus home runs (32) and 100-plus RBI (103). That's Round 3 gravy.
FUNSTON 2 - Adrian Beltre, Tex, 3B: Last season, Injuries and inexperience led the Texas offense to its fewest runs scored since '94, and that negatively impacted Beltre's counting stats (though he still posted a healthy .880 OPS and was ranked top 40 in fantasy). You have to figure the Rangers bounce back on offense, which should help Beltre deliver to the value of this draft spot.
EVANS 1 - Hanley Ramirez, Bos, SS: Han-Ram is heading back to where his career started. The friendlier hitting environment and league should only bolster already terrific across-the-board numbers. Something in range of .285-20-80-80-15 seems reasonable.
EVANS 2 - Billy Hamilton, Cin, OF: Draw a few more walks and he could flirt with 75 steals. His 83.0 contact rate was surprisingly solid last year. Chip in 80-plus runs and a handful of homers and he's worth every penny in Round 3.
BEHRENS 1 - Felix Hernandez, Sea, SP: Felix was under consideration for this team in Round 2, so I can't argue with landing him here. His ratios were silly last season (0.92 WHIP), he gives us 200+ innings per year, and his K% keeps rising.
BEHRENS 2 - Justin Upton, SD, OF: Upton is a high-end power source in a rebuilt lineup, heading into a contract year. He's cleared the fence 56 times over the past two seasons, and power ain't cheap these days.
DEL DON 1 - Stephen Strasburg, WAS, SP: He's failed to fully live up to the hype, but Strasburg did tie for the National League lead in strikeouts last year. His lack of wins over the past two years feels unlucky.
DEL DON 2 - Bryce Harper, WAS, OF: I'll continue to buy into his potential, although at least now his price tag isn't a first round pick. Harper owns a career .272/.351/.465 line, and he's still just 22 years old.
SALFINO 1 - Hunter Pence, SF, OF: ZeroSP rules in effect. I never take a pitcher before seven rounds are in the books. So I'm passing up values that I think I can make up later. Pence is durable and diverse.
SALFINO 2 - Corey Dickerson, OF, COL: How hard is it to hit in Colorado? Hiting everywhere else of course a problem for Dickerson thus far, as are the same-side splits, but the floor is always high with a Rockies regular with any pop.
ROUND 4
SALFINO 2 - Evan Longoria, 3B, TB: Maybe I should have taken Frazier, but it just feels like Longoria's year was a bottom and Frazier's a peak. So perhaps the odds are in Longoria's favor. The pickings are slim and we're locked into limited positions.
SALFINO 1 - Kyle Seager, 3B, SEA: Coming off a career year and now I get the benefits of an age 27 season. Could not rationally separate him from Frazier, quite frankly. But had to pick someone.
DEL DON 2 - Max Scherzer, FA, SP: He's been one of the best pitchers in baseball over the last two years and could flirt with 300 strikeouts if he signs with a National League team.
DEL DON 1 - Carlos Gonzalez, COL, OF: Obviously there's serious health concerns when it comes to CarGo, but that's why he's available in the middle of the fourth round. He's a top-five fantasy hitter when healthy.
BEHRENS 2 - Yu Darvish, Tex, SP: The fantasy ratios are going to be great, and Darvish's K/9 is ridiculous (11.35 last season). He's throwing, having received a clean bill of health.
BEHRENS 1 - Albert Pujols, LAA, 1B: At the top of a draft, you want reliable, elite performers. We aren't likely to see a vintage Pujols season, but I'll gladly take last year's numbers at this price.
EVANS 2 - Dee Gordon, Mia, 2B: The Billy Hamilton of middle infielders really came into his own in 2014. He greatly improved versus fastballs, cut down on the Ks and more often applied bat to ball. If that continues, he'll be a superb three-cat producer.
EVANS 1 - Yoenis Cespedes, Det, OF: After a disappointing sophomore season, Cespedes bounced back last summer clubbing 22 long-balls with 100 RBI and 89 runs. He isn't running as much, but similar production in a loaded Detroit lineup should be expected.
FUNSTON 2 - Adam Wainwright, STL, SP: There's some concern with his '14 peripherals (i.e., K rate, BABIP, LD%), but we're talking about a 20-win starter with a 2.38 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. Even with some decline factored in, there's still a good chance he can be excellent.
FUNSTON 1 - George Springer, Hou, OF: Hit 20 home runs in less than half a season in his first taste of MLB pitching. His extreme strikeout tendencies make his batting average prospects pretty dismal, but he's got Mike Trout upside when it comes to the power/speed combo.
PIANOWSKI 2 - Jose Reyes, Tor, SS: You have to assume he'll miss a month at some point, but guess how many games he played last year? (Your guess is too low). Shortstop is shallow, and no one else jumps out at me here.
PIANOWSKI 1 -Todd Frazier, Cin, 3B: No one wants to pay freight on a spiky breakout year, but Pick 48 doesn't seem unreasonable to me. Maybe 20 bags won't stick, but 20-25 homers, double-digit steals, reasonable average, that's not asking too much.
ROUND 5
PIANOWSKI 1 - Matt Kemp, SD, OF: His last high-profile breakup (Rihanna) was followed by monster numbers. Maybe that's pop-culture noise, or maybe he's getting a new setting at the right time.
PIANOWSKI 2 - Jonathan Lucroy, MIL, C: Not many catchers play close to a full schedule, and given that Lucroy is still in his 20s, I'm not worried about a breakdown yet. Also like how he occupies a premium lineup slot.
FUNSTON 1 - Starling Marte, Pit, OF: Needs to find his inner ironman as a laundry list of minor injuries have cut out a sizable chunk of playing time the past two seasons. That said, he enters his prime (26) as a strong 15/30 bet with proven .280 batting average upside.
FUNSTON 2 - Ian Kinsler, Det, 2B: Didn't expect a career-high 161 games from Kinsler (or a top 25 fantasy finish) in his first season in Detroit. Happy to let my bearish thoughts be water under the bridge given the modest price (No. 52 overall) for the leadoff hitter of the No. 2 offense in MLB last season..
EVANS 1 - Charlie Blackmon, Col, OF: Having at least one Silver Bullet in the arsenal is always highly recommended. Leadoff staple should contribute handsomely in all 5X5 categories. Very attractive option in Round 5.
EVANS 2 - Jason Kipnis, Cle, 2B: A myriad of issues contributed to sap Kipnis' power and overall value in 2014, most notably a bum oblique. Entering his Age 28 season, I'm banking on a strong rebound in range of .275-15-75-80-25.
BEHRENS 1 - Nolan Arenado, COL, 3B: At age-23, Arenado gave us 18 homers and 34 doubles over just 111 games, slashing .287/.328/.500. Love the player, love the park.
BEHRENS 2 - Adrian Gonalez, LAD, 1B: At a fifth-round price, I'll happily take 25-plus homers, 100-plus RBIs and a respectable average. Gonzalez hasn't played fewer than 156 games in any of the past nine seasons, so he earns durability points, too.
DEL DON 1 - Joey Votto, CIN, 1B: He's one of the very best hitters in baseball, owning a career .310/.417/.533 line. Injuries have disrupted two of his last three seasons, but Votto is still just 31 years old, so I like buying him low here.
DEL DON 2 - Prince Fielder, TEX, 1B: Speaking of buying low, Fielder has been a perennial first round fantasy pick for most of his career, and I'm not ready to write off the 30 year old who now calls Rangers Ballpark home.
SALFINO 1 - Alex Gordon, KC, OF: So boring, but another guy that just moves the categories forward incrementally, slightly above the expected average rate.
SALFINO 2 - Christian Yelich, FLA, OF: As an avid dynasty player, I'm long familiar with Yelich, who has Springer-like combo upside with a much higher floor given a more advanced approach to hitting (K/BB).
ROUND 6
SALFINO 2 - Aroldis Chapman, CIN, RP: I don't really care about the saves. The category for closers is Ks minus IP. You use that surplus to boost your overall K/9 in leagues with innings caps.
SALFINO 1 - Brian Dozier, MIN, 2B: I hate average drags but his relatively narrow K/BB gap suggests that .270 should not be too heavy a lift. Elite combo upside in the middle excites.
DEL DON 2 - Matt Holliday, STL, OF: This is a boring veteran pick who's on the downside of his career, but Holliday is one season removed from being a top-15 fantasy hitter.
DEL DON 1 - Dustin Pedroia, BOS, 2B: His wrist is supposedly healthy, which could lead to a nice bounce back campaign. I strongly debated between Pedroia and Matt Carpenter here.
BEHRENS 2 - Carlos Santana, Cle, C/1B/3B: Santana offers premium power at a position that's tough to fill, plus he's the rare catcher-eligible player who will give us 150-plus games. It's nice to have the flexibility to slot him at the corner, as needed.
BEHRENS 1 - Craig Kimbrel, Atl, RP: Kimbrel's past four seasons have been absolutely obscene, as he's routinely topped 40 saves with eye-popping fantasy ratios (career 1.44 ERA, 0.91 WHIP). His K-rate is ridiculous, too. In Yahoo public roto leagues, where innings are capped, K/9 is king.
EVANS 2 - Matt Carpenter, StL, 3B: He isn't the sexiest name, but a hot corner with 100 run potential who also hits for a tidy average is quite useful. Runs have been, and always will be, the most overlooked stat in 5X5 fantasy baseball.
EVANS 1 - Nelson Cruz, Sea, OF: There's no way he'll sniff 40 homers playing half his games in Seattle, but the Caribbean Cruz is the best proven OF power source left on the board. The hope: .270-27-90-75.
FUNSTON 2 - Kenley Jansen, LAD, RP: How many closers with 40-save, 100-K upside are left? This guy ...
FUNSTON 1- Greg Holland, KC, RP: ... and this guy. Sure, there might be a couple more left on the board (Robertson, Allen), but Jansen and Holland feel like better bets, and the last two closers left in the top tier.
PIANOWSKI 2 - David Price, Det, SP: He's coming off his best season and supported by a strong cast, so I'm surprised the price is this reasonable entering his age-29 season. Speaks to depth of pitching and divergence of opinions on it.
PIANOWSKI 1 - Zack Greinke, LAD, SP: No longer the shiny toy with the glittering upside, but his floor is silly-high in that park and division. And his makeup seems to fit the No. 2 role best, with Kershaw the lead dog.
ROUND 7
PIANOWSKI 1 Jay Bruce, Cin, OF: A last year's bum, simple as that. We all talk about power disappearing, so I'll take a stab at someone who was a very consistent power source for several years before one hiccup.
PIANOWSKI 2 Jason Heyward, STL, OF: When in doubt, assume the Cardinals know what they're doing. Still just 25. Maybe the contract year brings out his best, maybe that doesn't matter - I go case-by-case with those things. Doesn't make me want him less, that's for sure.
FUNSTON 1 - Corey Kluber, Cle, SP: Tidy getting both Cy Youngs from last season on the Fun1 squad. It also gives me the starters with the two lowest FIP marks of '14 (2.35 for Kluber), and two of the top 4 starters in K/9 rate (10.27 for Kluber).
FUNSTON 2 - Devin Mesoraco, Cin, C: Made a power play in '14 (25 HR) without crushing his batting average (.273). It's a good time to see what he has in store for an encore as he's just now entering his prime (age 26).
EVANS 1 - Josh Harrison, Pit, 3B: An unsung hero even in shallow mixers last year, Harrison emerged from the darkest depths of the woods to tally a .315-13-52-77-18 line. Entering his prime, it's unlikely he's a one-hit wonder.
EVANS 2 - Jon Lester, ChC, SP: The North Side's supposed savior should deliver on his exorbitant contract. He's the definition of a workhorse, logging at least 191 IP in seven straight seasons. The southpaw is a highly reliable No. 2.
BEHRENS 1 - Jordan Zimmermann, Was, SP: It was just a pure fantasy pleasure to own Zimmermann in the second half last year. The post-break numbers were silly (2.18 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 8.4 K/9), plus he capped his fantasy season with a no-hitter.
BEHRENS 2 - Elvis Andrus, Tex, SS: Andrus is hardly an exceptional value in Round 7, but he offers 30-something-steal speed at a talent scarce spot. The pick works for this team's roster.
DEL DON 1 - David Wright, NYM, 3B: Injuries have no doubt been a problem, but Wright is just two seasons removed from a .306-91-21-93-15 campaign and only recently turned 32 years old.
DEL DON 2 - Cole Hamels, PHI, SP: He had a 2.46 ERA over 204.2 innings last season, so it's safe to say Hamels' nine wins was unlucky. He'll be a great pitcher anywhere, but his fantasy value will hinge somewhat on where he gets traded to.
SALFINO 1 - Yan Gomes, CLE, C: I like the power and hope he can defy his terribe K/BB splits to post a decent batting average, for the third straight year. The fact that he's held his head above water in BA two years running is encouraging.
SALFINO 2 - Yadier Molina, STL, C: Was last year's offensive decline just a random off year or the first part of the decline phase of his career? I have no idea. He's 31 with a ton of catching miles and nowhere else to play in the NL.
ROUND 8
SALFINO 2 - Daniel Murphy, NYM, 2B: He needs 30 homers-plus-steals for this pick to make sense. Last year, he had 22. The year before 36. But the SB% last year was good enough. And the fences have come in again at Citi Field.
SALFINO 1 - Alexei Ramirez, CHW, SS: 36 homers plus steals the past two years, though the distribution is inconsistent. He's playing his age 33 season, which is troubling. Have to hope for one more near-peak performance.
DEL DON 2 - Johnny Cueto, CIN, SP: I normally don't love buying players coming off career years, but Cueto just finished with a 2.25 ERA and the lowest BAA (.194) among all starters in baseball, and this is the eighth round. He can regress plenty and still provide a lot of value here.
DEL DON 1 - Matt Harvey, NYM: SP: This is a gamble with him coming off Tommy John Surgery, but Harvey was arguably the best pitcher in baseball in 2013, when he easily led MLB in FIP (he had a 2.00 mark and the second best was Clayton Kershaw's 2.39).
BEHRENS 2 - Kole Calhoun, LAA, OF: Calhoun is a power/speed combo player who owns a privileged spot in an impressive lineup. If he gives us 145 games, he'll produce an easy 100-plus runs.
BEHRENS 1 - Salvador Perez, KC, C: He offers above-average power, RBIs and batting average for his position, plus the Royals never let him rest. Perez is only 24, so there's growth potential here.
EVANS 2 - Javier Baez, ChC, SS: Reach? Potentially, but Baez is a dazzling prospect with superhuman power and plus speed. His wretched 41.5 K% in 213 at-bats last year obviously projects an unsightly BA in '15, but a 25-15 contribution is entirely possible. If you stack quality contact hitters early, he's worth the gamble in the middle rounds.
EVANS 1 - Evan Gattis, Atl, C/OF: A breakout performer last year, Gattis clubbed a homer once every 16.7 at-bats. He was often injury-ridden, but with Justin Upton now swinging it in SoCal, Gattis should see more action in the outfield, a move that could keep him healthier. With 500 at-bats ... 30-35 HR.
FUNSTON 2 - Mookie Betts, Bos, OF: Alas, a Mookie that Boston fans can embrace. And fantasy owners should want to make it a group hug for the now BoSox leadoff hitter who swiped a combined 40 bases at three different levels in '14 and hit at least .291 at each stop (including his 52-game MLB debut).
FUNSTON 1 - Marcell Ozuna, Mia, OF: After just three home runs in 70 games in his '13 Marlins debut, his power finally came online last season (23 HR). His batting average could be a rollercoaster ride given his whiff rate, but there's clear-and-present potential for 30 bombs here.
PIANOWSKI 2 - Pablo Sandoval, Bos, 3B: My two favorite parks are Fenway and AT&T, but if I'm going there with a bat in my hand, take me to The Hub. No Sad Panda here.
PIANOWSKI 1 - Julio Teheran, Atl, SP: I love how he crushed the "must have proof first" dinosaurs all last year. What does knowing how to pitch mean? It speaks to getting outs without max effort, then dialing up heat later if you need it. That's Teheran's game.
ROUND 9
PIANOWSKI 1 - David Robertson, CHW, RP: Big K/9 rate, closer contract and leash. Lacks elite control but seems good enough.
PIANOWSKI 2 - Alex Cobb, TB, SP: Change-up makes the angels weep. Better numbers under the catwalk, but the splits aren't ridiculous.
FUNSTON 1 - Starlin Castro, ChC, SS: He's not for everyone, but he's averaged 12 home runs over the past four years and has finished .283 or better in four of his five seasons. He's also only 24, which is to say that his best may still be yet to come.
FUNSTON 2 - Hisashi Iwakuma, Sea, SP: With this pick, you know you're going to get serviceable strikeout numbers and solid ratios (aided by one of the friendliest home parks in the league).
EVANS 1 - Jeff Samardzija, CWS, SP: Don't like the thought of two Chi-Sox pitchers on the same team, but Samardzija was my top SP left on the board. ERA is sure to rise into 3.40-3.60 range, but 200 Ks with 15 wins within reach in South Side digs.
EVANS 2 - Wilin Rosario, Col, C: The Baby Bull was more ground chuck last season as his power numbers dropped off precipitously. Righties, road woes and a GB spike plagued him. Still just 25, a bounce back campaign seems likely, making him a nice discount buy in the later rounds.
BEHRENS 1 - Jorge Soler, Chc, OF: To me, Soler simply looks like a star. He was tremendous at the big league level in last year's cameo, and his minor league numbers were terrific. Over 621 career plate appearances in the minors, he hit 28 homers, 43 doubles, swiped 17 bags in 20 attempts, plus he slashed .307/.383/.551. He's ready.
BEHRENS 2 - Jake Arrieta, Chc, SP: Not only were last season's numbers beastly -- 9.6 K/9, 2.53 ERA, 0.99 WHIP -- but he wasn't unusually lucky (2.73 xFIP). Arrieta's K-rate jumped and his walk-rate dropped. He was simply dominant.
DEL DON 1 - Sonny Gray, OAK, SP: He has a 2.99 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over the first 283.0 innings of his career and benefits from playing in a stadium that's decreased homers by 15 percent over the past three years, which is the second most in the American League.
DEL DON 2 - Dellin Betances, NYY, RP: He's coming off one of the best seasons you'll ever see by a relief pitcher, when he posted a 1.40 ERA and 0.78 WHIP with 135 strikouts over 90.0 innings. Betances led all relievers in WAR (3.2) and should slide seamlessly into the closer's role.
SALFINO 1 - Gerrit Cole, PIT, SP: Everyting is lined up for a breakout. Top flight stuff. And finally a desire to pitch with both verocity and economy off his DL stiint (60 Ks, 11 BBs in 52.1 IP). My sleeper Cy Young candidate. But he's still 30 percent projection.
SALFINO 2 - Jacob deGrom, NYM, SP: Lowly regarded as a prospect due to position change from shortstop. Discount the minor-league numbers. Passes every eyeball test. Given his relative inexperience, there's a good chance deGrom will be better in 2015.
ROUND 10
SALFINO 2 - Phil Hughes, MIN, SP: You can wait forever for Hughes, who people refuse to believe. He had more than 11 times as many Ks as BBs and clearly fearlessly challenged hitters after escaping the homer-haven in the Bronx.
SALFINO 1 - Sean Doolittle, OAK, RP: The best Ks minus IP closer on the board. So he's mine. I doubt the Moneyball A's will be hung up on him being a lefty. And righties are no touble for him anyway.
DEL DON 2 - Kris Bryant, CHI, 3B: I'm not sure when he'll get a full-time job with the Cubs, but Bryant led the minors last season in homers (43) and OPS (1.098). Steamer currently projects him to hit 16 homers with 42 RBI and five steals this year... in 73 games.
DEL DON 1 - Brian McCann, NYY, C: His batting average has really fallen off over the past few years, but McCann still managed 23 home runs and 75 RBI over 140 games last season. He's still just 30 years old and plays in a home park that increased homers by 61 percent for left-handed batters last season, which was by far the most in MLB.
BEHRENS 2 Tyson Ross, SD, SP: Ross posted outstanding ratios last season somewhat quietly, and he piled up 195 Ks. The Pads have improved the lineup, so I'm expecting something better than 13 wins in 2015.
BEHRENS 1 - Leonys Martin, Tex, OF: This fantasy roster needed speed in the worst way, so Martin fits perfectly. He's swiped 30-plus in back-to-back seasons.
EVANS 2 - J.D. Martinez, Det, OF: The former 'Stro was a fantasy bro in his first season with the Tigers developing into one of the AL's best fastball hitters. It's hard to imagine he'll duplicate a .315 BA, but a final line around .280-23-80-75 is attainable.
EVANS 1 - Mark Trumbo, Ari, OF: Injury limited him to just 328 at-bats in '14, but he did reach the bleachers 14 times and drove in 61. A sub-.250 BA is always a concern, but he should be a 30-100 producer in his Age 29 campaign. Arizona is an awfully attractive home environment.
FUNSTON 2 - Alex Wood, Atl, SP: I love this funky lefty. He's been fanning a batter per inning since he arrived in Atlanta, and he posted a 2.20 ERA in the second half of '14. And unlike the past two seasons, he heads into '15 with a rock-solid spot in the rotation from the get-go.
FUNSTON 1 - Kolten Wong, StL, 2B: You have to worry a bit about his K/BB percentages, but if you count the postseason, he went 15/21 over 121 games in his rookie campaign.
PIANOWSKI 2 - Ben Revere, Phi, OF: Hate spending premium picks on speed, but at least the average is bankable. Hard to sell to the investors, though.
PIANOWSKI 1 - Ben Zobrist, Oak, SS: For a while it was so-underrated-he's-overrated, but maybe the pendulum has swung back. Covers three positions, which is always lovely.
ROUND 11
PIANOWSKI 1 - Jose Quintana, CHW, SP: Pitched considerably better than the W-L and front-door ERA suggested last year. Safe investment for strikeouts, and in pocket where players often take a step forward.
PIANOWSKI 2 - Trevor Rosenthal, Stl, RP: He closes. The Cardinals win games. Was on fumes late in 2014, but I expect a fresh start and reasonable leash when things start up.
FUNSTON 1 - Gio Gonzalez, Was, SP: Was up-and-down in '14, but his FIP (3.03) was a half run better than his ERA (3.57) and he closed out the final month on a roll (2.48 ERA). He's a pretty safe play at this point in the draft.
FUNSTON 2 - Shin-Soo Choo, Tex, OF: Plenty went wrong in Texas last season, including Choo's campaign. In Round 11, I'm willing to issue a do-over for a .282 career hitter who has gone 20-20 in three of his past four full seasons (and 16/21 in the other).
EVANS 1 - Hyun-Jin Ryu, LAD, SP: The third-year hurler doesn't hurt you anywhere. He's good for double-digit wins, a profitable ERA/WHIP and above average strikeouts. In other words, he's a terrific complement to a pair of SP cornerstones.
EVANS 2 - Carlos Carrasco, Phi, SP: His stirring second half (78.2 IP, 1.72 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 86 K) will drive his value through the roof in auctions, but this is where he should go in mixed snakes. He's a SP3 with considerable upside, but not much more.
BEHRENS 1 - Howie Kendrick, LAD, 2B: As a few of you probably know, I'm a longtime Kendrick supporter. No, he's never quite delivered on the future-batting-crown hype, but he's setteled in as a useful double-digit power/speed guy who hits .285-.295. That will play in Round 11.
BEHRENS 2 - Manny Machado, Bal, 3B: Health is no small concern (knee), but, as of this writing, he still seems on track for spring training. Machado is still just 22, far from a finished product, and he's done much better than tread water in the bigs. In a healthy season, he can go 90-20-90-.285.
DEL DON 1 - Jimmy Rollins, LAD, SS: He moves to a tougher park for hitters but also to a much better lineup. I waited on shortstops yet ended up with Rollins, who finished as the No. 7 fantasy SS last year, ahead of Hanley Ramirez.
DEL DON 2 - Jhonny Peralta, STL, SS: He had 21 homers and 75 RBI last season, which isn't bad for a late pick at shortstop. It's also nice that he had the majority of his at-bats come hitting fifth in St. Louis' lineup.
SALFINO 1 - Masahiro Tanaka, NYY, SP: I have no idea whether his partially-torn elbow will hold up like it did for years with Adam Wainright and even longer Felix Hernandez. But I also have no fear of finding starters later and on waivers. Tanaka if healthy is top shelf.
SALFINO 2 - Garrett Richards, LAA, SP: Great velocity but a very high slider percentage. Doesn't have bad platoon splits. Could get better. Wish he had a change, but I'll make a one-year commitment.
ROUND 12
SALFINO 2 - Alcides Escobar, KC, SS: Needed steals and feel pretty good about him grabbing 30-plus bags. No pop. Not likely an average drag. Wish I did better at short than him but he does do something useful.
SALFINO 1 - Matt Shoemaker, LAA, SP: He's basically Iwakuma without the respect. Same devastating splitter. Same elite walk rate and better than average Ks. Velocity is a question but he doesn't need much given the split.
DEL DON 2 - Matt Wieters, BAL, C: He slugged five homers over 26 games with a career best .308/.339/.500 line before suffering a season-ending elbow injury. Wieters was primed to finally live up to the hype (at least to some extent), and the 28-year-old should be good to go at the start of this season.
DEL DON 1 - Mark Melancon, PIT, RP: He plays in an extreme pitcher's park and sports a 1.65 ERA and 0.92 WHIP with a 7.4 K:BB ratio over the past two years. In other words, he's been one of the best relievers in baseball.
BEHRENS 2 - James Shields, FA, SP: This seems like a long fall for a guy who delivers 200-plus innings with solid ratios and a respectable K-rate. When he has an employer, expect the price to increase.
BEHRENS 1 - Cody Allen, Cle, RP: Allen fanned 91 batters in just 69.2 IP last season, delivering 24 saves with useful ratios (2.07 ERA, 1.06 WHIP). If you tend to avoid the luxury closers in fantasy drafts, he's a nice foundation piece for your 'pen.
EVANS 2 - Joaquin Benoit, SD, RP: Sure he's getting up there in age, but he's still popping the mitt in the mid-90s and was effective as a closer when healthy in '14. On an improved roster and generating better than a K per inning ... 30-35 saves.
EVANS 1 - Steve Cishek, Mia, RP: The underappreciated reliever has accounted for 75 saves the past two seasons. His job security is very, very safe. And he's usually good for over a K per inning.
FUNSTON 2 - David Ortiz, Bos, 1B: He's the Mariano Rivera of sluggers. You can try to predict when his bottom will fall out, but you'll most likely be wrong. He's coming off back-to-back 30-home run campaigns (in his age 37 and 38 seasons!).
FUNSTON 1 - Yasmani Grandal, LAD, C: He showed some pop last season (15 home runs), and he has hit for average in the past. Now 26 years old, and playing in a fairly loaded Dodgers' offense, it's worth rolling the dice to see if he can finally put those two skills together.
PIANOWSKI 2 - Ian Kennedy, SD, SP: Nice depth in this rotation and obviously the lineup has been upgraded. Petco Park not only hides mistakes, but it allows pitchers to work more aggressively, knowing they can get away with more. Good for the psyche.
PIANOWSKI 1 - Neil Walker, Pit, 2B: His 2009-2012 returns justify this spot, and last year's pop (if he can keep it) would make him a bargain. When he makes contact, it's usually hard contact.
Here's a final look at each team's roster:
