Fantasy Baseball: Our top draft targets from the AL East
Our fantasy baseball analysts jump into each MLB division and reveal the player they're targeting in drafts from each team. Here are Scott Pianowski, Dalton Del Don and Andy Behrens' picks for the AL East.
New York Yankees
-Luke Voit has hit 33 home runs in 475 plate appearances over the past two seasons and, as of this writing, he’s looking like the Yankees starting first baseman. This man led the AL in homers just two seasons ago. We’re getting him in Round 20 in mixed drafts these days, a neighborhood where we normally wouldn’t expect to find a potential category leader. — Behrens
-Gleyber Torres is coming off a couple of down seasons but hit 38 homers (125 wRC+) as a 22-year-old and remains in a favorable situation in New York. He countered some struggles at the plate last season by adding a career-high 14 SBs, and a full-time move to second base could help as well. Torres is still just 25 years old, hits in a loaded lineup and home park that boosts righty power and looks to be in the proverbial “best shape of his life.” He’s enticing with a depressed ADP. — Del Don
-Gleyber Torres is a giveaway at the current ADP, and he gets an excused absence for last year. Getting him off shortstop will clean his head. I also like Gary Sanchez as basically a Mike Zunino frame but with a cheaper cost. He’s also done more in his career than Zunino has. — Pianowski
Boston Red Sox
-When things go according to script for me in a draft, I’ll generally have only one (or zero) starting pitchers through the first 10 rounds. Because those guys are all outside the circle of trust. I’d feel pretty comfortable with Chris Sale as my early ace after his successful return from injury last August. I have little doubt Sale is capable of producing at the level of the Giolito-Bieber-Nola, but he’s often available 2-3 rounds after those guys are gone. — Behrens
-The Red Sox view Enrique Hernandez as a leadoff man, and anyone getting extra at-bats in that park and in that lineup makes me excited. He’ll crank 20-plus homers and probably challenge 100 runs, assuming a full season. — Pianowski
[Batter up: Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Baseball league for free today]
-Tanner Houck enters with a modest ADP thanks to an uncertain role to open the year, but he’s going to be a major part of Boston’s rotation sooner or later. The former first-rounder was dominant last season, posting a 2.58 FIP while starting and in relief. His upside may be limited by an innings cap, but Houck’s stuff is good enough to be plenty helpful to fantasy managers in 2022. — Del Don
Toronto Blue Jays
-Early fantasy drafters have been making some highly questionable decisions regarding upper-tier closers, grabbing them in spots where they can’t possibly return value. I’m in a slow-draft right at this moment in which someone opened with pocket closers (Hendriks-Hader), which I’ve simply never seen. It’s wild out there. If you’re so panicky about saves that you feel compelled to snag a locked-in closer, I’d encourage you to open with Jordan Romano several rounds after the top-tier guys are off the board. Romano was a machine last season, producing excellent ratios and converting 23 of 24 save opportunities. — Behrens
-Jordan Romano is my “second-tier closer with first-tier upside” pocket pick, whenever the second wave of hand-shakers starts to go. I’m also willing to try Cavan Biggio as a high-upside, no-floor late-round pick, someone to stash on your bench. If he’s your first cut, so be it. I just wish he’d stop watching a cookie 0-1 pitch whisk by him — he needs to be more aggressive early in the count. — Pianowski
-Alejandro Kirk will have to continue fighting for at bats in Toronto, with Danny Jansen entering the year as the team’s starter and one of the best catcher prospects (Gabriel Moreno) set to make his MLB debut at some point in 2022. Still, Kirk is worth grabbing in fantasy leagues anyway, as his bat has a bunch of upside. The 5-foot-8, 265-pounder hit .347 in Triple-A last year and has real power. A loaded Blue Jays lineup should boost his counting stats, helping offset lesser playing time. There’s no chance Kirk is this affordable in 2023 fantasy drafts.
Tampa Bay Rays
-Gimme all the Rays. I love this roster; it’s a buffet of young talent. Josh Lowe is among my favorite late-round prospect fliers, coming off a 22/26 season at Triple-A in which he slashed .291/.381/.535. Whenever he slides into regular playing time at the big league level, you’re gonna want him. — Behrens
-Given the upside of Wander Franco, I’m surprised the price is so cheap. Shiny new toys are generally expensive. I’ll have a share or two somewhere. Shane Baz is going to incite bidding wars, but he’s worth the extra elbow. — Pianowski
[Fantasy Baseball Draft Rankings: C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF | SP | RP]
-Shane Baz struck out 113 batters over 78.2 innings across the minors last season, posting a 2.06 ERA and a 0.80 WHIP. He’ll likely be on an innings limit, but the Rays should have a strong defense and bullpen, while Tropicana Field is the American League’s best pitcher’s park. Baz is going to be fun to have on fantasy teams this year. — Del Don
Baltimore Orioles
-Here’s hoping catching prospect Adley Rutschman can meet the expectations we all had for Matt Wieters back in the day. It’s clear that Rutschman has mastered the minors, as he slashed .285/.397/.502 at Double-A and Triple-A last year, clearing the fence 23 times. Another elite catcher would be a welcome addition to the fantasy player pool. — Behrens
-John Means has found a way to beat this park and division, and now Camden Yards is bigger. Sounds good to me. I’ll try Cole Sulser as a late-round stash-and-hope saves candidate. — Pianowski
-Trey Mancini wore down last season after returning from colon cancer, although he still finished as an above average hitter (105 wRC+) despite producing just two homers and a .638 OPS over the final two months (174 ABs). Mancini is slated to hit cleanup in Baltimore’s lineup and could easily finish with similar stats as other fantasy first basemen being drafted rounds earlier. — Del Don
