My adventure into the Major League side of fantasy was brief, but informational. Today I will be discussing the second half of the draft 2 Early Mocks draft. You can find the article discussing the first half of my draft here. This gives readers an idea of the type of players that will be selected in the second half of drafts.
I will not be diving into the analytics on the players I selected, but more sharing general thoughts about the player, the pick, the position, or anything else that seemed relevant at the time of each selection.
As a reminder, this particular draft is structured as a standard roto league with the five traditional pitching categories (ERA, WHIP, W, SV, K) and five hitting categories (AVG, R, HR, RBI, SB). It is a 28-round draft with two catcher spots, a MI, CI, and five outfielders in the starting lineup, as well as the usual positions. It is a 15-team league. With that as the backdrop, here are the results and thoughts to accompany each pick.
Round 15, Pick 218 – Christian Walker, 1B, Diamondbacks
After scooping up Josh Bell in Round 14, I decided to support that selection with a second first baseman for a couple of reasons. Bell has had a rough time since the 2019 ASB, so Walker is insurance in case he does not bounce back. And secondly, I think Walker is a little underrated and felt as though he made for a solid value pick at this stage.
Round 16, Pick 233 – Garrett Hampson, 2B/OF, Rockies
At this point, I felt the team could use a boost in speed, and I also had a hole at the MI position that was becoming more difficult to fill with a quality option if I continued waiting. The Rockies have frustrated fantasy managers with their unwillingness to get behind their young talent. I believe in the skillset that Hampson brings to the table and am convinced he is worth a lot more than this draft position if given everyday at-bats.
Round 17, Pick 248 – Rafael Montero, RP, Rangers
I finally decided to join the relief pitcher fray and was pleasantly surprised to find Montero available this late. There is no guarantee he will remain the closer for Texas but considering he had success in the role this season, and they do not seem to have a particularly intriguing alternative, it felt like a relatively low-risk/high-reward pick.
Round 18, Pick 263 – Jameson Taillon, SP, Pirates
In general, I have been using the traditional wait on pitching strategy, so I felt I needed to take some gambles on players projected to return from injury. Taillon likely would have been long-gone had they been healthy. He was starting to come into his own before having TJS, and while he will likely be on an innings limit, there is still enough upside to make the play this deep.
Round 19, Pick 278 – Noah Syndergaard, SP, Mets
Similar to the play I made drafting Taillon in Round 18, I decided to gamble again on a former ace projected to return from injury next season. “Thor” has a solid track record in the Major Leagues and has always been effective when healthy. I would expect him to be eased into the season next year but could be well worth a late-round pick and more once he gets back in the groove.
Round 20, Pick 293 – Andrew Vaughn, 1B, White Sox
Anyone who has been following my writing over the past few months should not be surprised. I eventually started looking into the prospect realm with some of the late-round picks. Vaughn intrigues me because he is going to debut early next season, plays in a hitters park, possesses plus power, and can hit as well. This pick could be a fantastic value if he comes in ready.
Round 21, Pick 308 – Adley Rutschman, C, Orioles
My typical strategy with catchers is to wait until the late rounds, and usually, I end up streaming the position to make up the counting stats. Since this particular league starts two catchers, I decided to take the higher upside, more speculative play on someone who could become a plug and play at the position. My early season disadvantage at the position could turn into a relative strength as the season unfolds.
Round 22, Pick 323 – Eduardo Rodriguez, SP, BOS
This late in the draft, it becomes more and more difficult to identify quality pitchers that can be relied upon. I am not exactly sure if Rodriguez will be ready to go next season, so there was a lot of gamble involved with this selection. Should the 2019 version of Rodriguez reappear in 2021, this will be one of the best value picks for SP. Otherwise, it is a low-risk player I can cut early in the season to open up a spot for streaming or a hot pickup.
Round 23, Pick 338 – Josh Staumont, RP, Royals
Since I only had one potential closer on my roster, I decided to make a speculative saves pick. While there were still a couple of pitchers available who are technically considered closers, I just felt their stuff was not good enough to keep the job all season. Staumont carries significant risk because the saves are not promised, but should be become the closer, it is my belief he will be desirable because of the strikeout upside.
Round 24, Pick 353 – Spencer Torkelson, 3B, Tigers
I was shocked to find Torkelson buried deep on the list. When I noticed Fantrax has the slugger listed as a third baseman, I could not press the draft player button fast enough. I expect that he will be called up early in the season and be on the shortlist for AL Rookie of the Year. I prefer taking gambles on high upside prospects deep in drafts, as opposed to trying to find a veteran and guess which one might have a career year.
Round 25, Pick 368 – Jeter Downs, SS, Red Sox
I decided to draft Downs, who I was thrilled to see is listed as a shortstop. I really could not be happier with this pick (in combination with Torkelson). This league does not have a lot of multi-position players. Downs is my top second base prospect, and I think he has an excellent chance to help fantasy managers next season.
Round 26, Pick 383 – Craig Kimbrel, RP, Cubs
Kimbrel was a disaster this season, but there are reasons for optimism. The Cubs have paid him a lot of money, so I believe he will be given every opportunity to win the job back. Should it work out, I got myself a closer with a long track record, pitching for a team expected to compete. If it does not work out, he is an easy cut to open up a roster spot since the draft price was so low.
Round 27, Pick 398 – Tyler O’Neill, OF, Cardinals
I needed to fill my last outfield spot, and O’Neill fits the bill. The slugger has shown flashes of emerging, and it would not surprise me if he had a breakout season in 2021. It also would not surprise me if he struggled to reach the Mendoza line and relegated to being a part-time bench player. He is capable of becoming a mainstay on my roster or becoming an easy early-season cut
Round 28, Pick 413 – Yadier Molina, C, Cardinals
With the final pick of my draft, I needed to add a second catcher to my lineup. Molina is not a sexy pick and may not even be all that effective. Then again, the catcher position is so unstable, when it comes to fantasy value, that he could also be a top 10 option at the position. As is the case with a lot of my late-round picks, it will be easy to cut Molina if that becomes the best option.
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2 Early Mocks – Second Half
