Posted By:Bretsky on March 25, 2022

The first base position is simpler than most. Instead of focusing on roster construction and teams needs, you know what you are getting out of your first base position homers and RBI. As such we really prioritize power in these rankings. Both the universal DH and post-lockout player movement have opened up at-bats for a number of really interesting players so we have a lot to choose from here.

ADP Targets

Pete Alonso (46) offers a ton of pop and comes at a slight discount compared to Vladito and Matt Olson…. Rhys Hoskins (131) should be healthy to stat the year and will hit near the top of a lineup that added significant thumb in the offseason…  Joey Votto (127) continues to rake into his golden years… We’re willing to see if Luke Voit (242) can recapture the power stroke of 2020 as he moves to San Diego.

ADP Fades

I like Jared Walsh (112) as a player, but the price is too steep… DJ LaMahieu (118) just doesn’t fit the bill as a first baseman but can work fine as a roster piece to plug in elsewhere.

2022 First Base Rankings

Posted By:Bretsky on March 25, 2022

The catcher position is my least favorite to handle and honestly, I usually end up just looking to accumulate some pop rather than invest much draft value there. The volatility and injury risk is just too high to sink a top-100 pick into the position, though we’ll have to see how the NL DH may impact some of the playing time for the better options in that league.

ADP Targets

Mitch Garver (195) is probably plan A, B and C.

ADP Fades

The top tier — Sal Perez (30), JT Realmuto(58), Will Smith (61) — they are all awesome, but not gonna end up on my squads.

2022 Catcher Rankings

Posted By:Bretsky on March 23, 2021

Traditionally, I’ve been a wait-on-pitching type of drafter — scooping up three or four exciting bats before even thinking about addressing the rotation. The lack of volume and perhaps the sheer awesome-ness that is a top tier led by Jacob deGrom has changed things here just a bit. DeGrom, Shane Bieber and Gerrit Cole have become first-round staples as we navigate a pre-season riddled with questions on innings caps. One thing that is certain now that we know that the will be no DH in the NL, deGrom comfortably sits atop this list.

The second tier is where things get truly interesting. Just about everyone ranks Yu Darvish, Trevor Bauer, Max Scherzer, Walker Buehler, Lucas Giolito and Clayton Kershaw as the next handful of arms, but there is absolutely no consensus on who is at the top of the tier. Nola, Darvish and Scherzer were in consideration for the four spot on my list and, despite some health concerns and performance concerns, Max Scherzer continues to occupy that position. Everything went in the wrong direction in 2020 for Max, his K% dipped to a five-year low (albeit at a still excellent 31.2%). He also walked more guys, allowed more hits and homers than in any point since he joined the Nationals. Still, the velocity is just fine, the strikeouts remain elite and we’re banking on Scherzer getting right as he shakes off a forgettable 2020.

As we navigate the lower tiers. I’m planning to leave the draft table with one or two arms from the top couple of tiers while going offense-heavy in the top-100 picks. Beyond that, there are a ton of interesting names, many of which may not survive April on my roster.

ADP Targets

In what will become a theme in this section we look to a couple of grizzled veterans — Max Scherzer (23) and Clayton Kershaw (31) — as two of the names that jump out in the first couple of rounds. Layne Lynn (54) is probably my most-owned pitcher thanks to what should be very reliable innings volume paired with perennially underrated consistency. Kenta Maeda (49) also sticks around a bit longer than his recent performance should allow and can be a nice value after the top-10 is off the board. Digging deeper, I am in on Stephen Strasburg (63) and if your draft room is scared by his constant health concerns, he’s a fine number two if paired with a more stable ace.

Charlie Morton (116), Zack Grienke (97) and Patrick Corbin (126) all get the boring-vet discount but have all the tools to return top-15 value. On the opposite end of his career, Sandy Alcantara (136) leads an up and coming Marlins rotation and is the one you want on your fantasy roster.

In the later rounds, we’re interested in a return from Corey Kluber (150) and Marcus Stroman (202). John Means (264) showed promise down the stretch in 2020. Mike Minor (294) is throwing harder and can offer volume with decent Ks. Robbie Ray (283) looks solid in the spring and Freddy Peralta (312) looks like he might finally get another shot in the rotation.

Top 120-ish Starting Pitcher Rankings for 2021

Posted By:Bretsky on March 18, 2021

We are just a few weeks away from opening day and while draft season picks up, it’s hard to contain the excitement for the coming season. Today we’re taking a walk through the what I feel is the most important offensive position — the outfield. The position contains the largest volume of first round talent, a swath of power/speed guys as well as some of the most exciting young players in the game.

Checking your league settings and eligibility rules will be of the utmost importance when planning your draft day strategy in the outfield. Restrictive Util-only candidates in some platforms can turn into underrated studs if they carry that extra eligibility, so why not take a look and see if Giancarlo Stanton, Yordan Alvarez or Trey Mancini can help you outside of the single utility spot. I love to hammer away at the outfield in the first quarter of the draft and if you are playing in a 5 OF league, finding the core of your offense is even more critical.

The top four players on my draft board sit in the outfield and while Mookie Betts gets the nod for me for his blend of stability, lineup support and plus production in literally every category, I certainly can’t doubt that Juan Soto or Ronald Acuna offer a bit more upside. Mike Trout could easily top the list as well and while Christian Yelich is not in that No. 1 overall conversation right now, he certainly was there 365 days ago and he has all the ability to get right back to that level. Cody Bellinger and Bryce Harper round out the top-tier and I am likely walking away from the draft table with at least one of these players on my roster.

ADP Targets

At the back end of the first round, Christian Yelich (10 adp) seems like a strong consolation prize for anyone wishing they could snag a top-4 guy. The shortened season was not kind to Yelich and while he finished with a disappointing .205 average, he continued to post a strong walk rate while mashing 12 homers and stealing four bags in 247 PAs. In Yelich’s previous two seasons, he averaged 40 home runs 26 steals with a .327 average, I’m willing to give just about anyone a pass for struggling in 2020.

Digging a little deeper, Starling Marte (52) always offers underrated juice for your fantasy squad. Yordan Alvarez (82) claims he’s healthy and has already shown he can be an elite bat when he’s right. Perhaps its a bit risky in deep leagues, but in a 10 or 12-teamer, Alvarez is a tasty gamble. Mike Yastrzemski (115) would be a top-100 player on draft day if he played in an east coast market. Michael Brantley (146) is quietly excellent year in and year out. Trey Mancini (151), Joc Pederson (281), and Justin Upton (321) ahve consistently produced when on their field and make nice back end options very late.

Top 120-ish Outfield Rankings for 2021

Posted By:Bretsky on March 9, 2021

Fernando Tatis Jr. spent a couple of weeks during the odd year that was 2020 establishing himself as one of the best baseball players on the planet. During one particularly scorching 16-game stretch last season, Tatis slashed .344/.400/.844 with 10 home runs 17 runs scored and 20 RBI. He wrapped the 60-game season with 17 homers 11 steals and a very strong .277/.366/.571 slash and parlayed that performance with a monster 14 year $340 million contract. At just 22 years old, Tatis is one of the most exciting players in the game and warrants consideration as the top overall player in fantasy. I’m not quite ready to put the young stud at the top of my draft board, but I certainly won’t doubt anyone who does.

The great part of it all? Tatis may not even be the top player at his position. Trea Turner led all players in offensive fantasy value last year, adding a touch more pop (career best .253 ISO) to his strong power/speed blend. Turner went 12/12 with a sizzling .335/.394/.588, a pace over 60-games that would stretch to something like a .335-127-33-113-33 line over a full 162 season.

The shortstop position holds a number of other top-tier options that could offer similar 5-category production. This is the juiciest position in fantasy and it’s really hard to go wrong. Given the bevy of options at any price-point, I may be inclined to actually lower each individual player just a touch in the overall rankings, knowing that there will be a solid value at cost whenever you decide to address the position.

ADP Targets

Xander Bogaerts (29) represents a really strong third round pick in any league. He’s sustained the power for three straight seasons now and while he doesn’t offer the top-end speed of those shortstops that will go in the top-20 overall, Bogaerts is as steady as anyone at the position. After a disappointing 2020, Javier Báez looks primed to get back on track as a four-plus category contributor. The projection systems all put Báez in the range of  .250-.260 range with 85 runs and RBIs, 30 homers and double-digit steals. The counting stats are super useful and though the K-rate is always an issue, Baez posted a .281 batting average from 2015-2019 before bottoming out at .203. That projection in the .250-.260 range feels like a hedge and a return to .270+ would not be a surprise at all. Javy remains a major target of mine with an average draft position sitting at 80 overall — the 14th shortstop off the board.

As we dip further Didi Gregorious, who was a top-40 bat in 2020, can be had outside of the top 150 picks in many drafts. Jonathan Villar (234) is interesting at either middle infield spot. Jorge Polanco (194), Andrelton Simmons (436) and Elvis Andrus (343) should provide plenty of volume at the back end of drafts as well.

Top 40-ish Shortstop Rankings for 2021

Posted By:Bretsky on March 8, 2021

Third base is loaded and one of my favorite positons to draft. We’ve got 30/30 contenders at the top, rock solid 30-100 corner guys in the middle rounds and a fat tier of undervalued veterans. I tend to lean towards the outfield early if my league has five outfield spots, but if not securing a third baseman from the top couple tiers with one of my first three picks is a solid strategy.

Jose Ramirez is thisclose to being in his own tier, with a power/speed combo that is not likely matched by anyone else at the position. He’s the only first-rounder at the position, but if you don’t tend to prioritize steals, there is a clear path for any one of Manny Machado, Alex Bregman, Anthony Rendon or Nolan Arenado to out-earn Ramirez on the season. For the record, Arenado will be just fine away from Coors.

ADP Targets

Alex Bregman (37) and Anthony Rendon (31) lost some ground comparing their 2020 ADP to early drafts this year, though there is little to point to in terms of diminished skills that would warrant the drop. I’m fine with buying the dip on either. I love Max Muncy (97) as I do every year (and even moreso in OBP and points leagues), but he looks a little better in a second base slot if eligibility allows.

Gio Urshela (156) remains a bit of an underrated name in a loaded offense. Josh Donaldson (195) and Kyle Seager (235) get the job done whenever they’re on the field. Ty France (419) looks to be earning his way some at-bats and remains an interesting flier in deep leagues

Top 40-ish Third Base Rankings for 2021

Posted By:Bretsky on March 5, 2021

Second base has proven to be the trickiest position to tackle in drafts. There is a bit of a larger first tier without a whole lot of gap between them. The problem? There really aren’t any truly elite options that can contribute across the board. While DJ LaMahieu and Ozzie Albies can provide solid bankable production, I’m not likely to spend a pick on a second sacker in the first two round of the draft.

Unfortunately, the secret is out on Brandon Lowe, who has been my favorite second base target over the past couple of seasons. Lowe’s 2020 power surge has made him a top-70 pick on draft day. Love the power stroke, hate the strikeouts. Lowe likely wont end up on any of my teams in 2021, and thats disappointing.

ADP Targets

I’m confident in a bounce back from Ketel Marte and his power/speed upside makes sense around pick 75. If Max Muncy keeps his second base eligibility in your format, he’s always a nice power option that can provide some versatility. I am willing to take a chance on a Jose Altuve bounce back inside the top-100 and veteran slugger Mike Moustakas remains a fine value in the Dan Uggla mold.

Beyond that the real value at the position comes at the back end and even outside the top 200 draft picks on average. Jonathan Villar (175) is just a year removed from a 24 homer, 40 steal season. Jean Segura (186) give you a little bit of everything, Cesar Hernandez (330) has a very nice average and runs floor witha  touch of speed and Jonathan Schoop (347) continues to be an underrated power option with 20+ homer upside coming off a very strong .278/.324/.475 season in 2020.

Top 40-ish Second Base Rankings for 2021

Posted By:Bretsky on March 4, 2021

Let’s kick of the 2021 season in style here at BretskyBall with our first base rankings. It’s a fun group of power bats to anchor your squad. The tough decisions start right at the top with Freddie Freeman and Cody Bellinger battling it out in the top tier. Bellinger showed us his upside in 2019 with a .305-121-34-115-15 line before struggling a bit out of the gates last season. Still, 12 home runs and six steals in 56 games is nothing to scoff at from Dodgers stud. The primary worry about Cody coming into the season is the health of his shoulder — injured celebrating his Game 7 NLCS bomb — but all indications are that the slugger should be just fine.

Freddie Freeman capture the NL MVP award in the shortened 2020 season, slashing .3341/.462/.640 with 13 home runs and 53 RBI over 60 games. He’s been a rock at the dish, putting together a .306-110-34-108-8 per 162 pace.

When forced to choose between the top two first baseman, Bellinger gets the slight edge in our ranks with his ability to provide double digit steals. Both are fine picks in the late-first, early-second rounds but the strength of the second tier at this position likely has us looking elsewhere early in the first this season.

ADP Targets

New York sluggers Luke Voit (57) and Dominic Smith (120) leap off the page as some of our favorite values in drafts so far this season. Two of 2020’s breakout players should both continue to mash in prime run-producing spots in the middle of productive lineups. Digging a little deeper, betting on a bounceback from Josh Bell as he moves from Pittsburgh to DC to add a little pop behind Juan Soto in the Nationals lineup. Bell is currently the 141st player taken in drafts on average.

Looking even deeper, C.J. Cron in Coors is an intruiging late round option as is Jeimer Candelario who should be entrenched in the middle of the Tigers lineup.

Top 40-ish First Base Rankings for 2021

Posted By:Bretsky on March 4, 2021

I guess we gotta rank the catchers, right? It’s not really a fun prospect and I’m unlikely to spend on top-200 pick on a backstop. J.T. Realmuto remains in a tier of his own — so long as the pre-season hand injury does not hamper him.

You probably want to walk away with a top-12 catcher on this list in a single catcher league, so if it’s a 12-teamer, take whoever falls. In a deeper league, it’s fine to get ahead of the run, but don’t go nuts.

ADP Targets

If I’m grabbing a backstop in the top-200 picks, it’s probably Travis d’Arnaud whose currently sitting in the 135 range on average. Mitch Garver (213) and Wilson Ramos (271) look like solid gambles in the end-game.

Top 30 Catcher Rankings for 2021

Posted By:Bretsky on July 23, 2020

Though it felt like we may never get here, it is finally Opening Day. As we wrap up a second frantic draft season, it’s time to release one last set of our overall and positional rankings for the 2020 fantasy baseball season.

Enjoy the baseball and stay safe everyone!