With the fresh fantasy baseball season just about to start, we thought it would be fun to open the yearbook and work on some superlative awards. Make sure you bring your copy to the hangout, so everyone can sign it.
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🤩 Most Likely to Succeed
The Dodgers have seven players in global ADP, a claim no one else can make. And there’s also something for the value shopper, with decent draft prices on Teoscar Hernández, Andy Pages and Emmet Sheehan.
🥸 Teacher of the Year
It wasn’t surprising that Terry Francona’s steady hand guided the Reds back to the playoffs last year. Cincinnati has some fun fantasy picks this year, with Elly Da La Cruz a first-round star, Matt McLain looking ready to smash again and Andrew Abbott a value pick in the rotation.
😅 Most Likely to be Held Back
I can’t see a case for the Rockies to avoid 100 losses, and Washington is once again rebuilding — and a likely seller at the trade deadline. The National won the World Series in 2019, which feels like 30 years ago. They haven’t been close to a winning season since.
🤓 Smartest Team
The Brewers have become what the Rays once were, a lower-market team that uses its resources better than everyone else. I have tried to draft into this roster all spring, though too many of my friends appear to be Milwaukee fans, too. The Brewers have an outstanding defense, another perk when you draft pitchers here.
🙋♂️ Attendance Award
The most important pitching ability is availability, and Logan Webb enthusiastically checks that box. He’s worked 627.2 innings the last three seasons, which is 61.1 innings ahead of second-place Framer Valdez. Kevin Gausman, Luis Castillo and Zac Gallen are the next three names on this list.
As for the offensive players, props to Matt Olson for playing the full schedule four straight years and six times in eight seasons. The Braves have fallen off in recent seasons, but Olson should make good on his 34.3 ADP.
🚜 Remodel to Remember
The Royals have an improved lineup and it’s taking aim at fences that have been moved in and down. Be open-minded to this offense, and also take note that staff ace Cole Ragans is healthy again. I project the Royals to make the AL playoffs.
👶 Freshmen of the Year
Kevin McGonigle looks ready to pop, with a .923 OPS this spring, pop and speed and more walks than strikeouts. Nolan McLean is somehow still rookie eligible in the NL, despite eight starts last year (2/06/1.04); he could be starting playoff games this fall.
😓 Hardest Class
If you work off World Series odds, the AL East has four of the top 11 teams (Yankees, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Orioles). And the Rays could be the best fifth-place team in baseball. These offenses can do a number on your ERA.
⚾️ Contact King
I don’t think we’ll ever see another .400 hitter in baseball, but Luis Arráez could challenge .370. He’s struck out just 4.3% of the time the last three years, well ahead of second-place hitter Steven Kwan (9.5%). It might be time for batting title No. 4.
👨🔬 Isolated Genius
José Ramírez is on a Hall of Fame track and has continued to steal bases even into his 30s. But the Cleveland lineup looks like senior skip day, ranking 28th in runs per game last year. If Ramírez doesn’t return his first-round draft capital, it will probably be a failure of his supporting cast.
🕺 Best Dressed
The Cardinals might struggle to even reach .500 this year, though we keep drafting Alec Burleson and JJ Wetherholt (monitor Matthew Liberatore, too). But their classic uniforms are the best in the NL. On the other side, give me Boston in the red uniforms or Seattle in the green outfits.
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