Josh Donaldson will be a relatively low-risk fantasy draft pick in 2016

MVP: Josh Donaldson

Donaldson was a beast and should win the AL MVP. There’s not much else to say about him. One critique of his game heading into next season is his age for dynasty leagues. Injury is also a concern whenever the turf of Rogers Centre is your home field. In other words, he is about as safe an investment as they come for next season.

Best Surprise: Manny Machado

Just about every part of Machado’s stat line of 2015 was unexpected. The power shouldn’t be such a huge shock because the 23-year-old is still gaining strength, and his HR/FB rate has always been strong. A high infield fly ball rate is a concern moving forward, as that can be crippling to power production, but even if he doesn’t match his home run total again, he should still be viable fantasy option. His production in the stolen base department was an even bigger surprise, as he managed to nab 20 steals on the season. Given two surgically repaired knees and the likelihood that he continues to add weight as his body matures, stolen bases shouldn’t be counted on for next season. Regardless, a .280 average with 30 HR, 90 R, 100 RBI and 10 steals next season is realistic, making him a viable first-round pick.

Biggest Bust: Pablo Sandoval

Sandoval never has and never will be a standout fantasy player, but his move to Boston was supposed to make him a double machine, which in turn would make him an asset with his batting average and run-producing potential. Instead, his season went poorly, much like the Red Sox overall. Sandoval should, but probably won’t, be left on the waiver wire next season until he shows he will provide fantasy relevant production.

Player to Watch: Matt Duffy

Duffy offers an interesting statistical package for a third baseman. He is not elite in any single category but provides production everywhere. Duffy was never a prodigious power hitter in the mold of Machado or Donaldson, and he should never be expected to develop that power. What he offers is 10-home run and 15-stolen base potential with the ability to hit .300. He uses the entire field extremely well, which allows him to maintain a high BABIP and average even with a relatively high strikeout rate. The value of Duffy is tied heavily to the success experienced by the rest of the Giants’ lineup due to his lack of power, making him a risk. Still Duffy is a solid corner infield or utility option heading into 2016, and should not be ignored.