What can you buy for $1.00 nowadays? I streamed Groundhog Day last month for a buck. I bought a book from the dollar bin at the library, too. Last summer, I paid a kid four quarters for a tall glass of lemonade.
In the world where we build fake teams, you can usually draft several fantasy baseball players for $1 near the end of a salary cap draft. The best strategy is to save $2 for a few $1 guys you’re targeting at the end of a draft. This is so you can “drop the hammer.” This happens when everyone’s funds are depleted, and you can bid $2 to draft the player without a bidding war immediately.
If you’re new to salary cap leagues or want a good guide, read the “Ultimate Guide to Fantasy Baseball Salary Cap Drafts” that Dan Harris wrote for FantasyPros. Also, if you’re planning (as you should), use the Auction Value Calculator on our FantasyPros website to prepare your budget.
Since this may be the last chance to look at interesting names before the season, I’ve made a long list of players that might be available for a dollar, with a brief explanation for each group. Remember, you’re hoping to pay $1, but you want them to produce a profit.
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Two Prospects: Spencer Torkelson (1B, 3B – DET) / Riley Greene (OF – DET)
Sometimes it’s good to grab a prospect or two, especially if your league pays more attention to major leaguers than minor leaguers. Bobby Witt Jr. (SS – KC) is well-known, and Julio Rodriguez (OF – SEA) is popular, too. So consider these two guys in Detroit, a team that can let some of their prospects move up and continue to figure it out in the major leagues (as we saw with Akil Baddoo (OF – DET) last year). Torkelson and Greene are two of the top-five prospects in baseball, according to Fantasy Pros Prospect Ranking. Across three minor-league levels, Torkelson hit .267/.383/.552, and across two levels in 2021, Greene hit .301/.387/.534.
Catchers: Eric Haase (C, OF – DET) / Danny Jansen (C – TOR)
Even though Detroit signed Tucker Barnhart (C – DET) in the offseason, Haase is a great target. He’ll probably split catching duties, but his ability to play first base and the outfield will get him in the lineup in other ways. When it comes to catchers, you want guys who’ll get at-bats. He hit 22 HR last year in 381 plate appearances.
In nearly 100 at-bats at the end of the season, Danny Jansen hit .303/.350/.695. He’s finally reached 800 at-bats at the major league level, so invest in the possibility that he’s figured it out.
First Base: Brandon Belt (1B – SF) / Daniel Vogelbach (1B – PIT) / Rowdy Tellez (1B – MIL)
Now Belt is listed at $4, but several leagues that I play in used up their funds and completely ignored him until it was too late. In Belt’s last 148 games, he managed 38 HR, 90 R, 89 RBI, and hit .285/.393/.595. He’s the definition of profit potential. You might not get him for $1, but it’s possible.
Vogelbach was recently signed by the Pirates and has a good chance to hit in the middle of their lineup behind Bryan Reynolds (OF – PIT). He’s also one of the more patient hitters in the league, with a top O-Swing%.
Similarly, this spring, Tellez has been batting third and fifth in Milwaukee’s lineup. In his last 452 plate appearances, he managed 19 HR, 54 Runs, and 59 RBI. I expect (finally!) a regular role and a possible breakout.
Second Base: Kike Hernandez (2B, OF – BOS) / Adam Frazier (2B, OF – SEA)
Here’s where a theme begins: top-of-the-lineup hitters. The profit comes from at-bats. Lots of them.
Kike Hernandez is starting to hit the ball in the air more, increasing his barrel rate. From 2019-2021, his barrel % goes from 5.6% to 7.3% to 8.4%. He’ll be a steal if he can improve as a leadoff hitter for the Red Sox.
Frazier had a 3.5 WAR last year! He doesn’t hit for power, but his line is still .305/.368/.411, highly profitable with multi-position eligibility.
Third Base: Jonathan Villar (2B, 3B, SS – CHC) / Jeimer Candelario (3B – DET)
I know it feels like Villar is older, but he’s only 30. He stole 14 bags last year and hit 18 homers. This happened with consistent playing time questions. Now he’s in Chicago, where he’ll likely be used as an infield utility player. It would be great to get stolen bases alongside power, especially when the wind is blowing out at Wrigley.
At 626 plate appearances last year, Candelario hit .271/.351/.443. Considering the discussion about scarcity at third base, he is a sturdy, everyday player who sneakily vaults a team to victory.
Shortstop: Amed Rosario (SS, OF – CLE) / Niko Goodrum (2B, SS, OF – HOU)
You can see the theme of multi-position eligibility here. There is also some hope of getting additional stolen bases. Rosario is likely to bat somewhere near the top of the Cleveland lineup. ZiPS projects him at 14 HR, 80 R, 65 RBI, 17 SB, and a .276 AVG. So that’s the “up” we should hope for with our dollar.
Meanwhile, Carlos Correa (SS – MIN) is now in Minnesota, which means Jeremy Pena (SS – HOU) could be worth your dollar, but let’s give some love to his teammate Niko Goodrum. Goodrum can play shortstop, second base, and outfield, and I think he’ll still get plenty of playing time. In the past two years, he started to sell out for power, and the AVG has dropped through the floor. The change of scenery to a ball club that has been winning for years and a 1-year contract that says “show us the goods” may yield profit.
Also, remember that the Crawford Boxes are 315 feet, and it was 345 feet in Detroit. So when he bats right-handed, take your 15/15 player for $1, with the possibility for more.
Outfield: Max Kepler (OF – MIN)
I think Kepler is a sneaky buy this year. He’s still at a peak age (29), and he was hitting the ball harder than ever in 2021 at a barrel % of 10.8. His BABIP was .225, so he was unlucky. Many projections have him close to a 25/10 season. It’s hard enough to find 30/10 guys in the middle rounds, so grab a possible 25/10 guy for $1.
Starting Pitcher: Steven Matz (SP – STL)
A former Round 2 pick, Matz held a 3.82 ERA with a FIP that completely agreed at 3.79. He had his best season since 2016, and so many of his underlying numbers were the same as that year. His bb%, k%, HR/FB ratios, and GB% were back to that pitcher in his mid-20s. Put the Cardinals defense behind him, and you might as well buy for $1.
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