Fantasy Baseball Player Notes
2021 Fantasy Baseball Draft Notes
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1.
Jacob deGrom
SP - NYM
deGrom barely missed out on winning his third straight Cy Young Award last year, but it was yet another dominant season. For the third straight year, he came in with a WHIP under 1.00, an ERA under 2.50, and a strikeout percentage above 31%. deGrom is getting up there in age, but it's worth remembering that he has fewer miles on his arm than most pitcher entering their age-33 season, given that he didn't transition to pitching until late in his college career and missed significant time with injuries during his time in the minors. deGrom has shown no decline in his game, and should hopefully (finally) begin to pile on more wins this year pitching for a better team in front of an improved bullpen. He should be the first or second starting pitcher taken and is an obvious first-round pick.
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2.
Gerrit Cole
SP - NYY
Cole was pretty much as advertised in his first season with the Yankees. His ERA rose a tad, as did his home run rate as expected, and his strikeout rate fell a bit, though it remained at an absurdly high level. And, for the most part, all of his expected metrics fell off a tad from his 2019 season. But Cole's numbers from that season were so dominating that he could withstand plenty of regression and still be one of the best pitchers in fantasy. As such, he'll head into 2021 close to the way he came into the 2020 season: a dominant, high-strikeout, low-walk starter who will throw plenty of innings and who is more likely to finish as the top overall fantasy pitcher than he is to finish outside the top-10. It's a matter of personal preference between Cole and Jacob deGrom as the first pitcher off the board, but neither should fall outside the top-10 overall picks on draft day.
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3.
Shane Bieber
SP - CLE
Bieber took the huge gains he had made in 2019 and kicked the into hyperdrive en route to a Cy Young season. He had a miniscule 1.63 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP, and took his strikeout percentage to 41.1%, which ranked first among qualified starters. Everything was exceptional for Bieber, as he held batters to just a .167 batting average, barely allowed home runs, and earned eight wins in just 12 starts. He may struggle to again find wins given the Indians' depleted lineup, but there is nothing else to think twice about with Bieber. He's part of the ultra-elite tier in starting pitching with Jacob deGrom and Gerrit Cole, and should be a first-round selection, especially since he seems to have had no ill effects from his battle with COVID-19.
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4.
Yu Darvish
SP - SD
After a career year in 2020, Darvish moves to San Diego in a trade that shouldn't affect his strong 2021 outlook all that much. Despite his advancing age, Darvish built on the gains he had made over the second half of 2019, finishing with a 2.01 ER, a 0.96 WHIP, and a 31.3% strikeout rate. Darvish's walk rate has declined to a level once thought unattainable for the veteran, a mere 4.7%, which was in the top 8% of MLB in 2020. Although he'll be entering his age-35 season, there's simply nothing in Darvish's numbers, metrics, or statcast data that points to a decline. If you are desperate to find a negative, it's a move from the weak-hitting NL Central to the much stronger NL West, but that's hardly a reason to avoid Darvish. Draft him as an easy top-10 starter, and more like a top-5 option.
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5.
Trevor Bauer
SP - LAD
Bauer capped off a Cy Young season by signing a massive deal with the Dodgers. There's no other way to describe Bauer's 2020 season other than utterly dominant. A 1.73 ERA, a 0.79 WHIP, and a 36% strikeout rate. Notably, the spin rate on almost all of his pitched jumped dramatically, and every single one of them was more effective than we'd previously seen. Bauer had an outstanding season in 2018 and followed it up with a sub-par 2019, so we shouldn't take for granted that he'll be the best pitcher in baseball for the second season in a row. But on the best team in baseball with a near bulletproof 2020 resume, he should be drafted as a top-five starter and a second-round pick.
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6.
Lucas Giolito
SP - CWS
Giolito followed up his breakout 2019 season with a nearly identical 2020 season. His ERA was within .07, his WHIP within .02, and his strikeout percentage within a point and a half. Despite pitching in a homer-friendly park, Giolito has managed to limit home runs, which is a key to his continued success with the White Sox. He won't face quite an easy schedule this year (AL and NL Central pitchers had plenty of sub-par offenses to feast on in 2019), but entering his age-27 season, he should only continue to improve from a skills standpoint. Draft him as an SP1, albeit a low-end one.
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7.
Walker Buehler
SP - LAD
Because the Dodgers wanted to closely watch Buehler's routine and workload, he got a late start to the shortened season, essentially using his first few starts as the end of his spring training. He also dealt with blisters late in the year. All that to say, Buehler's 36 2/3 regular-season innings are, for the most part, largely meaningless. He gave up a few more home runs and walked a few more batters than usual, and he won just a single game. But none of it matters. Value Buehler as you did after his 2019 season - as one of the true stud pitchers in the game. Once the big three of Jacob deGrom, Gerrit Cole, and Shane Bieber are off the board, Buehler should come under immediate consideration, as the type of starting pitcher who can be your fantasy ace.
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8.
Aaron Nola
SP - PHI
Nola bounced back from his disappointing 2019 campaign, and looked much closer to the 2018 breakout version of himself last year. His set a career mark in strikeout rate (33.2%, which ranked in the top nine percent in the league) and swinging strike rate (13.4%), and brought his walk rate down to just eight percent. Nola also got batters to swing at pitches outside the strike zone at a rate of 38.1%, far better than he had ever done in his career, and they made contact less than ever, at a rate of only 59.1%. The reason for the change was Nola relying far less on his fastball and more on his changeup, which kept hitters off balance and made both pitches more effective. Nola doesn't throw particularly hard, so his success relies much more on command and finding the right pitch mix, both of which he excelled at in 2020. If he can keep that going in 2021, and it's a good bet he will, he should be considered a fantasy ace.
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9.
Max Scherzer
SP - WSH
Scherzer had a decent season for a mortal, but for someone with his career track record, it was a major disappointment. His 3.74 ERA was his highest since 2012, his 1.38 WHIP the highest of his career, and his 7.8% walk percentage his worst in a decade. Scherzer still struck out plenty of batters but entering his age-37 season and with a ton of mileage on his arm, it's only fair to accept that the old Scherzer is gone for good. But though he may not be a consensus top-three starter anymore, he's still perfectly capable of being a fantasy ace. After all, Scherzer's velocity hasn't declined much, and his 31.2% strikeout rate was tied for 10th among starters. Scherzer likely won't reach 200 innings pitched again and his ERA seems destined to remain above 3.00 going forward, but he's far from someone to avoid in fantasy drafts.
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10.
Jack Flaherty
SP - STL
Flaherty ended up with a 4.91 ERA, but that hardly represents his actual performance, given that he allowed nine runs in a three-inning start in September. If you take out that outing, Flaherty had just a 3.13 ERA, and he didn't allow more than three earned runs in any of his eight other starts. Given that Flaherty's season was shorter than most due to the Cardinals' COVID-19 issues, it's fair to essentially throw out at that one abysmal outing, considering his other numbers were relatively consistent from 2019. Indeed, his swinging strike rate improved, as did his K/9 rate and ground ball percentage. With his devastating slider, Flaherty should still be considered one of the top pitchers in the real and fantasy game, and is capable of fronting a fantasy staff.
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11.
Luis Castillo
SP - CIN
Castillo turned in another excellent season last year, cutting his walk rate and striking out batters at a higher rate than he ever had in his career. His WHIP increased to a career-worst 1.23, but that was largely due to bad luck, as batters hit .232 against him despite an expected batting average of just .212. Nevertheless, Castillo kept runs off the board, largely because he was able to avoid home runs (just five in 70 innings) and limit free passes. Castillo is capable of fronting a fantasy pitching staff, though he's more of a low-end ace, and there are plenty of trade rumors following him around. But, given his reliable production and increased strikeout rate the past two seasons, he can be drafted with confidence.
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12.
Clayton Kershaw
SP - LAD
Kershaw turned back the clock a bit in 2020, as the shortened season allowed him to let things go a bit more and add some of the velocity he had lost over the previous two seasons. The result was his best WHIP and ERA since 2016 and best strikeout rate since 2017. Kershaw isn't going to reach 200 innings pitched at this stage of his career, not with his injury history and the Dodgers' depth in their rotation and World Series aspirations. But even entering his age-33 season, he offers next to no downside. Consider this: Kershaw had probably the worst season of his career in 2019 and pitched to a 3.03 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP with more than a strikeout per inning. Draft him as a strong SP2 but bank on 160 innings. Anything more is gravy.
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13.
Brandon Woodruff
SP - MIL
There were some skeptics after Woodruff succeeded in 2019 based largely on one pitch - his devastating fastball - but he put those concerns to rest in 2020. His ERA (3.05) and WHIP (0.99) were incredibly strong, particularly when you consider that he struck out more than 11 batters per nine innings. Woodruff's fastball hits rests at 96 MPH and is one of the better pitches in baseball, but his slider and changeup both made strides last year. The Brewers are reportedly planning to add about 100 innings to their starter's workloads last season, so pencil Woodruff in for roughly 175 extremely strong frames. You can survive with him as your fantasy ace, though he's best as an incredibly strong number 2.
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14.
Blake Snell
SP - SD
Snell moves to the Padres fresh off a solid year, in which he pitched to a 3.24 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP, with a memorable early exit in the World Series. Snell has a checkered injury history and has pitched just 157 innings over the past two years, so don't expect him to be a big innings-eater in 2021. And, although he'll escape the dreaded AL East, he'll get a downgrade in park and defense, which largely makes the move a neutral one. All that said, Snell has plenty of talent as he's shown throughout his career, and should be able to pile up wins and strikeouts pitching for a strong Padres team. Draft him as an SP2 with upside.
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15.
Tyler Glasnow
SP - TB
Glasnow is really a fascinating case study. He followed up an incredible 60-inning stretch in 2019 (1.78 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 33% strikeout rate) with a bit of a step back last year (4.08 ERA and 1.13 WHIP). But his xFIP in 2020 (2.75) was actually lower than in 2019 (2.94), and his strikeout rate jumped to a whopping 38.2%. The real issue for Glasnow is that he's a two-pitch pitcher, and although both his fastball and curveball are outstanding, they need to be superb at all times for him to have a dominant season. And last year, they were both just a bit worse than the season prior, particularly his fastball. With enormous strikeout upside and a spot in the rotation of one of the best and most pitching-savvy teams in the Rays, Glasnow makes a fine SP2 for a fantasy team. But his injury history, and his lack of a third pitch, make him a bit riskier than others going in his range.
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16.
Kenta Maeda
SP - MIN
Fantasy managers rejoiced when Maeda was traded from the Dodgers to the Twins, but he surpassed even the loftiest of expectations. In the short season, Maeda went 6-1 with a 2.70 ERA, a 0.73 WHIP, and a 32.3% strikeout rate. In addition to simply being let loose with his innings, Maeda made a tangible change to his pitch mix, throwing far fewer fastball and more sliders and changeups (though his fastball was as effective as it had ever been last year, too). Maeda surely won't be able to repeat his numbers from 2020, as he allowed just a .208 BABIP, had an 80.2% LOB rate, and benefited from being able to feast on solely the NL and AL Central lineups. But even with some regression, he should still be a rock solid SP2, and should be drafted as such.
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17.
Lance Lynn
SP - CWS
Lynn turned in another stellar year in 2020, leading MLB with 84 innings pitched, striking out plenty of batters, and keeping his walk rate and overall numbers in check. But there are a few warning signs under the hood, including his 4.19 FIP, his 4.34 xFIP, and his career-high 79.4% LOB rate. Of bigger concern is his trade to the White Sox and hitter-friendly Guaranteed Rate Field, particularly because Lynn had a 38.3% fly-ball rate in 2019 and a 42.3% fly-ball rate last year. That led to the worst HR/9 rate of his career and second-worst HR/FB rate (13.8%) in 2020. Countering those troublesome warning signs, however, is the fact that he'll be caught by perhaps the best pitch framer in baseball in Yasmani Grandal, and that will generally help with his numbers which, again, were excellent last year. Add it all up and Lynn's ERA should likely increase simply because of the additional home runs he'll allow if he can't turn around his trend in fly-ball rate, but Grandal's presence and Lynn's general aptitude on the mound should allow for another strong season and make him worthy of a selection as an SP2.
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18.
Josh Hader
RP - MIL
Hader wasn't quite as dominant as he had been the previous two years, largely due to a spike in walk rate and the slightest of declines in strikeout rate. But he still tallied 13 saves, third-best in baseball, and had a miniscule 0.95 WHIP. If you parse it closely, it was just a bizarre season for Hader, who didn't give up a run through his first nine appearances, but subsequently allowed four runs in an inning. He walked five batters in a game, but didn't allow a single walk in any game after that, a span of 11 appearances. In other words, there seems to be a lot of noise in Hader's "decline," which likely would have been ironed out over the course of a full season. Draft him as the top closer off the board with few concerns.
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19.
Liam Hendriks
RP - CWS
Hendriks showed last year that his 2019 breakout season was not a fluke, as he improved on just about all of his numbers. Not only did he put up 14 saves in the shortened season, but he dropped his ERA to 1.78, his WHIP to 0.67, and his walk rate to just 3.3%. In short, there's nothing negative you can possibly take away from his 2020 season. Despite moving to a worse park with the White Sox, Hendriks is, without question one of the top closers in fantasy, and should be either the first or second (behind only Josh Hader) relief pitcher drafted.
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20.
Corbin Burnes
SP - MIL
Burnes's raw stuff was apparent to anyone who saw him pitch in 2019, but he simply couldn't stop giving up home runs (17 in 49 innings). The culprit was largely his four-seam fastball, which he threw more than half of the time and against which batters hit .425 with an .823 slugging percentage. In 2020, however, Corbin cut his four-seam fastball usage from 52.5% to just 2.5%. In its place, he relied heavily on a sinker and cutter, both of which worked better for the natural action on his pitches and which were highly effective. Considering that his slider, changeup, and curveball are also huge swing and miss pitches, Burnes's 36.7% strikeout rate from last year shouldn't be considered fluky. Even coming off a Cy Young-caliber season, there's still upside for the 26-year-old, and you should ignore entirely his 2019 disaster.
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21.
Hyun Jin Ryu
SP - TOR
Fantasy managers expected some regression from Ryu after his career season in 2019 and with him moving to the Blue Jays, but it really didn't come. He continued to be among the best in the game at limiting opposing batters' quality of contact, and upped his strikeout rate to 26.2%, second best of his career. Ryu's 2.69 ERA was a bit higher than the 2.32 mark he put up in in 2019, but his FIP, xFIP, SIERA, and xERA were all the same or better than the previous year. In short, other than the potential for injury, which hasn't been a factor in the last two seasons, there's no reason to doubt Ryu at this point.
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22.
Stephen Strasburg
SP - WSH
Strasburg was limited to just five innings in 2020, with an injury that eventually required carpal tunnel syndrome. Although that's a minor surgery, the truth is that fantasy managers have very little data as to the impact and/or successful recovery rate after that surgery for pitchers. Strasburg's a tricky draft pick in any given year - he always provides strong value when he's on the mound, but has only topped 200 innings pitched twice in his career. Now entering his age-33 season, Strasburg will likely again provide excellent overall numbers assuming he is healthy. He looks great in the spring, though he's currently battling a minor calf injury, though it shouldn't keep him out for long. Draft him as an SP2, but anything more than 160 innings is gravy.
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23.
Aroldis Chapman
RP - NYY
Chapman missed time last year because he was diagnosed with COVID-19, but he was largely the same pitcher as always when he was on the mount. He struck out 22 batters in his 11 2/3 innings pitched and allowed just six hits. His velocity may be slightly below what it was at its peak, but it's still elite, and he appears to have plenty left in the tank heading into his age-33 season. He'll again close for one of the best teams in baseball, and although he's never had a 40-save season, he should easily surpass 30 and be one of the top closers drafted in fantasy.
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24.
Kyle Hendricks
SP - CHC
Hendricks is the Rodney Dangerfield of fantasy pitchers in that he never gets the respect he deserves. He's had an ERA above 3.46 once in his career and he's never had a WHIP higher than 1.19. Yes, his strikeout rate is never going to help fantasy managers, but Dave Ross let him go deeper into games last year (Hendricks' 81 innings pitched were among the most in MLB), so he should make up for his lack of strikeout rate with some additional innings. The Cubs probably won't be a great team but the NL Central has mostly weak offenses, so Hendricks should find his way to enough wins to make a difference. Ignore the fact that he outperforms his expected metrics every year. Hendricks is a reliable, high-end SP3 for a fantasy team. Just be sure to take care of strikeouts elsewhere.
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25.
Jose Berrios
SP - MIN
Berrios may not ever become the dominant pitcher many projected him to be, but he offers a strong floor for fantasy managers. Ignoring his 2016 cup of coffee, Berrios has pitched to a 3.89 ERA, a 1.21 WHIP, and a strikeout per inning in his career. And although his walk rate went up a tad and he gave up a bit harder contact in 2020's shortened season, his numbers didn't vary from his usual output significantly. Bank on around a 4.00 ERA, a WHIP somewhere around 1.25, and plenty of strikeouts. In today's fantasy game, that's more than adequate for a strong fantasy staff.
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26.
Edwin Diaz
RP - NYM
Diaz's overall numbers bounced back in a monstrous way last season. He dropped his ERA from a bloated 5.59 in 2019 to a 1.75, and upped his strikeout rate to a career-best 45.5%. He was among the league leaders in nearly every expected statistic (batting average, slugging percentage wOBA, and ERA), and he cut his HR/9 rate from 2.33 to just 0.70. Diaz's walk rate actually regressed, however, as he issued free passes to nearly five batters per nine innings. That's not often a recipe for success from a closer, but Diaz can survive at that rate if he continues to keep the strikeouts up and limit the long balls. In the end, Diaz does carry some risk given his history, but he should be drafted as one of the upper echelon closers in the game, if not a touch behind the truly elite options.
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27.
Max Fried
SP - ATL
In many ways, Fried regressed during his 2020 season. His strikeout rate dropped, his walk rate increased, and his xFIP and SIERA jumped significantly. Nevertheless, thanks to his ability to limit hard contact (his 83.4 MPH average exit velocity and 23.8% hard hit rate allowed were among the best in MLB) led to a massive drop in BABIP allowed, and kept both his ERA and WHIP in check. It's hard to buy a pitcher without an elite strikeout rate whose underlying numbers don't fully support his gains. Nevertheless, Fried was an elite prospect playing on an excellent team, and is just 27 years old. Don't pay for last year's numbers, but don't run away from him in drafts either.
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28.
Sonny Gray
SP - CIN
Two dreadful starts late in the season severely hurt what was otherwise a strong 2020 campaign for Gray, though it was a bizarre year. His strikeout rate surpassed 30% for the first time in his career, while his walk rate jumped to 11.1%. He was also far more hittable, particularly his slider and curveball, which had been dominant pitches in 2019. But even if Gray simply repeats his 2020 season, his strikeout rate and decent ERA and WHIP should be enough to make him a borderline SP2 for fantasy leagues. He will likely begin the year on the IL after experiencing back spasms in mid-March, but the injury doesn't sound like it will keep him out for long. Considering we've seen much more than that from him in 2019, fantasy managers should have little hesitation drafting him.
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29.
Zack Greinke
SP - HOU
Greinke is entering his age-37 season, but still somehow keeps getting it done. His ERA of 4.03 last year was certainly higher than fantasy managers are used to seeing, but it came with a 2.80 FIP and 3.51 xFIP. His strikeout rate was his best since 2017 and his walk rate of 3.3% was the best of his entire career. But his velocity was down about two ticks, with his fastball clocking in at just 87.9 miles per hour. Greinke is as smart a pitcher as there is but it's going to be difficult to succeed over the course of a full 162-game season if his pure stuff continues to diminish. He's one of the few pitchers in the game who is probably capable of pitching 200 innings in 2021, but expect a continued downward trend in his performance.
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30.
Zack Wheeler
SP - PHI
Wheeler's first season in Philadelphia was a success, in that he had the lowest ERA of his career (2.92) and a strong 1.17 WHIP. But his strikeout numbers plummeted, as he struck out just 18.4% of batters. The whiff rate on all of Wheeler's pitches, other than his "show me" curveball, dropped significantly, despite the fact that his velocity remained the same. If Wheeler can again excel at completely limiting hard contact like he did last season (his 85.7 MPH average exit velocity allowed ranked in the top 10% in baseball), then he can probably get away with the lack of strikeouts. Otherwise, he's unlikely to repeat his 2020 success. Given the shortened season, it's a good bet that Wheeler's strikeouts will bounce back, and you can slot him in as an SP3 without much worry.
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31.
Charlie Morton
SP - ATL
Morton's 2020 numbers were poor, without question. He was limited to just 38 regular season innings because of a shoulder injury, and pitched to a 4.74 ERA and 1.39 WHIP. His velocity was way down early in the season (when he got hit hard) and trickled up after he returned, but he got back to his normal 95 MPH fastball in the postseason and totaled a 2.70 ERA. Now 37 and with the Braves, the question is whether fantasy managers can write off Morton's down 2020 season considering his sterling post-season, or whether his age and injury history means they should avoid him. In reality, the answer is neither. Morton should still have gas left in the tank considering his playoff run, but should only be drafted as a value, meaning no earlier than a low-end SP3. Grab him there, at which point the risk-reward balance should reach an equilibrium.
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32.
Raisel Iglesias
RP - LAA
Iglesias bounced back from a sub-par 2019 to post an excellent 2020 season, with a 2.74 ERA, a 0.91 WHIP, and the lowest walk rate of his career. He'll now move to the Angels where he'll keep his role as a closer. Iglesias's numbers should be solid as usual, and his precise value should hinge on whether the Angels use him in more of a multi-inning role like the Reds historically did (which limited Iglesias's save totals), or deploy him as a more traditional ninth-inning option. Either way, Iglesias will be the Angels' stopper, and hence, should be drafted as a strong top-10 RP option.
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33.
Jesus Luzardo
SP,RP - MIA
Luzardo's 2020 campaign wasn't terrible, but it certainly left fantasy managers wanting more. The strikeouts were there, but not quite at the level that was expected. He rarely went deep into games. And he was just more hittable than he ever was in the minors or in his brief time as a reliever in 2019. Luzardo throws four quality pitches and is working to improve his arsenal as we head into the 2021 season, so there's little reason to downgrade your opinion of him too much from where it was prior to the 2020 campaign because of one nine-start stretch. He's an incredibly high-upside pitcher who carries with him plenty of injury risk, and the combination leaves him as a solid SP3 for fantasy leagues.
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34.
Chris Paddack
SP - SD
Paddack followed up his stellar rookie campaign with a subpar sophomore season, as his ERA rose to 4.73 and his WHIP to 1.22, while his strikeout rate dipped below one per inning. Paddack's bread and butter changeup was as good as ever in 2020 (and even better than in 2019), but his usually outstanding fastball just fell apart. After batters hit .204 with a .391 slugging percentage and .275 wOBA against the pitch in 2019, they hit .308 with a .658 slugging percentage and .407 wOBA against it in 2020. Paddack added a cutter in 2020, and it's possible that the addition of the pitch impacted the way he threw his fastball, as the vertical movement of it fell significantly. Either way, Paddack has too much talent to see his ERA hover around 5.00. There's risk given what we saw last year, but it's baked into his draft price.
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35.
Zach Plesac
SP - CLE
Plesac is getting a ton of love for his eight excellent starts in 2020, but there's plenty of reason to be cautious. His FIP, xFIP, xERA, and SIERA were all more than a run higher than his ERA, and both his strikeout rate and walk rate significantly outproduced what he showed he could do in the minors. Yes, Plesac altered his pitch mix, throwing fewer fastballs and instead more sliders and changeups, so if you're looking for a reason to buy the gains, you have one. But he had a ridiculous 91.7% LOB rate, and even with his ability to limit hard contact, his BABIP against should rise from the .224 mark last year. Plesac can help a fantasy staff, but manage expectations significantly.
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36.
Ian Anderson
SP - ATL
After rising through the minor leagues, Anderson had an excellent debut season with the Braves in 2020, pitching to a 1.95 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with a 29.7% strikeout rate. He was even better in four postseason starts, allowing just two runs over 18 2/3 innings while striking out 24. Anderson led all starters in barrel rate (just 1.2%), and has an excellent fastball, curveball, and changeup. His control isn't elite, but his raw stuff and prospect pedigree suggest that his 2020 season was no fluke. Draft him with confidence as a No. 2 starter.
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37.
Lance McCullers Jr.
SP - HOU
McCullers made a successful return from Tommy John surgery after missing the 2019 season and looked almost exactly like the 2018 version of himself. His ERA (3.93) and WHIP (1.16) were within seven-tenths of a point of his 2018 numbers, and his walk and strikeout rates fell just slightly. McCullers relied a bit more on his sinker and less on his curveball than in past years, but the two work well together and he continued to throw them in combination about 80% of the time. In short, what you thought of McCullers heading into 2018 is pretty much what you should think of him now. Unfortunately, that includes concerns about his innings, because after a missed year and 55 innings last year, the chances of him topping 150 innings this season are remote. Buy him at his production, but understand that there's likely a hard cap on his innings total.
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38.
Joe Musgrove
SP - SD
Musgrove has been a popular sleeper the last two seasons and now that he's been traded to the Padres, his ADP is surely going to rise. In 2019, Musgrove continued to improve as a pitcher, upping his strikeout rate and adding velocity. But his 2020 season looked like a step back, until he returned from the IL strong, including finishing his season with back-to-back scoreless outings while getting back some of the lost zip on his fastball. Overall, Musgrove's 2020 numbers suggest a breakout waiting to happen, as he built significantly on his gains in 2019, increasing his strikeout rate to 33.1%. His chances for wins should improve dramatically in San Diego, and he's a fine fourth starter with upside.
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39.
Ryan Pressly
RP - HOU
Pressly had his usual solid season, but got the benefit of closing for the Astros after Roberto Osuna's injury. His numbers fell off a bit from the previous two years (his 1.33 WHIP was particularly out of character), but he will almost certainly rebound from the .365 BABIP he allowed. He's slated to again be the Astros' closer, and as such, should provide plenty of saves while giving fantasy managers positive value in ratios. That makes him one of the few reliable closers worth drafting at more than a late-round price.
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40.
Dinelson Lamet
SP - SD
Lamet had a dominant curveball in 2019 which he threw 31.7% of the time. Batters hit just .105 against it that year with a .193 wOBA. But Lamet ditched it entirely in 2020, and instead replaced it by greatly upping his slider usage, from 12.2% in 2019 to 53.4% in 2020. And somehow, his slider was even better than his curveball ever was. Batters hit 0.80 against it with a .120 slugging percentage and a .141 wOBA. It was, simply put, the best pitch in baseball last year. Unfortunately, Lamet's arm couldn't hold up to the stress, and he missed the end of the regular season and the playoffs because of an elbow injury. He underwent PRP therapy on his elbow in October and is progressing well, but the Padres' focus on adding starting pitching this offseason suggests that they are not expecting to have Lamet for the full season. Monitor his health this spring, but understand that even if he begins the year healthy, there are plenty of injury concerns.
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41.
Zac Gallen
SP - ARI
Gallen has a hairline stress fracture of his right forearm at the radial head. He's reportedly going to be able to continue playing catch at a "low stress level" while recovering, though there's no indication of how much time he'll miss. When healthy, he's a solid SP2. He built on his excellent 2019 season with an even more impressive 2020 campaign. Not only did he drop his ERA slightly to 2.75, but he cut way down on his walks (10.8% to 8.6%), which led to a much-improved 1.11 WHIP. Gallen has a 28.5% strikeout rate in 152 MLB innings, and an excellent fastball, curveball, and changeup. There's just not much negative you can say about him when he's healthy other than he might again struggle for wins playing for a mediocre team in a good division. Because of the injury and surrounding uncertainty, you shouldn't draft him as anything higher than an SP4, but he should perform extremely well when he does recover.
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42.
Kenley Jansen
RP - LAD
It feels like Jansen has been on the verge of losing his job at several points over the last two seasons, but he continues to receive nearly every save opportunity for the Dodgers. But Jansen is far from the dominant reliever he was in his prime, as his patented cutter has gone from 94 MPH in 2016 to just 90.9 MPH last year. The Dodgers have plenty of depth behind Jansen, including Blake Treinen, Brusdar Graterol, Joe Kelly, and Corey Knebel, so Jansen's leash probably won't be all that long. At the same time, Jansen will certainly be the closer coming into the season and has a lengthy track record and a large contract. In today's day and age, that makes him a fairly desirable fantasy closer, despite the concerns.
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43.
Dylan Bundy
SP - LAA
Bundy largely made good on the enormous amount of buzz that surrounded him after he moved from the Orioles to the Angels. He set career bests in ERA (3.29), WHIP (1.04), strikeout rate (27%), and walk rate (6.4%). Bundy's fastball, though it continued to trend down in velocity, was more effective than in years' past, in part because he cut way down on his usage of the pitch (just 33.6%, after throwing it at least 42.4% of the time in every previous season). His slider remained one of the best pitches in the game, and his remaining secondary pitches improved, too. At some point, Bundy's fastball velocity is going to become an issue, but there's little reason to expect that to come in 2021. Draft him as as an SP3.
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44.
Patrick Corbin
SP - WSH
Corbin had a disastrous 2020 season, during which he went 2-7 with a 4.66 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. His strikeout rate plummeted, and his velocity dropped significantly, with his fastball seeing a dip of almost two miles per hour. Corbin leans heavily into his slider, and he needs it to be pristine to be an effective pitcher. And although it wasn't a terrible pitch in 2020, the swinging strike rate on it dropped from 28.1% to 21.2%, and the whiff rate from 52% to just 38.2%. If the loss in velocity and effectiveness of his slider were entirely due to the oddities of the shortened season, then Corbin is going to be a major value in drafts this year. But if not, then his days as a "set it and forget it" starter are likely over. Monitor Corbin's performance this spring, particularly with his velocity. If it's back up to prior levels, then push him up your board significantly.
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45.
Julio Urias
SP - LAD
Urias had an interesting season (other than his postseason, which was dominant). His numbers overall were very solid, with a 3.27 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. But his strikeout rate dipped dramatically as a full-time starter, and his SIERA (4.88) and xFIP (5.06) suggest he got lucky. But the bottom line is that Urias is excellent at limiting hard contact, and he's allowed just a .257 BABIP over the last two seasons, which should keep his ERA in check. The Dodgers' rotation is overflowing, so it's possible they continue to limit Urias's innings. But for now, he should be considered an SP3, and as his playoffs showed, there's plenty of room for growth with his strikeout numbers.
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46.
Brad Hand
RP - TOR
Hand joins the Nationals on a one-year deal after Cleveland declined his option. His velocity declined a bit last season, but the league's collective lack of interest in Hand is surprising, given that he's coming off one of the best seasons of his career, led the league in saves, has been a top-10 reliever over the last five seasons, and is a lefty. Dave Martinez wants Hand to be the Nationals' closer based on his comments, but it's unclear whether he'll be the sole option. The Nationals barely have another lefty reliever in their bullpen, let alone a reliable one, so chances are that Hand will be deployed earlier in the game if the opposing team has multiple left-handed hitters due up. All that to say that Hand is a reliable reliever who you should draft for his overall numbers, but he may provide fewer saves than most traditional closers.
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47.
Pablo Lopez
SP - MIA
Despite his 5.09 ERA and mediocre strikeout rate in 2019, there was some buzz about Lopez heading into last season because of his outstanding changeup and his ability to keep his WHIP in check. He justified the expectations, cutting his ERA to 3.61 and striking out about a batter and a half more per nine innings than he had previously. He's still volatile, as he has seemingly random games where he lacks command with his changeup and gets hit hard. And he needs another pitch to complement his fastball and changeup. But if he can continue to develop either his curveball or cutter, he could be a true breakout candidate. Draft him as an SP4 with upside for more if his other pitches continue to improve.
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48.
Kevin Gausman
SP - SF
Gausman had the best season of his career with the Giants last season, and accepted a qualifying offer to remain in San Francisco. Gausman not only put up an impressive 3.62 ERA, but he upped his strikeout rate by about nine points to 32.2%. He saw a nice velocity bump on his fastball and leaned into his excellent splitter a bit more than usual. The downside for Gausman is that he really is mostly a fastball/splitter pitcher, meaning that when his splitter isn't working, he's likely to get hit hard. But, we've now at least seen the upside over a full season, and he's a pretty ideal SP4/SP5 if you can get him in that range.
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49.
James Karinchak
RP - CLE
Karinchak is expected to be Cleveland's closer after Brad Hand moved on to the Nationals, though it's not a sure thing yet. Yes, he walks too many batters (5.33 per nine innings), but you can get away with it when you strike out nearly half the batters you face and hitters bat .151 against you overall. Karinchak has two absolutely devastating pitches: a mid-90's fastball (.184 batting average against, .151 xBA) and a power curveball (.140 batting average against, .114 xBA). Cleveland may not have a ton of success this year and hence save opportunities may be limited, but Karinchak can be a dominant fantasy reliever if he gets the job. Monitor reports out of the spring to see when and if Terry Francona formerly anoints him as the closer. If he does, he should vault to being a top-6 or 7 reliever.
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50.
Trevor Rosenthal
RP - OAK
After missing the 2018 season and most of the 2019 season, Rosenthal bounced back in a huge way last year. He stepped in as the Royals' closer, notching seven saves, and then was unhittable with the Padres after a mid-year trade. He parlayed his success into a one-year contract with the A's, where all signs point to him being the undisputed closer. Rosenthal was an outstanding reliever in his prime and once had back-to-back 45-save (or better) seasons. And his raw stuff looked excellent last year, as he totaled the best strikeout rate of his career. If he stays healthy, he has a shot at being a top-5 closer, but you can draft him a little later than that and likely make a profit.
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51.
Frankie Montas
SP - OAK
Montas had a terrible 2020 season, but it was more than likely due to a back injury he suffered early on which probably bothered him throughout the year. He started off with four excellent starts (four runs and 22 strikeouts in 23 innings) before he was scratched with back tightness and returned with lower velocity. Yes, he had the PED suspension in 2019, but Montas's splitter was, and should continue to be when a healthy, a dominant pitch, and a healthy season should mean a return to being a starter you can "set and forget." If he can ever get away from throwing his sinker so much, and incorporate more of his splitter and/or four-seam fastball, he could be a monster. Montas was diagnosed with COVID-19 right at the start of spring training, but he has returned healthy and looked good in the spring, so he's an ideal sleeper.
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52.
Sandy Alcantara
SP - MIA
Alcantara continued to build on what was a pretty strong foundation heading into 2020. He lowered his ERA to 3.00 and his WHIP to 1.19, and improved in both his strikeout and walk rate while adding velocity. He pitched only 42 innings last year because of COVID-19 issues, but he dominated over the latter three-quarters of the season, pitching to a 2.30 ERA with 30 strikeouts over his final 31 1/3 innings. There's not a ton to dislike about Alcantara, and there's room for continued growth. Draft him as a fourth starter with upside for more.
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53.
Sixto Sanchez
SP - MIA
Sanchez built on his strong 2019 season in Double-A with an excellent seven-start stretch in the majors, during which he put up a 3.46 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. Sanchez throws really hard (his fastball velocity is in the 98th percentile), but he doesn't put up a ton of strikeouts, either in the minors or during his stint in the majors last year. But his outstanding changeup (.148 BAA, .148 slugging against, .158 wOBA against) keeps hitters off balance, and allows him to avoid giving up too much hard contact. Combine that with his well above-average control and his almost comical ability to avoid giving up home runs, and you have a quality pitcher who can slide into the middle of your staff.
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54.
Shohei Ohtani
DH,SP - LAA
Depending on your league settings, Ohtani has the potential to be a dominant force in 2021. There has never been any doubt about his talent, and he looks fantastic in the spring, hitting home runs at will and pumping in high-90s fastballs when on the mound. He's been batting on days he pitches, and Joe Maddon has suggested that he's going to throw out the old rules that led to Ohtani's decreased playing time. If you can move him between hitter and pitcher on a daily basis, then move him up your board significantly. Even if not, he should provide plenty of value when healthy as either a hitter or a pitcher, so make sure he's on your radar as you move into the double-digit rounds.
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55.
German Marquez
SP - COL
If Marquez ever extricates himself from Colorado, you'd probably have a bona fide superstar on your hands. As it is, you have a very solid overall pitcher who won't really help you out tremendously in any category, but won't hurt you badly either. Marquez's control is above average, and although his strikeout rate has dipped in two consecutive seasons, he has the ability to miss bats regularly. His value rises in leagues with daily lineup changes as you can avoid him at home (career 5.10 ERA) and start him on the road (career 3.51 ERA). But, absent that, consider him a back-end of the rotation starter in deeper leagues.
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56.
Tyler Mahle
SP - CIN
Mahle's solid 2020 season (3.59 ERA, 1.15 WHIP) will probably slip under the radar, but there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic about him with a guaranteed spot in the Reds rotation. His strikeout rate jumped to 30% on the back of a 4.4% increase in his swinging strike rate, and he had just a .188 expected batting average against, top 10% in the league. The biggest change for Mahle was that he brought back a slider that he had shelved entirely in 2019, and batters hit just .180 against the pitch with a .249 wOBA. He could do well to cut down on his walks a bit, but still, as a fifth starter for your fantasy team, there's plenty of potential for profit.
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57.
Marco Gonzales
SP - SEA
If you want to buy into performances from the 2020 season, then you'll have Gonzales significantly higher than you would otherwise. He made major gains last year, including up his strikeout rate to a career-best 23.1% and lowering his walk rate to a career-best 2.5%. Bu even with the gains, Gonzales's swinging strike rate was only 8.4% (below his career average), and his fastball velocity is close to the worst in the league. As a pure back end of the rotation starter, he's fine, but do not expect anything close to a 3.10 ERA again, and bake in regression for his strikeouts.
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58.
Carlos Carrasco
SP - NYM
Carrasco suffered a serious hamstring strain in mid-March which is likely to keep him out 6-8 weeks. It's a devastating blow to the veteran who returned strong from his battle with leukemia in 2019 to post a 2.91 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 2020. There was plenty to like about Carrasco in New York, including that the Mets will provide him with a better chance at wins, their infield defense should be above average, and Carrasco will play in a more favorable park. But at this point, he's nothing more than a bench starter for your fantasy team given his injury.
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59.
Corey Kluber
SP - NYY
Kluber has pitched 36 2/3 innings combined over the last two years, and will now join the Yankees on a one-year deal. There's nothing to be gained from looking at his numbers since 2018, as the sample size is too small, and prior to that, he was a perennial Cy Young contender. There was a bit of a velocity drop at the end of his last healthy season, but he was also finishing up his fifth straight 200-inning season. In other words, his lack of innings over the last two years (due to injury) may wind up being a blessing in disguise for Kluber. His ADP has some helium based on how quickly the Yankees signed him, but so long as you bake in some pretty substantial injury risk, he's certainly worth drafting as an SP5 with upside.
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60.
Marcus Stroman
SP - NYM
Stroman missed the entire 2020 season after battling a calf injury and then opting out, but he'll return to the Mets after accepting the team's qualifying offer. Stroman's strikeout rate jumped after his trade to the National League, but with a career 58.7% ground ball rate, he'll need the Mets' infield defense to be better than it was in 2019. The trade for Francisco Lindor should help, as should his reported development of both a new split changeup and four-seam fastball. Stroman has always had a decent floor, but now out of the AL East and with some tweaks to his arsenal coming, he possesses plenty of upside as a late-round draft pick.
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61.
Craig Kimbrel
RP - CHC
As a whole, Kimbrel's 2020 numbers were abysmal. A 5.28 ERA, a 1.43 WHIP, and a walk rate of 17.4%. And yet, there were some encouraging signs. Not only did his strikeout rate bounce back to 40.6%, but he was actually an elite pitcher after his first four outings. How elite? He pitched to a 1.42 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP, and stuck out 53.1% of the batters he faced. It wasn't perfect, as Kimbrel still walked five batters per nine innings over that stretch. But he showed that he still has some has left in the tank. Although he never reclaimed the closer's job despite his strong finish, it's a good bet that the Cubs hand him the ninth-inning role to start, as they try to rebuild his trade value in the final year of his deal. That means Kimbrel should at least get save chances for the first several weeks of the season, and, as such, should be drafted as low-end second closer with just a modicum of upside.
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62.
James Paxton
SP - SEA
Paxton missed almost the entire 2020 season after straining a flexor in his pitching forearm. Any forearm injury is worrisome because of the connection to the elbow, and Paxton has hardly been the picture of health in his career. He'll try to jumpstart his career again back with the Mariners, and the reports from his workout, where he reportedly touched 94 MPH, were encouraging after his velocity drop last year. When he pitches, he's almost always effective, so he's worth a late-round pick for the potential upside. But the injury history should keep him relatively low on your draft board.
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63.
Mike Soroka
SP - ATL
Soroka pitched in just three games last year before rupturing his Achilles tendon. He's progressing well but the best case scenario for him appears to be a late-April return. When healthy, he's someone who fantasy managers can rely on as an ERA and WHIP stabilizer, who should contribute plenty of wins. The strikeouts won't be there, however, and given that he's coming off a significant injury, the Braves will likely be extra cautious with him when he does start. All that to say, don't draft Soroka expecting much more than 100-120 innings out of him. If you do that, you'll likely be happy with your return on investment.
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64.
Aaron Civale
SP - CLE
Civale fits the mold of the Cleveland pitcher over the last few seasons: start with the command, and let the team work on the rest. That's how Civale has found success the last two seasons, and continues to do so in the spring. He's never going to be a high-strikeout pitcher - he never was in the minors and his fastball sits in about the 91 MPH range. But his ability to limit free passes and hard contact means that he shouldn't hurt a fantasy rotation. He's a high-floor, low-ceiling starter, who is ideal for the back end of a fantasy staff.
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65.
Devin Williams
RP - MIL
You have to hand it to the Brewers - they produce relievers who put up historically great seasons. Williams wasn't just good in 2020 - he was truly beyond belief. A 0.33 ERA. One run and eight hits allowed in 27 innings. A 44% K-BB%. Williams has battled injuries for much of his career, but given what he did last year, he should be drafted among the elite fantasy relievers in the game. Even if he never gets a save chance with Josh Hader in front of him, his ratios make him more than worth it.
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66.
Andrew Heaney
SP - LAA
Heaney is a fine pitcher, but it feels like he has a lot more to him than his career 4.44 ERA and 1.25 WHIP. His fastball is hittable and he throws it often, and his curveball isn't quite good enough to offset the damage. He was outspoken about working this offseason to become less predictable, so hopefully that manifests itself in his 2021 performance. But there's no reason to draft him as anything but a pitcher who will give you decent strikeouts and mediocre ratios, hopefully as someone you can use on your bench and stream in the right matchup.
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67.
Chris Bassitt
SP - OAK
Bassitt doesn't wow you with his raw stuff, and is never going to be a high-strikeout pitcher. But he has above-average command and is able to generally limit hard contact and home runs. If he were being drafted on the basis of his 2.29 ERA last year then he would be someone to avoid, but the fact is he is never going to be drafted on the basis of his actual numbers given his sub-par strikeout rate and his significantly higher FIP and xFIP (versus his ERA). He can add plenty of value on the back end of a fantasy rotation, so long as you have strikeouts covered elsewhere.
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68.
Jose Urquidy
SP - HOU
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69.
Zach Eflin
SP - PHI
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70.
Rafael Montero
RP - HOU
Montero wound up closing for the Rangers and totaling eight saves in 2020, but it wasn't a particularly special season. His hard-hit rate and walk-rate increased from his strong 2019 season, and he totaled a 4.08 ERA. Now with Seattle, Montero's best asset may be his lack of competition for the closer's role, as Seattle has struggled for several seasons to find a reliable ninth-inning option. Draft Montero as a mid-tier closer, who you're taking more for his job security than his spectacular numbers.
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71.
Triston McKenzie
SP - CLE
McKenzie had a very successful major league debut last year, pitching to a 3.24 ERA, a 0.90 WHIP, and a 33.1% strikeout rate. His talent isn't in question at this point, but his health certainly is. McKenzie has a very slight build and has missed time with injury in his minor league career, including all of the 2019 season. Even if he stays healthy all year, Cleveland is likely to put a hard cap on his innings. There's a reward, but there's plenty of risk to go with it. Draft him for the back end of your rotation and hope he gets to 140 innings.
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72.
Will Smith
RP - ATL
Smith had a rough 2020 season, losing several weeks to a bout with COVID-19 and being far less effective than usual when he did pitch. His dominant slider just wasn't the same, as batters hit .263 (after never hitting better than .193) and tallied a .398 wOBA (after never totaling higher than .282) against it. But Brian Snitker appears to be willing to throw out Smith's poor season almost entirely. Although he hasn't named Smith the closer, he has professed his confidence in him, and there's been speculation from beat writers that Smith will ultimately win the role after a battle with Chris Martin and A.J. Minter. Draft Smith as the presumptive closer unless you hear otherwise from Braves camp.
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73.
Eduardo Rodriguez
SP - BOS
Rodriguez missed the entire 2020 season because of serious complications from a heart conditions caused by COVID-19, but he looks to be healthy heading into 2021. Assuming he doesn't have any setbacks, he should be considered one of the safest pitchers in the game. You know what you're going to get from Rodriguez: an ERA around 4.00, a WHIP around 1.30, and solid strikeouts. Those numbers won't wow you, but Rodriguez has consistently limited hard contact throughout his career, so he should retain what amounts to a fairly high floor. Plus, the usual innings concerns shouldn't be as much of a factor for him, considering nearly every pitcher has similar concerns after 2020. For a late-round pitcher, he's hardly an upside play, but he should be someone you can stick in the back end of your rotation and not think much about it.
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74.
Alex Colome
RP - MIN
Colome has been a quality major league reliever for year, but last year, managed to drop his ERA down to a silly 0.81 and his WHIP below 1.00 for the first time in his career. His success was largely on the back of increased movement on his cutter (which induced a ton of weak contact, but which was also less of a strikeout pitch, leading to a drop in strikeouts), as well as Yasmani Grandal's pitch-framing skills. He'll now move to Minnesota where he'll likely form some sort of committee with Taylor Rogers. He's worth drafting, but only very late, and with the expectation that he won't pile on a ton of saves.
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75.
John Means
SP - BAL
Means's 4.53 ERA and grotesque home run rate are probably going to scare the casual fantasy manager away, but there is a ton to like about him heading into 2021. First, Means had a weird year last season, as he dealt with arm fatigue early and then his father passed away, so his schedule was certainly thrown up into the air at the start. Probably because of those difficulties, his outstanding changeup wasn't effective earlier in the season, but it was back to being his money pitch by season's end. Add to that Means' increase in velocity, his strong finish (1.52 ERA, 30 strikeouts over his last four starts), and his excellent command, and there's a breakout waiting to happen, despite the tough division.
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76.
David Price
SP,RP - LAD
Price was traded to the Dodgers along with Mookie Betts, but hasn't yet made a start with the team after opting out of the 2020 season. He'll be back for 2021, but his role isn't yet solidified according to reports, especially considering the extreme depth of the Dodgers' rotation. When healthy, even at his advanced age, Price is still a quality major league starter, with above-average strikeout and walk rates. The issue for Price is really health, as he's averaged only about 120 innings per season over his previous three years. His average draft position reflects the risk, and assuming he does end up in the rotation, he offers as much upside as anyone going in his range. There's still juice left for Price when he's healthy, so monitor reports out of the spring.
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77.
Jordan Romano
RP - TOR
Romano is poised to serve as the Blue Jays' closer after Kirby Yates suffered an elbow injury which will cost him the season. Romano's stuff isn't special, but he had a very solid 2020 campaign, and should see plenty of save chances with Toronto, assuming he's officially named the closer. The relief pitcher landscape for fantasy gets cloudy quickly, so despite the lack of certainty, Romano makes a decent option for your second reliever. Bump him higher if he's officially named the closer before the season.
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78.
Dustin May
SP - LAD
May has been named the Dodgers' fifth starter by Dave Roberts, a surprising twist given the presence of David Price and Tony Gonsolin. Given the Dodgers' depth and their history, it's unlikely that he'll remain in the rotation from start to finish, but if you haven't drafted yet, move him significantly higher on your board.
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79.
Taylor Rogers
RP - MIN
Rogers has been the reliever to roster in Minnesota for the past two seasons, but he's totaled just 39 saves over that span. Even with the shortened 2020 season, that's just not the total you want to see from a reliever if you're relying on him as an RP1, especially when the Twins as a team have totaled 92 saves over the last two years. Rogers's lack of saves is all about Rocco Baldelli's philosophy, rather than Rogers's lack of effectiveness (he's totaled a 2.80 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP, and a 10.8 K/9 over the last three years). Unfortunately, Baldelli is unlikely to abandon his committee approach with the additions of Alex Colome and Hansel Robles. Rogers is still a fine RP2, but certainly don't expect him to get every save chance in Minnesota.
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80.
Richard Rodriguez
RP - PIT
So long as he remains with the Pirates, Rodriguez is likely to be the closer after locking down four saves last year. He's been a quality reliever for a few years in a row now, including last year when he put up a 2.70 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP with plenty of strikeouts. There's been speculation that the Pirates will look to deal Rodriguez before the season begins. But until and unless they do, he's a decent late-round selection who will likely total a handful of saves until he's inevitably dealt mid-season.
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81.
Jordan Montgomery
SP - NYY
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82.
Amir Garrett
RP - CIN
Garrett cut way down on his walks in 2020 and had the best season of his career, striking out 37.7% of the batters he faced. He also retired the first batter he faced in every inning, and completely dominated against left-handed hitters. He's in the mix to be the Reds' closer with Lucas Sims and Sean Doolittle, and he's been vocal about wanting the job. He's probably the first reliever to draft out of Cincinnati until there's some clarity, but it's far from a sure thing that he'll be the everyday closer.
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83.
Jameson Taillon
SP - NYY
Taillon has undergone Tommy John surgery twice, and has totaled just 37 1/3 innings over the last two years. And really, he's had only one truly notable year, which was in 2018. But what separated Taillon that year was his outstanding slider, which not only performed exceedingly well, but also buoyed the effectiveness of the rest of his pitches. Now with the Yankees, Taillon has plenty of upside. But, as always, health remains the concern, and is the reason you shouldn't draft him until you've filled out most of your staff.
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84.
Michael Pineda
SP - MIN
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85.
Sean Manaea
SP - OAK
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86.
Dallas Keuchel
SP - CWS
Keuchel pitched to a remarkable 1.99 ERA last year, though that's hardly to be expected to repeat in 2021. His xFIP was nearly two runs higher, his BABIP against was nearly 40 points below his career average, and his already low strikeout rate dipped to just 16.3%. Having Yasmani Grandal as a catcher certainly helps a pitcher outperform his expected stats, but even if Keuchel were to repeat his 2020 performance, his strikeout rate is such a drain that it keeps his value in check. If your staff is dominant in strikeouts, then you can roll with Keuchel at the very back end of your rotation. But if not, just ignore him on draft day.
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87.
Hector Neris
RP - PHI
Neris has been named the Phillies' closer to start the season. Although he has been the Phillies' primary closer for the past four seasons, he's hardly been the model of efficiency. His ERA over those seasons is 3.01, 5.10, 2.93, and 4.57. And he surprisingly struggled with his control last year, seeking his BB/9 rate jump to 5.40 and his WHIP to 1.71. Neris's splitter is outstanding when it's on, but he has the tendency to get hit hard when it's not. With Archie Bradley and Jose Alvarado in tow, and Brandon Kintzler with the team on a minor league deal, Neris's leash will be short. Draft him as a low-end closer, but don't rush to do so.
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88.
Elieser Hernandez
SP - MIA
Hernandez was excellent in his six starts last season, tallying a 3.16 ERA, a 1.01 WHIP, and a 32.1% strikeout rate. But he allowed a lot of hard contact along the way, including a 91.8 MPH average exit velocity (bottom three percent in the league). He worked on his changeup this offseason in an effort to add a reliable third pitch (he threw his fastball and slider 94% of the time last year), and it has gotten rave reviews in camp. He's fourth in the pecking order of the Marlins starters, but if his changeup can be an effective pitch, he might be the one to provide the most value given his extremely modest ADP.
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89.
Matt Barnes
RP - BOS
Barnes may begin the year as the closer, but it's hardly a guarantee that he'll keep the role. His walk rate has been above 13% for each of the last two seasons, and his WHIP is 1.38 over that span. Adam Ottavino, Darwinzon Hernandez, and Hirokazu Sawamura are in play to take over for Barnes if he struggles. For now, consider Barnes on the very tail end of draftable relievers in fantasy.
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90.
Brady Singer
SP - KC
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91.
Cristian Javier
SP,RP - HOU
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92.
Diego Castillo
RP - TB
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93.
Jake Odorizzi
SP - HOU
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94.
Freddy Peralta
RP,SP - MIL
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95.
Ryan Yarbrough
SP,RP - TB
Yarbrough doesn't get a ton of respect in the fantasy community because he doesn't strike out a ton of batters, but he's quietly put together an excellent career. He's practically a wizard at limiting hard contact (he has allowed an average exit velocity of 84.8 MPH and an average hard hit rate of 26.3%, both remarkably low numbers), and he rarely issues free passes or home runs. In other words, it's really difficult to string together big innings against Yarbrough, especially as he's continued to use his excellent changeup more and more. The Rays will probably let him go a little more this year with their rotation, but even if they keep his usage the same, he'll be an excellent addition to the back end of a fantasy staff.
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96.
Nathan Eovaldi
SP - BOS
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97.
Griffin Canning
SP - LAA
It's mostly about health with Canning, who offers a great deal of stability when he's on the mound. You can expect at worst a low 4.00 ERA, about a 1.30 WHIP, and roughly a strikeout per inning. But he did close last season notably strong, pitching to a 3.14 ERA, and a 1.19 WHIP, with a 14.5% swinging strike rate and a 10.4 K/9 mark over his final five starts. That's probably his ceiling, but it shows what he's capable of when he is healthy and gets into a groove. He's a fine pick at his cost (which is minimal), but bake in some injury risk.
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98.
Drew Pomeranz
RP - SD
Pomeranz likely would have, at the very least, factored into the closer's mix for San Diego prior to the Mark Melancon and Keone Kela signings. After finally switching into a full-time reliever role last year, Pomeranz shined, with a 1.45 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP, and a 39.7% strikeout rate. Although he may still be in line for save opportunities, the presence of Melancon, Kela, and Emilio Pagan muddy the waters. That's especially true given that Pomeranz is currently the only healthy and reliable left-hander in the bullpen. Pomeranz is worth a late selection until and unless Jayce Tingler declares that he's not an option for the ninth inning.
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99.
Jordan Hicks
RP - STL
Hicks is likely to serve as the Cardinals' closer this year if he can show that he has fully recovered from Tommy John surgery. He totaled 20 saves from 2018-2019 before hurting his elbow, and then opted out of last season, in part because of setbacks in his recovery. Early reports from the spring are promising, and it seems that the Cardinals want him and his 100+ MPH fastball to lead the way in the ninth inning. Monitor his health in the spring, but draft him late for now and expect saves so long as he is healthy.
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100.
Greg Holland
RP - KC
Holland re-signed with the Royals after an outstanding season, during which he put up an ERA under 2.00 and a WHIP below 1.00 for the first time since 2014. He'll almost certainly begin the year as the closer, but he's unlikely to stay in the role for the entire season. Even if he's not dealt to a contender by the trade deadline, his walk rate is surely to be closer to the 5.3/9 innings that he put up his previous four seasons, rather than the 2.22 he managed last year. Draft Holland late as someone who can chip in saves early, but be prepared to hit the waiver wire later in the year.
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101.
Zach Davies
SP - CHC
Davies has quietly put together two quality seasons, with a 3.55 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 2019, and a 2.73 ERA and 1.07 WHIP last year. Notably, he started throwing more changeups in 2020, which led both to an increased swinging strike rate and strikeout rate. But his xERA was still 5.01, and although he routinely outperforms his expected stats, it's a reminder not to get too high on a pitcher who amounts to a command specialist. The upside is that after a trade to the Cubs, he'll face mostly weak offenses, which should help to boost his floor a bit.
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102.
Tony Gonsolin
SP - LAD
Gonsolin doesn't have a guaranteed spot in the Dodgers' rotation to start the season, and with the team signing Trevor Bauer, it's unclear just how much he'll start this season. His stuff doesn't blow you away, but he's got a 2.60 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP in 86.2 big league innings. And there were gains last year, as he cut his walk rate down and upped his strikeout rate. Gonsolin is an ideal candidate to have on your bench, because if he does get a spot in the rotation, he'll be a popular waiver wire add, and he can add value as a reliever in the meantime. So draft him late, and likely reap the rewards.
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103.
Drew Smyly
SP - ATL
If you're willing to buy into Smyly's 2020 season, then he's likely to come at a major discount in drafts. He added more than two miles per hour to his fastball, struck out 37.8% of the batters he faced, and leaned more into his excellent curveball. There's reason for optimism after the Braves offered him a substantial one-year deal. Of course, Smyly's real issue is his health, as he missed two full seasons because of Tommy John surgery and even last year was limited to 26 1/3 innings. But there's reason to believe his gains last year are sustainable, so taking him late in your drafts, is worth the gamble.
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104.
Matthew Boyd
SP - DET
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|
105.
Mike Minor
SP - KC
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|
106.
Giovanny Gallegos
RP - STL
Gallegos pitched well last year with the Cardinals despite seeing limited innings because of his difficulty in getting to the states in the middle of a pandemic. But he was effective when he pithed, and owns a career 3.06 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 31.6% strikeout rate. The Cardinals want Jordan Hicks to be their closer, but Gallegos will undoubtedly be in the mix should Hick prove ineffective or suffer a setback in his return from Tommy John surgery.
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107.
Chris Sale
SP - BOS
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108.
Joakim Soria
RP - ARI
The Diamondbacks gave Soria a one-year, $3.5 million deal after his successful stint with the A's. Soria fixed his home run problem from 2019, which was an outlier for his career anyway, and his 2020 numbers looked much more in line with his typical output. Soria hasn't been named the closer, but given that he has totaled at least 16 saves in eight separate seasons, it's a strong bet that he'll begin the year in the ninth inning. The Diamondbacks aren't expected to be competitive, so if you do draft him, bank on him being traded to another team, and into another role, by mid-season.
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109.
Pete Fairbanks
RP - TB
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|
110.
Yusei Kikuchi
SP - SEA
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|
111.
Anthony Bass
RP - MIA
Bass will likely be in the mix for saves with Yimi Garcia (and possibly Dylan Floro) after he signed a two-year deal with the Marlins. He lacks the typical strikeout stuff of most closers, but he's totaled 12 saves, a 3.54 ERA, and a 0.99 WHIP over the past two years. Bass is an extreme ground ball pitcher (62.3% ground ball rate last year), which is how he's able to survive without big time stuff. But Don Mattingly likely won't name a closer until the end of spring training, so draft Bass late for now, but have plenty of other bullpen options.
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112.
Emilio Pagan
RP - SD
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113.
Framber Valdez
SP - HOU
Valdez was shaping up to be a fine sleeper this year, after he had a highly successful stint in the Astros rotation last year. But he fractured his finger early in spring training and the expectation is that he'll miss significant time, though recent reports are far more optimistic than the initial season-ending variety. Drop him down a ton from where you initially had him ranked, but draft him toward the back end of your rotation where the risk/reward balance should equalize.
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114.
Taijuan Walker
SP - NYM
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|
115.
Domingo German
SP - NYY
German has won the fifth starter's job after a torrid spring, during which he didn't allow a run over nine innings pitched while walking one and striking out 13. German's off-the-field issues aside, he was a quality MLB pitcher in 2019, and he should be a decent contributor in four categories, especially considering his low walk rate. He's not risk-free, as a downturn in his performance could lead to Deivi Garcia coming back in the rotation. But he's a fine, late-round selection.
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116.
Mark Melancon
RP - SD
Melancon had another fine year as the Braves' closer, and now joins the back end of the Padres bullpen. It's unclear if he'll serve as the closer, a Drew Pomeranz and Emilio Pagan also may have a claim to the role. Melancon is entering his age-36 season and his strikeout rate is mediocre at best. Although he is still performing well, his lack of pure stuff suggests that the wheels could come off at any moment. That said, he'll have plenty of value if he can earn the ninth-inning role, so monitor the reports out of spring, and draft him late until and unless he's officially ruled out for the role.
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117.
Archie Bradley
RP - PHI
Bradley joined the Phillies on a one-year deal after a successful 2020 season with Arizona and Philadelphia. He performed admirably over the past two seasons as the Diamondbacks' closer, and last year put up a very solid 2.95 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 24.7% strikeout rate. The Phillies were open about their desire to add some velocity to their bullpen and Bradley does just that. But although Joe Girardi has indicated he'd like set roles for the Phillies' bullpen, those roles may not be decided until close to the end of spring training. Bradley is worth drafting, but only late, as he may go back to his former role as a setup man.
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118.
Daniel Bard
RP - COL
Bard comes into 2021 as the Rockies' presumptive closer, after he came out of a two-year retirement to pitch in the majors for the first time since 2013. Bard's control problems, which derailed his career, were largely solved, and his 3.65 ERA and 1.30 WHIP were more than passable for a Colorado closer. Mychal Givens remains, and Scott Oberg will try to pitch effectively after undergoing thoracic outlet surgery, but if Bard can maintain his control, he'll likely earn and hold the closer's job.
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119.
Justus Sheffield
SP - SEA
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|
120.
Noah Syndergaard
SP - NYM
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|
121.
Jake McGee
RP - SF
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|
122.
Nate Pearson
SP - TOR
Pearson is oozing with talent, but he just can't seem to stay healthy. Whether it was elbow soreness last year or the groin strain that is now going to keep him out of action for a bit, something seem to crop up to delay his success in the majors. He wound up pitching just 18 innings overall last year, but the stuff is there, without question. His fastball reaches triple digits, his slider is dominant, and his curveball and changeup are far above average. There's always a bit more uncertainty with young power pitchers, particularly when they've had elbow injuries like Pearson has. And, after trading for Steven Matz, the Blue Jays have plenty of rotation depth and shouldn't feel pressured into rushing Pearson back from injury. In keeper and dynasty formats, he's still a buy, but in redraft leagues, he's probably not worth a pick at this point.
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123.
Tarik Skubal
SP - DET
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|
124.
Dane Dunning
SP - TEX
Dunning had an interesting seven-start run in 2020. He started out relying heavily on his outstanding slider and his fastball, which led to a strong swinging strike rate and plenty of punchouts in his first few starts. He then abandoned that approach to focus more on his changeup, which led to him missing fewer bats and being less successful. Now with the Rangers, Dunning should get a chance to compete for a rotation spot right out of the gate. He has the tools and skills necessary to be successful, and the draft capital necessary to acquire him should be minimal. He's worth a late-round pick in nearly all formats.
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125.
Luis Severino
SP - NYY
Severino is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, but the reports so far have been generally positive. He's already throwing off a mound in mid-March, and a June return isn't out of the question if he can avoid setbacks. Avoiding setbacks is the key, of course, and it's something that's rare in the world of returning from multiple serious issues, as Severino is trying to do. But, for now, draft him with one of your last picks and stash him in your IL spot, if you have the room.
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126.
Adam Ottavino
RP - BOS
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|
127.
Kwang Hyun Kim
SP - STL
If you want upside with a late-round pitcher, you're looking in the wrong place with Kim. Although he put up a 1.62 ERA and 1.07 WHIP last year, his xFIP and SIERA were each about three runs higher than his ERA. He also struck out just 5.54 batters per nine innings, and never showed much strikeout potential in the KBO. That said, for a pitcher who is basically free in drafts, he offers some decent stability, and is worth taking late if you have an otherwise strong staff, particularly with strikeouts. Back tightness may put him on the IL to start the year, but there does not appear to be any long-term concerns.
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128.
Chris Martin
RP - ATL
|
|
129.
MacKenzie Gore
SP - SD
|
|
130.
Nick Wittgren
RP - CLE
|
|
131.
Robbie Ray
SP - TOR
|
|
132.
Brad Keller
SP - KC
|
|
133.
Trevor Rogers
SP - MIA
|
|
134.
Mitch Keller
SP - PIT
In his brief MLB career, Keller is the author of one of the unluckiest (2019) and luckiest (2020) seasons in recent memory. So, the best course of action is to essentially ignore his 69 major league innings and focus on his stuff and minor league career. If you do that, there's a lot to like. Keller has a mid-90s fastball to go along with an above average slider and curveball. Over more than 500 minor league innings, he had a 25.5% strikeout rate, a 3.12 ERA, and a 1.15 WHIP. He will likely struggle for wins on the Pirates, but he'll also get a long leash given the dearth of reliable options, and he should face mostly weak offenses in the NL Central. Keller likely won't be a star, but he'll probably outperform where you need to draft him.
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135.
Stefan Crichton
RP - ARI
Crichton filled in admirably for Archie Bradley after Bradley was traded last season. His strikeout numbers weren't particularly impressive, but he had a 2.42 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP, and tallied five saves. He doesn't have prototypical "closer's stuff," but he's more than capable of getting major league hitters out. The Diamondbacks signed Joakim Soria to a one-year deal (and added Tyler Clippard, too), so Crichton seems unlikely to begin the year as the closer, even though it's an open competition at the moment. He's not worth anything other than an extremely late-round pick as a speculative ninth-inning option.
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136.
Tejay Antone
SP,RP - CIN
Antone's role wasn't entirely clear at the outset of spring training, but he now looks destined for a starter's job, if he can stay healthy. With Sonny Gray and Wade Miley likely to begin the year on the IL, Antone should begin the year in the rotation, assuming he is healthy enough to do so. He's currently battling a groin strain, and his status is uncertain. When healthy, he's got a wipeout slider, enough to pile on the strikeouts, and has enough upside to be worth a late-round dart throw. Monitor his, Gray's, and Miley's health status closely heading into your drafts.
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137.
Tanner Scott
RP - BAL
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|
138.
Madison Bumgarner
SP - ARI
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|
139.
Josh Lindblom
SP,RP - MIL
|
|
140.
J.A. Happ
SP - MIN
|
|
141.
Dylan Cease
SP - CWS
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|
142.
Michael Kopech
SP,RP - CWS
Kopech remains one of the top pitching prospects in the game, but he hasn't pitched competitively in about two-and-a-half year at this point. His fastball and slider are more than MLB caliber, and he had a 31.2% strikeout rate in the minors. But after missing all of 2019 with Tommy John surgery and opting out last year, it wouldn't be wise to just expect Kopech to step right back into a rotation without any growing pains. The White Sox also have depth in their rotation after trading for Lance Lynn and signing Carlos Rodon, so Chicago can, and likely will, stick Kopech in the minors to start the year to continue his development. But given their championship aspirations, he should crack the rotation at some point during the season if he show he is back to form.
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143.
Jake Diekman
RP - OAK
|
|
144.
Caleb Smith
SP,RP - ARI
|
|
145.
Luke Weaver
SP - ARI
|
|
146.
Spencer Turnbull
SP - DET
|
|
147.
Nick Anderson
RP - TB
Anderson has a partial tear of his elbow ligament and, although he won't need surgery, he is likely out until after the All-Star Break. Although he can be dominant when healthy, there's no reason to draft and stash him at this point, given that he won't even be the sole closer for the Rays if and when he returns.
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|
148.
Adbert Alzolay
SP - CHC
|
|
149.
Miles Mikolas
SP - STL
|
|
150.
Trevor May
RP - NYM
|
|
151.
Lucas Sims
RP - CIN
Sims had a fine 2020, going 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA a 0.94 WHIP, and plenty of strikeouts. He'll be in the mix for the Reds' closer job with Amir Garrett and Sean Doolittle, though his early bout with elbow soreness this spring doesn't help him. Monitor the reports out of spring training, but he's a late-round speculative draft pick at best at the moment.
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|
152.
Tanner Rainey
RP - WSH
|
|
153.
Anthony DeSclafani
SP - SF
|
|
154.
Yimi Garcia
RP - HOU
Garcia was the favorite for saves in Miami until the team signed Anthony Bass, and now his exact role in the bullpen is unclear. He struck out 31.7% of the batter he faced last year, and put up a 0.80 ERA and 0.93 WHIP. He's got more prototypical "closer's stuff" than Bass does, and he has a lengthy relationship with Don Mattingly dating back to their Dodgers days. Draft Garcia late and hope he wins the job, but make sure you have other options.
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|
155.
A.J. Puk
RP - OAK
|
|
156.
Chad Green
RP - NYY
|
|
157.
Alex Reyes
RP - STL
|
|
158.
Casey Mize
SP - DET
|
|
159.
Adam Wainwright
SP - STL
|
|
160.
Rich Hill
SP - NYM
|
|
161.
Jose Quintana
SP,RP - LAA
|
|
162.
Carlos Martinez
SP - STL
|
|
163.
Emmanuel Clase
RP - CLE
|
|
164.
Deivi Garcia
SP - NYY
|
|
165.
Spencer Howard
SP - PHI
|
|
166.
Seth Lugo
SP,RP - NYM
|
|
167.
Aaron Bummer
RP - CWS
|
|
168.
Ian Kennedy
RP - TEX
|
|
169.
Logan Webb
SP - SF
|
|
170.
Garrett Richards
SP - BOS
|
|
171.
Chris Archer
SP - TB
|
|
172.
Blake Treinen
RP - LAD
|
|
173.
Jose Alvarado
RP - PHI
|
|
174.
Josh Staumont
RP - KC
|
|
175.
Carlos Rodon
SP - CWS
|
|
176.
Randy Dobnak
SP,RP - MIN
|
|
177.
Rafael Dolis
RP - TOR
|
|
178.
Ross Stripling
SP - TOR
|
|
179.
Daulton Jefferies
SP - OAK
|
|
180.
Merrill Kelly
SP - ARI
|
|
181.
Tyler Duffey
RP - MIN
|
|
182.
Brent Suter
SP,RP - MIL
|
|
183.
Gregory Soto
RP - DET
|
|
184.
Reyes Moronta
RP - SF
|
|
185.
Brusdar Graterol
RP - LAD
|
|
186.
Alex Wood
RP,SP - SF
|
|
187.
Tanner Houck
SP - BOS
|
|
188.
Michael Lorenzen
RP - CIN
|
|
189.
Adrian Morejon
SP,RP - SD
|
|
190.
Bryan Garcia
RP - DET
Garcia is the favorite for the closer's role in Detroit, but don't be fooled by his 1.66 ERA last year, as it came with a 5.74 xFIP and a 4.98 K/9 mark. His minor league career has been fairly stellar (2.50 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 11.5 K/9), and he has extensive experience as a closer from both college and the minors. If you're drafting a Tigers reliever, it should be Garcia, but only at a bargain-basement price.
|
|
191.
Danny Duffy
SP - LAD
|
|
192.
JT Brubaker
SP - PIT
|
|
193.
Adrian Houser
SP - MIL
|
|
194.
David Peterson
SP - NYM
|
|
195.
Brandon Kintzler
RP - PHI
|
|
196.
Daniel Ponce de Leon
SP,RP - STL
|
|
197.
Mike Mayers
RP - LAA
|
|
198.
Sean Doolittle
RP - CIN
After missing most of 2020 with various injuries, Doolittle took a small one-year deal from the Reds in his hope of a bounceback season. He's been trending the wrong way for a couple of seasons now, but he did tally at least 24 saves in each season between 2017 and 2019. Doolittle is the only one in the Reds bullpen with much closing experience, so if he performs well this spring, he could win the ninth-inning job. But there's a ton of uncertainty, and given Doolittle's small contract, it's far from a sure thing that he sees any save opportunities in 2021.
|
|
199.
J.B. Wendelken
RP - OAK
|
|
200.
Brandon Workman
RP - BOS
|
|
201.
Garrett Crochet
RP - CWS
|
|
202.
Matt Bush
RP - TEX
|
|
203.
Matt Shoemaker
SP,RP - MIN
|
|
204.
Tyler Matzek
RP - ATL
|
|
205.
Joely Rodriguez
RP - TEX
|
|
206.
Matt Wisler
SP,RP - TB
|
|
207.
Scott Barlow
RP - KC
|
|
208.
Joey Lucchesi
SP - NYM
|
|
209.
Dean Kremer
SP - BAL
|
|
210.
Johnny Cueto
SP - SF
|
|
211.
A.J. Minter
RP - ATL
|
|
212.
Keone Kela
RP - SD
|
|
213.
Zack Britton
RP - NYY
|
|
214.
Tyler Rogers
RP - SF
|
|
215.
Rowan Wick
RP - CHC
|
|
216.
Andrew Miller
RP - STL
|
|
217.
Daniel Hudson
RP - WSH
|
|
218.
Alec Mills
SP,RP - CHC
|
|
219.
Cal Quantrill
SP,RP - CLE
|
|
220.
Jon Gray
SP - COL
|
|
221.
Roberto Osuna
RP - FA
|
|
222.
Mike Foltynewicz
SP - TEX
|
|
223.
Jonathan Hernandez
RP - TEX
|
|
224.
Matt Manning
SP - DET
|
|
225.
Yusmeiro Petit
RP - OAK
|
|
226.
Luis Patino
RP,SP - TB
|
|
227.
Masahiro Tanaka
SP - FA
|
|
228.
Alex Cobb
SP - LAA
|
|
229.
Kyle Gibson
SP - TEX
|
|
230.
Josh Fleming
SP,RP - TB
|
|
231.
Mychal Givens
RP - CIN
|
|
232.
Lou Trivino
RP - OAK
|
|
233.
Will Harris
RP - WSH
|
|
234.
Keegan Akin
SP,RP - BAL
|
|
235.
Jonathan Loaisiga
SP,RP - NYY
|
|
236.
Victor Gonzalez
RP - LAD
|
|
237.
Kevin Ginkel
RP - ARI
|
|
238.
Steven Matz
SP - TOR
|
|
239.
Cesar Valdez
RP - BAL
|
|
240.
Pedro Baez
RP - HOU
|
|
241.
John Gant
RP,SP - STL
|
|
242.
Connor Brogdon
RP - PHI
|
|
243.
Darren O'Day
RP - NYY
|
|
244.
Dylan Floro
RP - MIA
|
|
245.
Matt Strahm
RP - SD
|
|
246.
Hunter Harvey
RP - BAL
Harvey strained his oblique in spring training and was placed on the 60-day IL, meaning he's unlikely to contribute as the Orioles' designated closer, which was unlikely anyway with Brandon Hyde as the manager. Harvey had a ton of buzz heading into last season, but a strained forearm ultimately limited him to just 8 2/3 innings. He's got a dominant fastball that can reach triple digits, but his injury history has been a roadblock to him becoming a regular and reliable reliever. Hyde likes to go by committee anyway, and Harvey's injury should give him the chance to do just that again. Perhaps spend a last-round pick on Harvey, but better yet, leave him undrafted.
|
|
247.
Jesse Hahn
RP - KC
|
|
248.
Kris Bubic
SP,RP - KC
|
|
249.
Kohei Arihara
SP - TEX
|
|
250.
Corey Knebel
RP - LAD
|
|
251.
Dellin Betances
RP - NYM
|
|
252.
Cody Stashak
RP - MIN
|
|
253.
Kyle Wright
SP - ATL
|
|
254.
Enoli Paredes
RP - HOU
|
|
255.
Craig Stammen
RP - SD
|
|
256.
Brendan McKay
SP - TB
|
|
257.
Evan Marshall
RP - CWS
|
|
258.
Logan Allen
RP,SP - CLE
|
|
259.
Sergio Romo
RP - OAK
|
|
260.
Phil Maton
RP - CLE
|
|
261.
Jon Lester
SP - WSH
|
|
262.
Codi Heuer
RP - CWS
|
|
263.
Ryan Brasier
RP - BOS
|
|
264.
Vince Velasquez
SP - PHI
|
|
265.
Andrew Chafin
RP - OAK
|
|
266.
Michael Wacha
SP,RP - TB
|
|
267.
Collin McHugh
RP,SP - TB
|
|
268.
Drew Rasmussen
RP - TB
|
|
269.
Pierce Johnson
RP - SD
|
|
270.
David Bednar
RP - PIT
|
|
271.
Felix Pena
RP - LAA
|
|
272.
Aaron Loup
RP - NYM
|
|
273.
Joe Smith
RP - SEA
|
|
274.
Miguel Castro
RP - NYM
|
|
275.
Darwinzon Hernandez
RP - BOS
|
|
276.
Justin Dunn
SP - SEA
|
|
277.
Austin Adams
RP - FA
|
|
278.
Nick Pivetta
SP - BOS
|
|
279.
Jake Arrieta
SP - CHC
|
|
280.
Brett Anderson
SP - MIL
|
|
281.
Matt Foster
RP - CWS
|
|
282.
Jaime Barria
SP - LAA
|
|
283.
Sam Selman
RP - SF
|
|
284.
Tommy Kahnle
RP - LAD
|
|
285.
Kyle Crick
RP - FA
|
|
286.
Kyle Freeland
SP - COL
|
|
287.
Tyler Clippard
RP - ARI
|
|
288.
Jose Cisnero
RP - DET
|
|
289.
Logan Gilbert
SP - SEA
|
|
290.
Luis Garcia
RP,SP - HOU
|
|
291.
Scott Oberg
RP - COL
|
|
292.
Jorge Alcala
RP - MIN
|
|
293.
Genesis Cabrera
RP - STL
|
|
294.
Antonio Senzatela
SP - COL
|
|
295.
Joe Kelly
RP - LAD
|
|
296.
Brent Honeywell Jr.
SP - TB
|
|
297.
Anthony Misiewicz
RP - SEA
|
|
298.
David Phelps
RP - TOR
|
|
299.
Chad Kuhl
SP - PIT
|
|
300.
Dakota Hudson
SP - STL
|
|
301.
Blake Taylor
RP - HOU
|
|
302.
Wander Suero
RP - WSH
|
|
303.
Shane Greene
RP - ATL
|
|
304.
Ryan Tepera
RP - CWS
|
|
305.
Tyler Alexander
RP,SP - DET
|
|
306.
Dillon Tate
RP - BAL
|
|
307.
Austin Adams
RP - SD
|
|
308.
Adam Kolarek
RP - OAK
|
|
309.
Taylor Hearn
RP - TEX
|
|
310.
Ryan Thompson
RP - TB
|
|
311.
Chris Flexen
RP,SP - SEA
|
|
312.
Joe Jimenez
RP - DET
|
|
313.
Austin Gomber
SP,RP - COL
|
|
314.
Michael King
SP,RP - NYY
|
|
315.
Justin Wilson
RP - CIN
|
|
316.
Oliver Perez
RP - CLE
|
|
317.
Cody Reed
RP - TB
|
|
318.
Kyle McGowin
RP - WSH
|
|
319.
Blake Parker
RP - CLE
|
|
320.
Cam Bedrosian
RP - PHI
|
|
321.
Justin Topa
RP - MIL
|
|
322.
Tyler Webb
RP - STL
|
|
323.
Pedro Strop
RP - FA
|
|
324.
Steve Cishek
RP - LAA
|
|
325.
Tyler Chatwood
SP,RP - TOR
|
|
326.
Cole Hamels
SP - FA
|
|
327.
Josh Tomlin
SP,RP - ATL
|
|
328.
Grant Dayton
RP - ATL
|
|
329.
Duane Underwood Jr.
RP - PIT
|
|
330.
Edward Cabrera
SP - MIA
|
|
331.
Ty Buttrey
RP - FA
|
|
332.
Keynan Middleton
RP - SEA
|
|
333.
Chase Anderson
SP - PHI
|
|
334.
Andres Munoz
RP - SEA
|
|
335.
Bruce Zimmermann
SP - BAL
|
|
336.
Jeff Hoffman
RP,SP - CIN
|
|
337.
Jakob Junis
SP,RP - KC
|
|
338.
Michael Feliz
RP - CIN
|
|
339.
Patrick Sandoval
SP - LAA
|
|
340.
Tim Hill
RP - SD
|
|
341.
John Curtiss
SP,RP - MIA
|
|
342.
Julio Teheran
SP - DET
|
|
343.
Jacob Webb
RP - ATL
|
|
344.
Chaz Roe
RP - TB
|
|
345.
Tyler Anderson
SP - SEA
|
|
346.
Shawn Armstrong
RP - BAL
|
|
347.
Caleb Thielbar
RP - MIN
|
|
348.
Chris Stratton
RP - PIT
|
|
349.
Richard Bleier
RP - MIA
|
|
350.
Tony Watson
RP - LAA
|
|
351.
Brett Martin
RP - TEX
|
|
352.
Eric Yardley
RP - MIL
|
|
353.
Josh Sborz
RP - TEX
|
|
354.
Matt Moore
SP,RP - PHI
|
|
355.
Corbin Martin
SP - ARI
|
|
356.
Kyle Finnegan
RP - WSH
|
|
357.
Cole Sulser
RP - BAL
|
|
358.
Trevor Cahill
SP,RP - PIT
|
|
359.
Paul Fry
RP - BAL
|
|
360.
Kendall Graveman
RP - HOU
|
|
361.
Jason Adam
RP - CHC
|
|
362.
Ryan Helsley
RP - STL
|
|
363.
Daniel Lynch
SP - KC
|
|
364.
Hansel Robles
RP - MIN
|
|
365.
Mike Fiers
SP - OAK
|
|
366.
David Hale
RP - FA
|
|
367.
Tanner Roark
SP - ATL
|
|
368.
Carl Edwards Jr.
RP - TOR
|
|
369.
Alex Young
SP,RP - CLE
|
|
370.
George Kirby
SP - SEA
|
|
371.
Hunter Wood
RP - TEX
|
|
|
372.
Emerson Hancock
SP - SEA
|
|
|
373.
Asa Lacy
SP - KC
|
|
374.
Julian Merryweather
SP,RP - TOR
|
|
|
375.
Max Meyer
SP - MIA
|
|
376.
Matt Andriese
RP - BOS
|
|
377.
Noe Ramirez
RP - ARI
|
|
|
378.
Grayson Rodriguez
SP - BAL
|
|
379.
Shane Baz
SP - TB
|
|
380.
Josiah Gray
SP - LAD
|
|
381.
Brailyn Marquez
RP - CHC
|
|
|
382.
DL Hall
SP - BAL
|
|
383.
Nick Lodolo
SP - CIN
|
|
384.
Kyle Zimmer
RP - KC
|
|
385.
Martin Perez
SP - BOS
|
|
386.
Drew Steckenrider
RP - SEA
|
|
387.
Simeon Woods-Richardson
SP - TOR
|
|
388.
Brooks Raley
RP - HOU
|
|
389.
Jordan Balazovic
SP - MIN
|
|
390.
Junior Guerra
RP - LAA
|
|
391.
Jairo Diaz
RP - COL
|
|
392.
Richard Lovelady
RP - KC
|
|
|
393.
Mick Abel
SP - PHI
|
|
394.
J.P. Feyereisen
RP - TB
|
|
395.
Aaron Sanchez
SP - SF
|
|
396.
Taylor Clarke
SP,RP - ARI
|
|
397.
Trevor Stephan
SP,RP - CLE
|
|
398.
Jarlin Garcia
RP - SF
|
|
399.
Nick Nelson
RP - NYY
|
|
400.
Matt Liberatore
SP - STL
|
|
401.
Jacob Barnes
RP - TOR
|
|
402.
Kolby Allard
SP,RP - TEX
|
|
403.
Bryse Wilson
SP - ATL
|
|
404.
Ray Black
RP - MIL
|
|
|
405.
Ethan Hankins
SP - CLE
|
|
406.
Josh James
RP - HOU
|
|
|
407.
Reid Detmers
SP - LAA
|
|
408.
Jace Fry
RP - CWS
|
|
409.
Zack Godley
SP - CLE
|
|
410.
Austin Voth
SP,RP - WSH
|
|
411.
Devin Smeltzer
RP - MIN
|
|
|
412.
Daniel Espino
SP - CLE
|
|
413.
Sean Newcomb
SP,RP - ATL
|
|
414.
Shane McClanahan
SP - TB
|
|
415.
Wade Miley
SP - CIN
|
|
416.
Justin Verlander
SP - HOU
|
|
417.
Jose Urena
SP - DET
|
|
418.
Brandon Brennan
RP - BOS
|
|
419.
Josh Taylor
RP - BOS
|
|
420.
Steven Brault
SP - PIT
|
|
421.
Alex Claudio
RP - LAA
|
|
422.
Cole Irvin
RP,SP - OAK
|
|
423.
Buck Farmer
RP - DET
|
|
424.
Tyler Ivey
SP - HOU
|
|
425.
Alek Manoah
SP - TOR
|
|
|
426.
Jared Kelley
CWS
|
|
|
427.
Blake Walston
SP - ARI
|
|
428.
Clarke Schmidt
SP - NYY
|
|
429.
JoJo Romero
RP - PHI
|
|
430.
Kyle Cody
SP,RP - TEX
|
|
431.
Sam Howard
RP - PIT
|
|
432.
Jeremy Jeffress
RP - FA
|
|
433.
Ryne Stanek
RP - HOU
|
|
|
434.
Nick Bitsko
SP - TB
|
|
435.
Trevor Williams
SP - CHC
|
|
436.
Hunter Greene
SP - CIN
|
|
437.
Jeurys Familia
RP - NYM
|
|
438.
Matt Magill
RP - SEA
|
|
439.
Nick Margevicius
SP - SEA
|
|
|
440.
Cade Cavalli
SP - WSH
|
|
441.
Eric Lauer
SP - MIL
|
|
442.
Miguel Yajure
RP - PIT
|
|
|
443.
Brennan Malone
RP - PIT
|
|
444.
Erik Swanson
RP - SEA
|
|
|
445.
Cole Wilcox
RP - TB
|
|
446.
Jordan Lyles
SP - TEX
|
|
447.
Chris Devenski
RP - ARI
|
|
448.
Ljay Newsome
SP,RP - SEA
|
|
449.
Andrew Kittredge
RP,SP - TB
|
|
450.
Adam Plutko
SP,RP - BAL
|
|
451.
Luke Jackson
RP - ATL
|
|
452.
Derek Holland
SP,RP - DET
|
|
453.
Demarcus Evans
RP - TEX
|
|
454.
Ryan Sherriff
RP - TB
|
|
455.
Robert Stock
RP,SP - NYM
|
|
456.
Angel Perdomo
RP - MIL
|
|
457.
Ivan Nova
SP - FA
|
|
458.
Trey Supak
SP - OAK
|
|
459.
Reynaldo Lopez
SP - CWS
|
|
460.
Ryan Borucki
RP - TOR
|
|
461.
Lewis Thorpe
RP,SP - MIN
|
|
462.
Ranger Suarez
RP - PHI
|
|
463.
Heath Hembree
RP - CIN
|
|
464.
Robert Stephenson
RP - COL
|
|
465.
Brandon Finnegan
RP - CIN
|
|
466.
Keury Mella
RP - FA
|
|
467.
Dylan File
SP - MIL
|
|
468.
Anthony Swarzak
RP - FA
|
|
469.
Heath Fillmyer
RP - CLE
|
|
470.
Rick Porcello
SP - FA
|
|
471.
James Hoyt
RP - LAA
|
|
472.
Joe Ross
RP,SP - WSH
|
|
473.
Hector Rondon
RP - BOS
|
|
474.
Marcus Walden
RP - BOS
|
|
475.
Rogelio Armenteros
SP - WSH
|
|
476.
Adam Cimber
RP - TOR
|
|
477.
Tyler Phillips
SP - PHI
|
|
478.
Jimmy Cordero
RP - CWS
|
|
479.
Luis Cessa
RP - CIN
|
|
480.
Kodi Whitley
RP - STL
|
|
481.
Tom Hatch
RP - TOR
|
|
482.
Wade Davis
RP - KC
|
|
483.
Anthony Kay
RP,SP - TOR
|
|
484.
Daniel Castano
SP - MIA
|
|
485.
Dan Winkler
RP - CHC
|
|
486.
Andre Scrubb
RP - HOU
|
|
487.
Gerardo Reyes
RP - LAA
|
|
488.
Jhoan Duran
SP - MIN
|
|
489.
Ethan Small
SP - MIL
|
|
490.
Seranthony Dominguez
RP - PHI
|
|
491.
Jackson Kowar
SP - KC
|
|
492.
James Marvel
SP - PIT
|
|
493.
Daniel Norris
RP - DET
|
|
494.
Yoan Lopez
RP - ATL
|
|
495.
Michael Fulmer
SP,RP - DET
|
|
496.
James Shields
SP - FA
|
|
|
497.
Jared Kelley
CWS
|
|
498.
Nate Jones
RP - FA
|
|
499.
Sam McWilliams
SP - SD
|
|
500.
Matt Allan
SP - NYM
|
|
501.
Luke Bard
RP - LAA
|
|
502.
Casey Sadler
RP - SEA
|
|
503.
Jackson Rutledge
SP - WSH
|
|
504.
Joe Ryan
SP - MIN
|
|
505.
Ross Detwiler
RP,SP - MIA
|
|
506.
Jimmy Nelson
RP - LAD
|
|
507.
Jason Vargas
SP - FA
|
|
508.
Adam Kloffenstein
SP - TOR
|
|
509.
Yency Almonte
RP - COL
|
|
510.
Ryan Weathers
SP,RP - SD
|
|
511.
Trevor Oaks
SP - SF
|
|
512.
Chasen Shreve
RP - PIT
|
|
513.
Tyler Beede
SP - SF
|
|
514.
Vladimir Gutierrez
SP - CIN
|
|
|
515.
Bryce Jarvis
ARI
|
|
516.
Erick Fedde
SP - WSH
|
|
517.
Travis Bergen
RP - TOR
|
|
518.
Jorge Lopez
SP - BAL
|
|
519.
Paul Campbell
SP - MIA
|
|
520.
Tyler Kinley
RP,2B - COL
|
|
521.
Chi Chi Gonzalez
SP - COL
|
|
522.
Joey Wentz
SP - DET
|
|
523.
Burch Smith
RP - OAK
|
|
524.
Damon Jones
SP - PHI
|
|
525.
Shaun Anderson
RP - BAL
|
|
526.
Clayton Richard
SP - FA
|
|
527.
Aaron Slegers
RP - LAA
|
|
528.
Jasseel De La Cruz
SP - ATL
|
|
529.
Mitch White
RP - LAD
|
|
530.
Ariel Jurado
SP - FA
|
|
531.
Bartolo Colon
SP - FA
|
|
532.
Scott Alexander
RP - LAD
|
|
533.
Trent Thornton
SP,RP - TOR
|
|
534.
Hirokazu Sawamura
RP - BOS
|
|
535.
Grant Holmes
SP - OAK
|
|
536.
Austin Brice
RP - BOS
|
|
|
537.
Alex Wells
SP - BAL
|
|
538.
Jeff Samardzija
SP - FA
|
|
539.
Brock Burke
SP - TEX
|
|
540.
Brian Howard
SP - OAK
|
|
541.
Huascar Ynoa
SP - ATL
|
|
542.
Touki Toussaint
SP - ATL
|