Fantasy Baseball Player Notes

2021 Fantasy Baseball Draft Notes

Position

Team

Max Fried Note
	31. Max Fried SP 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. 3 days ago

Charlie Morton Note
	38. Charlie Morton SP 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. 3 days ago

Ian Anderson Note
	40. Ian Anderson SP 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. 3 days ago

Mike Soroka Note
	60. Mike Soroka SP

Will Smith Note
	106. Will Smith RP 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. 3 days ago

Drew Smyly Note
	109. Drew Smyly SP 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. 3 days ago

Chris Martin Note
	118. Chris Martin RP

Tyler Matzek Note
	197. Tyler Matzek SP

Kyle Wright Note
	208. Kyle Wright SP

Bryse Wilson Note
	279. Bryse Wilson RP

A.J. Minter Note
	297. A.J. Minter RP

Sean Newcomb Note
	361. Sean Newcomb SP

Touki Toussaint Note
	366. Touki Toussaint SP

Phil Pfeifer Note
	401. Phil Pfeifer SP

Jasseel De La Cruz Note
	427. Jasseel De La Cruz SP

Tucker Davidson Note
	452. Tucker Davidson SP

Luke Jackson Note
	462. Luke Jackson RP

Huascar Ynoa Note
	472. Huascar Ynoa SP

Grant Dayton Note
	495. Grant Dayton RP

Jacob Webb Note
	497. Jacob Webb RP

Nate Jones Note
	549. Nate Jones RP

Josh Tomlin Note
	602. Josh Tomlin SP,RP

Carl Edwards Jr. Note
	644. Carl Edwards Jr. RP

Victor Arano Note
	672. Victor Arano RP

Chad Sobotka Note
	699. Chad Sobotka RP

Patrick Weigel Note
	765. Patrick Weigel RP