Fantasy Baseball Player Notes

2021 Fantasy Baseball Draft Notes

Position

Team

Gerrit Cole Note
	2. Gerrit Cole SP 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. 6 weeks ago

Aroldis Chapman Note
	22. Aroldis Chapman RP 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. 6 weeks ago

Corey Kluber Note
	57. Corey Kluber SP 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. 6 weeks ago

Jordan Montgomery Note
	79. Jordan Montgomery SP

Jameson Taillon Note
	83. Jameson Taillon SP 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. 6 weeks ago

Domingo German Note
	115. Domingo German SP 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. 6 weeks ago

Luis Severino Note
	125. Luis Severino SP 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. 6 weeks ago

Chad Green Note
	155. Chad Green RP

Deivi Garcia Note
	164. Deivi Garcia SP

Zack Britton Note
	212. Zack Britton RP

Jonathan Loaisiga Note
	235. Jonathan Loaisiga RP

Darren O'Day Note
	243. Darren O'Day RP

Justin Wilson Note
	313. Justin Wilson RP

Michael King Note
	315. Michael King RP

Nick Nelson Note
	400. Nick Nelson RP

Clarke Schmidt Note
	426. Clarke Schmidt RP

Luis Cessa Note
	479. Luis Cessa RP

Lucas Luetge Note
	545. Lucas Luetge RP

Wandy Peralta Note
	546. Wandy Peralta RP

Mike Montgomery Note
	562. Mike Montgomery RP

Alexander Vizcaino Note
	624. Alexander Vizcaino SP

Asher Wojciechowski Note
	633. Asher Wojciechowski SP

Josh Smith Note
	725. Josh Smith RP

Adam Warren Note
	745. Adam Warren RP

Reggie McClain Note
	756. Reggie McClain RP

Brooks Kriske Note
	762. Brooks Kriske RP

Nick Goody Note
	775. Nick Goody RP

Tyler Lyons Note
	801. Tyler Lyons RP

Nestor Cortes Jr. Note
	832. Nestor Cortes Jr. RP

Kyle Barraclough Note
	843. Kyle Barraclough RP

Albert Abreu Note
	844. Albert Abreu RP