Fantasy Baseball Player Notes
2021 Fantasy Baseball Draft Notes
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1.
Jacob deGrom
NYM
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2.
Gerrit Cole
NYY
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3.
Shane Bieber
CLE
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4.
Yu Darvish
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.
Walker Buehler
LAD
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6.
Trevor Bauer
FA
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7.
Aaron Nola
PHI
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8.
Luis Castillo
CIN
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9.
Max Scherzer
WSH
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10.
Lucas Giolito
CWS
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11.
Jack Flaherty
STL
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12.
Clayton Kershaw
LAD
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13.
Blake Snell
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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14.
Lance Lynn
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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15.
Zac Gallen
ARI
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16.
Sonny Gray
CIN
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17.
Stephen Strasburg
WSH
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18.
Brandon Woodruff
MIL
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19.
Kenta Maeda
MIN
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20.
Dinelson Lamet
SD
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21.
Zach Plesac
CLE
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22.
Hyun Jin Ryu
TOR
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23.
Zack Greinke
HOU
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24.
Kyle Hendricks
CHC
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25.
Zack Wheeler
PHI
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26.
Carlos Carrasco
NYM
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27.
Max Fried
ATL
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28.
Patrick Corbin
WSH
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29.
Tyler Glasnow
TB
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30.
Chris Paddack
SD
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31.
Jose Berrios
MIN
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32.
Corbin Burnes
MIL
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33.
Ian Anderson
ATL
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34.
Lance McCullers Jr.
HOU
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35.
Framber Valdez
HOU
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36.
Dylan Bundy
LAA
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37.
Pablo Lopez
MIA
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38.
Jesus Luzardo
OAK
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39.
Marco Gonzales
SEA
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40.
Sixto Sanchez
MIA
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41.
Charlie Morton
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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42.
Mike Soroka
ATL
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43.
Aaron Civale
CLE
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44.
Chris Sale
BOS
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45.
Joe Musgrove
PIT
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46.
Sandy Alcantara
MIA
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47.
David Price
LAD
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48.
Frankie Montas
OAK
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49.
Julio Urias
LAD
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50.
Eduardo Rodriguez
BOS
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51.
German Marquez
COL
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52.
Shohei Ohtani
LAA
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53.
Dustin May
LAD
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54.
Tony Gonsolin
LAD
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55.
Cristian Javier
HOU
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56.
Kevin Gausman
SF
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57.
Devin Williams
MIL
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58.
Chris Bassitt
OAK
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59.
Zach Eflin
PHI
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60.
Andrew Heaney
LAA
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61.
Dallas Keuchel
CWS
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62.
Justus Sheffield
SEA
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63.
Marcus Stroman
NYM
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64.
Sean Manaea
OAK
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65.
Triston McKenzie
CLE
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66.
Brady Singer
KC
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67.
Tyler Mahle
CIN
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68.
Nate Pearson
TOR
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69.
Jose Urquidy
HOU
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70.
Drew Pomeranz
SD
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71.
John Means
BAL
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72.
James Paxton
FA
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73.
Jameson Taillon
PIT
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74.
Zach Davies
CHC
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75.
Jordan Romano
TOR
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76.
Ryan Yarbrough
TB
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77.
MacKenzie Gore
SD
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78.
Corey Kluber
FA
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79.
Nathan Eovaldi
BOS
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80.
Michael Pineda
MIN
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81.
Michael Kopech
CWS
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82.
Griffin Canning
LAA
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83.
Elieser Hernandez
MIA
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84.
Spencer Turnbull
DET
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85.
Dane Dunning
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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86.
Mike Minor
KC
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87.
Alex Reyes
STL
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88.
Diego Castillo
TB
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89.
Noah Syndergaard
NYM
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90.
Masahiro Tanaka
FA
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91.
Matthew Boyd
DET
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92.
Brad Keller
KC
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93.
Drew Smyly
ATL
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94.
Jon Gray
COL
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95.
Luis Severino
NYY
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96.
Taijuan Walker
FA
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97.
Rich Hill
FA
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98.
Mitch Keller
PIT
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99.
Jordan Montgomery
NYY
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100.
Madison Bumgarner
ARI
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101.
Miles Mikolas
STL
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102.
Casey Mize
DET
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103.
Justin Verlander
HOU
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104.
Tarik Skubal
DET
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105.
Tanner Houck
BOS
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106.
Spencer Howard
PHI
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107.
Yusei Kikuchi
SEA
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108.
Deivi Garcia
NYY
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109.
Jose Leclerc
TEX
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110.
Gregory Soto
DET
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111.
Dean Kremer
BAL
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112.
Freddy Peralta
MIL
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113.
Adam Wainwright
FA
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114.
Dylan Cease
CWS
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115.
Robbie Ray
TOR
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116.
Alec Mills
CHC
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117.
Caleb Smith
ARI
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118.
Dakota Hudson
STL
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119.
A.J. Puk
OAK
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120.
Jake Odorizzi
FA
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121.
Ross Stripling
TOR
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122.
Hunter Harvey
BAL
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123.
Josh Lindblom
MIL
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124.
Domingo German
NYY
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125.
Chad Green
NYY
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126.
Keegan Akin
BAL
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127.
Rick Porcello
FA
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128.
Austin Gomber
STL
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129.
Luke Weaver
ARI
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130.
Garrett Richards
FA
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131.
Daniel Bard
COL
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132.
Kyle Wright
ATL
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133.
Carlos Martinez
STL
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134.
Brusdar Graterol
LAD
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135.
Tejay Antone
CIN
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136.
David Peterson
NYM
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137.
Danny Duffy
KC
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138.
Forrest Whitley
HOU
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139.
Adbert Alzolay
CHC
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140.
Brendan McKay
TB
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141.
Johnny Cueto
SF
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142.
Jonathan Hernandez
TEX
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143.
Matt Manning
DET
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144.
Adrian Houser
MIL
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145.
Tyler Matzek
ATL
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146.
Lucas Sims
CIN
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147.
Luis Patino
TB
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148.
Anthony DeSclafani
SF
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149.
Kyle Freeland
COL
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150.
Ian Kennedy
FA
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151.
Randy Dobnak
MIN
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152.
Jesse Hahn
KC
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153.
Kyle Gibson
TEX
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154.
Kris Bubic
KC
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155.
JT Brubaker
PIT
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156.
Mike Clevinger
SD
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157.
Adrian Morejon
SD
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158.
Mike Foltynewicz
FA
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159.
Corbin Martin
ARI
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160.
Joey Lucchesi
SD
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161.
Josh James
HOU
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162.
Steven Matz
NYM
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163.
Alex Wood
SF
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164.
Antonio Senzatela
COL
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165.
Merrill Kelly
ARI
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166.
Cole Hamels
FA
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167.
Yonny Chirinos
TB
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168.
J.A. Happ
FA
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169.
Jose Quintana
FA
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170.
Jeff Samardzija
FA
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171.
Chad Kuhl
PIT
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172.
Anibal Sanchez
FA
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173.
Jonathan Loaisiga
NYY
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174.
Clarke Schmidt
NYY
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175.
Reynaldo Lopez
CWS
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176.
Daniel Ponce de Leon
STL
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177.
Julio Teheran
FA
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178.
Jon Lester
FA
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179.
Cal Quantrill
CLE
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180.
Mike Fiers
FA
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181.
Bryse Wilson
ATL
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182.
Tanner Roark
TOR
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183.
Logan Gilbert
SEA
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184.
Matt Shoemaker
FA
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185.
Jordan Yamamoto
MIA
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186.
Daniel Norris
DET
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187.
Matt Strahm
SD
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188.
Brent Suter
MIL
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189.
Carlos Rodon
FA
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190.
Logan Webb
SF
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191.
Trevor Rogers
MIA
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192.
Justin Dunn
SEA
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193.
Edward Cabrera
MIA
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194.
Trevor Williams
FA
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195.
Enoli Paredes
HOU
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196.
Tyler Anderson
FA
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197.
Scott Barlow
KC
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198.
Darwinzon Hernandez
BOS
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199.
Nick Pivetta
BOS
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200.
Steven Brault
PIT
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201.
Michael King
NYY
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202.
Felix Pena
LAA
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203.
Austin Voth
WSH
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204.
Ryan Helsley
STL
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205.
Jaime Barria
LAA
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206.
Brent Honeywell Jr.
TB
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207.
Robert Stephenson
COL
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208.
Asher Wojciechowski
BAL
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209.
Nick Kingham
TOR
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210.
Tyler Beede
SF
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211.
Vince Velasquez
PHI
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212.
Logan Verrett
BAL
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213.
Touki Toussaint
ATL
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214.
Anderson Espinoza
SD
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215.
John Gant
STL
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216.
Michael Fulmer
DET
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217.
Sean Newcomb
ATL
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218.
Kolby Allard
TEX
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219.
Jeff Hoffman
CIN
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220.
Carson Fulmer
PIT
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221.
Brady Aiken
CLE
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222.
Erick Fedde
WSH
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223.
Yadier Alvarez
LAD
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224.
Eric Lauer
MIL
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225.
Riley Pint
COL
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226.
Sean Reid-Foley
TOR
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227.
Adam Plutko
CLE
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228.
Jorge Guzman
MIA
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229.
Jakob Junis
KC
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230.
Braxton Garrett
MIA
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231.
Chance Adams
KC
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232.
Franklin Perez
DET
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233.
J.B. Bukauskas
ARI
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234.
Nick Neidert
MIA
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235.
Anthony Kay
TOR
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236.
Jon Duplantier
ARI
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237.
Trevor Richards
TB
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238.
Ranger Suarez
PHI
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239.
Dennis Santana
LAD
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240.
Eric Pardinho
TOR
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241.
Logan Allen
CLE
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242.
Matt Liberatore
STL
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243.
Peter Lambert
COL
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244.
Ryan Weathers
SD
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245.
Taylor Clarke
ARI
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246.
Trent Thornton
TOR
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247.
Cole Winn
TEX
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248.
Dereck Rodriguez
COL
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249.
Patrick Sandoval
LAA
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250.
Devin Smeltzer
MIN
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251.
Josiah Gray
LAD
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252.
Mick Abel
PHI
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253.
Simeon Woods-Richardson
TOR
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254.
Asa Lacy
KC
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