2018 Fantasy Baseball Rankings (AL)

Trout missed significant time in 2017 with a torn UCL in his thumb, which marred an otherwise truly elite season. He hit 33 home runs and stole 22 bases in just 114 games, setting career-bests in both walk-rate and strikeout-rate. Simply put, the 26-year-old is as good as he's ever been, and with an improved lineup around him, the sky is the limit in 2018.

If anyone is ever going to challenge Mike Trout for the top spot in fantasy baseball, it's Altuve, one of the true five-category producers in the game. Altuve's strikeout-rate jumped a few points last year, but he otherwise had nearly a carbon copy of his fantastic 2016 season. With an elite batting average and outstanding counting stats, Altuve should once again have a dominant fantasy season batting near the top of an excellent Astros lineup.

Betts had a "disappointing" season in 2017, but the world would be a better place if everyone could disappoint that way. The majority of his counting stats (other than steals) dropped a bit, but the big falloff was in batting average, where he dropped from .318 in 2016 to just .264 in 2017. That precipitous drop seems largely luck-based, as his batted ball profile and speed simply do not support the .268 BABIP that he had last year. Either way, when a disappointing season is a .264-101-24-102-26 line, you know you've arrived as a fantasy stud. Betts should be drafted in the first round again with confidence.

Stanton finally had the year that fantasy owners had been waiting for, and boy, was it worth the wait. His counting stats (59 home runs, 123 runs scored, and 132 RBI) were off the charts, but he also made significant gains as a hitter. Stanton dropped his strikeout rate to just 23.6%, by far the lowest of his career, and raised his walk-rate. Now batting in one of the most homer-friendly stadiums in the game in the middle of a stacked lineup, the sky is the limit for Stanton. Although it seems implausible for him to improve on last year's numbers, it's not out of the range of possibilities, particularly because his hard-contact rate was the lowest it had been in five seasons. Simply put, Stanton should be a fantasy stud this season.

Correa left his sophomore slump in the past last season, putting up career-highs in home runs, runs scored, and batting average, despite playing in just 109 games because of a thumb injury. There's little reason to doubt his ability to contribute meaningfully in four offensive categories, but it's worth noting that he stole just two bases last season. Given that Correa has always had a solid success rate, it seems like this was simply a conscious choice, and considering his thumb injury was a result of a slide on the basepaths, he may simply avoid stolen base attempts to stay healthy in the future. If so, that puts a minor damper on Correa's fantasy prospects. But his pedigree, his position, his performance to date, and his place in an outstanding lineup, keeps him as a first-rounder heading into 2018 regardless of his steals.

Kluber battled back issues which required a DL-stint and struggled a bit in the playoffs. There, you have now learned everything negative about Kluber's 2017 season. On the bright side, he topped 200 innings for the fourth straight year, won 18 games for the third time in four seasons, set career-bests in ERA, WHIP, and strikeout-rate, and won the American League Cy Young award. Back issues are always scary, but Kluber has given no reason to doubt him, and he's one of the few truly guaranteed pitchers in all of fantasy.

Sale faded just a tad down the stretch to take his truly remarkable season down to just an outstanding one. Sale struck out an incredible 308 batters, kept his WHIP below 1.00, and won 17 games for the second straight year. Although Sale entered the league with injury concerns because of his slight frame and wild delivery, he has surpassed 200 innings pitched in four of the last five seasons, and is a true ace of a fantasy staff. Whether you draft him before Corey Kluber, Max Scherzer, or even Clayton Kershaw is simply a matter of personal preference at this point.

Machado had a "down" year, which was largely the product of a terrible first two months of the season. But other than in the batting average department, where he batted a career-low .259, his numbers largely wound up in the range of his career-norms. That batting average drop appears to be a mirage, as Machado set a career-high in hard-contact percentage but had a career-worst .265 BABIP. Expect his batting average to jump back closer to his .279 career mark this season, and with soon-to-come dual eligibility, Machado should once again be considered a borderline first-rounder.

After a lengthy dance, Martinez finally signed with the Red Sox in mid-February, placing him in an ideal situation. Martinez had an other-worldly year last season, hitting 45 home runs in just 119 games and leading the league in hard-contact rate. He'll now bat in the middle of a strong Boston lineup, one that should allow him to surpass both 100 runs scored and 100 RBI. It's unclear whether Martinez has truly morphed into a potential 60-home-run-hitter, but his move to Boston essentially guarantees that he will be an elite fantasy outfielder this season.

After an embarrassingly awful cup of coffee in 2016, Judge went crazy in 2017, hitting an incredible 52 home runs and easily winning rookie of the year. Although he was plagued by a shoulder injury and slumped after the All-Star break, he rebounded nicely in September, showing that he could adjust when things got tough. Judge's strikeout-rate (30.7%) likely means that his .284 batting average is going to drop this season, though he hits the ball so incredibly hard (45.3% hard-hit rate) that he's bound to have a high BABIP. Either way, you can easily give away some batting average for the massive power Judge is guaranteed to bring. And don't ignore his nine steals last season, either. If he comes anywhere close to a repeat performance in 2018, he'll likely find himself a perennial first-rounder for the foreseeable future.

Lindor, like many hitters, had an absurd power jump in 2017, hitting 33 home runs, more than he had in his last two seasons combined. The good news for fantasy owners is that he looked like almost an identical hitter to his previous years, with the same exact walk and strikeout percentages to his 2016 season. All Lindor did is start doing what many hitters did - hit the ball in the air more. The results were predictable - more home runs and a lower batting average. Whether he continues with that same approach or returns to his previous one, he'll be one of the elite fantasy shortstops in the game in 2018.

Springer's stolen base totals are trending in the wrong direction, but that's essentially the only negative thing you can say about him. His home runs have risen in three straight seasons, he dropped his strikeout percentage by more than six points last year, and he set a career-high in batting average and RBI. In short, Springer has developed into a reliable four-category producer, and he'll at least chip in a bit in the fifth category (steals). Add all that up and Springer should be considered a borderline second-rounder, one with significant upside even at that price.

Donaldson finally succumbed to the calf injury he seemed to have been battling for the last two seasons, and missed six weeks on the disabled list. Although he struggled mightily for a bit after his return, he found his form in the second half, hitting 24 home runs for a total of 33 in just 113 games. Donaldson's strikeout-rate jumped significantly last year, which is always a little worrisome as he likely begins the downside of his career. But playing in a hitter's park and in his walk year, Donaldson should at least have one more big season in the bag, and should return to being an elite hitter this year.

Ramirez's 2017 numbers didn't look all that different from his 2016 numbers, with one drastic exception - a dramatic increase in power. Ramirez upped his home run total to what was a then-career-high of 11 in 2016 to 29 in 2017, and increased his doubles from 46 to 56. Nothing about the gains seems particularly fluky, as Ramirez appears to have made a conscious effort to pull the ball and hit more fly balls last year, which usually does (and did for Ramirez) produce a jump in power. If he stays with that approach, he should have little trouble keeping his power gains, and should once again be one of the most valuable infielders in all of fantasy in 2018.

Dozier came close to repeating his career-best numbers from 2016, but his fantasy owners certainly weren't complaining. Dozier continues to be a strong four-category player with a batting average that won't hurt you. His best trait may be his durability, as he has played in at least 152 games in each of the past four seasons. Even if you took his worst single-season totals over that stretch, he would still give you a 101-23-71-12 line, and his outstanding floor keeps him near the top of the second-base ranks. With an improved walk-rate and little signs of decline elsewhere, Dozier makes an outstanding pick in the early rounds.

Sanchez followed up his sizzling 53-game stretch in the majors in 2016 by smacking 33 home runs in just 122 games in 2017. He easily finished as the top catcher in fantasy despite missing time with injuries. Sure, his walk rate and hard-contact percentage dropped a tiny bit, but there's no reason to nitpick. Batting in the middle of an incredible (and somehow improved) Yankees lineup, Sanchez should once again top 30 home runs and be drafted as the top fantasy catcher in the game in 2018.

Abreu has quickly established himself as one of the most consistent players in all of fantasy baseball. In his four seasons in the majors, he's never hit fewer than 25 home runs, driven in fewer than 100 RBI, or batted lower than .290. The fact that his numbers were so gaudy last year (.304/.354/.552) is particularly impressive given the dearth of offensive talent on the White Sox roster. Essentially, there are no concerns at this point with Abreu, and his safety makes him a rock-solid option at first base, just behind the elite names.

After he missed half of the 2016 season with a PED suspension, Gordon got right back to work in 2017, hitting above .300 and stealing 60 bases. Gordon put the ball in play more then ever, putting up just a 13.4% strikeout rate, best of his career. His reward was a trade to the Mariners, where he'll move from second base to center field. The trade shouldn't impact Gordon's value much, as he'll continue to bat leadoff in front of a strong lineup. And with soon-to-be dual eligibility, Gordon's fantasy stock only rises.

Last year the knock on Carrasco was durability. Well, he posted 200 innings and was dynamite throughout the season. There is nothing holding him back now from being one of the top 10 pitchers in baseball.

It's rare that a 20-20 rookie season feels disappointing, but that's exactly how it was for Benintendi. Always a high-average hitter in the minors, Benintendi hit just .271, the lowest he has hit in any level. But all the signs are there that Benintendi will improve on his already impressive numbers this year. He dropped his strikeout-rate and upped his walk-rate significantly from his 2016 cup of coffee, and his numbers against lefties (.622 OPS) are bound to come up. That means that Benintendi's average is bound to rise, and so too will his already excellent counting stats. A breakout is likely coming, so buy in accordingly.

Encarnacion got off to a very rough start with the Indians, but in the end, he wound up with his standard stat line. He hit at least 34 home runs and tallied 98 RBI for the sixth consecutive season, his strikeout rate remained constant, and he actually set a career-high in walk rate (15.5%). In the end, there's little to suggest a decline is imminent, even as Encarnacion enters his age-35 season. With enough appearances at first base to retain eligibility at the position, Encarnacion can and should once again be valued as a strong fantasy option.

It took long enough, but the phenom finally broke out 10 years later. Last season, Upton went for 35 homers, 100+ runs, 100+ RBI and 14 steals. In fact, he got better as the season went on so don't be surprised to see him repeat his stellar campaign.

Cruz is now 37 years old so you might be inclined to think his career is well on the downturn, but he was actually superb again last year. He now has 40+ HR, 100+ RBI, 90 R and a .287 or higher average in 3 of the last 4 seasons.

We saw flashes of a true ace in 2015, and last year Severino proved he has the makings of a perennial Cy Young candidate. While he isn't on the same level as Kluber and Sale, it may only be a matter of time before he reaches them.

Both in his 49-game cameo in 2016 and his full season last year, Bregman got off to a painfully slow start before coming on strong in the latter part of the season. He carried over his excellent second half last year (.903 OPS) into the playoffs, where he became a household name with home runs in the World Series off of Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen. All the signs point to a breakout for the youngster, as his strong strikeout- and walk-rates, and his rare power-speed combination, make him an intriguing option. The problem is that Bregman is exactly the type of guy who will be on everyone's "breakout" list, and you'll likely need to pay a high price for him if you want him on your team.

Verlander was sensational once he moved to Houston, but doing that over a full season at the age of 35 is another story. While is a clearly a top 10 fantasy pitcher in drafts, his ceiling seems to be last among the group.

Somehow Davis has now batted exactly .247 each of the previous three seasons. That won't kill you if he repeats in 2018. This is among the most reliable sources for power and RBI, so put 40 HR and 100 RBI in ink if you add him.

While there may be much more depth at second base this year than in years past, the second tier is a bit bare. Schoop leads the pack thanks to elite power for the position and a reliable batting average from year to year.

You can say what you want about Archer's talent, and you may be right seeing that he has 230+ strikeouts in three straight seasons, but he also has never won more than 12 games and is coming off back to back seasons with an ERA north of 4.00 so make of that what you will.

Cano might not be the .320 hitter he was for most of his career, but you can still bet on .280 with 20+ homers and a bunch of runs and RBI. That should be enough to tempt you into snatching him in the first 70 picks.

Xander started to turn it around at the end of the season, but the final numbers looked quite bad. We have, however, see him hit .320 and score 115 runs with 20+ homers, so the potential is there for a top 20 fantasy season and he still is young enough to have not reached his full potential.

Many were proclaiming Buxton to be the breakout player of the year. It just so happens that he needed a few months to figure the league out like another former top overall prospect, Mike Trout. Now clearly Buxton is not nor will ever be on Trout's level, but he was superb in the second half, batting .300 with 11 homers, 13 steals, 40 runs and 35 RBIs in just 207 at bats. We have not even seen the youngster in his prime. Perhaps this year he stretches it out to 25 HR and 40 stolen bases.

After a disappointing 2016, Kimbrel bounced right back to being among the best relievers in the sport. His 126 Ks a 0.681 WHIP are virtually video game numbers. He is a top 3 closer in baseball again this year.

Andrus has now gone nine consecutive seasons stealing at least 20 bases. He is a near-lock to play 150+ games and pile up the runs scored while helping you quite a bit in batting average. Even the power came on last season!

Segura seems to be a steady .300 hitter all of a sudden the past few years. If he had stayed healthy all year, he likely would have hit 15 homers with near 30 steals. That is a quality middle infielder in a time where offensive shortstops don't grow on trees.

Cabrera had the worst season of his career by far, batting just .249 and hitting just 16 home runs. He battled back and hip injuries for pretty much the entire season, and although he tried to play through them, he was clearly not the same player. His jump in strikeout rate and drop in walk rate suggests that age may also be catching up to the slugger as he enters his age-35 season. But Cabrera has had down years before (i.e., 2015) and bounced back with superb seasons, so it's probably unwise to write him off completely. But the days of needing to take him with an early pick appear to be over.

You may be impressed by his reputation and the 2.90 ERA accompanied by 14 wins. His WHIP is solid as always, but the strikeouts are non-existent and let's not forget that he had a rough 2016. His ceiling is capped by the K's and his floor is actually a bit risky.

While it's true that Aroldis is officially a human, that doesn't mean we should expect his disappointing season to repeat in 2018. Rather, he looks like a safe bet for 30+ saves and 100+ Ks on top of solid ratios.

Paxton has shown hints of being an ace, but in the second half last season, he emerged as one of the best arms in baseball. If he can finally stay on the mound for more than 150 innings, we may be talking about a Cy Young contender. Think Carlos Carrasco this time last year.

You may have missed this one, but Whit actually led the American League with 34 steals last season. He also added some power to his game to accompany a .286 career average. If you are waiting on second base, Whit will be a great option.

Odor is a good lesson in how important batting average can be. The fact that the young second baseman topped 30 homers yet again and added 15 steals to boot should make him a desirable fantasy commodity. But a .204 batting average and his inability to get on base generally has taken the shine of Odor this season. That batting average, however, is bound to come up, as a player with Odor's speed who does not hit the ball in the air at an egregious rate should do much better than a .224 BABIP. If he can raise his batting average to just the .230 range, which would still be well below average, the effect on his overall numbers would leave him as a top-10 second baseman, without question. Draft him with those expectations.

At this point, it seems as though the now 39-year-old Beltre might play until he is 50. He is still cruising along with a .312 batting average and a pro-rated 30+ HR, 100+ RBI rate over a full season. Draft away still in the top 100.

You cannot find five hitters in all of baseball with more power than Sano. We haven't seen it fully realized quite yet, but he is still just 24 and hasn't played more than 120 games in his career. If he does this year, don't be startled if he knocks 45 out of the yard with a healthy batting average and a load of RBIs.

Osuna's ERA ended at 3.38 last year which is not ideal, but he is among the best closers in baseball and still just 23 years old. You can count on him for a stellar WHIP , 35+ saves and 80 Ks.

We saw an amazing hitter at times and a 20-year-old who wasn't ready at others. I can't quite tell you which Devers we will see in 2017, but know that the upside is that of a superstar and the floor is that he gets sent back down to the minors for more tuning up.

Price struggled at times last year, but he nearly matched his career ERA, WHIP and K/9 so don't be so quick to assume he is done. We may again see the top 10 pitcher he once was.

Everything Cole gains in picking up likely 5 more wins with the Astros is cancelled out with the hit his ratios should see moving way from Pittsburgh's pitcher-friendly environment. Expect a near repeat performance from him as a borderline top 100 overall player this year.

Seager went from being the most consistent hitter in all of fantasy baseball to the most consistent hitter with an odd BABIP-induced drop in his batting average. Expect his usual 25 HR, .270 BA and 90 RBI this season.

Every year, there are a handful of quality starting pitchers who completely bust for whatever reason. Last year, it seemed as though Tanaka would be another example when he posted a 5.47 ERA in 102 first half innings. In the second half, however, everything turned around. Sure, his 3.77 ERA was pedestrian, but his underlying metrics lined up with the best in all of baseball. In fact, his 2.83 xFIP was third behind only Corey Kluber and Chris Sale. While there is a chance Tanaka falls back into whatever funk he was in a 10 months ago, you've got to be encouraged as a potential fantasy owner at the filthy metrics he posted to close the season.

Yes, the batting average is disgusting and will almost certainly remain that way, but you can't easily replace the 40 to 50 homers we should expect this year. Plus, we have to consider that he got substantially better each year in the minors so growth in the BA department can't be ruled out.

A former top prospect, Smoak was largely forgotten in fantasy circles heading into last season. But he exploded for 38 home runs, setting career highs across the board. The only truly dramatic change in Smoak's underlying numbers was a significant decrease in strikeout rate, which seemed to come from a legitimate effort by him to lay off on pitches outside the strike zone. Though it's always a worry to rely on a breakout season from a 30-year-old, Smoak's profile suggest that his gains are legitimate and repeatable.

If Lance McCullers wins the pitching triple crown, it would likely surprise no one. With that said, we saw how terrible he can be at times. Just be sure you realize the risk you are taking if you add him in fantasy drafts this year.

Adam Jones does not steal bases anymore, but he is one of the games most durable players and a safe source of power and a useful batting average.

Castellanos has consistently been a batted ball outlier in the fact that his data screams for positive regression. For whatever reason, it hasn't quite happened yet, but a 30 HR, .290 season with 100+ RBI may be right around the corner.

Giles had a rough 2016, but bounced rigt back to being one of the top 5 closers in baseball last year. His WHIP likely won't be under 1.00, but you can bet on 80+ Ks and 30+ saves.

Olson played in only 59 games with the A's last year, but hit an incredible 24 home runs in that span. Although there's little reason to doubt his status as a power hitter, his HR/FB rate was an unsustainable 41.4% last season, meaning dreams of him hitting 50-plus home runs are likely unrealistic. Still, Olson should provide plenty of pop, along with a mediocre batting average and tons of strikeouts. Although his skillset isn't particularly unique, he should provide decent fantasy value in 2018, particularly in rotisserie formats.

For a while, Moose seemed like a bust, but he has been improving each year lately and suddenly became a 38 HR masher in 2018. With him finally signing, he becomes a fringe top 100 pick. It would have been substantially better had he landed in the Bronx.

Allen has been the same pitcher now for five straight seasons so we have a pretty strong idea of what to expect: 30+ saves, 2.70 ERA and 90+ Ks. That's a clear-cut top-10 closer.

As is true with most closers, Diaz has gone through some rough spells, but overall, the 23-year-old has been spectacular and may only get better from here.

Didi won't steal you any bases, but shorstops with 20+ HR and a .275+ batting average don't grow on trees and that's what he'll give you.

If Ohtani wasn't coming off an injury riddled season and expected to be capped in his usage, you could make a case for him being similar to Luis Severino. With that said, the question marks are there so don't jump out of the seat of your pants expecting a Cy Young right away. His bat is unlikely to be ready, so maybe .260 with a dozen homers in 200 to 300 at bats.

Rosario has been generating some hype around the industry and for good reason. He knocked 27 homers and stole 9 bases with a .290 batting average last season and likely hasn't reached his ceiling. He is a quality mid-round pickup this season.

Mazara hasn't found his potential yet, but he is still just 22 years old and drove in 101 runs last season. Don't be shocked if he swats 35 out of the yard this year with a .270 batting average.

Berrios was not a dominant fantasy asset last season, but he has shown enough that it is not out of the realm of possibility for him to pull a Luis Severino on the AL this season as a 24-year-old.

Kinsler is a bit old and his batting average plummeted, but the batted ball rates indicate he should be back around .270 this season, which when paired with 20 HR, 15 SB is a quality second basemen.

Gardner was one of many examples of the fly ball revolution that took place last year. He jumped from 7 to 21 homers while retaining his streak of 5 straight seasons with 20+ steals. While the batting average is merely mediocre, that power-speed combo will help out in the mid rounds of drafts.

Gray had a miserable 2016 season, but bounced back admirably last year with a 3.55 ERA and 153 strikeouts. While he likely won't ever be more than a #3 SP again, those kind of numbers could net him 15 wins pitching in front of that Yankees lineup.

Stroman somehow only has 37 wins in his career despite always throwing a ton of innings and offering solid ratios. That number may come up, but his strikeouts are likely capped at 160, making him a safe play without much upside.

There are some major holes in Moncada's screen, as indicated in his 54 game sample size last year, but his ceiling is enormous. We could be talking about a 20/40 fantasy player if he realizes his potential. There is substantial bust-potential, though, so draft at your own risk.

There is much to love about Kiermaier's game as a whole, but it doesn't quite carry over to fantasy baseball. Sure, he could steal 25 bases, but without much in the way of power, plus he carries just a .262 career batting average. On top of that, he plays reckless enough that injuries seem to follow him around.

You may look at Bauer's 5.24 ERA in the first-half and see that he went 10-2 with a 3.01 in the second-half, but he was actually every bit as good in the first-half in terms of underlying metrics. Rather, he just had some bad luck. This may be the year we finally get a top 30 starting pitcher out of him with 220+ Ks.

Colome led the AL with 47 saves last year, but the ratios were mediocre and he doesn't strike many batters out. Seeing that the Rays are forfeiting their season, 40+ saves seems unlikely in 2018.

Mancini quietly had an extremely productive season for the Orioles, batting .293 with 24 home runs. Although his HR/FB rate was a bit high for his profile (19.8%, 29th-best among qualified hitters), little in his underlying metrics suggested that his season was unsustainable. Batting in an excellent hitter's park in Camden Yards atop an above-average lineup, Mancini should once again deliver solid counting stats and decent all-around numbers in 2018.

Duffy has shown flashes of being an excellent pitcher at times in his career. Last season, he was merely mediocre however, so realize there is a bit of risk with this pick and a small ceiling in regards to wins.

Outside of Kenley Jansen, there has been no better reliever in all of baseball over the past few seasons. He is a near-lock to strikeout 90+ with unbelievable ratios, but don't expect more than 5 saves.

Richards has been limited to just 62 1/3 innings over the past two seasons, as arm injuries have derailed his promising career to this point. Now fully healthy, he makes an intriguing pick on draft day. Armed with elite velocity and both a plus-slider and a plus-curveball, Richards is a master at limiting hard contact. With an improved Angels lineup, Richards should be in line for plenty of wins with solid peripherals if -- and that is the key word -- if he can stay healthy. His troubling injury history should keep his price under control, but he offers nearly as much upside as anyone going in the late rounds.

You might not have noticed, but Garcia batted .330 last season with 18 homers. While those numbers will certainly be difficult to attain again in 2018, it is worth noting that he improved as the season went on so it may not have been a fluke.

Marwin broke out in the first-half last season with a top 10 OPS in all of baseball. He took a step backward after the all-star break but was still more than a quality fantasy asset. The concern will be playing time, as Derek Fisher and others are breathing down his neck.

Davis had nearly a carbon copy season to his dreadful 2014, and he was essentially unplayable in fantasy. Never one to make much contact, Davis's strikeout rate ballooned to a league-worst 37.2%, and he simply could not hit lefties at even his usual anemic rate. Davis's skillset doesn't play well in the new environment where 35 home runs simply does not mean what it used to. He's still young enough to bounce back, and he obviously did so after his similar 2014 season. But he's much more of a late-round flyer than anything else.

The Rangers appear to be set on DeShields opening the season as a starter. If he can stick around in the lineup, 40+ steals is a virtual certainty. He won't provide a lick of power, but the batting average will be above league average.

Fulmer may produce solid ratios, but the strikeouts are non-existent and you can't even bank on 10 wins considering the Tigers' lineup he will be pitching in front of.

Gattis missed tons of time with injuries last season, playing just a bit more than half a season, but his poor performance wasn't just about his missed time. His power output shrank significantly, as he hit just 12 home runs and posted his lowest HR/FB rate of his career. But there were positive signs, too, as Gattis posted a career-low 15.4 percent strikeout rate. For his 2018 outlook, the most important thing is that with Carlos Beltran's retirement, it appears that Gattis should get most of the at-bats at DH, which should keep him in the lineup most days and lead to good health. Considering that the entire league saw an uptick in power last year, Gattis' low home-run totals should probably be considered a one-off and blamed on his injuries. If fully healthy coming into Spring Training, getting back to the 30-homer plateau should be well within reach.

Morton had a surprising start last year (3.82 ERA, .250 BAA, 9.7 K/9), but he never regressed back to his mediocre level we had seen for years. In fact, he kicked it up a few more notches, posting a .210 BAA with 10.3 K/9. In fact, he was among the best pitchers in the playoffs as well. He is going for cheap, but may just be one of the top 25 pitchers in all of baseball.

Long gone are the days where Choo will bat .300 or even help you at all in average, but he is still swatting 20 homers a year with double-digit steals and near 100 runs every season. That is well worth a mid-round price.

Although he was sidelined late in the season with a strained intercostal muscle, Perez had perhaps his finest fantasy season, posting a career-high 27 home runs and 80 RBI. His power spike was significant (his .227 ISO was nearly 40 points higher than his previous season-best), but even if he goes back to his career norms, the fact remains that he has now topped 20 home runs three years in a row. Yes, you can count on him slumping hard in the second half, but on draft day, he should be considered just a tick behind the truly elite names.

Herrera used to be among the best relievers in baseball, but last season he was merely mediocre. He may be the lock at closer, but the Royals might not even provide 30 save opportunities this season.

Nunez was an all-star two years ago, but was actually better last season, driving his batting average up to .313 and swatting 12 homers with 24 steals in just 114 games. He may reach 20 and 35 this season if he can stay healthy.

Zimmer ended the season batting ust .241 with a .692 OPS, but he showed flashes of the type of fantasy player he can be. While he may be risky, don't be shocked if he posts a .270 BA with 20 HR and 35 steals as this year's breakout player of the season.

It is remarkable how far Kipnis has fallen after batting .275 with 23 HR, 15 SB, 90+ runs and 80+ RBI in 2016. Just know that while last year was a disaster, he isn't far enough removed from those numbers to discount a significant bounceback. Plus, he has been killing it in Spring Training, which may not mean much, but has to be a little encouraging.

Snell's strikeout rates dropped last season and his ERA went up, but that doesn't mean he is a bust. Rather, let's try to remember that he was recently the minor league pitcher of the year and has substantial untapped potential that may show it's face this season.

Last season, Haniger got off to a great start, but he missed 60 games and many appear to have lost of impressive he is. The struggled in Spring Training have only multiplied that, but he should be a reliable source of power and average late in drafts.

Bundy's ERA wasn't where fantasy owners would have wanted to see it, but over the course of the season, his peripheral numbers looked more and more like the #2 pitcher the Orioles were hoping he would eventually become.

Ramos missed the majority of 2017 recovering from a torn ACL he had suffered the year prior and, as a whole, underwhelmed on the season, with just a .737 OPS in 64 games. But his poor numbers were largely the result of a terrible start as he shook off the rust. He rebounded in August to bat .274, and then truly rounded into form in September when he batted .317 with five home runs and a .600 slugging percentage. His last two months are more in line with what we can expect from Ramos this year in a full season with the Rays. He's certainly below the elite tier of catcher, but he should be one of the few reliable options at the position in 2018.

Everyone remembers the hitting streak and that many were calling for him to be a future star, but he's got a career batting average of .239 and his best tool is his mediocre power so be careful with the lingering hype surrounding him.

Anderson traded batting average for some pop last season and offers fantasy owners 20/20 potential this year in the middle infield.

Simmons is without question the best defensive shortstop in the world, but his bat was also quite good last season. He batted .278 with 14 homers and 19 stolen bases. He is just now coming into the prime of a hitter's career so don't be so quick to dismiss him as a fluke.

Everyone and their grandma knew Danny Salazar had front of the rotation stuff, but he had a rough first half thanks to a sore shoulder in June. When he came back, he was as good as ever, placing second in baseball with 12.8 K/9 over the second half and a 3.00 ERA. There is plenty of risk if you draft him, but the upside is that of a Cy Young winner, and I don't throw that term around lightly.

It was a tale of two seasons for Treinen, as he flopped when given the closer's role for the Nationals, but then excelled in the role after his trade to the Athletics. Treinen didn't pitch all that well with the Nationals, but he was incredibly unlucky given his BABIP when combined with his 60.5% ground ball rate. His numbers with Oakland (2.13 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, strikeout rate above 20%) are more indicative of what owners can expect. The A's are mediocre, of course, but that shouldn't stop Treinen from being a fine relief option late in drafts.

Brantley finally looked healthy last season and while another injury might be right around the corner, he offers .310 BA upside with 15 homers and 15 stolen bases which is a near-impossible combo to find late in drafts.

There may have been no starting pitcher who killed more fantasy teams last year than Gausman in the first-half. In the second, however, he was right in line with the top 15 starting pitchers in baseball and that would also be his upside this season.

Semien missed half the season and still managed double-digit steals and homers. While he likely won't bat .260, getting both power and speed from a shortstop is a rare combo.

You may not have noticed, but Cozart broke away from his typical .250 BA and lackluster power to become a .300 hitter with plenty of pop last season. He won't be playing in the Great American Ballpark this year, and he is now a third basemen, but should still be worth rostering in fantasy leagues.

After a resurgent 2016, Ramirez disappointed last season, hitting just 23 home runs and batting a career-low .242. There was certainly some noise in Ramirez's numbers, as he batted just .179 against lefties after hammering them his whole career, and the underlying metrics, such as his increased line-drive percentage, suggested that he saw his fair share of bad luck. Still, Ramirez is 34 years old at this point and has earned his draft position just once in the last four seasons. While another rebound season is certainly possible, it's not worth wasting significant draft capital on.

Reddick has been consistently improving his batting average each season, all the way up to the .314 he gave us in 2017. The issue with him is whether the Astros will hold of Derek Fisher for his behalf. If they do, Reddick may be a draft day steal.

For the second straight season, Pomeranz posted an ERA below 3.40. He isn't going to strike out 220 batters, nor will his WHIP be a major help, but in front of that Red Sox lineup, he should be a reliable source of wins.

It took Gurriel a while to get going after a few seasons away from baseball, but he ended the season batting .299 with enough homers, RBIs and runs make him a worthwhile mid-round first basemen if he can get off the disabled list quick enough to get 450+ at bats.

Alonso wasted away to begin his career in San Diego after being recognized as a top prospect. He joined the fly ball revolution last season, swatting 28 homers and scoring 70 runs. Now that he is out of a pitcher's park and into Cleveland, which plays just fine for hitters, we may just see 30+ bombs from him.

Bird looked like a breakout candidate after a big spring training, but a late ankle injury got his season off to a terrible start, before he finally missed a large chunk of the season with the injury. When he returned, however, he showed how dynamic he could be, hitting eight home runs over his final 29 games and playing well in the postseason. Bird should be the everyday first baseman and, given the Yankees' lineup and home park, and Bird's performance to close out the season, he should once again be a prime breakout candidate heading into 2018.

Until last season, Morrison had never topped 500 at bats or 25 homers, but he earned himself a full-time gig and broke out for 38 homers. Even if he takes a step backward, 30 homers with a .240 batting average is nothing to sneeze at with a late pick, and his power might actually improve with the home ballpark change.

Clevinger is officially in the rotation to start the season and may just be the steal of fantasy drafts this year. He was a top 15 pitcher when he was on the mound for 21 starts last season and might strikeout 220 this year if he has the chance from Cleveland.

Despite his advancing age, Castillo had a fine, though injury-plagued season last year with the Orioles, hitting a career-high 20 home runs in just 96 games. Though he clearly benefited from playing in Camden Yards, his underlying numbers, including his strikeout rate and hard-contact percentage, remained right in line with his career-marks, suggesting that his strong season was anything but a fluke. Though he'll leave the friendly confines of Baltimore, he'll find himself in another hitter-friendly home venue with the White Sox in Guaranteed Rate Field. That suggests that Castillo should be able to put up similar numbers to last year's, and he could be an excellent option at the catcher position if he can manage to stay healthier.

After two productive seasons to begin his career, Piscotty's numbers dropped off last season as he dealt with personal issues. Now that he is in the Bay Area with his sick mother, don't be surprised if he returns to 20+ homers, a .270 BA and 80+ runs and RBI.

Calhoun isn't a sexy pick by any means, but he always provides 75+ runs, 75+ RBI and 17+ HR with a batting average that won't kill you. You could do much worse late into drafts.

Zunino finally reminded everyone why he was such a heralded prospect, hitting 25 home runs with an .840 OPS in just 435 plate appearances last season. But the idea that Zunino has truly figured things out seems far-fetched, as he struck out nearly 37 percent of the time, the highest mark of his career. That number, as well as his inflated BABIP of .355, suggests that his passable batting average of .251 last season is simply unrepeatable. Unlike previous seasons, Zunino likely bought himself some time heading into this year, and so he probably won't be immediately sent down if he reverts back to his ways of a sub-.200 batting average. But don't buy in completely, and only move on Zunino if you have a strong batting average team otherwise and are in a shallow league where replacement level catchers will be available.

Hamels really struggled for the first time in his career in 2017. He failed to reach 200 innings pitched for the first time since 2009, saw his strikeout rate dip to a career low, and had a 4.20 ERA (with a 4.62 FIP and 4.83 xFIP). Father time eventually catches up to everyone not named David Ortiz, and in light of Hamels' decreased velocity, it certainly appears on the surface that it has finally caught up to him. Still, even with his struggles, he had just a 1.20 WHIP, and a crafty veteran like Hamels probably still has tricks up his sleeve. But he's much more of a back-end-of-the-rotation starter, and you probably shouldn't expect that much from him in 2018.

Over the past three seasons, Morales has averaged 27 homers, 95 RBI and a .265 batting average. If he can come close to maintaining that in his age 35 season this year, you've got yourselves a steal to fill your bench late in drafts.

Brach was a fine waiver-wire pickup last year, filling in for Zach Britton and totaling 18 saves. Unfortunately, the rest of his numbers weren't quite up to his usual standards, especially in the second half when his control left him. Still, he did enough to show he could handle the closer's role, and he'll be thrust right back into the job in 2018 given Britton's Achilles injury. The exact timetable for Britton is unclear, but even if he's back by late-May or early-June, that is plenty of time for Brach to provide fantasy owners with value. Draft him expecting 15 saves or so as the floor, and there's upside for more if Britton has any setbacks in his recovery.

It may be tempting to assume Trumbo's career is on the backend and that his 23 HR, .234 BA are now the new expectation, but don't be so quick to forget that he led baseball with 47 homers in 2016 and a bounceback, while not likely, is by no means out of the question.

Faria was impressive in his 86 inning big league debut, but there is much more potential to be tapped into. Last season before his call up, Faria was striking out an unbelievable 12.9 batter per nine innings. He' got 200 K upside with a low-3's ERA if he gets enough innings.

It may not feel good to draft a boring arm like J.A. Happ, but the matter of the fact is that if you need a safe source of wins and low ratios, he might be your best option late into drafts. He should provide a mid 3's ERA with at least a dozen wins.

With Byron Buxton roaming around in centerfield, Lynn has the potential to see his ADP jump to make him a top 60 fantasy SP.

Manaea looked sharp in the first ha;f and has showed a great deal of promise at times in his career. Taking the wrong medications derailed his season, though, so you'll be able to get a discount on draft day for a quality pitcher.

Hicks hasn't been able to play more than 400 plate appearances once in his 5-year career, but last season showed plenty of fantasy upside. He hit 15 homers and stole 10 bases in just 301 at bats. If he can stay healthy, we are looking at a 25/20 player.

Grichuk's ribs are banged up, but even if he misses opening day, he should be back and ready to go in no time. He possesses 30+ home run type of pop if he can stay in the Blue Jays' lineup all season.

After being dealt to Baltimore last summer, Beckham broke out to hit .306 with 10 HR in 50 games. No one is expecting him to keep that pace, but if he bats .280 with 20 homers, that would be well worth a late-round pick.

Kepler has crazy potential but hasn't quite put it together yet. You may get the .243 BA with limited power and speed we saw last year, or he may end up as the top breakout of the season. He is a risky pick, but there isn't much to lose by drafting him late.

We won't pretend it is likely that Pujols will bounce back as a 38 year old, but it is entirely possible considering he hit 31 and 40 homers in two of the past three seasons. Even if he just sustains his recent production, 100+ RBI, 20 HR and a .240 BA is well worth owning in fantasy baseball.

The Angels seem to be going with the inferior Bedrosian as their closer to begin the season, but if he slips up one bit, you can bet on Parker taking over again. If and when he is the closer, he is a top 15 reliever in baseball.

Bouncing back to Cy Young form is extremely unlikely for Porcello, but his 4.65 ERA last season and 17 losses were the product of much bad luck. He should return cloer to his career norm of a low 4's ERA with 12 to 15 wins.

Sanchez was only able to throw 36 innings last season and they weren't all that good. He does have a career 3.01 ERA, however, so if he can stay on the mound, we might get a big-time surprise late in drafts.

McCann's nine-season streak of at least 20 home runs was snapped last year, as injuries limited him to just 399 plate appearances and 18 home runs. There were warning signs for the veteran, such as a career-low in hard-contact rate, but overall, his numbers remained relatively consistent. He'll continue to sit against lefties, but his consistent power stroke and his place in a strong lineup keeps him as a definite starter in mixed leagues, even as he reaches the wrong end of the aging curve for catchers.

Most will flock to Giolito after posting a sparkling 2.38 ERA and sub 1.00 WHIP in 45 innings last year. After all, he was a former top 5 prospect, right? While that is true, it is not necessarily accurate to regard him as such at the time he re-entered the majors. Giolito may be 6'6" and 255 pounds, but he has lost several ticks off his fastball and no longer has the stuff to strike out 200 hitters in a season. In fact, last year his 6.8 K/9 was in the same range as Clayton Richard and Jason Vargas, which is a far cry from Cy Young territory.

The Twins are planning on using Rodney as their closer and saves are saves so go ahead and draft him late if you need to fill the category. That doesn't mean his role will last long, however, as Rodney is one of the worst closers entering the season.

Healy had a nice season for the A's and now averages 28 HR, 84 RBI, 75 R and a .282 batting average over his career per 162 games played. The problem here, is that he might start the season on the DL with a hand injury. If he is healthy, you'll end up with a late-round steal.

While Jordan Montgomery was not a big prospect, he possesses enough swing and miss stuff that he could take another leap forward this season. His ceiling isn't huge, but he is a safe bet to be a fantasy relevant pitcher and we just might get more.

 

Calhoun has the pop to win AL Rookie of the Year if the Rangers are wise enough to call him up some time soon. It is a risk to draft him and let him sit on your bench while you wait, but a risk worth taking at the end of your fantasy drafts.

Chapman is not only one of the league's best young defenders, but he's got some pop in his bat too. If you extend his 14 homers out to a full season, he would have knocked 27 with 75 runs and 77 RBI. The batting average will obviously hurt some, but the power more than makes up for it.

Betances likely won't be saving more than a handful of games, but even in last year's down season, he still managed 100 Ks and solid ratios. You can bet on the safety late in drafts if you need help in those three categories.

It seems as though the Astros will be forced to leave Peacock out of the starting rotation to open the season, but even with that being the case, he was so dominant out of the pen last year that he ought to be drafted. He also provides that rare SP eligibility for a relief pitcher than essentially gives you free quality innings.

Lucroy has dealt with injuries the last few seasons and although he is leaving Coors Field for Kansas City, he should still offer fantasy teams a quality batting average and mediocre pop making him a top-end second catcher in two-catcher leagues.

Robertson is the number three reliever for the Yanks so saves aren't in the cards, but he has been so good for quite a while that you can still rely on him to provide loads of strikeouts and both a terrific WHIP and ERA.

The Twins' opening day starter struggled through the second half of last season, but he is healthy now and set to return to posting the quality numbers we saw throughout his career. If you need a safe pitcher late into drafts, Odorizzi fits the bill.

 

 

Estrada has always had trouble preventing homers, but last year it was taken to a whole nother level, inflating his ERA from 3.48 to 4.98. He's got the upside to post strong numbers, but it comes with significant risk too.

Cobb has had trouble staying healthy through his career, but he did rack up 180 innings last season and the Orioles paid him a pretty penny this spring. He won't strike out too many hitters, but you can rely on useful ratios as always from Cobb.

 

If you are respecting a repeat of Santana'a mostly luck-driven 3.28 ERA and 16 wins, you are in for a rude awakening. He can still be a quality fantasy arm, however, when he returns to the Bigs off the DL in 2 months.

Apologies to Kenley Jansen, but Green was the best reliever in baseball during the second half after a rather dominant first half. Batters hit just .147 off him over the entire season and struck out in 45% of their at-bats. That is not a typo! The Yankees finally got wise and decided to put him in the rotation for 2018. There is, of course, some risk here, but he is going undrafted in most leagues. Buy yourself a lottery ticket and maybe just maybe you will end up with this year's breakout starter of the year.

The Angels have been grooming Bedrosian to be the closer from some time and he has shown considerable potential, but is not nearly as polished as Blake Parker who seems to be the best reliever in their bullpen. Apparently, Bedrosian is the favorite for the job though. Don't draft him as though it is locked into place, nor that if he has the job, he is bound to hang onto it for too long with Parker breathing down his neck.

 

The Rangers have not given a conclusive answer as to who their closer will be, but it is seeming more and more likely that Kela, the best man for the job, will be handed the role. If it happens, he would immediately become a top 15 reliever in baseball with even larger upside.

The power and speed are apparently gone for Pedroia at this stage in the career, but he was playing through an injury. With that said, he will miss the start of the year on the DL. When he returns, expect a batting average up near .300, plenty of runs and not much else.

 

Long gone are the days where Felix will pitch 240 innings, winning 20 games, but if he can remain healthy, 14 wins and useful ratios are a real possibility. His floor is high enough that drafting him late is hardly a risk at all.

The Red Sox aren't expected to get E-Rod back by the start of the season, but when he does return, they might have one of the sneakiest fantasy baseball pickups. At times, Rodriguez has shown SP #2 type upside and if he puts it together for a full season, he might strike out 200 batters with 15 wins and quality ratios some day.

Soria is slated to start the year as the White Sox closer, and while he was solid last year, Zack Burdi will be breathing down his neck in no time. Plus, Chicago shouldn't offer much in the way of save opportunities so his upside is limited.

Soler is a former top 10 prospect who has struggled in and out of injuries to start his career. He is still young, though, and swatted 6 homers in Spring Training so don't rule out a post-hype breakout. He is an excellent flyer late in drafts.

Walker is still looking for a big league team to join, but he is a quality enough player that one will eventually pay up to get him in the starting lineup. From there, we can expect him to continue his trend of hitting .260 over higher with about 15 runs.

If you are looking for a cheap source of steals late in drafts, look no further than Mallex who will be starting and batting leadoff with Dickerson out of the equation. He's got 40 steal upside and shouldn't kill your team batting average.

 

Duda's batting average killed fantasy owners last year, but he has managed 27+ homers in each of the last three seasons that he stayed healthy. That makes up for the batting average deficiencies and makes him a worthwhile fantasy bench bat.

 

The former shutdown closer is expected back in the first few months of the season but even when he comes back, he will need to be eased back into the closer role. Just know that if you draft him, you better be willing to keep a non-closer on your bench for muiltiple months and he might not even be the same pitcher after surgery.

Mauer won't hit homers or steal any bases, but he offers a likely .290 BA once again with 65+ runs and 65+ RBI. He doesn't qualify at catcher anymore, but that is plenty useful if you need a safe option to fill out your bench.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Had Solarte played a full season last year, he likely would have hit 22 or 23 homers. That was in Petco, so imagine what he may do playing his games in Toronto. 30 is a distinct possibility, and coming with a .267 career batting average, that is a very useful late-round fantasy pick.

Rodon struggled with his command after his return from injury, but eventually ironed it out. He's got top 20 starting pitcher upside this season if he can stay healthy and maintain that command all season.

Unless you are in a 15-team league or there is some odd manager hoarding catchers, there isn't much of a draw to select Martin because of how limited his ceiling is.

There is plenty of reason to be excited about Gleyber, who is a consensus top 5 prospect. With that said, he has just 81 at-bats above Double-A and is coming off of a significant injury so it might make sense for the Yankees to let him take his time in development before they call him up.

Polanco was suspended 80 games for PED use on 3/18 which means he should be avoided in drafts.

Leake has now given fantasy owners an ERA under 4.00 in four of his last five seasons. The strikeouts won't be there, but if you need a durable volume guy, Leake will do the trick.

You won't see the 24-year-old drafted in most standard leagues this year, but you can bet he will be a hot pickup after a few weeks of starting for the Tigers. Prior to last season, he was a top 100 prospect who always hit well in the minors. He was dealt to the Cubs and most people seem to have forgotten about him because he had a BABIP driven .265 BA in Triple-A before he was called-up. While Jeimer isn't a star in the making, Detroit may have another Travis Fryman on their hands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shoemaker broke out at the end of 2016 and was supposed to be a great late-round addition this time last year, but he only started 14 games and wasn't all that impressive. The upside is still there, but it comes with some risk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you've got a deep bench, Mejia is a terrific late-round flier to take a shot on. He's got the talent to force his way onto the Indians' opening day roster, and if he does, he will likely get 3B at bats while qualifying at catcher. Some have said he can bat .280 as a rookie with decent pop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You may be surprised to see this, but Colby Rasmus nearly had a .900 OPS last season. Granted, he didn't play all that much then retired, but the bat is still there and if he can stay on the field for the Orioles, he may prove to be a quality late-round investment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lopez was not impressive last season with a 4.72 ERA and just 30 Ks in 47 innings, but he offers considerable upside so if you are in a deep league, feel free to draft him as a late flier.

Tulo missed nearly 100 games last season and struggled while he was on the field, but try to remember that he managed to swat 24 homers and drove in 79 in just 490 at-bats during the 2016 season. If he can stay healthy are return to form, he still possesses top 10 fantasy upside at the shortstop position.

 

 

The Angels are experimenting with a six-man rotation so don't expect much in the way of innings, but Skaggs still has untapped potential and could take a big leap forward this year if he can stay on the mound.

 

 

 

 

Kahnle would need a total Yankees disaster to get save opportunities as he is either fourth or fifth in line for New York. Still, his stuff is good enough that we should be looking at one of the top non-closers in baseball again this season.

 

 

 

 

 

He is a former top 20 prospect who despite already having two major league seasons under his belt, is still just 22 years old. He has struggled thus far in less than 200 MLB at-bats, but in that time he has stolen a base 30% of the time he got on. To put that into perspective, that is the same rate as Trea Turner and barely behind Billy Hamilton. While it won't matter much if Mondesi never gets on, it is worth noting that he did bat .305 last year in Triple-A. That isn't all though, Mondesi also carried a .234 ISO which measures raw power. Anthony Rizzo had the same exact .234 line in the bigs. Mondesi is a legitimate power/speed threat like his old man who was a multi-time 30/30 guy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heaney has only given L.A. 27 innings over the past two seasons because of injury and is again nursing an elbow injury, but if he can get on the bound, we may see an ERA around 3.5 with quite a few wins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the Yankees having traded for Brandon Drury, it seems unlikely that Andujar will arrive in Yankee Stadium for a few months. With that said, he has enough talent to push the envelope so make sure to watch his progress just in case he steals the job outright.