The first inning of any spring training game should come with tempered expectations, but I always find myself like the kid in the bleachers whose parents thought it would be a good idea to just get the ice cream out of the way before the first pitch is thrown. With a chocolate-smeared face and wide eyes, I find myself taking in every pitch as if I’ll never see another game again. So, maybe that’s why my reaction to Clarke Schmidt’s first inning against the Phillies motivated me to write about the Yankee righty, or maybe, he’s a pitcher that should be on your radar in keeper and dynasty leagues. Let me preface this article with the mutual understanding that I am not a prospects guy, I’m just a kid watching from the bleachers taking in the sunshine with chocolate on my face, excited to see baseball again.
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With drafts beginning to ramp up, it is important to monitor where players are being drafted on a regular basis. Throughout draft season, I will be doing that work for you with regular updates on the Average Draft Position on NFBC up until Opening Day. You can find all the pieces in this series here. Read the rest of this entry »
With drafts beginning to ramp up, it is important to monitor where players are being drafted on a regular basis. Throughout draft season, I will be doing that work for you with regular updates on the Average Draft Position on NFBC up until Opening Day. You can find all the pieces in this series here.
As we hit peak draft season, it is important to monitor where players are being drafted on a regular basis. Throughout draft season, I will be doing that work for you with regular updates on the Average Draft Position on NFBC up until Opening Day. Read the rest of this entry »
As we hit peak draft season, it is important to monitor where players are being drafted on a regular basis. Throughout draft season, I will be doing that work for you with regular updates on the Average Draft Position on NFBC up until Opening Day.
With draft season upon us, it is important to monitor where players are being drafted on a regular basis. Throughout draft season, I will be doing that work for you with regular updates on the Average Draft Position on NFBC up until Opening Day. You can find all the pieces in this series here.
Top 100 Players Rising
Will Smith (+10.98)- As will be repeated over and over again in this article, closer prices have been on the rise all draft season and it is no different for Smith. Smith is coming off of a great season in which he saved 37 games with a 3.44 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. He is one of the few closers that seems to be entrenched in the role, so with all the uncertainty at the position, he deserves to be going high.
Jordan Romano (+10.32)- Like Smith, Romano is rising after coming off of a great season in which he saved 23 games for the Blue Jays. There is no real competition for the role on the team, but the Blue Jays could be a team that shops for bullpen help in free agency or via trade once the CBA is finalized, so I would be careful about over investing in him.
Top 100 Players Falling
None
Top 200 Players Rising
Blake Treinen (+12.97)- Treinen is rising as he appears to be the de facto closer in Los Angeles with Jansen now a free agent. However, the Dodgers could re-sign Jansen, trade for Kimbrel, or pick up a different free agent closer. I like Treinen a lot if he is the guy, but there is a lot we don’t know about the situation.
Taylor Rogers (+25.49)- Rogers is rising like a lot of closers, but this one is really risky. I like Rogers a lot, but he finished the year on the IL and the Twins had been looking to trade him at the deadline last season. Chances are that Minnesota moves him prior to the start of the season or in season which would likely make him a set up guy in a different location.
Top 200 Players Falling
Top 300 Players Rising
Lucas Sims (+17.19)- Sims’ rise is indicative of the general rise at the position. Sims is the assumed bullpen leader in Cincy in spite of the fact he saved his last game on June 16th. The Reds spread the save opportunities around last year with 10 pitchers registering at least one save and no pitcher getting more than eight. I don’t expect thi to change much, so if I am investing in the Reds bullpen, it will be on the cheaper options like Art Warren or Amir Garrett.
Jake McGee (+23.23)- The last time I checked in on the relief pitching ADPs, McGee was falling in response to Doval rising. Now Doval is dropping and McGee is rising. I think that there is not a ton of clarity to the Giants bullpen, but good news is that Gabe Kapler is pretty honest about his bullpen usage, so once spring training gets going, we should have a good idea of who is closing.
Top 300 Players Falling
Dylan Floro (-11.17)- It is a bit surprising to see Floro drop considering all the other closing options are rising. I think it likely has to do with the thought that the Marlins may try and bring in a free agent closer like Jansen or Colome. I don’t know if I should buy that to be honest. The Marlins are furthering their rebuild and a high-priced closer doesn’t make a ton of sense right now. I think they could roll with Floro who was great in the role last season.
Ken Giles (-14.68)- Giles is dropping because of the plethora of options in the Seattle bullpen. Giles hasn’t pitched since tearing his UCL after 3.2 innings pitched in 2020. While there is a ton of upside, chances are that even if he is healthy and ready to go, it will be a committee in Seattle.