NL LABR Reserve Round Picks

Earlier this week, I examined some of the reserve round picks in the AL LABR auction. Today, I’ve moved to the NL auction. To put it simply, the player talent took a significant step down from the AL options. So many players were rostered who will never make it to the majors this season or are just plain bad. For example, Nomar Mazara, who has yet to sign with a team and never had a productive major league season, was rostered.

Here are all the reserve picks

Thoughts

• Alcides Escobar: I would have laughed this pick to death, but he played in 75 games last season. I think Luis García, who is projected to be a way better hitter (.319 wOBA vs .283 wOBA), will get the bulk of playing time at shortstop.

• Austin Adams: High strikeout, high walk reliever. He’s going to have to get the walks down (6.1 BB/9 for his career) until any team would trust him as a closer.

• Bailey Falter: He had some good strikeout (9.1 K/9) and walk (1.6 BB/9) numbers but got hit around (.315 BABIP, 1.3 HR/9) for a bullpen arm.

• Cade Cavalli: He’s making several top-100 prospect lists, but his 5.4 BB/9 in AA and 4.7 BB/9 in AAA have me scared off. He’s going to have to start throwing strikes to garner any mixed league consideration.

• Caleb Kilian: Unlike many of the other prospect arms drafted, Kilian doesn’t walk a batter every other inning (1.1 BB/9).

• Colton Welker: If he can play regularly, he could hit 20 or so home runs with a Colorado boosted batting average.

• Dauri Moreta: A flyball heavy reliever who throws half his game in Great American Small Park. I’d rather take a chance on other bullpen arms before him.

• Erick Fedde: A 5.47 ERA is scaring away most fantasy managers, but his 18.4% K%-BB% was the 38th best over the last two months. Some late-season changes (e.g. pitch mix, velocity) led to the improvement. A steal.

• Francisco Perez: The Nationals claimed Perez because they needed some pitching depth. One of the fantasy managers added him for no good reason.

• Greg Allen: The Pirates outfield is crowded, so I’m not sure if/when Allen will get many chances to show off his fast legs and weak bat.

• Guillermo Heredia: In 347 PA with Atlanta, he had 5 HR, 0 SB, and a .220 AVG. Hard pass.

• Hans Crouse: Crouse performed great in AA with an ERA of around 3.00 and wasn’t burnt by his low 30% GB%. That luck ended in AAA and the majors when he allowed 3 HR in 11 IP. I ran comps on his pitches with the slider and change being acceptable but the fastball being … not good.

• Harold Ramirez: Of the $1 to $3 adds, I’m not sure why Ramirez wasn’t one of them. He should at least have a part-time job with the Cubs. And his Steamer600 projection is a nice 18 HR, 5 SB, and a .284 AVG.

• Henry Davis: There is no way the Pirates are going to promote Davis this season, even though he was last season’s first overall pick. Wasted reserve selection.

• Jake McCarthy: A power-speed only option (16 HR and 27 SB with Steamer 600) but might not be a good enough hitter (projected sub-.700) for regular MLB at-bats.

• MacKenzie Gore: I’ve given up any hope of him becoming a viable fantasy starter.

• Matt Beaty: Maybe I should be more enthusiastic about a 28-year-old replacement-level backup outfielder, but I’m not.

• Matthew Liberatore: The pitching prospect threw 124 IP in AAA with a 4.04 RA and 8.9 K/9. He’s likely to see some time in the majors, but I don’t see him as much of a difference-maker. Mixed league streaming option.

• Miguel Vargas: An intriguing 22-year-old prospect who has 23 HR, 11 SB, and .300+ AVG in the minors last season. While it may be tough for him to break into the Dodgers lineup, his balanced approach could possibly keep him in it.

• Miguel Yajure: I’ve never heard of him. I go and check why. A 91 mph fastball. Struggles to strike MLB batters out (6.6 K/9). Walked too many batters (4.2 BB/9).

• Mike Brosseau: I’m going into the season, assuming he’ll be stealing all of Rowdy Tellez’s at-bats against lefties

Name: Career OPS vs RHP, vs LHP
Brosseau: .619, .851
Tellez: .775, .755

• Mitch White: In my opinion, he should have been added during the auction portion. While he bounced around to and from the minors and to and from the bullpen, he posted a 3.66 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 9.5 K/9.

• Nick Gonzales: Another Pirate prospect and this one hasn’t even been to AA. Hard pass.

• Spencer Strider: Normally a starter, but the Braves used him in two major league innings as a reliever where he showed off his 98-mph fastball.

• TJ Friedl: He’s made it to the majors with a Steamer600 projection of 17 HR, 14 SB, and a .260 AVG. If he gets full-time at-bats for the Reds, he’s worth adding.

• Tyler Beede: A dart throw after only throwing 1 IP in 2020 and 2021 combined. His fastball velocity averaged 95.8 mph in that inning and comps to the following uninspiring pitches: