2019 Fantasy Baseball Draft Outline – Who To Target And When

It’s draft season, which means you better get prepped before you’re on the clock without an idea of who you should pick. Lucky for you (and everyone with whom I’m in a league), I’m going to outline my entire draft plan for 2019, from whom I’m targeting in each round to which positions I’m focusing on getting early in the draft and those on which to wait. All my favorite players are here in one place for each position, with a round-by-round outline at the end.

Before we begin, there are a few things to note:

• This outline is meant for a redraft, 12-teamer 5×5 league with 23 rounds. It still applies to most variants, but obviously, it’s not a one-size-fits-all.
• I have purposefully left some holes because drafts are fluid creatures that need affection and constant attention to nail down just right.
• Don’t follow this so rigidly that when Carlos Carrasco falls to the eighth round you ignore him.
• Round targets are created based around Fantasy Pros’ ADP, which merges NFBC, Yahoo, and CBS data. They are a rough estimation and should give you a general idea of when you should be looking to grab them.
• There are certain players who have round labels well before or after their ADP. Either I want to reach or I’ve seen them fall consistently and will watch their stock mid-draft.
• These aren’t the only players I’m looking to draft, but they are the ones that I’m hoping fall to the right place.

I’ve done more mocks this offseason than any other year, testing strategies from different positions, and I’m going to bring in more bullet points to go over the general approach I have in drafts:

• The BIGGEST note I have is to be patient grabbing starters. I know, this is Pitcher List, and my confidence in finding starters is not for everyone. I urge you to just follow along this guide, and you’ll have a fantastic staff to get you through the year and win your playoffs. There is so much more starting pitching depth than people realize.
• First base is shallow at the top with its value bookended: Grab one of the elites or wait until late.
• Outfield and second base value lies around rounds six to 12, i.e. the opposite of first base.
• Closers are dumb, and I hate them. You’re better off solidifying your offense than feeling OK with a stat that makes up only 10% of your week-to-week and isn’t even a guarantee.
• The final eight rounds or so will be shooting for upside starters and bats. There are so many to choose from. I have specific guys I like; you’ll probably have different ones, and that’s cool. Get your guys.

Alright, I think you understand the flow. Get tons of offense early, with two or at most three starters in the first 10 rounds and trust in the starting pitching depth. Let’s focus on the specific players to target during your drafts by position and later round-by-round.

 

First Baseman

 

One of the toughest positions right out of the gate as I love the first three options off the board — and not a whole lot after. I’ve seen Paul Goldschmidt and Freddie Freeman fall to the middle or end of the second rounds, and I’d love to grab them there if I’m slotted in the front half of the draft, maybe slightly early in the second round if few starting pitchers are taken. I’m hoping to grab Anthony Rizzo at back end or front of the fourth if I have a later pick, then otherwise, I’m waiting a long time to find my first basemen if the current options go at their ADP.

Then it gets a bit fishy. I don’t love Cody Bellinger/Rhys Hoskins/Matt Carpenter/Joey Votto at their prices. Jose Abreu and Jesus Aguilar also bring risk at their price, pushing my first base options past Pick 100 with Matt Olson, Edwin Encarnacion, Max Muncy, Miguel Cabrera, and Luke Voit — yes, that Luke Voit. If I’m still searching deep in the draft, I’m all for taking chances on Pete Alonso, Justin Smoak, Jake Bauers, Justin Bour, and Trey Mancini — in that order — as I hope to find something stable.

 

Player	Round
Paul Goldschmidt	Middle 2nd
Freddie Freeman	Middle 2nd
Anthony Rizzo	Late 3rd
Matt Olson	Rounds 9/10
Max Muncy	Rounds 9/10
Edwin Encarnacion	Rounds 9/10
Miguel Cabrera	Rounds 13/14/15
Luke Voit	Rounds 13/14/15
Peter Alonso	Round 20+
Justin Smoak	Round 20+
Jake Bauers	Round 20+
Justin Bour	Round 20+
Trey Mancini	Round 20+

 

Second Basemen

 

I want Jose Ramirez third overall (2B-eligible in Yahoo leagues). If I miss out on JoRam, I’m not interested in Jose Altuve/Javier Baez/Whit Merrifield/Ozzie Albies unless they dramatically fall. Gleyber Torres is an intriguing option, but his ADP is currently too high as I’d be OK taking him around rounds six or seven. Daniel Murphy’s signing with the Rockies makes me intrigued in the sixth round as we begin getting to the meat of the 2B options. Scooter Gennett, Travis Shaw, Jonathan Villar, Robinson Cano, and Jonathan Schoop become the main targets, with one of them often falling outside the first 10 rounds. I’d also consider Rougned Odor and Brian Dozier if you miss out on all the above options. For the late snags, late value could lie in Ketel Marte, Luis Urias, and Garrett Hampson, who is ranked surprisingly low.

 

Player	Round
Jose Ramirez (yahoo)	Third Pick
Daniel Murphy	Rounds 6/7
Gleyber Torres	Rounds 6/7
Travis Shaw	Rounds 8/9
Scooter Gennett	Rounds 8/9
Jonathan Villar	Rounds 10/11
Robinson Cano	Rounds 10/11
Jonathan Schoop	Rounds 13/14
Rougned Odor	Rounds 13/14
Brian Dozier	Rounds 13/14
Garrett Hampson	Round 18+
Ketel Marte	Round 20+
Ian Kinsler	Round 20+

 

Third Basemen

 

I’d get the aforementioned Ramirez at No. 3, with Nolan Arenado, Manny Machado, and Alex Bregman as worthy consolation prizes in the first round or even second round if you’re lucky. Kris Bryant is a very worthy option in the middle of the third and beyond, while Anthony Rendon should be considered early in the fourth. I’d go for Eugenio Suarez in the fifth round, though take a small break thereafter. Matt Chapman and Josh Donaldson become solid grabs in the eighth round, with Mike Moustakas and Rafael Devers becoming steals in the 11th and beyond. Later, I’d consider shares of Nick Senzel, Jake Lamb, and Eduardo Escobar.

 

Player	Round
Jose Ramirez	Third Pick
Nolan Arenado	Round 1
Manny Machado	Rounds 1/2
Alex Bregman	Rounds 1/2
Kris Bryant	Round 3
Anthony Rendon	Round 4
Eugenio Suarez	Round 5
Matt Chapman	Rounds 8/9
Josh Donaldson	Rounds 8/9
Travis Shaw	Rounds 8/9
Mike Moustakas	Rounds 11/12
Rafael Devers	Rounds 11/12
Nick Senzel	Round 18+
Eduardo Escobar	Round 18+
Jake Lamb	Round 20+

 

 

Shortstops

 

With Francisco Lindor hurt, I’d still consider him at the end of the second round, though Trea Turner, Machado, Bregman, and Trevor Story should be considered first. I’m avoiding Carlos Correa and Corey Seager for their injury histories, while I like aiming for Xander Bogaerts in the late fourth or early fifth round. Gleyber Torress and Jean Segura are options in the sixth, and those who are worried about steals could consider Adalberto Mondesi as well, though I have too much skepticism of his small sample to trust it. Jonathan Villar and Jose Peraza are cheaper steals options who should suffice in the ninth and 10th (ninth for Villar here if you can smell SS getting thin, otherwise wait for 10th at 2B), with discount options following. Eduardo Escobar, Paul DeJong, Garrett Hampson, and Jorge Polanco could return solid value in the 16 round and later, while Ketel Marte and even Troy Tulowitzki could be sneaky picks at the end.

 

Player	Round
Trea Turner	Rounds 1/2
Manny Machado	Rounds 1/2
Alex Bregman	Rounds 1/2
Trevor Story	Round 2
Francisco Lindor	Round 2
Xander Bogaerts	Late 4th/Early 5th
Jean Segura	Round 6
Gleyber Torres	Rounds 6/7
Jonathan Villar	Rounds 9/10/11
Jose Peraza	Rounds 9/10/11
Garrett Hampson	Round 18+
Eduardo Escobar	Round 18+
Jorge Polanco	Round 18+
Paul DeJong	Round 18+
Ketel Marte	Round 21+
Troy Tulowitzki	Last Round

 

Outfielders

 

With outfielders, don’t forget that you only have to fill in three slots. Most of the time, you’ll have at least one in as a UTIL, but it can limit you going elite OF in each of the first three rounds. Even so, going two early is not a bad call; just allow yourself to take advantage of rounds six to 12, where there are plenty of stellar options to grab. Early on, all of Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, JD Martinez, Christian Yelich, Ronald Acuna, Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Charlie Blackmon, Andrew Benintendi, and Kris Bryant should be considered. All of them, it’s just a matter of what other positions are available, but I’d be picking these bats before any starter.

I’m ignoring the next tier of outfielders for the most part, though I’d consider Starling Marte, Khris Davis and Juan Soto in the fourth rounds. Entering the sixth, Tommy Pham, and Lorenzo Cain should be considered, with Yasiel Puig, Marcel Ozuna, Mitch Haniger, and Eddie Rosario in the following rounds. At the ninth and 10th, Aaron Hicks, and Eloy Jimenez should be heavily considered as well.

At this point, I expect to have three outfielders and turning to pure upside later in the draft. Options here include Stephen Piscotty, Brandon Nimmo, Hunter Renfroe, Franmil Reyes, Domingo Santana, Austin Meadows, Ramon Laureano, Cedric Mullins, and even Lewis Brinson.

 

Player	Round
All Outfielders through Kris Bryant	Rounds 1 through mid 3rd
Starling Marte	Round 4
Khris Davis	Round 4
Juan Soto	Round 4
Tommy Pham	Rounds 5/6
Lorenzo Cain	Rounds 5/6
Yasiel Puig	Rounds 6/7/8
Marcell Ozuna	Rounds 6/7/8
Mitch Haniger	Rounds 6/7/8
Eddie Rosario	Rounds 6/7/8
Eloy Jimenez	Rounds 8/9
Aaron Hicks	Rounds 9/10
Stephen Piscotty	Round 15+
Brandon Nimmo	Round 15+
Franmil Reyes	Round 16+
Hunter Renfroe	Round 16+
Domingo Santana	Round 16+
Austin Meadows	Round 16+
Ramon Laureano	Round 16+
Cedric Mullins	Round 20+
Lewis Brinson	Round 20+

 

Catchers

 

The catcher game is simple as ever — either get JT Realmuto or Gary Sanchez at a discount or wait until the final rounds for a decent backstop and call it a day. If Realmuto falls to the sixth, I’m fine grabbing him there, with Sanchez needing to fall into the seventh for me to consider him.

Otherwise, my primary target is Danny Jansen around the 16th round, with backups in Wilson Ramos, Yasmani Grandal (both likely won’t drop), Francisco Mejia, Yan Gomes, and Francisco Cervelli, backstops who you most likely can wait past the 18th round to snag.

Let’s move on.

 

Player	Round
JT Realmuto	Round 6
Gary Sanchez	Round 7
Danny Jansen	Round 16+
Wilson Ramos	Round 16+
Yasmani Grandal	Round 16+
Francisco Mejia	Round 18+
Yan Gomes	Round 20+
Francisco Cervelli	Round 20+

 

Starting Pitchers

 

The draft really opens up if you buy into my SP plan, which comes in two forms: Either you get great value in the third and fourth rounds, or you go a little early in the fifth and sixth and back it up with two in ninth and 10th. Either way, you’re going to grab four of my top 40 through the first 13 rounds, then grab another four or five in the final eight rounds. That’s the idea, and you’d be surprised how formidable your staff will be as you tout around one of the best offenses in the league.

Getting specific with pitchers, I’m looking to see if Trevor Bauer or Noah Syndergaard are falling to me at the end of the third or early fourth round. If not, I look to the fifth or sixth for Jameson Taillon or Mike Clevinger, coming back around the eighth for Zack Wheeler. Around the 10th and 11th, I’m aiming for Miles Mikolas and Yu Darvish, then turning to Ross Stripling, Nick Pivetta, Andrew Heaney, or JA Happ to round out the first four.

Now it gets fun. There are so many options. You could shoot for ceiling in Alex Reyes, Jimmy Nelson or Joe Musgrove, a bit more stability in Yusei Kikuchi, Tyler Skaggs, and Kyle Freeland, or wait plenty and fill your team up with a ton of intriguing names — Michael Fulmer, Derek Holland, Collin McHugh, Matt Strahm, Reynaldo Lopez, and Merrill Kelly often find their way on my teams. Jesus Luzardo, Justus Sheffield, Forrest Whitley, and even Chris Paddack make for fun final-round prospect targets, and I could also see myself grabbing Jerad Eickhoff, Jeff Samardzija, Luke Weaver, or Brad Peacock if other leaguemates are aggressive at the position.

There are plenty more in addition to these names, and the goal is to have about eight starters — nine if you’re a bit lacking at the top and need to spend another bench spot on shooting for upside (take one of the prospect names in this case!). Don’t go chasing too early as the upside bats get taken earlier than the starters.

 

Player	Round
Trevor Bauer	Late 3rd/Early 4th
Noah Syndergaard	Late 3rd/Early 4th
Jameson Taillon	Late 5th/ Early 6th
Mike Clevinger	Late 5th/ Early 6th
Zack Wheeler	Rounds 7/8
Miles Mikolas	Rounds 9/10
Yu Darvish	Rounds 9/10
Ross Stripling	Rounds 12/13/14
Nick Pivetta	Rounds 12/13/14
Andrew Heaney	Rounds 12/13/14
JA Happ	Rounds 12/13/14
Alex Reyes	Round 14+
Yusei Kikuchi	Round 15+
Tyler Skaggs	Round 15+
Kyle Freeland	Round 15+
Jimmy Nelson	Round 16+
Joe Musgrove	Round 16+
Michael Fulmer	Round 18+
Derek Holland	Round 18+
Collin McHugh	Round 18+
Matt Strahm	Round 18+
Reynaldo Lopez	Round 18+
Jesus Luzardo	Round 18+
Forrest Whitley	Round 18+
Merrill Kelly	Round 20+
Jeff Samardzija	Round 20+
Justus Sheffield	Round 20+
Jerad Eickhoff	Round 20+
Luke Weaver	Round 20+
Chris Paddack	Round 20+
Brad Peacock	Round 20+

 

Relief Pitchers

 

Now for closers. I don’t like closers. I will not be one to grab an elite one as there’s too much value elsewhere to spend time on saves. The rule of thumb for grabbing a closer is easy: “If there isn’t anything you like on the board, grab a closer.” This usually happens around the 11th round — which means I’ve found myself with a good amount of Jose LeClerc and Kirby Yates shares. It could also mean Wade Davis as well.

Later in drafts, I’ll take a chance on Andrew Miller getting saves for the Cardinals, as well as Corey Knebel grabbing the job back in Milwaukee. Matt Barnes, Hunter Strickland, Mychal Givens, and Will Smith are all in good positions to steal the saves in their ballclubs, making for solid late-round choices as well. I’d grab two total — maybe three if they are sitting there at the end of the draft — and bank on grabbing one off the wire during the year.

 

Player	Round
Jose LeClerc	Round 11
Kirby Yates	Round 11
Wade Davis	Round 11
Corey Knebel	Round 15
Andrew Miller	Round 17
Matt Barnes	Round 18+
Hunter Strickland	Round 18+
Mychal Givens	Round 18+
Will Smith	Round 18+

 

All Targets Round By Round

 

Instead of just doing one long table, I instead made this handy chart for you to reference through your draft: