Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft: 10-Team NL-Only Rotisserie League
theScore Staff
Caylor Arnold / USA TODAY Sports
Here are the results of theScore's 10-team NL-only rotisserie mock draft, using standard 5x5 categories (AVG, R, HR, RBI, SB, W, K, SV, ERA, WHIP); eligibility minimum 10 games played in 2015 for all non-pitchers (NOTE: draft took place prior to Ian Desmond signing with Texas):
Participants
Esten McLaren - Fantasy Sports Editor Dan Toman - Supervising Editor, MLB Kenneth Conrad - Fantasy Sports Editor Andrew Potter - Fantasy Sports Editor Josh Ghatak - Fantasy Sports Editor Jason Wilson - Fantasy Sports Editor David Chernish - Fantasy Sports Editor Gino Bottero - Integrated Content Editor James Bisson - Managing Editor, Fantasy Sports Josh Wegman - Fantasy Sports Editor
McLaren on Goldschmidt: When choosing between Goldschmidt and Harper, it came down to the safety that comes with Goldschmidt. The assured 30-plus home runs, 100 RBIs, 100 runs and 15-plus stolen bases with an average over .300 negates the 40-home run potential of Harper. It's not even guaranteed we've seen the best from Goldschmidt just yet.
Conrad on Braun: Braun is somewhat of a risk due to his advancing age and lingering injury concerns, but with 20 home runs and 20 steals in 2015, he's a middle-class man's Goldschmidt. Along with a solid slash line, there's really no weakness in his game aside from the potential for injury. Braun offers support in all categories as my first hitter selection.
Toman on Rendon: Infielders who can hit and run are a scarce bunch, particularly in NL-only leagues. Rendon went 21/17 in 2014, but he was slowed by injuries in 2015, souring expectations of some fantasy owners who pegged him as high as a late first-rounder in mixed leagues coming off the previous season. His high ceiling and multi-position eligibility made this worth the risk.
Wegman on Puig: I simply couldn't pass up the last chance at snagging an elite OF. Expect Puig to return to his 2014 form when he hit .296/.382/.480 with 62 of his 165 hits going for extra bases. At just 25, his upside and pure raw talent outweigh the risks of injury or character issues. Puig might be the happiest person in Los Angeles to see manager Don Mattingly leave.
Chernish on Granderson: I drafted Granderson slightly ahead of his ADP because I wanted an outfielder that does everything. He's fresh off a 26-HR, 70-RBI season at 35 years old and he's more than capable of scoring over 90 runs, having done so six times in his 12-year career. He's a safe pick as early as the fifth round in all NL-Only formats.
Wilson on Pederson: Pederson brings big power potential, as he showed in his dynamite first half in 2014. His second-half evaporation is concerning, but he's still a developing player. If he plays to his potential for even half the season, it will be worth the spot because I'll likely get elite home run and RBI production. His poor batting average shouldn't hurt me too much.
Potter on Parra: Parra was essentially a 15-HR, 15-SB player in a season split between the Brewers and Orioles. He's under 30 and has played 150-plus games in three-straight seasons, so health isn't a factor. He'll play half his games at Coors Field and the Rockies stole the 8th-most bases in 2015. To get a potential 20-20 hitter in round seven is excellent value.
Bottero on Teheran: His win total is going to take a hit on a bad Braves team, but Teheran is a prime bounce-back candidate following a 2015 campaign which saw him start slow before getting things together after the All-Star break. Teheran has a little bit of Pedro Martinez in him. He can lead a fantasy staff if he's able to cash-in on his vast potential in his age-25 season.
Ghatak on Myers: The limited pool of first basemen was evident come Round 9 so Myers was an option with nice potential at this juncture. Health is obviously an issue, as he's played only 145 games over the past two seasons. If all goes well, Myers could post 20 homers and provide 60-plus RBIs and runs, while also swiping 10 bases and hitting for a .250 average.
Bisson on Gonzalez: I'm not overly concerned by Gonzalez's elevated WHIP from last season; his FIP remained solid, and he'll be in position to win 15-plus games behind a solid Nationals lineup. Gio isn't without his question marks, but at this point in the draft, I'm looking for consistent pitching options. While his upside is capped, his floor is high.
Bottero on Ryu: Ryu's two-year sample size in the MLB has produced results more than adequate for a middle of the rotation fantasy starter. He's compiled a 3.17 ERA while striking out 7.7 batters per nine innings and finishing in the teens in wins each season. While he's still on the road back from shoulder surgery, 25 or so starts and 150-plus innings would be a good return at a discounted cost.
Toman on Olivera: Olivera only played 24 games during his 2015 debut - hitting two homers and posting a .715 OPS. There's still optimism inside the Braves organization that the 30-year-old Cuban can be the "imposing" figure 1B Freddie Freeman once described. Olivera's value gets a further boost by retaining third-base eligibility, while picking up outfielder status.
Wilson on Adams: Adams is set to platoon at first base with Brandon Moss. The injury risk is real, but so is Adams' ability to demolish right-handed pitching. I drafted him as depth, but my lineup is fairly balanced so it would be easy to shuffle the deck to accommodate him if he plays up to his mashing potential. If he falters, he can ride the pine behind Stephen Piscotty.
Potter on Giolito: Other SPs at this level have concerns about health or statistical regression, while Giolito is an ace in the making. He's set to start the season in the minors but with the Nats pushing for a pennant, any injury to the rotation would mean a promotion for baseball's No. 5 prospect. That's a big if, but his upside is greater than any other player on the board at this point.
Conrad on Carter: Carter admittedly won't help at all in terms of batting average, but he fits the bill as a late-round power threat. He hit between 24 and 37 home runs each of the past three seasons in Houston, and now gets to play half his games at Miller Park, which can be considered a more favorable stadium for power hitters, according to ESPN's 2015 Park Factors.
Bisson on Howard: Nobody feels good about drafting Howard at this point in his career - but with the player pool running desperately-low on players with 25-HR potential, he was worth the pick. He's no longer capable of working the count, and his OBP will probably never see .300 again - but he's still a decent matchup-based option who could wind up with 80+ RBIs.
Wegman on Story: Jose Reyes is likely to face a suspension from MLB, opening the door for Story to start at shortstop. A highly touted prospect playing in Colorado's hitters utopia usually leads to good things. If he gets off to a strong start, the job could be his for good. It can't hurt taking a sleeper Rookie of the Year candidate in the 17th round of an NL-Only draft.
Chernish on Niese: Once the majority of pitchers came off the board, I drafted Niese in the late rounds of the NL-Only draft as a player to fill out my pitching staff. He won't win any categories with a below average WHIP and ERA but with pending UFA status, a bounce-back year could be in the cards. He's worth the risk.
Ghatak on Grilli: With Jeurys Familia and Brad Ziegler as my two relievers, I wanted a third option in case one fails me. Grilli shouldn't be doubted as a legitimate option. He had a strong 2015 season with 24 saves and a 12.03 K/9 ratio. The main concerns here are Atlanta's poor offense and Grilli's return from an Achilles injury. Grilli's track record makes him worth the risk as a depth add.
McLaren on Peraza: Peraza isn't guaranteed playing time in 2016, but few members of the Reds' offense are. He comes with the ability to play both middle infield positions, potentially sliding into the hybrid spot in fantasy lineups. He's twice stolen 60-plus bases in a calendar year across three minor league levels, compensating for a distinct lack of power.
