Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft: 10-Team Mixed Rotisserie League
theScore Staff• ·
Frank Victores / USA TODAY Sports
Here are the results of theScore's 10-team mixed league 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:
Participants
James Bisson - Managing Editor, Fantasy Sports Darren Kritzer - Managing Editor, Editorial Josh Wegman - Fantasy Sports Editor Esten McLaren - Fantasy Sports Editor Dan Toman - Supervising Editor, MLB Kenneth Conrad - Fantasy Sports Editor Andrew Potter - Fantasy Sports Editor Jason Wilson - Fantasy Sports Editor Gino Bottero - Integrated Content Editor David Chernish - Fantasy Sports Editor
Round 1
PICK
NAME
PLAYER
TEAM
1
Bisson
OF Mike Trout
LAA
2
Kritzer
OF Bryce Harper
WAS
3
Wegman
SP Clayton Kershaw
LAD
4
McLaren
1B Paul Goldschmidt
ARI
5
Toman
OF Giancarlo Stanton
MIA
6
Conrad
3B Josh Donaldson
TOR
7
Potter
3B Manny Machado
BAL
8
Wilson
3B Nolan Arenado
COL
9
Bottero
SS Carlos Correa
HOU
10
Chernish
OF Andrew McCutchen
PIT
Wegman on Kershaw: Kershaw is easily the best pitcher in baseball, and is specifically dominant in fantasy due to his punch-out ability. Drafting him along with a few other strikeout kings gives you the chance to win the category without much else. There's no denying Goldschmidt's abilities, but the depth at first base doesn't force your hand at third overall.
Round 2
PICK
NAME
PLAYER
TEAM
11
Chernish
1B Anthony Rizzo
CHC
12
Bottero
2B Jose Altuve
HOU
13
Wilson
1B Miguel Cabrera
DET
14
Potter
OF/3B Kris Bryant
CHC
15
Conrad
1B Joey Votto
CIN
16
Toman
SS Troy Tulowitzki
TOR
17
McLaren
OF A.J. Pollock
ARI
18
Wegman
SP Jake Arrieta
CHC
19
Kritzer
OF Jose Bautista
TOR
20
Bisson
SP Max Scherzer
WAS
Toman on Tulowitzki: Since homers affect four of the five categories in 5x5, I target big boppers at hard-to-fill positions early. Tulowitzki was a big gamble - but by the middle of the second round, three third basemen and Correa had already been drafted, and I figured if I sandwiched Tulowitzki's upside with a pair of slugging outfielders, I could mitigate some of that risk.
Round 3
PICK
NAME
PLAYER
TEAM
21
Bisson
OF Mookie Betts
BOS
22
Kritzer
SP David Price
BOS
23
Wegman
C/OF Kyle Schwarber
CHC
24
McLaren
SPJose Fernandez
MIA
25
Toman
OF Justin Upton
DET
26
Conrad
C Buster Posey
SF
27
Potter
SP Chris Sale
CHW
28
Wilson
2B Dee Gordon
MIA
29
Bottero
3B Todd Frazier
CHW
30
Chernish
SP Madison Bumgarner
SF
McLaren on Fernandez: Fernandez would've finished third in the MLB in strikeout rate in 2015 if he had enough innings to qualify. He was leading baseball in that category in 2014, prior to his injury. He was fifth in 2013, the only season he's pitched enough innings to qualify. Two years removed from Tommy John surgery, there shouldn't be any injury concern.
Round 4
PICK
NAME
PLAYER
TEAM
31
Chernish
SS Corey Seager
LAD
32
Bottero
1B Jose Abreu
CHW
33
Wilson
OF Charlie Blackmon
COL
34
Potter
SP Jacob deGrom
NYM
35
Conrad
SP Zack Greinke
ARI
36
Toman
SP Chris Archer
TB
37
McLaren
OF George Springer
HOU
38
Wegman
SP Matt Harvey
NYM
39
Kritzer
SP Corey Kluber
CLE
40
Bisson
1B/OF Chris Davis
BAL
Chernish on Seager: Seager posted an impressive .337/.425/.561 slash line in limited action last season, and will have the job to himself in 2016. He's projected to be drafted in the 8th-10th round of mixed leagues, but ranks fourth among fantasy shortstops and is a near-finished product with an extremely high ceiling. I'm happy to have reached for his upside.
Round 5
PICK
NAME
PLAYER
TEAM
41
Bisson
SP Stephen Strasburg
WAS
42
Kritzer
SP Sonny Gray
OAK
43
Wegman
1B Edwin Encarnacion
TOR
44
McLaren
OF Starling Marte
PIT
45
Toman
2B/3B Anthony Rendon
WAS
46
Conrad
SS Xander Bogaerts
BOS
47
Potter
SP Gerrit Cole
PIT
48
Wilson
OF J.D. Martinez
DET
49
Bottero
OF Nelson Cruz
SEA
50
Chernish
OF Yoenis Cespedes
NYM
Conrad on Bogaerts: Shortstop is top heavy in terms of elite performers; Bogaerts doesn't have the power of Tulowitzki, but thankfully also lacks his injury risk. He was drafted slightly earlier in some other mock drafts I looked at, and I didn't think he would be there in my next turn if I passed him up.
Round 6
PICK
NAME
PLAYER
TEAM
51
Chernish
2B Robinson Cano
SEA
52
Bottero
OF Adam Jones
BAL
53
Wilson
SP Carlos Carrasco
CLE
54
Conrad
2B Brian Dozier
MIN
55
Potter
OF Ryan Braun
MIL
56
Toman
OF Jason Heyward
CHC
57
McLaren
3B Kyle Seager
SEA
58
Wegman
2B Ian Kinsler
DET
59
Kritzer
1B Freddie Freeman
ATL
60
Bisson
RP Kenley Jansen
LAD
Kritzer on Freeman: The Braves will be cautious with Freeman this spring following an injury-plagued 2015 campaign, but seeing that he was still available in the sixth round, it was easy to pick a player who projects to hit 25+ home runs and will be on base a ton. If he has no issues with his wrist, Freeman is a steal in this slot.
Round 7
PICK
NAME
PLAYER
TEAM
61
Bisson
RP Craig Kimbrel
BOS
62
Kritzer
OF Carlos Gonzalez
COL
63
Wegman
SP Johnny Cueto
SF
64
McLaren
SP Dallas Keuchel
HOU
65
Toman
1B Adrian Gonzalez
LAD
66
Conrad
SP Felix Hernandez
SEA
67
Potter
UTIL Miguel Sano
MIN
68
Wilson
OF Lorenzo Cain
KC
69
Bottero
SP Adam Wainwright
STL
70
Chernish
1B Albert Pujols
LAA
Bisson on Kimbrel: The decision to go back-to-back on two of the top closer options at this point in the draft wasn't an easy one - but elite stoppers do carry value, both to the drafter (as a way of compiling saves early in the year) and to fellow owners who find themselves short of saves later on. And if you're going to collect relief assets, why not opt for two of the best?
Round 8
PICK
NAME
PLAYER
TEAM
71
Chernish
SP Noah Syndergaard
NYM
72
Bottero
OF Carlos Gomez
HOU
73
Wilson
SP Jon Lester
CHC
74
Potter
OF Yasiel Puig
LAD
75
Conrad
OF Corey Dickerson
TB
76
Toman
OF Gregory Polanco
PIT
77
McLaren
SP Marcus Stroman
TOR
78
Wegman
SS Francisco Lindor
CLE
79
Kritzer
2B Jason Kipnis
CLE
80
Bisson
2B/3B Matt Carpenter
STL
Potter on Puig: With some good health and a little bit more maturity, Puig should ride his strong career rates (.294 batting average; .371 OBP) to stardom. "Should" is the key word; the volatile personality of the 25-year-old Cuban has often overshadowed his talent. As an eighth-round pick, Puig is a gamble - but if he can play 140-plus games, he'll be a top-30 fantasy player.
Round 9
PICK
NAME
PLAYER
TEAM
81
Bisson
1B Prince Fielder
TEX
82
Kritzer
3B Evan Longoria
TB
83
Wegman
3B Adrian Beltre
TEX
84
McLaren
2B Kolten Wong
STL
85
Toman
SP Jordan Zimmerman
DET
86
Conrad
OF Matt Kemp
SD
87
Potter
RP Wade Davis
KC
88
Wilson
SP Danny Salazar
CLE
89
Bottero
RP Aroldis Chapman
NYY
90
Chernish
3B Maikel Franco
PHI
Bottero on Chapman: Some think the move to the A.L. East hurts Chapman, but the Yankees' closer role has been a gold mine for fantasy players for the better part of two decades. Chapman's elite ERA, WHIP, and K% make him more than a one-category contributor. Only talk of a possible suspension is keeping him out of the conversation for being the first closer off the board.
Round 10
PICK
NAME
PLAYER
TEAM
91
Chernish
C Brian McCann
NYY
92
Bottero
SP Cole Hamels
TEX
93
Wilson
RP David Robertson
CHW
94
Potter
RP Ken Giles
HOU
95
Conrad
OF Adam Eaton
CHW
96
Toman
C Salvador Perez
KC
97
McLaren
SP Yu Darvish
TEX
98
Wegman
OF Jacoby Ellsbury
NYY
99
Kritzer
SP Shelby Miller
ARI
100
Bisson
OF Hunter Pence
SF
Wilson on Robertson: Robertson's 3.41 ERA was a bit of a smokescreen. His strand rate was a career-worst 65.7% despite his WHIP being a career low 0.93. He reduced his walk rate to 1.85 while his 12.22 K/9 was higher than fellow closers Wade Davis, Trevor Rosenthal and Ken Giles. With Chicago sending out an improved infield defense, his numbers should be even better.
Round 11
PICK
NAME
PLAYER
TEAM
101
Bisson
SP Masahiro Tanaka
NYY
102
Kritzer
SP Jake Odorizzi
TB
103
Wegman
OF Michael Brantley
CLE
104
McLaren
SP Francisco Liriano
PIT
105
Toman
3B Mike Moustakas
KC
106
Conrad
UTIL David Ortiz
BOS
107
Potter
1B Eric Hosmer
KC
108
Wilson
SP Michael Wacha
STL
109
Bottero
SP Garrett Richards
LAA
110
Chernish
RP Shawn Tolleson
TEX
Toman on Moustakas: By the time the draft returned to me in the 11th round, my team was fairly well-balanced. I had four outfielders, a flex infielder, an ace, and top-3 catcher. So rather than take the best player available, I wanted to complete my infield. While Moustakas doesn't have big upside, I like his age (27), home runs (22 in 2015), and second-half OPS (.863).
Round 12
PICK
NAME
PLAYER
TEAM
111
Chernish
3B Matt Duffy
SF
112
Bottero
OF Hanley Ramirez
BOS
113
Wilson
SP Tyson Ross
SD
114
Potter
SP Jeff Samardzija
SF
115
Conrad
SP James Shields
SD
116
Toman
RP Mark Melancon
PIT
117
McLaren
SS Ian Desmond
TEX
118
Wegman
RP Roberto Osuna
TOR
119
Kritzer
SS Addison Russell
CHC
120
Bisson
SP Carlos Martinez
STL
McLaren on Desmond: Prior to 2014, Desmond was in the discussion with Jose Reyes and Troy Tulowitzki as the best shortstop in fantasy baseball. His batting average and on-base percentage have fallen the past two seasons, but he still totaled 43 home runs and 37 stolen bases. He recently signed with Texas, and should hit in the heart of the lineup.
Round 13
PICK
NAME
PLAYER
TEAM
121
Bisson
RP Cody Allen
CLE
122
Kritzer
RP Trevor Rosenthal
STL
123
Wegman
OF Gerardo Parra
COL
124
McLaren
UTIL Byung-ho Park
MIN
125
Toman
RP Jonathan Papelbon
WAS
126
Conrad
RP Jeurys Familia
NYM
127
Potter
SS/3B Jung-ho Kang
PIT
128
Wilson
2B/SS/OF Ben Zobrist
CHC
129
Bottero
RP Zach Britton
BAL
130
Chernish
SP John Lackey
CHC
Wegman on Parra: Justin Morneau posted an .850 OPS in two years as Rockie compared to a .726 OPS his three seasons prior. Michael Cuddyer was a career .272 hitter in Minnesota, then suddenly hit .330 in back-to-back seasons in Colorado at ages 34 and 35. Parra should breeze to a series of career highs in his first season hitting at Coors Field.
Round 14
PICK
NAME
PLAYER
TEAM
131
Chernish
SP Scott Kazmir
LAD
132
Bottero
SP Julio Teheran
ATL
133
Wilson
OF Jorge Soler
CHC
134
Potter
SP Lance McCullers
HOU
135
Conrad
OF Christian Yelich
MIA
136
Toman
SP Yordano Ventura
KC
137
McLaren
OF Brett Gardner
NYY
138
Wegman
SP Drew Smyly
TB
139
Kritzer
C Jonathan Lucroy
MIL
140
Bisson
2B Rougned Odor
TEX
Wilson on Soler: Soler's hype has been a yo-yo. People probably expected too much from him last season after a promising debut and they expect too little from him this year because of his struggles and injury. This is all about upside. The power is real and this Cubs lineup is loaded. If he stumbles, I still have a deep outfield and can stash him. If he excels, I have room for him.
Round 15
PICK
NAME
PLAYER
TEAM
141
Bisson
SP Steven Matz
NYM
142
Kritzer
1B/OF Mark Trumbo
BAL
143
Wegman
OF Khris Davis
OAK
144
McLaren
SP Kenta Maeda
LAD
145
Toman
SP Taijuan Walker
SEA
146
Conrad
SP Justin Verlander
DET
147
Potter
RP Hector Rondon
CHC
148
Wilson
C Russell Martin
TOR
149
Bottero
RP Huston Street
LAA
150
Chernish
OF Jay Bruce
CIN
Kritzer on Trumbo: Camden Yards and Mark Trumbo has a good ring to it, doesn't it? Trumbo may not reach the 34-homer mark he set a career-high in while with the Angels in 2013, but he should supply 25+ home runs and 80+ RBIs as the designated hitter around Adam Jones and Chris Davis. Not bad numbers to have as a 15th-round selection.
Round 16
PICK
NAME
PLAYER
TEAM
151
Chernish
1B Brandon Belt
SF
152
Bottero
C Travis d'Arnaud
NYM
153
Wilson
OF Joc Pederson
LAD
154
Potter
OF Billy Hamilton
CIN
155
Conrad
2B Dustin Pedroia
BOS
156
Toman
2B/SS Starlin Castro
NYY
157
McLaren
OF Byron Buxton
MIN
158
Wegman
SP Raisel Iglesias
CIN
159
Kritzer
RP Glen Perkins
MIN
160
Bisson
SS Jose Reyes
COL
Conrad on Pedroia: Late in the draft is a time to take chances on players discounted because of injury risk; Pedroia had played in between 135 and 160 games in each of the four seasons before last year's 93-game stint. If reasonably healthy, he'll provide excellent rate stats, though his power and speed have declined from in years past.
Round 17
PICK
NAME
PLAYER
TEAM
161
Bisson
OF Alex Gordon
KC
162
Kritzer
UTIL Alex Rodriguez
NYY
163
Wegman
SP Luis Severino
NYY
164
McLaren
SP Collin McHugh
HOU
165
Toman
RP Francisco Rodriguez
DET
166
Conrad
OF Billy Burns
OAK
167
Potter
2B DJ LeMahieu
COL
168
Wilson
1B Carlos Santana
CLE
169
Bottero
1B Lucas Duda
NYM
170
Chernish
1B/2BLogan Forsythe
TB
Chernish on Forsythe: After Forsythe posted 17 home runs, 68 RBIs and a .281/.359/.444 slash line, many fantasy owners believe he will struggle to replicate the success he had last year. The Rays are in dire need of power in the middle of the order and Forsythe fits the bill. He will likely drop somewhere between the 15th-17th round, making him a solid value play here.
Round 18
PICK
NAME
PLAYER
TEAM
171
Chernish
1B/3B Justin Turner
LAD
172
Bottero
SP Hisashi Iwakuma
SEA
173
Wilson
RP A.J. Ramos
MIA
174
Potter
2B Devon Travis
TOR
175
Conrad
SP Matt Moore
TB
176
Toman
OF Ender Inciarte
ARI
177
McLaren
1B/OF Wil Myers
SD
178
Wegman
RP Brad Boxberger
TB
179
Kritzer
3B Pablo Sandoval
BOS
180
Bisson
SP Michael Pineda
NYY
Potter on Travis: After missing out on steadier options at 2B, I shifted my focus to upside: on a pro-rated basis, Travis has the tools and the offense around him to be a top-5 2B, but health is an issue. Until Travis is fit to play, LeMahieu will serve as a stop-gap. At 27, LeMahieu has upside potential of his own as a contact and speed man.
Round 19
PICK
NAME
PLAYER
TEAM
181
Bisson
SP Carlos Rodon
CHW
182
Kritzer
1B/OF Stephen Piscotty
STL
183
Wegman
UTIL Kendrys Morales
KC
184
McLaren
SS Trea Turner
WAS
185
Toman
SP Patrick Corbin
ARI
186
Conrad
RP J.J. Hoover
CIN
187
Potter
RP Dellin Betances
NYY
188
Wilson
RP Sean Doolittle
OAK
189
Bottero
SP Jose Quintana
CHW
190
Chernish
RP Brad Ziegler
ARI
Bottero on Quintana: There's nothing sexy about a pick like Quintana. There's not much upside, but he's been as steady as they come over the last three seasons. Quintana's a lock for a sub-3.50 ERA and around 170 strikeouts, and an improved offense should help the southpaw hit double-digit wins for the first time. Not bad for a back-of-the-rotation fantasy starter.
Round 20
PICK
NAME
PLAYER
TEAM
191
Chernish
OF Ben Revere
WAS
192
Bottero
SP Rick Porcello
BOS
193
Wilson
SS Brandon Crawford
SF
194
Potter
SP Aaron Nola
PHI
195
Conrad
SS/OF Brad Miller
TB
196
Toman
RP Andrew Miller
NYY
197
McLaren
C Devin Mesoraco
CIN
198
Wegman
SP R.A. Dickey
TOR
199
Kritzer
SP Kevin Gausman
BAL
200
Bisson
1B Ryan Zimmerman
WAS
Bisson on Zimmerman: Sure, injuries will be a factor for the rest of Zimmerman's career - but production in his time on the field is not a concern. He hit better than .300 the second half of last season and drove in 115 runs over 560 at-bats in 2014-15. And at this point in the draft, a shot at that kind of output is worth the risk.