This article is part of our MLB Observations series.
It was early for an NFBC Online Championship draft, but sometimes those end up being my best teams, as ADPs haven't solidified yet, and it's a free-for-all past the 12th round. I picked from the seventh spot.
Here are the results:
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1.7 Gerrit Cole -- Aces who stay healthy deliver more value than players at any other position. I was hoping for Jacob deGrom, but was fine with Cole. (When I said on the SXM show I might take Christian Yelich, that was only if Cole and deGrom were gone, and it came down to Mike Trout vs Yelich vs Trea Turner.
2.8 Francisco Lindor -- I contemplated going pocket aces, but I like Clayton Kershaw as much as the other available starters and thought he might slip to me in Round 3. So I took a hitter who does everything, though the Mets are a cursed franchise, so something bad will probably happen.
3.7 Clayton Kershaw -- I was hoping for him or Jack Flaherty, and actually both fell to me. I took Kershaw because, health-permitting, his floor is so high.
4.8 Alex Bregman -- I considered Rafael Devers, Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Anthony Rendon and Xander Bogaerts, all of whom I like just as much.
5.7 Gleyber Torres -- I missed Bogaerts by one pick, considered Josh Hader (but decided against such an expensive closer) and took Torres who was a monster in 2019. The theme of this draft was acting as though last summer didn't happen.
6.8 Yordan Alvarez -- He clogs up my DH slot, but he has as much upside as any hitter who doesn't run.
7.7 Paul Goldschmidt -- This is the no man's land of the draft, where everyone seems too pricey, but you have to take someone. I settled for Goldschmidt because he's a rock, and first base is thinner this year. I passed on Yoan Moncada who I took in my other draft because I already had a third baseman.
8.8 Brad Hand -- Still in no man's land, I took the top closer on my board. Usually I like to wait until Round 10, but I wasn't ready to draft Byron Buxton just yet.
9.7 Jose Altuve -- I was set to take Buxton, but thought Altuve was the better bet, especially with second base a bit thin. It would be great if he could steal 10-15 bags too.
10.8 Tommy Pham -- The Altuve pick cost me Buxton, and Pham was my backup. I needed some steals to go along with Lindor's.
11.7 Charlie Morton -- He was a fourth-round pitcher in last year's drafts and had two mediocre months. Now he's in the National League.
12.8 Jorge Soler -- He hit 48 homers in 2019 and doesn't destroy your batting average.
13.7 David Price -- Assuming he plays -- and he says he will -- he's in a great spot with the Dodgers.
14.8 Trey Mancini -- Another power bat that doesn't destroy your batting average, assuming he's fully healthy after missing last year due to cancer.
15.7 Drew Pomeranz -- He's the Padres' most likely closer for now, and in the 12-team, you want to gamble on upside.
16.8 Anthony Santander -- Another Oriole who has some power without crushing your batting average.
17.7 Corey Kluber -- I didn't intend to draft him, as he killed me last year, but I looked at his profile during the draft and noticed the Yankees paid him $11 million. Obviously, he had to look healthy enough before they'd guarantee him that money. Then again, the Red Sox signed Chris Sale to a massive deal right before he fell apart, so you never know.
18.8 Gavin Lux -- This pick was a luxury as I had my middle infield and utility spots filled, but I couldn't pass up a top prospect who presumably has a starting job.
19.7 Matthew Boyd -- Apparently he was dealing with hamstring and foot problems last summer, and it threw off his mechanics. He's a big source of strikeouts if healthy.
20.8 Eduardo Rodriguez -- He was severely affected by COVID, but should be ready for spring training. Like Boyd he's also a big source of strikeouts.
21.7 Wilson Ramos -- I needed a catcher, and Ramos was buried in the ADP list because he signed so recently.
22.8 Taijuan Walker -- He was once a big prospect, and he showed some signs last year. There's upside should he land with the right team.
23.7 Nick Senzel -- He was terrible last year, but he was playing hurt, and he had COVID. I'll give him a pass due to his pedigree, and I needed some steals too.
24.8 Jorge Alfaro -- I needed a second catcher, and he was good in 2019.
25.7 Adam Eaton -- He should be a regular in a good lineup and offers a few steals.
26.8 Jonathan Hernandez -- He could get a shot to close this year.
27.7 Carlos Santana -- I'm not sure how much pop he'll have in Kansas City, and he's someone who could kill your average. But he was great in 2019, and it's the 27th round.
28.8 Emilio Pagan -- If Pomeranz doesn't close. Pagan might. Of course, I'm SOL if the Padres sign Trevor Rosenthal.
29.7 Oscar Mercado -- Remember him? He had a disastrous 2020, but he's still the starting centerfielder for now.
30.8 Gregory Polanco -- I actually got snaked on the 29/30 turn and had to scramble for my last pick. Polanco showed a bit of power and speed last summer, albeit with awful average and plate discipline. He also broke his wrist a few weeks ago, but is expected back for spring training.
My Lineup:
2B Jose Altuve
3B Alex Bregman
CI Trey Mancini
OF Tommy Pham/Jorge Soler/Anthony Santander/Nick Senzel/Adam Eaton
SP Gerrit Cole/Clayton Kershaw/Charlie Morton/David Price/Corey Kluber/Matthew Boyd/Eduardo Rodriguez
Bench: Gavin Lux/Taijuan Walker/Jonathan Hernandez/Carlos Santana/Emilio Pagan/Oscar Mercado/Gregory Polanco
