Major League Baseball

Fantasy Baseball 2015 Draft: Bottom of the Barrel

Published Mar. 15, 2015 9:00 p.m. ET

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When it’s time to put the finishing touches on your fantasy baseball roster, there a couple ways to approach it:

1. Need – Do you need stolen bases? Power? Closers? Catchers?

2. Risk – Do you roll the dice and take the prospect, or the player with the injury history?

No matter your decision, I will provide you with the best options for your last choices for your fantasy team.

Editor’s note: These player rankings are based on a 12-team fantasy baseball draft and a 5x5 format.

Catchers:

Let’s face it, if you don’t draft Buster Posey or Jonathan Lucroy early in the draft, you may as well wait on a catcher. They won’t play every day, there is a high risk for injury, and they typically don’t generate a lot of stats, either. Here are three backstops that we’ve ranked anywhere between 12-15 at the position: Wilson Ramos (WAS), Yasmani Grandal (LAD), and Miguel Montero (CHC). If it meant I could add another quality arm or a potential everyday player, I would gladly take any one of those three catchers at the end of a draft.

Stolen bases:

Only four players stole 40 bases, or more, last year. While you shouldn’t reach for stolen bases in the draft, you also shouldn’t completely punt the stat, either. If you find that most of your offense lacks speed, there could still be some value towards the end of the draft that focus primarily on steals.

Leonys Martin, TEX – After back-to-back 30 SB seasons, Martin can be a great source of wheels at the end of your draft.

Lorenzo Cain, KC – Last season, Cain swiped 28 bags. He also posted a .301 batting average. Prior to 2014, Cain had a .251 AVG. Don’t expect his average to be higher than .300, but I think you can rely on Cain’s speed.

Emilio Bonifacio, CWS – Bonifacio poached at least 26 bases in four-straight seasons and kept his batting average around .250.

Power:

You may have chosen to load your team with a tremendous pitching staff and need some bats to provide some pop.

Brandon Moss, CLE – Thanks to my colleague, John Halpin, I've done some research on the newest Cleveland Indian. From 2009-2011, Progressive Field surrendered 249 home runs to left-handed hitters. Only four parks allowed more: Yankee Stadium (390), Camden Yards (271), Citizens Bank Park (271), and Coors Field (258). Advantage, Moss.

Marlon Byrd, CIN – Yes, he’s 37-years-old, but hear me out. Byrd has hit at least 24 home runs and delivered 85 RBI in back-to-back seasons. Only 16 outfielders produced at least 80 RBI in 2014 and only eight of them hit as many homers as Byrd. Also, he gets to play in hitter-friendly Cincinnati this year.

Curtis Granderson, NYM – Last September, Granderson batted .299 with four home runs and 17 RBI. Also, the Mets signed Kevin Long as their hitting coach. Long was the hitting coach for the Yankees when the Grandy Man had back-to-back 40 HR seasons.

Closers:

Ah, yes, the “kicker” of the fantasy baseball world. The biggest reach in the draft will be the first person to select a relief pitcher. Aroldis Chapman and Craig Kimbrel are great closers, but neither has pitched more than 77 innings in a season. Also, no one tallied 50 saves in 2014. However, much like stolen bases, you shouldn’t give up the saves category.

Hector Rondon, CHC – As the Cubs’ closer, Rondon netted 29 saves last year. Chicago isn’t messing around this year. They’ve rebuilt their roster, as well as their scoreboard. Jon Lester leads the rotation and could provide Rondon with many opportunities in 2015.

Joaquin Benoit, SD – Much like the Cubs, the Padres also overhauled the club. James Shields is the new ace and the Padres could have the lead several times with the bats they’ve signed. That all sounds like great news for Benoit’s stock.

Ken Giles, PHI – Jonathan Papelbon has constantly been a source of trade rumors throughout the offseason and into Spring Training. If Papelbon is dealt, Giles becomes the new closer in Philly.

Risks:

Every fantasy baseball team needs to play the lotto at least once in the draft. By that, I mean you should add a prospect or potential call-up to your roster in hopes that they climb to the Bigs soon and make an impact in MLB. Or, maybe the player has a history of injuries, but you have the ability to profit if the player remains healthy.

Jung-ho Kang, PIT – I know that it wasn’t MLB, but in 2014, with the Nexen Heroes, Kang batted .356 with 40 home runs and 117 RBI.

Justin Verlander, DET – While it’s true that the velocity went down and the ERA went up over the last couple of seasons, Verlander still gets his starts. He has started in at least 30 games in nine-straight years, with double-digit wins each time.

Joc Pederson, LAD – The outfield dust has settled in L.A. and Pederson will finally get some playing time. Through his first eight Spring Training games of 2015, Pederson is 8-19 (.421). I think he’s ready to shine.

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