Fantasy Baseball 2018 Debate: Miguel Cabrera or Chris Davis

With fantasy owners preparing for next season, there will be a lot of player comparisons for drafts. We compare Miguel Cabrera and Chris Davis first.

The fantasy baseball season is under two weeks away from ending. Hopefully, you are competing for a championship. If not, don’t worry. There’s always next year. So, why not start preparing now? In a deep position that is first base, owners will have an internal debate on who to draft – Miguel Cabrera or Chris Davis.

Entering this season, these two players couldn’t have been valued any differently. Cabrera was a second-round pick in ESPN leagues. Davis had an ADP of 82.7, 9th round pick. Both have their quirks that make them worth drafting but Cabrera was clearly the better player.

Cabrera was known to be a constant power and contact hitter, averaging 33 home runs, 115 RBI and a .323/.402/.566 line from 2004 to 2016. That is a sure-fire lock if I’ve ever seen one.

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Davis, on the other hand, started his career very slowly. He combined for 104 games in 2010 and 2011. He picked things up once he joined the Baltimore Orioles. From 2012 to 2016, Davis averaged 39 home runs, 99 RBI and a .249/.340/.518 line in that span. He had a 53-home run season in 2013.

Just looking that these numbers over their respective careers, no wonder Cabrera had a seven-round higher ADP for this season. However, with just 10 days left to the season that seems to be changed.

Cabrera spent a little time on the DL, resulting in just 125 games played so far. He has a .245 average, the lowest of his career by far. Cabrera hit 16 home runs and drove in 60 runs, the second worst and worst of his career as well. Things get worse as he has a .326 on-base percentage with just 53 walks.

The Detroit Tigers are in sell mode as they shipped off Justin Verlander, Justin Upton and a few other top players. Cabrera is signed until 2023 and two options for the next two seasons. Unless they find a team to take on some of that salary, he will be there for the next six seasons.

As far as Davis goes, it’s been more of the same from him. He is hitting .217/.312/.428 with 24 home runs, 56 RBI and a 180:57 K:BB ratio. The power and ratio stats are all down from last year but he has just 118 games played. Davis missed the end of June and beginning of July.

So, with Cabrera dropping his production and Davis staying the same, they are only two spots apart on the ESPN Player Rater. Cabrera is 49th and Davis is 51st. Even Chase Headley is way ahead of them at No. 23.

The big question entering next season is if you think Cabrera will repeat this performance or if he goes back to his superstar status. He will be 35 in the third week of next season. There are very few players still fantasy relevant at 35 years old, but it is possible.

Davis will be 32 at the start of next year, so he’s not that far behind. But, Davis has been the same player since joining the Orioles. We know what to expect, 25-30 home runs, 60-70 RBI and a .220 average. It’s not favorable but it could be worse.

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The final days of the season will determine Cabrera’s value for next year. If he can pick up the pace and show some signs of life, then he’ll move up my rankings. If not, then he and Davis will be ranked closer than previous years.

You could easily end up with both as Cabrera could slot as your DH and Davis your first baseman. Based on potential and past performances, I would have to stick with Cabrera for one more season.

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