Fantasy Baseball: 2019 First Look – Yahoo MLB Season-Long Analysis

Pitchers and Catchers are probably playing catch right now as I am writing this, and as spring training approaches, it is time to start thinking about Fantasy Baseball once again. I personally give my season-long action to Pro Leagues on Yahoo, and Best Ball drafts on DRAFT.

This article will focus on Yahoo for ADP and current rankings, but can be used across all season-long Fantasy Baseball platforms. For those that invest in season-long leagues for MLB we have you covered here at FantasyCPR as always.

Let me start by saying I have been playing competitive season-long Fantasy Baseball for over 20 years, and I still play on Yahoo even with the takeover of Daily Fantasy Sports, simply because there is still an edge to be had. I am not going to go through scoring for any specific site in this first look. I will instead focus on the first things I am noticing in early mock drafts, relative to ADP and rankings. Closer to the regular season, I plan to have an article with rankings specifically for Yahoo, and I will touch more on the Pro Leagues they offer then.

Like any season-long fantasy website, there are going to be some players who are not even close to being ranked where they are being drafted, and having knowledge of which players these are will give you an edge in your early drafts. I will go position by position, and talk about a handful of players who maybe are being drafting other than somewhere where their ranking and ADP suggest they should be.

Multi-Position Eligibility – (MPE)

Of course some players have multi-position eligibility, which I will refer to as MPE from here on out. I talk about it quite a bit for certain players, and how valuable it is to have a few guys you can play at multiple positions. For players that fall in this category, I will simply fit them in for wherever it works for my article.

First example that jumps out right away is Alex Bregman. He can be played at 3B or SS, even though he primarily plays 3B. If it works out where I write him up with the shortstops (which I will not), then that should only prove the point that these players need to be taken advantage of.

Some of them actually play all over the diamond, but some, like Bregman, earned their MPE by filling in for injuries. Carlos Correa will be the Astros shortstop when he is healthy, but for fantasy purposes, that doesn’t mean much.

With that said, let’s start with the pitchers, and continue each position on each slide to keep it an easy read. Please click the bar below to proceed!

Fantasy Baseball: 2019 First Look – Starting Pitchers (SP)

***Don’t skip this part!***

Each player listed will be followed by three numbers, each in parenthesis. The first number represents the current default ranking by Yahoo. The second is my personal rankings at this point, and the third number is the current ADP. It is still prior to preseason so all of these numbers will change as we get closer to the season. My goal here will be to help you analyze and realize how these three numbers work together to give you perspective on when and where to draft your targets, and who to maybe pass on.

Luis Severino – New York Yankees – (37) – (25) – (35.3)

I had to bump him up a bit more than I would have like to it seems, but Severino is once again primed for another great season in Yankee pinstripes. Last year in my fantasy baseball preview I wrote for Forward Mile, I was all about grabbing Severino in the fifth or sixth round as my first pitcher, and being completely comfortable with it.

It is safe to say that was sound advice, as he finished the season with 220 strikeouts in 191.1 innings pitched, with 17 quality starts to go with a 3.39 ERA. This year we don’t have the luxury of drafting him so late, as he is creeping up into the third round. I have him ranked 25th at the moment which means I can have him in the third round if I want him, but I am not sure if this is too early for a SP quite yet.

Clayton Kershaw – Los Angeles Dodgers – (68) – (27) – (35.2)

Father time is catching up to Kershaw, but in my opinion, he will be back to being the best pitcher in baseball once again if he can stay 100% healthy. It is safe to say the Yahoo! Default rankings are a bit flawed, so if you have played there before you will know what I mean. Sometimes you can’t even find players without a refined search. This will be touched on a little later I am sure, but in Kershaw’s case, 68 is kind of bad right? Well don’t worry it gets much worse.

Just like Severino, I have seen Kershaw go in the third round for the most part. If either pitcher ends up available in the fourth round of your draft, I think they have to be considered. Considering what Kershaw has done in the past, it may have looked like a down season for the most part, but while the strikeout numbers were certainly down, 20 quality starts in just 161.1 innings pitched is pretty impressive.

James Paxton – New York Yankees – (94) – (52) – (62.3)

Adding Paxton to this rotation could possibly be what the Yankees need to contend for another World Series. The Big Maple in now a 30-year-old veteran, who when healthy is one of the best strikeout pitchers in baseball. Paxton was quoted as saying his goal is to pitch 200 innings this season, and if he can do that, his numbers could be incredible.

I have my doubts he can reach that threshold however, as last season marked the first time in his career that he eclipsed 160 innings. He occasionally gets hit and gives up some runs, so his 3.76 ERA is something that could be improved on, but amassing 208 strikeouts in 160.1 innings is huge for fantasy purposes.

I think this ADP only increases as the season approaches. People seem to love when star players land on new teams, and Paxton looks to be an early favorite. I have seen him go in the fifth round, and I would happy taking him as my first pitcher in the sixth if it falls that way.

Madison Bumgarner – San Francisco Giants – (86) – (75) – (101.9)

MadBum has been the victim of being a part of what just has been a terrible Giants team the last two seasons, and on top of that, there is no doubt he himself has seen better days. Injuries have plagued the 29-year-old the last two seasons, but prior to that, he was one of the most reliable pitchers in baseball for six straight seasons.

In each season from 2011 to 2016, Bumgarner eclipsed 200 innings pitched, capped by his best season in 2016 in which he threw 226.2 and struck out 251. However, he hasn’t been the same since. It is hard to believe we are just two years removed from dominance and a potential top 50 overall pick, but here we are. I expect a comeback this season, as he is still young fairly young, and his ADP is making him worth grabbing as your second or third SP in round nine or so.

J.A. Happ – New York Yankees – (105) – (115) – (134.2)

I know it is early, but this one is confusing me. Happ was a completely different pitcher when he landed in the Bronx last season in late July in a trade. He quietly went 7-0 with 2.69 ERA in pinstripes after the trade, and the 36-year-old crafty veteran seemed to have his career a bit rejuvenated. I love Yankees pitchers because they are always in a good spot to pick up a win. Happ was solid proof of this last season.

With the numbers related to Happ above, it appears as though I will be able to have him in every draft if I am paying attention. I have no problem taking him in round eleven or twelve, which is earlier than his ADP suggests he is going. Happ’s strikeout numbers improved dramatically last year as he approached 200, finishing with 193. If he keeps up that aspect of his game, I am going to love all of these shares that I no doubt am bound to have.

Sleepers:

Alex Reyes – St. Louis Cardinals – (328) – (136) – (191.5)

Nick Pivetta – Philadelphia Phillies- (354) – (138) – (154.5)

Fantasy Baseball: 2019 First Look – Relief Pitchers (RP)

Felipe Vazquez – Pittsburgh Pirates – (71) – (79) – (93.9)

The closer formerly known as Felipe Rivero is one of my favorite closers in the game, and his chances at having a 40+ save season in Pittsburgh are slim to none, but he did notch 37 last year, so 30-35 this season seems easily attainable. There were trade rumors around the deadline last year, so should he end up on a contender, he could also end up in a great spot with more opportunities.

Vazquez is a big lefty with a fastball that can eclipse triple digits, and he counters that with a curveball and a nasty slider, while also mixing in a change-up. He has been one of the harder relievers to hit in the league over the past two seasons,and is just 27-year-old. I never take a closer before the tenth round, and if Vazquez is there, he is my first choice without question.

Ken Giles – Toronto Blue Jays – (118) – (99) – (141.2) 

Giles had his best season in 2017 with the Astros, when he notched 34 saves, with 83 strikeouts in 62.2 innings of work. He had some struggles last season, and turned out to be quite the thorn in the Astros side when they decided to demote him. He ended up in Toronto after a trade, and while he got his closer gig back, things did not necessarily get better.

The job seems safe at this point, as Giles did save 14 games with the Jays in 2018, in just 19.2 innings with his new club. He did continue to give up some runs however, as his ERA was still over four. While I have him ranked 99th, that is only so I remember him. I like to take a cluster of closers in rounds 10-14 or so, anywhere from two-to-three. Giles will be among those that I consider.

Cody Allen – Los Angeles Angels – (148) – (100) – (166.8)

The long time Cleveland Indians closer is off to the west coast, where he will be greeted by the Angels with a one-year contract and just over eight million dollars. Expectations will be high, and Allen is slipping through the cracks in early drafts.

Saves are important, but often boring and overlooked. You can always accumulate saves through free agency at times throughout the season, but spending a 12th or 13th round pick on a closer that was brought in to solidify a long time problem and shaky position is not a bad idea. That ADP will be up to around 130 by mid-March. I will be doing my part to get it there.

Fantasy Baseball: 2019 First Look – Catchers (C)

J.T. Realmuto (C/1B) – Philadelphia Phillies – (78) – (40) – (59.2)

The catcher position in season-long fantasy baseball is one that people that have played a long time probably have a strong opinion on. There is one camp that says no catcher is worth picking until the end of your draft, and basically punting with what is left and scouring the waiver wire all season long until something good comes along. Then there are the guys like me, that get dead set on a reliable catcher, and figure out exactly where I am going to draft them before anyone else does.

Last year that guy was Gary Sanchez, and I spent many a third round pick on him and that did not end well. However, I was also high on Realmuto as well, and when he was still sitting there in later rounds, I grabbed him as well. Don’t wait too long to grab your catcher if you are in a draft with me or I will grab them both!

Realmuto was finally dealt to Philadelphia this off-season, as the fire sale of the Marlins is now complete. A perennial .300 hitter, he should fit very well in the top part of this lineup with Rhys Hoskins, and other newcomers Andrew McCutchen and Jean Segura. It’s still early, but at this point I am all in on J.T. with my fifth round pick this year.

Willson Contreras – Chicago Cubs – (520) – (77) – (133.7)

After hitting .276 with 21 home runs in 2017, Contreras was kind of the hot commodity last season while I was too focused on Sanchez. Well this one didn’t really work out too well either, as Contreras battled some injuries, and endured a slight sophomore slump. His batting average dipped below .250 in 2018, and he only slugged 10 home runs, which draft wise, looks to have put him back in the category of just another catcher.

If I miss on Realmuto, I moved Contreras up about 15 spots in my early rankings just to remember him. I likely wouldn’t take a chance on him until about round 12, but this is another player whose ADP will likely creep up as the season nears.

Sleepers:

Francisco Meija – San Diego Padres – (552) – (131) – (215.4)

Danny Jansen – Toronto Blue Jays – (1158) – (182) – (210.4)

Fantasy Baseball: 2019 First Look – First Baseman (1B)

Cody Bellinger (1B/OF) – Los Angeles Dodgers – (62) – (28) – (44.7)

Speaking of injuries and sophomore slumps, Bellinger was another player I was all over last year, and had plenty of shares of. The young Dodgers star burst onto the scene in 2017 and belted 39 home runs, and I seem to remember waiting for that all year last year.

Well what is great about baseball is that adjustments are constantly being made, and pitchers were starting to figure out where to pitch him to keep him from doing damage. That led to just 25 home runs in 2018, and what that means to me is, now I can wait until the fourth round to draft him this year.

Bellinger is a great hitter, with a smooth swing, in a stacked lineup. He has been quoted recently in Dodgers publications saying he wants to play everyday, and not be part of a platoon. I think he gets slept on a bit after a mediocre 2018, and I fully expect a bounce back season.

Rhys Hoskins (1B/OF) – Philadelphia Phillies – (58) – (29) – (40.8)

Hoskins played the outfield much of last season, and he poised to return to first base where he belongs this season. The Phillies will have a ton of new faces in the clubhouse, and with the addition of veteran Andrew McCutchen, the table is set for Hoskins to return to his natural position. The 25-year-old rising star slugged 34 home runs last season with not much around him, and I am thinking he has a huge season with some new threats around him.

This one is pretty much a toss-up for me between Hoskins and Bellinger, but if the Phillies land one of the remaining prized free agents in Bryce Harper or Manny Machado then look out. Again, with all of these new faces, the top half of this lineup will look completely different this year.

Jesus Aguilar – Milwaukee Brewers – (140) – (69) – (82.1)

After the Bellingers’, Hoskins’, and Anthony Rizzos‘ of the world have been drafted, the talent pool at first base really takes a dive. Once they are gone, a priority really has to be set on grabbing a guy that can at least get you 30 home runs, and the first one that comes to mind is Aguilar.

Do we know if we can do it again? Of course not. But the presence of Christian Yelich in that Brewers lineup opens things up for everyone else. If Aguilar comes anywhere close to his .274-34-108 line he put up last season he will easily be worth an eighth round pick. I bumped him up a bit in my rankings in case I end up without one of my top picks come round seven, and am forced with this decision.

Matt Olson – Oakland Athletics – (115) – (88) – (99.3) 

One player that may cause me to pass on Aguilar maybe a bit too early is Olson, but I have to warn you. If you wait this long and miss out on Olson, you will hard pressed to find they type of first baseman you need to win a fantasy baseball championship.

The 24-year-old Olson blasted 29 home runs last season after hitting 24 in limited at-bats in 2017. He won’t hit for average, and he will strike out, but he should definitely contribute in the home run and RBI columns. Olson will likely get drafted right after Aguilar, so keep that in mind.

Sleepers:

C.J. Cron – Minnesota Twins – (272) – (182) – (250)

Fantasy Baseball: 2019 First Look – Second Baseman (2B)

Jose Altuve – Houston Astros – (17) – (8) – (13.8)

It is safe to say Altuve is by far the best fantasy second baseman in the game. Even a slightly down year in which he hit only .316 has him sliding down in drafts a little further than we are used to. For years it seems, Altuve has been a top five draft pick, and he was just a guy that slotted in somewhere early in your draft.

He is coming off of knee surgery, and will be eased along in spring training, but is said to be fully healthy. Although his numbers dipped a bit, he still contributes in all categories which is huge, and this position is really only three or four deep every year it seems. I have no problem taking him at the end of the first round this year, but I really like this next guy this year.

Ozzie Albies – Atlanta Braves – (112) – (42) – (49.1)

All the buzz about the Braves young rising stars seemed focused on Ronald Acuna Jr., and while he certainly was solid, Ozzie Albies seemed to be the catalyst of this offense for most of the season. The rookie posted a .261 batting average, staying healthy all season and hitting near the top of the lineup. He scored 105 runs, and slugged 24 home runs, while also stealing 14 bases.

With the Braves on the up-and-up, I look for Albies to be a heavy contributor for this offense once again. My guess is the home run numbers dip a little bit, while the batting average and stolen bases increase. Yahoo has nine guys in front of him at second base, but I currently have him ranked fourth at the position. Depending on my draft position, he is looking like a fourth round target for me.

Whit Merrifield  (1B/2B/OF) – Kansas City Royals – (56) – (43) – (40.6)

The only reason Merrifield gets this much love in my opinion is the MPE. You can see with his ADP and my ranking, I am not as high on him as most are. His expectations were down a bit last year, but 45 stolen bases alone maybe makes him worthy of where he is being drafted. Merrifield hit .304 with 88 runs scored for a bad team, and added 12 home runs as well. The stolen bases may still be there this year, but I expect some regression for Merrifield.

Travis Shaw (1B/2B/3B) – Milwaukee Brewers – (99) – (95) – (108.3)

Shaw may end up in some sort of platoon with the Brewers this season, but he has now posted back-to-back 30+ home run seasons, and is just being drafted way too late for someone with power and MPE across the infield. I put Shaw at the this position for a reason, and that would be to show you that if you miss out on the three I mentioned above, there is still 30+ home run potential in the ninth or tenth round.

Fantasy Baseball: 2019 First Look – Third Baseman (3B)

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – Toronto Blue Jays – (1033) – (46) – (50.2)

As much as I am excited for Vlad Jr. this season, I may have to keep my exposure to him to DFS, because he is being drafted ridiculously high in the early goings. The dumbest rule in professional sports has to do with time served in the MLB, and if the Jays keep him in the minors until a certain date, they gain his rights for an extra year.

From what I read, this is exactly what they plan to do, which puts a serious dent in his season-long fantasy stock. No way I am spending a fourth or fifth round pick on a question mark. Third base gets pretty thin, but there certainly some better starters being drafted later at this point.

Eugenio Suarez – Cincinnati Reds – (70) – (47) – (58.8)

Suarez was an all-star in 2018, and the fact that he is slipping into the fifth and sixth rounds is absurd to me. He has the benefit of playing half of his games in hitter friendly Great American Ball Park, and he absolutely crushes left-handed pitching.

Suarez finished 2018 with 34 home runs and 104 RBI’s, while posting a respectable .283 batting average. If I miss on Suarez and this point am still trying to fill my third base position, it looks as though I will be putting a priority on this next player.

Miguel Andujar – New York Yankees – (137) – (68) – (83)

Will the Yankees sign Manny Machado? Or will they stick with the promising looking future they have with Miguel Andujar. This is always a win now team, and if they cannot handle the growing pains they are likely to have with Andujar, maybe they decide to make another push at Machado?

Rumors are they will test him out at first base in spring training, so maybe that door is still open. I personally don’t think so, but Andujar is likely looked at as a defensive liability at third base. Either way, they will want this young mans bat in the lineup, as he had a fantastic 2018 that I fully expect him to improve on. Andujar hit .297 with 27 home runs, and drove-in 92 runs as well.

Max Muncy (1B/2B/3B) – Los Angeles Dodgers – (134) – (96) – (124.3)

Another MPE darling for me, I am almost happy Muncy slumped the way he did at the end of the season. The only reason and benefit of that of course is the fact he is now slipping way too far in early drafts. Muncy likely will platoon, and sit against left-handed pitching, but the former Oakland Athletic blasted 35 home runs last season, and will only cost you a mid round pick. It will be interesting to see how he gets used this year, but a chance at 30+ home runs after round 11 or so is pretty rare.

Fantasy Baseball: 2019 First Look – Shortstops (SS)

Francisco Lindor – Cleveland Indians – (25) – (3) – (7.5)

That injury tag may scare some off in the early goings, but Indians manager Terry Francona has been recently quoted saying he isn’t much worried about it, and that he thinks Lindor will be ready for opening day. I certainly hope so, because even though there is some depth this year, Lindor is looking like my number three overall player.

Despite the horrible Yahoo! default ranking of 25, he is still going in the first round of your drafts. Many expect regression from Lindor, but the only number I can see decreasing is the home run total. Lindor launched 38 long balls last year, and he never projected as much of a power guy. He will still score runs and steal bases, and is easily in a league of his own at the top of the shortstop postition this season.

Carlos Correa – Houston Astros – (98) – (30) – (34.7)

Correas’ struggles last season were widely noted, and the dip in production as a whole from the Astros offense could not be expected. Altuve had just an average season, George Springer had some serious cold streaks, and the 24-year-old Correa who was expected to improve on his impressive 2017 numbers went the other way.

Correa hit .315 with 24 homers in 2017, and looked to be on his way to be superstar status. However, things just were not coming as easy for him last year. He saw his average dip all the way down to .239, while he hit just 15 home runs. He cost you a first or second round pick last year, and I guarantee if you drafted him, you will have a sour taste for him this year, but this talent is too good for where he is being drafted.

I fully expect Correa and all of the Astros offense to bounce back a bit this season, and right the ship. The addition of Michael Brantley will help some if he can stay healthy, and it sounds like Correa has made some changes to his routine to stay focused. The hunger for winning will return to Houston, and I think Correa will end up a steal if he slips to the fourth round.

Gleyber Torres (2B/SS) – New York Yankees – (113) – (53) – (63.6)

The only frustrating thing about the rookie season of the 22-year-old rising star was his usage. Torres put together a solid season, while spending a ton of time learning things at the bottom of the lineup. It seemed like when they tried to move him up in the lineup, he struggled a bit. Then they would drop him back down and he would go on a tear.

I am not sure how the Yankees will use him yet this season as far as batting lineup goes, but the MPE at two scarce positions makes him worth grabbing a little earlier than most would. He struck out quite a bit last year, but finished with a solid .271 batting average, while belting out 24 home runs. Torres will likely slip into the sixth round, and if ends up hitting at the top of the lineup this season, he could have a big year and end up a steal.

Fantasy Baseball: 2019 First Look – Outfielders (OF)

Andrew Benintendi – Boston Red Sox – (33) – (20) – (25.9)

True five-tool players are of course hard to come by, and players that can do it all help so much in season-long fantasy leagues. Another young rising star, the 24-year-old Benintendi is pretty darn close, and he is getting more love this season than I wish he was. He gets the benefit of batting between Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez, and I expect this kid to only get better.

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The numbers across the board are impressive, but one thing of note right off the get go, is that Benintendi has stolen 20 bases in each of the last two seasons. If you don’t draft a big power guy this early, you better make sure you have all of the other categories covered. He hit .290 last season, scored 103 runs, and even drove-in 87 more. All pretty impressive, and while he wont hit a ton of long balls, he does play at Fenway Park, and he did 41 doubles last season.

Lorenzo Cain – Milwaukee Brewers – (109) – (55) – (53.5)

I tend to get one good OF early, then wait a bit to grab my second, but I can see Lorenzo Cain making that a little tougher on me this year. The only problem is that I try to target certain positions in certain rounds, and right around the time Cain will be drafted, I will be focused on some infield positions, and could very well still need my first pitcher.

The long time Kansas City Royal is getting up there at 32-years-old, but the change of scenery that put him in Milwaukee for the 2018 season helped him to his best year at the plate since 2015. Cain hit .308 and stole 30 bases, and should once again be a solid 1-2 punch with Christian Yelich at the top of this Brewers lineup this season. He will likely be gone by the sixth round, but that would be the earliest I would pull the trigger at this point.

Tommy Pham – Tampa Bay Rays – (48) – (56) – (85.2)

Pham was a guy I had a ton of 2017, as he finally had a solid season, and continued to get monetarily ignored by the Cardinals. It was a popular story how he just wanted to get paid, and how the business end of the game can be ugly. Regardless, he finally got his wish and was traded to Tampa Bay, after the bridges were completely burned and there was no chance he was re-signing.

In that 2017 season, Pham hit .306, and amassed 23 home runs and 25 stolen bases. He was a source of solid value, but it became clear he wasn’t happy the first half of 2018. He saw his average dip to .248 before he was traded, and he finished the season on a high note with Tampa. Pham hit .343 in 143 at-bats in a Rays uniform, and looks to anchor the top of this lineup this season.

Mitch Haniger – Seattle Mariners – (101) – (90) – (79.6)

Haniger is a good young starting outfielder, but his ADP is a little high for me at this point. There were times last season where he looked pretty lost at the plate still, but his improvement in his numbers shows he is still developing into a solid player.

He hit .285 with 26 home runs last season, and I understand those numbers are getting harder to come by at around the eighth round, but Haniger is a guy I just do not see matching that output once again. It may not seem like a big deal now, but the Mariners will have a huge presence to fill with the loss of Nelson Cruz. That could hinder Hanigers’ output a bit.

Sleepers:

Niko Goodrum (1B/2B/3B/SS/OF) – Detroit Tigers – (435) – (148) – (235.8)

Domingo Santana – Seattle Mariners – (321) – (156) – (249.4)

There are not many people out there more excited for fantasy baseball than me. Although I write about multiple sports, the older I get, the more passionate I stay about Major League Baseball. I hope you enjoyed me sharing my first look at things for this upcoming 2019 season, and I always hope you will join me next time.

Season-long fantasy baseball is a journey, and one that not many who commit to stay committed to. With the popularity of DFS, it seems that some who end up with a bad team just give up. I have seen it cash leagues, specifically Pro Leagues on Yahoo, and as long as those people still play, I will too.

Expect a full rankings article sometime in early-to-mid March, focused on Yahoo Rankings and season-long Pro Leagues already running in the Yahoo Fantasy lobby. Until then, if you have any fantasy baseball questions I will always respond on Twitter. Thank you for reading, and it is time to gear up for baseball season!