2022 MULTI-POSITION PLAYERS

(Photo by Larry Placido/Icon Sportswire)

by Pat Cloghessy

We speak about amassing value at the draft table, a self-explanatory concept. At times during the draft, it may also be possible to compound this proposition with value-added. Batters eligible at multiple positions extend roster flexibility. A first round selection of Trea Turner [2B/SS] also creates draft elasticity. This creates both short-term (during draft) and long-term (in season) utility. 

Turner and Tatis, Jr. both present this opportunity right up top. As Top 5 picks, they are unicorns in this sense. Other occasions to exploit this value-add throughout the draft do crop up. BABS has a line on all of them. Here are the BABS ratings for multi-position batters inside the top 400 who will potentially provide positive value to your team:

ADP R$ MULTI-POSITION Pos Tm PT Pw Sp Av * Rg Sk Inj Ex Ag Rg RISK
2 $51 Tatis Jr.,Fernando 6o9 SD F P+ SB AV   inj-     3.00
2 $51 Turner,Trea 64 LA F S+ A+       Rg- 0.25
64 $17 Baez,Javier 64 DET F p SB AV       Rg- 0.50
145 $9 Muncy,Max 34 LA F P+ a *   INJ     3.00
77 $15 Chisholm,Jazz 46 MIA F p S+   inj- e   2.00
82 $15 Marte,Ketel 8o4 ARI F p A+   INJ   Rg- 3.25
96 $13 Varsho,Daulton o28 ARI F p SB a     EX   2.00
143 $9 Taylor,Chris o8476 LA F p SB a         0.00
31 $24 Merrifield,Whit 4o KC F SB AV         0.00
107 $12 Mountcastle,Ryan 307o BAL F PW a     e   1.00
169 $8 McMahon,Ryan 54 COL F PW a         0.00
83 $14 Polanco,Jorge 46 MIN F p AV         0.00
394 $(1) Flores,Wilmer 534 SF M p AV   inj-     1.00
84 $14 Edman,Tommy 4o9 STL F SB a         0.00
221 $5 Lux,Gavin 64 LA M SB a   inj- e   2.00
352 $0 Wendle,Joe 56 MIA F SB a         0.25
326 $1 Brujan,Vidal o4 TAM P S+ a   -P   EX   3.00
278 $3 Hampson,Garrett 8o4 COL P p S+   -A       3.00
33 $24 Semien,Marcus 46 TEX F p a         0.25
90 $14 Bryant,Kris o579 SF F p a *   inj-     1.00
161 $8 Urias,Luis 654 MIL F p a   inj- e   2.00
173 $7 Kirilloff,Alex o39 MIN F p a   INJ EX   5.00
190 $6 Escobar,Eduardo 54 NYM F p a         0.50
220 $5 Hernandez,Enrique o84 BOS F p a   inj-     1.00
308 $2 Wade,LaMonte o973 SF M p a *   inj- e   2.00
119 $11 Cronenworth,Jake 463 SD F AV     e   1.00
138 $10 France,Ty 304 SEA F AV         0.00
147 $9 Stephenson,Tyler 23 CIN F AV     EX   2.00
315 $1 McNeil,Jeff 4o7 NYM M AV   inj-     1.00
303 $2 Arraez,Luis 547o MIN F A+   -P INJ e   5.00
204 $6 Suarez,Eugenio 56 CIN F P+ * Rg+ -A       3.00
160 $8 Rodgers,Brendan 46 COL F a   INJ e Rg- 4.25
200 $6 Schoop,Jonathan 34 DET F a   inj-     1.00
229 $5 Rojas,Josh 4o69 ARI M a   inj- e Rg- 2.25
260 $3 Toro,Abraham 45 SEA F a     e   1.00
267 $3 Urshela,Giovanny 56 NYY M a   INJ     3.00
367 $(0) Smith,Pavin o9387 ARI M a     e   1.00
380 $(0) Harrison,Josh 45o OAK M a         0.00
333 $1 Fletcher,David 46 LAA F s AV   -P inj-     2.00
112 $12 LeMahieu,DJ 435 NYY F AV Rg+ -P inj-     2.00

ASSETS: PT (Playing time), Pw (Power), Sp (Speed), Av (Batting Effectiveness), * (OBP help), Rg (Regression help). LIABILITIES: Sk (Skills risk), Inj (Injury), Ex (Inexperience),  Ag (Age decline), Rg (Regression hurt), Risk cost

Beginning in round 5, we see dual-eligibility (SS/2B) middle-infielders like Javier Baez (p,SB,AV) and Jazz Chisolm (p,S+) leave the board. Both are solid power/speed options. Ketel Marte (p,A+) and Jorge Polanco (p,AV) are a touch cheaper, though lacking SB prowess. Marte’s asset mix does have a unique quality: it’s the same as Vlad Guerrero, Jr. and Corey Seager. Not bad for a 2B/OF eligible player in the 6th round. 

Pictured above is Chris Taylor (p,SB,a), who checks in with a OF/SS/2B profile. Taylor’s ADP near the 150s seems criminally under slot. There are precious few triple-asset bats, period. Let alone guys with this flexibility. Chris Taylor (Value++). 

Tommy Edman (SB,a) can immediately fit at OF/2B, and brings the speed at ADP 84. This skill set fits either position very well. Joey Wendle is in the same asset group/position mix, yet sits way back at ADP 352. Wendle is still only 31 years old, so his SB asset is playable. A prototypical end-gamer with speed and multi-position utility. 

Within the pool of flexible batsmen lies a fairly robust asset group (p,a). These skills are ready to help in four categories, and hurt none. We can leave 3rd rounder Marcus Semien aside and focus on potential value. Kris Bryant (3B/OF) boasts a positional combination that is in short supply at ADP 91. Ryan Mountcastle and Alex Kirillof have 1B/OF on lock, allowing all sorts of power (Pw) moves after pick 100. Mountcastle has plenty of believers at ADP 108. Kirillof still has something to prove, and that’s priced in at ADP 173. 

Luis Urias (p,a) is a player all his own. He’s fresh off a breakout 2021, and plays in a great hitters park. Urias carries three different infield gloves in his bag (2B/3B/SS). His 160 ADP is ripe for draft season helium. 

The annual Ryan McMahon-crush is here again in 2022. BABS has him as one of the most powerful (PW,a) multi-position bats (2B/3B). He’s still here, he still plays in Coors, and still has 30 HR pop. One of these years he will reach that level, and we can all (Ron included) get some closure. 

Garret Hampson deserves mention, if only for two reasons: Speed (S+) and Coors effect. His 2B/OF won’t hurt, though his BA might. If Trevor Story ultimately leaves town, Hampson’s early 276 ADP will likely rise.  

Daulton Varsho (C/OF) and Tyler Stephenson (C/1B) won’t be playing anything other than catcher in fantasy lineups, but they probably will IRL. This is nothing but good news, as more at-bats mean more counting stats. Varsho (p,SB) will cost ya (ADP 94). Stephenson (AV) will too (ADP 146). The market is smart. You can tell this by how often the drafting public acts BABSian. 

NOTES: The chart above may vary slightly from the latest database update which was run after this analysis was written. To engage with other readers on this topic, head over to the Reader Forums. If you have a question that would be best answered by one of our experts and benefit everyone, submit it on our Contact Page and put MAILBAG in the Subject Line.