2023 Asset Group Analysis – (AV)

For hitters in the (AV) group, plan for a batting average in the .270-.285 range. This group fell very near that range a year ago, including a pair that hit above .300. Regarding value, BABS tells us a draft price near Round 15 (or a $4 AAV) feels about right, when considering how this group falls among the BABS asset groups, with validation also from The Fish List. With that background, how should we target this collection for a spot on your fantasy roster?

Ty France (pictured), Josh Bell and Alex Verdugo are being acquired a few rounds/dollars higher than what might be considered their fair market price. Does that mean we should rule them out? Not necessarily. If your roster construction through the first 10-12 rounds has taken on some excess risk, you might need to mitigate more potential downside by paying a slight premium for these three low-risk options.

Lourdes Gurriel brands an (INJ) liability from his offseason wrist surgery, which may have explained his power outage last season. He now moves from the Rogers Centre to an Arizona park that has not been kind to hitters in recent years. His $3.50 hit to your risk budget may not be worth it. BABS leans more to Andrew Benintendi who moves into a favorable park environment and should hit in the middle of a strong White Sox lineup.

It gets more appealing as we move further down the list. Yandy Diaz is available at a five-round discount to the prior pair, fresh off his career best season fueled by a .298 BA and .401 OBP in 558 PA’s. BABS imagines another season of profit potential.

The final three names are rarely being drafted, but BABS thinks they should be on your end game. Gio Urshela hit .285 with a career high 551 plate appearances in 2022 for Minnesota.  Now he moves to LAA, where his outlook for a starting infield role looks promising.

For years Michael Brantley carried the prestigious BABS (A+) rating. The 35-year-old has now fallen a notch, coming off 2022 where a shoulder injury brought a premature end to his season while placing a cloud over his status to begin this spring. Still, this is a professional hitter who logged four straight seasons with a .300+ BA prior to a year ago.

Harold Ramirez reached a best-ever.300 a year ago, which enabled his most ever playing time. He returns for another season in Tampa and carries dual position eligibility yet is still available around pick 500.