2020 Asset Group Analysis – (AV)

(Photograph by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire)

Asset groups are how BABS assembles players with comparable skills and then reviews how the marketplace ranks them. The philosophy is that, if several players are comparable, they should be valued at about the same level. As described in Chapter 2 of The BABS Project 3.0, that’s is not always the case, It is here where we can uncover numerous opportunities to build profit into our rosters.

 

 

(AV)
ADP R$ BATTER Pos Tm PT Pw Sp Av * Pk Rg Sk- Inj Ex Nw Ag Pk Rg
57 $18 Guerrero,Vladimir 3D TOR F AV e
67 $16 Rizzo,Anthony 1 CHC F AV *
87 $14 McNeil,Jeff O23 NYM F AV inj- e Rg-
132 $10 Gurriel,Yuli 13 HOU F AV Ag
189 $6 Reynolds,Bryan O PIT F AV inj- e
223 $5 Verdugo,Alex O BOS M AV INJ EX Nw
234 $4 Molina,Yadier C STL M AV INJ Ag
238 $4 Urshela,Giovanny 3 NYY F AV inj- e Rg-
248 $3 Murphy,Daniel 1 COL F AV inj-
254 $3 Peralta,David O ARZ F AV INJ
260 $3 Andujar,Miguel D NYY P AV Rg+ INJ e
270 $3 Castro,Starlin 23 WAS F AV Pk+ Nw
272 $3 Votto,Joey 1 CIN F AV * Ag
285 $2 Akiyama,Shogo O CIN F AV inj- EX
288 $2 La Stella,Tommy 23 LAA F AV INJ
360 $0 Pillar,Kevin O BOS M AV – Nw
390 $0 Cano,Robinson 2 NYM F AV INJ Ag
427 $(1) Winker,Jesse O CIN M AV * INJ e
459 $(2) Dubon,Mauricio 2 SFG M AV – Rg+ EX
459 $(2) Martinez,Jose O TBR P AV inj- Nw
562 $(4) Markakis,Nick O ATL M AV inj- Ag
575 $(4) Bart,Joey C SFG P AV EX
624 $(5) Flores,Wilmer 2 SFG P AV INJ Nw Pk- Rg-
743 $(6) Hechavarria,Adeiny 2S ATL P AV –

Fantasy owners who are looking for significant batting skills will find that the (AV) group is very deep. There are 13 full time players, and another 11 mid- or part-timers. Unfortunately, this group is chockfull of liabilities, as only six of the 24 are devoid of injury or experience risks. The singular skill of batting effectiveness casts a wide net and the market view of this group is extremely diverse.

While BABS rates these players with a solo asset, it does not mean that they won’t contribute in other ways. (AV) players are good sources of runs and RBIs. It also bears mentioning again that, with baseball’s inflated home run level, the average bar that BABS needs players to cross has gotten higher. You might consider a 25-HR hitter as having value to your roster; reality says that is barely a league average contribution.

So yes, Vladimir Guerrero and Anthony Rizzo will hit home runs. You need them to hit more.

Scanning the remaining full-time players, BABS sees some names that start to become attractive as we approach ADP’s beyond the 15th round. Daniel Murphy, who once was a member of the rare A+ group, can still be regarded for his solid batting skills. Murphy is available at least 10 rounds later than his acquisition price from a year ago. Both David Peralta and Starlin Castro become appealing selections at their ADPs of 254 and 270. Joey Votto might be an interesting last-gasp rebound speculation at 272.

Among the part-timers, perhaps the most interesting is the Yankees Miguel Andujar, who had a sensational rookie season in 2018, but a shoulder surgery wrecked his 2019 follow-on campaign. Andujar has the skills, the question will be whether he can secure enough at bats in New York given the number of other talented players surrounding him. The market is surprisingly bullish given that he is being drafted ahead of some full-timers. That is a draft risk in itself.

There are plenty of intriguing end-gamers to consider. Tommy La Stella was amidst a career breakout last year before a broken leg ended it prematurely. Jesse Winker has huge upside if he can ever get on the field. SF rookie Mauricio Dubon made favorable impressions in his first 100 ABs upon his trade from Milwaukee, nonetheless, is largely being ignored in this year’s draft.