BABS Draft Plans for AL/NL-Only Leagues

by Justin Cary

The following are suggested BABS draft plans for AL-only and NL-only leagues.

AL Only

First base in the AL presents a challenge between targeting high upside guys with risks versus stable lower skill sets. BABS purists know they can find a ton of value here, so wait for your selection for that spot, but not too late. You can let Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Abreu go for the likes of Justin Smoak, Yonder Alonso, and Trey Mancini.

As much as it seems second base is thin this year, the best ones are all in the AL, with six multi-asset full timers and no injury liability. Jose Altuve obviously can separate you from other teams, but decent options abound after that. In deeper leagues, Yangervis Solarte and Tyler Wade could be candidates to target.

At shortstop, Francisco Lindor, Alex Bregman, and Carlos Correa (pictured) are the cream of the crop, but BABS offers alternatives who are fairly valued with similar skill sets: Xander Bogaerts, Jean Segura, and Elvis Andrus.

Third base is a position where you must make your move early as it provides the most production with very little risk at the top. Should you not be able to draft Manny Machado, Josh Donaldson, or Jose Ramirez, there is decent value with Mike Moustakas, Nick Castellanos, and Kyle Seager.

For the most bang for your buck, loading up in the outfield early could be your best bet to win. Of the 10 double-digit earners, only four have no liabilities. Although Trout does have inj-, you simply have to take him if you can get him. Mookie Betts, Khris Davis, George Springer and Justin Upton should provide you with high skill sets, stable production, and very little injury risk. If you are in need of speed, Delino Deshields Jr. and Mallex Smith should provide better value than Byron Buxton. As you enter deeper into the draft, owners should look to avoid players with major INJ marks and speculate more on players with minor health and experience liabilities but higher skill sets.

There are 10 full time starting pitchers with no liabilities. After the big four (Sale, Severino, Carrasco, Archer), BABS owners should turn to the (e,k) group that includes Trevor Bauer, who is going much later in drafts than Justin Verlander or Gerrit Cole. The injury bug plagues four of the nine mid-timers in this group. BABS owners should look at Drew Pomeranz, Kevin Gausman, Blake Snell, and Brad Peacock at their price points.

NL Only

In contrast to AL-only leagues, first base is loaded in the NL with many highly productive players carrying very little risk. Owners could easily implement a strategy of loading up their corners and outfield slots with as many as possible while postponing the middle infield until later in the draft.

Second base is dicey with only six players projected to earn double digit dollars. BABS can offer you sneaky picks if you wait for players like Scooter Gennett, Josh Harrison and Kolten Wong over the higher rated Javier Baez and Ian Happ.

Shortstop is even worse than second base in projected productivity, with only Trea Turner, Corey Seager and Trevor Story providing double-digit dollars. This position is all about drafting potential; ignore the experience liability and go with Paul Dejong, Orlando Arcia, and Amed Rosario. BABS also gives you deeper options with Asdrubal Cabrera and Jose Reyes as possibilities.

Similar to the AL, third base is a position where you must make your move early. The player pool has many solid producers with little top-end risk but a steep drop-off afterwards. Owners cannot afford to wait here, so grabbing Kris Bryant or Travis Shaw would be wise.

The outfield picture is heavily laden with speed but BABS shows you that risk comes along with those skill sets. Only Billy Hamilton and Ender Inciarte carry no risk, so tread carefully. BABS also reveals intriguing deep speculative options with upside, including Victor Robles, David Dahl, Scott Schebler and Corey Dickerson.

BABS has a great simplicity to show owners alternatives to the industry views and allow you to side step significant risk. No greater example of this is the starting pitcher pool in the NL. BABS purists will take Max Scherzer or Jacob Degrom over Clayton Kershaw and Stephen Strasburg. They’d likely select Zachary Godley over Alex Wood as well. Robbie Ray, Yu Darvish, Madison Bumgarner, and Aaron Nola all have high enough skill sets to warrant consideration, but it would be prudent to target only one of them, given the risk.