This article is part of our Rounding Third series.
The RotoWire 200 - February Update
by Jeff Erickson
This is our top 200 for 12-team, mixed-league drafts. The comments here are necessarily short to fit the format for the magazine, but it also works pretty well as a whole. If you're looking for more in-depth info, click through to the player's page and read his outlook and recent notes, or discuss them in the comments.
If this feature is new to you, here are our standard assumptions: We're looking at a standard 12-team, 5x5 mixed league with trading allowed. To qualify at a position, the player needs 20 games there last year or 10 this year. Our hypothetical league starts two catchers. Typically I value players on 68-32 hitter/pitcher ratio on a hypothetical budget, though auction values don't necessarily perfectly translate to draft values. Where you draft is important, as the decision to pass up one commodity at the draft slot means you'll definitely get a lesser version of that commodity if you have a long wait for your next pick, whereas in an auction you can allocate your budget more to how you see fit.
I made comments for all the top 200 with the last iteration of this list, but in this and future updates, I'll only comment on players changing or where there's anything new to add. Oh yeah, this time we go to 350, in anticipation of our first Composite 350.
1. Ryan Braun, OF - Braun's name showed up on the infamous Biogenesis list, but not against any listed PEDs, unlike others listed. I'm not moving him down or downgrading his projection without anything more ominous.
2. Miguel Cabrera, 3B
3. Mike Trout, OF - I've actually downgraded his projection a little more, but even with that, he stays at this spot.
4. Matt Kemp, OF
5. Robinson Cano, 2B
6. Albert Pujols, 1B
7. Andrew McCutchen, OF
8. Carlos Gonzalez, OF
9. Jose Bautista, OF - Bautista is one of the guys worth watching the most this spring, to see how much his wrist has healed.
10. Joey Votto, 1B
11. Giancarlo Stanton, OF - Stanton has a wide range of outcomes, but if anyone hits 50 homers, it's him.
12. Clayton Kershaw, P
13. Justin Verlander, P
14. Prince Fielder, 1B
15. Justin Upton, OF - No stat changes yet despite the trade to Atlanta.
16. Adrian Beltre, 3B
17. Bryce Harper, OF
18. Troy Tulowitzki, SS
19. Stephen Strasburg, P
20. Buster Posey, C - I'm having a hard time wanting to draft him in the second round, but this is about where he belongs.
21. David Wright, 3B
22. Curtis Granderson, OF
23. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
24. Cliff Lee, P
25. David Price, P
26. Edwin Encarnacion, 1B
27. Josh Hamilton, OF
28. Jason Heyward, OF - Giving him a good bump based on his potential; if we're willing to do it with Harper, we have to be willing to do it with Heyward.
29. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
30. Adam Jones, OF
31. B.J. Upton, OF
32. Jay Bruce, OF
33. Starlin Castro, SS
34. Jacoby Ellsbury, OF
35. Evan Longoria, 3B
36. Hanley Ramirez, SS/3B
37. Ian Kinsler, 2B
38. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
39. Jose Reyes, SS
40. Allen Craig, 1B/OF - Small discount based on health concerns.
41. Aramis Ramirez, 3B
42. Billy Butler, 1B
43. Ryan Zimmerman, 3B
44. Cole Hamels, P
45. Yadier Molina, C
46. Craig Kimbrel, P
47. Chase Headley, 3B
48. Freddie Freeman, 1B - If you can get one of Goldschmidt, Hosmer, Rizzo or Freeman here or later, you've done well.
49. Yu Darvish, P
50. Jason Kipnis, 2B
51. Matt Cain, P - Small bump for reliability.
52. Felix Hernandez, P - Hernandez showed signs of "wear-and-tear" with his elbow, slowing down his contract extension talks.
53. Matt Holliday, OF - A little bump up - might have overcorrected him.
54. Mark Teixeira, 1B
55. Joe Mauer, C
56. Brett Lawrie, 3B
57. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
58. Jered Weaver, P
59. Carlos Santana, C
60. Brandon Phillips, 2B
61. Yoenis Cespedes, OF
62. Ben Zobrist, 2B/SS/OF
63. Matt Wieters, C
64. Madison Bumgarner, P
65. Adam Wainwright, P
66. Alex Gordon, OF
67. Roy Halladay, P
68. Eric Hosmer, 1B - Good "Last Year's Bum" potential.
69. Miguel Montero, C
70. Gio Gonzalez, P - On the Biogenesis list, but for legal supplements.
71. Michael Bourn, OF - Scott Boras is a wizard.
72. Johnny Cueto, P
73. Desmond Jennings, OF
74. Kris Medlen, P
75. James Shields, P
76. Melky Cabrera, OF
77. Chris Sale, P
78. Shin-Soo Choo, OF
79. Aaron Hill, 2B
80. Paul Konerko, 1B
81. Wilin Rosario, C
82. Jimmy Rollins, SS
83. CC Sabathia, P
84. Ian Desmond, SS
85. Austin Jackson, OF
86. Mike Napoli, C - Signed a much smaller deal with the Red Sox thanks to his hip concerns.
87. Jose Altuve, 2B
88. Jason Motte, P
89. Alex Rios, OF
90. Jonathan Papelbon, P
91. Fernando Rodney, P
92. Zack Greinke, P
93. Jordan Zimmermann, P
94. Ike Davis, 1B
95. Mark Trumbo, OF
96. Danny Espinosa, 2B/SS - Playing with a rotator cuff injury.
97. Max Scherzer, P
98. Hunter Pence, OF
99. Yovani Gallardo, P
100. Carlos Beltran, OF
101. R.A. Dickey, P
102. Ryan Howard, 1B
103. Mariano Rivera, P
104. Pablo Sandoval, 3B - Brother can you spare a hamate? Sandoval can't.
105. Josh Willingham, OF
106. Jesus Montero, C
107. Chris Davis, 1B/OF
108. Angel Pagan, OF
109. Nick Swisher, 1B/OF
110. Kyle Seager, 3B
111. Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
112. Nelson Cruz, OF - Of all the Biogenesis guys, Cruz worries me the most.
113. Jon Niese, P
114. Dan Haren, P
115. Mat Latos, P
116. Sergio Romo, P
117. Adam LaRoche, 1B
118. Joe Nathan, P
119. J.J. Putz, P
120. David Ortiz, DH
121. Carl Crawford, OF - Throwing at 60 feet for the last three weeks.
122. Shane Victorino, OF
123. Matt Moore, P
124. Rafael Soriano, P
125. Elvis Andrus, SS
126. Tom Wilhelmsen, P
127. Greg Holland, P
128. Rickie Weeks, 2B
129. Brandon Morrow, P
130. Derek Jeter, SS - Jeter appeared to be fully healed at the open of spring training.
131. Salvador Perez, C
132. Pedro Alvarez, 3B
133. Aroldis Chapman, P
134. Torii Hunter, OF
135. Hiroki Kuroda, P
136. Ian Kennedy, P
137. Cameron Maybin, OF
138. Victor Martinez, C
139. Jonathan Lucroy, C
140. Alfonso Soriano, OF
141. Jayson Werth, OF
142. Nick Markakis, OF - I'd like him more if he still ran.
143. Grant Balfour, P
144. Dustin Ackley, 2B
145. Will Middlebrooks, 3B
146. John Axford, P
147. Mike Moustakas, 3B
148. Coco Crisp, OF
149. Justin Morneau, 1B
150. C.J. Wilson, P
151. Josh Reddick, OF
152. Mike Morse, OF
153. Jim Johnson, P
154. Martin Prado, 3B/OF - Should benefit from the move to Arizona.
155. Jon Lester, P
156. Norichika Aoki, OF
157. Tim Hudson, P - A reality check player: one that moves down because I find myself not wanting to draft him there.
158. Alejandro De Aza, OF
159. Kendrys Morales, 1B
160. Josh Johnson, P
161. Howie Kendrick, 2B
162. Chase Utley, 2B
163. J.P. Arencibia, C
164. Ryan Vogelsong, P
165. Jeff Samardzija, P
166. Neil Walker, 2B
167. David Freese, 3B
168. Brett Anderson, P
169. Mike Minor, P
170. Andre Ethier, OF
171. Chris Perez, P
172. Adam Dunn, 1B
173. Joel Hanrahan, P
174. Alexei Ramirez, SS
175. Glen Perkins, P
176. Doug Fister, P
177. Alexi Ogando, P
178. Ryan Doumit, C
179. Dexter Fowler, OF
180. Todd Frazier, 1B/3B
181. Dan Uggla, 2B
182. Ryan Ludwick, OF
183. Rafael Betancourt, P
184. Starling Marte, OF
185. Brian McCann, C - McCann still likely won't get cleared for game action until mid-April.
186. A.J. Pierzynski, C
187. Jarrod Parker, P
188. Homer Bailey, P
189. Michael Saunders, OF
190. Ben Revere, OF
191. Anibal Sanchez, P
192. Alcides Escobar, SS
193. Erick Aybar, SS
194. Brett Gardner, OF - Left out of the initial top 200 because of playing time projection, but huge SB upside.
195. Lorenzo Cain, OF
196. Jake Peavy, P
197. Wade Miley, P
198. Kenley Jansen, P
199. Jonathan Broxton, P
200. Mark Reynolds, 1B
201. Jason Grilli, P
202. Addison Reed, P
203. Brandon League, P
204. Michael Cuddyer, 1B/OF
205. Michael Young, 1B/3B
206. Huston Street, P
207. Steve Cishek, P
208. Corey Hart, 1B/OF - Even though Hart will start the year on the DL, you'll still get replacement value for his slot an easy-to-replace position while he's out.
209. Tim Lincecum, P
210. Matt Harvey, P
211. Jeremy Hellickson, P
212. Ichiro Suzuki, OF
213. Matt Garza, P
214. Jason Kubel, OF
215. Justin Ruggiano, OF
216. A.J. Burnett, P
217. Brandon Belt, 1B
218. Alex Avila, C
219. Carlos Ruiz, C
220. Phil Hughes, P
221. Brandon Moss, 1B/OF
222. Kyle Lohse, P
223. Dayan Viciedo, OF
224. Ernesto Frieri, P
225. Carlos Quentin, OF
226. Matt Harrison, P
227. Scott Baker, P
228. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
229. Stephen Drew, SS
230. Trevor Cahill, P
231. Derek Holland, P
232. Juan Pierre, OF
233. Wellington Castillo, C
234. Tyler Flowers, C
235. Lance Lynn, P
236. Wil Myers, OF
237. Garrett Jones, 1B/OF
238. Russell Martin, C
239. Josh Beckett, P
240. Manny Machado, 3B
241. Edwin Jackson, P
242. J.J. Hardy, SS
243. David Murphy, OF
244. Chris Carter, 1B
245. Jean Segura, SS
246. Billy Hamilton, SS
247. Mike Olt, 3B
248. Derek Norris, C
249. Justin Smoak, 1B
250. Kyuji Fujikawa, P
251. Matt Joyce, OF
252. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
253. Hisashi Iwakuma, P
254. Chris Young, OF
255. Wandy Rodriguez, P
256. Ryan Dempster, P
257. Michael Brantley, OF
258. Chris Capuano, P
259. Kelly Johnson, 2B
260. Justin Maxwell, OF
261. Mike Fiers, P
262. Zack Cozart, SS
263. Trevor Bauer, P
264. Alex Cobb, P
265. Everth Cabrera, SS
266. Gordon Beckham, 2B
267. Hyun-Jin Ryu, P
268. Lucas Duda, 1B/OF
269. Jeff Francoeur, OF
270. Yonder Alonso, 1B
271. Clay Buchholz, P
272. Cody Ross, OF
273. Wei-Yin Chen, P
274. Josh Rutledge, SS
275. Brandon McCarthy, P
276. Shaun Marcum, P
277. Marco Scutaro, 2B/SS
278. Tommy Milone, P
279. Ervin Santana, P
280. James McDonald, P
281. Casey Janssen, P
282. Daniel Murphy, 2B
283. Andy Pettitte, P
284. Carlos Gomez, OF
285. Denard Span, OF
286. Hiroyuki Nakajima, SS
287. Delmon Young, OF
288. Drew Stubbs, OF
289. A.J. Ellis, C
290. Adam Eaton, OF
291. Colby Rasmus, OF
292. Cory Luebke, P
293. Chris Johnson, 3B
294. Adam Lind, 1B
295. Ricky Romero, P
296. Kurt Suzuki, C
297. Johnny Peralta, SS
298. Peter Bourjos, OF
299. Gavin Floyd, P
300. Will Venable, OF
301. Ross Detwiler, P
302. Omar Infante, 2B
303. Johan Santana, P
304. Chris Iannetta, C
305. Marco Estrada, P
306. Zach McAllister, P
307. Andrelton Simmons, SS
308. Emilio Bonifacio, OF
309. John Jaso, C
310. Wade Davis, P
311. Carlos Pena, 1B
312. Brett Myers, P
313. Miguel Gonzalez, P
314. Scott Feldman, P
315. Yasmani Grandal, C
316. Tyler Colvin, 1B/OF
317. Paul Maholm, P
318. Lonnie Chisenhall, 3B
319. Mitch Moreland, 1B
320. Edinson Volquez, P
321. Jed Lowrie, SS
322. Josh Donaldson, 3B
323. Chris Nelson, 3B
324. Chris Tillman, P
325. Jordan Pacheco, 3B
326. Clayton Richard, P
327. Logan Morrison, 1B/OF
328. Travis d'Arnaud, C
329. Al Alburquerque, P
330. Bobby Parnell, P
331. Wily Peralta, P
332. Drew Storen, P
333. Rob Brantly, C
334. Logan Forsythe, 2B
335. John Jay, OF
336. Seth Smith, OF
337. Andy Dirks, OF
338. Matt Dominguez, 3B
339. Ryan Madson, P
340. Bronson Arroyo, P
341. Robbie Erlin, P
342. Bruce Rondon, P
343. Carlos Marmol, P
344. Yunel Escobar, SS
345. Shelby Miller, P
346. Oscar Tavares, OF
347. Jurickson Profar, SS
348. Jedd Gyorko, 2B
349. Trevor Plouffe, 3B
350. Lance Berkman, 1B
