Draft No. 2
Another RotoWire Online Championship
I had some time Sunday evening, so I signed up for a second draft. It was not a “Beat Chris Liss” because I paid for it and jumped in like a regular person. But same format.
I drew the 10th pick. Here are the results:
1.10 Paul Skenes — I’m nervous about Skenes, throwing as hard as he does, as young as he is, but its hard to predict injuries, and once Elly De La Cruz went, I snapped-called it. He was by far the highest guy on the hybrid sheet.
2.3 Corbin Carroll — He broke his hamate, but it was his off hand, and he’s already taking one-handed swings in the cage. The Diamondbacks expect him back around Opening Day, and while it might take six weeks to get all his power back, I needed a power-speed guy after taking the pitcher in the first.
3.10 Mason Miller — Another easy call, the top closer on my board who contributes maybe 30-40 extra Ks and good ratios.
4.3 Bryan Woo — The projections love this guy, have him No. 20 overall. I like getting a second ace to lock in the standings gains from the first.
5.10 Freddie Freeman — I got swiped on Mookie Betts by one pick, so I settled for Freeman. With Carroll and three pitchers, I was light on power, but Freeman is actually good for power because he’s good for batting average and runs. And having average and runs lets you shop for power later on the cheap (at the expense of average and runs.)
6.3 Logan Webb — Maybe overkill to draft four pitchers in six picks, but he was No. 38 on the hybrid board — projections love him too.
7.10 Jeremy Pena — Another source of batting average and a little speed without hurting my power too much. Still light power, but Pena, like Freeman, buys me opportunities later.
8.3 Randy Arozarena — The projections like him, and he adds speed with power, though at the expense of batting average. I’m building an AB-heavy team, plenty of runs as a way to offset the expensive early pitching.
9.10 Seiya Suzuki — He was the highest hitter on my board, brings some pop and probably a little batting average, last year’s mark notwithstanding. More unsexy at-bats in the middle of the lineup.
10.3 Jose Altuve — He won’t run as much, but still solid pop from second base, batting average and another 550 at-bats in the heart of the lineup.
11.10 Teoscar Hernandez — Apparently he played through a groin injury last year and is healthy now. Some pop, and more at-bats, likely with men on base, in a stacked lineup.
12.3 Kenley Jansen — Old warhorse closer on a good team,
13.10 Adley Rutschman — Underpriced based on one disappointing and one injury-ruined year. He’s slated to hit second in this lineup too. Good source of runs and a little pop from the catcher spot.
14.3 Noelvi Marte — Former top prospect with power and speed, still only 24, possibly hitting second in the Reds lineup. Also has dual eligibility, 3B/OF.
15.10 Willson Contreras — No longer catcher eligible, but gets a good park upgrade and likely hits cleanup for the Red Sox.
16.3 Konnor Griffin — On a team of boring at-bat getters, it was time. Griffin is MLB’s top prospect and could steal 40 bases in a full season. Recently, Pirates manager Don Kelly said it would be a tough ask for Griffin to make the opening roster, but the Pirates might also just be negotiating his long-term deal. Either way, he could be up before long if he tears up the high minors, and if they strike a deal, he could even break camp with the club. Buy the dip.
17.10 Jack Flaherty — I needed a pitcher, and he was the top one on the hybrid list. He’s a good source of strikeouts, but the walks and BABIP got him last year.
18.3 Jackson Holliday — I got snaked on another boring at-bat getter, Ezequiel Tovar, so I went with another upside MI in Holliday. Holliday could miss the first week with a broken hand, but he should be back soon.
19.10 Roki Sasaki — I think Sasaki is mispriced. He was bad last year, but seemed to solve his mechanical issues out of the bullpen, and now he’s part of the six-man rotation. No reason he couldn’t pick up where he left off in Japan two years ago.
20.3 Matthew Boyd — Another solid veteran pitcher who can eat innings and contribute to strikeouts.
21.10 Austin Wells — The only category in which I might be light is power, and Wells is a 20-HR catcher in a hitter-friendly park. It’s easier to have a Judge or Schwarber to boost your HR totals, but this team has to get it from everywhere.
22.3 Mickey Moniak — The former No. 1 overall amateur draft pick, Moniak had 24 HR, nine steals and hit .270 last year in 434 at-bats. Plus he’s great at home and terrible on the road, so he’s a perfect player to stream.
23.10 Brett Baty — With Griffin and Holliday as my two MIs, I needed someone in case neither is present on his respective Opening Day roster. Baty had 18 homers and eight steals in 393 at-bats last year — at 26, he still has some upside over a full season.
24.3 Bailey Ober — He was once good, and apparently he’s solved a nagging hip issue that derailed his 2025 season.
25.10 Jasson Dominguez — He has nowhere to play as of this moment, but he’s 23, and had 10 homers and 23 steals in 381 at-bats last year. A no-brainer at this stage of the draft with old and injury prone Yankees around the diamond.
26.3 Connelly Early — I don’t know, seems like a decent pitching prospect.
27.10 Chris Bassitt — Another innings eater and source of Ks. The Orioles paid him $18M this year, so they certainly think he has something in the tank.
28.3 Jake McCarthy — I wanted some extra steals, and he’s got a chance to play against righties in Coors Field.
29.10 Lane Thomas — Thomas went 15-32 in 472 at-bats the last time he was healthy, and it looks like he’s a starter in Kansas City for now.
30.3 Justin Steele — He was an ace before getting hurt, and apparently he could be back in May.
Roster By Position
C Adley Rustchman/Austin Wells
1B Freddie Freeman
2B Jose Altuve
3B Noelvi Marte
SS Jeremy Pena
CI Willson Contreras
MI Konnor Griffin
OF Corbin Carroll/Randy Arozarena/Seiya Suzuki/Teoscar Hernandez/Mickey Moniak
UT Jackson Holliday
SP Paul Skenes/Bryan Woo/Logan Webb/Jack Flaherty/Roki Sasaki/Matthew Boyd/Bailey Ober
RP Mason Miller/Kenley Jansen
B Brett Baty/Jasson Dominguez/Connelly Early/Chris Bassitt/Jake McCarthy/Lane Thomas/Justin Steele