The Buzz: What would a fantasy baseball draft look like today? – Yahoo Sports

Usually the Yahoo Friends & Family Baseball Draft is a March endeavor, but when scheduling became impossible this year, a novel idea hit me.

Why not have the F&F draft in-season? We can make it a fun exercise about market correction and how to pivot with the fresh season.

So on Monday night, I assembled friends and colleagues and we made a collective statement, selecting 338 players. Below is a detailed audit of the results, with a keen eye for rising and falling players and draft nuances and strategies.

We're using 5x5 scoring, and everything to this point is merely an audition the league scoring begins Tuesday, April 30. Managers were asked to fill 13 offensive players (one catcher, otherwise standard slotting) and nine pitchers. You're also allowed four bench players and two IL slots. Free agents will be distributed via twice-weekly FAB offers. There are no volume caps or restrictions.

Meet the managers and their draft slots:

1. Michael Lazarus, Fantasy Industry Vet, USC WR historian

2. Dalton Del Don, Yahoo, intrepid drafter and tireless TV critic

3. Steven Psihogios, Fantasy Industry Vet, unpronounceable last name

4. Scott Pianowski, Yahoo, reasonable guy, Rushmore alum

5. Jorge Martin, @FamiliaFBB and various, man of wisdom

6. Mo Castillo, Yahoo, rock of Gibraltar, Yankees fan

7. D.J. Short, Rotoworld, man of reason, indie rock fan

8. Fred Zinkie, various outlets, Canadian trade overlord

9. Andy Behrens, Yahoo trash talker, outrageously healthy

10. Eric Samulski, NBC Sports (first year in F&F), pitch-mix master

11. Jeff Erickson, Rotowire lefty, retired soccer coach

12. Frank Schwab, Yahoo, Rounders aficionado, Brewers fan

13. Scott Jenstad, Rotowire, defending champ, recently traded golf for tennis

And away we go:

1.01: Lazarus Mookie Betts (LAD - 2B,SS,OF)

1.02: Del Don Bobby Witt Jr. (KC - SS)

1.03: Psihogios Ronald Acua Jr. (ATL - OF)

1.04: Pianowski Shohei Ohtani (Batter) (LAD - Util)

1.05: Martin Elly De La Cruz (CIN - 3B,SS)

1.06: Castillo Kyle Tucker (HOU - OF)

1.07: Short Juan Soto (NYY - OF)

1.08: Zinkie Corbin Burnes (BAL - SP)

1.09: Behrens Fernando Tats Jr. (SD - OF)

1.10: Samulski Julio Rodrguez (SEA - OF)

1.11: Erickson Gunnar Henderson (BAL - 3B,SS)

1.12: Schwab Freddie Freeman (LAD - 1B)

1.13: Jenstad Aaron Judge (NYY - OF)

Acua drops to third overall after a full spring at the top spot. I can't fault Lazarus for wanting Betts, a three-position grabber on a loaded offense. De La Cruz has been fantasy's best player in April and he was going to land high in the first round it was just a matter of where. Erickson admitted that Henderson was a FOMO fill for him, but Henderson's production and tie to a loaded Baltimore lineup justifies the slot. Burnes was the only pitcher selected, landing on Team Zinkie. That's going to be an early theme.

My Pick: I had one of the early KDS slot picks and I decided the top of the draft was rich enough for me to slide up to Pick 4, even as it wasn't as centralized a pick as I normally like. I have Betts and Freeman shares on other teams but had yet to snag an Ohtani interest; it's nice to have more coverage on the buzziest team in baseball. It's really not too complicated; identify the best offenses and take the best hitters from those offenses. Let's try to keep doing that.

2.1: Jenstad Zack Wheeler (PHI - SP)

2.2: Schwab Trea Turner (PHI - SS)

2.3: Erickson Yordan lvarez (HOU - OF)

2.4: Samulski Austin Riley (ATL - 3B)

2.5: Behrens CJ Abrams (WSH - SS)

2.6: Zinkie Tarik Skubal (DET - SP)

2.7: Short Tyler Glasnow (LAD - SP)

2.8: Castillo Michael Harris II (ATL - OF)

2.9: Martin Matt Olson (ATL - 1B)

2.10: Pianowski Bryce Harper (PHI - 1B)

2.11: Psihogios Jos Ramrez (CLE - 3B)

2.12: Del Don Corbin Carroll (AZ - OF)

2.13: Lazarus Adolis Garca (TEX - OF)

Most of these players were early-round staples all spring, so this round felt standard and familiar. Abrams rose a round, and Skubal jumped significantly after a strong April again, to pitcher-gobbling Zinkie. I thought Carroll's horrible start to the year and the possible specter of a shoulder problem would push him later than this, but Del Don is always a fearless drafter. Glasnow's terrific push landed him a round earlier than his springtime ADP.

My Pick: Harper is an easy auto-punch for me, another star player tied to a deep, buoyant offense. Zero deliberation on this one.

3.1: Lazarus Jos Altuve (HOU - 2B)

3.2: Del Don Rafael Devers (BOS - 3B)

3.3: Psihogios Corey Seager (TEX - SS)

3.4: Pianowski Marcus Semien (TEX - 2B)

3.5: Martin Francisco Lindor (NYM - SS)

3.6: Castillo Mike Trout (LAA - OF) pick made before news of his injury

3.7: Short Pete Alonso (NYM - 1B)

3.8: Zinkie Freddy Peralta (MIL - SP)

3.9: Behrens Ozzie Albies (ATL - 2B)

3.10: Samulski Luis Castillo (SEA - SP)

13.1: Erickson Logan Gilbert (SEA - SP)

13.2: Schwab George Kirby (SEA - SP)

3.13: Jenstad Edwin Daz (NYM - RP)

This round started with seven straight hitters, making it 29 hitters out of the first 33 picks. But then the pitching run went into overdrive five pitchers filled the second half of the round, and at one point between Rounds 3 and 4 there were 10 straight pitchers taken. Seattle is the AL's safest pitching environment, so it's reasonable that their three aces were all selected in a row.

My Pick: I expected the starting pitcher market would be an eyelash depressed compared to spring trends, so I opted for another hitter. Semien has long been a favorite of mine, a volume grabber and durable pro who is going to fill every category.

4.1: Jenstad Pablo Lpez (MIN - SP)

4.2: Schwab Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD - SP)

4.3: Erickson Evan Phillips (LAD - RP)

4.4: Samulski Cole Ragans (KC - SP,RP)

4.5: Behrens Kevin Gausman (TOR - SP)

4.6: Zinkie Aaron Nola (PHI - SP)

4.7: Short Adley Rutschman (BAL - C)

4.8: Castillo Manny Machado (SD - 3B)

4.9: Martin Logan Webb (SF - SP)

4.10: Pianowski Jazz Chisholm Jr. (MIA - OF)

4.11: Psihogios Xander Bogaerts (SD - 2B,SS)

4.12: Del Don Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR - 1B)

4.13: Lazarus Dylan Cease (SD - SP)

And here's the great Pitcher run of 2024, as most managers look to land their ace (and Team Zinkie loads up with the best SP4 in the land). Generally, I am not going to prioritize catchers in a one-fill league, but Rutschman has earned the right to be an outlier, tied to the AL's deepest offense. Guerrero is off to a mediocre start, but Del Don likes to focus on upside and not floor with early picks. That's not for everybody, but it's a reasonable strategy.

My Pick: Obviously, I misread the SP room and it put me on tilt; I didn't like the Chisholm pivot and made it with just a second or two left on my clock. I had hoped for Webb (primary target) or Gilbert (secondary target) as my presumed ace, and missing Webb by just one pick was an uppercut to my jaw. I feel it was right not to pick a pitcher just to take one since I felt like the tier was depleted but this still was an emotional jolt.

5.1: Lazarus William Contreras (MIL - C)

5.2: Del Don Joe Ryan (MIN - SP)

5.3: Psihogios Shota Imanaga (CHC - SP)

5.4: Pianowski Marcell Ozuna (ATL - OF)

5.5: Martin Zac Gallen (AZ - SP)

5.6: Castillo Ronel Blanco (HOU - SP,RP)

5.7: Short Emmanuel Clase (CLE - RP)

5.8: Zinkie Ha-Seong Kim (SD - 2B,3B,SS)

5.9: Behrens Kyle Schwarber (PHI - OF)

5.10: Samulski Christian Walker (AZ - 1B)

5.11: Erickson Anthony Volpe (NYY - SS)

5.12: Schwab Bo Bichette (TOR - SS)

5.13: Jenstad Oneil Cruz (PIT - SS)

Another pitching-influenced round, with Imanaga a notable riser from his March ADP. Volpe also received an April boost, landing in front of Bichette and Cruz. Behrens is going to keep drafting Schwarber every year until one of them retires. Blanco was a nobody a month ago; today, he's a fifth-round pick.

My Pick: Ozuna should have been my fourth-round pick, not Chisholm; something which occurred to me right after I clicked on Jazz. At least the wildly underrated Ozuna lasted to my next selection. He's been putting up borderline first-round stats for the past calendar year.

6.1: Jenstad Randy Arozarena (TB - OF)

6.2: Schwab Mason Miller (OAK - SP,RP)

6.3: Erickson Grayson Rodriguez (BAL - SP)

6.4: Samulski Ketel Marte (AZ - 2B)

6.5: Behrens Spencer Steer (CIN - 1B,2B,3B,OF)

6.6: Zinkie Teoscar Hernndez (LAD - OF)

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The Buzz: What would a fantasy baseball draft look like today? - Yahoo Sports