Skipping Strasburg in Rookie Draft

by sloffy on Jan 12, 2026 11:44 AM EST Comment 23 comments

Would you trade down if you had the #1 pick in a rookie draft?

With all the hype Strasburg has received and the risk associated with pitchers would you trade down out of the #1 overall spot in a fantasy league rookie draft to collect the bounty offered for the #1 pick? Depending on what you might collect, Ackley or Chapman would be a great consolation prize with a similar amount of risk in addition to the rest of the assets received in trade.

Poll

Would you trade down from the #1 pick in a fantasy rookie draft, effectively passing on Strasburg?

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Comments

Really depends on the offer

If you could get down to 2-3 and get another solid prospect to go with it, run for it.

by jumperjah on Jan 12, 2026 11:50 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

My vote

I voted for 3 on the above, but with a condition. I think 3 and 4 are effectively the same thing (so the votes should be combined).

Also, I would say is tradeable, but you would need an overwhelming amount to sway how special he is.

The only slot I would drop to, is number two to grab Ackley. His bat, if he plays second, could have a strong fantasy impact.

I’m not at all blown away by Chapman. Baseball America sees a high ceiling but way too many questions marks right now about his secondary offerings and control.

You’d need to be wowed in my opinion.

by MightyMoose on Jan 12, 2026 11:51 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Depends...

Of course there could be a deal that would make everyone agree, and some that no one would agree to, so the details really matter.

Generally speaking, I’d say the deeper the league, the more likely I’d be to trade down. There was some pretty good talent in this draft, but aces or near aces are worth quite a bit in 10/12 team mixed league deals. In larger leagues like AL/NL only or 24+ team mixed leagues, above average players become really important, and if you could get a 3 of them maybe, that could be a nice haul.

by auclairkeithbc on Jan 12, 2026 11:52 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well...

Obviously you aren’t getting 3 top guys from this draft. I guess, the draft pick you get back doesn’t matter. As long as you get a few top prospects back, from other drafts.

by auclairkeithbc on Jan 12, 2026 11:54 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Again, depends on the offer

But I believe in Stras, I’m not as high on Ackley as others are, and I love Chapman, but he does have a lot of red flags.

I’d actually probably slide down to get Jason Heyward or Pedro Alvarez. Those two seem to be locks to be great players. If you can get two other pretty prospects with them, that would be a helluva trade.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jan 12, 2026 11:55 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'm pretty sure Heyward isn't available in the above scenario

Anyway- it depends on the offer. Obviously, you’d trade Stras if you can get Lincecum or Pujols right? So way more context is needed.

by LostMess on Jan 12, 2026 12:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Oh, I thought maybe this was for all incoming rookies

Not sure how these things are run.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jan 12, 2026 12:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i wouldn't

Draft Strasburg and then if there’s someone else you want more after the draft, find the team that has that player, ask for that player and another good player on that guys team for Strasburg. But I wouldn’t trade him either way, he’s going to have an amazing amount of value when he is first called up, and I’d deal him right then if I had him to max out value.

by loop on Jan 12, 2026 3:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

+1

by Outshined_One on Jan 12, 2026 4:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i did trade it

Got Carlos Gonzalez and Logan Morrison

by novaoakland on Jan 12, 2026 6:49 PM EST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Like it

That’s a good trade for me for Strasburg. Gonzalez looks like he could be a 5-category contributor next season, and Morrison still has some solid upside I think.

http://jasonsbaseballblog.wordpress.com

by jumperjah on Jan 12, 2026 6:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

good trade...

Pitchers are always risky and even major league aces don’t go that early in fantasy drafts.

Both those guys have the potential to be very good for a long time.

by DenverBears on Jan 12, 2026 7:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I love Gonzalez

but I think you made a big mistake here. I would have needed much more to trade Strasburg.

by alskor on Jan 12, 2026 7:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

don’t know the format, but i’m with alskor, i’d have wanted two big bats for him, or a big bat and high upside arm.

by MightyMoose on Jan 12, 2026 7:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Not enough. Maybe if this is a 30 team league.

by auclairkeithbc on Jan 12, 2026 7:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Would of needed a young player w/ Cargo who has at least contributed at the mlb level. Likely prefer to not get a 1b that profiles as pretty good, but not great.

by hybrid on Jan 13, 2026 2:41 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What if I got Hicks also?

by novaoakland on Jan 13, 2026 10:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not so bad w/ Hicks

If It was me, I would have wanted young, quality MLB help back, though.

I hope you talked to all the teams in your league and tried to start a bidding war.

by alskor on Jan 13, 2026 1:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Correction

I also got Hicks

by novaoakland on Jan 13, 2026 10:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

So the offer was...

The pick to get Strasburg for Carlos Gonzalez, Logan Morrison, AND Aaron Hicks?

That’d be a win for me. But I liked the previous trade too.

Jason's Baseball Blog

by jumperjah on Jan 13, 2026 11:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

_

by auclairkeithbc on Jan 12, 2026 7:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well

Like everyone says depends on the offer, the poll choices are too vague which is why your not getting any real answer.

by hybrid on Jan 13, 2026 2:42 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Actual Trades would be Helpful

What would be helpful is if people could list actual trades either involving pick 1.01 or Strasbury (in formats where he’s already rostered).

So if people have seen trades in various leagues to list them (along with the league format - i.e., Mixed 16 team 5×5).

I voted Yes but I think I misunderstood the question which suggests trading him to simply get additonal picks in this amateur draft (which I wouldn’t do).

I am Strasburg owner as I’m in a 12 team Mixed 5×5 Dynasty League with no limitations on rostering prospects. I have had him since his 23 K outing as a sophmore. I might move him even up for a Heyward or Matt Weiters, that’s about it as far as unproven talent. I would move him in a package deal to get elite MLB talent. But I’m content to hold him.

Fat man is no more,
Bursting on through Heaven's Door
Come on in, says Bill

by Wilbur Wood on Jan 13, 2026 2:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs