Which minor leaguers/rookies did you pick up in your fantasy league?

by Rotofan on Apr 21, 2025 4:54 PM EDT Comment 14 comments

I'm in a A.L. roto league with a 23-man active roster and 17-man reserve. We're allowed up to 15 keepers and heading into the auction I kept Brian Matusz, Desmond Jennings and Jesus Montero and traded Tyler Flowers, Austin Jackson and Josh Reddick for a reasonably-priced Alex Rodriquez (reasonablle by Arod standards).

Because our reserve picks get pegged with salaries that start at $15 and gradually drop to $2, I targeted a pitching prospect for the auction itself, picking Derek Holland, who had been among my last cuts during the off-season. His peripheral numbers were quite good last year, especially considering he had pitch only a few dozen innings above A-ball, and I'm glad the Rangers sent him to AAA where he can work on his command and pitch selection without the pressures of Arlington. I expect him up mid-year and think he will do well.

After our auction we had a 17-man snake draft in which anyone not in the NL is eligible, so people take major leaguers too. That said, I went almost exclusively with minor leaguers, in part because some of the key big leaguers I wanted were snapped up just before my picks.

Here's whom I took:

1. Justin Smoak (my last cut the off-season and I held my breath as I had the third pick in the first round -- two owners before me went for major leaguers).

2. Michael Saunders

3. Hector Rondon

4. Lonnie Chisenhall

5. Danny Valencia

6, 7, 8 -- keeper spots for Matusz, Jennings and Montero

9. Martin Perez

10. Jemile Weeks

11. Anthony Slama (insurance - I picked up Jon Rauch in the auction)

12. Mike Montgomery

13. Eric Hosmer

14. Kam Mickolio

15. Jake McGee

16. Tanner Scheppers

17. Lou Montanez (who is the first to get a starting gig with Felix Pie hurt and Reinold still a bit hobbled)

For context, because of our keeper and salary rules, it's rare to hold on to a prospect for more than two years, so I draft mainly with that in mind - I want guys who have some chance of making the Bigs this year (preferably) or next. That's one reason I took Chisenhall and Valencia, for example. And since we have 12 owners, I had the 3rd, 22, 27, 46th etc. picks, so the talent pool shrinks by 18 going from an odd-numbr pick to an even number pick.

So who did you pick? Anyone in particular that pained you to see picked up from someone else?

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Read More: Derek Holland (P - TEX), Brian Matusz (P - BAL), Jesus Montero (C - NYY), Lonnie Chisenhall (3B - CLE), Austin Jackson (CF - DET), Tyler Flowers (C - CWS), Josh Reddick (CF - BOS), Texas Rangers

Comments

I got Jason Heyward from the FA pool, somehow

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by WVPiratesfan on Apr 21, 2025 5:18 PM EDT reply actions

what sort of league? how many owners?

by Rotofan on Apr 22, 2025 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I did too

In a league with the stupid setting that a player has to play a major league game before being added. I live in Korea so it was easy for me to get him when he was added in the middle of the night.

by Fanon on Apr 24, 2025 3:04 AM EDT up reply actions

I hear ya

My league has some stupid rules too but when other owners don’t want change, all you can do is take advantage of the stupid rules.

by Rotofan on Apr 25, 2025 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions

In my 16-team auction league (3 keepers — 1 position player, 1 pitcher and 1 extra guy), I drafted Strasburg and Carlos Santana. I spent $10 on Stras and $1 on Santana. Obviously I’ll keep those guys (we have an inflation rule in place, about 20%) along with one of Justin Upton, McCutchen or Brett Anderson.

by JP_Frost on Apr 21, 2025 7:54 PM EDT reply actions

Strasburg looks unreal so far

You will have a tough choice on keepers

by Rotofan on Apr 22, 2025 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

AL only

I picked Jacob Turner in the first round of our minor league draft and not wanting to go for two pitchers I took Wil Myers in the second, although the pitcher I left behind in the second round is Montgomery, so I am already regretting that. I don’t know how many teams are in your league, so if it is shallow that would be a partial explanation, but I am still pretty surprised that Perez, Montgomery and Scheppers were available in the rounds that you got them in. Trout got picked a few picks before my second round pick and I was really hoping he would fall to me there—but no such luck.

by Dalman on Apr 22, 2025 11:14 AM EDT reply actions

Mine's a 12-team AL only

Only a few of the owners in my league follow the minors and none as closely as I do so I have an advantage taking minor leaguers. That said, I was surprised some of the guys I took late were still available.

I think Montgomery has a chance to be this year’s Brian Matusz, moving up quickly even though Matusz is older and pitched college ball. My guess is the Rangers are more conservative with Perez because of his age.

by Rotofan on Apr 22, 2025 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions

20 Team League / 40 man rosters

We do 5 rounds of Auction and then a $1 draft portion…

Going into the year I had Desmond Jennings, Matt Dominguez, Chris Carter, Grant Green, Derek Holland ( I know, not really a prospect) and Christian Friedrich. I added…

Round 1 (3 picks, added a couple by trade) - Derek Norris, Casey Crosby, Simon Castro
Round 2 - Hector Rondon
Round 5 - Jordan Lyles

"God, I'm from Cleveland. When is it going to be our time?"

by BStal11 on Apr 22, 2025 11:44 AM EDT reply actions

And the painful one...

Brett Lawrie taken 1 spot before I took Rondon. I wanted Lawrie’s stick.

"God, I'm from Cleveland. When is it going to be our time?"

by BStal11 on Apr 22, 2025 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions

I know what you mean

I usually look first for hitting prospects and then pitching prospects - pitchers are so much more unpredictable.

I didn’t lose anyone that way this year but last year I was a few bucks short to get Gordon Beckham at the end of our auction and that hurt.

by Rotofan on Apr 22, 2025 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Completely with you...

I generally prefer hitters but we were really loaded with pitchers this year, so I was forced to go pitcher a lot. I bought Michael Taylor in our auction portion and he was the best availale hitter IMO.

"God, I'm from Cleveland. When is it going to be our time?"

by BStal11 on Apr 22, 2025 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Taxi Squad

Our league has a Taxi Squad of 5 players (could be prospects or any player not kept or drafted in our auction). I got Michael Taylor, Freddie Freeman, Lonnie Chisenhall, Jeremy Hellickson and Wilkin Ramirez (went out on a limb with him).

by discndat on Apr 22, 2025 6:16 PM EDT reply actions