MLB

Staff Fantasy Baseball Draft: Analysis of Our 12-Team Head-to-Head League

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Rounds 8 and 9

RoundPickOverallPlayerPositionFantasy Team
8185Chris Carter1B/OFPeddle/Barry
8286David Wright3BScott Barrett
8387Jorge SolerOFCory Rindone
8488David RobertsonPJim Sannes
8589Pablo Sandoval3BNick Friar
8690Sonny GrayPJeff Hicks
8791Jonathan LucroyC/1BDale Redman
8892J.D. MartinezOFMatt van de Merlen
8993Manny Machado3BKyle Stanzel
81094Marcell OzunaOFAJ Weinberg
81195Alex WoodPJacob Adler
81296James ShieldsPAlex Gutjahr
9197Yan GomesCAlex Gutjahr
9298Carlos CarrascoPJacob Adler
9399Mark Trumbo1B/OFAJ Weinberg
94100Jacob deGromPKyle Stanzel
95101Dellin BetancesPMatt van de Merlen
96102Dustin Pedroia2BDale Redman
97103Evan GattisCJeff Hicks
98104Jake ArrietaPNick Friar
99105Mark MelanconPJim Sannes
910106Kolten Wong2BCory Rindone
911107Alex CobbPScott Barrett
912108Gio GonzalezPPeddle/Barry

Barrett, who ultimately goes with David Wright at 86th, had his eyes set on Kris Bryant. A Mets fan, he wanted to roster Wright but couldn’t decide between the two players.

“[Peddle and Barry] made it easy on me and took Bryant right off my queue so I could finally have some stock in my man David Wright, who should have a big bounce-back year,” Barrett said.

Rindone adds Jorge Soler, his self-described “favorite pick of the draft”. Jonathan Lucroy and J.D. Martinez, both favorites of mine, are picked up by Redman and van de Merlen.

Jake Arrieta heads to the Nick Friar autodraft team, but Redman praises the computer’s pick.

“Arrieta at the 104th overall pick screams value to me. The Cubs' hurler finished off 2014 strong by going 3-0 with a 0.95 ERA and 32 Ks in 28.1 innings,” said Redman. “He has a chance to reach 15 wins and 200 Ks this season, which is a steal for the 24th starter taken.”

My picks: Alex Wood, Carlos Carrasco

My pitching barrage continues, as I add Wood and Carrasco to Kershaw and Iwakuma to give me a formidable rotation. With Wood, I suspected he might be available for cheap because he plays for a weak Braves team, but the ratios and strikeouts are still valuable, and wins can still be fluky.

Carrasco became the darling of FanGraphs because he was straight-up on fire during the second half last year after deciding to pitch out of the stretch full-time. I don’t expect a repeat of the 2.55 full-season ERA (he spent some time in the bullpen), but he’ll be a prime source of strikeouts.