Kuzul

Let’s pretend your pre-Opening Day fantasy draft permits the trading of actual picks in 10-team mixed leagues (not just slots).

Here’s an unconventional road map to a roto championship, tailor-made for owners who believe in the depth of potential stars (or difference-makers) with pre-draft values ranging from 45-85:

The Premise

Trade picks in Rounds 1, 2, 4, 12, 14 and 16.

The Strategy

Step 1: Trade the picks from Rounds 1 (No. 5 overall) and 16 (No. 156) to the owner of the ninth slot in exchange for his/her picks in Rounds 6 (No. 52 overall) and 7 (No. 69).

Step 2: Trade the picks from Rounds 2 (No. 16 overall) and 14 (No. 136) to the owner of the second slot in exchange for his/her picks in Rounds 6 (No. 59 overall) and 8 (No. 79).

Step 3: Trade the picks from Rounds 4 (No. 36 overall) and 12 (No. 116) to the owner of the 10th slot in exchange for his/her picks in Rounds 7 (No. 70 overall) and 8 (No. 71).

The New Bounty

• Fifteen high-value picks from Nos. 25 and 125
• Three picks in Round 6, two in Round 7 and four in Round 8

The Core (courtesy of Mock Draft Central’s ADP rankings)

Pick 1 (No. 25 overall): OF Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins (candidate for 40 homers)
Pick 2 (No. 45): SP Zack Greinke, Brewers (my 10th-ranked starting pitcher)
Pick 3 (No. 52): 3B Brett Lawrie, Blue Jays (couldn’t risk him falling to the next spot)
Pick 4 (No. 56): OF Desmond Jennings, Rays (excellent power-speed source)
Pick 5 (No. 59): 2B Brandon Phillips, Reds (annual lock for 19 HRs, 19 steals)
Pick 6 (No. 65): 3B Pablo Sandoval, Giants (a necessary luxury pick)
Pick 7 (No. 69): 1B/3B Michael Young, Rangers (love that multi-positional versatility)
Pick 8 (No. 70): SP Madison Bumgarner, Giants
Pick 9 (No. 71): SP C.J. Wilson, Angels
Pick 10 (No. 76): 1B/2B/OF Michael Cuddyer, Rockies
Pick 11 (No. 79): OF Drew Stubbs, Reds
Pick 12 (No. 85): 1B/OF Michael Morse, Nationals (30-HR asset to return by April 12)
Pick 13 (No. 96): SP Adam Wainwright, Cardinals
Pick 14 (No. 105): OF Jason Heyward, Braves
Pick 15 (No. 125): SS Dee Gordon, Dodgers

Breakdown

1. The first 15 picks didn’t produce one closer (although John Axford was a major consideration at 85), but that’s hardly a big concern. In 10-team drafts, Rounds 17-19 should yield a smorgasbord of Tier II closers—25-save talents like Carlos Marmol, Brandon League, Chris Perez, Javy Guerra, Joe Nathan and Huston Street.

2. I landed four of my top 26 starting pitchers, and frankly, the fourth starter (Wainwright) may prove to be the most successful by season’s end. Last March, before he suffered an elbow injury, Wainwright (20 wins, 2.42 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 213 strikeouts in 2010) was my No. 3 overall pitcher heading into Grapefruit League play.

3. My philosophy for drafting shortstops is quite simple: If I can’t corral Troy Tulowitzki, Hanley Ramirez, Jose Reyes, Elvis Andrus or Starlin Castro in the first six rounds, I will skip the big-name, occasionally erratic vets from Rounds 7-12 before settling on Dee Gordon, a lightning-fast lock for 40 steals in 2012.

4. With six outfield-eligible assets in the first 15 picks, I won’t feel compelled to overextend for Lorenzo Cain, Austin Jackson, Martin Prado, Carlos Lee, Brandon Belt, Brennan Boesch, Mike Trout or Denard Span. However, at least three of the above names will be available in Rounds 24 and 25. Future superstars Trout, Cain and Belt have immense upside.

Jay Clemons can be reached on Twitter, day or night, at @ATL_JayClemons.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

In a perverse way, I’m glad the Yankees have starting pitcher Michael Pineda earmarked for the 15-day disabled list (shoulder tendinitis) before Opening Day.

To clarify, I would never cheer for any player to get injured; that’s not my style. But from a fantasy perspective, this situation should be a fascinating case study of Jittery Fantasy Guy/Gal vs. Rational-Thinking Fantasy Guy/Gal, as both types prepare for their drafts sometime between today and the Wednesday “opener” of Cardinals-Marlins (Miami’s official christening of its new stadium).

If you have already drafted Pineda, part of the blockbuster offseason trade involving the Mariners (Jesus Montero) and Yankees, there’s no reason to do anything rash in the coming days. Simply wait a week or two to assess what might happen with Pineda (9 wins, 3.74 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 173 strikeouts last year with Seattle) getting some rest before making a rehab start or two. Besides, it’s not like you’d get market value with any panic trades. For better or worse, you’ll just have to stick it out for a bit.

As for those who have yet to draft…

Prior to Friday’s erratic start against the Phillies and subsequent complaints of shoulder stiffness, Pineda had an Average Draft Position value of 104th overall and ranked as the 28th starting pitcher. Obviously, those numbers will dip in the coming days…but by how much? Here are some comparison questions to ponder:

1. What were your expectations of Pineda before the Yankees opened camp?

2. What will be your expectations if Pineda returns to the majors, fully healthy, by May 1?

3. Would you rather have Pineda, Atlanta’s Tim Hudson (back) or the Cards’ Chris Carpenter (nerve irritation) for the season ahead?

4. Where would you prioritize Pineda amongst Max Scherzer, Derek Holland, Brandon Morrow, Wandy Rodriguez—four pitchers ranked somewhere in the 30s—from May 1-Sept. 30 only?

If your answers are largely optimistic, then it makes sense to only let Pineda slide to Round 13 or 14. If your answers are predominantly pessimistic, there’s probably no time before Round 17 that warrants any consideration. In fact, you may be privately thrilled when someone else grabs Pineda at his adjusted value.

Let someone else deal with that potential headache. Right? Wrong? Only time will tell.

Jay Clemons can be reached on Twitter, day or night, at @ATL_JayClemons.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

With the stunning news of Reds reliever Ryan Madson needing season-ending surgery on his elbow, fantasy owners must now play the waiting game to learn of Cincinnati’s interim (or long-term) closer.

Or, at the very least, you can start taking prospective fliers on these four candidates, via the draft or free-agent waivers.

Sean Marshall (LHP)
 

One of baseball’s most effective set-up relievers of the last few years, Marshall was acquired from the Cubs in December. And, by all accounts, he’s the favorite to become Cincinnati’s next closer.

In Marshall’s last 150.1 innings (spanning two seasons), he tallied 169 strikeouts (and just 42 walks), a 2.44 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a K/9 ratio north of 10—all numbers befitting of a closer. Marshall also posted six saves during that time. This back-end experience should warrant Marshall getting a first crack at leading the bullpen.

Aroldis Chapman (LHP)

Chapman (90 Ks in 63 innings, 12.8 K/9 ratio in 2010-11) might have been the easy choice if the Reds needed an emergency closer last season. But with the club committed to converting Chapman into a starting pitcher, going back to the bullpen may not seem like the most palatable option.

Speaking of which, Cincinnati still has options with Chapman and were reportedly thinking of letting the Cuban lefty start the season at Triple-A Louisville as a means of building up arm strength for a May or June call-up. However, that plan might get scrapped, in the wake of Madson’s injury.

With a fastball that routinely tops 100 mph, Chapman has the greatest closer upside of the four candidates listed here.

Logan Ondrusek (RHP)

At 6’8″ and 230 pounds, the 27-year-old Ondrusek certainly looks the part of a menacing closer, but he’s still a little raw for a bullpen ace. In his 120 major league innings (spanning two seasons and 126 appearances), Ondrusek only has 80 strikeouts, a 3.45 ERA, a 1.27 WHIP and a pedestrian K/9 ratio of 6.0.

This isn’t to say Ondrusek would be a bad experiment at the closer spot, though. Not all players find their niche within the first three seasons in the bigs. Ondrusek would likely get plenty of run support from hitters like Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, Jay Bruce, Drew Stubbs, Scott Rolen and shortstop Zack Cozart, the Reds’ best pure hitter (.444 batting, 1.196 OPS) in Cactus League play.

Homer Bailey (RHP)

On stuff alone, the 25-year-old Bailey would make a fine closer. But with his multi-pitch repertoire and an extra-time requirement to get warmed up each time out, the Reds won’t likely pursue this option.

From a selfish perspective, I have admired Bailey’s fantasy ceiling since his Single-A season with Dayton (10.9 K/9 ratio) and desperately hope he remains a starter.

Yes, Bailey hasn’t fully lived up to the Cole Hamels-esque expectations of a few years back, but I still believe Homer (nine wins, 106/33 K-BB ratio last season) can be a front-end starter for a pennant-contending club.

Jay Clemons can be reached on Twitter, day or night.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Here are the results from my live, mixed-league auction draft on Tuesday, where each owner had to fill 24 spots on a $260 budget. While it’s true that no two auction drafts are alike (just like snowflakes), I faithfully adhered to five time-tested philosophies of spender conduct:

1. Don’t invest more than $27 on two elite players.
2. If you’re going to spend like a drunken sailor, do it with power-hitting corner infielders.
3. Never pay exorbitantly for saves.
4. Be the last (or second-to-last) owner to go below the $100 threshold.
5. And don’t ever be afraid to call a fellow owner’s bluff at the end of the draft.

Lights, Camera, Auction…

Phase I—Early Spending Spree
1B Joey Votto, Reds – $42 (my No. 3 first baseman)
OF Josh Hamilton, Rangers – $26
SP Dan Haren, Angels – $27 (a top-12 pitcher)
OF Hunter Pence, Phillies – $21
SS Elvis Andrus, Rangers – $24 (my No. 4 shortstop)

Phase II—Restrained, Yet Jubilant Spending
2B Dan Uggla, Braves – $18
OF Shin-Soo Choo, Indians – $14
1B Eric Hosmer, Royals – $13

Phase III—Guilty Pleasures
SP Stephen Strasburg, Nationals — $19
2B Rickie Weeks, Brewers – $12
OF Cameron Maybin, Padres – $8

Phase IV—Smart Shopping
OF Melky Cabrera, Giants – $6
SP Shaun Marcum, Brewers – $4 (the ‘missed-starts panic’ discount)
2B Jason Kipnis, Indians – $4
SP Wandy Rodriguez, Astros – $4

Phase V—Extremely Smart Shopping
1B/OF Carlos Lee, Astros – $2
3B Mike Moustakas, Royals – $2 (stud-in-waiting)
3B/2B Ryan Roberts, Diamondbacks – $2
RP Chris Perez, Indians – $2

Phase VI—Bargain Bins
OF Lorenzo Cain, Royals – $1
SP Ricky Nolasco, Marlins – $1
C Jonathan Lucroy, Brewers – $1
SP Colby Lewis, Rangers – $1
RP Javy Guerra, Dodgers – $1

Verdict: Owning nine players at $1 or $2 would usually be cause for great concern, but the bargain-bin steals—Nolasco, Lucroy, Lewis, Guerra (hopefully the Dodgers’ closer) and Cain, the Spring Training leader in OPS (1.507) and a poor man’s Andrew McCutchen—surprisingly capped a balanced roster that’s full of power, speed, athleticism, upside and potentially prolific pitching, with a focus on strikeouts, ERA and WHIP. Not a bad group.

Jay Clemons can be reached on Twitter, day or night, at @ATL_JayClemons.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

With the possibility of Miguel Cabrera missing Opening Day due to an orbital bone fracture, fantasy owners at the top of drafts must ask one vital question:

Should I care that one of baseball’s most destructive forces might miss a few games so early in the season?

The short answer is yes…and no.

With the move to third base to accommodate Prince Fielder’s arrival to Detroit, a first base/third base-eligible Cabrera (projections: 33 HR, 109 RBI, 112 runs, .327 average) holds slightly greater value than Albert Pujols, Matt Kemp, Ryan Braun, Jose Bautista and Troy Tulowitzki.

But that’s a statement contingent on Miggy playing 150 or more games. With a range of only 135-149 (factoring in regular days off), Cabrera might not garner enough at-bats to overcome the 155-game projections of Pujols, Kemp, Braun, Tulo and Bautista. The razor-thin margins separating the Round 1 elite just aren’t that profound.

Bottom line: If Miggy isn’t a lock to return for Opening Day by March 28—the day the Athletics and Mariners start the season in Japan—I would drop him to the three-to-six range with little remorse.

On the flip side, if Cabrera (30 HR, 105 RBI, 111 runs, .344 BA in 2011) starts taking live batting practice before March 28, he’d automatically return to the top spot in mixed- and AL-only league rankings. Lucky for Tigers and fantasy fans everywhere, Miggy was wearing sunglasses for the bad hop of all bad hops.

Although, Tony Kubek might disagree with that hyperbolic assessment. (Old World Series joke wasted on young readers.)

Jay Clemons can be reached on Twitter, day or night, at @ATL_JayClemons.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Here are a few fantasy takes from the world of baseball, specifically involving Ryan Howard, Roy Halladay and the Yankees’ latest reclamation project:

News: Ryan Howard likely won’t return to Phillies until late May/early June

Views: I cannot recall one circumstance where a player from the NBA, NFL, MLB or NHL sustained a career-defining injury at precisely the same moment his team was eliminated from the playoffs. So in terms of gaining sympathy votes from Phillies fans and fantasy gurus everywhere, Howard is breaking new ground when confined to the sidelines.

Bottom line, I would only invest a Round 24 or 25 pick on Howard (34 HRs/224 RBIs from 2010-11) in mixed-league drafts; and perhaps Round 21 for NL-only leagues.

Even if Howard says all the right things during his extended spring break, history tells us that major Achilles injuries require at least one full year of controlled recuperation. Sure, Howard may be able to jog well and knock out good swings in a batting cage—but it’s rare for an athlete to regain 80 percent of his/her explosion and power in the first year back—especially one of Howard’s size.

Howard projections: 14 HRs, 43 RBIs, .256 average

News: Andy Pettitte ends one-year retirement to sign with Yankees

Views: Without a doubt, Pettitte had a superb 16-year career with the Yankees (13 seasons) and Astros, notching 240 regular-season wins, five World Series titles and two All-Star berths; and when his name comes up for Hall of Fame consideration in six years, he’ll probably garner more than 45 percent of the initial vote (75 required for Cooperstown).

But just three months shy of his 40th birthday and undoubtedly rusty from his first retirement, Pettitte doesn’t have much cachet for 10, 12 or 14-team mixed leagues. Maybe an AL-only league, but only if you’re desperate for victories.

Pettitte tallied 11 wins, 101 strikeouts, a 3.28 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 2010, his final campaign in pinstripes. These numbers, representative of a No. 5 or 6 starter in fantasy, likely won’t be repeated this season—given the southpaw’s age and depth of the Yankees’ starting rotation.

His return to the game makes for great copy. Maybe it’ll nudge his Hall of Fame standing a little higher, too. But in the fantasy realm, it’s no more substantial than Jamie Moyer attempting a comeback with the Rockies at age 49.

Pettitte projections: Seven wins, 4.72 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 91 strikeouts

News: Roy Halladay reportedly incurs drop in velocity during Phillies camp

Views: I can break this one down in seven sarcastic words: As of March 16, I…DON’T…CARE!

Snarky humor aside, it really doesn’t matter if Halladay is struggling to reach his Spring Training peak at this point. At 35 (hardly a death sentence for today’s conditioned athletes) and fresh off a monster season (19-6, 2.35 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 220 strikeouts), it’s impossible to envision old Roy falling off the proverbial cliff anytime soon.

Barring an unforeseen injury or a “dead arm,” I trust Halladay enough to believe he’ll arrive at Opening Day in tip-top shape, or something very close to that. The man’s a Hall of Famer with a near-spotless record of durability, for heaven sake. He has earned the benefit of the doubt.

Halladay projections (subject to change): 18 wins, 208 strikeouts, 2.80 ERA and 1.04 WHIP

Jay Clemons can be reached on Twitter, day or night, at @ATL_JayClemons.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

For those who cannot survive on Top 40 rankings alone, here is a compilation of the next 40 outfielders to target in mixed- and league-specific drafts.

41. Carlos Lee, Astros
Skinny: Lee posted better numbers in hits, triples, RBI, steals, walks and batting average last year, compared to 2010. The biggest omission of the Top 40 outfielders.

42. Andre Ethier, Dodgers
Skinny: Coming off a sluggish campaign, Ethier is a good bet for modest across-the-board improvements in 2012. Targets: 17 HRs, 72 RBI, 69 runs, 1 steal and .292 average.

43. Jeff Francoeur, Royals
Skinny: This pedestrian ranking is based on the assumption Francoeur won’t collect 601 at-bats again, while vying for space in the Royals’ crowded outfield.

44. Nick Swisher, Yankees
Skinny: Fantasy owners will appreciate Swisher’s latest comfort zone in the draft’s latter rounds. Targets: 22 HRs, 86 RBIs, 77 runs, .257 average.

45. Logan Morrison, Marlins
Skinny: Better plate discipline could easily vault the 24-year-old Morrison into the Top 40, sooner than later. Targets: 24 HRs, 75 RBI, 59 runs, 4 steals, .268 average.

46. Josh Willingham, Twins
Skinny: An underrated two-category force, look for Willingham to take a slight dip in HRs and RBIs…but raise his average to approximately.265.

47. Carlos Quentin, Padres
Skinny: Quentin may never replicate his MVP-caliber season from 2008 (36/100/.288), but he’s still a reasonable play for 25 HRs, 82 RBI and .261 average.

48. Austin Jackson, Tigers
Skinny: It’s rare to find a two-category machine at this point in the countdown. Assuming he bats leadoff for most of 2012, A-Jax could tally 100 runs and 30 steals.

49. Martin Prado, Braves
Skinny: Prado is a respectable four-category contributor to those who have forgotten the 15-HR/100-runs/.300 expectations of last March.

50. Brennan Boesch, Tigers
Skinny: The planets may be aligned for Boesch to finally enjoy a season of relatively good health and fruitful fantasy numbers: Targets: 17 HRs, 70 RBI, 82 runs, 6 steals, .287 average.

51. Matt Joyce, Rays
Skinny: A productive player with some inescapable red flags from last year: two months of sub-.200 hitting…and three months of two homers or less.

52. Peter Bourjos, Angels
Skinny: Bourjos should be a four-category factor this year (excluding RBI)…assuming he logs 500 at-bats for the Angels.

53. Angel Pagan, Giants
Skinny: Like Bourjos, Pagan should be a four-category success in roto and head-to-head leagues, and bonus…30 steals is now the baseline of reasonable expectations.

54. Alex Rios, White Sox
Skinny: Rios may not register stats worthy of the 54th outfielder. But his age (31) and intriguing physical tools will nonetheless prompt fantasy GMs to take a later-round flier on the former star.

55. Brandon Belt, Giants
Skinny: Forget last year’s pedestrian stats (9 HRs, 18 RBI, 21 runs, .225 BA). Belt has the tools and superb minor-league track record to be a four-category factor in his second season.

56. Colby Rasmus, Blue Jays
Skinny: It’s time for Rasmus to take a big leap in his development, while avoiding the wild highs and lows of seasons past. Targets: 22 HRs, 67 RBI, 84 runs, 9 steals, .274 average.

57. Emilio Bonifacio, Marlins
Skinny: A two-category whirlwind (runs, steals) who needs to prove last year’s .296 BA wasn’t a fluke.

58. Dexter Fowler, Rockies
Skinny: A potential National League clone of Austin Jackson, Fowler might approach 90 runs and 25-30 steals for the hot-and-cold Rockies.

59. Mitch Moreland, Rangers
Skinny: Moreland’s hearty supporters might find fault with this conservative ranking. But for 2012, Moreland’s upside likely doesn’t extend past 21 HRs and 67 RBI.

60. Jason Kubel, Diamondbacks
Skinny: With 140 games and 500 at-bats, Kubel can recapture his 20-HR mojo from 2008-10. But that may be a tall order, given the Diamondbacks’ packed outfield and absence of a DH during National League play.

61. Lucas Duda, Mets
Skinny: Duda has the physical tools to be a four-category contributor in his age-26 season. Targets: 16 HRs, 58 RBI, 59 runs, .284 average.

62. Alfonso Soriano, Cubs
Skinny: Soriano makes for a productive fifth or sixth outfielder in 12-team leagues, especially for owners in need of 20-plus homers and 80 RBI.

63. J.D. Martinez, Astros
Skinny: A .342 hitter in the minors, Martinez has the skill set to be a four-category factor in his second MLB season. This leap-of-faith ranking will look even better in May.

64. Michael Brantley, Indians
Skinny: Brantley posted across-the-board gains in his second MLB season (7 HRs, 46 RBI, 63 runs, 13 steals, .266 average). Expect another season of modest improvement.

65. Vernon Wells, Angels
Skinny: With this outfield ranking, fantasy owners probably wouldn’t mind a repeat of Wells’ 2011 numbers (25 HRs, 66 RBI, 60 runs, 9 steals)—minus the deflating .218 average.

66. Delmon Young, Tigers
Skinny: Fantasy owners shouldn’t expect a homer every five games from Young—his admirable pace with the Tigers last season. But he’s still a respectable four-category contributor.

67. Ben Revere, Twins
Skinny: Revere will be a high late-round priority for owners needing cheap speed, and the fleet-footed Twin is a lock for 42-45 steals in 2012.

68. Juan Pierre, Phillies
Skinny: The 34 year old may be in the twilight of his career, but he’s still a threat for 40 steals and 80 runs when given adequate playing time. An ideal late-round flier.

69. Jason Bay, Mets
Skinny: Bay’s numbers have obviously dipped since that coup de grace season of 2009 with Boston (36 HRs, 119 RBI, 103 runs). But as a healthy Met, he’s still a good play for 16 HRs, 70 RBI and 11 steals.

70. Ryan Raburn, Tigers
Skinny: Opportunity knocks for the OF-eligible Rayburn, who has a clear shot at winning the Tigers’ job at second base and posting numbers of 15 HRs, 58 RBI, 61 runs and .282 average.

71. Jose Tabata, Pirates
Skinny: The next five players in this countdown could all make big jumps in 2012. Tabata is a reasonable candidate for 12 HRs, 34 steals and .279 average.

72. Eric Thames, Blue Jays
Skinny: Thames has down-the-road power potential of 25 HRs and 90 RBI. He could be a last-round gem for upside-loving owners.

73. Jerry Sands, Dodgers
Skinny: Sands would probably rate higher if he had a spot sewn up in the Dodgers’ outfield. Hopefully, owners will have more clarity with Sands in April or May.

74. Lorenzo Cain, Royals
Skinny: Cain was a four-category factor in the minors. Hopefully, that status will transition into big-league success for 2012. A solid late-round flier.

75. Yoenis Cespedes, Athletics
Skinny: You’ve seen the video of Cespedes running, jumping and P90X-ing his way into the hearts of MLB scouts and general managers. But is he ready to play in the bigs?

76. Seth Smith, Athletics
Skinny: It’s hard to guess how Oakland’s outfield situation will shake out by season’s end, but Smith has respectable potential in all five categories. A late-round coup in any format.

77. Travis Snider, Blue Jays
Skinny: A red-hot spring start has fueled the notion that Snider will put it all together in 2012. Here’s the rub: Toronto’s outfield is stacked right now.

78. Yonder Alonso, Padres
Skinny: The Reds took a big gamble on Joey Votto (beyond 2013) when they traded Alonso, a future star at first base, to the Padres. For Alonso, anything above 14 HRs, 63 RBI and .270 BA would be welcome.

79. Mike Carp, Mariners
Skinny: Carp may finally be getting the requisite playing time to become a productive fantasy asset. Targets: 18 HRs and .282 average.

80. Denard Span, Twins
Skinny: The 80th ranking is more ceremonial than a punitive judgment against Span, who tallied 182 runs and 49 steals in 2009-10. With a productive spring, thus erasing last year’s disappointment, Span could vault 14-17 slots before Opening Day.

80a. Bryce Harper, Nationals
Skinny: It might not matter if the Nationals send Harper down for more minor-league seasoning before Opening Day. Fantasy owners won’t hesitate to take a Round 20 flier on one of the most touted hitting prospects of the last 20 years. Expect a June 1 call-up.

80b. Mike Trout, Angels
Skinny: A springtime illness has effectively curtailed Trout’s chances of making the parent club on Opening Day. Nevertheless, he’s a stealth last-round flier and a can’t-miss prospect for the long term.

80c. Alex Presley, Pirates
Skinny: With an outfield of Andrew McCutchen, Tabata and Presley, the Pirates can afford to be patient with Starling Marte. A .291 hitter in the minors, Presley could develop into a four-category factor.

80d. Allen Craig, Cardinals
Skinny: Like so many prospects at this stage of the countdown, Craig’s fantasy potential is directly proportional to the number of at-bats he’ll accrue in his first full season.

80e. Alejandro De Aza, White Sox
Skinny: A poor man’s (or undiscovered) version of Emilio Bonifacio. In the right setting, De Aza could hit .300 and notch 30-35 steals.

Jay Clemons can be reached on Twitter, day or night, at @ATL_JayClemons.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

To counterbalance our own Spring Training positional rankings for starting pitchers, beginning with the Top 40 and then secondary Top 40 (Nos. 41-80), here are the current average draft positional values at Mock Draft Central.

Rounds 1-4

Justin Verlander, Tigers (7th overall)
Roy Halladay, Phillies (15th overall)
Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (17th overall)
Cliff Lee, Phillies (21st overall)
Tim Lincecum, Giants (25th overall)
Felix Hernandez, Mariners (28th overall)
CC Sabathia, Yankees (29th overall)
Cole Hamels, Phillies (30th overall)
Jered Weaver, Angels (34th overall)
David Price, Rays (36th overall)
Dan Haren, Angels (42nd overall)
Zack Greinke, Brewers (45th overall)
Yovani Gallardo, Brewers (46th overall)

Breakdown

1. It’s hardly a shock that Verlander and Halladay were the first ones off most boards. Verlander is coming off a Cy Young/MVP season—setting the bar impossibly high—and Halladay has been the most dominant real-world and fantasy pitcher over the last five seasons.

2. Kershaw is my top-ranked pitcher in mixed roto leagues, so obviously, I would support a No. 17 value. However, it’s imperative that prepared fantasy owners have a game plan for the later rounds, if they’re going to splurge on a high-end pitcher in the first three picks. My general rule for the first eight rounds of 12-team drafts: Six formidable hitters and two starting pitchers with a high capacity for strikeouts and WHIP.

3. I would be thrilled to land either Hamels or Weaver midway through Round 3, provided they’re the ace of the fantasy rotation. As stated above, it’s wonderful to have elite pitching early on, but the later rounds are full of great values with starting pitching—not the case for third base, shortstop or leagues that require five starting outfield spots.

4. To be honest, I would rather draft a hitter at 46, or a pitcher like Matt Cain, Jon Lester or Ian Kennedy. But I’m nitpicking here.

Rounds 5-8

Jon Lester, Red Sox (50th overall)
Matt Cain, Giants (59th overall)
Stephen Strasburg, Nationals (65th overall)
James Shields, Rays (66th overall)
Ian Kennedy, Diamondbacks (69th overall)
Mat Latos, Reds (70th overall)
Madison Bumgarner, Giants (74th overall)
C.J. Wilson, Rangers (83rd overall)
Daniel Hudson, Diamondbacks (85th overall)
Ricky Romero, Blue Jays (86th overall)
Josh Beckett, Red Sox (90th overall)
Tommy Hanson, Braves (92nd overall)

Breakdown

1. I realize Strasburg is only 18 months removed from Tommy John surgery, but when fully healthy, his track record for excellence in ERA, WHIP, strikeouts, K/9, BB/9—and any other stat you can find—resembles that of a top-5 pitcher. In other words, I would happily risk a Round 6 pick for a potential monster.

2. Matt Cain also has stellar value in the middle rounds. In six full seasons with the Giants, he’s had very few peaks and valleys—a quality prized by roto-league gurus. Cain’s only drawback is he has yet to earn 15 victories in a given year. That hurdle will hopefully be cleared in 2012.

3. It shouldn’t hurt Wilson’s cause that he signed with the deep and talented Angels, giving him a reasonable chance to match last year’s 16 wins, 2.94 ERA and 206 strikeouts. And yet, the 83rd pick may be a half-round too high, especially with Matt Garza, Gio Gonzalez, Michael Pineda and Adam Wainwright still available for public consumption. All in all, not too bad.

Rounds 9-12

Michael Pineda, Yankees (98th overall)
Josh Johnson, Marlins (100th overall)
Matt Moore, Rays (104th overall)
Adam Wainwright, Cardinals (107th overall)
Gio Gonzalez, Nationals (108th overall)
Matt Garza, Cubs (109th overall)
Johnny Cueto, Reds (112th overall)
Brandon Beachy, Braves (114th overall)
Jordan Zimmermann, Nationals (117th overall)
Yu Darvish, Rangers (124th overall)
Chris Carpenter, Cardinals (125th overall)
Jeremy Hellickson, Rays (127th overall)
Anibal Sanchez, Marlins (129th overall)
Cory Luebke, Padres (135th overall)
Tim Hudson, Braves (136th overall)

Breakdown

1. Hellickson and Luebke stand as ideal values for Round 11 and 12, respectively. The only aspects precluding Hellickson from greatness are 1) more major-league seasoning, and 2) cutting down on walks (it seems that No. 1 will eventually take care of No. 2). As for Luebke, he has thrown more strikeouts than innings at nearly every level of pro ball. He could easily be the Padres’ ace by season’s end.

2. As mentioned in the Top 40 starters preview, Wainwright may only be on a short-term respite from baseball’s elite pitchers. When fully healthy, he’s a top-10 fantasy talent and thus, a superb flier pick anywhere past 100. The hype for Darvish will be high throughout March, not unlike that of Daisuke Matsuzaka in his first year with the Red Sox. But I’m OK with that, since Darvish had a long-standing track record of ERA, WHIP and strikeout excellence in Japan. Let’s hope the adjustment period to North and South American hitters is relatively quick.

3. Zimmermann has the physical tools to be a formidable fantasy pitcher, but 117th may be 10-15 slots too high. He likely needs more time to unlock his vast potential.

Rounds 13-16

Shaun Marcum, Brewers (146th overall)
Max Scherzer, Tigers (147th overall)
Ervin Santana, Angels (150th overall)
Ubaldo Jimenez, Indians (154th overall)
Derek Holland, Rangers (167th overall)
Wandy Rodriguez, Astros (170th overall)
Hiroki Kuroda, Yankees (172nd overall)
Jaime Garcia, Cardinals (177th overall)
Trevor Cahill, Diamondbacks (179th overall)
Brandon Morrow, Blue Jays (180th overall)
Doug Fister, Tigers (185th overall)
John Danks, White Sox (191st overall)

Breakdown

1. Holland has solid long-term prospects, but I’m not buying a guy with a 1.35 WHIP for 16 wins in consecutive seasons. Yes, he’ll get a ton of run support, but his range for the year is probably 13-15 victories. That said, Round 14 is decent value.

2. I would dance a 20-minute jig around my condo upon landing Jimenez at some point in Round 13. He’s only two years removed from a dominant campaign with the Rockies (19 wins, 2.88 ERA, 214 strikeouts, 1.16 WHIP) and was traded to a club (the Indians) that should contend for the second AL wild-card spot. Unless Jimenez has a dead arm or a balky elbow, he’s a good bet to recapture his old mojo.

3. A highly touted prospect with the Athletics, Cahill has plenty of time to right the ship with his new team, the Diamondbacks. First order of business: Limiting his walks. That alone should satisfy the owners who draft Cahill in Round 15.

4. If Fister resembles anything close to last year’s production with the Tigers (8 wins in 11 starts, 1.79 ERA, 57 strikeouts in 70 innings, 0.84 WHIP), his Round 16 acquisition would classify as an absolute heist. Fister is the 2012 version of the ultimate no-brainer flier pick!

Jay Clemons can be reached on Twitter, day or night, at @ATL_JayClemons.

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The Missing Links

Need a Hamburger Helper-like hand with your research for the upcoming baseball drafts? Are you curious to find out why the Kansas City Royals, led by Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Lorenzo Cain and Billy Butler, could be the Next Big Thing in baseball? Check out these great supplemental sites for background information:

• Baseball America

• Baseball America’s 2012 Top Prospects

• Rotowire Player Search Database

• Minor League Baseball Stats Page

• Baseball Reference

• Baseball Prospectus

• Accuscore.com
  

• Retrosheet

• FanGraphs.com

• Baseball Headquarters

• Beyond The Box Score

• MLB.com Stats Page

Depth Of Knowledge
There is no greater resource for mixed and league-specific drafts than the official depth charts for each MLB club. In no particular order…

National League
East
Marlins | Braves | Mets | Phillies | Nationals

Central
Reds | Pirates | Cubs | Brewers | Cardinals | Astros

West
Dodgers | Diamondbacks | Padres | Rockies | Giants

American League
East
Red Sox | Orioles | Rays | Yankees | Blue Jays

Central
White Sox | Tigers | Indians | Royals | Twins

West
Rangers | Angels | Athletics | Mariners

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Here’s the first dry run of draft expectations when holding the No. 1 pick in a 12-team mixed roto league, specifically working off the Average Draft Position report from our friends at Mock Draft Central. It goes without saying: It’s imperative to nail the first three picks (1, 24, 25), and for the sake of brevity, we’ll stop at Round 17:

Round 1, Pick 1 overall: Motive: Best overall player

First option: 1B Miguel Cabrera, Tigers

Second option: 1B Albert Pujols, Angels

Third option: OF Matt Kemp, Dodgers

Round 2, Pick 24 overall: Motive: Best outfielder or starting pitcher

First option: OF Mike Stanton, Marlins

Second option: SP Jered Weaver, Angels

Third option: SP Felix Hernandez, Mariners

Round 3, Pick 25 overall: Motive: Best starting pitcher or top prospect available

First option: SP Jered Weaver, Angels

Second option: OF Andrew McCutchen, Pirates

Third option: SP Felix Hernandez, Mariners

Round 4, Pick 48 overall: Motive: Best corner infielder or starting pitcher

First option: 1B Eric Hosmer, Royals

Second option: SP Matt Cain, Giants

Third option: 3B Brett Lawrie, Blue Jays

Round 5, Pick 49: Motive: Best third baseman or starting pitcher

First option: 3B Brett Lawrie, Blue Jays

Second option: SP Matt Cain, Giants

Third option: OF Michael Bourn, Braves

Round 6, Pick 72 overall: Motive: Best middle infielder or catching prospect

First option: SS Asdrubal Cabrera, Indians

Second option: 2B Rickie Weeks, Brewers

Third option: C Joe Mauer, Twins

Round 7, Pick 73 overall: Motive: Best middle infielder

First option: 2B Rickie Weeks, Brewers

Second option: 2B Chase Utley, Phillies

Third option: C Joe Mauer, Twins

Round 8, Pick 96 overall: Motive: Outfielder with greatest upside

First option: OF Jason Heyward, Braves

Second option: OF Jayson Werth, Nationals

Third option: OF Cameron Maybin, Padres

Round 9, Pick 97 overall: Motive: Best pitcher or outfielder available

First option: SP Matt Garza, Rays

Second option: OF Jayson Werth, Nationals

Third option: SP Josh Johnson, Marlins

Round 10, Pick 120 overall: Motive: Best outfielder or high-end pitcher available

First option: OF Chris Young, Diamondbacks

Second option: SP Chris Carpenter, Cardinals

Third option: OF Nick Markakis, Orioles

Round 11, Pick 121: Motive: Best player available

First option: SP Chris Carpenter, Cardinals

Second option: SP Jeremy Hellickson, Rays

Third option: OF Nick Markakis, Orioles

Round 12, Pick 144: Motive: Best starting pitcher or middle infielder

First option: SP Ubaldo Jimenez, Indians

Second option: SP Max Scherzer, Tigers

Third option: SS Alexei Ramirez, White Sox

Round 13, Pick 145: Motive: Best catcher or starting pitcher available

First option: C Jesus Montero, Mariners

Second option: SP Max Scherzer, Tigers

Third option: SS Alexei Ramirez, White Sox

Round 14, Pick 168: Motive: Best starting pitcher or speed-power hitting option

First option: SP Brandon Morrow, Blue Jays

Second option: 2B/3B Ryan Roberts, Diamondbacks

Third option: SP Wandy Rodriguez, Astros

Round 15, Pick 169: Motive: Best closer available

First option: RP Huston Street, Padres

Second option: RP Joakim Soria, Royals

Third option: RP Joe Nathan, Rangers

Round 16, Pick 192: Motive: Best player available

First option: 2B/3B Ryan Roberts, Diamondbacks

Second option: OF Josh Willingham, Twins

Third option: 3B Mike Moustakas, Royals

Round 17, Pick 193: Motive: Best closer or power-hitting prospect

First option: RP Javy Guerra, Dodgers

Second option: OF Josh Willingham, Twins

Third option: 3B Mike Moustakas, Royals

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