Fantasy Baseball: Position Prep - SS
Catcher Rankings - 1B Rankings - 2B Rankings - 3B Rankings
For all the positions leading up to SS I have been ranking on value relative ADP. For SS it’s just far too top-heavy and there isn’t enough use in saying I see more value in Lindor at 13 than Witt at 2. The only value I see in that is going to trade Witt Jr. after drafts are done where you can vastly improve another position without having a big drop-off in talent at SS.
Instead for Shortstops, I am going to shift to the best player to select within their ADP range.
Early/Mid 1st Rounders
Bobby Witt Jr. - SS - KCR
Bobby is going to go 2nd in basically everyone’s draft. ESPN does have Judge and Soto going before him but I don’t see that happening all too much as we go through March drafts. A complete player who contributes in every category. If you’re picking 3 or 4 and he’s still there I think you are one lucky SOB.
ADP - 2.8 - High of 2 (Yahoo, RTS, & NFBC)
Gunnar Henderson - BAL
Henderson is almost exactly a year younger than Witt Jr. and they both had over 9 bWAR seasons. It’s not out of the question that Henderson has a better year this year so I’d be thrilled to get him at his ADP of 7.8 - I would consider him as early as 4 after Ohtani, Witt Jr. and Judge right in the mix with Ramirez and Soto. He certainly has MVP potential and you take care of a position with loads of talent at the top but becomes much shallower deeper in the draft.
ADP - 7.8 - High of 6 (Yahoo & NFBC)
Late 1st/Early 2nd Rounders
Francisco Lindor - SS - NYM
I see Lindor as the most valuable SS relative to his ADP - If he performs anything close to last season he should set you up for big-time success, especially since you’d be taking him paired with another great talent at that R1/R2 turn; oh ya and he does have Juan Soto batting right behind him now. Lindor and Vlad Guerrero could be my favourite way to start the draft this year if you’re “lucky” enough to pick late.
ADP - 13.2 - High of 11 (Yahoo)
Elly De La Cruz - SS - CIN
Welcome to the Elly Show - This guy is electric. I would LOVE to see a higher average as that would likely supplant him into that 2 spot behind Ohtani in drafts. If you use Ks at all he’s a bit tougher sell after just leading the MLB in strikeouts. But at least you’re off the the races, literally, in steals as he also led the MLB in steals last year.
His ADP is brought down significantly by ESPN where he’s going 34th - Yahoo, NFBC, RTS and FT all have him going from 4-6. I guess if you’re using ESPN you have a big opportunity to grab him later if your league-mates are likely to follow ADP much through the 1st round or 2.
ADP - 10.6 - High of 4 (RTS & NFBC)
Late 3rd/Early 4th Rounder
Corey Seager - SS - TEX
If you miss out on those 4 I say hang tight and snag Seager who is going on average around pick 40, I see him as a bit of a bargain here. He has the potential to bat just as well as any of the 1st round SS options. But he does not bring steals - which I think is already the most commonly punted stat so I am sure he’ll be a favourite amongst anyone following that strategy. If not, finding steals elsewhere in the draft with be a must.
ADP - 40.4 - High of 36 (ESPN)
10th Round or Later
Bo Bichette - SS - TOR
After a brutal 2024 where he played just 81 games and really struggled during them as well, Bichette is in a contract year alongside teammate Vlad Guerrero. All the incentive to perform well is there and he is projected to bat 4th to start the year behind Springer, Vlad, and Santander. He is set up well to greatly outperform his ADP.
ADP - 134.4 - High of 109 (Yahoo)
Carlos Correa - SS - MIN
I know we’re scared by the plantar fasciitis but while he was healthy last year Correa was awesome. Another guy where ESPN varies significantly with an ADP of 146 but the other 4 sites range from 224-259, basically the opposite of Elly in that way. He’s sort of Seager-lite where he can do it all quite well with the bat but he is not going to contribute steals at all. You don’t usually find someone who contributes in every category at this stage of the draft anyways.
Correa I see as a great target later in drafts regardless if you have any of the above players as he just offers too much value especially after pick 200. If he stays healthy you’ve potentially got a great utility piece or a trade chip to flip for whatever upgrades you’d need elsewhere.
ADP - 221 - High of 146 (ESPN)
Not a SS Target
Mookie Betts - 2B/SS/RF - LAD
He’s too valuable at 2B. I don’t see anything wrong with taking him in that mid/late 1st round but I wouldn’t want to play him at SS. The versatility to allow you the option is always nice - it’s a long season and lots can happen but I know I would want to go into the year with him at 2B and go after Seager in that 3rd or 4th round rather than Altuve who has a comparable ADP to Seager.
