So here we are, a few short days away from the start of the 2010 MLB regular season, and down to our last weekend of drafts. Many a savvy owner have saved their key drafts for this weekend to see how position battles shake out, and see who gets hurt ala Joe Nathan. Up to the last few minutes before your drafts starts you're likely to be scouring fantasy baseball websites looking for that extra edge, that untapped bit of player info that might help your drafting buddies groan for their own ignorance.
We've talked Breakouts, Busts and Steals around the horn: Catchers, First Basemen, Second Basemen, Short Stops, Third Base as well as Outfielders, Closers and Starting Pitchers. And we've looked at the upside of Jake Peavy and the downside of Jacoby Ellsworth in our Beer Goggles article.
With that in mind let's talk a final look around the field and see if we can't find a few draft day steals left to be found.
Pos | Player/Team | ADP | One Liners |
C | Chris Ianetta, COL | N/A | Unless you get Mauer, why waste an early pick on a catcher. Ianetta's at the magic 27 this year and he still has his power stroke, and he's due to break out, right? Oh and he's owned in less than 10% of most leagues. |
1B | Chris Davis, TEX | 148 | Adam Dunn is going 7 rounds earlier and they'll put up similar numbers, and I'm giving the edge to Davis with a better batting average this year. |
2B | Luis Valbuena, CLE | N/A | Detroit's Scott Sizemore is owned in over 90% of most leagues, Valbuena, less than 3%. Both will put up similar numbers and Valbuena carries SS eligibility too. |
SS | Alcides Escobar, MIL | 171 | He's been touted as a sleeper so he's going higher than expected, but that's still 8 rounds later than Elvis Andrus who will likely only beat Escobar by a handful of SBs. |
3B | Chase Headley, SD | 223 | Headley's going in round 23, Adrian Beltre round 13, both will put up similar numbers, and Headley is only 25 with OF eligibility as well. |
OF | Garrett Jones, PIT | 209 | Should put up numbers similar to Alfonso Soriano seven rounds later, and he qualifies at 1B |
OF | Dexter Fowler, COL | 179 | Everyone in the Rockies is high on Carlos Gonzalez this season, but Fowler is the real steal several rounds later with 30 SB potential and great plate discipline. |
OF | Kyle Blanks, SD | 215 | You want Jason Kubel in round 14 or Kyle Blanks in 22? |
SP | Francisco Liriano, MIN | 210 | Yeah the hype's worn off just in time for you to snag him cheap. He's going in the 21st round in standard leagues. He's got a K/9 of like 15 this spring in 20 innings with only 5 walks. |
SP | Jonathan Sanchez, SF | 198 | Over 200 K's in the 20th round? Sign me up! |
RP | Billy Wagner, ATL | 153 | Looking for a Joe Nathan replacement? Wagner's your guy, mark my words. He's been lights out this spring and still he's still not getting the top tier love he deserves in drafts. |
RP | Jon Rauch, MIN | 223 | Nathan's actual replacement has draft day leprosy, but he'll get 30 saves with decent peripherals. |