RADIO
Lockout or not, fantasy baseball drafts have been taking place on several platforms. Sure, we do not know if or when the MLB season will start, but that will not stop us die-hard fantasy players. Some players have been researching for a few months, while some players are just now getting their first looks at what the 2022 landscape may look like.
In previous years, many players would participate in mock drafts to get their feel for the player pool; in recent years, that has changed with Best Ball and Draft and Hold drafts (DnH). Things have also changed quite a bit with the growth of the NFBC platform. The NFBC runs some of the best contests for fantasy baseball players and has different price points for your average fans and higher stake players.
The beauty of the best ball and DnH drafts is no weekly FAAB/waiver wire process. The main difference between the two formats is that the best ball is just drafting and walking away while DnH is still drafting but still setting your weekly lineups. They are similar to mock drafts; there is not much left to do after the draft, but a little skin in the game keeps the players drafting focused and on the up and up.
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NFBC Draft and Hold Strategy
For the next few weeks leading up to the season, I will be writing a series of articles looking for draft values. For this time of the year, I will be focusing on DnH leagues, and I will go over some later-round targets at each position. In the NFBC, there are NFBC 50s, which are 12-team leagues, and Draft Champions (DC), which are 15-team leagues. The ADP used in these articles will be for the DCs. You can find the ADP for all formats on the NFBC website.
The third base position is challenging. There are some excellent players up top, but things get bleaker as we move down the draft board. There are some fantastic options down the draft board, but there are also some definite landmines. If you are not aggressive in drafting third basemen early in your DnH drafts or do not have adequate depth at the position, you will need some later-round targets.
Some of these later-round values are boring veterans that will play nearly every day. At-bats are kind and are harder and harder to find later in drafts. Some of these targets are players looking to bounce back or strong side platoon players that should get you the stats you need as a deep value. Some values will also be young players who do not have a role with the team yet but could be an excellent late-season addition to your team by the season’s end. Let’s look at some of the late-round third base values I am targeting in DnH drafts.
Evan Longoria, San Francisco Giants
NFBC ADP: 361
Longoria is a boring veteran to many fantasy players, but for those that pay attention, they know just how valuable Longoria's bat can be on your roster. Last season, he only played 81 games due to injuries, one rather fluky after colliding with Brandon Crawford. However, in those 81 games, he hit .261 with 13 home runs. It was a solid season, yet somewhat disappointed due to injuries.
Before 2019, Longoria had played in 156 or more games for the Rays, but since joining the Giants, he has only played in 125, 129, 53 (60 game season), and now 81 games. Even with limited action last season, Longoria walked 12% of the time, which was his best since 2011, and also had an ISO of .221, which was his best since 2016. Longoria also had career-best marks in maxEV with 113.2 mph, barrels with 13.4%, and a hard-hit rate of 54.5%.
Longoria may be getting older, but he is still producing at a near-elite level offensively. As long as he is healthy, he should play 130 games in 2022. There is always the concern of a platoon with the Giants, but Longoria will benefit from the DH and be the primary third baseman on the roster. As the draft goes on and the position dries up, Longoria becomes a great option as the third 3B on your roster. Do not be an ageist and draft this man.
Jose Miranda, Minnesota Twins
NFBC ADP: 400
Miranda has yet to play in a major league game, but the upside he brings with his bat has many excited for some 2022 action. Last season between Double-A and Triple-A, he hit .344 with 30 home runs, 94 RBI, and a .973 OPS. In addition, Miranda was an absolute masher in the Twins' minor league system. Another appealing part of Miranda's success is that he wasn't like most power hitters, as he had solid plate discipline. He only struck out 11.5% of the time in Double-A and 13.1% in Triple-A.
Some will point to the fact that Miranda had not shown much power in the minors before or that he was never a player with a batting average above .300. Sure, that's true, but it is also true that Miranda just turned 23, and the season missed in 2020 could have been used to develop even more as a hitter.
Regardless of what took place, the production over a whole 2021 season can not be ignored. Yes, Josh Donaldson is at third base for now, but we know he will miss time throughout the year. There is also hope that Donaldson will spend a lot of time at DH, opening up even more time for Miranda at 3B. There are some nice paths to playing time for Miranda in 2022, and he is worth a later-round flyer for those in need of some third base depth.
Carter Kieboom, Washington Nationals
NFBC ADP: 451
Many fantasy players have been waiting for Kieboom to become the professional hitter he was supposed to be due to his prospect pedigree. Unfortunately, most of us are still waiting, and 2022 could be when we see something in the right direction. Kieboom only played 62 games last season, hitting only six home runs and hitting .207. Not ideal, but there is some optimism for 2022.
For now, Kieboom projects to be the everyday third baseman for the Nationals, leading to at-bats, which is hard to find later in drafts. Last season, he also showcased solid plate discipline, walking 10% of the time, giving him a .301 OBP. Throughout the minors, Kieboom hit for a decent average, showcased some pop in 2018 and 2019, but just has not showcased it on the big stage.
Kieboom has been yo-yo'd between Triple-A and the minors over the last couple of seasons but now appears to be stuck in the minors. If he can't produce this season, he may just be sent packing. However, he brings locked-in at-bats to start the season, and if he can be somewhat productive, he becomes quite a later-round value. The ATC projections have Kieboom playing in 123 games with 491 plate appearances, 13 home runs, and a .241 average.
Santiago Espinal, Toronto Blue Jays
NFBC ADP: 475
The Jays are rumored to be linked to Kris Bryant, Jose Ramirez, and likely other third basemen, but for now, Espinal is the projected starting third baseman entering 2022. Espinal has hit for a solid average with a little bit of speed throughout the minors and even showcased that a bit last year with the Jays. Over 92 games, he hit .311 with two home runs and six stolen bases. Espinal also showcased a low strikeout rate of 12.2% and a high BABIP like he did throughout the minors.
Espinal may become a utility infielder as he has been in the past, or he could luck into an everyday role with the Jays if they do not add another third baseman. He becomes a tremendous late-round target if he is the man all season. Finding batting average runs and speed late is an absolute gift. He could be like Luis Arraez if the playing time all works out.
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