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BALLER MOVE: Draft Target in Late Rounds of All Leagues
ANALYSIS: A guy you’ll want to keep on your radar this year during your fantasy drafts is Brad Boxberger. Boxberger was the setup man last year for the Rays and more than excelled in his role. He posted a 2.37 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 104 strikeouts, 20 walks, and two saves in a little more than 64 innings. These are more than serviceable numbers for a setup man. But why should you waste a pick on a relief pitcher who has posted next to nothing in the save column? Well, because this year is a bit different, and he is one of our saves sleepers.
Jake Mcgee, the guy who filled the closer role for the Rays last year, is out for at least the first month of the season after coming off elbow surgery. Mcgee is targeting a late April early May return, but post-surgery timetables are always uncertain. There’s also the question of how impactful he’ll be to begin with. Regardless, somebody has to fill the closer role and the frontrunner for that job is Brad Boxberger. His occupancy as the Rays primary closer comes with plenty of opportunity to dominate every category as well as the saves column. Boxberger could turn a few heads this year and given his past success, there’s no reason to believe he won’t dominate in the role. If you find yourself late in the draft with a hole in a RP slot, take a shot on Boxberger and watch him pay dividends.
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