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Not all leagues are created equal. What I mean is not all leagues abide by the same standards. Some owners have stuck by the traditional 5X5 roto leagues, while others have transitioned to 6X6 leagues with such exotic categories as OBP, K/9 and SLG. I’m not here to say which format is best, (though I am partial to the new era) but I do want to remind owners to be wary when researching for upcoming drafts and auctions.
Not all leagues are created equal, so owners must be careful when seeking out rankings, because they might not comply with your league’s format. Some differences are minor, but the adjustments that need to be made between playing in a batting average league vs. an on-base percentage, are massive.
In this first post in a series examining disparate values between fantasy formats, I will talk about some players to target whose values skyrocket in OBP leagues vs. BA leagues. All dollar values courtesy of Rotographs’ auction calculator with OBP filling in for BA in 5x5 league.
Editor's Note: Make sure you head over to our 2016 fantasy baseball rankings dashboard. We have released our new rankings tool - you can easily filter, sort, and export all sorts of rankings for mixed leagues, AL/NL only, top prospects, dynasty formats and more! It's all in one place, and all free.
OBP League Targets
Joey Votto, 1B, Cincinnati Reds
2015 BA: .314; OBP: .459; Differential: +.145
BA auction league price: $19.20; OBP: $27.90
Come on. Who else did you think was going to lead off this list? Votto is the OBP poster boy, and though you might not need reminders of his prowess, I’m going to serve some up anyway. Votto finished a hundredth of a point behind OBP champion Bryce Harper (.460) last season, riding a preposterous second-half outburst of free passes. He finished the year with a league-high 143, but if you just counted the 86 he accumulated after after the All-Star break, he’d have finished ninth among all hitters for the season. I’ll give you a moment to let that sink in … Good? Good.
In those final 73 games, he posted a ridiculous .535 OBP and while that can’t be expected this year, consider: $12.30 of Votto’s appraised value in an OBP league is tied to his ability to reach base. Rotographs rates that as the third-most highly coveted skill in all of fantasy baseball, with only Billy Hamilton and Dee Gordon’s stolen-base ability valued higher ($17.20, 14.20). Make no mistake, in OBP leagues, walking is an elite (if not sexy) skill. And no one does it better than Votto.
Joc Pederson, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
2015 BA: .210; OBP .346; Differential: +.164
BA auction league price: $6.20; OBP: $14.80;
In BA leagues, that .210 looms large, and is might be enough to destroy the draft-day value of a youngster with legit 30/20 potential. However, in OBP leagues, this three-outcomes king walks enough to warrant a risky play for his substantial upside. Observe that his value more than doubles in OBP leagues, which is explained by the fact that his +.164 differential led the league last season.
Even during that well-documented second-half slump, Pederson’s .317 was still league-average. Of course, the power dried up, and the stolen bases never showed up, tanking his value, but he displayed enough in the first half (.360 OBP, 20 HR) to warrant the risk this season.
Why? Because players capable of producing above average value in five categories are few and far between. Trust that this 23-year-old will adjust to what pitchers did to him the second half and make the investment.
Carlos Santana, 1B, Cleveland Indians
2015 BA: .231; OBP: .357; Differential: +.99
BA auction league price: $7.20; OBP: $16.80
Santana is another player who sees his value more than double in the switch from BA to OBP leagues. What you have to love about Santana is that he does what he does and does it well. And what he does is walk. A lot. Over the past five seasons, he’s averaged more than 100 free passes per season (second only to Votto). In that same time span, he also has hit for above-average power, collecting about 22 home runs per season, and has stayed immaculately healthy, only once playing fewer than 152 games (143 in 2012).
So while most of your leaguemates will be put off by Santana’s loss of catcher and third-base eligibility, you’ll know that while he should be downgraded, it shouldn’t be by much. Think of him as a much cheaper but nearly as effective Adrian Gonzalez whom you can get many rounds later.
2015 Adrian Gonzalez: 156 games, 28 HR, 76 R, 90 RBI, .350 OBP.
2015 Carlos Santana: 154 games, 19 HR, 72 R, 85 RBI, .357 OBP.
Note: Santana has twice hit 27 home runs (2011 and 2014) and still is just 29 years old.
Shin-Soo Choo, OF, Texas Rangers
2015 BA: .276; OBP: .375; Differential: +.99
BA auction league price: $10.10 OBP: $16.80
If you’re familiar with articles of this type, then Choo’s appearance here should come as no surprise. Choo long has been an OBP-league darling, and his second-half surge last season reminded us why. Out of the gate, Choo was miserable, posting a .221/.305/.384 line, but after finally fully recovering from a bone spur in his left elbow/having a heart-to-heart with his wife, he rebounded with .343/.455/.560 second half.
While expecting Choo to post a .455 OBP for an entire season is misguided, his .423 OBP in 2013 was not so long ago that is should be disregarded. Choo is no longer the five-category star he was in his glory years in Cleveland — the steals are all but gone — but in OBP leagues, with good and power and a position atop a potent lineup where he can pile up counting stats, he is a viable OF2.
Curtis Granderson, OF, New York Mets
2015: BA: .259; OBP: .364; Differential: +.105
BA auction league price: $7.00 OBP: $13.90
Quick, name as many outfielders as you can who hit 25-plus home runs, stole 10 or more bases and reached base at a clip above .360.
Mike Trout is one. … Noooo, Harper only stole six bags. Yep, Kris Bryant is another. And … yeah, I know, no suspense. You know it’s Granderson. (Ryan Braun came close with his .356 OBP coming up .004 points short). Still, pretty shocking, no?
The best part about Granderson, to me, is that because of his advanced age (will play this season at 35), many will overlook him. But a glance at the numbers tells you last year was no fluke. The 26 bombs and 11 steals fall in line with career norms. He’s also gotten more patient as he’s grown older. His walk rate has climbed from 11% to 12.1% to a career-high 13.3% last season.
Some projection systems don’t believe in the improved patience, but if they’re wrong, and the skill holds out — along with his above-average power and modest speed — you’ve got a top-25 outfielder on your hands for a bargain-basement price. For me, that’s a risk worth taking.
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