Earn one’s keep
These players worthy hanging onto for 2019
WHETHER you’re planning your championship lineup or focusing on your extreme ironing fantasy league (anyone who uses a Shark Ultimate Pro Select Steam Iron is a lock to be on my team), it never is too early to start preparing for 2019.
If you’ re in a keeper or dynasty league, chances are you have had your mind on next year throughout the season, and now is as good a time as any to look at your roster and see how you’re set up for the future.
The perfect keepers are those who have definitive roles going into next season and have outperformed their draft value.
A player such as Scooter Gennett is the perfect example.
Gennett had a breakout season in 2017, hitting .295 with 27 homers, 97 RBIs, 80 runs and a .874 OPS. Heading into this season, there were few who believed the 5-foot-10, 185-pound second baseman could repeat that kind of production, so his average draft position (193.5) sunk to bargain-bin prices. His production, however, did not.
Gennett has once again hit 20-plus homers, driven in more than 85 runs (and probably will reach 90-plus), scored more than 80 runs and has had a career-high on-base percentage. Oh yeah, he also is hitting over .300 and, in some leagues, is eligible at multiple positions.
Here’s a look at some other players to keep at great value: FIRST BASE: Though he has slowed down considerably in the second half, Milwaukee’s Jesus Aguilar has far exceeded his draft value (his ADP was more than 200 spots lower than the Mets’ Dominic Smith, who was barely drafted himself). By the way, if he was on your radar heading into this season, you should take your life savings to Las Vegas for a weekend.
SECOND BASE: Gleyber Torres has struggled since the AllStar break, but he is 21 years old and hits in one of the most potent offensive lineups ever assembled. He is the perfect building block.
THIRD BASE: There has been no rookie wall for the Yankees’ Miguel Andujar. In fact, the 23-year-old has only gotten better since the Midsummer Classic.
SHORTSTOP: Trevor Story’s value fell after he hit .239 last year, but has proved this year, as long as he stays healthy, he is a threat with average, power and speed. The Angels’ Andrelton Simmons took another step toward proving he is more than just an elite defender.
CATCHER: If you’re going to keep a backstop, the only names you need to know are J.T. Realmuto and Wilson Ramos.
OUTFIELD: Not only has Oakland’s Khris Davis had three straight 40-plus homer seasons, his average, RBI and run totals, as well as slugging percentage and OPS, have all been on the rise. Seattle’s Mitch Haniger showed flashes over 96 games in 2017, but the 27-year-old has put together an All-Star campaign from start-to-finish this year. After an ugly first half (.216, 11 HRs, 30 RBIs, .710 OPS), the Mets’ Michael Conforto has shown he can be an impact player with his strong second half (.270, 16 HRs, 47 RBIs, .887 OPS). STARTING PITCH
ERS: Tampa Bay’s Blake Snell is a Cy Young favorite who has the secondlowest ERA (1.97) in the majors, the most wins (20), the fourth-lowest WHIP (0.97), the 12thmost strikeouts (200) and the lowest opponent average (.179). Not bad for a guy who was the 54th-ranked pitcher with a 195.7 ADP entering the season. Colorado’s Kyle Freeland, Pittsburgh’s Jameson Taillon, St. Louis’ Miles Mikolas and the Mets’ Zack Wheeler are all great pieces for next year’s rotation.
CLOSER: It is a position with a lot of turnover throughout the season, but if you want to build a stable of relievers around Seattle’s Edwin Diaz or Boston’s Craig Kimbrel, you wouldn’t look completely insane.