As we head into February and the talk around the sports world is about the upcoming Super Bowl with some people's sights set on March Madness already, a funny thing is happening in the fantasy baseball community and that is draft season is here.
For many fantasy players draft prep begins the day after the season ends, but for the large majority the grey days of February are when they really start to prepare for the season. You'll read a lot of columns talking about who to take with your first round pick, or what player to spend your bulk of cap money on, but that isn't what will win you a championship. A championship will be won or lost of those few make or break moves that you make who outperform their perceived value.
Let's take a look at a few of my favorite players who could win you a league title based on where they are being drafted compared to what numbers I see them posting.
Wyatt Langford is my first choice and I have been on the Langford bandwagon since last season. Langford was called up to the big leagues after torching everyone he saw and while that sort of dominance didn't continue there are a number of factors to say that a year two breakout is coming. Langford isn't slipping in anyone's drafts too far, but by this time next season he could be a sure fire first round selection.
Langford put together a year of .253 average, with 74 RBI, 74 runs, 16 home runs and 19 stolen bases. This was a very solid overall line but it could have been much better when you take into account some surrounding factors. First off he had a home run drought that was simply bad luck. He didn't hit his first home run until 28 games into his career. We also have to look at the counting stats where the Rangers lineup dealt with a slew of injuries all season and now have one of the most potent lineups in all of baseball with Jung and Seager back. The Rangers have also committed to allowing his blazing speed to be more of an asset this season, so the steals should rise.
The most telling sign of a breakout though is his September numbers. Langford hit 8 home runs in the month, coupled with 20 RBI, 25 runs, 7 steals and he batted .300. Let's not be too bold and expect a 40/40 .300 season from Langford but a 30/30 season with 90+ runs and RBI to go along with a .275 or so average is a dynamic player ... oh and he is just 23 years old. This could be a league winner.
Another potential league winner is James Wood. Wood is a hulking specimen at the plate standing at 6'7" 234 pounds and the scary thing is he's light on his feet as well. Wood only hit 9 home runs in his just about 300 at bats but he graded out as elite in both exit velo and hard hit rates, so there is plenty more to come. For a big man he certainly can move as evidenced by his 14 stolen bases and with 40+ runs and RBI in an improving Nats lineup we have a very solid 3rd OF.
But, there is much more left on the bone for Wood and that could make him a league winner. If you are a glass half full type of fantasy player then Wood has the makings of a first two rounds type of player. It's not hard to imagine the 25+ steals with 90+ runs and RBI. That leaves only the power which he lacked last season. The thing is Wood has had power at every stop and if you are gambling on a power bat to re-discover his mashing ways why not bank on a 22 year old who stands as tall as Aaron Judge?
The last player on the list is another freak athlete whose skills have never been in question, but with a position change there is a slight buy off from his value. That is Oneil Cruz from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Cruz broke the sports social media world when he broke every metric with his cannon of an arm thrown from short stop and his 6'7" frame firing it across the diamond was a sight to behold. But, we will no longer see that Cruz as the Pirates have now deployed him to center field. In many leagues he might still be available at short stop playing over 100 games there last season, which gives him added value.
Cruz is a stat casts dream. His exit velocity and hard hit rate falls just short of the titans in the sport Judge and Stanton and they are about the only ones who do it better. Cruz hasn't been able to fully harness his God given gifts yet he still makes for a solid fantasy player. His line of 21 homers, 22 steals, and .773 OPS make for a top 10 short stop and someone you want to grab after the first few rounds go off the board, but why you should reach for him is because all of that came at age 25, when the organization was moving him around and he was finding his footing.
Like Wood it's not hard to see the potential of a breakout in his frame alone and while his counting stats will likely be lower than we hope because of his surrounding cast in Pittsburgh, he is one of the few players that can legit threaten the 30/30 club or dare we say 40/40. It wasn't long ago that scouts were saying he could be like Acuna and while it hasn't happened yet his hard hit rates and age show us that might be just a fine tune adjustment here or there. In fact, Cruz chases bad pitches much more than a superstar should and has made a conscious effort to correct that this season. If he unlocks that next level we are talking about a top 12 pick next season and a league winner for those who dare to reach this year.