If you thought the definition of "sleeper" was troublesome, try "deep."
What's deep in a 10-team league is commonplace in a 15-teamer, and if you play in an AL- or NL-only league, "deep" is half your roster.
What we need to proceed with a deep sleepers column is a workable definition for what it means to be deep, so here's mine: anyone with a consensus ADP of 300 or greater, according to FantasyPros. If only 250 players are rostered in your league, most of these can reside safely on waivers (at least for now), but if 360 players are rostered, you'll want some of these on your bench.
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Among the players featured in last year's deep sleepers article were Joey Votto, Ty France, Jonathan India, Myles Straw, Hunter Renfroe, Tyler O'Neill, Robbie Ray, Trevor Rogers, Carlos Rodon, Logan Webb and Freddy Peralta.
If this list is too deep for you and you're looking more for general sleepers, you'll find them here. You can also check out my breakout picks and most undervalued players.
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Catcher
He has a strikeout rate like Yuli Gurriel and a hard-hit rate like Freddie Freeman. If the Randal Grichuk trade signifies him taking over as the primary DH (which remains to be seen), he could have a playing-time advantage over most other catchers as well.
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The minor-league home run leader last year has gotten some exposure at third base and could carve out a role backing up both corners and spelling Salvador Perez in between DH duties. It's just a question of when.
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First base
The former top prospect has toned down his leg kick this spring and is back to rocketing the ball like during his rookie 2019 season, which could be enough to convince the Brewers to keep him around.
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The Joc Pederson signing may prevent him from playing every day, but Ruf is expected to have an expanded role this year after homering 16 times in 312 plate appearances with a .385 on-base percentage last year. His numbers against righties were respectable enough.
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Though a steady producer in the minors, the 25-year-old had to wait until the Diamondbacks were in an AL park before getting a look last year. It's no longer an issue with the DH in the NL this year.
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Second base
He may not have developed as much power as hoped by now, but he's an 80-grade runner who seems in line for a super utility role with the Rays giving him reps at third base and shortstop this spring. You may have noticed that stolen bases are scarce.
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Lauded for his power coming out of high school in 2018, the 21-year-old has sped through the minor-league system, moving up to the next level basically as soon as he caught fire at the last. The next level is the final one, and it wouldn't be hard to create an opening with Tommy Edman capable of bouncing around.
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When last we saw Cano, he was slashing .316/.352/.896 during the pandemic-shortened 2020, so while it's possible age has caught up to him after losing all of 2021 to a PED suspension, we have no evidence of it. He's part of a crowded DH situation but could also get starts at second base.
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Third base
The cousin of Lin-Manuel Miranda (true story) exploded for a .344 batting average and 30 home runs between Double- and Triple-A last year and is clearly just biding his time until the Twins find an opening for him.
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Shortstop
The heir apparent to Carlos Correa has the defensive chops and showed power for the first time after returning from a wrist injury last year, homering 10 times in 37 games. He still has to win the job but could be eyeing 20/10 numbers if he does.
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Outfield
The blue-chip prospect hasn't gotten as much traction in drafts as teammate Spencer Torkelson even though he's just as likely to make the opening day roster. GM Al Avila has said the Tigers will take whichever players give them the best chance to win, and it's hard to imagine Victor Reyes does.
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Grichuk has long delivered suspect batting averages, but because strikeouts haven't been the culprit in recent years, you can trust him to get the most out of Coors Field, potentially putting up career highs across the board.
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The Grichuk acquisition gives the Rockies a true center fielder, which gives Joe an easier path to playing time in right field or at DH. His superlative on-base skills finally translated to the majors last year, and he had settled into the leadoff role before a season-ending hamstring injury.
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The former prospect couldn't follow up on his .993 OPS from a breakthrough 2020, but we've since learned he was playing with a torn labrum in his shoulder last year. He may be the favorite to DH after beginning the spring with two homers off Max Scherzer in an intrasquad game.
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He's been getting the majority of the reps at first base, with Jesus Aguilar sliding over to DH, and has always put up numbers when healthy, batting .282 with an .818 OPS over the past three seasons.
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The Guardians have struggled to fill their outfield for years and aren't any better off this year, which means the 24-year-old Kwan should get his shot soon. He walked more than he struck out in the upper minors last year, slashing .328/.407/.527.
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Project Fraley's nine homers and 10 steals as a part-time guy over full-time at-bats and 20/20 production would appear to be on the table. He also reached base at a .352 clip last year despite batting just .210, and now he's headed to a much smaller park and joining a lineup with few fixtures.
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Designated hitter
The left-handed-hitting Sheets was getting more at-bats than the right-handed-hitting Andrew Vaughn down the stretch last season -- and making good on them, too, batting .282 with five homers and an .898 OPS last September. He'll have outfield eligibility soon enough.
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Starting pitcher
Oakland may have turned the page on Luzardo too quickly, considering the hype, and the Marlins have become one of those organizations with a reputation for maximizing pitching talent. He was clocked at 99 mph in his spring debut after averaging 96 last year and could improve just through better use of his secondaries.
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Back in 2019, Ober put together a 0.69 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 11.4 K/9 between three minor-league levels. His fastball was in the high 80s then. As a rookie last year, it averaged 92. It's still so new to him that's it's hard to know what it means upside-wise, but with his control, he should at least be useful.
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His stuff is sketchy and his metrics suspect, but his oddball approach to pitching, which involves varying his delivery and tempo, keeps hitters off balance. He had a 3.31 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 9.5 K/9 after stepping into the Yankees rotation for good in the second half.
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He was drafted to be a high-floor pitcher on the fast track to the majors, and while Detmers did arrive quickly, he did so averaging 15.7 K/9 over 14 minor-league starts. Improved velocity changed the perception of what his upside could be, especially since his curveball was already the stuff of poets.
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A video of the former prospect topping triple digits in a Tread Athletics training facility during the offseason caught everyone's attention, and sure enough, his fastball velocity is up 3-4 mph this spring. He'll still need to find the zone with it, but it's fun to dream on the upside.
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The Mariners have a hole at the back of their rotation, and the most obvious guy to fill it is the one they called up late last year who broke through with 13.1 K/9 between two minor-league stops. He has one of the nastiest sliders in all the game.
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He's considered a long shot for a rotation spot after the Padres made a four-year commitment to Nick Martinez this offseason, but Gore has dominated through two spring starts, having apparently cleaned up the delivery that knocked him off the top pitching prospect perch last year.
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Relief pitcher
With a ground-ball rate better than Logan Webb and a swinging-strike rate better than Brandon Woodruff, Ashby could be the next SP find for the Brewers if he's able to shake free from the swingman role early enough.
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Manager Scott Servas has said he'll continue to use a closer committee, which is the reasonable thing to say with Giles fresh off Tommy John surgery. The front office gave the right-hander a two-year deal last year, though, even with him looking at a lengthy recovery. You don't do that for just any bullpen arm.
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The most buzzed-about pitching prospect two springs ago has been crushed by injuries since then, but the sports hernia at the root of last year's groin issues has since been repaired, creating renewed feelings of optimism. He'll have to begin the year as a multi-inning reliever, but the first opening could be the last one he ever needs.
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With Lucas Sims likely sidelined to start the year with elbow soreness, Warren could settle into the closer role if the Reds give him the chance. He had a 1.29 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 14.6 K/9 in 26 appearances last year, bolstered by a 19 percent swinging-strike rate.
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David Bednar is the best reliever in the Pittsburgh bullpen, which is why he's the first one drafted. But he's pre-arbitration, and the Pirates are cheap, which is why I suspect they'll turn to Stratton for saves for as long as they can. He was bought in for seven of the team's 10 after the Richard Rodriguez trade last year.
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