When you're drafting not just for now but forever, the stakes are that much higher.
Such is the case for the start of any Dynasty league, but particularly one with no limits on how many players are kept or for how long. Those were the terms I laid out for this group of 12, who each had their own take on long-term Rotisserie success:
1) Brad Johnson, NBC Sports EDGE (@BaseballATeam)
2) Frank Stampfl, CBS Sports (@Roto_Frank)
3) R.J. White, CBS Sports (@rjwhite1)
4) Nick Mimikos, Stack Attack Podcast (@NMimi)
5) Anthony Weigel, lucky reader who got to join in
6) Scott White, CBS Sports (@CBSScottWhite)
7) Rhys White, Prospects Live (@RhysBWhite)
8) Raymond Atherton (@RaymondAtherton)
9) David Mendelson, Triple Play Fantasy (@DMendy02)
10) Eric Cross, Fantrax (@EricCross04)
11) B_Don, Razzball (@RazzBDon)
12) Jon Anderson, RotoBaller (@JonPgh)
I set out with no particular plan. Typically, the price for the premium prospects is so high in these Dynasty startup mocks that I end up settling for the second-tier types and capitalize on whatever short-term values slip through the cracks. But apart from Julio Rodriguez in Round 2 and Bobby Witt in Round 3, the demand for tomorrow's talent was relatively tepid in this one, to the point I saw fit to build my team for 2023 and beyond. Specifically, with these picks ...
- Adley Rutschman in Round 4
- Marco Luciano in Round 9
- Corbin Carroll in Round 10
- Zac Veen in Round 11
- Jordan Walker in Round 13
- Jack Leiter in Round 14
- Nick Gonzales in Round 15
- Jordan Lawlar in Round 17
That's eight consensus top-40 prospects (and four consensus top-15 prospects), a nice haul for just one team of 12. Granted, prospects aren't everything -- the very term connotes some risk -- but notice only one of my first eight picks was a prospect. I still got the proven nucleus, including a promising pitching trio of Walker Buehler, Max Fried and Kevin Gausman. My 2022 outlook doesn't seem so dismal either, even if I'd be winning by accident.
Here are some other observations:
- Ronald Acuna was the fourth overall pick even though his torn ACL will likely keep him out for the start of the season. It makes sense when the plan is for more than just this year. The only player who can match his potential in this scoring format is Fernando Tatis, and both are on the right side of 25.
- Gerrit Cole was still the first starting pitcher drafted even though he's 31. It's not totally unprecedented, but typically Buehler and Corbin Burnes, both 27, go ahead of him in Dynasty.
- Jarred Kelenic is still a prime target despite a poor rookie showing. He went to David Mendelson with the ninth pick of Round 3, prompting a groan from Eric Cross, who was up next.
- Cross had an inspired pick of his own, taking Tyler Glasnow in Round 9. Dustin May, the other notable starting pitcher who'll spend this year recovering from Tommy John surgery, went in Round 10.
- Closer values were greatly suppressed compared to redraft leagues, which makes sense. Longevity isn't what the role is known for.
- Some of the notable "old guys" who slipped because of the Dynasty aspect include Jacob deGrom (Round 4), Marcus Semien (6), Salvador Perez (6), Max Scherzer (6), George Springer (7), Gausman (8), Paul Goldschmidt (10), Jose Abreu (10), J.D. Martinez (11), Charlie Morton (12), Justin Verlander (12), Yu Darvish (14), Yasmani Grandal (17), Clayton Kershaw (17), Joey Votto (18), Kenley Janson (Round 20), Aroldis Chapman (20), Nelson Cruz (22) and Adam Wainwright (26). If the results of this draft seems topsy-turvy to you, those picks are the main reason why, but you can't blame people for playing the long game when forever keepers are in play.
Now, for the full results ...
