MLB Spring Training is nearly upon us, and for millions of people worldwide their fantasy baseball preparation has begun in earnest. Here at Sports World News we will break down all 30 MLB teams in terms of their fantasy value. Readers will find the must-own players in every format, sleepers, and hidden gems only necessary for those in very deep leagues.
Today's preview will be on the New York Mets.
Must Own
David Wright, 3B: Wright battled injuries and another power outage last season, having his worst campaign since 2011. Captain America has always bounced back from bad years though, and with the fences being brought in even further, 20 home runs is well within reach.
The days of Wright bopping 30-plus home runs are gone, but he can still be a high-quality contributor, especially at the hot corner which doesn't project to be a particularly strong or deep position. He's going 10th among third baseman, and I'm sensing value there.
Daniel Murphy, 2B/3B: Murphy's become a near lock for a batting average in the high .280s and around 40 doubles. Murphy is currently being taken outside the Top 130, and is ranked 11th among second baseman. That's entirely too low, and he should be targeted. If Murphy can get to 18 home runs, he may deliver Top 5 value at the position.
Lucas Duda, 1B: Duda endured some tough stretches last season, but owners who toughed it out were rewarded with a .253 campaign that included 30 home runs. How Duda gets his homers won't always be pretty, but legitimate power like that isn't easy to find these days. Duda's going 22nd among first baseman, and it may not be wise to rely on him as your sole option. Plopping him in a utility slot isn't bad though.
Matt Harvey, SP: Harvey has missed an entire season following Tommy John surgery, yet he's still ranked 17th among starting pitchers. If the Mets institute an innings limit on him, he'll still deserve it. The Dark Knight of Gotham was 9-5 with a 2.27 ERA when he tore his UCL, and there's no reason to think he will stumble in his comeback. Go get him, especially in keeper leagues, and enjoy the ride.
Zack Wheeler, SP: Wheeler was once considered the superior prospect to Harvey, and while he doesn't carry the hefty price this draft season, Wheeler may end up on Harvey's level by the end of the year. He was 11-11 last year with a 1.327 WHIP. His control deserted him from time to time. But Wheeler has knockout stuff, and struck out more than a batter an inning.
Jacob DeGrom, SP: DeGrom won last year's NL Rookie of the Year award, and enters this year as the 28th-ranked starter. He doesn't have Wheeler's movement or velocity, but his control is top-notch and he is also the real deal. Beware the Mets' rotation.
Jenrry Mejia, SP/RP: Mejia is a goldmine for some formats as a closer with starting and relief eligibility. Mejia shone when handed the closer role, piling up 28 saves and settling what had been a turbulent Mets bullpen situation. The Mets' rotation should be strong, and some lineup additions plus expected development of younger talent means the Mets should be in line for more victories. That's more opportunities for Mejia to register saves, especially since he will be the closer on Opening Day.
Sleepers
Travis d'Arnaud, C: d'Arnaud showed the real hitter he was in the second half of last season, and he may provide tremendous value from his current spot as the No. 15 catcher off the board.
Juan Lagares, OF: Not breaking any news here, but Lagares is a hell of a ballplayer. Everyone knows about Lagares' incredible glove, but that doesn't help fantasy owners. His bat made a big leap in 2014-he hit .281 and stole 13 bags. His BABIP was high, so the average leap may be fluky, but as barely a Top 100 outfielder there's little downside.
Michael Cuddyer, 1B/OF: With Cuddyer, enjoy great batting average and a little power when healthy. Expect to miss him often.
Curtis Granderson, OF: The Grandyman is no longer a premier source of power. His low batting averages have become unwieldy now that he's a 20 or so home run hitter, but Granderson is a solid backup option, and will be fun to own when he gets hot.
Noah Syndergaard, SP: Syndergaard is believed to have as much or more potential than either deGrom or Harvey. His minor league numbers were uninspiring last season, and the full rotation means he'll open 2015 in the minors. Good. More value for astute fantasy owners. His .265, seven home run, 30-RBI second half may not look like much, but there might be a lot more in store.
Deep Stashes
Rafael Montero, SP: Montero is yet another fireballer in the Mets system. If he pitches well, he may get a call up before Syndergaard. His first experience in the bigs wasn't great, but it wasn't a disaster either. Walks were a problem in 2014-strikeouts were not.
Dilson Herrera, 2B: Herrera didn't show much in a brief stint in the bigs last year, but in the minors he has been a high-average terror at the plate, with decent pop and speed. Herrera's not expected until late 2015, but if Ruben Tejada continues to be subpar, and Wilmer Flores can't handle shortstop defensively, Herrera may wind up in Queens earlier than the Mets planned.
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