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 Chicago Cubs.
Must Own
Anthony Rizzo, 1B: Rizzo is currently going 14th overall and sixth among first baseman. The question isn't whether he should be so highly thought of entering 2015; it's whether he should be ranked higher. Last season Rizzo cranked 32 home runs and hit .286 for a Cubs team that mostly struggled. He also tallied just 78 RBI-a shockingly low number for a guy who hit so many homers. His HR/FB ratio was sustainable too. He has some heavyweights at his position, but Rizzo is the real deal and taking him in Round 1 is no stretch.
Javier Baez, 2B: This second-year infielder generated excitement with his call-up last year, and although he provided mixed results the outlook is bright. Yes, Baez hit just .169 in 229 plate appearances, and struck out in 41.5 percent of his at bats. He also socked nine home runs, and suffered through an incredibly unlucky stretch in which his BABIP was less than .250. He is going to provide tons of late value by offering power from a shallow position.
Starlin Castro, SS: Castro's no longer the sexy name he once was-and that's a little crazy because only turning 25 this season. Castro rebounded from a disastrous 2013 with a respectable campaign last year. He slashed .292/.339/.438, but disappointed with 14 home runs and just four steals. The power may not improve much, but owners can count on more steals and a continued high average going forward.
Jorge Soler, OF: Another of Chicago's top prospects. Soler tore it up when he reached the bigs more than Baez did, slashing .289/.330/.573 with eight home runs in 24 games. He doesn't profile as someone who will walk very much, and he's young so some ups and downs are to be expected. Still, at 23 years old he's showing a lot of promise and can absolutely surpass his current ADP, which is No. 31 among outfielders.
Jon Lester, SP: Lester's 2014 was far and away the best of his career, so while he should deliver ace-caliber production, especially transitioning to the NL, some regression should be expected. That said, his No. 12 ADP among SPs seems about right, and he'll get a good amount of wins with the Cubs' improved roster.
Jake Arrieta, SP: Arrieta had a career year with the Cubs in 2014 too, drastically improving his control and experiencing a sharp spike in his ground ball rate. No. 82 overall could be a tad steep for a pitcher who isn't really proven, but he was a hot prospect when he first broke in, and may be a stud moving forward.
Sleepers
Dexter Fowler, OF: Fowler hasn't had his breakout season yet, although his runs should be valuable batting atop a new, potent Cubs lineup. Fowler's athleticism hasn't translated to valuable defense since he debuted in 2008; that has almost no bearing on fantasy production, except for when big league clubs limit playing time because of it. Still, Fowler's pop and speed give him an outside chance at a 20/20 campaign and he's outside the Top 320 in ADP.
Pedro Strop, RP: Strop was vicious last season, posting a 2.21 ERA while striking out more than 10 batters per nine. He won't open the season as the closer, but consider Hector Rondon's hold on it tenuous. Strop will be draftable in leagues with holds as a category.
Deep Stashes
Kris Bryant, 3B (OF?): Bryant is going to be a source of power when he reaches the big club, which might be pretty early in the season if he takes to the outfield well this spring or improves his defense at the hot corner. Draft him late, and don't let him go unless your team is riddled with injuries. Also, live with his strikeouts.
Addison Russell, SS: Russell is one of the game's best prospects, and even though he isn't expected to see the MLB roster in 2015, he's worth an add in keeper leagues. After being dealt to the Cubs, he hit .294 with 12 home runs at Double-A, and has shown 20-steal potential in the past.
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