Using eDraft's own Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft tool, I conducted a mock draft in a twelve-team league. The team consists of a catcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, shortstop, three outfielders, five starting pitchers, three relief pitchers and four bench spots.
I drew the tenth pick, and here are my results with short explanations for my top ten picks.
1. 1B Chris Davis - Baltimore Orioles
Davis made a name for himself last year when he exploded for 53 home runs, but he has actually hit for power very well over the course of his young career. In the heart of a stacked Baltimore Orioles lineup, expect him to pick up right where he left off last year.
2. SP Yu Darvish - Texas Rangers
Darvish challenged Max Scherzer for the American League Cy Young Award last year despite only winning thirteen decisions. Expect him to get more wins this year with a revamped Rangers team.
3. SP Cliff Lee - Philadelphia Phillies
Lee may not get as many wins as Darvish, but he has been fantastic throughout the course of his entire career. I believe in drafting strong starting pitching, and having a rotation with a core of Darvish and Lee could help you win most pitching categories every week.
4. 2B Dustin Pedroia - Boston Red Sox
Second base is one of the weaker positions in this year's fantasy pool, but Pedroia has always put up consistent numbers across the board in his career. While he may be the leadoff hitter in Boston this year, a lineup slot he has struggled with, expect him to mature even more and be one of the best fantasy second basemen.
5. 1B/OF Allen Craig - St. Louis Cardinals
Craig has been an extremely underrated player throughout his very young career. He seems like a lock to hit over .300 and hit somewhere between ten and twenty homers.
6. 1B/DH David Ortiz - Boston Red Sox
Decline? What decline? Ortiz hit .309 with 30 homers last season. Getting him in the sixth round is a steal.
7. RP Greg Holland - Kansas City Royals
Time to get a closer, and Holland is one of the better ones out there.
8. SP James Shields - Kansas City Royals
Shields had a very solid year last year in Kansas City, and any rotation that has him as the third starter is very deep.
9. C Wilin Rosario - Colorado Rockies
Rosario has been one of the most underrated catchers in baseball the last two seasons, as he should hit for average fairly well and hit twenty-something home runs.
10. RP Glen Perkins - Minnesota Twins
Perkins is a safe gamble as a closer, as his job in Minnesota will almost certainly be secure the whole season.
11. 3B Kyle Seager - Seattle Mariners
12. OF Desmond Jennings - Tampa Bay Rays
13. SS J.J. Hardy - Baltimore Orioles
14. OF Austin Jackson - Detroit Tigers
15. SP Justin Masterson - Cleveland Indians
16. 1B Brandon Belt - San Francisco Giants
17. SP Dan Haren - Los Angeles Dodgers
18. 1B/OF Brandon Moss - Oakland Athletics
19. SS Jhonny Peralta - St. Louis Cardinals
20. RP Joakim Soria - Texas Rangers
21. SP A.J. Griffin - Oakland Athletics
This is a fairly well-rounded team with a solid pitching staff and several big-time power hitters. The addition of Hardy as shortstop should help this team win the home run category most weeks along with Davis and Ortiz.
Low-risk/high-reward players were Moss, who has shown tremendous power, and Soria, who may win the job as the Rangers' new closer.
This team may lack stolen bases, but Pedroia, Jennings and Jackson should swipe enough bags to keep it close week in and week out.