2018 Beer & Brat Brigade Team Preview

Jon Gray (Col-SP)

Summary: It appeared that Beer And Brat Brigade (BBB) was poised to join the group of contending teams but that was not to be as injuries and disappointing down seasons pushed this team to a last place regular season finish in 2017.  While the team's arms seem capable, it will likely need to regroup offensively by finding young bats before it is able to take that next step. 

Hitters:  Pre-Season rankings put Gary Sanchez (NYY-C) as the team's only Top 25 fantasy producer.  While bats such as Yeonis Cespedes (NYM-OF) and Rockie Trevor Story (Col-SS) are capable of this production, believing that former MVPs Matt Kemp (LAD-OF) & Dustin Pedroia (Bos-2B) or even Mark Reynolds (FA-1B), once he finds a team, will bounce back close to their peaks will likely prove foolhardy and with Ian Desmond (Col-1B,OF) no longer an infielder, his value is limited.  All is not lost though as Greg Bird (NYY-1B) looks to have a healthy full season and if Mikel Franco (Phi-3B), Joc Pederson (LAD-OF) and Rule-5 Pick Rougned Odor (Tex-2B) could hit above .230 it would help a lot.  Prospects A.J. Reed (Hou-1B) and Kolton Welker (Col-3B) appear to be valuable on the next level but are heavily blocked on their currents teams.  Shallow with a lot of concerns, BBB will need to work on adding worthy offense as often as possible throughout the season as well as during the pre-season and prospect drafts. 

Pitchers: Ace David Price (Bos-SP) never looked right last year and will look to mold back into shape in 2018 which leaves Jon Gray (Col-SP) as the teams most valuable arm.  Not far behind is Ervin Santana (Min-SP) who surprised many last season as did AL Central Champ Danny Salazar (Cle-SP) with his 12.7 K/9 ratio.  Looking to maximize their tools will be Taijuan Walker (Ari-SP) and Micheal Fulmer (Det-SP) who are both capable of better.  Darkhorses German Marquez (Col-SP) and Reynaldo Lopez (ChW-SP) might of overreached last year and eventually give way to prospects Beau Burrows (Det-SP), Justus Sheffield (NYY-SP) and Sixto Sanchez (Phi-SP). Closers Aroldis Chapman (NYY-RP) and Corey Knebel (Mil-RP) looks to be great sources of saves and strikeouts while swing man Cody Reed could be destined for a rotation or relief spot and the jury is still out on Brent Honeywell (TB-SP) as he appears to need TJ surgery.  Some nice bright arms here with a potential though BBB might need to make some room to added needed offense. 

Draft:  Armed with the 1st overall selection but likely only 3 picks overall, assuming Odor is kept, it will be important for BBB to aim high on bats and high end players.  Selecting between Japan's Babe Ruth Shohei Ohtani (LAA-Util,SP), Cuban adonis Luis Robert (ChW-OF) and the #1 MLB Draft Pick Royce Lewis (Min-SS) will likely be the decision here.  Since the Ohtani experiment will cost BBB 2 picks and that he looks to be more valuable as a pitcher than a hitter, taking the risk on the Robert looks to pay the most dividends.   

Prediction:
RD 1: Luis Robert (ChW-OF) - See Above
RD 2: Adrian Morejon (SD-SP) - Just 18 YOA and the highest ranked LHP prospect available 
RD 3: Ryan McMahon (Col -3B) - Slated to be 2018 starting Rockies 1B if they don't sign anyone else
RD 4: Rougned Odor (Tex-2B) - Rule 5 Draftee
RD 5: Sixto Sanchez (Phi-SP) - Keeper
RD 6: Colton Welker (Col-3B) - Keeper

Prospect Draft:
RD 1: Julio Martinez (Tex-OF) - Leaps and bounds better than any other prospect available
RD 2: Jacob Gonzalez (SF-3B) - Son of Luis Gonzalez might blossom like his father at some point
RD 3: Freicer Perez (NYY-SP) -  Huge cannon arm with nice projectable frame