Over the last few years we have heard how the Outfield is becoming a scarce position in our fantasy baseball drafts.  If you are playing in a standard 12 team mixed league that has 5 outfielder slots and a utility slot that means 72 players could potentially be starters. Knowing this, it is not surprising that Outfielders are becoming scarce when you get to the bottom of your draft.

One of the best ways to prepare for your draft is to know who is being drafted and when, so you can then determine which of these players to target.   If you can determine who the top 70 outfielders being drafted are, then you be can be prepared in many ways.

Prepare

1. You can determine who you need to learn the most about and target your fantasy research on these players.
   
   
2. Know who to target at which stage in the draft.  Many fantasy players call this “Tiers”. Basically it is the ability to determine who will be available at different stages of your draft and be able to grab them when that stage comes up.
   
   
3. If you know who the top70 are you now know any player who is not listed is a sleeper and is someone who should be available in the late rounds and the bench rounds of your drafts.
   

The List 

To help you out here are the top 70 outfielders being taken according to MockDraftCentral.com as of Dec 31, 2008. 

I highly recommend MockDraftCentral.com as a great place to practice your drafting and to premium members will get ADP info for all positions.

Now I may not agree with the way everyone is ranked above and I really don’t expect you to either.  Lets take a quick look at the players who are NOT listed above.

Elijah Dukes,  Michael Bourn, Ken Griffey, Aaron Rowand, Randy Winn, Mike Cameron, Josh Willingham, Ryan Spilborghs, Fred Lewis, Jason Kubel, Chase Headley, Carlos Gonzalez, Franklin Gutierrez, Kosuke Fukudome, Melky Cabrera, Gary Matthews, Skip Schumaker, Matt Joyce and Garret Anderson.  Also missing are a few youngsters such as Travis Snider, Colby Rasmus, and Andrew McCutchen to name just a few.

See a few names in this second list worth drafting?  Maybe a few more that I haven’t even mentioned yet?  Well I do for sure.  The Outfield doesn’t look so scarce now, does it.

Next week we will start dissecting these two lists a little more.  In the meantime I have homework for you. List me your top five outfielders from that top 70 that you DON’T want in the comments below.  See you next week.

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written by Chad, January 14, 2009

Hermida concerns me - wasn't he once compared to Kake and Francouer? I guess I still feel a comparison of him with Francouer is okay.

(I'm a bit of a Cody Ross fan - I see him as much as better than Jack Cust - and I think Ross has a job and Cust might have to scrimp for ABs. But maybe I'm off.

McLouth worries me - I think he's top 50 - but I am not convinced that last year wasn't the top end rather than a baseline.

As a Cardinal fan - I worry about Ludwick too - but hope he was just a late bloomer...

Swisher/Nady/Matsui all worry me to some degree. I'm not sure what the ballpark effect will be on their stats and I'm not sure I trust they'll get enough ABs. I heard on one podcast that they're thinking about platooning Swisher/Nady?!

I heard it and if anybody could - the Yanks could - but I kinda hope not.

Not a believer in Brynes, Chris Young, or Brad Hawpe without Matt Holiday, but that's just me...

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written by Mark, January 08, 2009

Hermida - I doubt he'll ever reach his potential and health will still be an issue
A. Jones - I don't get why anyone would draft a guy with no job
Pierre - I doubt he'll be an everyday player and a steals can be had at the end of a draft
Francoeur - I think he's pretty much done (no power anymore, horrible AVG, no SB)
Delmon Young - I know there's a lot of potential, but his lack of power hurts when he won't steal over 20 bases. Spilborghs will be better and can be a last round pick

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written by SeanAgranov, January 08, 2009

great lists so far guys! keep em coming.

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written by Barry, January 07, 2009

Andrew Jones - done

Juan Pierre - aging speedster w/ limited AB potential

Milton Bradley - BAIP from last year suggests a high probability his stats will slide

Delmon Young - you'll have to overpay for an expected breakout, that won't happen

Byrnes - best years are behind him

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written by MichaelMuschiano, January 07, 2009

Nate Mclouth- .312 12 HR thru first two months/ .256 13 HR for last four months...i think the second number is more in line with reality

Ryan Ludwick- like Mclouth, I'm not sold ...maybe he is as good as he was last year, but I'd like to see him do it for a couple seasons before spending a pick on him before a Jermaine Dye or Vernon Wells

Hideki Matsui- logjam in the Yankees outfield...not banking on anything with him

Chris Young- I thought last year was the year...I'll let someone else make that mistake this year and possibly reap the benefits

Andruw Jones- D.O.N.E.

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written by ChuckAnderson, January 07, 2009

Five I don't want for 2009:
Chris Young - Was neither getting on base nor stealing bags last year, going too high for me

Hideki Matsui - being crowded out in NY, contract gives him negative trade value

Jeremy Hermida - He's just not a good player now

Juan Pierre - Can't see him with a starting job considering the outfielders available to LA

Matt LaPorta - Will consider when he gets called up, not before

Favorite outside the top 70 - Randy Winn

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written by JoeLano, January 07, 2009

Ok, I did my Outfielder 101 home work Mr. Agranov. Here my least fav 5 of 70:

1) Jeff Francoeur - let someone else find out if last season was a fluke.

2) Andrew Jones - MLB teams don't seem to high on him either.

3)Matt LaPorta - wait till next year

4) Nick Swisher - I don't care what his BABIP was last season.

5) Eric Byrnes - Don't like all the hammy issues from last season.

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written by JoeLano, January 07, 2009

Thanks, don't know how I missed that name!

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written by Shai, January 07, 2009

Joe,

Choo IS listed at #69.

BTW, I totally agree with you; I am targeting him in all my leagues this year.

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written by JoeLano, January 07, 2009

I have an article here on the site now listing my top 5 Sleepers in the Outfielder and none are in the top 70.

4 are on your list of players not in the top 70 but one is not mentioned at all:

Shin-Soo Choo of the Indians.
What is your feelings on him.

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written by SeanAgranov, January 07, 2009

yes wayne, thats my moniker over on Blog talk radio. Over here they actually make me use my real name and post a picture....the nerve :lol:

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written by This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , January 07, 2009

...assume you're Sean from DC?

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written by SeanAgranov, January 07, 2009

The Pirate outfield definitely is worth watching and already on my list of future articles. [First three articles (this is #1) will discuss the outfield position and player pool in general, after that i will start going into more detail about certain players and team situations....its a long season]

for the record ...my list is of 5 Dont wants from above are:
Josh Hamilton in 1st round
Manny in the 2nd
Vernon Wells in the 8th
Hideki Matsui in the 10th
Matt Laporta in the 19th

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written by lennymelnick, January 07, 2009

Maybin belongs
LaPorta a year away

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written by This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , January 07, 2009