Pick a third player

[Blarg]

Just for the hell of it I decided to remove the top 30 position players (figuring every team took one pitcher) by OPS and see what the leftovers could provide.

 

At 31 is Kris Bryant.

 

I'm a genious!

[TroutCron]

Addison Russell would fill shortstop for the next ten years.

[Blarg]

Cubs may have rushed him to MLB pitching but his minor league numbers say he could be a good 3rd pick sleeper.

[nate]

I will wait for Kris Bryant to put up big numbers for a couple years before picking him.

[xboom28x]

Taking Joc Pederson to 'protect' Trout in the lineup wouldn't suck.

[Blarg]

I will wait for Kris Bryant to put up big numbers for a couple years before picking him.

 

Then he won't be a third pick, he will be a first.

[Blarg]

Taking Joc Pederson to 'protect' Trout in the lineup wouldn't suck.

 

Yeah, he went under the radar in this thread as everyone fawned over the obvious choice like Stanton. Pederson rates at 30th in OPS so you are on target for both defense and offense.

[Oz27]

If you had a choice of three players to start a franchise, the balance you would want would be two starting pitchers and one hitter I think. So in that case you probably go Trout and Kershaw and then someone like Sonny Gray or Chris Sale as your third pick.

 

If someone has already taken Trout and Kershaw off the board, it becomes a really hard choice. As good as Stanton is I'm struggling to see the value in taking a corner outfielder over a starting pitcher or a premium position player. So I'd be looking at guys like Donaldson, Bryant, Arenado, Gray and Sale.

[Angelsjunky]

Wow, the Harper butthurt on this forum is palpable. Harper is the best hitter in baseball and 22 years old. How can he not be the obvious pick?

[ten ocho recon scout]

Wow, the Harper butthurt on this forum is palpable. Harper is the best hitter in baseball and 22 years old. How can he not be the obvious pick?

same reason people arent picking mcab...hes already considered 'taken'

And hes got a while before we call him the best. Hes had an amazing first 3 months of this year, but they dont erase the last 3 years. The guys who walked all over him the last 3 are still around and producing. Hes just better so far this year.

Not saying he wont be the best at some point, but hes got a long road before we hand him that crown

[Pujols4MVP]

Kris Bryant. Mainly due to his age & years of cost control.

 

If you got Trout CF & Bryant 3B. Much harder to develop a 3B or CF than Corner OF(Stanton) or 1B(Miggy).

 

A great SS or 2B would be good

but considering how many years we've had to watch 3B who can barely hit their own weight(Freese) or can't hit HRs(Figgins) has gotten old.

[ten ocho recon scout]

As much as i agree its harder to develop a 3B, SS, catcher etc, i think aome of you guys are underrating stanton. Yes, corner outfielders are more abundant, but guys with 40 home run potential are also rare, especially in this enviornment

[marcosantinia12]

Im going to boldly go with Mookie Betts(out of all non 1st tier players). His bat line isn't too impressive at .277/.338/.464 due to a slow start, but he's adjusted to the pitching and has been hitting .364/.400/.645 over the last month. Will he keep this up? of course not , but I think it is a better indication of his future than his slow start. He has a line drive/groundball swing which, with his speed, shows that he should be able to hold a high average. Im thinking he will be a .290 - .310 easily with decent pop and great speed. Hes one of the best defensive players aswell at a premium position and actually the outfielder who covers more ground than anybody in the majors. The kid is a rookie and 22. I think he is completely overlooked. And another fact to throw out there, he is ranked #9 for position player WAR in the mlb , #6 in the AL.

Edited July 16, 2015 by marcosantinia12

[AngelStew43]

Either deGrom or McCutchen.  The only reason the Mets lose games with Harvey and deGrom is Terry Collins.

[Troll Daddy]

Posey hands down.

[Quinlanforthewin]

Stanton.  That atrocity that the Marlins call a baseball stadium is giant.  He'd hit 50 HRs a year in a normal stadium.

 

A non obvious pick would be Nelson Cruz as he obvious has a solid steroid connection that gives him something that's not detected. 

 

I like Arenado but any Rockies scare me.  DiPoto didn't figure this out when he signed Rutledge to replace Howie. 

 

If I had to pick a pitcher it would be Chris Sale. Dude pitches in U.S. Cellular and dominates. Like Stanton it'd be scary to think what he would do in a more friendly environment. 

[arch stanton]

I'd take Machado and move him back to SS.