Most fantasy managers do their best getting ready for drafts by some combination of overrating previous results, watching new spring games, getting a bit too enamored with the rather meaningless statistics, relying on the ample news and then preparing in their own special way. Then again, perhaps they might not prepare at all. To each their own! Regardless, we have never had a spring training like this one because it follows a season unlike any other, the shortest season ever, and many do not know how to evaluate what we saw in that season.
Regardless, there is a spring training and spring training we will watch, because it beats watching the melting ice and snow. I could probably list 100 players to keep an eye on, because everything and nothing matters after the abbreviated 2020 campaign, but I will keep it to 10 or so. It is a long season. I will yearn to retire the shovel and pace myself.
Hitters to watch
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Toronto Blue Jays: What, are you not in the best shape of your life, too? I thought everyone was! Guerrero reportedly lost loads of weight and perhaps this is the key to the 21-year-old unleashing his many hitting gifts on overwhelmed pitchers, and perhaps even playing a passable third base. Guerrero is already a likely top-50 selection in most every draft, but even that could skyrocket depending on spring results.
Dylan Carlson, OF, St. Louis Cardinals: Name value means a lot, because one could easily make the case Carlson is just as valuable as Guerrero for fantasy purposes. Carlson projects as a potential five-category fantasy option! He failed to hit as expected in a brief 2020, but then he hit cleanup in the team's playoff games, so that matters, too. One presumes he has a starting role, but he could hit well in March -- perhaps swipe a few bags! -- and secure a prime lineup spot, too.
J.D. Martinez, DH, Boston Red Sox: Of course, we cannot merely watch the young players, you know. Martinez, 33, lost more than 300 points of OPS over his prior work with the Red Sox, he claims because the league overreacted and removed the option of in-game video. We like to believe Martinez, Javier Baez and others struggled for this reason, but who knows for sure? Watch them in March and see if they hit better, because in these cases, it could matter.
Brendan Rodgers, 2B, Colorado Rockies: OK, back to the younger players! Rodgers, still only 24, used to be a cannot-miss prospect. You know, it is not too late! The clueless Rockies have no excuse to avoid giving Rodgers, presumably healthy from shoulder woes, a shot at a starting role, and since they still play half their games in Denver, it really piques our interest. Watch Colorado's lineup, as Rodgers, Garrett Hampson and newcomer C.J. Cron are among those that seem overlooked.
Andrew Benintendi, OF, Kansas City Royals: It feels premature to unilaterally give up on a once-promising fantasy option, one who used to go in the third or fourth round of drafts because he was a five-category contributor. It was hardly that long ago, and he is 26! Boston dumped him off on another team, but what if Benintendi hits this spring, and/or secures a spot near the top of the lineup. That should interest us.
Other hitters to watch: Yordan Alvarez, DH, Houston Astros; Kris Bryant, 3B, Chicago Cubs; Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies, Gavin Lux, 2B, Los Angeles Dodgers; Trey Mancini, OF, Baltimore Orioles; Nick Senzel, OF, Cincinnati Reds; Kyle Tucker, OF, Houston Astros; Daulton Varsho, C/OF, Arizona Diamondbacks; Christian Yelich, OF, Milwaukee Brewers
Pitchers to watch
Stephen Strasburg, SP, Washington Nationals: His current place in the rankings (borderline top 100) seems fair but, perhaps a bit lazy, too. Either he returns to greatness, a potential ace that we still do not entirely trust for durability, or nobody wants him because he has yet to fully recover from hand surgery. Let us see him throw and strike out overwhelmed Marlins in a meaningless March game. Either way, his ranking has to move.
Corey Kluber, SP, New York Yankees: And here is the AL version, to some degree. Kluber threw one inning in 2020. The Yankees seem rather sure he is healthy and back to his Cy Young ways, and I would argue that as with Strasburg, Kluber's current value is simply a guess. Let us see him perform!
Dinelson Lamet, SP, San Diego Padres: At least Strasburg and Kluber appear to be healthy today. Lamet's valuable elbow, which made him a Cy Young contender in the shortened 2020, barked late last season and he missed the playoffs. He underwent no surgical procedures this offseason, and the Padres seemed to prepare as if Lamet is risky, a total wildcard, adding multiple starters. Again, nobody knows what to expect, which is why we watch!
Nate Pearson, SP, Toronto Blue Jays: The problem with discussing prospects here is that big league teams could simply demote them all for financial reasons, then cry about how much money they lost in 2020. Name a prospect pitcher and there are no guarantees they avoid the minor leagues for a few weeks, a few months, who knows? We have Pearson, Casey Mize, Michael Kopech, Spencer Howard, Triston McKenzie, Forrest Whitley and of course MacKenzie Gore. I think Pearson is a future ace and most likely to make the initial rotation this spring, but it sure would be nice to see him throw all March without an injury.
Other pitchers to watch: Chris Archer, SP, Tampa Bay Rays; Mitch Keller, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates; Craig Kimbrel, RP, Chicago Cubs; David Price, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers; Garrett Richards and Eduardo Rodriguez, SP, Boston Red Sox; Mike Soroka, SP, Atlanta Braves; Noah Syndergaard, SP, New York Mets; Kirby Yates, RP, Toronto Blue Jays.
Ohtanis to watch
Shohei Ohtani, SP/DH, Los Angeles Angels: Is he a pitcher or a hitter? Or both? Perhaps the Angels still envision greatness in each role and we even get a bit of clarity before Opening Day! We know Ohtani matters as an occasional designated hitter and he could matter even more as an ace starter. However, he boasts a career .843 OPS, which would rank him 25th among active, qualified hitters, and he has made just 12 starts in his three seasons, compiling a 4.39 ERA (3.89 FIP). I would abandon the pitching and let him be Yordan Alvarez with less power, more speed. However, I am a bit skeptical it all works out as once expected, so I will let someone else worry, but of all the big leaguers to watch, it seems to me this one is the most intriguing.