Re-Drafting Rafael Devers and 2013 MLB Draft Including International Prospects
What if Major League Baseball were like the National Basketball Association and international players were part of the annual draft process rather than the current free-for-all system where players go to the highest bidder within the confines of a club's predetermined bonus pool?
That's the hypothetical scenario we set out to explore with this new redraft series.
This time around the focus is 2013, which had an international class headlined by Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers, reigning NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara and Cuban defector José Abreu.
They join a draft pool originally headlined by Mark Appel (HOU), Kris Bryant (CHC), Jon Gray (COL), Kohl Stewart (MIN) and Clint Frazier (CLE) as the top five picks.
1. Houston Astros: OF Aaron Judge
1 of 30
Actual Pick: RHP Mark Appel
Judge's Actual Draft Position: No. 32 overall (New York Yankees)
We have done five years worth of redrafts with international players added to the draft pool, and this is the first time an international player did not climb to the No. 1 spot on the board.
It's wild to think there were legitimate concerns about whether Aaron Judge would fully tap into his power potential after he hit just 18 home runs in 169 games during his time at Fresno State.
"Judge puts on jaw-dropping batting practice displays, but some scouts worry that his power won't translate to games," reads his pre-draft scouting report at Baseball America.
With a 52-homer rookie season in 2017, an AL-record setting 62 long balls last year, and 238 career homers in 776 games, those concerns have been emphatically erased in his eight seasons with the New York Yankees.
How much would him going to the Houston Astros rewrite the last decade of baseball history?
2. Chicago Cubs: 3B Kris Bryant
2 of 30
Actual Pick: 3B Kris Bryant
Bryant's Actual Draft Position: No. 2 overall (Chicago Cubs)
International players Rafael Devers and Sandy Alcantara are undoubtedly the better option going forward, but with the benefit of hindsight, the Chicago Cubs would not hesitate for a second to select Kris Bryant with the No. 2 overall pick once again.
While Devers and Alcantara both reached the big leagues in 2017, Bryant was an integral part of the Cubs' World Series winning team in 2016, taking home NL MVP honors that year in his second full season in the majors.
Without his 7.3-WAR season, which saw him post a 143 OPS+ with 35 doubles, 39 home runs, 102 RBI and 121 runs scored in 155 games, the Cubs might not have won that long-awaited World Series title.
3. Colorado Rockies: 3B Rafael Devers
3 of 30
Actual Pick: RHP Jon Gray
Devers' Actual Draft Position: International signing (BOS, $1.5 million bonus)
The Rockies did well with their selection of Oklahoma right-hander Jon Gray, who spent seven seasons with the team and ranks among the club's all-time leaders in wins (53, seventh), strikeouts (849, third), innings pitched (829.1, eighth) and pitching WAR (11.4, eighth).
That said, the opportunity to pivot to Rafael Devers would give them a superstar bat to build their lineup around. Still just 26 years old, he is coming off back-to-back All-Star appearances, and posted a 140 OPS+ with 70 extra-base hits and 4.4 WAR a year ago.
It's worth wondering if they might have never signed Nolan Arenado to his extension if Devers was around as the heir apparent at third base, and in turn they might not still be paying him significant money to play for the St. Louis Cardinals.
4. Minnesota Twins: RHP Sandy Alcantara
4 of 30
Actual Pick: RHP Kohl Stewart
Alcantara's Actual Draft Position: International signing (STL, $125,000 bonus)
The Twins whiffed on No. 4 overall pick Kohl Stewart, who was an elite high school athlete with a commitment to play quarterback and pitch for Texas A&M before agreeing to a $4.5 million signing bonus.
This gives them a chance to add the top-of-the-rotation staple they hoped Stewart would develop into, with reigning NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara the top arm from the 2013 international class by a wide margin.
The Twins have not successfully developed a first-round pitcher since José Berríos was taken No. 32 overall in the 2012 draft, and this would give them a golden opportunity to break that cycle.
5. Cleveland Guardians: 1B José Abreu
5 of 30
Actual Pick: OF Clint Frazier
Abreu's Actual Draft Position: International signing (CWS, six-year, $68 million deal)
Not a traditional international signing, José Abreu was 27 years old with 10 years of experience playing in the Cuban National Series when he defected and signed a six-year deal with the Chicago White Sox.
He hit .317/.383/.581 with 35 doubles, 36 home runs and 107 RBI to win 2014 AL Rookie of the Year honors and finished fourth in AL MVP balloting. He has been one of the game's most consistent run producers in the years since.
Would things have gone differently for the 2016 AL pennant-winning Cleveland team if they had his .293/.353/.468 line with 25 home runs and 100 RBI added to the middle of their lineup?
6. Miami Marlins: OF Cody Bellinger
6 of 30
Actual Pick: 3B Colin Moran
Bellinger's Actual Draft Position: No. 124 overall (Los Angeles Dodgers)
No one was tougher to slot in this redraft than Cody Bellinger.
The 27-year-old has had a tough go of it the last few seasons, and while he is in the midst of a bounce-back year with the Chicago Cubs, he still has a far shakier track record of performance than some other players below him on this list.
Then again, he is also one of only four players from this draft pool with an MVP award in his trophy case, as he hit .305/.406/.629 with 34 doubles, 47 home runs, 115 RBI and 8.6 WAR during a brilliant 2019 campaign.
That's enough for a Marlins team that has been searching for impact offensive contributors for years to pull the trigger at No. 6 overall.
7. Boston Red Sox: 2B/OF Jeff McNeil
7 of 30
Actual Pick: LHP Trey Ball
McNeil's Actual Draft Position: No. 356 overall (New York Mets)
Now that No. 1 overall pick Mark Appel finally made his MLB debut during the 2022 season, left-hander Trey Ball now stands as the highest draft pick from the 2013 class to never play in the majors, so it won't be difficult for the Red Sox to improve on their actual pick.
Jeff McNeil is essentially an elite version of former Boston fan favorite Brock Holt, with the defensive versatility to play all over the field and an offensive game driven by a contact-over-power approach.
The 2022 NL batting title winner would be a massive upgrade at second base for the Red Sox here in 2023, and the questionable Trevor Story signing might never have happened if he were part of the infield picture.
8. Kansas City Royals: SS Tim Anderson
8 of 30
Actual Pick: 3B Hunter Dozier
Anderson's Actual Draft Position: No. 17 overall (Chicago White Sox)
The Royals actually gave a bigger signing bonus to No. 34 overall pick Sean Manaea ($3.55 million) than they did to No. 8 overall pick Hunter Dozier ($2.2 million) in one of the first clear examples of a team getting creative with its bonus pool early in the draft.
That worked out fairly well, with Dozier outperforming several players ranked ahead of him on draft boards and Manaea developing into a top prospects before he was traded to Oakland in the deal to acquire Ben Zobrist during their World Series run in 2015.
That said, the chance to select Tim Anderson is a no-brainer.
Until Bobby Witt Jr. came along, there is a strong case to be made that Anderson would have been the best shortstop to don a Royals uniform since three-time All-Star Freddie Patek patrolled the position in the 1970s.
9. Pittsburgh Pirates: 1B Yandy Díaz
9 of 30
Actual Pick: OF Austin Meadows
Díaz's Actual Draft Position: International signing (CLE, $300,000 bonus)
Is it recency bias to slot Yandy Díaz into the top 10 in this loaded redraft?
Not if you've been paying attention the last few seasons, as even before his breakout 2023 performance he had a 125 OPS+ and 7.3 WAR in 384 games during his first four seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays.
The 31-year-old has taken things to another level this year, hitting .310/.410/.580 with 11 doubles, 12 home runs and 30 RBI in 47 games as one of the catalysts for the Tampa Bay offense.
It's fun to wonder if he might still find his way to Tampa Bay in this hypothetical, as Pittsburgh traded their actual No. 9 overall pick Austin Meadows to the Rays in the ill-fated Chris Archer deal.
10. Toronto Blue Jays: 2B Ozzie Albies
10 of 30
Actual Pick: RHP Phil Bickford (did not sign)
Albies' Actual Draft Position: International signing (ATL, $350,000 bonus)
Ozzie Albies will probably never lead the league in on-base percentage and missed significant time last season with a fractured foot, but he can flat-out hit.
He entered the season with 674 career hits through his age-25 season, and he also has three 40-double seasons and one 30-homer season to his credit, so he packs a punch in his 5'8", 165-pound frame.
While it briefly looked like Cavan Biggio would be the long-term answer at the position, second base has been something of a revolving door for the Toronto Blue Jays for several years running, and this would give them an impact player to shore up the position.
11. New York Mets: RHP Freddy Peralta
11 of 30
Actual Pick: 1B Dominic Smith
Peralta's Actual Draft Position: International signing (SEA, $137,500 bonus)
The Seattle Mariners traded Freddy Peralta to the Milwaukee Brewers along with two other prospects when he was still a teenager pitching in the lower levels of the minors in exchange for Adam Lind, so the fact that he has developed into an All-Star is a bit of a surprise.
The 26-year-old has racked up 600 strikeouts in 475.1 career innings in the majors, posting a 3.92 ERA and 1.16 WHIP along the way over six big league seasons.
He still fits best as a No. 3 starter on a contending team, so his presence likely would not have had an impact on the Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander decisions, but he would look a lot better penciled into the New York Mets rotation right now than Carlos Carrasco or the injured José Quintana.
12. Seattle Mariners: IF Luis Arraez
12 of 30
Actual Pick: 3B D.J. Peterson
Arraez's Actual Draft Position: International signing (MIN, $40,000 bonus)
D.J. Peterson looked like one of the safest picks in the 2013 draft after a terrific three-year run at the University of New Mexico, including a junior season where he hit .408/.520/.807 with 25 doubles, 18 home runs and 72 RBI in 55 games.
Unfortunately, he never reached the majors, posting a .785 OPS with 128 home runs over eight minor league seasons while topping out at Triple-A.
Luis Arraez does not possess the same power potential that Peterson brought to the table when he was selected, but his elite hit tool more than makes up for it, and he is capable of playing all over the field. The 2022 AL batting title winner currently leads the majors with a .382 average in his first season with the Miami Marlins.
13. San Diego Padres: RHP Devin Williams
13 of 30
Actual Pick: OF Hunter Renfroe
Williams' Actual Draft Position: No. 54 overall (Milwaukee Brewers)
The fact that Devin Williams is going No. 13 overall in this redraft speaks to what an impressively deep collection of talent this class has, even before the international players were added to the mix.
A second-round pick by the Milwaukee Brewers who was developed primarily as a starter until the 2018 season, he took off in 2019 with a move to the bullpen and in 2020 he used his swing-and-miss changeup to post a 0.33 ERA and 17.7 K/9 in 22 appearances to win NL Rookie of the Year honors.
The 28-year-old has continued to dominate in the years since and sports a 1.87 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 14.2 K/9 with 27 saves and 60 holds in 175 career appearances. In this hypothetical, he is the Milwaukee bullpen ace pitching in San Diego, and perhaps Josh Hader is still closing games for the Brewers.
14. Pittsburgh Pirates: OF Eloy Jiménez
14 of 30
Actual Pick: C Reese McGuire
Jiménez's Actual Draft Position: International signing (CHC, $2.8 million bonus)
With better health going forward, would it be even remotely surprising to see Eloy Jiménez climb comfortably into the top 10 in these rankings?
The 26-year-old has a 122 OPS+ for his career, and he has averaged 36 home runs and 108 RBI per 162 games, but he has played in more than 100 games just once and that was his rookie season back in 2019.
A perpetually rebuilding Pittsburgh Pirates franchise is the perfect team to take a chance on that remaining upside in this redraft, and he could be a franchise cornerstone in the middle of that lineup for years to come.
15. Arizona Diamondbacks: 2B Gleyber Torres
15 of 30
Actual Pick: RHP Braden Shipley
Torres' Actual Draft Position: International signing (CHC, $1.7 million bonus)
Gleyber Torres never quite fulfilled the superstar trajectory he appeared to be on when he launched 38 home runs as a 22-year-old during the 2019 season, but he is an above-average everyday option at second base.
The 26-year-old had a career-high 4.1 WAR last season, and he has been one of the most consistent hitters in the New York Yankees lineup once again this year with a 116 OPS+ over 242 plate appearances.
This is a best-available pick for the D-backs as much as anything, but they could always shift Ketel Marte back to center field to make room for Torres at second base.
16. Philadelphia Phillies: OF Mike Yastrzemski
16 of 30
Actual Pick: SS J.P. Crawford
Yastrzemski's Actual Draft Position: No. 429 overall (Baltimore Orioles)
The grandson of Boston Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski, outfielder Mike Yastrzemski was acquired by the San Francisco Giants prior to the 2019 season in exchange for minor league pitcher Tyler Herb who has not yet made his MLB debut.
Never viewed as a top-tier prospect, he broke through in 2019 to post a 122 OPS+ with 22 doubles, 21 home runs and 2.6 WAR in 107 games as a rookie, and he has been a steady contributor ever since.
Considering center field was a major hole on the Philadelphia roster prior to their trade for Brandon Marsh last summer, adding him to the mix could have provided a major upgrade several years sooner.
17. Chicago White Sox: SS J.P. Crawford
17 of 30
Actual Pick: SS Tim Anderson
Crawford's Actual Draft Position: No. 16 overall (Philadelphia Phillies)
With actual No. 17 overall pick Tim Anderson already off the board in this redraft, the Chicago White Sox could turn elsewhere to address the shortstop position by taking J.P. Crawford one slot below his original draft position.
A top prospect during his time in the Philadelphia Phillies system, Crawford took a bit longer to develop than expected, but he has emerged as a solid everyday shortstop since being traded to the Seattle Mariners.
His 8.0 WAR since the start of the 2021 season ranks 12th among all shortstops, ahead of big ticket free-agent signings Javier Báez (7.5) and Trevor Story (6.7), as well as several spots ahead of the aforementioned Anderson (5.6).
18. Los Angeles Dodgers: RHP Jon Gray
18 of 30
Actual Pick: RHP Chris Anderson
Gray's Actual Draft Position: No. 3 overall (Colorado Rockies)
While he goes off the board several spots lower than his original No. 3 overall draft position, right-hander Jon Gray is still the top non-international starting pitcher to be selected in this redraft.
The Oklahoma product went 10-3 with a 1.64 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 147 strikeouts in 126.1 innings as a junior in 2013, and he was squarely in the conversation to go No. 1 overall on the strength of a fastball that touched 100 mph and a wipeout slider.
The 31-year-old has had a productive, if inconsistent, MLB career with 12.8 WAR and a 108 ERA+ in 1,014.1 career innings. He is off to a terrific start this year, going 5-1 with a 2.81 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 57.2 innings over his first 10 starts.
19. St. Louis Cardinals: C Jonah Heim
19 of 30
Actual Pick: LHP Marco Gonzales
Heim's Actual Draft Position: No. 129 overall (Baltimore Orioles)
When guys like Carson Kelly and Andrew Knizner failed to develop into the heir apparent to longtime catcher Yadier Molina, the St. Louis Cardinals settled for signing Willson Contreras to a five-year, $87.5 million deal in free agency this past offseason to plug the hole behind the plate as Molina rode off into retirement.
The chance to draft Jonah Heim would give them an up-and-coming backstop who could shore up the position for the foreseeable future, and he would bring far superior defensive skills at a fraction of the price.
After taking over as the Texas Rangers starting catcher last year, he has taken another step forward this season while making a strong case for a spot on the AL All-Star team. The 27-year-old has a 116 OPS+ with 17 extra-base hits and 39 RBI at the plate, and he has been baseball's best pitch-framer on defense.
20. Detroit Tigers: 2B/3B Ryan McMahon
20 of 30
Actual Pick: RHP Jonathon Crawford
McMahon's Actual Draft Position: No. 42 overall (Colorado Rockies)
With solid power numbers and standout defense at both second base and third base, Ryan McMahon has logged back-to-back 3-WAR seasons for the Colorado Rockies.
The 28-year-old has averaged 22 doubles, 22 home runs and 77 RBI per 162 games during his time in the big leagues, and he was a Gold Glove finalist at the hot corner in 2021 and 2022.
The Detroit Tigers have a glaring hole at third base right now, and McMahon would be the perfect player to shore up the position while providing another quality run producer in the middle of the order.
21. Tampa Bay Rays: LHP Sean Manaea
21 of 30
Actual Pick: C Nick Ciuffo
Manaea's Actual Draft Position: No. 34 overall (Kansas City Royals)
Sean Manaea was a candidate to be selected No. 1 overall in the 2013 draft heading into his junior season at Indiana State, but a hip injury led to an inconsistent season and he ended up slipping to No. 34 overall where he signed an above-slot deal with the Kansas City Royals.
At his best, he has been arguably the best starting pitcher from this draft class, including a 2021 season where he finished 11-10 with a 3.91 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 194 strikeouts in 179.1 innings while tossing a pair of shutouts.
That said, he has been inconsistent as a whole while also dealing with some injury issues, and he has a 5.89 ERA in 36.2 innings of work in the first season of a two-year, $25 million deal with the San Francisco Giants in 2023.
Could the Tampa Bay Rays help unlock another level of his potential?
22. Baltimore Orioles: RHP Tyler Mahle
22 of 30
Actual Pick: RHP Hunter Harvey
Mahle's Actual Draft Position: No. 225 overall (Cincinnati Reds)
Since breaking out during the 2020 season, Tyler Mahle has quietly been one of the best strikeout pitchers in baseball.
Over the past four seasons, his 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings rank 18th among all pitchers with at least 350 innings pitched, including a career-high 210 punchouts in 180 innings during the 2021 campaign.
The 28-year-old is currently sidelined indefinitely after undergoing Tommy John surgery in late May, but his production the last few years and long-term outlook once he gets back on the mound is enough to make him a first-round selection in this redraft.
23. Texas Rangers: OF Hunter Renfroe
23 of 30
Actual Pick: RHP Chi Chi Gonzalez
Renfroe's Actual Draft Position: No. 13 overall (San Diego Padres)
Hunter Renfroe is playing for his fifth team in the last five years after he was traded from the from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Los Angeles Angels during the offseason, but he continues to provide solid production wherever he goes.
With 30-homer power and a rocket arm, he fits the prototypical right field profile, and the Texas Rangers have run through a lot of different outfielders alongside Adolis García the last few years looking for some kind of consistency.
Seeing a guy who posted a 126 OPS+ with 29 home runs last season at No. 23 overall in this redraft is another "wow" moment for the depth of this year's incoming talent.
24. Oakland Athletics: LHP Nestor Cortes
24 of 30
Actual Pick: OF Billy McKinney
Cortes' Actual Draft Position: No. 1,094 overall (New York Yankees)
Is Nestor Cortes a flash in the pan, or can he return to the level he showed last season and late in the 2021 campaign?
It's a question worth finding out the answer to for an Oakland Athletics team in serious need of talent, and this is a roll of the dice that his 5.16 ERA through 59.1 innings this season is just a slow start and not him crashing back to earth.
The crafty left-hander was an All-Star last season when he went 12-4 with a 2.44 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 163 strikeouts in 158.1 innings to finish eighth in AL Cy Young voting.
25. San Francisco Giants: 1B Rowdy Tellez
25 of 30
Actual Pick: SS Christian Arroyo
Tellez's Actual Draft Position: No. 895 overall (Toronto Blue Jays)
With 2.1 WAR in 479 career games, it's clear that Rowdy Tellez provides very little value outside of what he does in the batter's box, but he has developed into one of the best home run hitters in baseball.
The burly 6'4", 270-pound first baseman launched 35 home runs last season, and he has a 126 OPS+ with 12 home runs and 26 RBI in 51 games so far this season hitting mostly cleanup in the Milwaukee Brewers lineup.
The San Francisco Giants have been searching for a consistent 30-homer threat since Barry Bonds and Jeff Kent were crushing baseballs back in the 2000s, so this is a nice value pick at the end of the first round.
26. New York Yankees: LHP Marco Gonzales
26 of 30
Actual Pick: 3B Eric Jagielo
Gonzales' Actual Draft Position: No. 19 overall (St. Louis Cardinals)
There is value in a pitcher who can consistently chew up innings at roughly a league-average rate, and that's exactly what Marco Gonzales has provided for the Seattle Mariners the last six years.
Since the start of the 2018 season, he ranks 12th in the majors with 815.2 innings pitched, and he has a 4.02 ERA and 102 ERA+ during that stretch while developing into a valuable veteran presence on a young staff.
For the New York Yankees, he fits a similar mold to Jordan Montgomery who was a reliable No. 3/4 starter type during his time with the club before he was traded for Harrison Bader last summer.
27. Cincinnati Reds: IF Luis Urías
27 of 30
Actual Pick: OF Phillip Ervin
Urías' Actual Draft Position: International signing (SD, $25,000 bonus)
The Cincinnati Reds are currently loaded with young infield talent, but that hasn't necessarily been the case the last few years, and having Luis Urías around to help bridge the gap to their rising prospects could go a long way.
The 25-year-old is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, but he is coming off extremely productive seasons in 2021 (112 OPS+, 23 HR, 75 RBI, 3.3 WAR) and 2022 (110 OPS+, 16 HR, 47 RBI, 3.1 WAR) while delivering on the offensive potential that made him a top prospect in the San Diego system.
If nothing else, he would be a valuable trade chip for the Reds in the coming years as they usher in the next wave of infielders.
Compensatory Round
28 of 30
28. St. Louis Cardinals: IF Adam Frazier
(Pick assigned for losing in free agency)
29. Tampa Bay Rays: RHP Bryan Abreu
(Pick assigned for losing in free agency)
30. Texas Rangers: OF Austin Meadows
(Pick assigned for losing in free agency)
31. Atlanta Braves: OF Tyler O'Neill
(Pick assigned for losing in free agency)
32. New York Yankees: 1B/OF Trey Mancini
(Pick assigned for losing in free agency)
33. New York Yankees: RHP Michael Lorenzen
(Pick assigned for losing in free agency)
Competitive Balance Round A
29 of 30
34. Kansas City Royals: RHP Chad Green
35. Miami Marlins: IF/OF Isiah Kiner Falefa
(Pick acquired via trade from Pittsburgh Pirates)
36. Arizona Diamondbacks: RHP Kendall Graveman
37. Baltimore Orioles: RHP Brad Keller
38. Cincinnati Reds: OF Bryan De La Cruz
39. Detroit Tigers: C Danny Jansen
(Pick acquired via trade from Miami Marlins)
Notable Undrafted Players
30 of 30
Undrafted Position Players
- 1B/OF Garrett Cooper (MIL, No. 182 overall)
- IF Mauricio Dubón (BOS, No. 773 overall)
- C Mitch Garver (MIN, No. 260 overall)
- OF Victor Robles (WAS, international signing)
- 1B Luke Voit (STL, No. 665 overall)
Undrafted Pitchers
- RHP Jaime Barria (LAA, international signing)
- LHP Matthew Boyd (TOR, No. 175 overall)
- RHP Joe Jiménez (DET, international signing)
- RHP Corey Knebel (DET, No. 39 overall)
- RHP Nick Pivetta (WAS, No. 136 overall)
- RHP Tyler Rogers (SF, No. 312 overall)
- RHP Ryne Stanek (TB, No. 29 overall)
