Fantasy Baseball 2013: Mock-Draft Simulation When Holding the No. 2 Slot

Here's a dry run of draft expectations when holding the No. 2 pick in a 12-team mixed roto league, specifically working off the Average Draft Position report from our friends at Mock Draft Central. For the sake of brevity, we'll only go 18 rounds.

My only prerequisites: Get value at every turn, and snag six offensive players in the first eight picks. 

Round 1, Pick 2 overall—Best overall player

First option: OF Mike Trout, Angels
Second option: 3B Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
Third option: OF Andrew McCutchen, Pirates 

Round 2, Pick 23 overall—Best overall player

First option: OF Adam Jones, Orioles
Second option: 3B David Wright, Mets
Third option: 1B Adrian Gonzalez, Dodgers 

Round 3, Pick 26 overall—Best corner infielder

First option: 3B David Wright, Mets
Second option: 3B Evan Longoria, Rays
Third option: 1B Adrian Gonzalez, Dodgers 

Round 4, Pick 47 overall—Best outfielder or starting pitcher

First option: OF Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox
Second option: SP Cole Hamels, Phillies
Third option: SP Jered Weaver, Angels 

Round 5, Pick 50 overall—Best starting pitcher

First option: SP Jered Weaver, Angels
Second option: SP Madison Bumgarner, Giants
Third option: SP Matt Cain, Giants 

Round 6, Pick 71 overall—Best starting pitcher

First option: SP Gio Gonzalez, Nationals
Second option: SP CC Sabathia, Yankees
Third option: SP Zack Greinke, Dodgers 

Round 7, Pick 74 overall—Best outfielder or middle infielder

First option: OF Desmond Jennings, Rays
Second option: OF Alex Rios, White Sox
Third option: 2B Aaron Hill, Diamondbacks 

Round 8, Pick 95 overall—Best offensive player

First option: OF Austin Jackson, Tigers
Second option: 3B Pablo Sandoval, Giants
Third option: 1B Adam LaRoche, Nationals 

Round 9, Pick 98 overall—Best corner infielder or outfielder

First option: 1B Adam LaRoche, Nationals
Second option: 3B Pablo Sandoval, Giants
Third option: C Victor Martinez, Tigers 

Round 10, Pick 119 overall—Best player available

First option: SS Asdrubal Cabrera, Indians
Second option: SS Elvis Andrus, Rangers
Third option: SP Matt Moore, Rays 

Round 11, Pick 122 overall—Best corner infielder or starting pitcher

First option: SP Matt Moore, Rays
Second option: SP Jeff Samardzija, Cubs
Third option: 3B/OF Martin Prado, Diamondbacks 

Round 12, Pick 143 overall—Best starting pitcher

First option: SP Josh Johnson, Blue Jays
Second option: SP Jon Lester, Red Sox
Third option: SP Homer Bailey, Reds 

Round 13, Pick 146 overall—Best corner infielder available

First option: 3B Will Middlebrooks, Red Sox
Second option: 3B Mike Moustakas, Royals
Third option: 3B David Freese, Cardinals 

Round 14, Pick 167 overall—Best starting pitcher

First option: SP Jon Lester, Red Sox
Second option: SP Anibal Sanchez, Tigers
Third option: SP Mike Minor, Braves 

Round 15, Pick 170 overall—Best corner infielder or shortstop

First option: 1B/OF Michael Cuddyer, Rockies
Second option: OF Corey Hart, Brewers
Third option: SS Derek Jeter, Yankees 

Round 16, Pick 191 overall—Best reliever or second baseman available

First option: 2B Neil Walker, Pirates
Second option: RP Kenley Jansen, Dodgers
Third option: 2B Dan Uggla, Braves 

Round 17, Pick 194 overall—Best relief pitcher available

First option: RP Kenley Jansen, Dodgers
Second option: RP Casey Janssen, Blue Jays
Third option: RP Bruce Rondon, Tigers 

Round 18, Pick 213 overall—Best upside pick/outfielder

First option: OF Dexter Fowler, Rockies
Second option: OF Adam Eaton, Diamondbacks
Third option: OF Wil Myers, Rays 

Quick Hitters

1. For what it's worth, I don't expect Mike Trout (30 HR, 49 steals, 129 runs, .326 batting) to be available at the No. 2 slot for any roto draft, even ones based in Wisconsin. But if that's the case...he's a no-brainer with the second pick.

2. It wasn't my intention to land five outfielders in the first eight picks, but these are the breaks with value-based choices. On one hand, Trout, Adam Jones, Jacoby Ellsbury, Austin Jackson and Desmond Jennings came at a fair price; on the flip side, there were plenty of middle-infield options (Derek Jeter, Neil Walker, Danny Espinosa, Jose Altuve, Jimmy Rollins, Alcides Escobar, J.J. Hardy and Josh Rutledge) after Round 9.

3. Of Matt Moore's final 14 starts in 2012—his first full season in the bigs—he surrendered just two or less runs 11 times. And yet, Moore could be had after the 120th pick? Boom!

4. This is my third mock simulation of the last two weeks, and each time, I've been slow to address the 1B/3B slot. As much as I like Will Middlebrooks, Mike Moustakas and Adam Dunn as contributing assets, they're probably preferred-status bench options in 12- or 14-team roto leagues.

5. I find it odd that Elvis Andrus' pre-draft value has plunged three or four rounds in just 12 months. He improved upon his 2011 tallies in doubles, RBI, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging and OPS. The same holds true for Asdrubal Cabrera, who earned the Round 10 nod on his power potential.

6. With Mock Draft Central, Buster Posey currently owns a No. 13 ADP. But in leagues that require only one starting catcher, it makes little sense to invest a Round 1 pick on the reigning NL MVP—unless you're starting him at first base for the majority of the season. 

Jay Clemons can be reached on Twitter, day or night, at @ATL_JayClemons.