Fantasy Baseball 2015 Preview: Sleepers, Predictions and Position Rankings

Perceived as the dreariest time of year by many sports enthusiasts, February is instead the jolliest month for fantasy baseball fanatics ready to dust off the cobwebs.

As football hibernates and basketball and hockey build up to juicy postseasons, this is the ideal time to devote all of your energy to fantasy baseball preparation. Although drafting close to Opening Day is preferable, getting a head start on the competition can help ensure a cushy finish.

Surely, some dedicated managers already dove into their cheat sheets, but others are slowly dipping their feet into the water. Featuring rankings at each position along with a catalog of late-round sleepers, consider this guide your way of jumping into the deep end.

When perusing these rankings, realize that they are geared for mixed rotisserie leagues using the standard five-by-five categories. Those participating in formats tracking on-base percentage need to move Adam Jones down and Carlos Santana up.

For positioning, 15 games is used as the eligibility barometer. Some leagues are lax with their guidelines, while others are stricter. Know your specific rules from top to bottom.

The weather outside is frightful, so shut the shades and dive into fantasy baseball research until spring arrives.

Catcher

Scott Halleran/Getty Images

A change in scenery can help Evan Gattis lead all catchers in home runs this season.

1	Buster Posey (1B)	SF
2	Jonathan Lucroy (1B)	MIL
3	Devin Mesoraco	CIN
4	Evan Gattis	HOU
5	Brian McCann (1B)	NYY
6	Yan Gomes	CLE
7	Salvador Perez	KC
8	Yadier Molina	STL
9	Travis d'Arnaud	NYM
10	Matt Wieters	BAL
11	Wilin Rosario (1B)	COL
12	Russell Martin	TOR
13	Yasmani Grandal	LAD
14	Wilson Ramos	WAS
15	Miguel Montero	CHC

Notes

• In standard mixed leagues that employ one starting catcher, patiently wait to fill the spot. Gamers in two-catcher formats will note a steep decline, so someone who needs to plug the hole after the top 15 should take a long look at Mike Zunino or Derek Norris.

• The Houston Astros will give Evan Gattis far more than the 401 plate appearances afforded him by the Atlanta Braves last season. Although his poor plate discipline makes him a probable average liability, the masher is a strong bet to turn his .487 career slugging percentage into a 25-30 homer campaign.

• A changed man following a humbling midseason demotion, Travis d'Arnaud responded by hitting .265/.313/.474 with seven homers after the All-Star break. He made sharper contact over that stretch with a 21.1 line-drive percentage, springing breakout potential for his second full season.

• When considering Russell Martin, realize that he'll transition into an entirely different fantasy asset with the Toronto Blue Jays. A .336 batting average on balls in play (BABIP) funded a .290 overall average well above his .259 career rate. Yet moving to a park conducive to right-handed power will revive the man who totaled 39 deep flies in two seasons with the New York Yankees.

First Base/DH

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

An injury-shortened 2014 should not expel Paul Goldschmidt as the top fantasy first baseman.

1	Paul Goldschmidt	ARI
2	Miguel Cabrera	DET
3	Jose Abreu	CHW
4	Edwin Encarnacion	TOR
5	Anthony Rizzo	CHC
6	Freddie Freeman	ATL
7	Albert Pujols	LAA
8	Adrian Gonzalez	LAD
9	David Ortiz (DH)	BOS
10	Victor Martinez	DET
11	Joey Votto	CIN
12	Prince Fielder	TEX
13	Todd Frazier (3B)	CIN
14	Chris Davis (3B)	BAL
15	Chris Carter (OF)	HOU

Notes

• Buster Posey reigns supreme among several catchers with first-base eligibility, but they all hold more value behind the plate. Nobody is drafting Posey at first, so including him here felt unnecessary.

• Before a fractured hand derailed his season, Paul Goldschmidt was once again a fantasy deity, hitting .300/.396/.542 with 19 homers and nine steals through 109 games. Plenty of other sluggers field first, but few also offer 15 steals and a steady average, making him the No. 3 player overall behind Mike Trout and Andrew McCutchen.

• Although David Ortiz's average dipped to .263, he more than made up for it with 35 homers and 104 RBI. Anyone who can snatch the reliable veteran near his No. 68 overall consensus ADP, via FantasyPros, will land a massive value for the utility spot. 

• After fearing the worst when hearing of Victor Martinez's injured knee, it turns out he will miss four-to-six weeks, putting him on the right path for Opening Day. Yet an injury isn't the best way to start spring for a 36-year-old designated hitter who enjoyed a career-high 32 homers after belting 26 the previous two years combined.

• A hodgepodge of former stars frequent the bottom of this list. Drafting Chris Davis on the heels of batting .196 is dangerous, but this is a monster who swatted 53 blasts in 2013. Even if he returns to 2012's .270, 33-homer model, he's a significant fantasy commodity.

Second Base

Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images

Jose Altuve relies too much on batting average, a stat that fluctuates more than any other offensive skill.

1	Robinson Cano	SEA
2	Anthony Rendon (3B)	WAS
3	Jose Altuve	HOU
4	Ian Kinsler	DET
5	Dee Gordon	MIA
6	Jason Kipnis	CLE
7	Brian Dozier	MIN
8	Dustin Pedroia	BOS
9	Mookie Betts (OF)	BOS
10	Kolten Wong	STL
11	Howie Kendrick	LAD
12	Daniel Murphy (3B)	NYM
13	Ben Zobrist (SS/OF)	OAK
14	Josh Harrison (3B/OF)	PIT
15	Chase Utley	PHI

Notes

• Many readers probably expected Jose Altuve or Anthony Rendon to dethrone Robinson Cano, who hit just 14 homers in his first year with the Seattle Mariners. But drafters are advised to exude safety first, and Cano remains a career .310/.358/.499 hitter who has missed 18 games in eight years. Batting average is too fungible to trust Altuve as a superstar, and Rendon's speed came from nowhere during a breakout year. Cano's worst is still really good.

• Beware of Dee Gordon, who recorded a dreadful .300 on-base percentage after the All-Star break due to drawing just four walks. When his .346 BABIP drops, so will his .289 average. Outside his steals, which will also dip as he reaches base less, he'll offer nothing but empty calories in every other category. 

• For those desiring the flashy pick that will draw "oohs" and "ahs" on draft day, Mookie Betts is the perennial sleeper who won't hold any sleeper value in a month. He showed incredible maturity as a rookie, notching a 9.9 walk percentage and 14.6 strikeout percentage through 213 plate appearances for the Boston Red Sox. He also flaunted five-category upside with five homers and seven steals.

• For those who prefer the safe route, Howie Kendrick and Daniel Murphy are both consummate professionals who will deliver just enough everywhere. Kendrick, moving from one loaded Los Angeles lineup to another, hasn't hit below .285 in each of the past four years. Neither has Murphy, who still offered nine homers and 13 stolen bases despite an expected decline.

Third Base

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

Moving to the Toronto Blue Jays makes Josh Donaldson a popular early-round target at third base.

1	Adrian Beltre	TEX
2	Anthony Rendon (2B)	WAS
3	Josh Donaldson	TOR
4	Evan Longoria	TB
5	Nolan Arenado	COL
6	Todd Frazier (1B)	CIN
7	Kyle Seager	SEA
8	David Wright	NYM
9	Chris Davis (1B)	BAL
10	Carlos Santana (1B)	CLE
11	Manny Machado	BAL
12	Pablo Sandoval	BOS
13	Matt Carpenter	STL
14	Daniel Murphy (2B)	NYM
15	Kris Bryant	CHC

Notes

• Moving from the Oakland Athletics to Blue Jays is enormous for Josh Donaldson, a righty pull-hitter who produced 18 of his 29 homers on the road last year. Yet FantasyPros' composite ADP vaults him ahead of Adrian Beltre, an overreaction to the offseason transaction.

• Along with clobbering 12 homers with a .550 slugging percentage after the break, Nolan Arenado upped his walk rate from 3.7 to 7.2 percent. Playing half of his games in Coors Field, where he recorded a .928 OPS, also helps.

• The ranking majority tends to have grown bored of Manny Machado. If he hasn't hit .300 with 30 homers by age 22, will he ever? Those fretting his health miss his dozen homers through 82 games after sprinkling 51 doubles as a rookie. As everyone lectures about not falling for the hype, Machado may sneak under the radar as a post-hype bargain.

• Pick Kris Bryant at your own risk. The upside? A game-changing superstar who carries over his ridiculous minor league numbers (.325/.438/.661, 43 HR) to the majors. His 27.3 strikeout percentage last year, however, also foreshadows a tough adjustment period for someone who is no lock to make the Opening Day roster.

Shortstop

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Ian Desmond provides consistent power and speed production at a thin shortstop position.

1	Troy Tulowitzki	COL
2	Ian Desmond	WAS
3	Hanley Ramirez	BOS
4	Jose Reyes	TOR
5	Alexei Ramirez	CHW
6	Elvis Andrus	TEX
7	Jimmy Rollins	LAD
8	Starlin Castro	CHC
9	Ben Zobrist (2B/OF)	OAK
10	Jhonny Peralta	STL
11	Xander Bogaerts (3B)	BOS
12	Erick Aybar	LAA
13	Alcides Escobar	KC
14	Javier Baez (2B)	CHC
15	Jean Segura	MIL

Notes

• Here's a list of every player who has amassed three consecutive 20/20 campaigns heading into 2015: Ian Desmond. End of list. His bloated 28.2 strikeout percentage causes concern, but he's a constant source of power and speed at a position filled with unreliable talent.

• Starlin Castro turned 2014's .245 average into an outlier, yet he also stole just four bases in eight tries. After amassing 47 steals through 2012 and 2013, he has absconded with 13 bags in 23 attempts during the previous two years, limiting him to a low-level starter.

• Only Desmond compiled more homers at shortstop than Jhonny Peralta's 21. Since 2011, just Troy Tulowitzki and Hanley Ramirez brandish a higher slugging percentage among their brethren. Most drafters desire speed at short, but Peralta proves a sturdy late power source for someone who locates steals elsewhere.

• Despite posting nearly identical batted-ball and contact rates, Jean Segura's average dipped all the way from .294 to .246 while making slight improvements to his strikeout and walk tendencies. Continuing his complete reversal from his 2014 breakout, Segura hit an improved .271 after the break, a modest mark that would enable him to accrue 25-30 steals. 

Outfield (Nos. 1-20)

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Carlos Gomez has delivered elite five-category production for two straight years, cementing his spot as a fantasy star.

1	Mike Trout	LAA
2	Andrew McCutchen	PIT
3	Giancarlo Stanton	MIA
4	Carlos Gomez	MIL
5	Jose Bautitsta	TOR
6	Adam Jones	BAL
7	Yasiel Puig	LAD
8	Jacoby Ellsbury	NYY
9	Michael Brantley	CLE
10	Ryan Braun	MIL
11	Bryce Harper	WAS
12	Hunter Pence	SF
13	Justin Upton	SD
14	Corey Dickerson	COL
15	Carlos Gonzalez	COL
16	George Springer	HOU
17	Billy Hamilton	CIN
18	Starling Marte	PIT
19	Matt Kemp	SD
20	Matt Holliday	STL

Notes

• Going back to last slide's Desmond nugget, in 2012 Carlos Gomez was one homer away from joining that 20/20 list. Regression never showed up last season, as he instead provided a near carbon copy of 2013 with better plate discipline, a few less steals and a few more runs scored. Last year's only 20/30 club member safely belongs in the first round of all drafts.

• Last year, right-handed batters hit .224 with 49 homers in Petco Park. Dodger Stadium and Turner Field churned out 92 and 90 homers, respectively, for righties. The argument is made that the San Diego Padres haven't had a star hitter since Adrian Gonzalez to combat the poor environment, but Justin Upton and Matt Kemp each drop a couple spots due to their new homes.

• Hunter Pence has tallied at least 20 homers in each of his last seven seasons. A late surge narrowly extended Matt Holliday's streak to nine, including five full years away from Coors Field. They're old and boring, but they get the job done. 

• The year we all give up on Bryce Harper as a top pick will be the year he realizes his superstar ceiling. Despite hitting a meandering .273/.344/.423 with 13 long balls and two steals last year, he's still a 22-year-old with an .816 career OPS.

Outfield (Nos. 21-40)

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Jay Bruce will come at a cheaper price after a down year.

21	Nelson Cruz	SEA
22	Yoenis Cespedes	DET
23	Alex Gordon	KC
24	Jason Heyward	STL
25	Jay Bruce	CIN
26	Kole Calhoun	LAA
27	Christian Yelich	MIA
28	Charlie Blackmon	COL
29	Mookie Betts (2B)	BOS
30	Jorge Soler	CHC
31	Chris Carter (1B)	HOU
32	Marcell Ozuna	MIA
33	Mark Trumbo (1B)	ARI
34	Brett Gardner	NYY
35	Jayson Werth	WAS
36	Ben Revere	PHI
37	Leonys Martin	TEX
38	J.D. Martinez	DET
39	Gregory Polanco	PIT
40	Shin-Soo Choo	TEX

Notes

• After three straight seasons hitting at least .250 with 30 homers and 97 RBI, Jay Bruce nosedived to .217 with 18 homers during 137 games. It wasn't bad luck, as he recorded a career-high 45.2 ground-ball percentage while swinging at 33.4 percent of pitches outside the strike zone. Yet a healthy Bruce returning to old form presents massive bargain potential.

• According to FanGraphs' Mike Podhorzer, Marcell Ozuna spawned the highest increase in fly-ball distance last year, leading to 23 homers during his first full season. He remains unpolished as a byproduct of playing 10 games past Single-A before his MLB promotion, but the power is real.

• Brett Gardner's power outburst wasn't all thanks to Yankee Stadium's short porch; he hit nine of his career-high 17 homers on the road. A dozen deep flies is doable, but the 31-year-old is now no more than a 20-25-steal threat with a limited average.

• Even during a disappointing debut, Gregory Polanco collected seven homers and 14 steals through just 89 games. His futility against fellow lefties is concerning, but think of the 23-year-old as "Starling Marte Lite," easily capable of providing a dozen dingers and 25 swipes. 

Starting Pitcher (Nos. 1-20)

Al Bello/Getty Images

Stephen Strasburg is on the cusp of a monster season after posting sterling strikeout and walk rates.

1	Clayton Kershaw	LAD
2	Felix Hernandez	SEA
3	Chris Sale	CHW
4	Max Scherzer	WAS
5	Stephen Strasburg	WAS
6	David Price	DET
7	Corey Kluber	CLE
8	Madison Bumgarner	SF
9	Yu Darvish	TEX
10	Zack Greinke	LAD
11	Cole Hamels	PHI
12	Jon Lester	CHC
13	Johnny Cueto	CIN
14	Adam Wainwright	STL
15	Jordan Zimmermann	WAS
16	Matt Harvey	NYM
17	Alex Cobb	TB
18	Jeff Samardzija	CHW
19	Hisashi Iwakuma	SEA
20	Alex Wood	ATL

Notes

• Three qualified starting pitchers finished 2014 with over 10 strikeouts and under two walks per nine innings. Clayton Kershaw and Corey Kluber won Cy Young Awards for it. Stephen Strasburg could get his this season. In addition to those stellar rates, look at the rest of the NL East.

• When it comes to Madison Bumgarner, should drafters gush over his herculean playoff run or panic over his logging 270 innings all year? It's best not to go crazy about either, making him a top-10 ace who should fall a bit lower than FantasyPros' No. 24 overall consensus ADP.

• Adam Wainwright wielded a 2.38 ERA last season, but his K/9 rate dipped to 7.10, while his average velocity decreased on every pitch. Given the awesomeness of the game's premium aces, those warning signs expel him from the top 10.

• Alex Wood at No. 20 will surprise many. Over his career, he owns a 2.84 ERA and 205 strikeouts through 212.1 innings as a starter. When the Atlanta Braves finally left him alone in the rotation, he manufactured a 2.20 ERA and 9.21 K/9 rate after the All-Star break. Chances are you can wait a little longer before snatching an unheralded stud.

Starting Pitcher (Nos. 21-40)

Jason Miller/Getty Images

If Carlos Carrasco carries over his second-half dominance into 2015, he could follow Corey Kluber's path to stardom.

21	Gerrit Cole	PIT
22	Hyun-jin Ryu	LAD
23	James Shields	SD
24	Carlos Carrasco	CLE
25	Jake Arrieta	CHC
26	Julio Teheran	ATL
27	Cliff Lee	PHI
28	Masahiro Tanaka	NYY
29	Gio Gonzalez	WAS
30	Tyson Ross	SD
31	Jacob deGrom	NYM
32	Sonny Gray	OAK
33	Garrett Richards	LAA
34	Phil Hughes	MIN
35	Lance Lynn	STL
36	Collin McHugh	HOU
37	Marcus Stroman	TOR
38	Anibal Sanchez	DET
39	Michael Wacha	STL
40	Jose Quintana	CHW

Notes

• Hyun-jin Ryu continues to float under the radar of more exciting options. Although his ERA rose from 3.00 to 3.38, he pitched better as a sophomore. His strikeouts-minus-walks percentage (K-BB%) soared from 13.4 to 17.4, with his fielding independent pitching (FIP) residing at a pristine 2.62. The Los Angeles Dodgers' No. 3 starter will delight drafters as a key rotation cog.

• So many unheralded names emerged from nowhere to dominate the league. Only Kershaw netted a higher FIP than Jake Arrieta's 2.26 among starters who logged at least 100 innings. Carlos Carrasco weaved a sensational 1.72 ERA at the break, and Jacob deGrom wasn't much worse with a 2.16 second-half ERA. Keep an eye on all three breakout arms.

• On the other hand, Julio Teheran and Sonny Gray aren't appetizing for their current going rates. Both are commonly perceived as top-20 starters despite both ranking outside the top-30 qualified starters in strikeout percentage. Each young hurler will struggle to replicate last year's low ERA. 

• During a tremendous rookie campaign, Marcus Stroman corralled a 7.65 K/9, 1.93 BB/9, 53.8 ground-ball percentage and 2.84 FIP. He'll become a trendy preseason pick, but one worthy of such attention.

Relief Pitcher

Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images

Aroldis Chapman's otherworldly strikeout tally makes the top-ranked closer a major asset.

1	Aroldis Chapman	CIN
2	Craig Kimbrel	ATL
3	Greg Holland	KC
4	David Robertson	CHW
5	Dellin Betances	NYY
6	Mark Melancon	PIT
7	Koji Uehara	BOS
8	Cody Allen	CLE
9	Kenley Jansen	LAD
10	Steve Cishek	MIA
11	Trevor Rosenthal	STL
12	Glen Perkins	MIN
13	Joaquin Benoit	SD
14	Fernando Rodney	SEA
15	Jonathan Papelbon	PHI

Notes

• Aroldis Chapman sure challenges the staunchest opponents of paying for saves. Despite a scary incident delaying his season debut to May, the Cuban flamethrower still finished with 106 strikeouts last season. Drafting is all about securing the most value, so don't automatically write off the top closer if he comes at a fair price. 

• If handed David Robertson's short-lived role as the New York Yankees closer, Dellin Betances immediately vaults into the group's top tier. We all know better than to fret about "closer experience," and Betances excelled last year with a 1.40 ERA and 13.50 strikeout percentage. If Andrew Miller gets the nod, he instead joins the top 10, with Betances serving as a must-handcuff. 

• He lost his job title to conclude 2014, but Koji Uehara still sported a 10.00 K/BB ratio that produced a 0.92 WHIP. If the Boston Red Sox can forgive his disastrous August and trust the full body of work, so can you.

• Trevor Rosenthal's atrocious 5.37 BB/9 rate inflated his WHIP to 1.41. While the wildness appeared from nowhere, his lack of control and spiked 25.1 line-drive percentage are warning stickers for the hard-throwing 24-year-old.

• Hot off the presses, Kenley Jansen will miss eight-to-12 weeks after undergoing foot surgery. Since it's not an arm ailment and he is coming off consecutive sub-2.00 FIP campaigns, don't banish him too far down the rankings. 

Sleepers

Brian Blanco/Getty Images

A refurbished Brandon McCarthy finally saw his luck turn around after a midseason trade to the Yankees.

POS	Player	Team	ADP*
C/1B	Yasmani Grandal	LAD	226
1B/OF	Brandon Moss	CLE	176
2B/3B	Marcus Semien	OAK	354
3B	Pedro Alvarez	PIT	251
SS	J.J. Hardy	BAL	274
OF	Avisail Garcia	CHW	235
OF	Steven Souza Jr.	TB	266
OF	Oswaldo Arcia	MIN	270
SP	Drew Smyly	TB	192
SP	Brandon McCarthy	LAD	222
SP	Danny Salazar	CLE	229
RP	Hector Rondon	CHC	182
RP	Ken Giles	PHI	245

*ADP info courtesy of FantasyPros.

Notes

• Including Yasmani Grandal is kind of cheating, as he's the only player previously ranked at his respective position. Yet most gamers play in one-catcher formats, which means they shouldn't need to dig past the top 15. Now free from the Padres, the 26-year-old owns a career .260/.358/.443 slash line away from Petco Park, hitting 13 homers in 109 games.  

• As part of their offseason cleansing, the Oakland Athletics sent Brandon Moss to the Cleveland Indians. Outside of Yankee Stadium, Progressive Field is one of the best places for a lefty slugger to land, putting him in line for another 25-30 homer season. Oakland also acquired new shortstop Marcus Semien, who displayed considerable power and speed in the minors. He's an enticing middle infielder who will cost next to nothing on draft day.

• The case for Oswaldo Arcia is simple: power. After crushing 14 long balls in just 97 games, he sent 20 balls over the fence during 103 games last season. His 31.0 strikeout percentage limits him as a one-trick pony, but that trick is darn impressive for a bench selection.

• Brandon McCarthy's 4.05 ERA doesn't come close to telling the whole story. Reaching 200 innings for the first time in his career, the 31-year-old threw harder than ever, resulting in a career-high 7.88 K/9 rate while not sacrificing his pinpoint command (1.49 BB/9). A sky-high 16.3 home run-fly ball percentage (HR/FB%) compounded problems that somehow halted with the Yankees, where he procured a 2.89 ERA. Health is the only thing that can stop him from enjoying a huge year with the Dodgers.

• With the Philadelphia Phillies finally ready to bottom out, Jonathan Papelbon remains the constant subject of trade talks. If he is dealt, Ken Giles is in line to storm the scene as a No. 1 fantasy closer. He looked the part last year with a 1.18 ERA backed by a 1.34 FIP and 31.9 K-BB percentage. 

Predictions

Rob Carr/Getty Images

KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 21: Mike Moustakas #8 and Eric Hosmer #35 of the Kansas City Royals react after failing to score in the third inning against the San Francisco Giants during Game One of the 2014 World Series at Kauffman Stadium on October 21, 20

A New York Yankees SP Provides Value

Yankees fans are moaning about an underwhelming rotation, but the group actually consists of solid late-round gambits.

Health is the key for a staff plagued with injuries last season. Masahiro Tanaka was a fantasy ace (2.77 ERA, 9.31 K/9) before arm troubles halted his MLB debut. Skipping Tommy John surgery makes him a huge risk, but one that would pay off if he logs a full workload.

C.C. Sabathia has plummeted from fantasy ace to afterthought, yet he tallied an impressive 48 strikeouts and 10 walks through 46 innings despite clocking a 5.28 ERA. At this point, he might not even get drafted in all leagues. Holding a career 3.17 ERA through 41 dispersed starts, Michael Pineda is the ultimate late lottery ticket you could cash in handsomely if his body cooperates.

Getting traded to the Bronx was the worst outcome for Nate Eovaldi’s stock, but he’s a hard thrower with excellent control and a 3.37 FIP last season. Don't stack your staff with Yankees; just hope to land the one who puts it all together and massively outperforms his preseason price. 

Royals Fool Everyone, Again

This is the year Eric Hosmer vaults into the MVP discussion. This is the year Mike Moustakas rides a wave of momentum into a long-anticipated breakout.

Wait, sorry, that's from last year's script.

After drowsy seasons from both corner infielders, they caught fire during the Kansas City Royals' postseason run. Moustakas, who hit .217/.271/.361 during the season, scorched five playoff bombs, while Hosmer notched a .983 playoff OPS following a .716 clip through 131 games.

No matter how big the stage, don't be fooled by the bite-sized sample. After getting second and third chances, Moustakas is undraftable in standard mixed leagues, while Hosmer is no more than a corner infielder or utility play, not a breakout star to grab in the top 100.

First Closers Out

Some closer seats remain up in the air, but these current ninth-inning men are already in danger of losing their save opportunities:

• LaTroy Hawkins, COL: Yes, LaTroy Hawkins still has first dibs at the Colorado Rockies closing gig entering his age-42 season. Despite registering 32 strikeouts all year with a dull 3.31 ERA, he enters spring as the incumbent and fantasy’s most boring option for saves. Having authored a 2.53 second-half ERA, Adam Ottavino will challenge the veteran’s job security during his final year.

• Joe Nathan, DET: Joe Nathan posted a 4.81 ERA last season with a steep decline in punchouts and cavernous climb in walks. Joakim Soria, on the other hand, returned to tip-top form with 48 strikeouts and six walks through 44.1 innings. There’s no doubt which well-regarded reliever is now better.

• Santiago Casilla, SF: The San Francisco Giants retained former closer Sergio Romo after a stellar postseason, giving Santiago Casilla a short leash in the ninth. Any hiccup from the 34-year-old with a career 3.92 FIP will return Romo back to his usual designation.

Advanced statistics courtesy of FanGraphs. 

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