Fantasy Baseball Draft: Should We Consider Robinson Cano at No. 1 Overall?

Eric StashinMar 14, 2011

With the injury to Chase Utley potentially limiting him (and for how long, no one knows), the question now is how high should we consider selecting Robinson Cano?

There was no questioning that he was a first-round pick from the beginning, but is there now enough reason to consider Cano at first overall?

Obviously, if you aren’t a believer in position scarcity, you can stop reading now. No one is going to logically argue that Cano is a better player than Albert Pujols, Hanley Ramirez or Miguel Cabrera. It’s nonsensical.

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However, if you are a believer in position scarcity, this may not be so far-fetched.

With Utley potentially out of the equation, you are starting to look at a significantly bigger gap between the top player at the position and the rest of the field.

Not only that, but the two guys who likely came in at No. 3 and No. 4, in most rankings, also come complete with their own injury concerns.

Dustin Pedroia was limited to just 302 AB in 2010, hitting .288 with 12 HR and nine SB. However, in his case, it was just a one-time issue. He had 653, then 626 AB in the previous two seasons and always looked impressive.

He’s a player that contributes across the board, but outside of runs scored, where does he excel? He’s not likely to hit more than 20 HR, he’s never had more than 20 SB and he’s going to drive in between 70 and 80 RBI and hit right around .300.

While those are fabulous numbers, outside of scoring over 110 runs, is he actually elite anywhere?

Then comes Ian Kinsler, whose injury history is well known.

He may be having an electric Spring Training, but he’s only once played more than 130 games in a season. It’s almost inevitable that he misses time, sooner or later.

You also have to question his ability to replicate his 30/30 campaign from 2009.

His 54.0 percent fly-ball rate lead to a .253 average and it was the only time he’s hit more than 20 HR in a season. If he continues trying to hit for power, the average is likely going to suffer. It’s more likely that he hits .290ish, while pushing 20/20.

Again, nice numbers, but not something you can't get elsewhere.

Then we look at Robinson Cano, who has now posted back-to-back impressive seasons:

2009 – .320, 25 HR, 85 RBI, 103 R, 5 SB
2010 – .319, 29 HR, 109 RBI, 103 R, 3 SB

At 28-years old and now a fixture in the middle of the Yankees lineup, Cano is only getting better. Where else can you get a .320 hitter who might also hit 30 HR and go 100/100? Especially from a middle infielder?

Not too many places, that’s for sure.

The answer is that Cano brings a unique skill-set to the table—one that no other player at his position can replicate. Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera bring an impressive line to the table, but who’s to say that you can’t get fairly similar numbers from a Prince Fielder, a Justin Morneau or a Kendrys Morales?

I’m not suggesting that you actually take Cano first overall, because I wouldn’t do it. Having said that, if you are someone who believes in position scarcity, it is certainly something that's worth considering.

Cano gives you an advantage that few other players do—without one of the other elite players at his position, he hands you a huge leg up on the rest of your league.

What are your thoughts? Are you a believer in position scarcity? Would you consider drafting Cano first overall?

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