BoSox Injection
Fansided

Red Sox players to target, avoid in fantasy baseball drafts

By Sean Penney

Sep 21, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Boston Red Sox outfielders Andrew Benintendi (left), Jackie Bradley, Jr. (center) and Mookie Betts (right) celebrate after beating the Baltimore Orioles 5-1 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 21, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Boston Red Sox outfielders Andrew Benintendi (left), Jackie Bradley, Jr. (center) and Mookie Betts (right) celebrate after beating the Baltimore Orioles 5-1 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 3, 2017; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi (16) runs to first as he watches his ball leave the park for a solo home run during the sixth inning of an MLB spring training baseball game against the Atlanta Braves at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2017; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi (16) runs to first as he watches his ball leave the park for a solo home run during the sixth inning of an MLB spring training baseball game against the Atlanta Braves at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Sleepers

These players should provide a solid return on investment based on where they are being drafted.

Andrew Benintendi, OF
ESPN: 119
Yahoo: 118

The 22-year old has tremendous upside, but how much of that will we see in his rookie season? We know he’s capable of delivering a solid batting average and he should score plenty of runs if the Red Sox end up batting him second in the lineup. We know his ceiling is that of a 20+ home run hitter that can steal at least that many bases, but we have no track record of him approaching anywhere near those numbers in the big leagues. An outfielder that doesn’t crack double-digits in homers or steals isn’t worth much in fantasy, giving him a relatively low floor. Top prospects tend to get over-hyped, so be cautious of reaching too much for him. If you can snag him outside of the top 100 or with a bid under $10 then his upside is worth the risk.

Hanley Ramirez, 1B
ESPN: 76
Yahoo: 60

More from Red Sox News

.331/.381/.634, 10 home runs, 37 RBI. Those are Ramirez’ numbers in 36 career games as a designated hitter, which happens to now be his primary position. He’s eagerly anticipated taking over this position since the day he signed with the Red Sox and he’s thrived in the role before. Another season with 30 homers and 100+ RBI is within reach, which only five other first baseman accomplished last year. So why is Ramirez being drafted as a borderline top-10 option at the position? That puts him on the verge of being a bench warmer unless it’s a deeper league or one that uses a corner infield position or multiple utility spots. Repeating last year’s production would make him a great value in this range.

Eduardo Rodriguez, SP
ESPN: 239
Yahoo: Not Ranked

The concern is that Rodriguez is in a three-man competition for the final two spots in the Red Sox rotation, meaning there’s a chance he’s relegated to a value-crushing middle relief role. For a guy that should be available near the end of the draft, why not take a flyer on E-Rod? His overall numbers from last year look messy due to a knee injury that delayed the start to his season and threw his mechanics out of whack, but check out what he did in the second half of the season once he got back on track – 3.24 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 9.2 K/9 over 14 starts. He’s only 23 and has the potential to put up those types of numbers over a full season if he can stay healthy.

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