First Base

There is elite power at the top or you can roll with the young guns and that considerable upside. You could also pick a path that is relatively safe and boring as the tried and true populates the pickings after you get through the Top-15 or so picks. There are options. Plenty of them, at a position that is deep in talent. Pick a path and roll with it knowing that strength at First Base will come with a price. The price being a potentially weak outfield. Know your parameters and proceed accordingly.

 

 

  1. Freddie Freeman, LAD – Freeman went 23-of-24 in stolen base attempts. He scored 131 runs and hit for a .331 BA with a .410 OBP. In the past eight years he has had an OPS in excess of .900 six times and the two years he missed were .893 and .896. Freddie Freeman is as good as it gets.
  2. Matt Olson, ATL – His first year in Atlanta was very good but it paled in comparison to 2023’s. 54 homer, 139 RBI and 127 runs scored. Odds would say a repeat will be tough but split the difference between 2022 and ’23 and you still have one of the best power bats in the game.
  3. Bryce Harper, PHI – It looks like Harper won’t be running into many walls now that 1B is his full-time home and that’s a very good thing. A healthy Harper is a Fantasy juggernaut.
  4. Pete Alonso, NYM – There is no doubting that pure raw power (46 HR, 118 RBI in ’23), but it does come with a low batting average price. Know your parameters but even with a low BA it’s hard to beat the potential for at the very least mid-40’s home run pop.
  5. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., TOR – A disappointing year is a one-off. Two consecutive disappointing years and one has to lower the bar. Vlad Jr. still is a very good player, but the high hopes and anticipation after that monster 2021 campaign (1.002 OPS) are fading.
  6. Cody Bellinger, FA – The Cody Bellinger that disappeared after the 2019 season resurfaced in Chicago last year. Somone will pay dearly for the rights to prove 2023 will be replicated. OF-84
  7. Christian Walker, ARZ – Walker finished 3’rd in HR with 33. He finished 3’rd in RBI with 103. Having Corbin Carroll at the top-of-the-order makes a difference.
  8. Spencer Torkelson, DET – For those that exercised patience, the 2023 rewards were hefty. 2024 could prove to be even better.
  9. Triston Casas, BOS – It took Casas a while to get rolling, but those second half numbers were crazy good. I’m going to bet that he builds on that second half success and assembles a 35 HR, 90 RBI type season.
  10. Paul Goldschmidt, STL – Goldschmidt is turning 37 in September and posted his lowest OPS since his sophomore campaign in 2012. That was 11 years ago, for those keeping score. He could bounce back, but I’m not going to either pay for it or bet on it.
  11. Yandy Diaz, TBR – In 3-of-the-past-4 seasons Diaz has bested a .400 OBP. Expecting 20+ home runs could be the new norm, but it doesn’t have to be for him to produce solid returns.
  12. Spencer Steer, CIN 3B-47, OF-47 That roster flexibility is sweet, as are the 23 home runs, 86 RBI, and 15 stolen bases he amassed last year. The Twins clearly came up with the short end of the stick on this deal.
  13. Josh Naylor, CLE – A strikeout rate under 15% (13.7%) hitting out of the cleanup slot could see Naylor poised for a long run of 20-90 type seasons, with 7-to-10 thefts. That works well as a mid-tier bat at the corner. Very well.
  14. Isaac Paredes, TBR – This proverb sums up Isaac Paredes very eloquently. “Fool me once, shame on you; Fool me twice, shame on me.” He isn’t fooling me thrice. 3B-116
  15. Alec Bohm, PHI – Bohm finished 2023 three RBI’s shy of getting to the 100 RBI mark. He secured his first 20 home run season. The question is do you use him at First or Third. Either works just fine. 3B-90
  16. Sal Perez, KCR – Pencil in a perfectly boring 20 HR, 80 RBI, and .255 BA season. The depth at the catcher position might even allow one to utilize that CI eligibility. C-91
  17. Vinnie Pasquantino, KCR – The promise we witnessed in 2022 faded quickly as he underwent surgery in June to repair a torn labrum. It’s all about the health and the early indication is that he’ll be 100% for Spring Training, but isn’t everyone 100% healthy and in the best shape of their live come February?
  18. Christian Encarnacion-Strand, CIN – When you’re a 24-year-old highly touted prospect and slug 13 homers in only 228 at-bats, one would think that playing time wouldn’t be an issue. Let’s hope that is the case.
  19. Nathaniel Lowe, TEX – The Rangers’ potent offense helped him set career highs in both RBI and RS. He posted a career high .360 OBP. The home runs fell off from the 27 he hit in 2022, to 17, but other than that it was a good year. A return to mid-20’s power would boost his stock considerably in 2024.
  20. Andrew Vaughn, CWS – Everything was a mess on the South Side last year so why should Vaughn be any different. The potential is and has been there, but it’s high time we see better results to support that premise. 21-80.
  21. Rhys Hoskins, FA
  22. Brandon Drury, LAA 2B-92
  23. Josh Bell, MIA
  24. Jose Abreu, HOU
  25. Justin Turner, FA
  26. Anthony Rizzo, NYY
  27. Ryan Mountcastle, BAL
  28. Jeimer Candelario, CIN 3B-116
  29. Kyle Manzardo, CLE
  30. Luke Raley, TBR OF-65
  31. Ryan Noda, OAK
  32. DJ LeMahieu, NYY 3B-69
  33. Wilmer Flores, SFG 3B-22
  34. LaMonte Wade, SFG OF-22
  35. Alex Kirilloff, MIN OF-21
  36. Rowdy Tellez, PIT
  37. Ty France, SEA
  38. Jake Cronenworth, SDP 2B-35
  39. Carlos Santana, FA
  40. Elehuris Montero, COL
  41. Ryan O’Hearn, BAL OF-29
  42. C.J. Cron, FA
  43. Matt Mervis, CHC
  44. Nolan Schanauel, LAA
  45. Cavan Biggio, TOR 2B-49, OF-27
  46. Gabriel Arias, CLE SS-53
  47. Dominic Smith, FA
  48. Gavin Sheets, CWS OF-73-52
  49. Jake Bauers, MIL OF
  50. Sam Basallo, BAL
  51. Connor Joe, PIT OF-81
  52. Jon Singleton, HOU
  53. Joey Gallo, FA
  54. Brandon Belt, TOR
  55. Michael Toglia, COL
  56. Nick Pratto, KCR
  57. Joey Votto, FA
  58. Yuli Gurriel, FA