One of the questions I get most often, besides how you can sign up to get a subscription to The Athletic (wink, wink, nudge, nudge PROMOTION), is which site I prefer to play fantasy on the most. It’s a hard question to answer, believe it or not. I play in a ton of dynasty leagues, so for me, Fantrax is the easy answer. But if I’m looking for a redraft league, or a league that is most catered to low-stakes, I recommend Yahoo.
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While it does have its warts, it’s the most user-friendly platform out there, with the biggest issue being that they have two Shohei Ohtanis in 2023. Since I’ve run the gamut on all of the other platforms, it was only right to do a mock draft rundown for Yahoo, too. Or is it Yahoo!, too? Are we still getting excited every time we say it? It reminds me of “You’ve Got Mail” from back in the day, but maybe that’s just me.
Like with ESPN, I hopped in a random mock draft room on a Sunday afternoon, and to my surprise — and delight — it stayed full the entire time without any of the usual dropping out after the first round since that’s the round that is apparently so important.
The Format
This was a 12-team 5×5 head-to-head categories league, where rosters would be set each week. The draft was 23 rounds, and we start three outfielders, one utility, one catcher, no middle or corner infielders, and all pitchers are labeled as just pitchers — not SPs or RPs. You know this generation and how we don’t like labels.
Pre-Draft Approach
I always like to try new things with mock drafts, and I debated going with the RP-heavy approach here so that I could lock down saves, ERA, and WHIP each week while loading up on bats. I … I just couldn’t do it. Even in a pretend draft, there weren’t enough RPs to where I felt like I could execute the strategy as it would need to be done. Plus, given the smaller starting lineup, it would be too hard to guarantee an offense that would win four of the five categories each week given the number of quality bats available on the waiver wire.
It was a random order for this draft, and I’m guessing since I have a platinum badge on Yahoo, they rewarded me with the first pick.
Thanks, friends.
Draft Breakdown
For each round, I’ll go through my pick, with my thoughts, as well as offer up analysis on my favorite pick and least favorite pick of each round.
Throughout, I’ll be coming back to some interesting thoughts on where players went, approaches teams took, and how my strategy played out.
Round 1
My pick: Ronald Acuña
Yahoo assigned me the No. 1 spot, which is hard to complain about. It did mean, though, that I had to make a decision for once in my life and I couldn’t just depend on others to make it for me. My therapist would be proud of me. I’m going to tell him I took Acuña — my clear No. 1 player this year — first overall all by myself.
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Favorite pick: José Ramírez
J-Ram, to me, is a clear Top 5 pick, so landing him any later than that is a big win. Good job, Team 7.
Least favorite pick: Mike Trout
I like Trout, and his ability to have a big fantasy season even while battling injuries and his own team is possible — just look at last season. However, given the risk that comes with him, it’s hard to justify having him in the first round this season.
Round 2
My pick: Paul Goldschmidt
I wanted to try something a little bit different in this draft and mix in some players who I don’t have any shares of to see how I like my team. First base drops off early, and while I typically like to grab a José Abreu or Vinnie Pasquantino, I decided to go with the 2022 MVP instead.
Favorite pick: Yordan Alvarez
Remember when Trout went? Team 11 must have gotten his queue out of order, because he took Yordan in the second round instead of Trout. Fantastic value for the best hitter in baseball.
Least favorite pick: Shohei Ohtani (batter)
This is more a rallying cry against Yahoo having two different versions of Ohtani. They seem to be doubling down on it by not changing it yet. Let us have nice things, Yahoo!
Round 3
My pick: Austin Riley
A pitcher? Perhaps that would have been the smart call, but I hate what third base looks like late in the drafts. I’d gotten a lot of Riley this year, and pairing him with Acuña means tolerating Atlanta, I suppose.
Favorite pick: Corey Seager
Remember when we could get Seager in Round 5 in early drafts? Good times. Still, I have him at a second-round value, so I like the ability to grab him late in the third round.
Least favorite pick: Michael Harris II
I’m probably wrong here, but my approach is to typically fade Year 2 players coming off better-than-expected rookie campaigns. There’s limited return for investment on this pick.
Round 4
My pick: Zack Wheeler
It was time for a pitcher, and five arms went ahead of Wheeler here. I don’t love having Wheeler as my ace, but he’s someone I didn’t have a ton of exposure to. I debated going with Gausman, but I felt I could get him in Round 6.
Favorite pick: Nolan Arenado
With how shallow third is, I’m shocked that Arenado fell to Round 4. I’ve mainly seen him go in Round 3, so kudos to Team 10 getting him here.
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Least favorite pick: Shohei Ohtani (Pitcher)
You can read what I wrote about Shohei Ohtani (hitter) above. I feel like I’m John Wick with his dog when it comes to not having dual-eligibility for Ohtani on Yahoo. It’s personal.
Round 5
My pick: Cedric Mullins
I wanted another outfielder, and Mullins was the best player left on my board. I love the power-speed combo that he offers.
Favorite pick: Kevin Gausman
F—. So much for waiting on Gausman until Round 6. Team 6 made an enemy for life with this pick, and I hope he finishes last in every single league he’s in (but I’ll help you with any questions you have, Team 6.)
Least favorite pick: Corbin Carroll
It’s me, hi — I’m the problem, it’s me. Round 7 is the point where I’d be comfortable taking Carroll, which means I won’t have any exposure. He’s hit each level in the minor leagues well, and there’s no denying the upside. It’s just hard for me to invest that early in a rookie who isn’t a locked in can’t-miss guy.
Round 6
My pick: Ryan Helsley
I absolutely hate this pick, but I wanted to leave this draft with three closers who I felt comfortable with. There were three others who went before Helsley in this round, leaving me with the last of a tier. It’s fine, I guess.
Favorite pick: George Springer
He’s just the perfect H2H player. He’s leading off in a loaded lineup, and as long as he stays healthy (I know, I know…) he should provide five categories of value each week.
Least favorite pick: Salvador Perez
I’m just struggling with why Perez is the second catcher off the board, ahead of names like Daulton Varsho and Will Smith? Make it make sense.
Round 7
My pick: Triston McKenzie
Sticks was fantastic last year, and broke out despite the industry having some pause with him. I just think the nickname Sticks is fun, so on the fun meter, he’s a first-round pick.
Favorite pick: Camilo Doval
OK, Doval was really the end of my closer tier above, and I overlooked him when I took Helsley. Remind me not to draft during March Madness next year, OK? Looking to you to remind me, Steve G.
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Least favorite pick: Jose Miranda
No one loves Miranda (I’m more of a Charlotte guy) as much as I do (bonus point if you get this reference from The Office), and he was an obsession of mine last year. But even still, Round 7 seems awfully early for him. There’s limited room for him to return value here even if he makes improvements from 2022.
Round 8
My pick: Wander Franco
I’m taking Franco in every draft that I can, as he’s a boost in batting average and is still an all-time prospect. Let’s not call him better in real life than fantasy yet.
Favorite pick: Willy Adames
This is how you draft. Dansby Swanson, Gunnar Henderson, and Oneil Cruz all went ahead of Adames this round, and Team 2 was able to just grab the next one on his list in his tier. Chef’s kiss.
Least favorite pick: Luis Severino
So, this pick happened before the Severino injury, but I still had it marked as my least-favorite pick of the round. Severino gave me pause with the home runs he was giving up during spring, but also with his long injury history. I wish him the best and hope he can return to the mound soon.
Round 9
My pick: Logan Webb
We are being far too critical of Webb, who by all accounts had a good 2022, even if it wasn’t the follow-up to his breakout season that we had hoped. This is a fantastic price for a SP3 who is really a SP2.
Favorite pick: Nestor Cortes
Cortes still looks like Cortes this spring, sprinkling in different deliveries and ways to confuse the hitters within the rules. The Yankees absolutely need him to be the 2022 version of himself with the number of injuries they have already.
Least favorite pick: Jake McCarthy
I’m out on McCarthy, and I’m happy to be proven wrong. I tend to fade most out-of-nowhere players, and I’m willing to play the odds that this one works out for me, too.
Round 10
My pick: Alexis Díaz
I wanted another closer, so I decided to go with someone I have no exposure to. I’m hesitant because the Reds never commit to just one guy, but it seems like this time they really mean it. I’ll be wearing clown paint by the end of the season here.
Favorite pick: Joe Musgrove
He should be a Round 7 pick at least. He may miss one or two starts at most after the weight room incident, but the community has gone too far in the other direction. I should have taken him over Webb, to be honest.
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Least favorite pick: Jhoan Duran
I know that Eno Sarris says that Duran will probably be the closer this year because of Jorge López’s bad stuff+ numbers, but I just don’t see the Twins taking him out of the role he’s in. Eno is a lot smarter than me, but I bet that I could beat him in movie trivia. Eno 452, Mike 1.
Round 11
My pick: George Kirby
He’s an ace, and you don’t have to pay up for him like you have to for other aces. He’s so safe — especially for a young pitcher — and gives me major Aaron Nola and Shane Bieber vibes.
Favorite pick: Carlos Correa
He’s the most undervalued player in all of fantasy this year. He consistently goes late in drafts, and I’m always mad that I take a shortstop early in drafts when Correa is just begging to be drafted. It’s like the real-life offseason carried over into fantasy drafts.
Least favorite pick: Eric Haase
Team 6, man. If you are secretly related to Haase, please DM me. I’ll be in Detroit for SummerSlam this year and am curious if he can get me tickets to the Tigers game that weekend. I’m assuming you must know him somehow since you took him here.
Round 12
My pick: Jonathan India
It’s bounce-back szn, baby! We were drafting India way too early last season, and while he reminded me of Cavan Biggio heading into 2022 and I was fading him (this is called a subtle victory lap), I’m back in at the suppressed cost this season.
Favorite pick: Charlie Morton
I’ll forever stan Charlie Morton. Even if we think he’s going to retire every year, he’s the perfect pitcher to deliver good, quality innings.
Least favorite pick: Tyler Glasnow
My friend was drafting this weekend and asked me when he should take Glasnow. I told him to run and never look back like he was in the Lion King. You just can’t trust the health with Glasnow.
Round 13
My pick: Eugenio Suárez
This felt like a wasted pick, and I’m pretty mad at myself for making it. I should blame my partner for drafting him for me, but it was me. Even though 2022 was a bounce-back season from Suârez, it’s hard to trust that he’s truly back.
Favorite pick: Alejandro Kirk
I’ll see your Haase and raise you a Kirk. Well, I won’t, but Team 2 will. This is how you draft catchers.
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Least favorite pick: N/A
I like everyone in this round — even Rodón at the draft price. If I had to pick, he’d be the guy, but we all get a pass here.
Round 14
My pick: Scott Barlow
I wanted another closer, and I found him. Barlow is being pushed down too far in draft rooms, and it’s because of the Aroldis Chapman signing. I’d worry about that if it was 2018, but not 2023.
Favorite pick: Jordan Montgomery
I was tweeting about Montgomery the other day in my daily spring training takeaway threads, and someone said that Montgomery and Jeffrey Springs would win a lot of people leagues this year. I agree with that. Imagine if the Yankees could trade for him. Call Brian Cashman and see if he’s heard of the dude.
Least favorite pick: Nico ho*rner
I like Nico. I drafted him early in a FYPD league back in the day. While he’s a good real-life player, he doesn’t do much to move the needle for me in fantasy.
Round 15
My pick: Jordan Walker
Let’s go, Jordan Walker. I know I wanted some players who would mix up my team, but I’ll continue to draft Walker here at the draft cost. If he goes higher than Round 12, I’m out.
Favorite pick: Lars Nootbaar
Everyone loves Nootbaar, and though he’s not a sleeper anymore, I’m OK with him going at this spot in this format.
Least favorite pick: Whit Merrifield
He’s attempted five steals this spring and has been thrown out three times. Not saying it means anything, but I’m also not saying it doesn’t.
Round 16
My pick: Masataka Yoshida
Another draft, another share of Yoshida. The plate approach, the power, the playing time… Everything is there for Yoshida, and he’ll be adding Rookie of the Year to his name by the end of the season, too.
Favorite pick: Grayson Rodriguez
Fantastic pick here on Rodriguez, who I have many, many shares of. I’m not worried about the inning limits for him, and if you build your staff the right way, you can help balance out any risk associated with a young arm.
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Least favorite pick: Evan Phillips
He’s not going to close, so I don’t know why you’d take him here.
Round 17
My pick: Alex Cobb
I think I did it again. I have another share of Cobb, and I jumped ADP on him. He’s my most-rostered player this season, and if he has a bad season, it’s likely that my teams will be really bad and you won’t see or hear from me much this year.
Favorite pick: Andrew Heaney
Despite the velo looking great and people hyping him up this spring, he went later than I expected him to go. Fantastic value for the wide-awake sleeper.
Least favorite pick: Cal Raleigh
If we were grading on nicknames alone, Big Dumper would be up there with Sticks (we call that a callback in the business) as a Round 1 pick. But since we aren’t, I’m grading this a D (for Dumper, of course) since it’s a one-catcher league. It’s fine, truly. I just wanted to write Dumper.
Round 18
My pick: Tyler Mahle
We all loved Mahle coming into 2022. It was a relationship that was far from Pitch Perfect (we did it!) but it was because of his injury after he went to Minnesota. He’s seemingly healthy, hitting 94mph in spring. Sign me up for the discount.
Favorite pick: Kodai Senga
I don’t know why he’s falling so far in drafts. I wouldn’t be shocked with a Rookie of the Year season and him getting some Cy Young votes. I’m all in on Kodai.
Least favorite pick: Cody Bellinger
Last year, I can understand drafting Bellinger because of his name and his accolades. It’s hard in 2023 with such shallow rosters.
Round 19
My pick: Reid Detmers
Detmers is another wide-awake sleeper given his strong spring training velocity, so it’s kind of surprising that he fell to Round 19. It’s the first share I have of him as he’s someone who never really did anything for me prior.
Favorite pick: Riley Greene
I think Greene will be a better real-life player than fantasy, but he’s really hitting the ball hard in spring.
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Least favorite pick: Vaughn Grissom
This kills me. It’s like when Nate turned evil in Ted Lasso and joined West Ham United. But instead of Grissom being to blame, it’s the Atlanta brass who wants to have more depth instead of starting their best players, I guess? It pains me, truly.
Round 20
My pick: Danny Jansen
I needed a catcher. Jansen is a Blue Jay. Toronto got rid of a catcher. wvrst is a great place to visit in Toronto. Scream 6 is better than Scream 2, 3, and 5. Sorry, I thought we were just naming things at this point.
Favorite pick: Michael Conforto
Conforto, Austin Meadows, and Jesse Winker are three players I’ve been targeting late in drafts in hopes of recapturing past glory.
Least favorite pick: Justin Turner
It’s fine at the draft cost, but I’m hesitant that he can stay healthy. This is why I like to grab my third baseman early.
Round 21
My pick: Nathan Eovaldi
This feels gross. I usually avoid Eovaldi, but I decided to grab him for the first time … ever? When he’s healthy, he’s good, and in Texas, he may be a bit underrated. We just need the health to stick.
Favorite pick: Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
I can see a path to Gurriel recapturing the power that he had in Toronto, at least 20-plus. What I really like is the safe batting average (.280-plus) that you can get from him this late.
Least favorite pick: Mitch Garver
I’m not sure how often he’s going to play, and outside of a two-catcher league, he shouldn’t be rostered.
Round 22
My pick: Anthony Volpe
It’s becoming more and more clear that Volpe should make the Yankees’ opening day roster, and if he doesn’t, he will be on the team very, very soon. I question the overall fantasy skill set, but he’s looked fantastic against actual pitching.
Favorite pick: Triston Casas
The hand looks healthy, and Casas does, too. I don’t see a ton of risk in his profile, which will be a nice change of pace from the Bobby Dalbec years.
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Least favorite pick: Jake Fraley
I do like Fraley, and he went from being a sleeper for me to someone I’m avoiding just given the different outfielders who are competing for playing time in Cincy.
Round 23
My pick: Trevor Rogers
The last three starts of the second half were big for Rogers last season, and a strong start to spring training had me excited about my final pick. But the velocity has been down over his final two spring starts, and I don’t know what is up or down anymore.
Favorite pick: Yandy Díaz
He just hits the ball so damn hard. But he can’t lift it. We keep wanting to take him in hopes he can, but maybe he’ll still provide solid value this year with the elimination of shifts.
Least favorite pick: Brendan Rodgers
OK, so maybe this manager gave up at the end.
My team
Overall thoughts
The folks at Yahoo gave me a C+, and that might be fair. There are players I drafted who I don’t love (Eovaldi, Detmers, Díaz, Helsley) and don’t often draft (Goldschmidt, Wheeler, Suárez), so I had a feeling I wouldn’t like my team once I finished it. I think it could work, but I took on a lot of risk.
I think it’s important to diversify your fantasy portfolio, though, so I tried that here. I may have done it a little too much, and I’d probably need to work the waiver wire and trade blocks to finish higher than seventh in the league.
(Top photo: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)
