Which #4 Pick?

[Barnie]

Okay, so we are adding a max of 3 AL players to our NL "only" league this year. I pick 4th, 12th and 21st. My IF is pretty well set, except for 3B. OF and SP need a little help to say the least, but can put any hitter at the U spot. Assuming Trout and Miggy go 1-2, who do I target for that 4th pick? Note: 5X5 OBP instead of AVE and projected OBPs shown behind player's names.

Fielder .404
Jose Bautista .387
Pujols .379
Longoria .371
Cano .353
Verlander

C
C
1-1B Votto
2-2B Aaron Hill
3-SS Tulo
3B
4-CI Ike Davis
5-MI Josh Rutledge
UT
6-OF Allen Craig
7-OF Dexter Fowler
8-OF Michael Cuddyer
OF
OF

9-SP Trevor Cahill
SP
SP
SP
10-RP Sergio Romo
11-RP Steve Cishek
12-RP Kenley Jansen

1-Minors Oscar Tavares
2-Minors Carlos Martinez (StL P)
3-Minors Brett Jackson
or
3-Minors Matt Adams

[JudeBaldo]

Verlander. Your pitching needs help.

[joncarlos]

Yeah I think I'd go Verlander too. I like Cano but you really don't need him, and you won't get an ace at #12.

[JudeBaldo]

Yeah I think I'd go Verlander too. I like Cano but you really don't need him, and you won't get an ace at #12.

Unless of course he loads up on hitting and buys an ace. Is that possible Barnie?

[cool hand]

Yeah I think I'd go Verlander too. I like Cano but you really don't need him, and you won't get an ace at #12.

i'd take the stick - either cano or fielder - and grab one of felix/price/weaver at 12.

[Stephen]

i'd take the stick - either cano or fielder - and grab one of felix/price/weaver at 12.

I actually like Scherzer more than Weaver this year, but that's a toss up.

Given your current roster structure, I'd probably target the following if I were you giving you options of both pitcher and hitter I could see available at that pick.

4 Verlander/Pujols
12 Carlos Santana/Price
21 Scherzer/Cespedes/Zobrist

[Barnie]

JB, yes that's possible as our league usually favors hitters over pitchers. I always hesitate taking an arm over a stick with the high picks, but my starting pitching is weak. Also, probably the top 20+ NL pitchers will be kept by other teams before the draft. Still...leaning toward something like this. Thanks for your advice.

4th Prince/Pujols for UT
12th Price/Felix
21st Carlos Santana/Cespedes

Unless of course he loads up on hitting and buys an ace. Is that possible Barnie?

[Gregg]

Verlander for me.

Then one of Price/Felix/Weaver at 12.

You would have a crazy good staff.

[revo]

I'd go with Fielder/Cano/Pujols and then at #12 take one of Price/Felix/Weaver/Sabathia/Sale/Darvish. You may be able to get a 2nd from that group at 21 also.

[Gregg]

Verlander for me.

Then one of Price/Felix/Weaver at 12.

You would have a crazy good staff.

If the top 20 NL pitchers are kept I think this strengthens my post above. It would seem to me that you will fall too far out of the pitching stats to compete. Your offense is nice and you will still be able to pick up a good stick with #21.

Zag when others Sig.

Either way best of luck.

[B-Fly]

I say just grab Verlander and enjoy. (If you had an open 2B or MI slot, I'd go with Cano.)

[Barnie]

Updated to reflect trade

I just traded Rutledge and Romo for Samardzjia and Todd Frazier. I think the players' value is pretty close, though I like both my guy's upside more. This gives me a decent 3B (I hope), a second quality SP, and frees up a MI slot for Cano if he falls to me which would keep my UT spot open for a later pick.

4th Cano/Prince for 2B/UT
12th Price/Felix/best AL SP available
21st Carlos Santana/Cespedes/best AL hitter available for UT spot if I get Cano.

Plus I won't feel so bad about not taking Verlander.

Plus, plus, with Samardzija, I am now keeping Matt Adams over Brett Jackson for my 3rd minor leaguer, so I don't have to go Cubless into the draft. :encouragement:

I say just grab Verlander and enjoy. (If you had an open 2B or MI slot, I'd go with Cano.)

Thanks for all you input. I am trying to chime in with advice when I can, but the AL, salaries, contracts, extensions and auctions are so foreign to me, I don't feel like my responses would add much.