Fantasy Baseball: Tiered Second Base Rankings for 2016

You've been there before. The second baseman you were targeting in the 5th round goes off the board, and you are scrambling for one who could put up similar or better stats this season. You are looking at the names and no one jumps out at you. No one.

So, you grab your first starting pitcher instead and forget about the position as you are building your rotation and infield. Unlike catcher and first base, second base is particularly deep this season. Deeper than most seasons, and there are a few guys that you can draft in the later rounds of drafts, like Jonathan Schoop and Javier Baez, who could put up Top 10 quality production for you if all things go well for them in 2016.

But, you also need to draft a second baseman you know is going to get his at bats this season, with little room for error. This is where tiered position rankings can help you on draft day. I usually have an idea of which cluster of second baseman I want to target in case my main target is drafted before I am ready to pick him. I don't write them down, I just have them in what is left of my brain.

But the distractions that can occur during a draft is reason enough to use tiered rankings. You've attended an in-person draft. The beers are flowing, the games are on, and you are thinking about whether to have that third slice of pizza or moving back to the chips and having another beer. Owners are yelling at the one guy who is taking 5 minutes to make his next pick. You are thinking to yourself "did this guy not prepare for the draft like I did?" You need tiered rankings to keep you focused. Or, if you lose focus, something to use when it is your turn to make a pick.

Quick Thoughts

• Like I said above, the second base position is pretty deep this season, and I think if I don't get a top second baseman in the first 4-5 rounds, I am perfectly happy drafting someone like Neil Walker, Brandon Phillips or even Javier Baez.
• Baez certainly comes with risk, as he doesn't have a starting role in the Cubs lineup.....right now. But, that could change in Spring Training. Actually, he could be the Cubs regular center fielder if the position switch in Winter Ball goes well and continues in the spring. He has the bat to put up a 20-20 season in 2016.
• After I researched the stolen base category this offseason, with stolen bases down. I am perfectly fine drafting Jose Altuve or Dee Gordon in the second round of drafts. They offer enough production to go along with the 40-50 steals to be drafted that high.
• I like Twins second baseman Brian Dozier quite a bit as well. He offers the solid power-speed package that we all want on draft day, and he scores a ton of runs too.
• One second baseman who could actually LOSE playing time in 2016 is Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong. The Cardinals struggled to hit for power in 2015, and made a trade with the Padres for Jedd Gyorko. I can see Gyorko getting 300+ at bats in the Cardinals line up this season, playing some second base, shortstop and third base.
• Neil Walker and Daniel Murphy are two other guys I wouldn't mind manning second base on my roster this season. I drafted Walker in the Fake Teams Mock Draft that is going on right now.

Tiered Second Base Rankings for 2016

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