ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- One can make ample case the Washington Nationals boast one of the top sets of starting outfielders in the major leagues, but to secure each one of its members in one shallow fantasy league could be viewed as taking things too far. Alas, precocious superstar Juan Soto headlines my latest squad in one of the top fantasy baseball leagues in the industry, and is complemented by his teammates Victor Robles and Adam Eaton as well as other Nationals. This is the competitive National League-only League of Alternative Baseball Reality (LABR), and other than nearly a quarter of the players being from the World Series champions, it looks like one of my normal teams.
I hardly set out to corner the market on Nationals, but as always, in a 12-team, NL-only format auction with other industry analysts, strategies and desires change without warning. The goal remains the same, to construct a roster puzzle fulfilling statistical needs within a $260 budget, seeking value and balance. In that sense, it is hard to see anything inherently wrong with rostering Soto, Robles and Eaton on one team. It is not as if I secured the San Francisco Giants' outfield. These three Nationals figure to hit in the top four spots in a solid lineup, and collectively produce in all five standard hitting categories.
Soto is among the top young talents in the sport, a first-round choice in most drafts, a key offensive anchor. I tend to ignore the most expensive auction options in NL- or American League-only formats -- unlike in shallow mixed with ample free-agent choices during the season -- but could not resist the final price on Soto, securing him at $37. For perspective, it was $2 cheaper than Mookie Betts cost, $4 cheaper than Cody Bellinger and Christian Yelich, and $5 cheaper than Ronald Acuna Jr. Stars cost big money in auctions, and Soto could still improve across the board, notably in batting average and stolen bases.
Meanwhile, Robles projects to lead off, pushing coveted shortstop Trea Turner -- he went for $40 -- to the No. 3 lineup spot, and there is a compelling case that either could lead the team and the league in stolen bases. The Robles price definitely hit the limit I was comfortable with at $26 -- or $2 cheaper than what Jonathan Villar cost -- but check out the scarce pool of top stolen base options and ignore at your own risk. Eaton is a steady, underrated, double-digit provider in home runs and steals, while hitting for average and scoring runs. Adding any one of these Nationals outfielder for these prices is sensible, and since this is not a head-to-head league -- and not fantasy football -- I argue there is little risk in rostering them as a unit.
Of course, as you will see from notes about my team, I did not stop there when it came to securing Nationals.
Catchers: In ESPN standard leagues there is only one catcher spot, and as a result, waiting until the very end to fill the spot is wise. In a 12-team, NL-only, the strategy is different. J.T. Realmuto is the best and I thought his price was fair for a durable, five-category provider. Manny Pina is the other catcher because someone outbid me for Victor Caratini. Yeah, it got rather ugly.
Infield: I am not overly enamored or confident with Josh Bell, but this was about timing and his reasonable $24 price. A few minutes later, Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins cost $4 more. Arizona's Christian Walker cost a mere dollar less. First base in the NL in a bit top-heavy, actually. Meanwhile, Eric Thames is a smart corner option coming off a 25-homer season. I allotted roughly $8-10 for one of Thames, Justin Smoak, Brandon Belt and Jesus Aguilar, and Thames came first. Those who risk waiting for a better bargain price could end up spending more, which happened with Hoskins.
The Dodgers' Max Muncy might not jump out to fantasy managers, but Trevor Story -- who cost $12 more -- is the only other big league middle infielder coming off consecutive 35-homer campaigns. Muncy also appeals for positional versatility, eligible at three infield spots. I hardly set out to find players who can do this, but it helps during a season in a league with scarce free-agent choices. Asdrubal Cabrera and David Bote offer dual eligibility. They are hardly special fantasy assets, but they should play frequently, and last season they combined for 29 home runs. Nick Ahmed also offers power, but as my lone shortstop -- including reserve -- I need health here.
Outfield: The three Nationals aside, the prices drew me to Andrew McCutchen and Harrison Bader. The former figures to start the season on the injured list, but that created the buying opportunity. OK, so McCutchen might fall short of 140 games and 600 plate appearances, but he maintains modest power and scored 45 runs in 59 games last season. I would have spent more. Bader struggled in 2019, but still reached double digits in home runs and steals. Dominic Smith is currently in the utility spot but can play first base or outfield, and I can activate useful reserves Brock Holt or Michael A. Taylor -- yeah, I could not resist yet another Nationals outfielder -- for the active McCutchen spot.
In this league, reserves are eligible for active lineup maneuvering, but there is no traditional bench for active players unless they are on the IL or demoted to the minor leagues. There could be 100 home runs and 100 stolen bases in this valuable fantasy outfield, and obviously, if one of the starting Nationals gets hurt, Taylor figures to fill in and he can certainly steal bases.
Starting pitchers: For years I ignored Clayton Kershaw in this league because of the durability factor, but I probably underrated his impact on ERA and WHIP and at $24, I could not resist. Kershaw remains a top-10 mixed-league fantasy pitcher, even with fewer innings than other top choices, his strikeout rate remains excellent, and while we do not draft for wins per se, he does pitch for a 100-win club. It is wise to secure an anchor starter or two, and Kershaw, at $10 cheaper than Max Scherzer and Walker Buehler, fits. By the way, Kershaw topped each on the 2019 ESPN Player Rater.
As for the other starters, Robbie Ray might not contribute to a great team ERA or WHIP, but he sure strikes hitters out. Analysts disagree on whether Sandy Alcantara offers considerable ceiling, but I was willing to spend the extra dollar at that time to find out. I went the extra dollar on Phillies prospect Spencer Howard as well, mainly for the upside. Perhaps he gets a half a season of big league starts. Washington right-hander Austin Voth -- yep, again -- thrived last September and figures to get a chance to start as well. I was willing to spend only a dollar on Zach Davies, who offers little upside or strikeout potential, but can fake it in San Diego. Jordan Yamamoto should take Howard's place on the initial active roster, and I can choose if and when to activate Cal Quantrill, Kyle Freeland -- great in 2018, worth the risk -- and Tyler Anderson.
Relief pitchers: This is not an ideal crew, but at least the financial risk is small. For myriad years in this league, closers I spent more than $10 on succumbed to major injury and contributed little statistically. Last season, the culprit was David Robertson. I could not justify the prices for Hector Neris ($19!), Edwin Diaz and even Archie Bradley. I like Scott Oberg, as he has overcome pitching in Coors Field, and he is better than richer Wade Davis. Opportunity should come. San Francisco needs a closer, and lefty Tony Watson offers experience. Even if Oberg and Watson falter, trading for and/or adding saves in this league is generally not difficult. As for the Mets' Seth Lugo, he is terrific, and I welcome good innings, even sans saves.