BDB Pre-Drop Predictions – Brought to you by your friends at WAR

Well – with Christmas 2023 gone, the next big BDB date is January 31st, 2024 for the final 25 Roster Cuts.

As BDB owners try to make sense of the new MLB landscape, and how to ready their teams for the new season of battle – The Commish’s office has put together a “Lay of the Land” for every team, divided by their divisions, to see how they each match up against each other for the new season.

Will Sacramento remain on top?  Will Beaconsfield hold off Bristol?  Can Langley remain in control now that the Trappers seem to be armed and ready to push them out of the top spot?

This is how things are shaping up in BDB.  The numbers used here, were from all teams top 25 players, constructing a lineup using their top 13 hitters – irrespective of playing position, the top six starters and the top six relievers.  F/WAR is used for simplicity and for considering all aspects of defense and offense.  Players listed under individual teams are their above BDB average players.  Please note, that this isn’t divided by position.

WAR Averages for all BDB Players:    

  • Starting Nine:  3.7 WAR
  • All Hitters:  2.7
  • Starting Pitchers:  2.7
  • Relievers: .9

The Robinson Division

Bristol – 77.4 WAR

  • Hitters:  49.8 – Ohtani, W. Contreras, J. Ramirez, Alvarez, Bogearts and Tatis. 
  • Starters:  21.7 – Wheeler, Cole, Lopez
  • Relievers:  5.9 – D. Williams, Clase, Martin

Beaconsfield – 64.3 WAR

  • Hitters: 40.8 – Freeman, Seager, Judge, Yelich
  • Starters:  18.7 – Gausman, Kelly, Mikolas
  • Relievers:  4.8 – King, Phillips, Narlow

Ottawa – 53.3 WAR

  • Hitters:  32.3 – Albies, Turner, Goldschmidt
  • Starters: 18.1 – Gallen, Valdez, Morton
  • Relievers:  2.9 – Soto

Montreal – 50 WAR

  • Hitters: 28.6 – Crawford, Henderson, Stott
  • Starters:  17.9 – Kirby, Keller, Gilbert, Berrios
  • Relievers: 3.6 – Kimbrel, Stephan

The Jenkins Division

North Bay – 79.5 WAR

  • Hitters:  52.1 – Olson, Semien, Carroll, Robert, Franco, Heim, Bellinger, Bichette
  • Starters: 23.4 – Strider, Steele, Webb, Luzardo, Stroman
  • Relievers: 4 – Doval, Jax

Langley – 63.2 WAR

  • Hitters: 37.6 – Soto, Tucker, Smith, Outman, Altuve
  • Starters:  16.4 – Burnes, Verlander, Alcantara
  • Relivers: 9.2 – Bednar, Hader, Holmes, Minter, Robertson, Pressly

Madawaska – 60.8 WAR

  • Hitters: 40.3 – Raleigh, Kim, Nimmo, Marte, Walker, McCormick
  • Starters: 11.8 – Montgomery
  • Relievers: 8.7 – Bautista, Brash, Ferguson Romano, Pivetta

Hamilton – 46.7 WAR

  • Hitters: 32.7 – J. Lowe
  • Starters: 10.7 – Castillo
  • Relievers: 3.3 – Munoz, Jansen

Walker Division

Sacramento (Defending Champion):  69.4

  • Hitters:  47.9 – Betts, Lindor, Swanson, Diaz, Bregman, Murphy, Harris II
  • Starters: 15.9 – Gray, Nola
  • Relievers: 5.6 – Abreu, Graterol, Alvarado, Swanson

Yorkshire:  55.6

  • Hitters: 42.8 – Acuna, Riley, Rutschman, Hoener, Estrada
  • Starters: 6.7 – NADA
  • Relievers: 6.1 – Fairbanks, Mayza, Hentges, Duran, Sewald

Stittsville:  52.2

  • Hitters: 33.9 – Julio, Garcia, Friedl
  • Starters: 13.8 – Elfin
  • Relievers: 4.5 – Helsley. Iglesias, Puk

Nassau:  47.9

  • Hitters:  Witt Jr, Paredes
  • Starters:  Snell, Skubal, Glasnow, Peralta, Garrett
  • Relivers:  Diaz, LeClerc

HELP from the Free Agent found in the Draft

Unlike the Draft Class of 2023 – the 2024 does not look as deep.

Hitters who can step into a starting role that have a WAR above 3.7:  ZERO

Hitters with WAR who have a WAR of 2.7 who can step into a team off the bench:  Ozuna, McLain, Suarez, Gelof, Bailey, Julian Suwinski, and Thomas.

FA Pitchers who can step into a rotation with a WAR of 2.7 or greater:  Bradish (3.7), Senga (3.4), Bibee (3), E. Rodgriguez (3), Lugo (2.8), and Miller (2.8).