April 23, 2020

First overall: Washington Nationals

Original pick: Bryce Harper

Re-Draft pick: Christian Yelich (23)

Although Bryce Harper was the face of the Washington Nationals franchise from 2012-2018, he was a living rollercoaster. Harper has been extremely inconsistent throughout his career which is evident when viewing the range of his best/worst WAR seasons. In 2015, Harper had a 9.3 WAR (153 games) but the following season had only a 2.9 WAR (147 games). Over the past couple of seasons, Christian Yelich has proven to be better than Harper and the rest of the 2010 MLB Draft class. Since 2018, Yelich has put up significantly better offensive and defensive stats compared to Harper:

Christian Yelich: .415 SLG, .631 SLG, 1.046 OPS, .431 wOBA, 170 wRC+, 15.4 WAR, -1 DRS, 1.5 UZR, 0 OAA.

Bryce Harper: .383 SLG, .505 SLG, .888 OPS, .371 wOBA, 130 wRC+, 8.0 WAR, -14 DRS, -4.4 UZR, -12 OAA.

The numbers speak for themselves, Yelich has proven to be much better than Harper over the past couple of season and he’s been consistently good (if not great) throughout his career unlike Harper.

Second overall: Pittsburgh Pirates

Original pick: Jameson Taillon

Re-Draft pick: Jacob deGrom (272)

While Jameson Taillon has been solid throughout his career (so far), he isn’t an elite starter. Unfortunately, Taillon is also injury prone. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2014, he is currently recovering from Tommy John surgery he had in August of 2019, and has only thrown more than 150 innings in a season once. Not only has Jacob deGrom proven to be the best pitcher from the 2010 draft class, he also makes a strong case for being the best pitcher in all of baseball. Throughout six seasons in the major leagues (1,101.2 innings), deGrom has a 2.62 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 2.78 FIP, 3.20 SIERA, 10.25 K/9, 2.17 BB/9. These are elite numbers. In addition to his great stats, deGrom has been recognized as an elite pitcher by winning 2014 NL Rookie of the Year, being named to three All Star teams (2015, 2018, 2019), and winning two NL Cy Young Awards (2018 & 2019).

Third overall: Baltimore Orioles

Original pick: Manny Machado

Re-Draft pick: Bryce Harper (1)

Similar to how Bryce Harper was the Nationals franchise player from 2012-2018, Machado was the Orioles franchise player from 2012 up until he was traded at the 2018 trade deadline. Although Machado has been very durable throughout his career, Harper has had a better career. Harper has a higher OBP by 50 points, SLG by 29 points, OPS by 79 points, wOBA by 32 points, wRC+ by 20 points, and WAR by 1.9 points. Although Harper is a much better offensive player, Machado is definitely the better defender. The Orioles would take Harper over Machado in this Re-Draft because he has proven more throughout his career than Machado has.

Fourth overall: Kansas City Royals

Original pick: Christian Colon

Re-Draft pick: Chris Sale (13)

Christian Colon was the first of multiple busts taken within the top 10 picks of the 2010 Draft. Although he showed promise during the 2014 season (21 major league games), Colon has struggled at the plate throughout his career. In 150 major league games, Colon has batted a dismal .321 OBP, .318 SLG, .640 OPS, .287 wOBA, and 76 wRC+. Although he is a terrible hitter, Colon plays serviceable defense and is a good pinch runner. Currently, Colon is in the Cincinnati Reds organization. Chris Sale has had an opposite career to Christian Colon in terms of production at the major league level. Since debuting in 2010, Sale has a career 3.03 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 2.90 FIP, 2.81 SIERA, 11.08 K/9, and 2.07 BB/9. The only thing holding Chris Sale back right now is injuries. Sale has a notoriously “weird” throwing motion but hadn’t faced many injury problems until the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Unfortunately, Sale underwent Tommy John surgery in March and will miss the 2020 season (assuming there is one).

Fifth overall: Cleveland Indians

Original pick: Drew Pomeranz

Re-Draft pick: Manny Machado (3)

Drew Pomeranz isn’t necessarily a bust but looking back, he definitely didn’t deserve to be a top five pick. Pomeranz has had a decent career so far, even making the 2016 All Star team. So far into his career, Pomeranz has a 4.04 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 4.20 FIP, 4.15 SIERA, 9.11 K/9, and 3.86 BB/9. He has solid numbers, but definitely not worthy of being the fifth overall pick. Manny Machado is the most talented player available and the Indians are essentially getting a steal. Machado has proven to be a solid hitter and an elite defender at one of the most important defensive positions in the games. Throughout his career, Machado has averaged a .335 OBP, .483 SLG, .818 OPS, .347 wOBA, 118 wRC+ at the plate; has accumulated a total 74 DRS, 46.2 UZR, -2 OAA (only 2017-2019 because it’s a new stat) in the field; and has a total of WAR of 33.2.

Sixth overall: Arizona Diamondbacks

Original pick: Barret Loux

Re-Draft pick: Yasmani Grandal (12)

Unfortunately for the Diamondbacks, Barret Loux was a bust. After surprising many by taking Loux sixth overall (he was a projected to be drafted at the end of the first round), the Diamondbacks never even signed him. The Diamondbacks and Loux agreed to a pre-draft $2 million signing bonus but when Loux failed his physical, the Diamondbacks never offered him a contract and instead took a compensation pick in the beginning of the 2011 draft. Loux played in the Rangers organization, Cubs organization, and in an Independent League but never made it the majors and hasn’t played professionally since 2016. Yasmani Grandal has had a great major league career so far and is one of, if not the best catcher in baseball. While people may argue J.T. Realmuto is better, most stats are in favor of Grandal:

Yasmani Grandal career stats (879 games): .348 OBP, .446 SLG, .794 OPS, .361 wOBA, 118 wRC+, 70 DRS, 134.1 FRM, 32.6 WAR (offensive stats are a yearly average, defensive stats are career total)

J.T. Realmuto career stats (685 games): .327 OBP, .452 SLG, .779 OPS, .332 wOBA, 108 wRC+, -3 DRS, -17.1 FRM, 17.2 WAR (offensive stats are a yearly average, defensive stats are career total)

You can also see a stat comparison between Grandal and Realmuto from just the 2018-2019 season on @mlbzone_ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/p/B9nH62DFSRc/) from March 11, 2020.

Seventh overall: New York Mets

Original pick: Matt Harvey

Re-Draft pick: Noah Syndergaard (38)

Even though Matt Harvey at one point was one of the best pitchers in all of baseball, injuries have held him back. Harvey originally debuted at the end of the 2012 season but became a star during 2013. Harvey was named a 2013 All Star but unfortunately missed the entire 2014 season due to Tommy John surgery. In 2015, Harvey returned to peak form as he was the ace of the Mets (who made it to the World Series) and won 2015 Comeback Player of the Year. Ever since the 2015 season, Harvey was never the same. He has delt with injuries and hasn’t been able to pitch anywhere close to how he did in 2013 or 2015. Coincidently, Noah Syndergaard was a teammate of Matt Harvey. Although he was drafted by the Blue Jays, Syndergaard was traded to the Mets in the R.A. Dickey blockbuster trade. Ever since debuting for the Mets, Syndergaard has been one of the Mets’ best pitchers and has proven to be a quality starter (when healthy). Throughout his career (716.0 innings), Syndergaard has a 3.31 ERA, .1.16 WHIP, 2.92 FIP, 3.37 SIERA, 9.74 K/9, 2.09 BB/9. The one set back Syndergaard has had in his career are injuries. Syndergaard missed most of the 2017 season due to a torn lat muscle and is expected to miss the entire 2020 season (if there is one) after having Tommy John surgery.

Eighth overall: Houston Astros

Original pick: Delino DeShields Jr

Re-Draft pick: J.T. Realmuto (104)

Delino DeShields Jr has been a solid depth player throughout his career but he definitely wasn’t worth being a top 10 draft selection. DeShields ended up in the Texas Rangers organization via the Rule 5 draft and had been part of the Rangers organization until he was traded to the Indians this past winter. In his five total MLB seasons (539 games), DeShields has only been able to accumulate a 4.8 WAR. J.T. Realmuto has been much more successful in his major league tenure. Realmuto is a 2x All Star (2018, 2019), 2x Silver Slugger (2018, 2019) and 1x Gold Glove winner (2019). Over the past few years, one of the Astros’ biggest needs has (and still is) a catcher. Had they drafted Realmuto, the Astros would’ve had an even stronger lineup compared to the powerhouse they have now.

Ninth overall: San Diego Padres

Original pick: Karsten Whitson

Re-Draft pick: Adam Eaton (571)

After being drafted ninth overall, Karsten Whiston decided to attend college instead of signing with the Padres. Unfortunately for Whitson, he was again projected to be a high selection in the 2013 MLB Draft but he had shoulder surgery and was selected in the 37th round. A year later, he was selected in the 11th round and played one season of class A short season. Whitson hasn’t appeared in another minor league game and is now an assistant coach for South Florida (NCAA). Throughout his career, Adam Eaton has been one of baseball’s most underrated outfielders. Eaton has averaged a .363 OBP, .428 SLG, .781 OPS, .342 wOBA, 114 wRC+ accumulated a total 6 DRS, 5.8 UZR, 14 OAA (only 2017-2019 because it’s a new stat), and has a career 19.3 WAR.

Tenth overall: Oakland Athletics

Original pick: Michael Choice

Re-Draft pick: Nick Castellanos (44)

Michael Choice was a bust. Choice made his debut as a September call up back in 2013 but didn’t show much potential. Choice was traded to the Rangers in the 2013 offseason and appeared in 86 Major League games in the 2014 season. Since 2014, Choice has only played in one major league game and has bounced around the Minor Leagues, the KBO, and the Mexican League. Nick Castellanos has become an explosive offensive player since 2016. From 2016-2019, Castellanos has averaged a .336 OBP, .504 SLG, .840 OPS, .353 wOBA, 121 wRC+ and accumulated a 9.7 WAR over those four season. Although he is explosive offensively, he’s not a very good defender. In his career, Castellanos has a -35 DRS in the outfield, -38 DRS at third base, -26.2 UZR in the outfield, -25.8 UZR at third base, and a -45 OAA (only 2017-2019 because it’s a new stat). Luckily, the A’s are an American League and would have the option to make Castellanos the DH.

Re-Draft Board

Featured image via camdenchat.com

Home- The Diamondbacks made some changes to their jerseys going into 2020. Most notably removing the pattern on the shoulders which in my opinion made the jersey a lot simpler and just look better. The “Dbacks” text across the chest was done in a really good font and I really like the simplicity of it. I wish they would incorporate a bit more red because when I think of the Dbacks. We haven’t gotten to see these jerseys in action yet but when the season resumes it will be cool to see the Dbacks in something pretty new. The patch on the shoulder uses a great logo and I really like the use of patches on most jerseys.

Grade: B

Road- This jersey changed more than the home did and in my opinion, this was a very good change. They go back to a lighter grey after a couple of dark grey road jerseys which I didn’t like all that much. Like the other jerseys, the Dbacks removed the pattern from the shoulder which makes the jersey look a lot simpler. Like the home jersey, I wish they’d use red more. I will say the jersey is pretty boring and if I were to buy I Dbacks jersey it wouldn’t be this one. But most road jerseys aren’t that exciting and it is an improvement from what they had so I’ll give it a pass.

Grade: C

Sedona Red Alternate- This jersey I absolutely love, it has everything I’d want in a Dbacks jersey. It uses the Sedona red color that I think of when I think of the Dbacks. The jersey also uses the great secondary logo with the rattlesnake which I like when they use. The collar pops in the right way. The text pops just right and the outline of the text and numbers makes it look so good. This jersey looked good with the rattlesnake pattern on the shoulders but by removing it and changing the hat it takes the jersey to the next level.

Grade: A

Home Teal- This is one of the other jerseys that benefited from the small redesign this offseason. The teal is a color that looks great on the jerseys and it pops. While the old jersey didn’t include the rattlesnake pattern but it didn’t use the teal as heavily and used the normal hat. The updated teal uses teal in the number and to outline the “Dbacks” text. Red is also use in that outline and that helps the text pop. I can already see Ketel Marte making some great plays and hitting bombs in this jersey.

Grade: A-

Black Alternate- This jersey I’m not as high on as the others I’ve already talked about. The jersey isn’t horrible it just isn’t on the name level as the others so far. To me, the jersey seems more like a spring training jersey or batting practice jersey. The Nike logo doesn’t really help the jersey either because of it being on the opposite side of the Dbacks logo. This jersey may grow on me after I’ve seen it in a couple of games.

Grade: C-

Los Dbacks- This jersey is pretty good, I really like the front saying different instead of “Dbacks” or “Arizona” so it already gets points from me and it also uses the teal which helps the jersey pop. Without the teal being included I think the jersey would look worse so good job to whoever designed these jerseys. I actually think the Nike logo looks good on these jerseys which is a pretty rare occasion. The rattlesnake logo outlined in teal caps off a nice jersey.

Grade: B

Rankings

1. Sedona red alternate
2. Home teals
3. Los Dbacks
4. Home 
5. Black alternate
6. Road

As you could probably tell I like the new Diamondbacks jerseys. I am pretty disappointed in the fact that they didn’t include any of the throwback purple and teal jerseys but I’d assume those will return at some point this season or soon. The redesign was definitely a success.

How would you rank these jerseys? Leave a comment below!