Howie’s the Boss – PIK – New Franchise
Top Keepers drafted in Supplemental: Kershaw ($41), Abreu ($15), Kimbrel ($22), Reyes ($24), Ellsbury ($30), Gomez ($27)
Top Players added via Auction: Eovaldi ($9), Rodon? ($18), Cron ($7)
Strengths: PIK blasted away in the supplemental draft by selecting big names for big (mostly) money. He had the first pick and got a steal of a deal in Abreu. He followed that with the top SP in the game and a top closer, SS and 2 top OFers. His top 3 OF of Gomez/Ells/Cruz is very strong, but there’s no depth. I like a number of the young players he got, but some he paid too much for I think. (Rodon, Urias, Swihart, Lindor are all nice prospects.)
Weaknesses: I knew he was showing a little late to the auction, but he showed up so late that he was digging through scraps for value. I don’t think he has a 3B yet?? Unless he landed one in the first FAAB or is planning on Jace Peterson ($9). Up the middle he has Reyes/Flores/Panik/Jace. Pretty ugly as it stands, but Jace and Flores have some upside. His 4th and 5th outfielders are Dom Brown and Alex Guerrero. His catchers are Kurt Suzuki and Swihart. Starters are Kershaw/Eovaldi/Chen/Leake/Pomemanz/McHugh/Heaney/Porcello. Maybe he can stream/mix and match there. He missed out on closers and has 3 RP specs in Davis/Watson/Delabar.
Can he contend: Before the auction I would have said he’s a top team, but afterwards I feel like he missed out on too many opportunities to fill out his team. He has the studs to trade for depth though, and maybe that gets him part of the way there. I don’t think he’s near the top, but I could see anywhere from 5-14 for this team.