As we wait to see whether MLB and the players will come together to play a shortened 2020 season, why is this the right time to hold a mock expansion draft here at MLBTR? Well, lots of reasons!
A mock expansion draft serves an interesting thought exercise. If each MLB team were allowed to protect only 15 players, who would be left exposed? Thousands of MLBTR readers have participated in polls over the last few weeks in an attempt to answer that question for each of the 30 teams. Click here to see who’s available in the draft – and be sure to check out both the “By Team” and “By Player” tabs in this Google Sheet. Who would be your top picks? Let us know in the comments.
The current MLB transaction freeze presents a unique opportunity, as team rosters have remained stable to allow us to spend weeks creating protected lists. The unprecedented transaction freeze and lack of games and also means we have less to write about here at MLBTR, and the mock expansion draft helps fill the void.
Also, consider the possibility that MLB might actually be driven to expansion within the next several years as a result of revenue lost to the coronavirus. Mike Axisa of CBS Sports wrote about this recently, noting that the Rockies and Marlins were born in part as a way for the existing 28 teams to raise cash, speculating that MLB could charge expansion teams a billion dollar entry fee or more per each new team.
MLB’s last expansion draft took place in 1997, with the Diamondbacks and Devil Rays. Those were simpler times, both in terms of player evaluation and fan interest in the hot stove. Consider this nugget from Pedro Gomez of The Arizona Republic back in ’97. “The biggest cheer in the [Diamondbacks draft war] room came after Tampa Bay selected outfielder Bobby Abreu with its third selection. There were slaps on the back and high-fives passed out. ’Our first break,’ one of them said.” The Diamondbacks’ front office actually high-fived because the Devil Rays took Abreu, allowing catcher Jorge Fabregas to get to them. Not so fast with accolades for Tampa Bay, though – they had an agreement in place to immediately trade Abreu to the Phillies for Kevin Stocker.
If an expansion draft were to happen in 2020, it’s easy to imagine a big live event put on by MLB. MLB Network would broadcast the picks and sites like MLBTR and many others would be obsessively covering the lead-up, rumors, and actual event. Back in ’97? “The Rays’ brain trust began the day with a 7 a.m. breakfast with the 70 or so Tampa Bay fans who traveled to the draft,” wrote Marc Topkin and John Romano of the Tampa Bay Times. More people will follow along live with MLBTR’s mock expansion draft this week than followed along with the last real one! Noted the Tampa Bay Times writers, “Unlike the NFL draft, which sparks wild cheers and boos from the fans’ gallery, there was little reaction to the lesser-known picks by the 75 supporters from both teams.”
So get ready: my Portland Lumberjacks will compete with Connor Byrne’s Las Vegas Vipers to put together the best 38-man roster. The live event will take place here at MLBTR on Thursday, June 4th, at 1pm central time. We’re not messing around here. In 1997, Topkin and Romano noted, “The Rays were so serious about keeping their plans under wraps they hired 24-hour security to guard the team’s War Room the past week and had the area searched for electronic bugs each morning.” Rest assured, I’m taking our expansion draft just as seriously, and I have indeed bugged Connor’s home. In the coming days, Connor and I will be poring over the list of 438 available players and crafting our strategies. We invite you to do the same!
Why Portland?
Why not? Charlotte, Portland, and Las Vegas are the three largest metro areas that are not within a 2 hour drive of an MLB team.
True, but the inland empire of Southern California is huge and driving to Anaheim or Chavez Ravine.
The Barstow Beatles has a nice ring to it
What
Hey now! Barstow has the best Del Taco in the country….is that not enough to deserve an MLB team?
Best Dairy Queen in a gas station as well!
nah. that’s gig harbor Washington
Hands down, dumbest article of the year
You guys obviously have never driven in Minnesota. I started to think DQ was the state motto.
The DQ in Gig Harbor must be new. I didn’t notice it back in 1978 when we played them in FB.
What you know bout gig harbor
What you know bout gig harbor ?
Hands down dumbest comment of the year..
Yeah Yeah Yeah
Charlotte sucks, we don’t deserve a team.
Plus BB&T Park would have to be tripled in size to reach the mid-30,000 seating capacity, and that isn’t possible due to the location. No way a new stadium would be constructed for a pro team when arguably one of the most beautiful AAA stadiums is still showroom-new.
Unless you count San Antonio and Sacramento
Thanks for the shout out to Sacramento, but while the fans would totally support a MLB baseball team, the issue is the lack of corporate sponsors, this has been a challenge for the Sacramento Kings for years.
Portland or San Antonio are better spots, it sucks to say that because it would be AWESOME for a MLB in Sacramento
Expansion teams – Nashville and Portland, move the A’s to Vegas, and the Rays to Montreal.
That is a tired old trope.
In the late 70s/early 80s, the Expos drew 2M+ annually when that was more than the average NL team. It was after that the ownership ruined the franchise, most notably by Jeffrey Loria, who bled the franchise dry, then flipped it for the Marlins—we all know how well that worked out for the Marlins.
But since you opened the door, the Expos, even with Loria in the owner’s box, averaged more fans per game then than are seen now in Miami, Tampa, Oakland or KC. The wheels really came off when MLB took over ownership and the franchise was a dead man walking.
The fans in Montreal are wonderful fans, who cheered for Jackie Robinson before he was called up to Brooklyn. But no fan base can withstand the abuse over the years Montreal received from Bronfman and Loria.
Yet when it comes to the hockey franchise they have to have French speaking coaches,management as a requirement because they are good ole racists. Vlad Guerrero didn’t want to go in as a Expo for good reason and I’ll let you figure that out
Hard to believe with all that is going on in this country in the past weeks this needs to be said, but insisting both English and French be spoken in a province where French is the dominant language spoken is not “racist”, since neither English nor French is a race. In addition, bilingualism in Quebec province is the law, not a quirk of the franchise.
Furthermore, French is widely spoken in Caribbean nations which produce many of the MLB players who come to MLB.
Finally, Vlad is beloved in Montreal and loves the fans there as well. His choice to go into HoF as an Angel was a personal decision, but was not a reflection on the Expos or Montreal—perhaps the knowledge he would be the first Angels cap in the HoF was a motivation.
I think the Diamondbacks will get to the Vegas area before the A’s
The San Antonio metro area is larger than Portland’s and Las Vegas’. And almost the exact same same at Charlotte’s.
What about Nashville or Memphis ? They aren’t within two hours of a club.
Because the west side of the US has significantly less teams, with 4 of those being bunched together. So logistically speaking putting two teams west of Texas makes sense for travel purposes alone. Means maybe shifting divisions so AL West teams don’t have to fly to Texas to play two teams in the “west” division. I mean think of how many miles the Mariners fly as compared to teams in the East/mid west. Seattle 58k/Oakland 56k miles traveled in 2019 as compared to Detroit’s 24k.
It’s the logical choice. Las Vegas isn’t really though—I would have gone with Montreal—unless of course the assumption is Tampa Bay has relocated there. 😛
Las Vegas is a much better choice than Montreal. The West Coast needs more teams that are actually in the west, and both Houston and Texas should really be in the Central division.
I fully expect one day Montreal will get a team again. I think it’ll be less about merit though, and more about doing the market a ‘solid’ for moving the Expos. If I were going to go with an eastern city, however, I’d go Charlotte or Norfolk before Montreal.
Charlotte has the business infrastructure to support a pro MLB franchise, which Norfolk would not (and probably not Portland, after Nike is taken into account).
However, Charlotte has a near-new AAA stadium downtown which is gorgeous and incapable of being expanded to the size needed for a pro stadium. That alone should take Charlotte off the board for consideration, since the stadium has another 20 years left in it.
Maybe SLC or (I hate to say it) Las Vegas. The pandemic exposed the boom/bust nature of Las Vegas, but there is a corporate base and a community which will build the indoor stadium needed for a pro team.
Norfolk isn’t lacking as many businesses as you claim, in my estimation. There’d be enough to support a Big League club, I think. The area has a good population base, too. I think it’d be a solid mid-market city.
Fair enough on Charlotte. I’ve never seen the park, so I’m trusting your take that the stadium isn’t capable of being expanded.
An east coast city wouldn’t be my top choice, anyway. I’d 100% place both teams in the west. It just makes more sense, to me.
Why not Zoidberg?
Why not Portland monkey? You want another team on the East coast?
i like actually quite like Portland’s name
Almost fell off the chair laughing when I saw the LUMBERJACKS as the team name. I hate to tell Tim and many of the readers this, but timber hasn’t been any substantial part of the Portland area’s economy for at least 30 years. It’s known as the Silicon Forest — a tech Mecca. In fact, here’s a link to the area’s top 37 leading industries. There isn’t one on the list that relates to timber.
https://portlandreloguide.com/metro-portlands-major-employers/
Since you opened the door….
How many PADRES in San Diego?
How many GI(ANTS in San Francisco?
How many Tigers in Detroit? (Or Lions for that matter?)
How many Reds in Cincinnati?
And don’t even get me started on the team named the Cleveland Indians…..
And then there’s NBA Basketball =
Lakers in LA?
Jazz in Utah?,
Team names can also reflect historical significance to the area, not just what applies currently.
Because they were the New Orleans Jazz before they moved.
They were the Minneapolis Lakers before moving.
Padres are in San Diego because of the PCL. Just like The Angels Just sayin
Portland Hacks?
Portland Apps?
Portland Bugs?
Portland Slackers?
Portland Hippies?
Might wanna tell that to the Portland TIMBERS then, mpguy. And maybe while you’re at it you can contact the Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Lakers, New Jersey Devils, Toronto Raptors, Pittsburgh Pirates, and countless others to let them know their team names are not relevant in 2020, or in the case of some, never were.
Are there at least 2 guys in Buffalo named William? There better be or someone’s got a lot of explaining to do.
Took me a bit to figure it out, then I laughed
Not saying they wouldn’t because I am not a GM but why would the Jays protect somebody they would like to take his contract like Grichuk vs Luciano who they kept on the roster all year in order to be able to keep him?
Because they are silly polls and some people try to vote for the LEAST likely to be protected players. Their “input” (votes) come from people who look at nothing more than a Baseball Reference stat line.
well the Orioles protected Chris Davis so weird things happen
If a player has a NTC or 10-5 rights, they were automatically protected.
I’d nab Jacob Stallings off the Pirates with my first pick
I think you guys made a mistake. Adam Ottavino made the top 4 to protect with the Yankees but hes on the list of available players.
At that point I hadn’t decided to include top 100 prospects with a 2020 ETA, so I had to retroactively add Deivi Garcia to the Yankees’ protected list.
I’d select Ottavio first, then trade him to Arizona for Refsnyder and Swihart.
that’s a no from Arizona
Because they are both not playing for the Dbacks.
well yes that is part of it, but you know they wouldn’t do it either way
ah yes, future hall of famer rob refsnyder. Bring me back to mlbtr’s good old days
Nah, Otto for Refsnyder and Swihart is too little. Gotta see who has Peter O’Brein and trade Ottovino to them.
Portland Lumberjacks is the exact name that I always use for one of my two expansion teams in OOTP. I usually use Oklahoma City (Oklahoma Outlaws) as the other expansion team and move the Rays and Marlins to Charlotte and Montreal respectively. Vegas makes a lot of sense though.
I’ve always thought that the A’s should move to Portland and call themselves the Oregon A’s. Just make’s too much GD sense. But, that would preclude an expansion.
I think the expansion cities should be Vegas and Nashville. Maaaybe SLC.
Salt Lake and not OKC? latter seems like it would have a bigger fan base and regional presence as the midwest proper’s team
If the Falkland Islands had a team we definitely call them the Athletics. Or A’s for short.
Perfect except for lack of elephants on the Falklands and thus the need for a penguin or a sheep as a mascot.
No elephants. Just the ” Falkland (Islands) “A’s”
I guess it’s not funny without the Brooklyn accent.
You know of many elephants in Oakland, A’sfaninLondonUK ?
Yes, elephants, water buffalo and wart hogs. Have you seen the average waist line in this country? If anything, change their name to the UnAthletics.
I’ve always chuckled at the thought of Oakland moving to Montreal and change it to Eh’s.
Where would this Portland team play? There’s not a baseball stadium within 150 miles that seats more than a couple of thousand. Whoever owns that team had better be prepared to pay almost all of the costs of building a new stadium with a retractable roof.– assuming they can get through the land use processes to get it approved. Because the people living in Portland, or even the rest of Oregon, aren’t going to provide funding for one.
SLC? Wow
Las Vegas Thunderbirds (mostly referencing the airplane) is the team name I have used for Fantasy for the last 10+ years and would be my hypothetical expansion team name.
The MLS team is the Lumberjacks I don’t see the BB team using the same name. It would be fun if the rivalry is even close to what them and the Sounders have. Some of the signs they hold up should never be shown in public but they are funny. Even some the Portland fans do. Many don’t last long at the opposing venue they last longer at home. These teams have played each other since the 70’s though so a lot more history. Funny how disdain can be kept alive for 50 years.
I don’t see Oklahoma getting a team they might have a scumbag to buy the team but the comish isn’t a snake and thief. Oh look hatred can last a long time. Lol
How will the draft work? I’m assuming there’s a limit on the number of players drafted from each team? Say Portland drafts a Yankees player in round 1, can Vegas also draft a Yankees player round 1 or will they need to choose another franchise?
Each of the 30 teams lose one player in Round 1. Then each can pull back I think it was 2 players. Then each team would lose another player in round 2. Then each team could pull back 2 more players. Then Round 3 would go on until 20 or so teams lost a third player.
So it boils down to every team loses two players, their theoretical 1st and 4th best players on the list. And how ever many teams had a third player selected would lose their 7th best player on the list.
Thanks!
This is correct, except that they get to pull back three players after the first round and another three after the second.
Since you have the resources together it would be neat to also see a “best possible team” where there is only one pull back after each round. I’m sure that tweak would change some of the draft strategies and allow a more competitive expansion season.
Thanks for putting this together, I know most of us need something positive to look forward to right now.
Okay cool. Was it also three in the real expansion drafts also? I watched the 1992 one when it happened and I always thought it was 2.
Call them the Portland Scarlets. Put a red rose bloom on the cap.
As far as the draft goes, it is a bit unrealistic that teams would protect 10 position players and 5 pitchers. I know with the polls people tended to vote for the higher upside players, but in a realistic expansion draft, there would not be nearly as many pitchers available. And I seriously doubt a team would protect more than 8 position players, if that many.
That being said, my #1 pick would probably be Austin Hedges. Starting a franchise with a solid starting big league catcher makes sense.
Can we do a contraction draft next?
Why? That would never happen in real life.
Dispersal drafts have happened in the past in other sports. There is no way to say it could NEVER happen. Teams could easily fold. Honestly, I think it is far more likely than an expansion draft.
Besides this is just for fun anyway. I think a dispersal draft where you drafted the players from 2 or 4 teams (Pirates, Marlins, Rays, Royals?) could be kind of fun.
“Honestly, I think it is far more likely than an expansion draft”…… I sure Hope!
But I think relocation is the better option
I (hope) this was all just for fun, it sure was in any manner, but Im def not a fan of adding any teams these days as a cheap way of Mlb making quick short-sighted money off franchise fees
That would be fun. Imagine the #1 overall pick would be Wander Franco.
Great stuff
I like Portland and Charlotte as an expansion. NYC can support a third team based on populationl. You can always give to Charlotte and move their AAA to Montreal. Not sure who you would move Portland’s AA team to.
I think the Portland AA team is Portland, Maine and not Portland, Oregon, so no move would be necessary. Portland, OR used to have the AAA Beavers, but I don’t think they have any team right now.
@hiflew….u are correct….the Portland Sea Dogs are the AA team for the Red Sox and they are located in Maine and play in the Eastern League East division
The Portland Beavers were the AAA team for the Padres but are no longer around….in fact the Padres AA team in San Antonio is now the Brewers AAA team….San Antonio Missions….
The Padres now have the AAA El Paso Chihuahuas and the AA Amarillo Sod Poodles
The Portland Beavers relocated to become the El Paso Chihuahuas, and stayed a Padres affiliate through the move.
The first Portland team was an original member of the 1903 PCL inaugural season however, with the club dating back to 1901 and getting it’s Beaver moniker in 1906. If the city were to get an expansion club now, that is probably the name they would go by
The Hillsboro Hops play in a nearby suburb. They’re a short season A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Coming soon, Tim learns of Connor’s weird search histories with all of that electronic surveilance.
Didn’t see an explanation that describes the draft process, that is, if each of two expansion teams end up with 38 players, the existing 30 teams will obviously lose more than one player ; does a 16th player get protected after a team loses one player (as well as a 17th protected player after losing two players) and is there a cap of three lost players per existing team?
Two expansion teams would also get first two picks in the draft, so add that to your draft day/
Lane Thomas should get picked. Young, cf, bat shined in his call up. Team USA under 18 pedigree.
I’m thinking Tauchman as a first overall. Guy looks like a bona fide starting center fielder with all of the tools. Randy Arozarena has got crazy potential and lots of control too. If we’re talking pitchers, then maybe Trevor Richards.
Arozarena seems to have a good eye for the strike zone looking at his walks and low stroke outs.
Tauchman would be a huge loss for Yankees. I’m surprised he wasn’t protected and Andujar was. Having Tauchman in the postseason would’ve made an impact. That, and banning garbage cans from the dugout
agree on Richards, i think he combines floor and ceiling well among the SP on this list
The Austin Aerials have something to say.
Did MLBTr make an executive call on Pivetta?….he was not in their top 4 voted in by the comentors but is saved for the exercise…
If Im an expansion team Im taking a hard look at Pivetta Mahle Caleb Ferguson and Dennis Santana early as starters here and Im snatching up Hedges to help these young kids who need to take a next step
Theres so many good RPS, I think you have to go after the Sps first
This is how the Phillies vote went:
Seranthony Dominguez
Andrew McCutchen
Vince Velasquez
Nick Pivetta
Ranger Suarez
Roman Quinn
Vìctor Arano
Deivy Grullon
Adam Morgan
Enyel De Los Santos
Nick Williams
Cole Irvin
Kyle Garlick
Andrew Knapp
Austin Davis
Edgar Garcia
Deolis Guerra
Robert Stock
Reggie McClain
sadly you’re wrong, Pivetta was always 4th
Hmm must have made a late push…he was 8th in the polls, which I thought was surprising at the time I voted (although Im usually here pretty early on in the voting per se)
i dunno, he was 4th steady every time i looked. you mustve been really early.
Probably, that was the last day when they rattled off like 4 teams in 2 hrs
Some good discussions that day and very difficult calls
Johnathan Hernandez has to be picked. BTW, how is Yoshitomo a pick? I thought he was selected in the 15 Rays players.
he wasnt, somehow
also agree on Hernandez, he might be my #1 pick
As a Marlins fan, I can guarantee that the Marlins don’t leave all four of Harold Ramirez, Magneuris Sierra, Elieser Hernandez and Robert Dugger, to protect Ryne Stanek, Garrett Cooper and Lewis Brinson. I guarantee that most of the people that voted that way were joking or don’t know anything about the Marlins players.
Seriously, two of the three (Brinson and Cooper) were in danger of not making the roster in order to keep Ramirez and Sierra. If the Marlins had to determine whether they would keep Jose Urena or Ryne Stanek or either Elieser Hernandez or Robert Dugger, they would keep Hernandez and Dugger.
Should be an interesting draft, but far from what would really be available.
i agree most of that save Cooper. i think they at least value him as a trade chip, if not a useful piece on the team.
But then a couple of questions come.
1 – Do you lose Ramirez, Sierra, Hernandez or Dugger for him?
2 – Wouldn’t he more likely gone than Aguilar because Aguilar is planned to the the starting 1B?
3 – What to make with the Marlins and Mattingly making it clear that they feel that Cooper is not a starting player, while they favor guys like Ramirez, Sierra, and Sanchez in the OF along with Dickerson and Villar?
i protected him over two of those – Dugger because im not sold he is better than most of the other SP in the system and Sierra because the team already has enough of an outfield logjam. Cooper is more proven then those two and to be honest should start at 1B for them. i like the Aguliar gamble but he didn’t exactly show well last year and fills the same niche.
Fair statement, but Mattingly has already said that Cooper isn’t a starter. And then Cooper can’t stay healthy in the OF.
With the number of SPs and OFs, yes there is a logjam of potential players, but until 5 guys have won the SP roles and 7 or 8 others won the BP jobs, Dugger and Hernandez have a chance for a role. And with the OF, until 3 guys have won the starting roles long term, all three spots are up for grabs, and certainly none of the young OFs should be let go (Sierra or Ramirez either).
I think alot of people voted by names they recognized and not in terms of actual value to their respective teams
Certainly looks that way because my gosh how that is so wrong.
All four would be on the Opening Day roster for an expansion team, with Ramirez and possibly Sierra in the starting lineup, and possibly both Hernandez and Dugger in the rotation.
Plenty of the readers’ protection choices deserve to be questioned. That said, Harold Ramirez…what are we talking about here, a league average hitter at best who’s limited to LF? Same with Dugger…probably should have been protected, but also not a difference-maker.
Even if the Marlins would have protected those specific guys, players of that caliber (and even a little better) would be what would be available in an expansion draft.
Fair statement, but the Marlins are rebuilding. The key numbers for Ramirez and Dugger are age 25 seasons in a rebuild. When you’re rebuilding, you’ve got to go with that, especially with guys that show something. We’re losing with or without the older players. I prefer to take my gamble on the younger guys that none of us really know what they are for sure yet., especially when Ramirez has proven to be a better bat than Brinson and is better defensively than Cooper (eyeball test – not looking at any defensive metrics since I see both players everyday). Ramirez, Dugger, Sierra, and Hernandez may end up being mediocre journeyman, but there is that chance of any of them being better than the guys like Cooper (who Mattingly already said isn’t a starter) and Brinson (not a high bar on either). Heck, Cooper and Brinson had the chance of not making the roster until we now know that rosters will be expanded.
And I’m preferring a SP gamble over a RHP reliever in Stanek. RHPs in the bullpen are easier to find than a guy that can potentially give you some starting innings. Urena I can partially understand, but even that is questionable because he hasn’t looked good for a couple of years.
You guys can have Cooper, Brinson and Stanek. I’ll be very good with that.
Ramirez sucks. Marlins can pick him back up when he’s waived by mythical expansion team in two years.
So you think Cooper and Brinson are worth being protected more than Ramirez is?
I would. Been following Harold for many years as he was on my dynasty team and his trajection is not promising. Could put up decent averages in high BABIP years, but doesn’t hit for enough power to justify starting in LF or enough defense for 4th OF role. I don’t see the upside.
Brinson certainly appears to be a bust, but his power tool will still be there post-juiced ball. Maybe he can figure out the K’s. What tool can Ramirez hang his hat on?
I think you keep Stanek, 2 inn guy who may be able to give you more at times – 85 quality inns and a bunch of control- He also can bring back a nice profit in a trade if he has a good year or 2 moving forward at the deadline. He’s just the type of player a contending team would want if his game is on
Looking back id probably change out one of my 2 Of’ers kept to keep Eliesner though-
I didnt factor Bleday Victor Mesa Jr and Sanchez in enough earlier, it just really gave me a pit in my stomach leaving Brinson exposed considering. Cant imagine how it would feel for MIA
My question is…Does Stanek get the Marlins prospects that are worth losing any of Ramirez, Sierra, Hernandez, or Dugger, or does he get them just the same or even lesser prospects? Unless Stanek wins the closer role or becomes a dominant set-up guy, the return for an excellent middle reliever isn’t very high.
And yes, we have a surplus of talent, but that’s all it is until all roles are won out by guys that can make the team win games. It’s never a good idea to let prospects get away in order to keep marginal vets who might get you marginal prospects later that might be as marginal as some of the marginal prospects you already have who have made it to MLB and showed some decent performance. I don’t gamble on prospects with a rebuilding team. Keep them all, while letting the vets go.
Portland cannot support a mlb team. They could even sport a triple a team, they choice to get rid of that triple a, which was successful in favor of soccer.
They relocated because of a stadium issue, coupled with a desired push for a ML club instead, not because the city could not support the club. The club was a solid draw, especially considering the stadium, since 1901.
Portland likely will have a team before long. They keep trying every few years
The one guy I would consider adding from the Orioles would be Tanner Scott. Big 25 y.o. lefty who can throw 100 mph with some nasty. Just needs to get walks under control.
Padres should protect Andres Muñoz and Michel Baez over Franchy Cordero and Drew Pomeranz.
Halfway correct, I’d protect either Baez or Muñoz over Pom. Which one would be more difficult… but I’d go with Muñoz. Franchy deserves protection; his potential speaks volumes. Funny name too, “Mike”!
Sorry. Just not impressed by Franchy Cordero.
I didn’t see Jarred Kelenic or Andres Gimenez on the list for the Mariners and Mets respectively, are they eligible for the draft even though they are not listed?
“More people will follow along live with MLBTR’s mock expansion draft this week than followed along with the last real one!”
Possibly. But it was covered live on ESPN. The Baseball Tonight crew did commentary on each pick.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVaxMPy97hY
Must have been a slow NBA night.
Get some logos going!
‘We’re with the Vipers!’
haha makes me think of the Sopranos scene
Portland Thunderbirds
Charlotte Dragons
Vancouver Wolves
Nashville Knights
Austin Stallions
Las Vegas Vipers
Montreal Expos
Buffalo Bisons
That’s a start.
I’d love to see this but with a full fantasy draft. 30 teams, 30 writers, MLB The Show Style!
I would love too see that as well factoring in contracts and positions
– 30 rds ….your typical 25 with all the positions filled appropriately then 5 reserves (has to be 3/2 split Hit/Pitch in some manner) and we are saying every team has to come between 120-180 mill in this project
And then you even have the questions like of do you even take Manny Machado in the last rd considering the price etc etc
Super super interesting, the arguments after taking Acuna 1st might blow the lid off this place, I think even at the price Im taking Trout #2….How far up does a guy like Soroka get still with 2 TC yrs till arb!!
I’m surprised at how few catchers were protected by reader selections
Most likely because light hitting, defense first catchers aren’t exactly a hard find
And the Red Sox should protect Walden or Taylor over Eovaldi. And in the real world that’s exactly what Bloom would do.
Is this actually how the last expansion went?
Rays trade Liberatore for Arozarena and Martinez, and neither gets protected.
Exactly. They missed the boat on both Florida teams.
i can understand messing up on the Marlins because they are a losing team, so people don’t pay attention to their roster as much, but the Rays are one of the best teams in MLB. How does that happen?
I’d tweak the Rays’ list, if I picked all 15, but no matter what you do, good players (possibly ones they traded for) were going to be exposed. Plus, exposing Jose Martinez was easily the correct call.
I think in reality, any stocked team like the Rays would aggressively trade players for minor leaguers who would be ineligible for the expansion draft (which covers most minor leaguers).
I agree with everything you said.
A. Diaz, J. Luplow, E. Haase sneaky pucks
Rays have some talent to pick apart. “This one still got some meat on the bone”
Rays, Indians, Cardinals, have nice talent to choose from, Twins, Yankees,Dodgers, too
Highest floor or highest ceiling hmmm it’s 1997. Bobby Bradley on roids or not? Hahaha
pretty sure rockies and marlins were created to pay back the players the owners colluded against in the mid 80’s (with the expansion fee just so happening to be pretty much the entire amount owed to the players per the courts), while the dbacks and rays were created to make up for most of the lost money from the strike.
C Alex Jackson from Atlanta was the #6 pick out of high school 6 years ago. Only 24 and hit 28 HR’s at AAA last year, surprised to see him unprotected.
Jackson has bust written all over him. While he has some pop, contact and defense are an issue
No player kept with 1 year of control. Bullpens actually pretty good. Rotations are atrocious. Overall better than the Orioles?
C Willians Astudillo, 1B Ji-Man Choi, 2B Aledmys Diaz, 3B Colin Moran, SS Orlando Arcia, LF Seth Brown, CF Randy Arozarena, RF Derek Fisher, DH Jose Martinez
–
C Kevin Plawecki, 1B Mike Ford, 2B Josh Rojas, 3B Ty France, SS Jon Berti, LF Adam Duvall, CF Tyler O’Neill, RF Mike Tauchman, DH Bobby Bradley
–
Tyler Mahle, Trevor Richards, Alex Young, Daniel Ponce de Leon, Peter Lambert
–
Jonathan Loaisiga, Wade Miley, Jaime Barria, Devin Smeltzer, Adam Plutko
–
Diego Castillo, Matt Magill, Luke Jackson, Scott Barlow, Josh Taylor, Framber Valdez, Oliver Drake
–
A.J. Minter, John Gant, Andres Munoz, Austin Adams, Francis Martes, Jalen Beeks, Elvis Luciano
The Cardinals and Rays leftovers could form a pretty solid, competitive core
Tim, I don’t think Connor’s stuck in 1997 and playing around with bugs. You’re computer is probably hacked by now for starters…
I kinda wish we didn’t have the polls at all and just let the MLBTR staff choose entirely who’s protected because there are some really dumb decisions by voters.
And your comment is an example of dumb decision as well.
I disagree. Half the fun in this is that the fanbases get to participate. You may disagree with who got protected, but have you always agreed with every single move your GM has made? Armchair GM’ing is a big part of talking sports for a lot of fans.
Mike Tauchman and Alec Mills are 2 guys that would be fun to have (thank you Fangraphs).
You two need to do some sort of digital best-of-seven series after the draft!
Can we sort by position?
Let’s remember that IF an Expansion Draft was happening, none of the free agents would have been signed until after the draft (Cole, Rendon, et al). Not to mention the second teir guys. So the “real” protection lists would look significantly differant.
Portland’s first move should be to sign Bartolo Colon.
There are quite a few players that signed long term deals this past off season on the list. Aren’t these players allowed to declare free agency if they are dealt and wouldn’t this be treated similarly
As a M’s fan would love a team in Portland, great to have a rival that is close in proximity. But it will never happen. Seattle ownership will never relinquish the media rights of Portland, John Stanton made that statement last year. MLB can’t force a team(see San Jose) and they can’t buy it aka Nationals, if Stanton doesn’t want to sell the rights. It’s a pipe dream.
I have a novice question. why would Baltimore protect Chris Davis? seems like a waste of a protection spot on a guy that has.no change of being taken. I would rather protect Asher Woj as an innings eater until Gray-Rod and Hall arrive. I’m sure I’m missing a rule or something.
I think he has a no trade clause so they kind of have no other choice.
Gotcha. Thankyou. Im still surprised so many high contract older guys got protected. Awesome idea for an article though.
Players with no-trade clauses or 10-and-5 rights have to be protected unless they consent to not being protected. It’s possible Davis allows the O’s to not protect him because he’s realistic about his odds of getting taken and doesn’t lose anything by doing this tho.
This starts off fun until you realize the MLB is in the process of dying and if anything they’re going to reduce the number of teams in the next 10 years. They’ve blown it. The only way they stayed afloat is because no other sports happened during the summer. Now the NBA is set to go until October while MLB not have a season at all. But on the bright side, they’d only be playing for a piece of metal anyway! Rest in peace old friend.
Can I just pick all the Rays? 🙂
Here’s my top 12 in no particular order:
Trevor Richards or Tsutsugo or Arozarena
Tyler O’Neill
Luis Torrens
Mike Tauchman
Zack Collins (counting on robo ump!)
Joe Palumbo or Jon Hernandez
Bryan Abreu
Jake Bauers
Devin Smeltzer
Alex Young
Austin Allen
Jose Suarez
Gotta go upside at the top of the draft, but catchers like Torrens, Collins or Allen would also serve to man the position in year one, which is nice. As good as so many of the available RP are, I think you need to at least try to fill some SP spots just to get through first couple years.