There are no more ice-cold superstars to bench for a red-hot previously unknown career minor leaguer. There are no red-hot veterans to pick up and or prospects to scout.
By day’s end, not only will a champion be crowned, but your league will have the name of a loser who needs to be punished. (Here’s an idea: Have him or her open a pink lemonade stand — with child-sized table and chair, of course — outside of their home. Any and all proceeds can go to charity. Or, you can do it in January when no one wants lemonade, but you want pictures to hang at the 2022 draft.) Before we call it a season, though, it’s time to award the players who helped you achieve fantasy glory, as well as those who made waiting in line for hours for a COVID nasal swab seem pleasant.
Roto Rage Jarad Wilk will hand out the NL awards, and Fantasy Alarm’s Howard Bender will dole out the honors (and dishonors) for the AL:
MVP
NL: Juan Soto, Nationals — Entered the weekend leading the league in walk percentage and on-base percentage, and was sixth in runs (second in the NL) and second in average. He also had the 11th-lowest strikeout rate in the majors (fourth in the NL). What set him apart from Bryce Harper (outside of the strikeout total) and Fernando Tatis Jr. (outside of games played and strikeout total) were his second-half numbers (.360, 18 HR, 52 RBIs, 63 R, 4 SB, 82/35 BB/K, 1.195 OPS). He came through over and over again when it mattered most, while playing on a lousy team. That is worthy of an MVP title.
AL: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays — It was a close battle between him and Shohei Ohtani, but after two years of struggles and finding his way in the majors, Guerrero was an absolute stud, slashing .313/.402/.596 with 46 home runs, 107 RBIs, 120 runs scored and even four stolen bases. What was most impressive was that he went hitless in consecutive games just 12 times all year.
Gleyber Torres and Juan Soto N.Y. Post: Charles Wenzelberg, Juan SotoLVP
NL: Christian Yelich, Brewers — This could have easily gone to Francisco Lindor or Cody Bellinger (or even Yu Darvish), but the 2018 MVP takes the (booby) prize here because of another disappointing season after being drafted as a top-12 player.
AL: Gleyber Torres, Yankees — Getting hurt in May and August likely saved fantasy owners from having to play him. His power vanished, his plate discipline was ugly and, for where Torres was drafted in most leagues, his overall value was trash.
Cy Young
NL: Max Scherzer, Dodgers — After going 8-4 with a 2.76 ERA, 11.9 strikeouts per nine and .182 opponents average in 19 starts for Washington, he went 7-0 with a 1.98 ERA, .189 opponents average, 89 strikeouts and just eight walks over 68 ¹/₃ innings in 11 starts with Los Angeles.
AL: Robbie Ray, Blue Jays — Ray steals the award from Gerrit Cole with an outstanding season and, most notably, a strong second half. Normally just a strikeout guy with mediocre ratios, Ray posted a 3.13 ERA with 130 strikeouts over 100 ²/₃ innings in the first half then went into shutdown mode after the All-Star break, posting a 2.53 ERA with another 118 strikeouts over 92 ²/₃ innings. And if you have a comment on the win total, just know that 13 wins was the third-highest in the AL.
Anti Cy Young
NL: Patrick Corbin, Nationals — Not only did he suffer the most losses in the majors (16), but also he had the worst ERA (5.82) after allowing the most earned runs (111). He also had the worst opponents average (.286), allowed the second-most homers (37) and had the sixth-worst walks per nine rate (3.15).
AL: Dallas Keuchel, White Sox — Though he had moments when he looked as if he could be a competent fantasy asset, Keuchel was just not a guy you want in your fantasy rotations. The 5.13 ERA and 1.53 WHIP tear apart your ratios, and his 5.24 K/9 was the lowest among qualified pitchers, so he isn’t even giving you strikeouts. His removal from your fantasy team was actually addition by subtraction.
Jonathan India APRookie of the Year
NL: Jonathan India, Reds — India entered Friday leading all rookies in games played, runs, hits and doubles. He ranked fourth in OPS and third in OBP to go along with double-digit steals, 20-plus homers and almost 70 RBIs. This was a no-brainer.
AL: Randy Arozarena, Rays — Most forget he still qualifies as a rookie. His 23 games played last year was almost half a season, but with just 76 plate appearances under his belt, his rookie status ported over to 2021. Arozarena is still working on his plate discipline, but a .273 average with 20 home runs and 16 stolen bases gives him a slight edge over Adolis Garcia.
Breakout Star
NL: Austin Riley, Braves — Entered the weekend ranked sixth in hits, eighth in RBIs, 10th in average, 20th in OBP, 15th in slugging percentage and 13th in OPS. He also ranked eighth in the NL in homers (21st in the majors). If it weren’t for his 25 percent strikeout rate and the fact he offers nothing in terms of stolen bases, he likely would have been the NL MVP because of how he outperformed his 217.8 ADP.
AL: Cedric Mullins, Orioles — The Orioles outfielder could have also been our Bargain Bin hitter as well, based on where he was drafted, but we’ll call this magnificent 30-30 season, the first in Orioles history, the breakout campaign of the season. Mullins also dazzled with a .295 average, a .364 OBP, 89 runs scored and an impressive 59 RBIs from the leadoff spot.
Comeback Player
NL: Adam Wainwright, Cardinals — Wainwright was nowhere near being thought of as a rotation mainstay, even after posting a 3.15 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in the abbreviated 2020 season. The 40-year-old had his best season since finishing third in Cy Young voting in 2014. Joey Votto was the runner-up.
AL: Shohei Ohtani, Angels — Some might call this a stretch because Ohtani was still actively hitting during the 2020 season, but this guy had Tommy John surgery in 2018, didn’t throw a single pitch in 2019 and only threw 1 ²/₃ innings last season, which left him with a 37.80 ERA. This year, not only did he club 45 homers and steal 26 bases, but also he made 23 starts and posted a 3.18 ERA with 156 strikeouts over 130 ¹/₃ innings, becoming the best two-way player since Babe Ruth.
Shohei Ohtani APBargain Bin Hitter
NL: Brandon Crawford, Giants — Is there a better feeling than scouring the waiver wires and picking up a 34-year-old, draft-day afterthought as he reaches career-high marks in homers, RBIs, average, OBP, OPS, runs and stolen bases?
AL: Jorge Polanco, Twins — The Twins shortstop wasn’t even drafted in most 12-team leagues, bounced from roster to waiver wire in April and May, but began to turn it on with a .290 average in June. The power started to come around and he became a second-half darling, batting .292 with 20 home runs and 51 RBIs from the All-Star break to the end.
Bargain Bin Pitcher
NL: Logan Webb, Giants — Before taking the mound in the season finale, he had not lost since May 5, going 9-0 with a 2.22 ERA, 117 strikeouts and a .217 opponents average over his past 19 starts. Even with that preseason 442 ADP, there is a reason Roto Rage told you to pay attention to him during his eye-opening spring.
AL: Nathan Eovaldi, Red Sox — Heading into the season, Eovaldi had an ADP around 250, which put him as a 20th-round pitcher. His career numbers and injury history were the driving forces for people passing on him, but those who made the late-round grab were rewarded with 11 wins, a 3.75 ERA and 195 strikeouts over 182.1 innings. His return value likely helped a number of fantasy teams earn a championship.
All-NL Fantasy Team
C: Will Smith, Dodgers
1B: Freddie Freeman, Braves
2B: Ozzie Albies, Braves
SS: Brandon Crawford, Giants
3B: Austin Riley, Braves
CI: Manny Machado, Padres
MI: Trea Turner, Dodgers
OF: Juan Soto, Nationals
OF: Bryce Harper, Phillies
OF: Nick Castellanos, Reds
UTIL: Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres
SP: Max Scherzer, Dodgers
SP: Corbin Burnes, Brewers
SP: Walker Buehler, Dodgers
SP: Adam Wainwright, Cardinals
SP: Zack Wheeler, Phillies
SP: Kevin Gausman, Giants
RP: Josh Hader, Brewers
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. APAll-AL Fantasy Team
C: Salvador Perez, Royals
1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays
2B: Marcus Semien, Blue Jays
SS: Bo Bichette, Blue Jays
3B: Jose Ramirez, Indians
CI: Rafael Devers, Red Sox
MI: Whit Merrifield, Royals
OF: Teoscar Hernandez, Blue Jays
OF: Cedric Mullins, Orioles
OF: Aaron Judge, Yankees
UTIL: Shohei Ohtani, Angels
SP: Robbie Ray, Blue Jays
SP: Jose Berrios, Blue Jays
SP: Chris Flexen, Mariners
SP: Lance McCullers Jr., Astros
SP: Gerrit Cole, Yankees
SP: Frankie Montas, A’s
RP: Raisel Igelsias, Angels
Fantasy Team Names of the Year
Best dating site: Matz.com
Best DC Universe film: Wander Woman
One of the worst feelings: Joc Itch
Worst Limp Bizkit lyric: I Did It All for the Mookie
Best line in “Seinfeld” series: No Loup for You!
Craziest band to see in concert: Guns N’ Rosario
Creepy character from “Stranger Things”: deGromogorgan
Underrated Disney character: Winnie the Pujols
Great breed of dog: Bassitt Hounds
Second best dating site: Christian Yelich Mingle
Most annoying Oasis song: Champagne SuperNola
Overrated musical: The Kingery and I
Best Matthew McConaughey movie: Dallas Baez Club
Best time to go to New Orleans: Marte Gras
Worst Tommy Lee Jones movie: Men in Blackmon 3
Best Paul Resier TV show: Mad About Abreu
How would you like your eggs? Sonny Side Up
Best Game Show: Pressly Your Luck
Favorite Elton John song: Benintendi & the Jets
Best submitted “Fantasy Island” Team Name: Diplán, Diplán






