Giancarlo Stanton looks like Superman and, when healthy, smashes the ball with ease and power you would expect from the son of Jor-El. The big problem: Stanton spends too much time in the crystal chamber, making himself powerless and extremely fragile.
Over the past two seasons, Stanton has missed 131 games. Over the course of his seven-year career, he has played more than 123 games in a season just twice. Yet the 27-year-old is being drafted as a top-10 outfielder with a 36.0 average draft position and an average auction price of $21, according to FantasyPros. Despite his 208 career homers, 540 RBIs and .896 OPS, his inability to stay on the field makes it hard to justify the high price tag.
Stanton looked lost at the plate last season, hitting career-low marks in batting average (.240) and OPS (.815) and tying his career-low on-base percentage (.326). He also struck out 140 times, scored just 56 runs and had a .489 slugging percentage (the second-lowest mark of his career). Yes, his 27 homers, 74 RBIs and .815 OPS make those numbers slightly more palatable, but not when he is missing 40-plus games. He hit .265 with 27 homers, 67 RBIs and a .952 OPS in 2015, but his season was over in June. His abilities are a game-changer, but it is harder to tell when he has missed almost 25 percent of Miami’s games of the course of his seven-year career.
Stanton’s power is seductive, but Roto Rage would rather let him be someone else’s problem — he is not worth the risk. Nelson Cruz (37.5, $29), who has played 152 games or more in four of the past five seasons — while hitting .278 and averaging 36 homers, 94 RBIs, 82 runs and a .866 OPS — seems like a more stable option at the same price. Or, you could wait a few rounds and grab Yoenis Cespedes (51.5, $23), Mark Trumbo (76.8, $18) or Justin Upton (81.0, $14), who has averaged 152 games per season since 2011 while hitting .267 with 27 homers and 82 RBIs.
Just because Stanton looks like the Man of Steel doesn’t mean he is deserving of being drafted like him, especially when for the past few seasons he seems more like a drunken Clark Kent who quit his job at The Daily Planet to become a barista.
Stanton is not the only outfielder overdrafted because we have fallen in love with his God-like powers. Here are some other early-rounders who aren’t as super as they appear:
Nationals outfielder Bryce HarperAnthony J. CausiBryce Harper (9.5, $36) is like young Clark Kent when he first discovers he has superpowers in Smallville — he thinks they’re cool and enjoys showing them off, but hasn’t the faintest clue how to use them properly. The Nationals star has power, yet he has surpassed 25 home runs just once in his career. He can hit, but has had an average higher than .275 just once. He can run, but has stolen more than 20 bases just once. Teams are scared of his powers, that is why he has walked 232 times over the past two seasons, but with injury concerns and inconsistent production, the 2015 MVP isn’t necessarily a sure-thing despite his elite skill set. He still is young enough to fine-tune his powers, Roto Rage just prefers to have less uncertainty in the first round.
Carlos Gonzalez (46.8, $17) plays like Superman when he is in the comfort of his Fortress of Solitude, aka Coors Field (.323, 124 HRs, 420 RBI, .983 OPS), but seems to play with kryptonite in his pocket while on the road (.258, 77 HRs, 234 RBIs, .750 OPS). The fact he is 31 years old, has a history of injury problems (despite playing 303 games the past two seasons) and always has his name attached to trade rumors, which could remove him from his beloved home, makes Roto Rage weary of drafting him early.
Kyle Schwarber (68.8, $21) is more like Nuclear Man (Lex Luthor’s creation from “Superman IV: The Quest for Peace”) — once he loses contact with the sun, he loses consciousness and his powers are gone. He has played just 71 big league games, yet is quite costly. Until he proves he can stay healthy and use his powers for good, treat him like a villain.
Guide to Insanity
Draft preview special: Part 4 of 5
The Roto Rage ranks outfielders. Next week: starting pitchers.
Outfielders
1. Mike Trout LAA
2. Kris Bryant* ChC
3. Mookie Betts Bos
4. Bryce Harper Was
5. Charlie Blackmon Col
6. Starling Marte Pit
7. George Springer Hou
8. Christian Yelich Mia
9. Carlos Gonzalez Col
10. Yoenis Cespedes NYM
11. Ryan Braun Mil
12. Matt Kemp Atl
13. J.D. Martinez Det
14. Justin Upton Det
15. Nelson Cruz Sea
16. Trea Turner* Was
17. Giancarlo Stanton Mia
18. Andrew McCutchen Pit
19. A.J. Pollock Ari
20. Gregory Polanco Pit
21. Jose Bautista Tor
22. Mark Trumbo Bal
23. Billy Hamilton Cin
24. Stephen Piscotty StL
25. Khris Davis Oak
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26. Kyle Schwarber* ChC
27. Hunter Pence SF
28. Adam Jones Bal
29. Adam Eaton Was
30. Miguel Sano* Min
31. Lorenzo Cain KC
32. Kole Calhoun LAA
33. Dexter Fowler StL
34. Carlos Gomez Tex
35. David Dahl Col
36. Randal Grichuk StL
37. Byron Buxton Min
38. Odubel Herrera Phi
39. Joc Pederson LAD
40. Jackie Bradley Jr. Bos
41. Kevin Kiermaier TB
42. Jose Ramirez Cle
43. Andrew Benintendi Bos
44. Keon Broxton Mil
45. Marcell Ozuna Mia
46. Yasmany Tomas Ari
47. Yasiel Puig LAD
48. Jay Bruce NYM
49. Adam Duvall Cin
50. Jason Heyward ChC
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* Eligible at multiple positions
Note: Ian Desmond was No. 23 before injury
Top of the Prospects
1. Andrew Benintendi Bos
2. Hunter Renfroe SD
3. Josh Bell* Pit
4. Aaron Judge NYY
5. Manuel Margot SD
Team Name of the Week
J.A. Happ-ily Married
— Submitted by Lisa W.


