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We finally know the details of what the shortened MLB season will look like. Yes, there have been, and likely will continue to be, players opting out of the season. That will surely further affect rankings as we head into draft season, but for now, we can analyze each position bearing in mind the truncated and regional schedule.
The new schedule has already altered the overall expert consensus rankings, including where catchers land. In terms of the actual positional ranking, the effect of the delay is minimal.
There were no major injuries in spring training from which a catcher needed to recover. There were no significant developments from the shortened season that affect the position. For the most part, the impact of the delay has been minimal for catchers from a fantasy standpoint.
With that said, you should never stop reassessing your rankings. As I’ve continued to examine the catcher position, one player who has risen significantly over the last several weeks is Danny Jansen.
Jansen’s ascension has nothing to do with the delay. Rather, it’s merely because time and time again, I found myself drafting him over similarly-ranked players. That has much to do with how the fantasy community viewed him coming into 2019 (the trendiest of sleepers), his finish to last season (.234, 11 home runs, 33 runs scored, 33 RBIs in his last 64 games), and his adjustments this spring (1.353 OPS, one strikeout to three walks in eight games).
To be candid, the difference between Jansen (12th) and Yadier Molina (17th) is small. I would not put up much of a fight if you opted for Jorge Alfaro or Tom Murphy, either. But, given the choice, I will take Jansen’s upside if I wait on catcher.
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Dan Harris is the Editor-in-Chief of FantasyPros. For more from Dan, check out his archive or follow him on Twitter @danharris80.