If you’re in a category or roto league, it’s probably not farfetched to assume you are familiar with punting categories. For those unaware, “punting” a category is when you decide to avoid a specific category while drafting. This allows you to spend more draft capital on reinforcing your teams’ output in other categories.
One of the most popular stats to punt, at least for me, is saves. Saves is a category that can be hard to really lock down. Especially in the day and age where many teams run a closer by committee. Unless you’re going with an early, dominant closer heavy approach, it’s likely more worth it to hold off on going closer early.
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This season, the top two closers have ADPs in a range that ensures I would never consider taking one. Mets’ fireballer Edwin Diaz has an ADP of 34, while Emmanuel Clase of the Guardians is at 38. Taking either of them isn’t an inherently bad pick, but it’s hard to justify taking a closer in the late third early fourth round. Especially when guys at positions much more shallow than pitcher are available. Guys like Randy Arozarena, Kyle Schwarber, and Jose Altuve are available in the same range, and outfield and second base are the two thinnest positions in 2023.
Grabbing a guy who’s there essentially just to help with saves is a tough sell. Yes, some closers have excellent ERA and WHIP numbers, but those can be quite volatile. Going with higher-end starters who’ll likely produce twice as many strikeouts, many more wins, and have an ERA and WHIP not that far off is something that can be much more valuable. Instead of chasing saves, grab pitchers who are going to give you many more counting stats in the other areas to give you the advantage over managers who are only slightly committed to closers. If you’re not going all in on closers and saves, just pass on them altogether.
Another category that should be safe to punt on in 2023 is steals. While it’s still to be seen how much of an impact the bigger bases will make in 2023, there is a buzz in the air about speed being much cheaper than before. Hell, even Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and his eight steals in 2022 could swipe double digits this season.
In 2022 there were 19 players who stole 20 bases. Another seven stole at least 18. There is a legitimate chance that we will see 30-35 people steal at least 20 bases in 2023. This means you can take a less traditional route to target steals this season. Instead of focusing on guys who are very steal-heavy like Jorge Mateo, you can grab guys like Whit Merrifield, whose 16 steals he had in 2022 should increase to 20+ this coming season. And unlike Mateo, Merrifield still has the ability to help you in the other four categories you are after as well.
Focusing on those hitters who will end up with 10-15 stolen bases along with all the other counting stats instead of grabbing guys who are steal dominant is worth it. Even though this isn’t the traditional “punting” of a category, it is still very similar. With the amount of speed and athleticism we see at the Major League level nowadays, there is no reason to need to focus on guys who are dependent on just one category for their fantasy relevance. Especially one that sees production from so many players. Let your league mates focus on that while you use those draft picks on guys who’ll help you get an edge in the other categories. Why draft a guy like Mateo when Seth Brown is going two picks before and will help you with home runs, RBI, and average.
In a league type where many stats matter, focusing on too many guys who excel in just one can be your downfall. While “punting” may not be for everybody, it’s a tried and true strategy. Worry less about single stats and focus on building the best overall roster possible. Nobody’s ever said, “Man, I wish my team hit 35 fewer home runs this season, I would have rather had 10 more stolen bases than all those runs and RBI”. Neither will you.
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