Fantasy Baseball Draft Targets: Christian Walker, Ketel Marte, Salvador Perez (2024)

It doesn’t matter if the veterans are starters or backups for you, it’s about safety and reliability. Maybe the best years are behind them; maybe they are still searching to reclaim their breakout year. Or, perhaps, they are just reliable. No matter how they start the season they put up consistent numbers. Here are safe veterans with an average draft position (ADP) above 80 to draft for the 2024 season.

Safe Veteran Players to Draft

Christian Walker (1B – ARI): ADP 80.8

Christian Walker turns 33 on Arizona’s Opening Day. In 2023, he improved in AVG, OBP and SLG percentages from the previous season. His strikeout percentage has been below 20% for the last two years. He will bat in the cleanup spot and is projected to hit around .255 with 30 home runs. Not bad production for the ninth-ranked 1B on a young and promising team.

Ketel Marte (2B – ARI): ADP 96.8

With Ketel Marte slated as the everyday 2B instead of splitting time between 2B and CF hopefully his injury, or to be more specific, his hamstring problems, will be in the past. You could get a potential top-five 2B in the late early rounds of drafts. Marte will be batting at the top of the lineup and could hit around .280 with 20+ home runs. If you decide to pass on 2B early, Marte could be a safe and possibly league-winning reward.

Salvador Perez (C – KC): ADP 133.6

Every owner would love to have the Salvador Perez from the 2021 season when he hit 48 HRs with a .273 batting average. Those days will not repeat themselves but Perez will play when healthy. He played over 20 games at 1B and you get his DH eligibility, providing a bonus of versatility with this veteran. You will likely get a hitter with over 20 HRs and a batting average between .250 and .260. Perez isn’t a bad choice for those who wait on catchers.