Fantasy Baseball: Top 10 Rookies to Draft
Photo: David E. Klutho/SI
#4 Matt Moore, LHP
22, Rays (ADP: 102)
If Moore didn't toss that series-opening gem against the Rangers last October, we might have considered Moore a potential bargain on draft day. Instead, he is likely to be the first rookie picked. That makes him a bit dangerous, even if he runs away and wins a rotation spot this spring. Don't get us wrong; Moore has loads of potential in the short and long term, but expecting ace-like numbers out of a rookie pitcher in his first full major league season (when his arm isn't necessarily built up to handle the 200-inning grind) is a risky proposition. Moore is certainly worth considering and can have a Jeremy Hellickson-like AL Rookie of the Year campaign (13-10, 2.95 with 117 strikeouts in 189 innings), but Hellickson was a late-round pick in most formats a season ago. Moore won't come as affordably this draft day.
If Moore didn't toss that series-opening gem against the Rangers last October, we might have considered Moore a potential bargain on draft day. Instead, he is likely to be the first rookie picked. That makes him a bit dangerous, even if he runs away and wins a rotation spot this spring. Don't get us wrong; Moore has loads of potential in the short and long term, but expecting ace-like numbers out of a rookie pitcher in his first full major league season (when his arm isn't necessarily built up to handle the 200-inning grind) is a risky proposition. Moore is certainly worth considering and can have a Jeremy Hellickson-like AL Rookie of the Year campaign (13-10, 2.95 with 117 strikeouts in 189 innings), but Hellickson was a late-round pick in most formats a season ago. Moore won't come as affordably this draft day.
