2021 Seattle Mariners Fantasy Baseball Rankings
#166 – James Paxton, LHP – SP
Welcome back, James Paxton. Big Maple’s value is in rotisserie baseball and not accumulative. Part of that value is because Paxton has had at least one stint on the injured list every season he has played at the Major League level. He has a much higher ceiling than Marco Gonzales but a much lower floor as well. When he’s on, Paxton can rack up strikeouts.
Expected round to draft: 13. Because Paxton has a tremendous upside, especially in Roto, it’s okay to reach for him in the seventh or eighth rounds, but not any earlier than that due to his injury concerns. It’s better to hold off on the big lefty in an accumulative league until the 11th round or later.
#141 – Marco Gonzales, LHP – SP
Marco Gonzales comes in as the top Seattle Mariners fantasy pick this year. All he does is win, and if 2021 is anything like 2020, then his value is still on the rise in the fantasy baseball world. He’s very consistent from month-to-month and will have good value in both styles of leagues.
Expected round to draft: 11. The first M’s player shouldn’t be taken until the 11th round. But here’s the thing, if you were to reach on him starting in the eighth round, you could do well. Gonzales’ Roto value is stronger than his head-to-head value. The Seattle Mariners’ six-man rotation hurts his H2H accumulative value.
Bonus options
Many publications and websites rely on historical data, which typically lags for teams on the rise (i.e., 2018 Atlanta Braves). Logan Gilbert would be a good sleeper. Yusei Kikuchi and Chris Flexen would be great draft-and-stash options. In dynasty leagues, Julio Rodriguez and Emmerson Hancock would be fantastic picks, as would George Kirby. If Taylor Trammell continues to tear up in spring, he could be an intriguing 2021 impact rookie option.
That’s it for the Seattle Mariners in the top 300 rankings. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below or on social media.
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Joe Swenson is a Writer, Director, Producer at www.brokenartsentertainment.com, host of the sports podcast, In The Clutch, available on YouTube.