Don’t draft these 5 Mariners players in fantasy baseball

We’ve talked a lot about who you should draft in fantasy baseball, but we have not talked about who you should not draft. With Spring Training in the full swing of things, we have a better sense of what to expect from each player in 2021. So now we share five Mariners players you should not draft in fantasy baseball this year.

Mariners players to avoid in fantasy baseball #1 – Jake Fraley

I was hoping that this year would be the year for the 25-year-old outfield prospect, but it looks like we have to wait. Jake Fraley has had a rough start to Spring Training and it doesn’t seem like he’s making any adjustments.

To start Spring Training, Fraley was 0 for 15. Now, he’s hitting just below the “Mendoza Line” and is second on the team for most strikeouts. The outfielder has been given plenty of chances in Arizona but hasn’t been able to capitalize as you can tell. Jake is second for the most walks on the team but that’s about the only good offensive thing that we have seen from him on top of his one home run.

Especially if you are participating in a points-based league, you should shy away from Fraley even more because strikeouts can dock points.

Generally speaking, Fraley is an interesting player. He has torn it up in the minor leagues but when he’s played for the Seattle Mariners, he has batted .152. Jake has only had 70 plate appearances at the big league level and only had 168 plate appearances in Triple-A so maybe we are rushing to conclusions a bit too early.

Mariners fans have had bad experiences with prospects so I can understand why. Regardless of what we think of him and his future, Jake Fraley shouldn’t be on your fantasy baseball team this year for any type of league (dynasty, categories, points, standard, etc.)

There are plenty of other outfielders to look at from around the league, and you could find a solid couple from the Mariners as well: Mitch Haniger and Kyle Lewis.

Let Jake Fraley go undrafted and keep him on your watchlist if you really want.

Mariners players to avoid in fantasy baseball #2 – Chris Flexen

The former Doosan Bears pitcher has a spot in the Mariners starting rotation but I don’t think he deserves a spot on your fantasy baseball rotation. I was pretty excited about signing Flexen after watching some of his highlights from the KBO, but Spring Training has made me reconsider.

Don’t get me wrong, the 26-year-old still has a chance to revitalize his career in the MLB and live up to past expectations, but I don’t think he will be more than a decent back of the rotation kind of guy this year. Maybe things will change in the next couple of years, but his ceiling is low in 2021.

The 6’3″ right-hander has thrown eight innings in Arizona and has allowed nine earned runs. He has allowed given up 12 hits, one home run, and four walks. On the positive side, he has struck out 10 batters which are tied for the second-most on the team.

His stat line: 10.13 ERA, 2.00 WHIP, 4.5 BB/9, 11.3 K/9

Chris Flexen’s current output is worrisome and not what fans want to be seeing. It is also important to acknowledge that the batters Flexen has faced are not of elite quality. According to Baseball Reference, the quality of batters Chris Flexen has faced is roughly 8.0, which basically means they are Triple-A hitters.

Putting it all together, Flexen is someone you should ignore in fantasy baseball. There are plenty of other fantasy baseball pitchers you can find. Plus, if you want to draft a low-tier Mariners pitcher, Flexen isn’t your guy. Go for Justin Dunn or Yusei Kikuchi.

Now we move onto the third Seattle player to avoid this year in fantasy baseball.

Mariners players to avoid in fantasy baseball – #4 Nick Margevicius

As good as Nick Margevicius’ Spring Training numbers look, I am a little sad to say that he isn’t valuable in fantasy baseball. Currently, the Mariners southpaw owns a 2.00 ERA in nine innings and has struck out 10 batters. He has allowed a hit an inning and only walked one batter.

Although he has been lights out in Arizona, I am heavily leaning towards Justin Dunn to lock in the sixth spot in the rotation. That means Nick Margevicius gets moved to the bullpen or is optioned to Triple-A.

And when you are a reliever (and not a closer), your fantasy baseball value is nearly zero. Unless Nick somehow becomes the next lights-out All-Star setup man, he is not someone to consider. But you never know. If Nick can post stats like the pre-closer Josh Hader, Andrew Miller, etc., then you might want to consider adding Nick to your team.

But in general, Nick doesn’t provide a lot of value in the current moment. So, you should definitely not draft him and there is a minuscule chance you might want to add him during the season.

I will say, I am impressed with how he has pitched this Spring Training and it is crazy to think how young Nick is. Honestly, the Mariners are lucky to have him. With the next wave of Mariners pitching prospects coming soon, Nick is a little unlucky in terms of timing but he could become a valuable long reliever in a couple of years.

Now, onto the last player.

Mariners players to avoid in fantasy baseball – #5 Julio Rodriguez

This might be pretty straight forward but some of you might be intrigued to stash Julio Rodriguez in the event that he gets called up this season and you shouldn’t. It is just a waste of a pick. The Mariners top prospect is super unlikely to be playing in 2021 and if I were to put it into a percentage, it would be a 1% possibility we see him in T-Mobile Park.

There is no question that Julio is one of the best prospects in the MLB and I have been very impressed with how he has played in Spring Training, but that doesn’t mean he is any closer to reaching the big leagues. (.308 BA, 1.035 OPS, two home runs, two stolen bases)

I acknowledge that Juan Soto played just eight games in Double-A before playing for the Nationals, but the Mariners aren’t going to take that chance. Even if coaches thought J-Rod was ready this year, the Mariners outfield is crowded and there is no reason to take the gamble. The highest level Julio has played at is High-A Modesto, and that was only 17 games.

Plus, the Mariners have other prospects in front of J-Rod like Jarred Kelenic, Taylor Trammell, and Jake Fraley who will see the field before Rodriguez anyways. Now when we talk about fantasy baseball for 2022, my advice would be a little different.

Lastly, if you are in a dynasty league, obviously things are different for you. J-Rod won’t play in 2021, but if you want to stash him this year so you are guaranteed to have him in 2022, I think that’s a great idea. It would be the equivalent of drafting Bobby Witt Jr. and Wander Franco this draft, in preparation for the long haul.

Of course, there are plenty of other players that don’t deserve your pick in fantasy baseball, but I think these are the most notable. Good luck in your fantasy drafts and be sure to check out our old fantasy baseball breakdowns.