My Perfect Draft
Written By Paul Dika
Believe it or not, we’re ONE WEEK out from the start of the regular season, which means the end of draft season is approaching. The perfect draft is often elusive and hard to define. Landing all of your favourite targets, finding good values, and allocating your roster spots accordingly is easier said than done.
We decided to take a stab at our perfect drafts, with varying criteria for what we consider ‘perfect’. For better or for worse, this is what the ideal team looks like through our eyes.
Round 1, Pick 4 - Ronald Acuna Jr. ATL (ADP 4.1)
Yes, the monsters ahead of him project for more points over the course of the season, but Acuna has a ceiling on par with Ohtani and Judge. And while the 1.01 and 1.02 both have good stacking options, I like Acuna’s supporting cast better than an aging Dodgers lineup and an imperfect Yankees offense.
Build: P 0 - IF 0 - OF 1
Round 2, Pick 21 - Gunnar Henderson BAL(ADP 18.7)
Many drafters prioritize OF with their early picks, and for good reason. But the crop of IF in the 2nd round is too intriguing to pass on. Kurtz is a fun stacking partner for Acuna, but Henderson is my favourite of the group. Coming off a down year where he played half of the season with a bum shoulder, Henderson still put up a 120 wRC+ and projects to be even better this season. The Orioles’ lineup is poised to bounce back, and I like betting on Henderson to be the key piece in their resurgence.
Build: P 0 - IF 1 - OF 1
Round 3, Pick 28 - Wyatt Langford TEX (ADP 25.8)
Okay, time to get back on track at OF. Langford’s ADP has risen over the last few weeks, so getting him at 28 may prove to be difficult in the last week of drafts. Langford’s upside is as enticing as any of the options in round 3, and his floor remains solid. The 24-year-old brings a more mature approach than the likes of Duran, Crow-Armstrong, and Arozarena, blending patience and power that should play well in a format that rewards players who slug and get on base.
Build: P 0 - IF 1 - OF 2
Round 4, Pick 45 - Ian Happ CHC (ADP 43.2)
BOOOORRRINNGGG.
Round 4 is littered with unsexy vets who play every day and put up respectable point totals. Happ doesn’t jump off the page, but the Cubs are a supercharged offence with stacking partners I can target later in the draft. While there’s no such thing as a ‘safe’ bet in Best Ball, Happ as an OF3 stabilizes the position early on and allows you to get creative with your picks further down the line.
Build: P 0 - IF 1 - OF 3
Round 5, Pick 52 - Austin Riley ATL (ADP 53.4)
Our first stacking partner, how exciting! It was only a few short years ago that Riley was putting up offensive seasons that would place him in the 2nd round of drafts. Unfortunately, 2024 and 2025 were marred by injury for the Braves’ 3rd baseman. However, Riley’s batted ball data remained elite while he was active, putting up barrel rates and average exit velocities in the top 90th percentile of the league. If all he needs is some health luck to put up big numbers, I’ll gladly buy back in at this price.
Build: P 0 - IF 2 - OF 3
Round 6, Pick 69 - Jac Caglianone KC (ADP 72.4)
Unfortunately, today’s price is not yesterday’s price, but that’s not going to stop me from including Cags in my perfect draft. For months, Caglianone was being taken behind unproven outfielders with less upside. I’m passing on some solid pitching options like Dylan Cease and Freddy Peralta, but light-tower power paired with elite prospect pedigree is what I want in my OF room.
Build: P 0 - IF 2 - OF 4
Round 7, Pick 76 - Framber Valdez DET (ADP 84.5)
I get it, I’m reaching a bit here. But with a 0-2-4 build, Valdez presents as an ideal anchor for a rotation that is going to include seven arms. While he lacks the strikeout upside the elite options offer, Valdez is going to be pitching in one of the most pitcher-friendly ballparks, in one of the weakest divisions in baseball. I’m hoping for a decent K/9 and volume that should result in plenty of quality starts.
Build: P 1 - IF 2 - OF 4
Round 8, Pick 93 - Michael Busch CHC (ADP 99.1)
Busch broke out in a big way last year, connecting for 34 homers alongside a .523 SLG%. For all the concerns about platoons, Busch tallied close to 600 plate appearances last year and is reportedly a mainstay in the lineup, regardless of the pitcher’s handedness. I’m buying into the breakout and the absurd batted ball metrics he put up last year. He’s one of my favourite pieces on the Cubs, and based on his ADP, it’s easy to find a spot for him in most builds.
Build: P 1 - IF 3 - OF 4
Round 9, Pick 100 - Kyle Bradish BAL (ADP 109.6)
This is the time in the draft when many drafters start targeting pitchers. I like the upside of Nolan McLean and the new landing spot for Mackenzie Gore, but Bradish is the most tantalizing. What if we got 160 innings of that pristine 30% strikeout rate from his cup of coffee last year, and paired it with the ace potential he flashed back in 2023? Hopefully, the injuries are behind him, and we get another chance to see what Bradish can do over a full season.
Build: P 2 - IF 3 - OF 4
Round 10, Pick 117 - Chase Burns CIN (ADP 116.3)
Including Burns will come with a bit of controversy, considering his strange usage in Spring Training and the Reds’ lack of clarity regarding his status in their rotation. Perhaps they’re playing the long game with arguably the most electric young arm in baseball, but the Reds should be competitive again in 2026. If they are, they’ll need Burns to be heavily involved. Every pitcher comes with injury risk, so I’m okay taking the chance on an absolute Stuff+ monster.
Build: P3 - IF 3 - OF 4
Round 11, Pick 124 - Wilyer Abreu BOS (ADP 131.2)
Not to sound like a total hipster, but I’ve been drafting Abreu since before his mammoth homer against Japan in the WBC. In only 115 games last year, he socked 22 tanks, walked at a healthy 9.6% clip, and posted a 12.3% barrel rate, which ranked in the 77th percentile. Based on the Red Sox’s right-handed options, Abreu could get an opportunity to play against lefties, which would boost his value even further. If he doesn’t, I still like this power bat’s spike potential, especially as OF falls off a cliff.
Build: P3 - IF 3 - OF 5
Round 12, Pick 141 - Bubba Chandler PIT (ADP 142.0)
I think I might have a type when it comes to pitchers. A year ago, drafters were taking Chandler in this range, but this time around, Chandler is ticketed for a spot in the Pirates’ rotation. The control concerns are valid, but as an SP4 with electric stuff, there are going to be outings where it all clicks, and Chandler is going to look unhittable. In his sophomore season, there’s plenty of runway for Chandler to make the necessary adjustments and tap into his immense potential.
Build: P4 - IF 3 - OF 5
Round 13, Pick 148 - Nate Eovaldi TEX (ADP 152.4)
I’m tempted to stack up Wilson Contreras here with Wilyer Abreu, but IF runs deep, and Eovaldi looks primed to repeat what was a very impressive 2025 season. His 21.9 K-BB% jumps off the page, and he has seemingly bounced back from the shoulder injury that cut his 2025 season short. Ideally, all my arms stay healthy, but if not, I like the projected quality of Eovaldi’s innings.
Build: P 5 - IF 3 - OF 5
Round 14, Pick 165 - Chase DeLauter CLE (ADP 172.6)
Despite an injury-plagued start to his career, DeLauter is still viewed highly by the Guardians organization. He made his major league debut in the playoffs and figures to slot into the lineup every day. I’d be more concerned about him being platooned if the Guardians’ bench featured actual major leaguers. Most projections have him around league average, but I think a breakout season is well within DeLauter’s range of outcomes.
Build: P 5 - IF 3 - OF 6
Round 15, Pick 172 - Drake Baldwin ATL (ADP 175.6)
Amidst the Jurickson Profar suspension fallout, Drizzy seems to be the biggest beneficiary. An open DH slot means the sophomore catcher has a pathway to more ABs in 2026. Baldwin actually hit better against lefties last year, and typically slots in the first half of the batting order, so there is a lot to be excited for this season.
Build: P5 - IF 4 - OF 6
Round 16, Pick 189 - Cade Horton CHC (ADP 192.3)
The Rookie of the Year runner-up came into Cubs camp, lighting up the radar gun. His expected statistics from last year suggest some luck, but his xERA was still under 4. Pitching in the friendly confines of Wrigley and having another year of development under his belt should help Horton excel in year two.
Build: P 6 - IF 4 - OF 6
Round 17, Pick 196 - Ivan Herrera STL (ADP 224.8)
The logical answer here is stacking Kyle Manzardo with DeLauter, but it’s MY perfect draft, and I can’t resist Herrera’s appeal. His bat is so strong, he’ll be shifting away from primary catcher duties to ensure he’s in the lineup every day. His savant page is just as red as his Cardinals jersey, and his K-BB ratio has me dreaming of what full-time production looks like for Herrera.
Build: P 6 - IF 5 - OF 6
Round 18, Pick 213 - JJ Wetherholt STL (ADP 227.4)
He doesn’t carry the same prospect hype as Konnor Griffin, but Wetherholt, taken two picks before Griffin in the 2024 draft, looks poised to break camp with the Cardinals as the team’s starting 2nd baseman. As my 6th infielder, he stacks well with Herrera, figures to play every day, and brings a combination of pedigree/upside at a very low price.
Build: P 6 - IF - 6 - OF 6
Round 19, Pick 220 - Luis Gil NYY (ADP 239.1)
Gil took a step back last year, in large part due to injury. Ever since his Rookie of the Year campaign, there have been concerns about his lack of control and tendency to lose the zone at times. Despite that, Gil has demonstrated an ability to generate whiffs and strikeouts at an above-average rate. With a strong spring and a spot in the Yankees’ rotation secured, I like Gil to bounce back and deliver some spike starts, even if he’s inconsistent across the course of the season.
Build: P 7 - IF - 6 - OF 6
Round 20, Pick 237 - Bryce Eldridge SF (ADP 238.8)
Hypothetical question: if you saw 30 homers lying around at the end of your draft, would you pick them up? I would.