Maltese Falcons
Salary Cap Overview: $125 for 10 Players
Activations: Nick Madrigal
The Falcons boast the league's highest projected points per keeper at 401.5, speaking to the quality and depth of their Keeper Roster. 2021 acquisition Kyle Tucker leads the way while Zack Wheeler and Clayton Kershaw should form a dominant 1-2 punch for GM Gary Falzon and Assistant GM Erik Nielsen.
Falcons Potential Draft Day Target: Xander Bogaerts
By keeping six pitchers, the Falcons have a shallow group on offense which could align them well with Xander Bogaerts, the top available middle infielder in the 2022 Free Agent Class.
Meinert Hops
Salary Cap Overview: $126 for 8 Players
Activations: AJ Puk, Seth Beer, Shane McClanahan
The Hops will build around the elite trio of Mike Trout, Luis Robert and Logan Webb with hopes of building an offensive unit with more stable playing time after posting the league's fewest ABs a season ago. The club will await word on the health of Andrew Vaughn, a 2021 activation, who injured his hip just hours before the Keeper Deadline.
Hops Potential Draft Day Target: Kyle Hendricks
The Hops have decent money to spend on Draft Day but a shallow crop of starting pitching options could have them targeting more of a mid-tier arm with upside which could align well with Hendricks.
Burlingame Blue Ducks
Salary Cap Overview: $128 for 9 Players
Activations: Jazz Chisholm, Alek Manoah
The Ducks held off on the activation of Joey Bart but will add Jazz Chisholm and Alek Manoah to the fold as they look to roll out an younger and more athletic group in 2022. Manoah will pair with new addition Steven Matz as well as Cristian Javier and Framber Valdez in a cost-controlled starting staff while Kris Bryant and Paul Goldschmidt will carry the load on offense.
Ducks Potential Draft Day Target: Aaron Nola
The Ducks posted the fewest pitching points in the RDBL a season ago and need a horse at the top of their rotation. That makes Aaron Nola a logical fit for Walsh in Auction with the cap space to go grab the righty.
Asti Grape Stompers
Salary Cap Overview: $106 for 10 Players
Activations: Bobby Witt, Jr.
The Bobby Witt, Jr. Show has arrived as his activation highlights some ridiculously talented prospects across baseball ready to showcase their skills in the big leagues. Witt's arrival takes a bit of pressure off George Springer and Freddie Freeman for a roster that's value lies heavily in a dominant rotation led by Walker Buehler. Expect GM Terry Shelley to pour most of the remainder of his budget into their outfield which is currently composed of just Springer and Kike Hernandez.
Grapes Potential Draft Day Target: Bryan Reynolds
It's a theme for these targets, but for good reason as some of the top players available played key roles for Playoff organizations that would love to sign back up for another three years under contract. Reynolds just wrapped up a two year stint with the Grapes, winning the 2019 Free Agent Claim of the Year and would be a welcome addition to the outfield.
Mt. Diablo Devils
Salary Cap Overview: $170 for 8 Players
Activations: SS Wander Franco, OF Jesus Sanchez, RHP Cal Quantrill
The Devils are backed by a star in Bo Bichette who leads a team that the analytics absolutely adore. GM Jason Watson will depend on those both young and old as activations Wander Franco and Cal Quantrill will be expected to share a heavy load as will veterans Justin Turner and Adam Wainwright. The Devils hold a small lead over the Taters in available cap space per opening and could vault into serious title contention conversations if they can nail their Auction Draft.
Devils Potential Draft Day Target: Bryce Harper
The best player on the Devils the last time they won the RDBL Title in 2015? Bryce Harper. The club is well-positioned for a serious run at the best available bat in this year's Free Agent Class as the slugger comes off the National League MVP Award
Lake Merced Goutfish
Salary Cap Overview: $149 for 9 Players
Activations: RHP Dylan Cease, OF Yordan Alvarez
The defending Champions look to be well-positioned for a run at back-to-back titles missing their star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. for at least 2-3 months. The club made the late decision to cut loose third baseman Manny Machado, a welcome sight to a slim Free Agent pool, instead going with Josh Bell. A musical chairs game behind the plate this off-season ultimately settled on Mitch Garver and Alejandro Kirk, helping aid a strong cap space situation for GM Ryan Atkinson. The rotation will be driven by Freddy Peralta and Anthony DeSclafani, with Dylan Cease and Dakota Hudson rounding out the group.
Goutfish Potential Draft Day Target: Matt Olson
Olson quietly served a key piece of the Goutfish's championship run in 2021, but his 2022 market will be anything but quiet. Regardless, the additional cap space added by Atkinson could lead to a reunion in Lake Merced.
Las Vegas Aristocrats
Salary Cap Overview: $72 for 11 Players
Activations: N/A
After the Aristocrats settled on retaining Max Scherzer's $68 contract, the mission to find cap space was clear as the club moved Justin Turner and Nolan Arenado in recent days. Surrounded by a strong outfield, the pressure will be on a bounceback from 2R/$3 contracts Cavan Biggio and Alec Bohm to aid a strong starting staff of Scherzer, Mike Clevinger, Max Fried and Joe Musgrove.
Aristocrats Potential Draft Day Target: Mike Zunino
Without a great deal of cap space and two openings at catcher, the club could look to land Mike Zunino who hit 33 home runs in 2021.
Cloverdale Clovers
Salary Cap Overview: $110 for 10 Players
Activations: SP Michael Kopech
The Clovers had a painful deadline as expected Keepers Jack Flaherty and Alex Reyes both went down with shoulder injuries, joining fellow rookie contract assets Mike Soroka and Francisco Mejia on the chopping block Sunday. The positive for GM Chris Shelley is that they will bring back the key pieces of last year's second ranked offense with Juan Soto, Mookie Betts and Rafael Devers rivaling any offensive trio in the RDBL. Expect Shelley to pour his available cap space into pitching after finishing with a league-worst 4.30 ERA in 2021.
Clovers Potential Draft Day Target: Jose Berrios
While there's always risk with starting pitchers, the Clovers need some veteran certainty and upside at the top of their rotation and Berrios fits the mold.
Spokane Fightin Fish
Salary Cap Overview: $122 for 9 Players
Activations: 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes, SS Willy Adames
The Fish dabbled with the idea of retaining Shane Bieber and Gerrit Cole, but ultimately went for more cap flexibility with Bieber's release on Sunday. The pitching staff is stout, led by Cole with Luis Castillo, Charlie Morton and Alex Cobb behind him. The true value of their roster lies in their infield as National League Rookie of the Year Jonathan India is joined by Yoan Moncada and activations Ke'Bryan Hayes and Willy Adames for a combined $10.
Fish Potential Draft Day Target: Shane Bieber
The Fish are bringing back seven pitchers but would love to see a reunion with Bieber to make a big impact on the starting staff.
Honolulu Hammerheads
Salary Cap Overview: $160 for 10 Players
Activations: 1B/OF Alex Kirilloff, C Tyler Stephenson
The Hammerheads will go as far as their training staff allows them to this season as the health of Jacob deGrom, Carlos Rodon and Byron Buxton will be vital to their chances. When healthy, the upside of the top of their Keeper Roster when Corbin Burnes is factored in, is as high as any in the RDBL. The club has a strong duo behind the plate with Salvador Perez pacing all catchers in scoring a season ago. Stephenson's activation alongside Alex Kirilloff should give GM Ross Horiuchi the flexibility to make a few more impactful additions in Auction.
Heads Potential Draft Day Target: Cristian Pache
It might be a minor move, but an aggressive promotion of Pache by the Heads last year resulted in his release this season. Pache is now set as the starting center fielder in Oakland and a reunion for under $5 could open up three more seasons of control.
Alamo Short Stacks
Salary Cap Overview: $154 for 9 Players
Activations: OF Jarred Kelenic, RHP Logan Gilbert
The Alamo Short Stacks made a late deadline acquisition of Alex Wood who will slot in over Tarik Skubal for the club's 4th starter spot while saving the team $5 in cap space entering Wednesday. Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Brandon Woodruff and Julio Urias lead the way while the 1-2 bullpen punch of Emmanuel Clase and Kenley Jansen has GM Greg Shelley confident in their overall pitching staff. The positional flexibility of Ty France and Chris Taylor gives Shelley extreme flexibility in the Auction Draft which should allow for a position-less strategy.
Stacks Potential Draft Day Target: Alex Bregman
While $40 was too rich for Bregman's return, a reunion with the third baseman isn't out of the question for the Stacks. Injuries cost Bregman much of 2021 but his position as one of the top players at third base remains.
Mission Viejo Maulers
Salary Cap Overview: $85 for 10 Players
Activations: C Keibert Ruiz
The Maulers overhauled their Keeper Roster over the last week with GM Chris Ferraro reshaping a now powerful offense and depth behind Justin Verlander in the rotation with the additions of Chris Flexen and Tyler Anderson. Ferraro will have to be savvy with his moves in the Auction Draft as he holds just $8.50/opening, needing 10 players for a total of $85.
Maulers Potential Draft Day Target: Josh Donaldson
Without much to spend, the Maulers will have to get creative and bet on some bounceback seasons from veteran players and Donaldson's unexpected release from the Fringe could land him with Ferraro's club on Wednesday.
Lunatic Fringe
Salary Cap Overview: $135 for 11 Players
Activations: N/A
The Fringe turned in the most surprising Keeper List in the league thus far, shedding expected Keepers Patrick Wisdom and Josh Donaldson while holding off on the activations of Brandon Marsh, Josiah Gray and Triston McKenzie. Instead, Evan Longoria, Kyle Farmer and Adam Duvall will return. Few teams possess as strong of a 1-2 punch at the top of their rotation than Sandy Alcantara and Lucas Giolito who are owed just $6 combined for 2022.
Fringe Potential Draft Day Target: The Fringe have had their most successful seasons when their pitching staff is dominating, making Lance Lynn a potential target for GM Tony Guglielmi on Draft Day.
St. Joseph Jokers
Salary Cap Overview: $86 for 11 Players
Activations: N/A
The Jokers additions of Michael Brantley, Jon Gray and Yu Darvish provided the club with a significant shot in the arm to their Keeper Roster which will rely heavily on the group already under contract as they have just $86 to spend on Wednesday. Trea Turner and Jose Abreu will be counted on heavily while the club hopes 2021 activation Vladimir Gutierrez can break out with his rotation spot secured in Cincinnati.
Jokers Potential Draft Day Target: J.T. Realmuto
The Jokers don't have a catcher under contract following the retirement of Buster Posey and could look to replace him with another high-end catcher in J.T. Realmuto.
Idaho Taters
Salary Cap Overview: $148 for 7 Players
Activations: C Sean Murphy, IF Brendan Rodgers, IF Spencer Torkelson, OF Jo Adell, RHP Casey Mize
The Taters window for contention is officially open as GM Mike Friedrich has aggressively promoted five prospects to their Active Roster, most notably led by Spencer Torkelson. The club looks like it will have the league's highest spending power, with $148 for seven players, but three of those needs are in the bullpen. Late addition Eduardo Rodriguez will slot in behind Kevin Gausman and German Marquez in a strong starting rotation.
Taters Potential Draft Day Target: Shohei Ohtani
The utility spot is wide open for Friedrich and it could have Ohtani's name all over it as rumors have circled that the Taters Front Office is fully focused on the top of the Free Agent Market on Wednesday.
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