Much of the attention on Draft Day goes to the top of the market players which was especially true on Monday as Corbin Burnes equaled the highest pitcher-only contract in RDBL History at $73 while Ronald Acuña's $66 pact was tied for the second highest for a hitter in League History.
We are turning our focus to players that were locked up on Monday that look like locks to return to their clubs for 2024, given their contract status and expected performance this season. Here is one player for every club we think you can pencil into their Keeper Rosters for next season:
Alamo Short Stacks: OF Jake Fraley (1/$1)
Fraley's hit .295 with 11 homers and a .903 OPS in 53 games after returning from a knee injury in 2022. He backed it up with a .982 OPS in 50 Spring Training at-bats this month which has expectations growing from him in Cincinnati. Expected to see more left-handers this season, Fraley could be a cog for the Stacks in 2024 with 350+ potential which would be a nice return on a $1 investment. The club is hopeful fellow $1 addition Darick Hall (1.041 OPS this Spring) can produce at a similar clip.
Asti Grape Stompers: OF Masataka Yoshida (1/$23)
It's always difficult to predict how Japanese players will fair in their first season in the big leagues, but Yoshida shined in the WBC with a tournament record 13 RBI's and launched this bomb Tuesday. His patience at the plate should fair well in the RDBL scoring format which should have him firmly planted in the Grapes 2023 plans.
Burlingame Blue Ducks: 2B/SS/3B Luis Urias (1/$9)
With a wave of big name shortstops now locked into first year deals, Free Agent middle infielders could be barren heading into 2024. Banged up early in 2022, Urias came alive to finish the season with a .328/.416/.507 line in September and looked the part in the WBC. Expect a ~350 point season from the infielder this year and a return to Burlingame in 2024.
Cloverdale Clovers: 1B Freddie Freeman (1/$57)
Freeman led all hitters in scoring last season and is showing no signs of slowing down, but received the third highest contract ($57) in Auction for a hitter on Draft Day, trailing Ronald Acuña ($66) and Mike Trout ($58). With the Clovers continuing to produce activation-ready talent, expect GM Chris Shelley to fit Freeman's contract into the plans for 2024.
Honolulu Hammerheads: RHP Sonny Gray (1/$2)
Gray garnered some interest on the trade market this Winter as the Maltese Falcons shopped his $22 deal to clubs. To see him locked up for just $2 was a surprise and should provide immediate returns for GM Ross Horiuchi. While the Twins keep a tight leash on his innings, Gray produced a 3.08 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 24 starts and should be a safe bet for 350+ points with health this year.
Idaho Taters: C Logan O'Hoppe (1/$7)
It was the most unique catcher's market we have seen in RDBL History with 24 backstops already on RDBL Active Rosters going into the Draft while Yasmani Grandal and Logan O'Hoppe were the lone upside options on Draft Day. It only took $7 as GM Mike Friedrich looks set at the position in 2024 with O'Hoppe teaming with star backstop Sean Murphy.
Lake Merced Goutfish: OF Bryce Harper (1/$41)
You can slot Trevor Story's $1 contract in as well, but we'll go with the injured player that brings more star power here. Harper is a lock to be in Lake Merced through 2025 on his $41 contract and is expected to return around the All-Star Break this season.
Las Vegas Aristocrats: 1B Nate Lowe (1/$21)
One of our top ranked contracts of the 2023 Draft, Lowe should prove to be a steal for the 'Crats who needed some strong returns on smaller investments after spending $138 on Corbin Burnes and Juan Soto. A Silver Slugger last year, Lowe went to another level in the 2nd Half hitting .339/.399/.566 and should produce like a $30-40 player over the next three seasons.
Lunatic Fringe: RHP Shane Baz (1D/$5)
The Fringe locked up Baz in the 2nd Round of the Reserve Draft which should look like a steal at this time next year. Unless Baz is used as trade bait this year, the right-hander should be fully healthy in his recovery from Tommy John surgery and return to the bright spotlight that followed him as a Top-10 prospect entering last season.
Maltese Falcons: 2B Michael Massey (1/$6)
A late Auction name, Massey had a strong market among the clubs with open positions before landing with the Maltese Falcons for $6. It's a move that should pay off nicely for GM Gary Falzon and Assistant GM Erik Nielsen. Locked into an everyday role, Massey has produced a 1.007 OPS this Spring with five home runs and should develop into a nice 325-350 point player for the four-time Peninsula Division Champions.
Meinert Hops: 2B/SS Jorge Polanco (1/$9)
A year removed from a 33 home run season, Polanco had strong interest on the trade market this Winter but lingering knee issues prevented a deal as he was held out of all Spring Training games. Currently ramping back up, a full return to health for Polanco should provide major dividends for GM Garrett Shelley with Casey Mize (1D/$5) as another name to watch for the future.
Mission Viejo Maulers: IF Vaughn Grissom (1D/$5)
The Maulers didn't dive all the way into the injured options in Auction as many speculated, instead opting to land co-aces Gerrit Cole and Luis Castillo for $120 combined. GM Chris Ferraro likely found his long-term middle infielder in the 1st Round of the Reserve Draft, landing Grissom who was surprisingly sent back to Triple-A despite a .371 average in the Grapefruit League but should be back in Atlanta quickly.
Mt. Diablo Devils: 2B/OF Mookie Betts (1/$52)
Betts was another star name that was expected to reach the $60s on his Auction contract, but was a Draft Day steal by GM Jason Watson at $52. He's shown no signs of slowing down and will team with Jose Ramirez as a potential 500 point combo for the next two seasons.
Spokane Fightin' Fish: RHP Graham Ashcraft (1D/$5)
While we personally see Corey Seager ($42) playing at an MVP-level this year and an easy return for 2024, we'll go with the less publicized addition in Ashcraft. The right-hander has produced a 2.60 ERA and 0.87 WHIP over 17 1/3 Spring innings while producing a 25/2 strikeout to walk ratio as part of a very interesting Reds rotation behind Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo.
St. Joseph Jokers: OF Byron Buxton (1/$21)
We are going to be on a 135+ game season this year from Buxton and an easy return to the Jokers for 2024, because we desperately want to see it happen. Buxton played in 92 games last season, the highest mark since 2017 and is expected to earn more at-bats at DH this year in an attempt to keep him on the field.