All-Safe Team to consider in drafts

As much as we all want to draft the next huge fantasy baseball star, a lot of the times a successful team is defined by how secure each player’s floor is — by how safe their production is. Here’s 2023’s All-Safe fantasy baseball team!

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I recognize that calling the top-ranked player at his position “safe” isn’t groundbreaking news, but we’re talking about arguably the least-safe position in fantasy in terms of production. Realmuto was a cheat code last year, delivering league-winning numbers from a horrid position.

1B: Pete Alonso, New York Mets, 18.6 ADP

Alonso gives you power, run production and run-scoring, and he’s also not a batting average drain; he hit .271 last year, with a .261 career average. That’s an excellent floor for a slugger who hits in the heart of a potent lineup.

Altuve fits the Realmuto mold: An obviously safe pick at a position that, in 2023, has some question marks. But Altuve isn’t a top-ranked option due to some huge untapped upside or youth; he’s up there because you know exactly what you’re going to get. A top spot in the Astros ferocious lineup and five-category potential. Thirty-two years old isn’t exactly a hold-your-nose age, either.

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Sensing a pattern? Ramirez is another player who fits the fantasy archetype of being top-ranked due to his safety in an unsafe position. It also helps he’s one of the best pure hitters in MLB.

Still just 29 years old, there’s a chance we haven’t seen Lindor’s best season with the Mets yet. Regardless, we’re not here for what could be; we’re here for what is. And Lindor is an easy .270 with 20-20 potential and some 100-100 thrown in there for good measure. I’ll take that.

A perennial beacon of safety in the first round of drafts for the past few seasons, only injury can derail Betts’ floor (fingers crossed that I didn’t just jinx him). He’s a quality source of five-category production, and he just so happens to bat leadoff for arguably the best team in baseball.

SP: Julio Urías, Los Angeles Dodgers, 43.9 ADP

Urías is still just 26, yet has 37 wins in his last two seasons. In case you missed it, it helps to be a Dodger. But we’ve known for what seems like eternity that Urías is good; he’s just finally putting it all together in the prime of his career. He likely won’t give you a 2.16 ERA and 0.96 WHIP again in 2023, but what’s to stop him from say, oh, 3.10 and 1.05, respectively? Elite floor numbers from a guy who hasn’t reached his peak yet.

RP: Edwin Díaz, New York Mets, 29.3 ADP

Díaz is one of the last men standing of the old guard — true workhorse closers who not only own the ninth inning but excel at it. Just look at his last few seasons with the Mariners and Mets. Last year was particularly a dominant one for “Sugar,” posting 118 strikeouts in less than 65 innings, all while maintaining a stunning 1.31 ERA. He’s a skeleton key at his position; draft Diaz and you likely won’t have to address reliever again for five or more rounds.