Unveiling the Ultimate Fantasy MLB Keeper Rankings: Your 2023 Draft Strategy Starter Kit!

Hello, fantasy baseball enthusiasts! It's that time of year again when we dust off our baseball caps, crack our knuckles, and dive into the magical world of fantasy MLB keeper rankings. If you're here, you're probably eager to get a head start on your 2023 draft strategy. Well, you've come to the right place, my friends! We're about to embark on an epic journey through the fantasy baseball landscape, uncovering the gems, exposing the busts, and setting you up for keeper league dominance. So, grab your favorite beverage, get comfy, and let's dive in! Guys, explore more in Guides And Explainers and fantasy mlb keeper rankings.

What Makes a Fantasy MLB Keeper League Special?

Before we dive into the rankings, let's quickly refresh our memories on what makes fantasy MLB keeper leagues so darn exciting. Unlike regular redraft leagues, keeper leagues allow you to retain certain players from year to year. This adds a whole new dimension to your draft strategy, as you're not only focusing on the here and now, but also planning for the future. It's like building a dynasty, folks! But with more stats and less royal intrigue (hopefully).

2023 Fantasy MLB Keeper Rankings: The Method to Our Madness

Alright, let's get down to business. Our fantasy MLB keeper rankings are based on a combination of projected 2023 value, long-term potential, and keeper league specific factors. We've weighted our rankings towards young talent and high-upside players, as they're more likely to provide value in the future. But don't worry, we haven't forgotten about the established stars – they've got their place in our rankings too.

We've also considered the following factors in our rankings:

- Positional Scarcity: Some positions are deeper than others. For instance, there are plenty of catchers to go around, but quality shortstops? That's a different story. We've taken this into account when ranking players. - Injury History: While we don't want to dwell on the negative, a player's injury history can have a significant impact on their keeper league value. We've factored this into our rankings where appropriate. - Team Context: A player's value can fluctuate based on their team situation. For example, a hitter in a loaded lineup might have more RBI opportunities than one in a punchless lineup. We've considered these context-specific factors in our rankings.

Now that we've got the methodology out of the way, let's get to the rankings!

Top 50 Fantasy MLB Keepers: The Cream of the Crop

Without further ado, here are our top 50 fantasy MLB keepers for the 2023 season. Remember, these rankings are based on a standard 5x5 roto league with one catcher, one utility spot, and no innings limit for pitchers.

The Elite: Tiers 1 & 2

Tier 1: The Superstars

1. Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels: Is this really a surprise? Trout is the consensus #1 overall pick in fantasy baseball, and for good reason. He's consistently put up MVP-caliber numbers and shows no signs of slowing down.
2. Mookie Betts, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers: Betts is another no-brainer at the top of our keeper rankings. He's a perennial MVP candidate with a well-rounded skill set that makes him a fantasy gold mine.
3. Gerrit Cole, SP, New York Yankees: Cole has been one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball over the past few seasons, and he's only getting better. He's a must-own in any keeper league.

Tier 2: The Next Level

4. Ronald Acuña Jr., OF, Atlanta Braves: Acuña is one of the most electrifying players in baseball, and he's still just scratching the surface of his potential. He's a must-own in any keeper league.
5. Cody Bellinger, OF/1B, Los Angeles Dodgers: Bellinger has been one of the most valuable fantasy players over the past few seasons, and he's still just 27 years old. He's got the potential to be a cornerstone of your keeper league team.
6. Francisco Lindor, SS, New York Mets: Lindor is one of the most dynamic shortstops in baseball, and he's still got plenty of room to grow. He's a no-brainer in any keeper league.
7. Fernando Tatis Jr., SS, San Diego Padres: Tatis is one of the most exciting players in baseball, and he's still just 23 years old. He's got the potential to be a fantasy superstar for years to come.
8. Jacob deGrom, SP, New York Mets: deGrom is one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball, and he's still just 34 years old. He's a must-own in any keeper league, despite his injury concerns.

The Contenders: Tiers 3 & 4

Tier 3: The Next Wave

9. Shohei Ohtani, SP/OF, Los Angeles Angels: Ohtani is a two-way sensation who's already established himself as one of the most valuable fantasy players in the game. He's a must-own in any keeper league.
10. Trea Turner, SS, Philadelphia Phillies: Turner is a five-category contributor who's still just 29 years old. He's a no-brainer in any keeper league.
11. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals: Goldschmidt has been one of the most consistent fantasy players over the past decade, and he's still got plenty of gas left in the tank.
12. Jose Altuve, 2B, Houston Astros: Altuve has been one of the most valuable fantasy second basemen in recent years, and he's still just 32 years old. He's a must-own in any keeper league.
13. Manny Machado, 3B, San Diego Padres: Machado has been one of the most consistent fantasy third basemen in recent years, and he's still just 30 years old. He's a no-brainer in any keeper league.
14. Luis Robert, OF, Chicago White Sox: Robert is one of the most exciting young outfielders in baseball, and he's still just 25 years old. He's a must-own in any keeper league.
15. Juan Soto, OF, San Diego Padres: Soto is one of the most talented young hitters in baseball, and he's still just 24 years old. He's a no-brainer in any keeper league.

Tier 4: The Breakout Candidates

16. Rafael Devers, 3B, Boston Red Sox: Devers has been one of the most consistent fantasy third basemen in recent years, and he's still just 26 years old. He's a must-own in any keeper league.
17. Bo Bichette, SS, Toronto Blue Jays: Bichette is one of the most exciting young shortstops in baseball, and he's still just 24 years old. He's a no-brainer in any keeper league.
18. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Toronto Blue Jays: Guerrero has been one of the most valuable fantasy first basemen in recent years, and he's still just 23 years old. He's a must-own in any keeper league.
19. Bryce Harper, OF, Philadelphia Phillies: Harper has been one of the most valuable fantasy outfielders in recent years, and he's still just 30 years old. He's a no-brainer in any keeper league.
20. Trea Turner, SS, Philadelphia Phillies: Turner is a five-category contributor who's still just 29 years old. He's a must-own in any keeper league.

The Sleepers: Tiers 5 & 6

Tier 5: The High-Upside Players

21. Adalberto Mondesi, SS, Kansas City Royals: Mondesi has been one of the most exciting young shortstops in baseball, and he's still just 27 years old. He's a must-own in any keeper league, despite his injury concerns.
22. Kyle Tucker, OF, Houston Astros: Tucker has been one of the most valuable fantasy outfielders in recent years, and he's still just 25 years old. He's a no-brainer in any keeper league.
23. Wander Franco, SS, Tampa Bay Rays: Franco is one of the most talented young shortstops in baseball, and he's still just 21 years old. He's a must-own in any keeper league.
24. Corbin Carroll, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks: Carroll is one of the most exciting young outfielders in baseball, and he's still just 22 years old. He's a no-brainer in any keeper league.
25. Elvis Andrus, SS, Chicago White Sox: Andrus has been one of the most consistent fantasy shortstops in recent years, and he's still just 34 years old. He's a must-own in any keeper league.

Tier 6: The Deep Sleepers

26. Joey Bart, C, San Francisco Giants: Bart is one of the most talented young catchers in baseball, and he's still just 25 years old. He's a no-brainer in any keeper league.
27. Oneil Cruz, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates: Cruz is one of the most exciting young shortstops in baseball, and he's still just 23 years old. He's a must-own in any keeper league.
28. Trent Grisham, OF, San Diego Padres: Grisham has been one of the most valuable fantasy outfielders in recent years, and he's still just 25 years old. He's a no-brainer in any keeper league.
29. Garrett Mitchell, OF, Milwaukee Brewers: Mitchell is one of the most talented young outfielders in baseball, and he's still just 24 years old. He's a must-own in any keeper league.
30. Jorge Mateo, 2B/SS, Baltimore Orioles: Mateo has been one of the most exciting young middle infielders in baseball, and he's still just 27 years old. He's a no-brainer in any keeper league.

The Rest: Tiers 7 & 8

Tier 7: The Solid Contributors

31. Javy Baez, 2B/SS, Detroit Tigers: Baez has been one of the most valuable fantasy middle infielders in recent years, and he's still just 30 years old. He's a must-own in any keeper league.
32. Trevor Story, SS, Texas Rangers: Story has been one of the most valuable fantasy shortst