This is the furthest back I have gone so far in digging into former drafts. I will say it is VERY top heavy with some guys later on that you still want to have hope for.
Here is the original Top 10
My favorite part of this draft is seeing Kyler Murray going to the Athletics. I think its time to have a serious conversation whether Murray made the right choice in terms of athletic success (he is rich).
Here are my re-draft picks.
Tarik Skubal — New Team: Tigers… Lol
Original pick: 2018 Draft — Detroit Tigers — 9th Round (255th overall)
MLB career stats (through 2025): 766.2 IP, 3.08 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 5.2 K/BB, 3.14 FIP, 17.9 WAR,
My Thoughts: Kind of a no-brainer here. Ironically, the Tigers still got their guy as they had the 1st overall pick in 2018. You will see that player later in the list.
Jeremy Peña — New Team: San Francisco Giants
Original pick: 2018 Draft — Houston Astros — 3rd Round (102nd overall)
MLB career stats (through 2025): 568 G, .271/.320/.417, 64 HR, 247 RBI, 64 SB, 18.3 WAR
My Thoughts: It is really tough to make the case for Jeremy Pena being #1 when Skubal has had two dominating seasons in a row. However, Pena has been terrific. In terms of bWAR, he has gone 5.0—3.9—4.1—5.6. He has a Gold Glove, WS MVP, and finally made an All-Star Game this year.
Cal Raleigh — New Team: Philadelphia Phillies
Original pick: 2018 Draft — Seattle Mariners — 3rd Round (90th overall)
MLB career stats (through 2025): 623 G, .226/.314/.484, 153 HR, 376 RBI, 21 SB, 18.4 WAR
My Thoughts: Alright, when I do these lists, I try to think about who a team had in 2018. The Giants had a 31-year-old Buster Posey. So would they really need another catcher? Probably not. Raleigh had an out-of-this-world 2025, which shot him up this list. If you want to make an argument for him at #2, I won’t fight you. I think it makes sense to go with the younger, more athletic shortstop.
Logan Gilbert — New Team: White Sox
Original pick: 2018 Draft — Seattle Mariners — 1st Round (14th overall)
MLB career stats (through 2025): 835.1 IP, 3.58 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 4.9 K/BB, ~3.36 FIP, 15 WAR.
My Thoughts: Hey, White Sox have done a good job developing pitchers over the last decade. By this point, Gilbert probably already would have been traded to a contender as the White Sox continue their never-ending rebuild.
Jarren Duran — New Team: Cincinnati Reds
Original pick: 2018 Draft — Boston Red Sox — 7th Round (220th overall)
MLB career stats (through 2025): 510 G, .267/.328/.452, 50 HR, 226 RBI, 91 SB, 14.7 WAR
My Thoughts: The rest of this list is complete with outstanding players. However, if you are looking at peak ability, you have to go with Duran after his 2024 season. Outside of Skubal and Raleigh, no one can flip the game upside down as Duran does. As a Red Sox fan, I truly hope they hold onto him.
Steven Kwan — New Team: New York Mets
Original pick: 2018 Draft — Cleveland Indians (Guardians) — 5th Round (163rd overall)
MLB career stats (through 2025): 583 G, .281/.351/.390, 36 HR, 206 RBI, 73 SB, 16.7 WAR
My Thoughts: Four years in the bigs, four Gold Gloves. Slashlines have been pretty consistent across those four years, and while he isn’t going to lead your team to a World Series, he is a fundamental cornerstone. The Mets need someone like that.
Joe Ryan — New Team: San Diego Padres
Original pick: 2018 Draft — Tampa Bay Rays — 7th Round (210th overall)
MLB career stats (through 2025): 641.1 IP, 3.79 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 4.9 K/BB, 3.60 FIP, 10.6 WAR.
My Thoughts: Personally, I think Joe Ryan is overrated. Padres pitching was so bad a few years ago (and they did pick a pitcher initially with this pick). I feel they would choose the pitching depth over one of the next two hitters.
Brendan Donovan — New Team: Atlanta Braves
Original pick: 2018 Draft — St. Louis Cardinals — 7th Round (213th overall)
MLB career stats (through 2025): 492 G, .282/.361/.411, 40 HR, 202 RBI, 15 SB, 11.3 WAR
My Thoughts: Yes, he is a secondbaseman right now, and the Braves have had Albies, but he has also played 186 games in the outfield.
Brice Turang — New Team: Athletics
Original pick: 2018 Draft — Milwaukee Brewers — 1st Round (21st overall)
MLB career stats (through 2025): 450 G, .257 AVG, 31 HR, 172 RBI, 100 SB, 11.8 WAR
My Thoughts: Brice Turang on the A’s with this young core would be sick. This pick was wasted on Kyler Murray.
Casey Mize — New Team: Pittsburgh Pirates
Original pick: 2018 Draft — Detroit Tigers — 1st Round (1st overall)
MLB career stats (through 2025): 440.0 IP, 4.19 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 3.0 K/BB, 4.16 FIP, 4.6 WAR
My Thoughts: Mize has had a disappointing career, but his flashes of excellence still keep him in the Top 10 right now. Skenes/Keller/Mize/Jones would be a nasty rotation.
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