👉 TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE SPRING
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


Gregory Polanco Rankings Debate: Comparing RotoBaller's Rankers

It's the fantasy baseball draft season. To us baseball nerds, few things are more exciting than arguing about player rankings. Today, we'll discuss and compare Gregory Polanco RotoBaller staff rankings. He was ranked No. 54 by Bill Dubiel, and No. 112 by Harris Yudin.

Throughout this series, we'll be using our February Staff Rankings to debate where to draft certain players. In cases where our writers had discrepancies, we've asked them to explain their rankings. These debates will provide us with some well-rounded analysis, and help identify undervalued/overvalued draft picks.

Editor's note: Check out our previous rankings debates on Jose RamirezTrea TurnerJ.D MartinezNelson Cruz, Jose AbreuBryce HarperCarlos Martinez, Kyle SchwarberJonathan VillarKenta Maeda and Andrew McCutchen .

 

2017 Draft Rankings Debate: Gregory Polanco

Bill Dubiel's Rankings Analysis

His Overall Ranking: 54

Gregory Polanco has the highest ceiling of all the Pirates' talented outfielders in 2017, as I don't think we've even see the peak of his abilities. He's gotten better in each of his three major league seasons, posting a .258/.323/.463 slash line last year with 22 big flies and 17 steals. Polanco actually sacrificed a bit of speed last year (he had 27 steals in 2015) but more than doubled his home run total (nine in 2015). And I think in a full season, Polanco is a lock for a 20/20 season with the potential for much more.

The power from last year is sustainable, as Polanco's .205 ISO, while a career high, is actually not far off from his minor league numbers. In 2012, Polanco posted a .197 ISO across a full season of A-ball, and 2014 was the only year in which he hit fewer than 12 total homers (across all levels). If he makes a bit more solid contact, Polanco could approach 25 homers again in 2017.
There's even some evidence that Polanco was unlucky getting on base last year. He posted the highest K-rate of his career in 2016 (20.3%) and a relatively low BABIP (.291). Once again, with a little bit of increased contact, Polanco could bump up his batting average and OBP, allowing more opportunities for stolen bases. The speed has always been there (roughly 38 steals per 162 games for his professional career) so opportunity seems to be the only thing keeping Polanco's steal totals down.

 

Harris Yudin's Rankings Analysis

His Overall Ranking: 112

Last year’s weird, league-wide power surge appears to have spread to Polanco, who nearly tripled his home run total from 2015 despite seeing 65 fewer plate appearances. At 6-foot-4, it’s not unreasonable for Polanco to tap into some raw power, but the odds of the 25-year-old eclipsing 20 bombs again are low. He was never expected to have anything more than average power — the only time he posted an ISO above .175 was back in Single-A — and somewhere in the 150 range is more likely. His strikeout rate increased and his BABIP dipped back below .300, so there’s little reason to believe his average will make much of a jump after sitting in the .250s for each of the last two years.

Polanco is a legitimate low-end OF2, but outfield is such a deep position that I can’t imagine spending up for him in the fifth round when someone like Dexter Fowler (ADP of 188) can be had nine or 10 rounds later. To me, there is nothing that sets Polanco apart from Adam Eaton, Jackie Bradley Jr, David Dahl and Lorenzo Cain, all of whom should finish somewhere in the 15-15 range and all of whom are ranked outside the top 100 by most or all of the RotoBaller writers.

It is worth noting that, in my updated rankings, Polanco has jumped up to 87.




REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Mike Evans

a Risky Upside Buy for Contending Dynasty Managers
Justin Herbert

Is Justin Herbert Entering His True Dynasty Prime?
Oronde Gadsden

Can Talent Overcome Situation for Oronde Gadsden II?
David Njoku

a Short-Term Dynasty Buy
Devin Neal

a Dynasty Hold Until the Depth Chart Ahead of Him Settles
Ricky Pearsall

Is Ricky Pearsall a Dynasty Breakout Candidate?
Tank Dell

Is Tank Dell a Player to Target in Dynasty Leagues?
NBA

Warriors Prioritize Depth Around Returning Steve Kerr
Sean Tucker

Is Sean Tucker an Undervalued Dynasty Trade Target?
Donovan Mitchell

Remains Cleveland's Top Priority
Puka Nacua

Is Puka Nacua the WR1 in Dynasty Leagues?
Adou Thiero

Remains a Lakers Development Project
Jalen McMillan

to Play All Three Receiver Positions?
NBA

76ers Hire Mike Gansey as President of Basketball Operations
NBA

Chicago Bulls Explore Kevin Young as Coaching Candidate
Kyrie Irving

Reports He's Nearing Full Strength in ACL Recovery
Lane Hutson

Posts a Power-Play Assist in Game 5 Loss
Cole Caufield

Nets a Power-Play Goal in Season-Ending Loss
Seth Jarvis

Closes Out East Finals With Multi-Point Game
Logan Stankoven

Notches Three Points in Big Game 5 Win
Taylor Hall

Racks Up Three Points in Series-Clinching Win
Frederik Andersen

Remains Stellar as Hurricanes Clinch Finals Berth
Jacob Gonzalez

is Heading to the Big Leagues
Munetaka Murakami

Exits with Hamstring Tightness
Mitchell Robinson

Plans to Play in Game 1 After Finger Surgery
Ajay Mitchell

Ruled Out for Game 7
Jalen Williams

Unavailable in Decisive Game 7
NBA

Magic Finalizing Hire of Sean Sweeney as Head Coach
Eury Pérez

Eury Perez is Placed on 15-Day Injured List
Alec Pierce

Dynasty Hype May Be Creating a Sell-High Opportunity
Drake London

Quarterback Uncertainty Creating a Buy-Low Window for Drake London?
Davante Adams

: Dynasty Sell-High Candidate Entering Age-34 Season
Rhamondre Stevenson

Dynasty Outlook Clouded by Crowded New England Backfield
Bo Nix

Is Bo Nix Currently Undervalued in Dynasty Formats?
Rico Dowdle

Dynasty Value Fading Ahead of First Season in Pittsburgh?
Deiveson Figueiredo

Set For UFC Macau Main Event
MMA

Yadong Song Returns At UFC Macau
Alonzo Menifield

An Underdog At UFC Macau
Zhang Mingyang

Set For UFC Macau Co-Main Event
Tallison Teixeira

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Sergei Pavlovich

A Favorite At UFC Macau
Cameron Smotherman

Looks To Bounce Back
Kai Asakura

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
CFB

Faizon Brandon In Position to Start Week 1
CFB

Dane Weber Commits to Cal
CFB

Joey McGuire Attempts to Add Texas to Schedule
CFB

Mike Leach on 2027 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot
CFB

Maryland, Baylor Schedule Home-and-Home
Cooper Kupp

Is Cooper Kupp Still Roster-Worthy in Dynasty Formats?
CFB

Taron Dickens Decommits From North Carolina
Christian McCaffrey

Should Dynasty Managers Be Looking to Sell High on Christian McCaffrey?
Braelon Allen

Does Braelon Allen Still Carry Dynasty Buy-Low Appeal Following Jets' Offseason Moves?
Kyler Murray

Offers Clear Dynasty Buy-Low Appeal After Offseason Change of Scenery
Rachaad White

: Prime Dynasty Buy-Low Candidate Ahead of Possible Bounce-Back Campaign
Jalen Williams

Limited in Game 6 Return
Jared McCain

Provides Bench Spark in Game 6 Loss
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Posts Lowest-Scoring Night of His MVP Season
De'Aaron Fox

Struggles From the Field Thursday
Stephon Castle

Controls the Spurs Offense in Game 6 Win
Dylan Harper

Finds His Rhythm Thursday
Victor Wembanyama

Drops 28 to Force a Winner-Take-All Game 7
Jalen Williams

is Active for Game 6
Thomas Sorber

is Optimistic About Playing in Summer League
NBA

Terry Rozier Gets Hit with New Charges
NBA

NBA Approves New Anti-Tanking Rules
MLB

MLB Proposes Hard Salary Cap as Part of Next CBA
Kenley Jansen

Tigers Place Kenley Jansen on Injured List With Pelvic Inflammation
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Heading to Injured List With Hamstring Strain
MON

Lane Hutson Struggles in Game 4 Loss
CAR

Logan Stankoven Nets Eighth Postseason Goal
CAR

Sebastian Aho Pots Game-Winner on Power Play
CAR

Nikolaj Ehlers Tallies Two Helpers in Impressive Road Win
CAR

Shayne Gostisbehere Records Two Assists in Game 4 Win
CAR

Frederik Andersen Establishes Hurricanes New Postseason Shutout Record
Yordan Alvarez

Continues Homer Barrage With Two More Long Balls on Wednesday
Cristopher Sánchez

Cristopher Sanchez Makes History With Seven More Shutout Innings Against Padres
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Lifted From Wednesday's Game Early With Hamstring Strain
Kenley Jansen

Exits Relief Appearance on Wednesday With Groin Injury
Eury Pérez

Eury Perez Pulled Early on Wednesday With Hamstring Issue
CFB

Drew Mestemaker a Top Big 12 Quarterback Right Away?
PGA

Sungjae Im Remains Boom-or-Bust at Colonial
PGA

Michael Thorbjornsen Trending in Wrong Direction Entering Colonial
Russell Henley

a Top Option at Colonial
Harry Hall

Hoping Putter Carries Him at Colonial
Rickie Fowler

Looks to Regain Momentum at Colonial
Pierceson Coody

Looking to Stay Hot at Colonial
Martin Necas

Collects an Assist in Game 4 Loss to Golden Knights
Gabriel Landeskog

Scores Only Avalanche Goal in Season-Ending Loss
Carter Hart

Finishes Series-Clincher With 20 Saves
Dylan Coghlan

Continues Unlikely Success Story
Cole Smith

Scores Series-Clincher Tuesday Night
Mark Stone

Nets Another Goal as Golden Knights Finish Off Avalanche
Ludvig Aberg

Looking to Exchange Momentum for a Victory in Fort Worth
Stephan Jaeger

Trending Upward as PGA Heads to Fort Worth
Max Homa

Comes Off Awful Putting Performance at PGA Championship
Tony Finau

Faces Different Test at the Colonial
Robert MacIntyre

Seeks Better Beginning in Fort Worth
Tom Hoge

Ups and Downs Could Continue at Colonial
Brian Harman

Not Having the Best Golf Season in 2026
Austin Eckroat

Struggling Too Often Heading to Charles Schwab Challenge
Zach Bauchou

Tries to Keep Momentum Rolling at Colonial
Keegan Bradley

Looking to Rebound at Colonial
Claude Giroux

Planning to Return for 20th NHL Campaign
Carter Hart

Aiming for Sixth Consecutive Win Tuesday
Evgeni Malkin

Inks New One-Year Deal With Penguins
Ben Griffin

Looking to Repeat This Week at Colonial
Rasmus Hojgaard

a Player to Avoid at Charles Schwab Challenge
Hideki Matsuyama

Needs Solid Driving Week at Charles Schwab Challenge
Justin Thomas

Trending Well Ahead of Charles Schwab Challenge
Akshay Bhatia

Lacking Driving Prowess Needed at Colonial Country Club
CFB

DJ Lagway Looking to Rebound at Baylor
CFB

Josh Hoover Tasked With Leading Indiana Back to the Playoffs
CFB

Braylon Staley the Next 1,000-Yard Tennessee Receiver?
CFB

Ahmad Hardy's Return Timeline Remains Unclear
Gage Jump

Athletics to Promote Top Pitching Prospect Gage Jump to Major Leagues
Tatsuya Imai

Two Relievers Combine to No-Hit the Rangers on Monday
Dylan Cease

Heading to Injured List With Hamstring Injury
Daniel Suarez

Wins at Charlotte in Rain-Shortened Coca-Cola 600
Christopher Bell

Finishes as the Runner-Up in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte
Denny Hamlin

Falls Short of Winning and Places Third at Charlotte
Tyler Reddick

Places Fourth After Leading Laps at Charlotte
Kyle Larson

Strong and Consistent Day Ends in Fifth at Charlotte
Dylan Cease

Removed From Sunday's Start With Hamstring Discomfort
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF