1990 MLB Re-Draft

How would the 1990 draft have gone if teams drafted correctly?

In this third installment of the MLB re-draft, we look at the 1990 MLB draft and do it over knowing what we know now.

Before we get into that, let's look at the 1987, 1988, and 1989re-drafts.

1 Atlanta Braves

Select: SS        Chipper Jones         The Bolles School

Jones was the Braves actual selection.

This was the clear cut choice then and now. Chipper was an excellent 3rd baseman for a long time and played his entire 19 year career in Atlanta. An excellent decision with the #1 pick.

2 Detroit Tigers

Select: P          Mike Mussina           Stanford

Mussina was actually selected with the 20th overall selection by the Baltimore Orioles.

Actual Selection: OF        Tony Clark        Christian HS

Clark was actually a solid pick. He made an all-star team in 2001 and was so well thought of that he is the current head of the MLBPA. That said, he did not belong in the top 5 and definitely not at #2 overall. Meanwhile, there is already a 2nd hall of famer from this draft class. Mike Mussina won 270 career games in the challenging AL East. To have that many wins and an ERA under 4 while pitching in that beast of a division your entire career is super impressive. Detroit fielders would have loved playing behind the incredibly efficient Mussina.

3 Philadelphia Phillies

Select: P          Andy Pettitte               Deer Park HS

Pettitte was actually selected in the 22nd round with the 594th overall selection by the Yankees.

Actual Selection: C           Mike Lieberthal        Westlake HS

Lieberthal was an all-star and a decent pick, but no way is he the selection if the Phillies got the chance to do it again. They surely go with the multi-time World Series champion pitcher in Andy Pettitte. They would have loved to add Andy to the rotation. It is crazy that this guy lasted until the 22nd round.

4 Chicago White Sox

Select: C          Jorge Posada              Calhoun Community College

Posada was actually selected in 24th round with the 646th overall selection by the Yankees.

Actual Selection: P            Alex Fernandez         Miami-Dade College

Fernandez was actually one of the best picks in the actual draft and won't be around much longer in the re-draft. There was a better player on the board though, and he was not selected until much later. Posada was an excellent catcher and part of the Yankee core-4 that brought them multiple World Series championships. The White Sox would have loved to have him behind the dish in the 90s. 

5 Pittsburgh Pirates

Select: P           Alex Fernandez          Miami-Dade Collge

Fernandez was actually selected with the 4th overall selection  by the White Sox.

Actual Selection: P        Kurt Miller          West HS

Miller was a terrible selection and the Pirates should have done much better. Through the re-draft, they are lucky to have Alex Fernandez available. He was a much better pro pitcher than Miller. Pittsburgh would have loved to have Alex on the bump.

6 Seattle Mariners

Select: OF         Rondell White       Jones County HS

White was actually selected with the 24th overall selection by the Montreal Expos.

Actual Selection: 1B       Marc Newfield       Marina HS

The Mariners selected Newfield at #6 and eventually moved him to left field. Instead, they could have picked an actual stud outfielder in White. An outfield of White, Griffey, and Buhner would have been the best in baseball. This could have made the Mariners a true contender for a World Series. Instead, they busted and took the underachieving Newfield. 

7 Cincinnati Reds

Select: OF         Garret Anderson        Kennedy HS

Anderson was actually selected in the 4th round with the 125th overall selection by the Angels.

Actual Selection: C        Dan Wilson          Minnesota

Dan Wilson was a solid catcher and one time all-star. He did a great job for the Reds, but he was not near one of the most impactful in this class. Meanwhile, Anderson, who wasn't picked until round 4, had 287 career home runs, and was a huge reason why the Angels won the 2002 World Series. The left fielder was also incredibly loyal spending 15 years with the Angels. Cincinnati would have loved to have Anderson and his winning pedigree with the Reds.

8 Cleveland Indians

Select: P              Troy Percival            California

Percival was actually selected in the 6th round with the 179th overall selection by the Angels.

Actual Selection: SS       Tim Costo            Iowa

Costo had a negative career war and only spent parts of two seasons in the big leagues. The Indians could have done much better with this selection and a better pick could have led to a possible World Series win. The Indians were possibly a strong pitcher away from a 1995& 1997 World Series championships. How about the team getting one of the best closers of the generation. It would have possibly been the difference and would have allowed the Indians to shorten the game if nothing else.

9 Los Angeles Dodgers

Select: OF         Rusty Greer              University of Montevallo

Greer was actually selected in the 10th round with the 279th overall selection by the Texas Rangers.

Actual Selection: P         Ron Walden          Blanchard HS

Walden never even made the bigs, so its safe to say he was a bust. The Dodgers do much better in the redraft. They select a really solid outfielder that makes the team far better. Rusty Greer never made an all-star team, but he was a really solid dependable outfielder for a long time. The 90s Dodgers teams could have really used solid and dependable.

10 New York Yankees

Select: P            Mike Hampton             Crystal River HS

Hampton was actually selected in the 6th round with the 161st overall selection by the Mariners.

Actual Selection: OF        Carl Everett           Hillsborough HS

The Yankees really came out of this re-draft on the losing end. They lost 2 of their core 4. They still do better than their first pick this year and get a really solid contributing piece. It's not that Everett was a bad pick, because he did well as a pro, but it wasn't as a Yankee. New York picks a guy that had a slightly better career and could contribute to their starting rotation. His 148 career wins would have been a welcome sight in New York.

11 Montreal Expos

Select: 2B          Ray Durham              Harding HS

Durham was actually selected in the 5th round with the 132nd overall selection by the White Sox.

Actual Selection: 3B        Shane Andrews         Carlsbad HS

The Expos could have done worse than Andrews and many teams did worse during this 1st round. That said, he was not worthy of being a first rounder. Durham was a fantastic infielder and is an absolute steal here at 11 in the re-draft. He had the potential to be a game-changer for the Expos. This would have been outstanding for Montreal if this happened and perhaps could have helped keep the team in Canada.

12 Minnesota Twins

Select: 2B          Bret Boone                   Southern Cal

Boone was actually selected in the 5th round with the 134th overall selection by the Mariners.

Actual Selection: P         Todd Ritchie        Duncanville HS

Ritchie was not worth a first round pick, let alone being selected in the top half of round 1. Instead, they pick a guy they originally drafted in 1987 back when he did not sign. This time they get him and he is a huge success story for the Twins. Boone has 252 career home runs, which is an incredibly high number for a second baseman. The Twins love this re-draft.

13 St. Louis Cardinals

Select: OF          Carl Everett                Hillsborough HS

Everett was actually selected with the 10th overall selection by the New York Yankees.

Actual Selection: P            Donovan Osbourne          UNLV

Osbourne was an ok selection and had an impact in the majors, but the Cardinals could have done better. Here, they select a guy that was already gone in the actual draft. Everett was a really solid outfielder and would have given St. Louis one of the best outfields in the game.

14 Oakland Athletics

Select: OF             Jeromy Burnitz            Oklahoma State

Burnitz was actually selected with the 17th overall selection by the New York Mets.

Actual Selection: P           Todd Van Poppel           James W. Martin Hs

Van Poppel had a negative career WAR and should not have been a 1st round pick. This re-draft is a chance for Oakland to extend their window and make an impact selection. They select an all-star outfielder that would have complemented the Bash Brothers well with his hustle.

15 San Francisco Giants

Select: C                  Mike Lieberthal           Westlake HS

Lieberthal was actually selected with the 3rd overall selection by the Philadelphia Phillies.

Actual Selection: OF         Adam Hyzdu           Archbishop Moeller HS

Lieberthal was long gone in the actual draft, but provides great value at 15 here in the real draft for the Giants. The opportunity to get an all-star backstop in the re-draft would excite the Giants very much. It would have been a much better selection than Hyzdu that is for sure.

16 Texas Rangers

Select: P                     Bob Wickman              Wisconsin-Whitewater

Wickman was actually selected  in the 2nd round with the 44th overall selection by the White Sox.

Actual Selection: P             Dan Smith               Creighton

Dan Smith didn't do anything productive in the MLB, but Bob Wickman had himself a solid MLB career. Wickman was a really solid starter that eventually was converted into a closer. He should have been a 1st rounder instead of a second rounder. Here in the re-draft, the Rangers make sure it happens.

17 New York Mets

Select: IF                     David Bell                     Archbishop Moeller HS

Bell was actually selected in the 7th round with the 190th overall selection by the Cleveland Indians.

Actual Selection: OF           Jeromy Burnitz       Oklahoma State

Burnitz was a wonderful selection and he had a really good pro career. However, he was selected already in the re-draft. If the draft happened today, the Mets would take the player that had the best career, and that was David Bell. The longtime big leaguer had quite the pro career and the Mets could have certainly lived with selecting him.

18 St. Louis Cardinals

Select: C                      Dan Wilson                     Minnesota

Wilson was actually selected with the 7th overall selection by the Cincinnati Reds.

Actual Selection: SS            Aaron Holbert         David Starr Jordan HS

Aaron Holbert never did anything of significance in the pros. The Cardinals could have made a selection of somebody else instead. Dan Wilson was gone in the actual draft, but the Cardinals are thrilled to get the all-star catcher in the re-draft.

19 San Francisco Giants

Select: 2B                     Fernando Vina                 Arizona State

Vina was actually selected in the 9th round with the 253rd overall selection by the Mets.

Actual Selection: C              Eric Christopherson     San Diego State

Christopherson was another guy that was drafted way too high. This guy didn't even make the majors. They could have done better picking 100s of different guys. With the re-draft, they have the opportunity to select former all-star second baseman Fernando Vina.

20 Baltimore Orioles

Select: OF                     Tony Clark                       Christian HS

Clark was actually selected with the 2nd overall pick by the Detroit Tigers.

Actual Selection: P               Mike Mussina          Stanford

No pick during this draft was better than Mike Mussina. He was a Hall of Famer and the Orioles ace for years. The team is quite unlucky in the re-draft losing him. However, they could pick up slugger Tony Clark. Clark's best season was 1997 and that was the season the Orioles won the AL East. That year Clark would slug 32 home runs and drive in 117 RBIs. Perhaps the slugger could have slugged the Orioles into the World Series.

21 Houston Astros

Select: P                          Eddie Guardado              San Joaquin Delta College

Guardado was actually selected 21st round with the 570th overall selection by the Twins.

Actual Selection: SS             Tom Nevers              Edina HS

Nevers never made the big leagues, but one guy that did was Everyday Eddie. The reliever was an outstanding closer with a long career. The Astros are thrilled to get him at number 21 in the re-draft. During the actual draft, Guardado didn't go until the 21st round.

22 Toronto Blue Jays

Select: P                Steve Karsay            Christ the King HS

Karsay was the Blue Jays actual selection.

The Blue Jays selected well in 1990 by getting the solid pitcher in Karsay. He would have an 11 year big league career and be solid for many years.

23 Chicago Cubs

Select: IF              Tony Graffanino        East Islip HS

Graffanino was actually selected in the 10th round with the 264th overall selection by the Braves.

Actual Selection: P                 Lance Dickson         Arizona

Dickson accomplished nothing in his big league career, but one guy that did was Tony Graffanino. The infielder had a 13 year big league career and was quite the bargain in the 10th round. Here in the re-draft, he is still a bargain for the Cubs at 23.

24 Montreal Expos

Select: P                James Baldwin            Pinecrest HS

Baldwin was actually selected in the 4th round with the 105th overall selection by the White Sox. 

Actual Selection: OF              Rondell White          Jones County HS

The Expos made an excellent selection by nabbing White at 24. However, in the re-draft, he is long gone. They select the best player available happens to be former starter James Baldwin who was absolutely fantastic up until about 2001. He has 79 career wins and an all-star appearance under his belt.

25 San Diego Padres

Select: P                Dave Fleming              Georgia

Fleming was actually selected in the 3rd round with the 79th overall selection by the Mariners.

Actual Selection: P                 Robbie Beckett         McCollum HS

Beckett did nothing as a pro, and the Padres wisely select one that did in the re-draft. While Fleming only lasted 5 years in the pros, they were wonderful years before he started having arm problems. He even won 17 games in 1992. Those 17 wins on the Padres, could have helped the team make the postseason.

26 Oakland Athletics

Select: OF               Rich Becker                  West HS

Becker was actually selected in the 3rd round with the 85th overall selection by the Twins.

Actual Selection: P                 Don Peters                 University of St. Francis

Don Peters never made the big leagues, it would have done the Athletics well to pick a player that would have made it. Here in the re-draft, they pick the best player left. That player is Rich Becker, who had a solid 8 year career. He was not a world beater, but he was a much better pro than Peters.

- Noland

1988 MLB Re-Draft

This is the second of my MLB re-drafts. June is usually the month of the baseball draft and this is a fun way to look back what would happen if we knew what we know now. How would the baseball landscape look differently if teams picked correctly. The goal is to re-do all the professional drafts of my lifetime which began in 1987. 

Here is a look back at my 1987 MLB Re-Draft

And now here is the 1988 MLB Re-Draft.

For accuracy and length purposes, only the 1st round is redone in these redrafts.

1 San Diego Padres
Select: C     Mike Piazza     Miami Dade Community College
Piazza was actually selected by the Dodgers in the 62nd round with the 1,390th overall selection.
Padres Actual Selection: P      Andy Benes      University of Evansville
Piazza is probably the most overlooked player in the history of the MLB draft. How does a hall of famer fall to the 62nd round? The guy wouldn't have been picked at all if Lasorda wasn't doing Piazza's dad a solid by picking him. Can you believe that? The greatest offensive catcher ever may not have even played the game. This selection is no disrespect to Andy Benes who was a really solid pick, but Piazza was a really special player that clearly would go #1 if we got a do-over.

2 Cleveland Indians
Select: OF      Kenny Lofton       Arizona
Lofton was actually selected in the 17th round with the 328th pick by the Houston Astros.
Indians Actual Selection: SS       Mark Lewis       Hamilton HS
At the time of the draft, it would have been crazy to think of drafting a guy at 2 overall that had 5 at-bats in college. Knowing, what we know now, it is crazy not to. These superstars slipping as far as they did look really bad in hindsight. Of course, the Indians did end up with Lofton eventually, but they wouldn't leave it to chance knowing what we know now. He is not a Hall of Famer, but he should be as far as I'm concerned. I don't remember many center fielders better than Lofton. What an amazing baseball player that fell to the 17th round. The college basketball star made a great switch to baseball and would have been a fine pick at #2 overall.

3 Atlanta Braves
Select: OF         Jim Edmonds       Diamond Bar HS
Edmonds was actually selected in the 7th round with the 169th overall pick by the Angels.
Braves Actual Selection: P      Steve Avery      Kennedy HS
Avery was a really good pitcher for Atlanta and helped them win the World Series in 1996. However, there were a few players in this draft that had much better careers. One of those players was Jim Edmonds who wasn't selected until the 7th round. Edmonds has 8 career gold gloves and is arguably the best defensive center fielder of this generation. He is another guy that probably should be in the Hall of Fame. The four-time all-star has 393 home runs as well and had some pop to go with that defense. The ERA of that outstanding Atlanta staff likely improves even more with the outstanding Edmonds patrolling center field. Edmonds ended up winning a World Series title in St. Louis and likely would have won at least one in Atlanta.

4 Baltimore Orioles
Select: P       Tim Wakefield       Eau Gallie HS
Wakefield was actually selected in the 8th round with the 200th overall pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Orioles Actual Selection: P      Gregg Olson      Auburn
Olson was actually a fine selection and is an Orioles Hall of Famer. He had 217 career saves and was Rookie of the Year in 1989, but knowing what we know now, the Orioles still would have gone another direction. Crazy enough, Wakefield is another guy that went after the 7th round. That makes the top 4 selections in the re-draft all players that were actually selected in the 7th round or later. Wakefield had an outstanding career that ended in him being an all-star and 2 time World Series champ. He had over 200 career wins and over 2,000 career strikeouts. The guy was really good for a really long time and would have fit quite well in Baltimore. Beyond all that, he was one of the key guys in ending the World Series drought of the Red Sox. Part of this selection is keeping him out of Boston and stopping that abomination that is Red Sox Nation from happening. Wakefield helping the Orioles win a World Series would have been much better than ending the Sox drought. I really could have gotten behind Wakefield in black and orange.

5 Los Angeles Dodgers
Select: P      Andy Benes      University of Evansville
Benes was actually selected with the 1st overall selection by the San Diego Padres.
Dodgers Actual Selection: P      Bill Bene       Cal State Los Angeles
Earlier I discussed that Benes was actually a fine pick in the draft. The Padres could have been very pleased with the pick. They selected Piazza in the re-draft which robbed these Dodgers of the hall of fame catcher. Here in the re-draft, the Dodgers select Benes who was gone in the actual draft. Andy Benes was an all-star with 2,000 career strikeouts and a 3.97 career ERA. He was a really good pitcher for a really long time.

6 Texas Rangers
Select: OF      Luis Gonzalez       South Alabama
Gonzalez was actually selected in the 4th round with the 90th overall selection by the Astros.
Rangers Actual Selection: SS      Monty Fariss    Oklahoma State
The 5-time all-star makes 5/6 selections in this draft outside of the first 3 rounds in the actual draft. Luis Gonzalez is one of the most clutch players in baseball history and delivered arguably the biggest hit of the modern era. His game winning hit in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series capped arguably the best World Series of all-time. Knowing that alone, the Rangers that never won the World Series might want to select Gonzalez. Add in his 354 career home runs and he is very attractive for Texas in this re-draft. The Rangers would have loved to have some of his clutch hits in their lineup.

7 Houston Astros
Select: OF      Deion Sanders          Florida State University
Sanders was actually selected in the 30th round with the 781st overall selection by the Yankees.
Astros Actual Selection: OF       Willie Ansley      Plainview HS
It is actually really understandable why Sanders fell in the baseball draft. After all, he was only a part-time baseball player and his career WAR in baseball is not worthy of a selection this high in the draft. That being said, he is arguably the best athlete to ever play the game of baseball. He is the only athlete to ever participate in a Super Bowl and a World Series also. Think about what an incredible feat that is. Prime time and his 186 steals could have perhaps done that for Houston. Maybe he plays for the Astros and the Oilers like he did for the Falcons and Braves. Perhaps the Oilers stay in Houston with this selection. Heck, maybe he focuses on baseball and becomes an even better player than he was. So much intrigue with drafting Sanders that the Astros can't pass him up. No matter what though, Sanders was a much better pro than Willie Ansley who never reached the majors. Crazy to think what would have happened if they selected Sanders.

8 California Angels
Select: 3B      Robin Ventura        Oklahoma State
Ventura was actually selected with the 10th overall pick by the Chicago White Sox.
Angels Actual Selection: P          Jim Abbott        Michigan
Abbot was a solid selection, he had a career 4.25 ERA and 82 career wins. However, there were better players available at 8 overall. They could have selected Robin Ventura who went two picks later for example. Ventura was a 6 time gold glove winner at third base and could have locked down the hot corner for the Angels. His 56.1 career WAR is one of the highest numbers in this entire draft. The two time all-star even helped the Mets reach the World Series in 2000. He could have only increased the Angels chances of getting another ring.

9 Chicago Cubs
Select: OF      Brian Jordan       Richmond
Jordan was actually selected with the 30th overall pick by the St. Louis Cardinals.
Cubs Actual Selection: 2B       Ty Griffin         Georgia Tech
Ty Griffin never made the big leagues and was an absolute draft bust by the Chicago Cubs. They could have selected much better and there was a guy selected by the rival Cardinals 21 picks later that was really good. Brian Jordan was an outstanding outfielder during his career and competed at an all-star level. He had 184 career home runs to go with outstanding defense. Jordan posted a 32.9 career WAR and would have been a great pick for the Cubbies here at 9 overall.

10 Chicago White Sox
Select: IF       John Valentin        Seton Hall University
Valentin was actually selected in the 5th round with the 121st overall pick by the Boston Red Sox.
White Sox Actual Selection: 3B      Robin Ventura        Oklahoma State
The White Sox made arguably the best pick of the first round, so this is a downgrade no matter how you slice it. That being said, Valentine was a really solid pro for a number of years. He accumulated a career WAR of 32.5. Valentine had a career on-base percentage of .360 and scored 614 runs. He had a solid glove and could play multiple positions. His versatility would give a team some options.

11 Philadelphia Phillies
Select: P          Woody Williams        Houston
Williams was actually selected in the 28th round with the 732nd pick by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Phillies Actual Selection: P        Pat Combs            Baylor
Many teams did worse than Combs, but he shouldn't have been selected in the top 20. Meanwhile a 15 year MLB starter was selected 721 selections later. Woody Williams was a good pro that won 132 career games. Williams' career war was 29 points higher than the actual selection of Pat Combs. Williams would have been an excellent selection for the Phillies.

12 Boston Red Sox
Select: 1B       Tino Martinez          University of Tampa
Martinez was actually selected with the 14th overall selection by the Seattle Mariners.
Red Sox Actual Selection: P       Tom Fischer          Wisconsin
Tino Martinez had a really good career. Martinez was selected to two all-star teams and won 4 world series titles. Besides the fact that he would have been a great pick by Boston, those 4 world series wins were with the hated New York Yankees. The fact that he would be a key part of that success and Boston could block it, would probably be enough reason for Boston to select Tino. Add in his power with over 300 career home runs, and Tino would have been a fine selection.

13 Pittsburgh Pirates
Select: OF         Marquis Grissom          Florida A&M
Grissom was actually selected in the 3rd round with the 76th overall pick by the Montreal Expos.
Pirates Actual Selection: SS        Austin Manahan       Horizon HS
Imagine for a second, Marquis Grissom and Barry Bonds in the same outfield in Pittsburgh. We could have easily had it. Instead the 2-time all star fell all the way to 76 overall and Pittsburgh selected Manahan. Grissom had 429 career steals and a career WAR of 29.6.

14 Seattle Mariners
Select: P      Charles Nagy       UCONN
Nagy was actually selected with the 17th overall pick by the Cleveland Indians.
Mariners Actual Selection: 1B       Tino Martinez         University of Tampa
Tino is gone in the re-draft, but Nagy could have actually worked out better for Seattle. If Nagy was in the rotation with the Big Unit, he perhaps could have gotten Seattle to the World Series they never advanced to. If nothing else, Nagy was an effective starter that spent all, but one season with one team. Seattle could have used Nagy's arm and his loyalty in an effort to secure a World Series.

15 San Francisco Giants
Select: SS         Royce Clayton        St. Bernard HS
Clayton was the Giants actual selection.
There are 3 players available in the re-draft with higher career WAR than Clayton. Those players are Darren Oliver, Damien Easley, and Jim Abbot. However, in the re-draft, the Giants stick with Clayton. Solid defensive shortstops are hard to find and Clayton was a really solid player. Clayton made an all-star game, and was a worthy selection at 15. It's not like the other 3 were far better over their careers, Clayton's career WAR was 19.5 and he played the hardest position to fill.

16 Oakland Athletics
Select: P      Gregg Olson      Auburn
Olson was actually selected with the 4th overall pick by the Baltimore Orioles.
Athletics Actual Selection: C      Stan Royer        Eastern Illinois
Olson would have been a perfect selection for the Athletics as a high leverage reliever to bridge the gap to Dennis Eckersley early on in his career. His production was much better early on and would have fit perfectly into the competitive window that the A's had. The A's lost the World Series to the Reds in 1990 and Olson would have given them a far better chance to win it. The reliever was really good in 1989 and 1990 and even appeared in the 1990 all-star game. With 217 career saves, Olson could have been the eventual successor to Eck in Oakland as well. Of course, in the real draft, he was long gone by this point.

17 Cleveland Indians
Select: P      Steve Avery      Kennedy HS
Avery was actually selected with the 3rd overall pick by the Atlanta Braves.
Indians Actual Selection: P      Charles Nagy       UCONN
The actual draft had Avery long gone, but the redraft has Nagy gone who actually had the better overall career. That being said, if both were available in the re-draft, I could definitely see the Indians taking Avery. While Avery was not dominant in 1995, he was dominant in the 1995 World Series when the Braves beat the Indians. The Indians sure would have loved for Avery to be on their side during that series.

18 Kansas City Royals
Select: IF       Damion Easley      Long Beach City College
Easley was actually selected in 30th round with the 767th pick by the California Angles.
Royals Actual Selection: OF     Hugh Walker       Jacksonville HS
Royals 2B Frank White was towards the end of his career in 1988 and the Royals could have drafted his eventual replacement. Easley was a solid infielder for many years and primarily played 2nd base during his big league career. Drafting him could have certainly been beneficial to the Royals organization.

19 Montreal Expos
Select: P         Darren Oliver         Rio Linda HS
Oliver was actually selected in the 3rd round with the 63rd overall pick by the Texas Rangers.
Expos Actual Selection: P        David Wainhouse      Washington State
Oliver is one of the most memorable pitchers of the generation from the simple fact that he pitched so long. He spent 20 years in the big leagues and picked up 118 wins in the process. That kind of stability is appealing for any team, especially one that would eventually move out of the country.

20 Minnesota Twins
Select: P          Jim Abbott        Michigan
Abbot was actually selected with the 8th overall pick by the California Angels.
Twins Actual Selection: P        Johnny Ard          Manatee Community College
Abbott was actually gone long before this selection in the actual draft. Here in the re-draft he was available and he would have fit brilliantly in Minnesota. Abbott even had 18 wins and finished 3rd in Cy Young Award voting in the Twins World Series season of 1991. He could have made a great team even better.

21 New York Mets
Select: SS       Gary Disarcina       UMASS
Disarcina was actually selected in 6th round with the 143rd overall pick by the Angels.
Mets Actual Selection: P         Dave Proctor       Allen County Community College
The 1988 Mets were two years removed from the World Series and they were still a really good team that won 100 games. To try to get another ring, they would have picked differently than they actually did. The team did not have a quality shortstop and settled for Kevin Elster for years. Disarcina was not a world beater, but he was a definite upgrade over Elster.

22 St. Louis Cardinals
Select: CF       Darren Lewis       California
Lewis was actually selected in the 18th round with the 463rd pick by the Oakland A's.
Cardinals Actual Selection: P      John Ericks      Illinois
Lewis never set the world on fired, but he definitely had a better career than John Ericks. He was a solid defensive center fielder and could have paired with Vince Coleman and Willie McGee to give the Cardinals one of the most exciting outfields in all of baseball. That outfield would have been really fun to watch.

23 St. Louis Cardinals
Select: 1B       Eric Karros         California
Karros was actually selected in the 6th round with the 140th overall pick by the Dodgers.
Cardinals Actual Selection: P      Brad Duvall       Virginia Tech
Cardinals 1st baseman Bob Horner was injured during the 1988 with an injury that would cause him to retire. There was another 1st baseman available that would become rookie of the year in 1992. Eric Karros was a team player and a guy that stayed with the Dodgers for 12 years. St. Louis would have loved the loyalty and the play from Karros.

24 Milwaukee Brewers
Select: P          Arthur Rhodes        La Vega HS
Rhodes was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 34th overall pick by the Baltimore Orioles.
Brewers Actual Selection: P        Alex Fernandez      Pace HS
Alex Fernandez was a great selection by the Brewers. He won 107 career games and had 1,252 career strikeouts in 1 seasons. However, they couldn't get Fernandez to sign as he went to Miami. Instead of repeating that mistake, the Brewers select mr. dependable Arthur Rhodes. The lefty reliever had a brilliant 20 year career and was always ready when called upon. The 2010 all-star had a impressive career and would have been a fan-favorite in Milwaukee.

25 Toronto Blue Jays
Select: 3B      Tim Naehring       Miami Ohio
Naehring was actually selected in the 8th round with the 199th overall pick by the Boston Red Sox.
Blue Jays Actual Selection: 3B      Ed Sprague         Stanford
On one hand you can say that Sprague contributed to back to back World Series titles. On the other hand, there was a guy available that could play the same position at a higher level that offered more production. Naehring's career WAR was 7 points higher than Sprague and he was better than Sprague in Sprague's best season in Toronto (1993). During that season, Naehring hit .331 and had an on-base percentage of .377. He had a career on-base percentage of .365 and was an extremely versatile player.

26 Detroit Tigers
Select: P       David Weathers      Motlow State Community College
Weathers was actually selected in the 3rd round with the 82nd overall pick by the Blue Jays.
Tigers Actual Selection: 1B        Rico Brogna         Watertown HS
The Tigers were smart to try to select a 1st baseman in 1988 as Ray Knight was their worst player and in the last year of his career. Unfortunately, Rico Brogna did nothing of significance in the MLB. They select the guy that had the best career instead here. David Weathers had 73 career wins and 75 career saves. His career ERA was just over 4 and he had nearly 1,000 career strikeouts.

27 Cleveland Indians (supplemental pick)
Select: 2B       Mickey Morandini       Indiana
Morandini was actually selected in the 5th round with the 120th overall pick by Philadelphia Phillies.
Indians Actual Selection: P        Jeff Mutis         Lafayette College
Through this re-draft the Indians already picked up Kenny Lofton and Steve Avery and they add even more value here. Julio Franco was one of the best players on the Indians, but he would leave following the 1988 season and they needed a second baseman. They pick one in the best available player, Mickey Morandini. Luckily for the Indians, Morandini's best season was 1995, when he was an all-star. That year was the year the Indians would lose the World Series to the Braves. Could Morandini have been the difference?

28 Baltimore Orioles (supplemental pick)
Select: P         Mark Clark          Lincoln Land Community College
Clark was actually selected in the 9th round with the 236th overall pick by the Cardinals.
Orioles Actual Selection: SS       Ricky Gutierrez       American HS
You can never have too many arms and the Orioles pick one in the re-draft in Mark Clark. Clark was a solid pitcher who had 74 career wins. His best years were 1996 and 1997 which happen to be the best two Orioles teams of my lifetime. It would have matched up perfectly. He won 14 games and had a sub 4 ERA in each of those seasons. Those 28 wins could have really helped the Orioles a lot.

29 San Francisco Giants (supplemental pick)
Select: P        Mark Wohlers          Holyoke HS
Wohlers was actually selected in the 8th round with the 190th overall pick by the Atlanta Braves
Giants Actual Selection: OF       Ted Wood         New Orleans
Wohlers had 119 career saves and helped the Braves to the 1995 World Series. He would have slotted in nicely in the San Francisco bullpen. He wouldn't have made a difference in the 1989 World Series since he didn't make his debut until 1991. However, Wohlers could have made an impact on those early 90s Giants teams.

30 St. Louis Cardinals (supplemental pick)
Select: 3B      Ed Sprague         Stanford
Sprague was actually selected with the 25th overall pick by the Toronto Blue Jays
Cardinals: OF      Brian Jordan       Richmond
With this re-draft, Brian Jordan is long gone because he was way too good to fall to 30. The Cardinals settle for another all-star with the 30th pick in the re-draft. Stud third baseman Terry Pendleton would leave the Cardinals after 1989 so at the time, the Cardinals would have loved to draft his eventual replacement. Not the same production as Jordan, but not a bad pick.

- Noland Robinson

1987 MLB Re-Draft

This is the first of my MLB re-drafts. I have done a few NFL re-drafts of drafts from my lifetime, but this is the 1st baseball one. June is usually the month of the baseball draft and this is a fun way to look back what would happen if we knew what we know now. The goal is to re-do all the professional drafts of my lifetime which began in 1987. The 1987 baseball draft was a few weeks after my birthday. Here is the 1987 MLB Re-Draft.

For accuracy and length purposes, only the 1st round is redone in these redrafts.

1 Seattle Mariners
Select: OF      Ken Griffey Jr.      Moeller HS
Griffey was the Mariners actual selection
There is no doing better than this selection. Ken Griffey Jr. is in the Hall of Fame. He is one of the greatest center fielders of all-time and was one of the best players in Mariners history. Not only that, but Griffey was the most popular player of his entire generation by a substantial margin. Griffey Jr. was a home run for the Mariners and he hit quite a few of those.

2 Pittsburgh Pirates
Select: C        Craig Biggio        Seton Hall University
Biggio was actually selected with the 22nd overall pick by the Houston Astros.
Pirates actual selection: OF        Mark Merchant     Oviedo HS
Merchant never ended up playing in the MLB which is a huge disaster with the number 2 pick. Meanwhile, Craig Biggio was a 1st ballot hall of famer who had 3,000 hits and spent his entire career with one franchise. Biggio played some 2B and CF when his catching days were over and was a stud for Houston for years. The Pirates would have done much better by selecting Biggio.

3 Minnesota Twins
Select: P          Kevin Appier            Antelope Valley College

Appier was actually selected with the 9th overall pick by the Kansas City Royals.

Twins actual selection: P         Willie Banks       St. Anthony HS
Banks was a solid starter for many MLB seasons. His career record was 33-39 with a 4.75 ERA. However, solid starter is not the absolute ace bulldog that Kevin Appier was. Appier was fantastic as a pro. Mussina would be the pick here, but he didn't sign after being drafted in this draft class. Therefore, we will count him in the draft where he signed and not this one. He had 169 career wins, a 3.74 ERA, and 1,994 strikeouts. Appier would have made a huge difference for the Twins and possibly allowed them to pick up another ring or two.

4 Chicago Cubs
Select: OF     Albert Belle         LSU
Belle was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 47th overall pick by the Cleveland Indians
Cubs Actual Selection: P       Mike Harkey          Cal State Fullerton
Harkey was another decent MLB starter. He went 36-36 and had a 4.49 ERA over the length of his career, but there were a lot of really good players in this draft. With the three Hall of Famers gone in the re-draft, the Cubs go for the next best thing. Belle had some incredible seasons with a lot of power over the course of his career. When he was in his prime, he was something special. Albert had 381 career home runs and 1,239 career RBIs. The big run producer could have been something special in the Cubs lineup.

5 Chicago White Sox
Select: P        Jack McDowell          Stanford University
McDowell was the White Sox actual selection.
The White Sox nailed this pick. They could go a few other directions in this re-draft, but why would they. McDowell had a very successful career and was a great starter for Chicago. With 127 wins, a 3.85 ERA, and 1,311 career strikeouts, McDowell was a great selection. The 1993 Cy Young Award winner would go to the White Sox again if this happened today.

6 Atlanta Braves
Select: OF        Steve Finley          Southern Illinois University
Finley was actually selected in the 13th round by 325th overall pick by the Baltimore Orioles.
Braves Actual Selection: P     Derek Lilliquist      UGA
Lilliquist did have a 7 year big league career, but had a career losing record and should not have been a round 1 selection. He certainly should not have gone in the top 10. The Braves could do much better by selecting 5 time gold glove winner Steve Finley. The outfielder hit .271 over the course of his long career with 304 home runs and 1,167 RBIs. He was brilliant for many years and covered some ground on defense. He could have made a tremendous impact on those mid-90s Braves teams. Finley could have helped that great team win another title or two.

7 Baltimore Orioles
Select: SS        Travis Fryman         JM Tate HS
Fryman was actually selected with the 30th overall pick by the Detroit Tigers
Orioles Actual Selection: P       Chris Meyers      Plant HS
The Orioles hit on their 11th round selection in Mike Mussina in the actual draft, but he didn't sign in this draft. They also should have come up with a more successful draft with 3 first round picks, including one top 10 selection. They get on the track to do much better in this re-draft with this selection. Baltimore completely missed the mark with this 7th overall selection by picking Myers. With the re-draft the Orioles have the luxury of being able to select the best player available with each of their first round picks. It might seem weird to pick a SS with Cal Ripken the best player on the Orioles, but Fryman gives the Orioles tremendous flexibility. Drafting Fryman and playing him at 3B where he played a good chunk of his career gives the Orioles an incredible left side of the infield. With Fryman and Ripken on defense, the Orioles play a lot better baseball in the 1990s. It would have been a tremendous selection.

8 Los Angeles Dodgers

Select: SS          Reggie Sanders        Spantanburg Methodist College

Sanders was actually selected in the 7th round with the 180th overall pick by the Cincinnati Reds

Dodgers Actual Selection: P     Dan Opperman       Valley HS
Opperman injured his arm and never made the big leagues. The Dodgers certainly would rather get some major league production with the ability to do it again. The 1995 all-star was the 5th member of baseball's 300-300 club. Sanders has 300+ steals and 300+ home runs in his MLB career. He actually played OF as a pro and not SS, but the Giants are just thrilled to have the guy. Reggie Sanders was one heck of a baseball player for a very long time.

9 Kansas City Royals
Select: P      Pete Harnisch       Fordham
Harnisch was actually selected with the 27th overall pick by the Baltimore Orioles
Royals Actual Selection: P      Kevin Appier      Antelope Valley College
With Harnisch selected here by the Royals, at least he couldn't have been traded for Glenn Davis....This does not work out quite as well for the Royals, but Harnisch was a very effective Major League Starter. He was never Appier level, but he was good. Harnisch was a 1991 all-star after being traded to Houston for Glenn Davis. He would finish with 111 career wins and 1,368 strikeouts to go with a 3.89 ERA.

10 San Diego Padres
Select: P       Daryl Kile       Chaffey College
Kile was actually selected in the 30th round with the 782nd overall pick by the Houston Astros
Padres Actual Selection: P       Kevin Garner       Texas
The Padres were not wrong to want a starting pitcher as their pitching (other than closer) could have been much better in the 90s. Their selection was wrong though and there was a guy that wouldn't be picked until 772 picks later that could have done a much better job. Daryl Kile won 133 games and had 1,668 strikeouts over his career. He had a 4.12 ERA which was very respectable during that era. Kile was brilliant his entire career, all the way up to his tragic death in 2002.

11 Oakland Athletics
Select: P        Robb Nen         Los Alamitos HS
Nen was actually selected in the 32nd round with the 831st pick by the Texas Rangers
A's Actual Selection: OF       Lee Tinsley        Shelby County HS
Lee Tinsley had 13 career home runs and made a decent impact as a reserve at the big league level. However, with the 11th pick of the draft you got to get more production. A better selection here, could have extended the Bash Brothers title window. Here the A's select power pitcher Robb Nen to set up and eventually replace Dennis Eckersley. With Nen, the A's could have really shortened the game. The three time all-star had a 2.98  ERA and 314 career saves. Nen really made an impact in the game of baseball.

12 Montreal Expos
Select: C        Brad Ausmus        Cheshire HS
Ausmus was actually selected in the 48th round with the 1,152nd pick by the New York Yankees
Expos Actual Selection: SS     Delino Deshields    Seaford Senior HS
Deshields  was an incredibly productive pro, but knowing the team would be moving from Montreal, the Expos decide to go in a different direction. The team never had a stud catcher, but they always had good hitters. Ausmus meanwhile played in the MLB longer than any of the 1,151 players selected before him in the draft. He was a great catcher that won 3 gold gloves and he made the all-star game in 1999. Ausmus would have been a great selection for the Expos at 12.

13 Milwaukee Brewers
Select: C         Todd Hundley         William Fremd HS
Hundley was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 39th overall pick by the New York Mets
Brewers Actual Selection: SS    Bill Spiers         Clemson
There were a lot worse picks than Spiers who was decent and accumulated 37 HRs and 388 RBIs. You need more production out of that #13 pick though. Good catchers are hard to find and the Brewers had the chance to get a really good catcher. This guy had some pop too hitting 202 HRs and driving in 599 runs during his career. Hundley was a two time all-star catcher and would have been a phenomenal pick for the Brewers at 13.

14 St. Louis Cardinals
Select: OF       Jeff Conine         UCLA
Conine was actually selected in the 58th round with the 1,226th pick by the Kansas City Royals.
Cardinals Actual Selection: P      Cris Carpenter       UGA
This Cris Carpenter is not to be confused with the dominant Chris Carpenter that pitched for the Cardinals in the 2000s and won a Cy Young. Cris Carpenter was a solid relief pitcher, but nothing special as a player. It's amazing that they could have selected a far better player 1,112 picks later. Conine is known as Mr. Marlin and it is for everything he did to help the Marlins win two championships. The two time all-star had a wonderful career and his 1,000+ RBIs could have really helped the St. Louis organization.

15 Baltimore Orioles (compensation for C Rick Dempsey)
Select: SS              Delino Deshields             Seaford Senior HS
Deshields was actually selected with the 12th overall pick by the Montreal Expos.
Orioles Actual Selection: P       Brad Duvall          Virginia Tech
The Orioles go with their second shortstop of the re-draft in picking Deshields. Delino Deshields was a very productive baseball player and a sparkplug for the many teams he played on. He actually played for the Orioles from 1999-2001, but he wasn't quite the same player that he was early on in his career. With 476 career steals, Deshields was always a threat on the basepaths. The local product would have looked very good in black and orange early in his career. Can you imagine Deshields at 2B, Ripken at SS, and Fryman at 3B. That infield would have been a dream for any pitcher. This redraft would have allowed it to happen.

16 San Francisco Giants
Select: OF       Ray Lankford           Modesto Junior College
Lankford was actually selected in the 3rd round with the 72nd overall selection by the St. Louis Cardinals.
Giants Actual Selection: P        Mike Remlinger       Dartmouth
We are on a little run of position players in this redraft. Ray Lankford is just too good of a value here at 16 to pass up. The Giants choose to select Cardinals Hall of Famer Ray Lankford in the redraft. Lankford's 238 career homeruns and outstanding defense would have fit in well for San Fran. Tremendous value at pick 16. Remlinger was actually a really solid pro, but he wasn't at Lankford's level.

17 Toronto Blue Jays
Select: OF        Derek Bell             King HS
Bell was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 49th overall pick by the Blue Jays
Blue Jays Actual Selection: P      Alex Sanchez        UCLA
Alex Sanchez was never a big deal as a pro, but Derek Bell was. Bell was big time player as a pro and the Blue Jays couldn't risk waiting until the 2nd round in the redraft. The outfielder hit 134 career home runs and he was a key part of the Blue Jays 1992 World Series team.

18 Cincinnati Reds
Select: P        Jack Armstrong        Oklahoma
Armstrong was the Reds actual selection.
There are players that had more productive careers than Armstrong that went later than him. However, Armstrong was lights out in 1990 where he started for the NL in the all-star game and was a key component for the World Series Champion Reds. Without Armstrong, they likely would not have won that championship and he needs to be the selection in the re-draft.

19 Texas Rangers
Select: P       Dave Burba        Ohio State
Burba was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 33rd overall pick by the Seattle Mariners
Rangers Actual Selection: P      Brian Bohanon     North Shore HS
Dave Burba was a solid MLB starter for quite a long time pitching for 14 seasons in the big leagues. He went 115-87 over the course of his career. That career allowed Burba to accumulate 1,398 strikeouts. Keeping him away from the rival Mariners is also a big deal for Texas.

20 Detroit Tigers (compensation for Lance Parrish)
Select: OF        Troy O'Leary        Cypress HS
O'Leary was actually selected in the 13th round with the 331st overall pick by the Milwaukee Brewers.
Tigers Actual Selection: C       Bill Henderson      Westminster Christian School

Troy O'Leary was a successful pro that hit .274 for his career with 127 HRs and 591 RBIs. Ideally, you would want a little more value at #20 overall, but O'Leary had a good career and would have been a much better pick here at 20.

21 Detroit Tigers
Select: P       Jaime Navarro        Miami-Dade College
Navarro was actually selected in the 3rd round with the 71st overall pick by the Milwaukee Brewers.
Tigers Actual Selection: OF      Steve Pegues        Pontotoc HS

Jaime Navarro was a solid major league starting pitcher. He had a career record of 116-126 and carried a 4.72 ERA. As a solid starter for 11 seasons, Navarro is a good innings eater and would have been a big improvement over OF Pegues.

22 Houston Astros
Select: P          Mike Timlin        Southwestern
Timlin was actually selected in the 5th round with the 127th overall pick by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Astros Actual Selection: C         Craig Biggio         Seton Hall
Mike Timlin had a career record of 75-73, carried a 3.63 ERA, and had 141 career saves. He wasn't a bad MLB player. A player like him at 22 is something you can live with. The Astros get screwed here in the redraft though, losing the Hall of Famer in Biggio. This is one of the worst outcomes for a franchise in any of the redrafts I have done so far. Judging by how much everyone hates the Astros though right now, I don't think anyone minds.

23 Texas Rangers (compensation for Gary Ward)
Select: Mike Stanton 68-63 3.92 ERA, 895 Ks
Rangers Actual Selection: C       Bill Hasselman       UCLA
Hasselman was at lest able to make it to the majors unlike a lot of other guys in this draft. He didn't have any sustained success though and wasn't at Stanton's level. Mike Stanton was mainly a reliever, buy went 68-63 with a  3.92 ERA and 895 Ks. He had a lot of success with the Yankees at the end of the 20th century and helped them win 3 rings. Texas sees those 3 rings now and definitely selects someone that can possibly help them get one now. Crazy thing is, the Rangers actually had Stanton in 1996 and they let him sign with New York. A move they would gladly take back now.

24 New York Mets
Select: P        Mike Remlinger       Dartmouth
Remlinger was actually selected with the 16th overall pick by the San Francisco Giants.
Mets Actual Selection: 3B       Chris Donnels      Loyola Marymount
Mike Remlinger had a decent career with 55 wins, a 3.90 ERA, 854 Ks, and 20 saves. Though his career was short, it was effective and better than the one that Chris Donnels had. 

25 California Angels
Select: C       Darrin Fletcher          Illinois
Fletcher was actually selected in the 6th round with the 144th overall pick by the Dodgers.
Angels Actual Selection: C       John Orton         Cal Poly
All-Star catchers don't grow on trees. Darrin Fletcher, the 1994 all-star, had 124 career HRs and 583 career RBIs. He was a far more productive pro catcher than Orton and would have been a wonderful pick for the Angels at 25.

26 Boston Red Sox
Select: P            Mark Guthrie          LSU
Guthrie was actually selected in the 7th round with the 165th overall pick by the Minnesota Twins
Red Sox Actual Selection: P      Reggie Harris       Imperial Valley
Boston gets a better pitcher that went 6 rounds later by selecting Mark Guthrie here. He never lit the world on fire, but he had production as a pro. Over his career, he was 51-54 with a 4.05 ERA.  Guthrie helped the Twins win the World Series in 1991 and by providing a reliable arm, could have helped the Red Sox maybe get one sooner.

27 Baltimore Orioles (supplemental)
Select: P        Steve Olin          Portland State
Olin was actually selected in the 16th round with the 411th overall pick by the Indians.
Orioles Actual Selection: P      Pete Harnisch       Fordham
Losing out on Pete Harnisch is unfortunate, but at least now he would have never been traded for Glenn Davis. Besides a 1st round draft class of Fryman, Deshields, and Olin is far better than just getting Harnisch. This team would have been in much better position with this draft instead. As for this pick, Steve Olin was on a roll in his career with a 3.10 ERA to go with 48 saves. Unfortunately, his career was cut tragically short by a boating accident in 1993 or he could have put up some special stats. Hopefully in an alternate universe, that boating accident would never happen. Steve Olin was really good and could have been a name baseball fans everywhere remembered.

28 Montreal Expos (supplemental)
Select: P        Butch Henry        El Paso HS
Henry was actually selected in the 15th round with the 388th overall pick by the Reds
Expos Actual Selection: OF       Tyrone Kingwood      Imperial Valley
Henry is another guy that had a decent MLB career. He went 33-33 with a 3.83 ERA and 345 career strikeouts. His career was cut short by injuries, but he helped the Expos in 1994 by going 8-3 with a 2.43 ERA and they definitely look to select him here over Kingwood.

29 Texas Rangers (supplemental)
Select: OF           John Vander Wal           Western Mchigan
Vander Wal was actually selected in the 3rd round with the 70th overall pick by the Expos
Rangers Actual Selection: P       Mark Petkovsek       Texas
John Vander Wal was a solid big leaguer for quite a few seasons. He had a career batting average of .261, he hit 97 HRs and had 430 RBIs. Not an elite 1st rounder by any means, but far better than Petkovsek.

30 Detroit Tigers (supplemental)
Select: P       Mike Harkey          Cal State Fullerton
Harkey was actually selected with the 4th overall pick by the Chicago Cubs
Tigers Actual Selection: SS        Travis Fryman         JM Tate HS

Mike Harkey was a decent pitcher going 36-36 with a  4.49 ERA and 316 career Ks. He wasn't a 1st rounder though in most drafts and definitely wasn't the player Fryman was for the Tigers. However, in the redraft, Fryman is long gone and the Tigers are stuck with Harkey.

31 California Angels (supplemental)
Select: 3B          Ron Coomer          Taft College
Coomer was actually selected in the 14th round with the 355th overall pick by the Oakland A's
Angels Actual Selection: P       David Holdridge      Ocean View HS
Ron Coomer was much better than the majority of first rounders despite being selected in the 14th round. The 1999 all-star hit .274 over his career with 92 HRs and 449 RBI. That production would be welcome this late in the 1st round.

32 Boston Red Sox (supplemental)
Select: 3B           Dave Hollins         Southern Cal
Hollins was actually selected in the 6th round with the 146th overall pick by the San Diego Padres
Red Sox Actual Selection: OF       Bob Zupcic       Oral Roberts
Dave Hollins had 112 HRs and 482 RBIs. He was no slouch. He had a far better career than Zupcic. This redraft has Hollins going 5 rounds earlier. The 1993 all-star played 12 years in the big leagues including a stint with the Red Sox in 1995. Knowing what they know now, they look to get him into the fold a bit sooner for that awesome production early on.

- Noland