theScore's Preseason Fantasy Baseball Roundtable

Following weeks of research and preparation, theScore's fantasy baseball experts have convened to share their opinions on some of the biggest topics facing fantasy owners this season:

Who will be the biggest first-round bust?

Bisson: It isn't that Machado is necessarily a bad first-round pick - it's just that he likely won't repeat his 35-homer, 20-steal effort of a season ago. His HR/FB ratio jumped to 17.6% last season - up from 15% a season earlier - while his line-drive rate dropped from 20.5% to 17.8%. Expect some regression in his HR and RBI numbers, which will limit his value.

Chernish: Having missed the majority of the 2015 campaign with a broken hand, Stanton will see his usual fantasy production hindered and should regress from his 37-HR, 105-RBI showing in 2014. It's likely he will fail to reach the heights of other first-round picks and he should be left off the board until early in the second round of mixed leagues.

McLaren: Correa took the MLB and the fantasy baseball community by storm as soon as he was called up by the Astros last summer. But his success came with warning signs; he posted an inflated ISO, HR/FB ratio and slugging percentage. While his 2015 numbers are worthy of a first-round selection, his imminent regression could knock him down several rounds in value.

Wegman: Unlike every other hitter going in the first round, Goldschmidt has no protection. Inexperienced Cuban 3B/OF Yasmany Tomas is projected to hit behind him despite posting a mediocre OPS of .707 in 2015. As Goldschmidt gains more respect around the league, his OBP may rise, but his HR and RBI totals may take a hit. Wait on a 1B until the later rounds.

Which fourth- to sixth-round pick is the best bet to return first-round value?

Conrad: From after the All-Star break through the end of the season, Strasburg posted a 1.90 ERA and 0.75 WHIP. He's playing for a massive contract, as he'll be a free agent after this year. Strasburg doesn't pitch deep into games, going eight innings just twice in 2015, but strikes out better than a batter per inning, and managed at least 28 starts a season from 2012-14.

Ghatak: In 2014, Gomez hit 23 homers, stole 34 bases, and averaged .284. 2015 was far less productive but may simply prove to be an off-year. Gomez has displayed the power and speed to be a 20-20 player and playing in Houston should help. Minute Maid Park is friendly to righties and the Astros are extremely aggressive on the bases. At his low ADP, Gomez is intriguing.

Potter: It took some time for the sweet-swinging Sano to finally make his MLB debut - but what a debut it was. Sano set a 36-HR, 105-RBI pace over 80 games with a fantastic .385 OBP. With a rapidly improving Twins lineup around him, there's no reason why Sano couldn't easily finish as a top-30 player, if not top-10. He's 3B-eligible but should also gain OF eligibility.

Wilson: Injury risk aside, Tulowitzki went from one hitter's park to another and he plays at a shallow fantasy position. He's hitting in a Blue Jays lineup with a glut of mashers who will both drive him in and be driven in by him. He will provide returns in at least three statistical categories in standard scoring - runs, homers and average, with the potential for RBI, as well.

Which non-closer is most likely to earn a closer role?

Chernish: After finding a home with the Brewers last season, Jeffress posted a stellar 2.65 ERA while striking out 67 batters over 68 frames, and is in the running for the closer job heading into Spring Training. He's in competition with Will Smith, but has the upside to be the best sleeper among relief pitchers even if the Brewers struggle to win games.

Ghatak: Grilli was the established closer in Atlanta until an Achilles injury halted his 2015 season and Arodys Vizcaino took over. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez has already stated that he expects Grilli to close once he returns, while Grilli believes he'll be fully healthy in time for the start of the season. He is a buy-low candidate with the potential to get you 20+ saves.

Wegman: Jepsen has always had closer stuff, but he's only been able to harness it over the past two seasons. From 2014 to 2015, Jepsen had a 2.47 ERA and 1.09 WHIP while striking out 134 batters in 134.2 IP. He even saved 10 games down the stretch for the Twins last season when the team lost faith in Glen Perkins, who's on a short leash after posting a 7.32 second-half ERA.

Wilson: Long-term, the Blue Jays want Roberto Osuna to be a starter. Why not this year? The narrative of 'proven closer' is a tired one, but that perception still reigns. Storen has done the job well in the past. With uncertainty comes risk, but Storen struck out nearly 11 batters per nine innings last season. His pedigree makes him a prime candidate to close.

Who will be the top rookie?

Bisson: Sure, Seager's going to be a quality fantasy producer this season - but if Park can even come close to what he did in Korea's top league last year, he'll be an immediate fantasy force. He's expected to be the Twins' regular DH, which should see him exceed 500 at-bats with ease. He's a strikeout risk, but has a great chance at hitting 30+ homers.

Conrad: Seager is set to open the season as the Dodgers' starting SS. In a 27-game cameo in 2015, Seager certainly didn't look out of place, posting a .337/.425/.561 line to go with four home runs and 17 RBIs. His pedigree, combined with an assured everyday spot in the lineup, will make him one of the rare rookies safe to be taken within the draft's first handful of rounds.

McLaren: The issue with many of the rookie fielders is that, if they show signs of struggles early on, they could find themselves back in Triple-A. Snell is the Rays' best option as the No. 2 behind Chris Archer, at least until Alex Cobb returns from injury in late July. Though Snell may have a delayed debut, he'll be available to fantasy owners when it matters most.

Potter: The Twins made a push for a playoff seed with just half a season of Sano. Buxton and his 80-grade speed tool will be leading off in front of the best lineup the Twins have seen in decades, featuring Brian Dozier, Joe Mauer, Sano, Trevor Plouffe and Korean import Byung-ho Park. If healthy, Buxton could approach 90-plus runs with 35-plus steal potential.

Which player represents the best HR-SB combo play?

Bisson: If you're looking for the ultimate dual-threat outfielder in the fifth round of standard mixed-league drafts, Gomez is the guy. He had an off-year by his standards last season, but is still capable of a 20-25 season playing half his games at Minute Maid Park. A 12-homer, 17-steal showing in 2015 may scare some owners away. Ignore it, and nab him in all formats.

Chernish: Taking your cuts at the hitter-friendly Coors Field for half your games can do wonders for your fantasy value - especially if you have the speed to steal plenty of bases. Blackmon had a career-high 43 swipes last season, while adding 17 home runs. In his third full season, he's a leading candidate to reach the 20-20 plateau.

McLaren: Rizzo had his second-highest home run total last season while stealing a career-high 17 bases. Rizzo isn't your traditional 20-20 candidate - he has 40-homer upside, while also offering the potential for 20 stolen bases. He had 12 SB in the first half of last season. If he can carry the trend over a full campaign, Rizzo could provide a very rare stat line.

Potter: Marte started as more of a 10/40 guy, but has since balanced out his profile; he is stealing less (though, slightly more effectively), while showing more power at the plate. His HR totals have improved in each of his four years, and at age 27, he could reach his peak in 2016. A 20/30 season, with ever-improving patience at the plate, could lead to an MVP-level season.

Which relocated player interests you most?

Conrad: Heyward will be in the middle of a powerful lineup that boasts Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber; Heyward's lifetime OBP of .353 should allow him to approach 2012's career-high of 93 runs. Heyward's defense makes him a better real-life player than a fantasy one, but he could be a very pleasant surprise with his fifth-to-sixth-round ADP.

Ghatak: Davis is interesting because he can provide exactly what Oakland needs: power. The A’s ranked 20th the majors in home runs last season (146), with only Josh Reddick hitting 20 or more. Davis should approach 30 home runs and hit fourth or fifth for the Athletics. That power and position immediately make Davis fantasy-relevant and another buy-low candidate.

Wegman: Parra is definitely intriguing, with Coors Field a major reason why. Year after year, veteran players acquired by the Rockies have had career years or close to it (see Michael Cuddyer and Justin Morneau). Parra is still in his prime and will easily exceed his current ADP. Don't be afraid to reach in rounds 5-10 in NL-only drafts and rounds 10-15 in mixed leagues.

Wilson: Samardzija may not be the best player who switched teams in the off-season, but he stands to gain the most value. He was horrendous for much of 2015, posting a 4.96 ERA and a paltry 6.86 K/9. Those should both be better. He's back in the NL, and AT&T Park is among the friendliest for pitchers. He's definitely worth a look in the middle rounds of mixed league dratfs.

Which elite middle infielder will regress the most?

Bisson: The speedy Gordon became more than a single-category threat in 2015, leading the National League in hitting (.333). But that average came on the strength of an unsustainable .383 BABIP - and with just eight homers, 114 RBIs and 93 walks in 1,972 career plate appearances, he'll be a major bust if he doesn't hit above .300. Expect regression across the board.

Chernish: Correa is primed for greatness in years to come, but not this season. He was a fantasy stud as a 20-year-old rookie, posting a sensational .857 OPS in 99 games. That said, Correa has been drafted in the top-5 in some mixed league drafts, which is far too high. Owners should avoid picking him early in the first round and look for non-regression candidates instead.

Ghatak: In the first half of 2015, Cano hit .251 with only six home runs and regressed in every major category. Luckily, he got himself together in the second half and salvaged his fantasy season - but at 33, Cano is battling Father Time. If he gets off to another slow start, he may not be able to bounce back this time - making him a sure-fire fantasy bust relative to ADP.

Potter: With a weak selection at shortstop, many 2015 fantasy owners paid a premium for Crawford; they weren't disappointed when he erupted for 21 homers and 84 RBIs. Still: his HR-to-fly-ball rate (16.2%) was well above both his career mark (8.2%) and the MLB average (10.0%). Also, the additions of Correa, Seager and Francisco Lindor have replenished the SS position for fantasy purposes, lessening Crawford's value.

Who will be this season's fantasy MVP?

Conrad: Trout is boringly consistent - cherry-picking his 2012 to 2015 stats creates a hypothetical worst season of 104 R, 27 HR, 90 RBIs, and 11 SB, to go with a .287/.377/.557 line. His power has increased in the last two seasons, which somewhat makes up for a drastic decline in steals. He has also stayed healthy, appearing in at least 157 games from 2013-15.

McLaren: In conventional fantasy scoring, Donaldson was the second-most valuable hitter last season, behind only Harper. The NL MVP had the better batting average and one more homer than Donaldson, who scored four more runs and had 24 more RBIs. They each stole six bases. Donaldson is in the better offense and the better hitter's park. He also has fewer injury concerns.

Wegman: Though Trout is a safe No. 1 pick, Harper has more upside. He swings his bat like he's angry at the baseball. He might be the only player in the Show without a ceiling for his HR total. His MLB-best 1.109 OPS from a year ago is the highest the league has seen since Albert Pujols in '08. And he did all of this despite a down year from everyone on Washington's offense.

Wilson: Everyone's in love with Trout and Harper, but Goldschmidt was the only five-category hitter among them a year ago. Trout and Harper did hit 40+ dingers apiece, but Goldschmidt also stole 21 bases. The added speed, something Trout has eschewed from his game and Harper never used, pushes Goldschmidt's overall value higher even if he's not as famous a name.