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Teams shouldn't make decisions based on need at the top of the Draft, and they rarely do. But what if they did? Here's how the first 10 selections in this year's Draft might unfold ...
Nationals: Kade Anderson, LHP, Louisiana State
Washington has allowed the fourth-most runs per game in MLB (5.17) and features a lineup full of young hitters, so it gets the best pitcher in the Draft. A four-pitch lefty with polish, Anderson led NCAA Division I in strikeouts (180 in 119 innings) and won Most Outstanding Player honors at the Men's College World Series.
Angels: Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State
The Angels are better positioned with hitters than pitchers for the future, so they're getting an arm too. And because they seem to have an internal mandate to rush their first-rounder to the Majors, they go the college route with Arnold, who has the best track record of any of the top pitchers and a nasty fastball/slider combination.
Mariners: Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona (Calif.) HS
Seattle has nine farmhands on our Top 100 Prospects list, the first seven of whom are position players, so it opts for a pitcher. Hernandez may be the most talented player in the Draft, with a four-pitch mix highlighted by a fastball that climbs into triple-digit territory, a precocious changeup and lots of athleticism, feel and projection.
Rockies: Ethan Holliday, SS/3B, Stillwater (Okla.) HS
On pace for a record 125 losses, Colorado needs impact talent. Holliday should have the most usable power in the Draft and could turn into a 35-homer guy at Coors Field, just like his father Matt once was.
Cardinals: Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee
St. Louis is deeper with hitters than pitchers for the long term, so let's make it four arms in the top five selections. Doyle has the best fastball in the Draft, which helped him top NCAA Division I in strikeout rate (15.4 per nine innings).
Pirates: Ike Irish, OF/C, Auburn
Pittsburgh has the fourth-worst offense in MLB (3.53 runs per game) and a farm system bereft of can't-miss hitters beyond Konnor Griffin. That makes the best all-around offensive player in the college crop a natural for the Bucs, as Irish slashed .364/.469/.710 overall this spring and swatted 13 homers in 28 Southeastern Conference games.
Marlins: JoJo Parker, SS, Purvis (Miss.) HS
Though Miami's offense has been outperforming its pitching staff, most of its top performers (Kyle Stowers, Dane Myers, Otto Lopez) are playing over their heads and their system is pitching-heavy. The best all-around prep hitter in the Draft, Parker would immediately become the most promising bat in the organization.
Blue Jays: Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton HS, Fort Cobb, Okla.
Toronto doesn't have a glaring need, as it's performing well on both sides of the ball in the Majors and well balanced in the Minors. So the Jays can just take the best player remaining on the board in Willits, who might have the most well-rounded set of tools in the Draft if he grows into 15-20 homer power.
Reds: Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon State
Like Toronto, Cincinnati is doing better than average at scoring runs and preventing them in the big leagues while assembling an admirable amount of hitting and pitching talent in its system. The Reds also can just take the best player available, in this case Arquette, a slugging shortstop who might wind up at third base -- which could be their biggest position of need.
White Sox: Billy Carlson, SS, Corona (Calif.) HS
Chicago won't lose 121 games again this year, but it's on pace for 108 defeats and has lots of holes to fill. Some scouts say Carlson is the best defensive prep infielder they've ever seen, giving the Sox the slam-dunk shortstop they lack, and he also comes with 20-homer upside.