‘Member the days when I told you that you needed a top 1st basemen and you shouldn’t look for sleepers at this position? Don’t remember? Prolly for best, leave more room in your brain to remember excuses for why you didn’t exercise. Previously, I’d tell you to go to my top 20 1st basemen for 2024 fantasy baseball (not clickbait at all) and draft some top guys and stop fooling around with sleepers at this position. Of course, I’m malleable like Gumby and this year we need to look for sleepers at 1st base *ducks head*. Whoa, someone threw a wrench into this! Fine, Triston Casas, Pete Alonso and Matt Olson get my nethers ablaze, but 1st basemen dry up quick. As with other positions like the catchers to target (again, not clickbait), these are 1st basemen that are being drafted late. For the 1st basemen, I’m going with an ADP of 150 or later to be included in this post. Anyway, here’s some 1st basemen to target for 2024 fantasy baseball:
Alec Bohm (NFBC 161, ESPN 186) Can’t believe he’s going this late, I have him all the way up at [looks at my Bohm ranking] Okay, he’s roughly ranked around where he’s being drafted. My takeaway from the 1st basemen is draft one before you get to this post. These are corner infidels. I do have some slight hope for Bohm. His power grew last year; he’s only 27 and he makes excellent contact, which wouldn’t leave me shocked to see him hit .300.
Isaac Paredes (NFBC 177, ESPN 181, Yahoo 182) Already gave you my Isaac Paredes sleeper. Here’s some quotes from that piece, “Don’t worry, money…pulled balls…a terrible thing…But…hold onto your flippers…” Damn, I’m terrible at pulling quotes. Is that saying male dolphins shouldn’t pull their balls? Do dolphins have testicles? I’m a college grad.
Rhys Hoskins (NFBC 204, ESPN 179, Yahoo 151) Bernie Brewer better lube up that slide, because Milwaukee is a great landing spot for Hoskins. Lube it up! Just laughed to myself thinking about the guy at his draft saying, “I’m taking Hoskins because Grey said Bernie Brewer better lube up his slide.” Let that person be you.
Jeimer Canderlario (NFBC 229, ESPN 227, Yahoo 213) Okay, without linking to it, I’ll just say that I wrote a Jeimer sleeper post two years ago, because of how much I liked him, and now he’s on the Reds. [blinking lights] Great park! [light flickers off] Crap, I should’ve paid my utility bill.
Kyle Manzardo (NFBC 398, ESPN unranked, Yahoo 294) Manzardo going 60 picks before Kirilloff is funny. Not ha-ha funny, but Manzardo has no job and projections that say he’ll be worse than Kirilloff. How’sever, this is about being positive and if Manzardo breaks camp, I’m intrigued. He looks a little like the most boring 1st baseman that I don’t usually like: The .275 hitter with 17-homer power. That kinda feels optimistic too. Funny that he was on the Rays, because, if things break right, he looks like the second coming of Yandy. Call him Kyle Yanzardy.
Alex Kirilloff (NFBC 457, ESPN unranked, Yahoo 295) So, this is weird, I got to the end of Kirilloff’s name while typing and BDon jumped through my window, smashing the glass, reciting to me reasons to like Kirilloff. That’s fine, but what I found a little annoying was how he could’ve at least left through the same window rather smashing out another one. Okay, what I’m about to say is both dumb and stupid, but what if Buxton and Lewis get hurt, but Kirilloff actually stays healthy? Then why wouldn’t he hit in the top third of the order? Immediate boost in value, and Kirilloff, while incredibly injury-prone himself, was equally touted not that long ago, and not just by BDon. Many saw Kirilloff as an automatic multi-year All-Star with 30-homers and .280+ average in his future. Couldn’t be more derailed, but it’s still there, somewhere in there.
Elehuris Montero (NFBC 522, ESPN unranked, Yahoo 378) Some of these 1st basemen to target remind me of the Netflix doc, American Symphony, in that both these guys and that movie are boring as crap. I tried watching that flick about five times. Any hoo! I think I might be too tough on Montero, because of how much Bud Black has hurt me. I went and tracked down some out clips of Elehuris Montero homering and he’s a strong boy that could easily get into 25 homers. He also used to be a .290 hitter in the minors, that has just been totally defeated by MLB pitching, but guys click at different times.
Nolan Schanuel (NFBC 549, ESPN unranked, Yahoo 372) I called him Nolan Monaco in the 1st basemen rankings because he was Ty France down the coast, but I might be being too conservative on what to expect. Itch seems more positive, so let’s end with him, “The 11th overall pick, Nolan Schanuel dominated his competition at Florida Atlantic, especially in a preposterous junior season that saw him slash .447/.615/.868 with 19 home runs and 14 stolen bases in 59 games. The team sent him to the complex for three games then to Low-A for two games. What he showed at those levels with a smattering of singles and walks is probably what he’d shown before they drafted him. Bit of travel for puzzling reasons, is all I’m saying. Then he went to Double-A for 17 games and slashed .333/.474/.467 with twice as many walks as strikeouts. That’ll probably be that for his minor league career: 22 games across three levels. There’s just not much argument for him to spend any time in Triple-A this season after he posted a 112 wRC+ and .402 OBP in 29 major league games. Sure, he didn’t get to his extra base power, and he might benefit from some low-stakes opportunities to focus on that, but spring training should offer that. If only someone offered me a chance to punch Grey.” What on earth?
Great stuff as always, and congrats on the top predictions prize from 2023!
My long-time (2008) 12-team, mixed, 5×5 (Ks and OBP) Auction league is looking for a new active owner or two.
Auction scheduled for Sunday, April 7th at noon. We keep 7 players (one year at same salary; or up to 3 years at +$5 for each year including the first year kept).
Active roster is 14 hitters (2 C, 5 OF, MI, CI, and UT, plus 1/2/SS/3) and 9 pitchers (1100 IP minimum, any mix of SP/RP). 7 person bench, 2 IL spots. We draft 7 minor leaguers and can keep 5 year to year (must be ROY eligible).
We use OnRoto as our league site. We have weekly waivers and a $100 FAAB with Vickrey bidding ($1 over next highest bid). Weekly bids (Sunday) and lineups (before first game on Monday). Trading is active and fun. Good group of guys who live all over, mostly MA, but also AL, DC, PA, etc.
Interested – let me know at Ethan.Flaherty
AT gmail.com. Happy to post this elsewhere, but not sure where after the user forums went away. Good luck everyone!
Which option would you want:
12 Team 6×6 OPS/QS Roto League
Keep players in the (Round) they were drafted in.
Option 1
Alexis Diaz (8)
Bobby Miller (9)
Joe Ryan (10)
Jhoan Duran (11)
CJ Abrahms (16)
Or Merrill Kelly (21) or Hunter Greene (23)
Option 2
Bobby Miller (8)
Jhoan Duran (11)
Edwin Diaz (16)
Spencer Torkelskon (19)
Spencer Steer (22)
Or Joe Ryan (10) or Merrill Kelly (21) or Hunter Greene (23)
Hello.
Yello
Trust all is well!
Just looking at your rankings vs Rudy/Steamer OBP hitter rankings. Only thing that really stands out to me is basically Yordan and Witt swapping positions – Yordan is 3 and Witt is 10.
Are you taking Yordan there in an OBP? (not saying I would necessarily)
Standard 5×5 AL only league looking for bench depth options to cover MI – please rank tue exciting options of P. Dejong, N. Lopez, G. Arias, E. Valdez, A. Frazier, C. Norby?
I’d look for better options…DeJong, Arias, Lopez
Thank you. Appreciate you. Such is life in deep AL only leagues !
Would you give Gavin Stone for Ian Happ in a dynasty?
Also curious about Sewald for Lane Thomas?
I’m hesitant to trade Sewald as my RP core is really thin, but value seems good. Trying to acquire some OF. Could go for either/both of the deals above.
I’d take Happ and Thomas, they’re both fair
Grey, with this offense so far does it look balanced or lacking somewhere?
C-
1B-Bellinger
2B-Semien
SS-O.Cruz
3B-Riley
MI-
CI-
OF-JRod
OF-Steer
OF-
OF-
OF-
Util-
Looks dope!
Grey,
How would you…or would you… adjust your counting stat projections for Lindor if Alonso ends up getting traded at some point this season?
Nope
El Bombi in 3rd round was going to be my final keeper but maybe it should be a starter Castillo in the 5th instead with the other keeps Trea Alonso Cruz Albies Casas. 12 Team H2H.
I don’t hate Castillo there
Overall better fantasy player in a weekly H2H daily lineup league. OBP/Hits/R/RBI/HR/SB…
Luke Raley or Brendan Donovan?
Raley
Hey Grey! Would you move your $16 Freddy P (currently keeping him as my SP2) for his $7 Volpe or $4 Steele? Keep forever $3 inflation. Roto league.
Wondering if this is the year Volpe adds average to that profile (even if he just hit like .250/260 that would be huge).
Thanks!
Nope
Thanks!
No problem
@Grey: weekly roto. keepers are witt and jazz. would you take trea over guys like joram or olson for a first round pick? would rather go with a corner guy or OF, but trea will probably be best available.
hope all is well and you had a nice winter….
@Grey: or throw riley into that mix as well. thanks!
Yes, corner guy..,hope you’re well!
No, go corner guy
Grey, my man! I love this time of year and all you do to help us get ready for drafts. I know your rankings are geared for 12-team mixed leagues and Rudy has his own NL-only rankings. For NL-only leagues, you use and recommend others to use Rudy’s rankings. In the past, sometimes I simply strip out the AL players from your top-500 to use for NL-only leagues, as Rudy’s rankings tend to differ from yours.
Why do you recommend going with Rudy’s rankings for NL only? Does the depth of 10-team NL only account for the differences? Thanks!
You use what you’re comfortable with…I use Rudy’s bc they go much deeper but I also know which players I like so I’m kinda using my own in some way…
New RCL 18 drafting Wednesday at 8 ET/5 PT. Risk the embarrassment of finishing behind me!
Haha
10 team h2h 5 cat dynasty. 10 keepers. Trade chourio and jordan walker for yordan alvarez?
NOOoOooooooooElvi! I had such plans for him hahah.
In a keep forever, 7 bench spots (weekly lineups so bench guys are really only for subs / matchups), would you throw a $1 to draft noelvi and hold him for 2H, or are you totally out on him now until he shows something or gets closer to coming back?
Meh, he’s out until July and then who knows….What if India and CES are producing? Marte going to the minors…. Guess if you can stash him for $1 there’s worse flyers…Prolly looking at useless for this year
Yeah – great call on target CES now
LFG!
Is it odd that a major World Series contender, The Doyers, (or any team really) decides to switch their SS & 2B just two weeks before their opener?
Sounds very dumb, right?
So dumb. This seems like something my Cardinals would do. ( Friggin signing a C to a 5 year deal…only to decide weeks later…he can’t catch! ) Is my grandmother scouting for them?!?! Thanks Noda!!
HAHAHAHA
Kiriloff? Kiriloff staying healthy??
In memoriam of John Candy – 30 years later, “If they told you wolverines would make good house pets, would you believe them?”
Haha, nope
Mookie moving to ss. I called that yesterday. Wow
Yeah, I saw, nice
Noelvi popped for PEDs
Wow, ugh…I’m pretty sure I drafted him places
I’ve only done 1 draft and I have him.
Damn
Eric Cross drafted him in LABR
Whew…Wish I took CES in more places
Crap. I have him in two spots. Would you cut him in a keeper league (not a full blown dynasty league) that keeps 23. Roster size is 30. 14 teams. Roster also includes 8 na (prospects). Suspension is an active roster spot. Thanks
Sounds like he’s cuttable there
Ooo good call
NL only dynasty roto w contract years. I was just offered his Lane Thomas (3 years) & Musgrove (1 year) for my Outman (2 years) Snell (3 years) and JD Martinez (1 year). Worth the gamble on dealing Snell n him staying in NL? Appreciate all of your insight!
Doesn’t sound like a bad gamble
Hi Grey, I am in a 12 team 5×5 roto keeper league (keep forever) and need to select up to 10 keepers. Options are:
C. Walker
Semien
Steer
Albies
A. Garcia
L. Thomas
Springer
T. O’Neill
Aaron Nola
Helsley
Michael King
Bibee
Fried
C. Javier
I will also have Winn and Cowser as minors eligible guys who do not count towards the limit above.
I am leaning Walker, Semien, Steer, Albies, Garcia, Thomas, Springer, Nola, Bibee, Fried.
My guess is that the top closers will be kept, so I am going back and forth a bit on whether to fit in Helsley or to draft a closer early (or as early as I can given that up to 120 guys might be out of the pool based on keepers alone).
Do you agree with my 10? And what do you think of my keepers overall?
Thanks!
I’d prolly go Helsley over Springer, but could go either way…Your keepers seem weak in general, but it’s not the end all
Thanks Grey. Yeah, I’d be happier if they were stronger too, but don’t tell them I said that. Hopefully some of the young guys will come through and the group plus whoever I add will seem better next year…
Yeah, No problem
Missed your catcher post the other day. In a vacuum who do you think has more value in a 20 team 5×5:
A. Tyler Stephenson
B. Javier Assad
Tyler
Thanks
No problem
I’m guessing you are going to want to add Joey Votto now that he’s back in Canada!
Haha, naturally, eh
I’m in on Reynaldo Lopez. In! All the way in!!! *lunatic cackling*
Same, kinda surprised no one else is…I’m taking him for basically free everywhere
I got ’em in our league.
Love it!
No downside to the Braves if the run Lopez out of gas then pivot to Smith Shawvwvwr and the other guy to throw gas down the stretch.
Yeah, totally
After this little interchange, folks will be in on him. He was just taken in rd 25 where previously I was drafting him at rd 31-32.
Oh wow
Grey, need a trade opinion in a points keeper league. We all get to keep 5 guys with a round they are able to be kept in, each year it moves up 2 years. We just had our keepers announced, and I’m keeping Langford (15th round keep) and Jordan Walker (13th) for bats, and Kirby (13th) Ragans (15th) and Skenes (15th) as my arms, and through other trades I have 3 1st round picks. I’m pick Bryce and Matt Olson with my first 2, but I was offered Elly for my other 1st, which would be probably Zach Wheeler or Pablo Lopez, possibly J Ram might be there. Would you trade that 1st for Elly? I know those players probably outperform Elly this year, but it’s hard to pass on Elly who also has a 15th round keep value when I can keep him for multiple seasons, plus at our trade deadline guys with elite keepers can trade them for a haul for a playoff push. What are your thoughts?
Works for me, take Elly
Mr Grey.
Let me preface this by saying I am asking for an insanely deep league. 12 teams, 50 rounds, no transactions. We are in the insurance plan stage of the draft. we do 5 OF and MI/CI so lot of roster spots to fill.
Are you intrigued at all by the fact that Michael Busch should have 1B/3B eligibility after a week or so as a backup CI/disaster scenario 1B fill-in? Would you go him or Schanuel for this esteemed role. I assume Schanuel, but is it close?
Yes, it is a dorky question of such low stakes it’s
hardlyprobably not worth asking, but I miss you.Hugs
Hey, Hugman! Good to see you…I’d go Schanuel
Fully expect the news on Nootbaar to be broken ribs
I saw that and I was thinking that sounds like the kind of injury that can hurt a guy’s swing
Think again!
Haha
1B always seems like the position where none of the late guys work out and we are so thankful when we eventually pick up the rando quad A luken baker to fill the spot.
Haha, Luken Baker is a real throwback
Me and a buddy are in the same league. It’s a 12 team, 5×5 lifetime keeper league, can keep up to 5.
We are looking to make a pre-draft trade involving Royce Lewis and swapping picks.
We pick 6th and 7th. Neither one of us wants to take advantage of the other.
Question is, what round swap do people think would be fair?
And by the way, regarding your blurb about Hoskins, I never utter the name Grey in front of any of my fantasy baseball friends.
Hahaha
I don’t follow the question
Got it.
For example, I give him Royce and my 5th round pick and I get his 4th round pick. Trying to figure out which rounds would be fair to swap picks. He then keeps Royce as a keeper.
Can you not keep him? Trading Royce and, say, a 70th overall guy for a 50th overall guy doesn’t sound great…Why not just trade Royce for a guy you actually want?
I have Witt, Tatis, Soto, Olson and Burnes as my keepers already, so I am set.
He is looking to add a 5th keeper and I have Royce that is going back into the draft pool if he does not trade for him. He would rather trade for Royce now instead of risking that someone grabs him in the draft before he can.
I see, okay…Then I’d take a 2nd or 3rd round pick for Royce and a 5th
Gracias. Happy Friday!
De nada!
Anyone else’s RazzSlam running at a snail’s pace?
We are still only in the 7th round and I’m not sure we will even be done by opening day. lol
It seems like it takes 3.5 hours per pick
Not my league
We’re killing it. Be like Grey and OSB
Yeah, set your autodraft and be movin
It’s really a simple concept, put guys in queue, wait for the email you are on deck and have your pick ready to go. If you have a 4 hour meeting, set it to autopick.
We get 2 or 3 “time expired” picks each round.
What round are you guys in?
16
Holy smokes!
Crazy, cause we are about to have our 16th expired timer unless this guy picks in the next 2 minutes.
Who is about to time out? You should tell Truss, he will remove anyone that times out multiple times
We’re in Round 16
Oh great FML, deciding whether im gonna nut up and send an offer in a 20 tm dynasty where spots are somewhat limited. 24 roster spots. 18 active, 6 reserve. No mi or ci. C 1b 2b 3b ss lf cf rf ut. 9 pitchers. Standard 5×5 plus ops and holds. Keep forever no salaries or rounds attached. Id send:
Carroll
Liover
Wallner
Flaherty
Receive:
Chourio
Lawlar
Benson
Lodolo
Which side says u FML?
Corbin
Thank u. Thats a biggie of a trade idea. Startup was this yr and im pretty young
No problem
How concerned if at all are you about Duran’s toe? Does it effect hi 25 SB potential this year?
Concerned, we’ll see
Hey, happy Friday! Surprised you don’t mention Anthony Rizzo in this article. He’s being largely overlooked this year after his lost season last year. Hitting behind Soto and Judge and he was made for hitting in that kiddie park. he could be sneaky good.
Unless he’s a cut above these gents you mentioned and so doesn’t apply to the post…
enjoy your weekend!
Rizzo was overlooked by everyone, including me…He seems fine until about May when he goes down with a mysterious injury until Sept.
Been loving Hoskins/Paredes this year. I always tend to draft 1B/3B late as they have some great value past pick 150
Question for you Grey,
Kirby and Bichette or Snell and Witt Jr ?
Nice! Witt
I picked up Montero at the end of last year because I thought I saw some blossoming hitting ability and power in hus final three weeks or so.. the power obviously comes with the product whether the batting average does or not. I believe you’re totally correct on him and I think he is flying way under the radar. I don’t know if he’s going to breakout but it feels remotely possible this season. I’m really glad to see you write this because I always put a lot of stock in your opinions. Good piece! Hope Montero lives up to the article!!!!!
Agreed, thanks!
You agree you were right? Hahah
Surivior seems… promising!?
I agree, I’m right all the time!
I’m rooting for the boring white guy who is with Tevin…That’s my guy! The guy who I don’t know at all
I rooting for the Persian chick with the big ass lol
lollololololol
Happy International Women’s Day!
We need to get Tehol on Survivor!
Let’s get me on Survivor!
Grey,
In 2nd round of tout wars mixed draft you passed up on your boy Harper and took Ramirez instead? Accidental butt dial?
I don’t draft Tout for about 10 days, you must be looking at Rudy’s team
12 team, 5×5 roto (saves only)
Hey Grey! I’m excited to be back and I’ve been enjoying you and B Don’s podcast. Hope you’re doing well!
I had my draft last night. How did I do? My closers are a bit of a mess I think; but this league is pretty shallow and trades are abundant so I should be able to figure that out.
C- MJ
1B- Goldy
2B- Semien
3B- JoJo-Ram
SS- Thairo
OF- Tucker
OF- Nolan Jones
OF- Steer
UTIL- Naylor
BN- Riley Greene
SP- Freddy P, Luzardo, Keller, Civale, Braxton
RP- Alvarado, Scott, Estevez, Robertson, Stephenson, Yuki Matsui
Thanks! I love the hitting and pitching…If I had to nitpick, you look a little low on speed and trustworthy closers…not bad at all tho
I understand that the playing time configuration in that entire Reds roster is unsettled and that’s putting it mildly. The guy I’ve decided to hitch my wagon to is CES. 33 HRs between 130 games at AAA and Cincinnati. Salivating over the thought of CES playing 81 games @ GAB, with that lineup. My biggest concern(s) are how much P/T is CES going to get with Candelario in town with a substantial $45/3 million dollar contract to account for?
I love CES too, and I think he plays if he hits
In the highly, unlikely event (ugh) that CES gets jerked around for P/T, who do you prefer as a backup, Rizzo, Bohm or Nate Lowe?
Bohm.
Bohm
Looks like we can scratch N Lowe off the list with an oblique (4-6 weeks). Any relevancy in Angels retread Jared Walsh in a generous Texas lineup?
No
What about Josh Bell as well here??
Or do you like the lower guys like Kirilloff, Schanuel better??
Not a huge Bell fan, he’s fine if you’re late and you want a flyer on power
Grey, you’ve made me into a fantasy baseball snob… I see industry people post their teams and everyone inevitably has Strider or Cole and talks about how great they did. It kills their credibility IMO after years of only reading your stuff.
Tricky draft question, i have the 5 pick in a league where Acuna is kept. I can keep Carroll at 5. I’d prefer Tucker but I’m guessing that he doesnt make it to 5 so my worst case is Betts. Do I roll the dice and hope for Tucker or just keep Carroll at 5? Thanks!
Haha, I’m cultivating snobs! Keep Corbin
Thanks for the knowledge, FML!!
No problem
I am still trying to determine which is easier in draft to make up for later on?? Would speed, power or runs/average be harder
If say at the 12/13 turn, one drafts either Turner or Ramirez for speed and then want to take power/rbi guy would be better taking guy like freeman who gives lower HR but better average and bit of speed vs say Olson,Alvarez or even maybe Harper or Riley.
Guess if one stayed true to your rankings then it might be Harper, Alvarez, Freeman, Olson in that order. But guess if went Turner then might not want Harper and have 2 Phillies to start??
Always tough choices even at start of things!
You have to sacrifice something later…if you get power from say Brent Rooker, then you have to sacrifice AVG…If you get SBs later from Parker Meadows, you sacrifice power…In general, I think it’s prolly easier to make up power, you can always find a Matt Wallner type
Makes sense. Then I can see why perhaps many might go Freeman in the spot if he is available. He gives you somewhat of the 5 categories at least for 1B and definitely gives nice average as does perhaps Alvarez (without any speed but then he gives HR’s). so guess it is kind of pick your poison lol!
Yeah, exactly!
Thanks, Grey! You see where the Guardians hitting coach said Manzardo looked like Wade Boggs in the box?! Maybe cause of the stache??
Was offered Joe Ryan for Nate Lowe. Trade analyzer says Ryan easily…I’ve got Vinnie P as my current 1B and Ryan would replace Abbott as SP keeper #5. What say ye?
Hahaha, I haven’t seen I will check him out…I’d goRyan, it’s not super close
Grey!!!
Great 1B to target late report! I like them especially Schanuel.
Chris Rock quote of the day for March 8, 2024
What is on Kobe’s mind? Going to Colorado, around all these white people, and not bringing Johnnie Cochran? Well then they say, “well if you hire Johnnie Cochran, you’re going to look guilty.” Yeah, but you going home! You want to look innocent in jail? I’d rather look guilty at the mall.
Cheers,
Ante
Thanks!