After two weeks of rankings where I lumped players ranked 400-301 into one group and then players 300-201 into a second group, this is the week in which I break out the rankings into groups of 25. For this week, that means players ranked 200-176.
The overall breakdown of this group tends to be a little older compared to those ranked higher. Eleven players are between the ages of 30-34, 11 are in the 25-29 age range and three players are 24 or younger.
As for the position breakdown, there are two relievers, two starting pitchers, one catcher, two third basemen, one shortstop and one DH. Nine players are outfielders, either at one outfield position or multiple, while another five are "utility" players, which for this purpose means they can play at least one infield and one outfield position.
1. 3B Cam Smith | 22 | AA | 2025
The 14th overall pick by the Cubs in this summer’s draft, Smith skipped blissfully through the A-levels in just 27 games, blasting six home runs in 15 Low-A games and slashing .333/.421/.500 in 12 High-A games before rounding out the season with five games with Double-A Tennessee. Houston saw enough to target the 6’3” 224 lb righty in the Kyle Tucker trade. Smith gives the club a ready-soon third-base prospect in the wake of Alex Bregman’s departure, though with Isaac Paredes also in town, Smith may have to try some outfield.
You need to disabuse yourself of thinking of sleepers like Hayden Birdsong (watch Birdsong have the best season known to man now that I’m pointing him out). Hayden Birdsong can be good (oh, he’s definitely going to be great now that I’m saying this), but Birdsong’s command is a mess (he’s going to have the most pristine walk rate now that I’m saying this). Please, blog, may I have some more?
Here’s how this JJ Bleday sleeper came into being: I saw he made good contact, then I spent about an hour trying to figure out how to not write this post. Sadly, at each thing I looked at, I still liked him. Please, blog, may I have some more?
1. OF Walker Jenkins | 20 | AA | 2026
A left-handed hitter at 6’3” 210 lbs, Jenkins walked more than he struck out and slashed .282/.394/.439 in 82 professional games during his first full season. The sixth overall pick in the stacked 2023 class, Jenkins took the top spot on this list last year and is the odds-on favorite to claim it again next season unless the Twinkies really slam the gas on his development: an outcome he might invite with a hot start at Double-A.
So, I don’t love giving 1st basemen as sleepers, because I believe you need to draft a top one. Why? If everyone in your league has a great 1st baseman, it does not help you to have a lousy one. Très simple, as they say in Frenchlish class. Please, blog, may I have some more?
In our 72nd episode, Mike Couillard and Jeremy Brewer open by memorializing Rickey Henderson and discussing the bevvy of holiday MLB transactions including Corbin Burnes signing with Arizona. Then we pick six of our favorite Rickey cards to induct into the podcast PC. Please, blog, may I have some more?
Happy New Year, everyone. We are one day closer to the start of the baseball season, which is really all we care about.
Today I tackle the second large group of player rankings in the Top 400 Dynasty Players for 2025. This is the 300-201 player grouping. After today, the final 200 players will be broken down into groups of 25.
In case you are new to my rankings, here is a simple breakdown of how I put these together...