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Said this about Chase DeLauter in Spring Training, “Saw his ESPN rank of 233rd overall and figured I needed to look at DeLauter. I don’t know what ESPN knows, but no one else I’ve talked to thinks he’s breaking camp. Earliest ETA is June, and a lot can happen between now and June. With that said, I don’t mind a flyer in your last round if you want to stash, but you’re going to get hit by injuries, and need to drop him by April 7th.” And that’s me quoting me! Dude, 233rd overall? What? Ha, okay, moving on. Wait, one more thing, I didn’t rank him in my top 500. Correctly! All right, now moving on! DeLauter appeared in the Itch’s way too early top 10 prospects for 2025 back in April. (Though, just out of the top 10.) Then going back, and Itch said this previously, “Had sort of an Daniel Espino feel on draft night when DeLauter fell to Cleveland. Wasn’t as crazy as the Espino thing to me because DeLauter was a college bat, and unlike the Espino draft, where pretty much the whole league had a crack at him and passed to let the draft’s most talented arm go to the team most ready to weaponize that talent, DeLauter went 16th overall. He offers a quick look at the downsides of separating studs from duds too young, as he wound up playing at James Madison University after going undrafted out of high school. Along the way, he grew into a 6’4” 235 lb center fielder with double-plus speed and power. For what it’s Wuertz, DeLauter has played 100 total games since 2020: three short seasons with JMU and one in the Cape Cod League, where he was good with the wooden bat: .298/.397/.589 with 21 walks and 18 strikeouts across 34 games (146 plate appearances). That small sample with the ash and maple is where I’m hanging this hat. Cleveland has made a concerted effort to minimize strikeouts. If they think DeLauter can keep doing it, I’m here to find out. And I want to beat up Grey so bad.” Not cool, let’s move on! So, what can we expect from Chase DeLauter for 2025 fantasy baseball?

Psyche! I’m gonna start sleepers next Monday and my rankings on Patreon. More like I’m psyched! I’m back from my vacation and ready to get baseball going again. Speaking of which, I’m wondering if we have interest in starting up a 2025 fantasy draft. If we do, I’m down like a clown. Let me know in the comments if you have interest. Anyway II, Chase DeLauter for 2025 fantasy baseball:

Chase DeLauter has a funny swing, let’s watch. Hey, a recent clip, woohoo:

Not that long ago:

Bit longer ago, but who cares about dates why am I focusing on that?

So, he’s old. Not like dinosaur old, but Chase DeLauter is 23 and played less than 40 games last year in the minors. Double and Triple-A numbers are 7/1 and he hit .252 in Double-A with a 14.8 K% and 11 BB%. Clearly that’s with a low BABIP, because he’s either the worst Hard Contact Guy of All-Time or he makes terrible contact. Like a teamster, gonna lean on the latter. He’s also had terrible injury luck. Is it luck or does he have proclivity for injuries? By the way, you can’t say proclivity aloud without sounding like Dr. Evil. He battled hamstring and a fractured foot this year. Basically, a lost year. Oh, and the fractured foot was a foot he had surgery on twice before. I don’t know what’s up with his tootsies, but if they ever stage an adaption of My Left Foot, I have suggestion for the Daniel Day Lewis part.

So, what do we have left (foot? No, remaining, you dolt!) to discuss here? He has no speed, big power and could hit .300 and the Guards have a spot for him. He also hit the crap out of the ball in the AFL this year (108.1 MPH exit velocity). He just needs to stay on the field in Spring Training and not completely poop the duvet. My guess is he will continue to battle foot injuries his whole career (sadly). You don’t have two surgeries on the same foot, then just happen to fracture it again. Someone might need to go in and look at that thing. Preferably a doctor. And not a doctor from a Caribbean university like Steve Guttenberg in Bad Medicine. He kinda reminds me of what I thought Josh Naylor would be aside from the injuries (middle-of-order power bat). DeLauter needs to stay on the field and he will take off. For 2025 fantasy baseball, I’ll give Chase DeLauter projections of 47/14/53/.266 in 312 ABs with a chance for more (and much less since he’s never stayed on the field for longer than 60 games).

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Jon
Jon
13 days ago

Alright, how about something a little bigger than before in my dynasty — Wacha ($4) + Matt Olson ($37) for Parker Meadows ($4) + Civale ($7)?

I need to crunch the numbers a bit to see if I can afford Olson, but I generally have a pretty low-budget team as I finished near the bottom of the league last year and sold off anyone with a big contract. (Our max contracts are $45 so Olson is getting up there.)

I don’t have any legit power bats on my team so Olson’s appealing, and I need SP so Wacha would help. OF is the one place I have some depth.

Do you prefer what I outlined above, or something smaller like Wilyer Abreu ($4) for Wacha?

Thanks, and Happy Thanksgiving!

Dave D
Dave D
14 days ago

Happy Turkey Day! I just finished another Gladiator (BTW, pretty happy with my latest). Are you planning on joining a two hour Gladiator on Monday or Tuesday? That works for me.

Dave D
Dave D
Reply to  Grey
14 days ago

I’m sticking with only Gladiator for now since they only go until early January. More bang for the buck too. Only $50 each. Since there’s no in season management it’s hard to do too many. I have done 4 already. I want to do one slow at a time until they end it in about 5 weeks. That probably means about 9 for me. Ill probably do a DC closer to spring.

Last edited 14 days ago by Dave D
Jon
Jon
14 days ago

Would you deal Parker Meadows for Michael Wacha in a dynasty? I have extra OF and need SP.
I sent an offer of Jake McCarthy for Wacha and he countered with Parker.

Jon
Jon
Reply to  Grey
14 days ago

Wilyer abreu, Evan Carter, or sel frelick better?

Fungazi 2.0
Fungazi 2.0
15 days ago

Found something interesting that will help out your projections quite a bit. Jake Burger has hit exactly .250 for the last 3 years. Free stat projection and the biggest anomaly since Khris Davis hit .247 for 4 years straight.

J.R.
J.R.
15 days ago

Snell to Dodgers. Not a fan of this creative deferred money thing. Feels like popular teams will always sell merch so infinitely deferring money forever, does it keep them under the luxury tax? Could you have Soto make $100 million one year, minimum next, while Ohtani makes minimum then paid $100 million? I am for being creative accounting, but this seems to be headed down a road I dont like (*IF I understand it, and not sure I do).

Yeah yeah, I know Bonilla, but this seems different the way it is being used. IIRC that was a buyout and he deferred?

Smart people help me out.

Razzboi
Razzboi
Reply to  J.R.
15 days ago

It’s the new MLB annuity plan. Only open in select areas.

J.R.
J.R.
Reply to  Grey
15 days ago

While I understand that part, I think I do at least. Doesnt this basically kick can down road assuming profits? Like, sign Ohtani, they make a boat load of money off merch, and in the black.

If Ohtani got hit by a car, oh wait, better, how about went to prison for sports betting, wouldnt they be in the hole for money?

I get every team can per se, but dont a lot of teams have decent but not obscene profits? Cant a couple bad contracts still sink a team, but now if you deferred it you could do 7-8 bad contracts instead?

All this money stuff is above my head but also crazy to me. NFL was talking about private equity…..the most profitable sport wants that.

College football is pretty much ruined.

Just kind of weary of this stuff because I also dont understand most of it.

J.R.
J.R.
Reply to  Grey
15 days ago

Haha yeah and I feel more and more confusing each day.

I guess the most simple version of the question is a team like Tampa. Not a lot of crowds. Dont spend. My understanding of the Franco deal is that it was straight forward standard x $ for y years. It seems tailor made for small market teams.

Why wouldnt a team defer some of that (insentivize it with a few more million or whatever) to free up more money to be competitive now? I guess that is part I dont get because a $ is worth more now than in future.

J.R.
J.R.
Reply to  Grey
15 days ago

Thanks for the info. It helps. Why no interest?

Yeah MLB feels like shenangians at a car dealership. “We can get you in this Maserati!”. “I cant afford that!” “Sure you can. Have a seat…”

AntiScioscia
AntiScioscia
Reply to  J.R.
14 days ago

5 years for Snell (who will be 32 on Wednesday) is bonk-bonk to me. But I guess he wasn’t going to sign a shorter deal, and they wanted him the most out of all the free agent pitchers. And with all that deferred Ohtani money, I guess they can afford to pay for 5 years and get 2 good ones.

Flying High
Flying High
15 days ago

Hi Grey…Senga or Pepiot for next year? Senga health still an issue?

Do you think Kopech gets the closer job next year?

Thanks as always.

J.R.
J.R.
Reply to  Grey
15 days ago

Do we even know what Senga even had for injury? (well other than calf)

J.R.
J.R.
Reply to  Grey
15 days ago

Didnt he have a shoulder injection in spring? Or did he have multiple arm issues? Non owner so casually watched him.

Jon
Jon
16 days ago

I’m looking at trading an OF for a SP in a dynasty and can definitely take on some salary. My team is really cheap. Owner asked me about Parker Meadows ($4), Wilyer Abreu ($4), or Evan Carter ($4). Here are some of his pitchers:

Burnes $27
Berrios $21
Grayson Rodriguez $17
Kirby $15
Baz $15
Bradish $7
Detmers $7
Nelson $7
Schmidt $7
Wacha $7
Hunter Harvey $7

See a match?

Stl Squat Cobblers
Stl Squat Cobblers
16 days ago

What do u think of Luken (I’m your Father’n) Baker? Any chance at an impact in 2025 or is he just Quad-A?

The Judge
The Judge
16 days ago

Hi Grey…how do you confirm if still signed up for PATREON?

Josh Jung or Maikel Garcia?

Thanks!

Stl Squat Cobblers
Stl Squat Cobblers
16 days ago

Just like holey britches, The Squat Cobblers are feelin’ a (slow) draft!! Let’s effin go! (and get me projections done Master Lothario Please n Thank you!)

Last edited 16 days ago by Stl Squat Cobblers
Rakeman
Rakeman
Reply to  Stl Squat Cobblers
16 days ago

Let’s fire up a draft!

J.R.
J.R.
16 days ago

Kikuchi to Angels on a three-year deal worth $63MM, per a report from Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

I mean an overpay, but not really a bad deal.

How much does he owe the Astros? 10%?

Pretty insane what they did, I wish I could find article. This might not be accurate, but basically “this pitch sucks, stop. Throw slider more. Target the area here.”. Boom. Success.

Screenshot_20241126-113655
J.R.
J.R.
Reply to  Grey
16 days ago

*checks bank account*

Successful? ;p

The Itch
Reply to  J.R.
16 days ago

Nicely done : )

Smitty
16 days ago

Solid LH bat that could break into the Guardians lineup by July? My guess is when he gets the call he’ll primarily play vs RHP. Shows 60 grade pop when he gets extended and has a bit of speed, but early injuries have slowed him. Like him but don’t love him.
Count me in for a 50 round DC, let’s go!!!

Smitty
Reply to  Grey
16 days ago

Agree on Brennan a placeholder

J.R.
J.R.
16 days ago

….233rd prospect is low. Oh, what? 233 player?! Um….too high.

Plus all the injuries.

That is just a bizarre ranking.

J.R.
J.R.
Reply to  Grey
16 days ago

I missed the last year part….which still makes it just as weird if not more. You covered it, but wasnt it all Langford, Skenes, Holliday, Carter, Chourio?

Was there even a clamouring or roster spot for him?

Just…odd. Well that is what ESPN gets for cutting people.

J.R.
J.R.
Reply to  Grey
16 days ago

Did they rank any other top guys that high? Maybe it is AI writing it haha

Dave D
Dave D
Reply to  Grey
16 days ago

Thats insane. Im not sure how the #8 bat on the Player Rater could be so low. I understand some people don’t like drafting a DH in the first few rounds. That being said, getting a top ten bat from the previous year in round 5 at an ADP of around 65 seems pretty attractive to me. Everyone else can have Adley Ruschman there or Michael Harris two rounds earlier. I dont get it.

J.R.
J.R.
Reply to  Dave D
16 days ago

Ozuna, Rooker, Doyle were just given 0 respect. Meanwhile a guy like Bichette could “only” bounce back not get worse. Ha!

uncle ernie
uncle ernie
16 days ago

Please rank these three. Willy. Manny and Rooker thanks.

uncle ernie
uncle ernie
Reply to  uncle ernie
16 days ago

That’s Adames Machado and Rooker. Sorry

BBQWarren
BBQWarren
16 days ago

So I guess its Chase Delottery