The Yankees were so shook they missed on Juan Soto, they went out and paid a nutty amount of money with a crazy amount of years for Max Fried. This isn’t about Max Fried. Well, not yet. I will get to him. I mention him because the Yankees could’ve just traded some players and received a way better pitcher in Garrett Crochet. I’m not a Red Sox homer (which is why when I say, “That is an uncomfortable cot,” you don’t think I was caught for something or that I’m trying to sleep on a cod), but I can’t argue with the moves they’ve been doing lately. I am going to Vegas for Christmas, and I’m ready to bet on the Red Sox to win the World Series (so they will come in 4th in the AL East). Currently working on my 2025 rankings — available on Patreon — and most starters fell directly into line with whether I wanted them or not, but Crochet was the one guy who did not. I briefly really wanted Crochet, then for a long time I was out on him, now I’m in, but at a point where he might be drafted already, so: Hedge. His peripherals are gorgeous. Might be the best in baseball. A near-13 K/9 and barely 2 BB/9 are ridonk. My first problem was: He had a 3.58 ERA last year in that “great” year. That’s not great. Again, I know, ERA is hard to account for, but it’s still a category. Secondly, his huge jump in innings last year is terrifying (from 25 IP to 146). Thirdly, there’s no thirdly. Fourthly, his BABIP was high, but not due to bad luck. His opponents were barreling his stuff and making hard contact. That is a very odd one, so let’s spend two secs on it. He strikes out guys at a 35.1% rate, which is a straight bazinga, but, when people do make contact, they hit it hard. Weird, honestly. With the Monster, that could be a bigger issue, since Fenway always has a high BABIP. Hopefully, we’re not waiting for Crochet to win the Cy in 2030 on the Braves. In the end, I’m in because the perfs that were gorge are just so gorge, but hedged up like a landscape architect for those other reasons. Pray there’s not too many moments this year we’re talking about how hitters cot up to him. Caught! Not cot. Sorry. Darn, Crochet! 2025 Projections: 13-9/3.47/1.05/193 in 154 IP. Anyway, here’s what else I saw this offseason for 2025 fantasy baseball:
Jake Burger – Traded to the Rangers for three minor leaguers. I don’t need to squint too hard at Burger and see a poor man’s Matt Olson. Going into In ‘n Out and asking for an Olson, which is a burger without buns, but “No, not Animal Style. I don’t have money for lettuce either. I will go into your kitchen and you put the burger in my hands.” That’s off the menu and an Olson, and a poor man’s burger. See, a poor man’s Olson is a burger in your hands. I might’ve got lost in that analogy. Any hoo! Jake Burger is an easy-30-homer hitter who has hit .250 for three straight years. Oh, wow, he can sleep with Khris Davis’s wife now. If she permits it! 30/.250 is more exciting in the Rangers’ lineup than the Marlins’ but not as much as the Braves’ lineup, hence why Jake’s a burger in your hands. 2025 Projections: 66/31/74/.250/1 in 529 ABs
Spencer Horwitz – Traded to the Guards, then to the Pirates. It’s a bit of a problem that half the league’s teams are actively trying to get worse. My guess is the Guards figure they can trade out Gimenez for (placeholder) until Travis Bazzana is ready in August of 2025 and lose only, like, two games and still make the second Wild Card or something very actuarial. As for fantasy, Horwitz is extremely meh with a side of bleh. 2025 Projections: 64/14/68/.273/2 in 413 ABs
Luis L. Ortiz – Traded to the Guards. The L in his name is for Like. As in, I do. This is almost exclusively “I don’t trust the starter, but I do trust the Cleveland Starting Pitching Factory and everything they touch turns to something solid, except Triston McKenzie but that’s more because they can’t touch him, because he’s so skinny.” 2025 Projections: 9-8/3.79/1.16/121 in 152 IP
Andres Gimenez – Traded to the Jays. Ooh, Andres Gimenez trade gives the Jays’ double play combo of Gimenez/Jimenez. Pour one out for Buck Martinez. So, Gimenez moving from the Guards to the Jays, and people are saying the Mets won the Francisco Lindor trade, but who’s to say? Gimenez has great contact (15.4%) and is hopefully leading off now, unless Springer has naked photos of John Schneider–oh my God, I just shuddered out of my skin. A little help! I accidentally shedded my Earth skin! 2025 Projections: 86/12/61/.274/32 in 587 ABs
Yimi Garcia – Signed with the Jays. To. Dot dot dot. Close? To set up. Dot dot dot. Someone? Bullpens are, in general, a mess around the league. 2025 Projections: 4-2/3.12/1.06/72, 6 saves in 61 IP.
Max Fried – Signed with the Yankees for eight years making this screenshot an NFT collectible:
having the weirdest cravings
— Razzball (@razzball.bsky.social) October 16, 2024 at 9:59 AM
So, eight years, let’s see what we got here with Fried: One to two years for the first Tommy John surgery recovery, one to two years for pitching well, one to two years for pitching terribly as an over-the-hill vet and one to two years for pitching well after everyone counted him out and how many “one to two years” is that? Between Rodon, Cole and Fried, the Yankees have enough elbow tendons to make one pitcher. Would I be giving out a long-term contract to Fried? I wouldn’t draft him in a redraft league! I would prefer Clarke Schmidt if I were the Yankees. Though, they’ll likely get both since Fried can’t throw a full season, can he? 2025 Projections: 13-9/3.49/1.11/154 in 158 IP
Alex Cobb – Signed with the Tigers. What is the day before Opening Day when teams need to make roster moves? That’s the day for when Cobb is placed on the IL.
Jordan Romano – Signed with the Phils. I asked a rather stunod question on social media, asking is Romano the first lights-out closer the Phils have had since Lidge? And have mercy on my soul for asking an open-ended question with subjectivity involved. I heard things like, “Jeanmar Gomez wasn’t that bad,” and, the most obvious, “Romano wasn’t that good.” Sounds like Italian cheese discrimination. What, you a Parm guy? So, I like Romano, but being non-tendered by the Jays and having an elbow issue does raise some red flags. 2025 Projections: 5-3/4.17/1.33/61, 27 saves in 58 IP
Thairo Estrada – Signed with the Rockies. There’s literally no way I’m getting roped in by a Rockies player ever again–Hold up, he went 12/23/.271 in San Fran in only 495 ABs and he’s now in Coors at the age of 29? Okay, after Thairo, I will never be roped in by a Rockies player ever again. Though, Zac Veen is kinda interesting…2025 Projections: 64/15/71/.267/17 in 519 ABs
