In Luis Robert Jr.‘s favor, when I was typing the title up, I wrote Luis Robert Hr. It must be a good sign that I slipped up and changed Jr. to Hr. That’s where the positives are gonna have to end. Looked up Luis Robert Jr. on last year’s Player Rater to see what kind of value he gave to the people who rostered him last year and are you holding onto your hat? That’s not a hat, that’s a helmet with two beer cans on both sides. So, last year, I’ll give you one guess on Luis Robert Jr., was he on the Player Rater higher or lower than 348th overall? Bzzt, wrongo! He was at exactly 348 overall. Hey, one love, but also: What the eff? He was slightly less valuable than Jonah Heim. Slightly worse than Gavin Lux. Slightly worse than Alec Marsh. That’s not even the subpar but rosterable outfielder, Marsh with the beard! He was less valuable than Jakob Junis. I’m sorry, I need to sit down on that one. I also need to sit down because I’m inside a Waymo and there’s people shaking the car screaming, “We will kill you if you don’t come out right now.” This is serious. Uh, this is serious about Luis Robert Jr., I mean. These guys with baseball bats will stop smashing this Waymo soon enough. I wonder if they could teach bat speed to Luis Robert Jr. Hmm, it’s prolly better to not open the window and ask. So, what can we expect from Luis Robert Jr. for 2025 fantasy baseball and what makes him overrated?
Luis Robert Jr.’s being drafted around 70th overall. I can see trying for the bounce back, but he’s being drafted around Shota Imanaga. An ace or a guy who gave Jakob Junis a run for his money last year? (A runis for his monis?) Y’all are seriously tripping, and I’m not talking about your untied Hokas. Last year, Luis Robert Jr. went 47/14/35/.224/23 in 393 ABs. Hilarious. You notice I haven’t called him LouBob or Pantera or whatever. Dude doesn’t deserve a nickname. You have to earn that shizz. Last year, 45 players had 82 runs. He had 82 runs and RBIs combined. 82 RuBIs! With 400 plate appearances as the cutoff, he had the 181st worst runs in the league. Only way he was getting runs last year was after eating at Taco Bell. He hit 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the lineup for all but one game! I am howling. Do you know how bad that is? He hit 3rd for 205 ABs and hit .210. Perfection. Is it too early for the call to the Hall of Fame? Dude is making history. Not history, not herstory, he’s making Worstory. Again, if he were going in a place for a bounce back? Maybe! In the top 70? Literal marbles in peoples’ heads.
I know what you’re thinking, the White Sox were historically bad last year, but they will be better. First off, hello, Chris Getz! Thanks for reading! Because he’s the only one thinking that. They went out and signed Michael Ann Taylor for his pantsuits and that made them better? Seriously, I’m asking because if I look at their depth chart I will get sick. Could Lenyn Sosa protect Luis Robert Jr. in the order? Not because he’s good, but so I can make Russian Revolution jokes because I’m reading a Russian history book that’s 4,000 pages long and I need to justify it. Sorry, I hear the White Sox signed Austin Slater. Whew, Saved by the Bell! Luis Robert Jr. had a 33.2% K%, .310 BABIP and hit .224. Those numbers suck. What’s he gonna hit if he gets unlucky on BABIP? .175? Ya know what, in fairness to him, he likely doesn’t want to play for the White Sox, so he’s unmotivated. I don’t blame him! But I also don’t want him playing for my fantasy team.
I’m hitting over .900 on your Schmohawks with my 16 teams (11 Gladiator). No Robert, No Freeman, No Schwarber, No Devers, No Lewis, No Schwarber, No Cole, No Kim, No Elly. I have one Burnes share that I regretted right away. I have a couple Ragans. So far, the only Grey schmohawk I would draft is Ragans but that really depends on what else is on the table. I think you put together a real good list. I love it!!!
Dynasty 16 teams
My OF is stacked with 2 top 5 in your rankings, and 3 more in your top 20
Send Trout
Receive Roman Anthony
I can wait Anthony out till he arrives
NL Only 5×5 keeper with a salary- I have Senga for $12. I saw he pitched 2 shutout innings tonight- do I trust him enough to keep him or deal him now- while I can for a hitter at a similar price. He would be the only SP I would consider even keeping on my roster. I would say he may go for $12-$18
In the draft. Thanks!
Maybe a McLain for $14 or a Busch at $11 from another team.. 1b will be a tough one to fill in the auction draft.
Dynasty – I give up Francis I get E. Cabrera + R. Nelson.
Im pretty meh on all of them. I thought I liked Nelson but the rotation space is an issue. Strong opinion on any of it?
Bowden
Thanks!
Good morning! I’m on night shift.
14 team h2h league, Saves, holds dynasty league with salary cap.
Received trade offer:
Taj Bradley/Riley Greene for my Jazz/Jason Adams.
My current OF keepers on contract before draft: Judge, Trout, Adolis (maybe). Have Burleson rostered, will go back draft pool. My 3b Austin Riley.
My SP keepers: Schwellenbech, Reagan, Ober, Gil (will cut if injured). Haven’t decided on Gausman (or Pepiot.
I’m not huge fan of Taj Bradley,can fill out my SP in draft. Never liked Jazz on my team, however he carries CF/3B eligibility.
Thoughts on offer? Thankyou
This is terrible
Hey Grey I was a part of the RCL#6 draft last night. If you had to quibble at one category and capitalize a strength, what would you say?
C. Heim
1st. Goldschmidt
2nd. Hoerner
3rd. Bregman
SS. Seager
CI. Arenado
MI. X. Edwards
OF. Soto
OF. Y. Alvarez
OF. Yelich
OF. Kwan
OF. Robert Jr.
UTIL. Correa
Rotation:
Gilbert
F. Valdez
Yamamoto
Blanco
C. Sanchez
RP. D. Williams
RP. A. Diaz
You look weak on power, which isn’t great
Panic. Lol.
Lou Bob went 2-3 with another home run today. ST line sits at .429/.500/.929 with 2 HRs and 4 RBI.
The man clearly reads RAZZBALL.
Big season coming.
Great, move him up the boards!
10 team, H2H cats with OBP, keep 6 forever at no cost. Who’d you rather have?
James Wood or CJ Abrams?
Abrams would be UTIL spot as Mookie & Gunnar clog up the middle. 5 OF slots.
Thanks!
Wood
Which set of your rankings would you use for Razzslam? My draft starts day after tomorrow.
Everyone’s RazzSlam starts on Wednesday…I use Best Ball rankings on this page https://razzball.com/rotodeluxe/
I guess I’m not that special. Thanks for the info.
No problem
Had Robert since he was a rookie, finally decided to cut the chord. Was not included in my 8 keepers. I read an article where he mentioned he thought about quitting, which is what it looked like he was doing at the plate. That stretch where he k’d about 50 percent of the time was probably the worst I’ve seen anyone look. Totally uncompetitive at bats where he’d swing no matter where the pitch was. Problem with having a player like him is you feel obligated to leave him in the lineup way too long. All of that being said, he’ll probably mash this year for someone else’s team.
Ha, I doubt it
He’s played over 100 games once over the last 4 years. The year before that was the Covid year. He’s a hard pass for without even factoring in team context. Yeah he could get traded too, but I want nothing to do with this.
Yeah, agreed
I traded Robert away for Pete Crow-Armstrong. Pretty happy about that.
Nice!
Meh, Robert played hurt all last season which was probably a mistake as his production was terrible when he was out there. Ppl are drafting him at 70 overall because there is a non-zero chance you get 2023 Luis Robert and his .264 / 38 / 80 / 20 line. Not saying that will happen, but there is a chance. Too soon to write off Lou Bob in my opinion.
If he breaks 120 runs/RBIs it’ll be a miracle, that’s really bad
I may have asked you this before, but out of the three injury-prone players on my roster which would you keep from Royce Lewis, Buxton or Luis Robert? Buxton teasing us again with a great spring (1 HR, 2 steals). And one full healthy season from Royce could win some leagues. If only…
Lewis
Thanks.
No problem
With Sean Murphy expected to be sidelined 4-6 weeks with broken rib(s), are you confident enough in Drake Baldwin to get the head start and maybe seal the deal, rendering Murphy as a backup along with *The President* (Tromp)?
Haha, yeah, he could, I never underestimate Braves’ willingness to promote
catchers pfffftttt!
I lost my 1st catcher before we were done drafting lol
Just noticed that. Peeps be obsessing on catchers in that dc haha
you’ll be fine!
I would’ve preferred to not lose him, but not sweating it
Korey Lee is Murphy lite!
HAHA, Murphy, if his team sucked and he sucked
Haha right!
I didn’t have a catcher until like rd37 I and still didn’t want one on white sox.
Haha
Grey – you have Crews at 111 overall. How early would you be taking him in start-up obp keeper?
How many do you keep? Maybe 50-70?
About 70
Then, yeah, 50-ish
Don’t really wanna draft LouBob, but surprisingly to me, he was thrown back into the draft pool of our keeper league (12 teams, 15 keepers, no restrictions)…
If he lasts to the 9th pick, I gotta take him, right? Or Nick Kurtz?
That sounds fine there…Over Kurtz
Man what happened? Remember after his 38/20 tease he seemed elite? Now sadly, he has become a product of his environment. This guy really needs a new address and on the right club could go off. Tools are still there and if I’m Getz I’d continue to dangle him
Yeah, they should trade him
people aren’t bringing up, what % of that is other players watching him, being around him. somebody above saw him mention “retiring”. entirely possible his fall off leads to WSOX fall off. he went into last year with probably all the other players on WSOX thinking he’s their best one, then they watch that all year. WSOX have been getting worse the second they hired larussa more than 5 years ago, it’s been a gradual downturn.
So in my 12 team keeper H2H league which counts OBP and AVG as separate categories, I have the 12th (and 13th – 2nd round) picks, and Im looking for guidance based upon the keepers I have and who should be available to me around the time of my pick.
My Keepers are: JRod, Corbin Carroll, James Wood, Alonso, Riley, and Imanaga
The draft pool is shallow due to keepers, but listing your top 100 in order of who is available to start draft, it includes: Lindor, Betts, Jazz, Olson, Skubal, Wheeler, Albies, Machado, Seager, Altuve, Freeman, Devers, Gilbert, Cease, Ragans, Clase, Hader, and Butler
If anyone from Lindor through Albies are there, I am taking them and pairing with an SP for 2nd pick, but not optimistic. After that Im not sure, and have even considered something I never do and going with two SPs, or an SP and Clase. Id be comfortable with Freem and Seager if there to pair with pitcher. Butler is enticing but wonder if that’s too risky to pair with the keepers on my squad who also have some volatility and unknowns. Also trying to take in the fact this league also adds OBP as a category in addition to AVG.
Thanks for any guidance as always
Your league is starting from around pick 70? That’s fine for Clase or Gilbert and Cease…You have bats to build off of already
You have great keepers, btw
Thanks Grey. Yeah Definitely excited about my keepers. And yes, it gets shallow quickly. Basically 72 guys are being kept before draft starts. the keeper rules are complex but basically can keep guys a year earlier from last years draft value until they become a second rounder and return to player pool. Thanks for the feedback as always
No problem
Agreed not touching Jr this year. Gotta choose 2 and lose 1 of these guys. O’Neil Cruz. Wood. Butler. Thanks
Tough choice, Cruz, Wood, assuming this is a keeper
Agreed it’s a toss up but I’m thinking Butler will be available later in draft. Thanks
No problem
While I agree with the overall take Grey, I find if I can draft LouBob past pick 100 I almost always jump on it.
Feel there he’s a solid stab
Prolly not, but he’s going before that
Austin Hays listed at 488 in the top 500. You are still concerned about the health? Or just don’t think he’s good?
He’s never been good, so it’s mostly that
2023 had 16 HR. Overlay the hit chart in GABP and it’s 28. Given his cost, I like the buying opportunity.
That’s fair, they have a lot of mouths to feed
I was concerned about AB’s until Steer’s shoulder flared up.
Right, but Steer will return at some point
Well this post came with good timing. Trying to pick my last 2 keepers in a keep 5 H2H categories league. Already kept are FTJ, Mookie, and Burnes (know your feelings, but I can’t trade pre-draft and know I can get a top 15-20 hitter for him).
Now I need two from the following:
Robert Jr.
J. Wood
Langford
O. Cruz
L. Castillo
Bregman
Altuve
I’m thinking Cruz has to be one of them, but can’t land on a 5th.
Cruz, Wyatt
Id go with Cruz and Langford.
Looks at name….
2 spots open in Original Recipe. Your chance to beat Vin!! (Everybody else has!) Drafting Monday, March 24 at 9 PM ET, though might be negotiable. JOIN
If that link doesn’t work, you can go to the update and click the Join link for Original Recipe.
Emphasis on chance
Haha. Dr Easy is also in that league, and he has made the champions’ league twice in a row.
Haha, maybe you should advertise it less
Haha. I’ll concentrate on winning some random league of nobodies. Original Recipe is now full. Thank you.
Haha, nice
Original Recipe! Some history right there.
Hell yeah!
Ltfg!
Can I change my name? Captain Obvious. Lol. Yeah be quiet.
5×5 20 teams
I like to take lots of high floor low ceiling SP after pick 300 in this deep league. Would you give me some of your favorites that come to mind? Thank you Grey!
They’re all written up https://razzball.com/top-100-starters-for-2025-fantasy-baseball/
I guess I can understand the wishful thinking, having seen the top end of what Robert can do. However, I don’t see him getting there on this White Sox team. Maybe folks are assuming that if he shows up healthy and productive, he gets an early season trade to, say, Cincy or Toronto or Seattle and can continue to be productive on a better team. It seems that the White Sox are hoping for this in 2025 to maximize a possible return.
Separately, I had a weird RCL draft the other day. Had the #7 pick overall, haven’t had a mid draft position for a few years. Went for vets early and pushed pitching further back than usual. The results:
C – S Perez (11.7, 127)
1B – R Mountcastle (16.6, 186)
2B – Luis Garcia (9.7, 103)
3B – J Ramirez (1.7, 7)
SS – F Lindor (2.6, 18)
CI – I Paredes (14.6, 162)
MI – A Volpe (10.6, 114)
OF – W Langford (4.6, 42)
OF – L Butler (5.7, 55)
OF – H Ramos (13.7, 151)
OF – L Thomas (15.7, 155)
OF – J McCarthy (20.6, 234)
UT – B Rooker (3.7, 31)
BN – K Campbell (18.6, 210)
BN – W Abreu (22.7, 247)
BN – C Keith (25.7, 295)
P – F Valdez (6.6, 66)
P – H Brown (8.6, 90)
P – J Jones (12.6, 138)
P – R Blanco (19.7, 223)
P – K Rocker (24.6, 282)
RP – M Miller (7.7, 79)
RP – C Smith (17.7, 199)
RP – B Abreu (22.6, 258)
RP – J Estrada (23.7, 271)
I think I did alright on offense, balanced avg / pwr / spd. Upside on my bench, especially if Keith crushes at 1b.
I grabbed one closer early in Miller, but others were grabbed quick afterward. I
pivoted to high K, good ratio guys to bolster weekly Ks and push my numbers down. Maybe Cleveland trades Clase mid season and Smith becomes closer or Hader gets hurt in Houston.
I love the hitting, looks very solid…Pitching seems kinda perfect for an RCL too…I like the team a lot! If I were quibbling, you look low on AVG
@Grey: weekly roto with two keepers per team. I’m keeping Witt and Caminero. Just had our draft lottery and I landed the 5 pick. Guessing I will be choosing between Gunnar any Soto. We start each position plus a DH (3 OFs, no middle infielder or corner spot in the lineup). Given that, would you take Gunnar and slot him at DH or take Soto?
Thanks!
Soto
@Grey: thanks….assuming Soto over Ely as well if hes there?
Yes
Ive been trying to buy low in a 16 team dynasty as a 4th OF/UTIL type where he wont burn me too bad. His ask has always been high and he wants even more now as ST hits. I didnt get it until I saw his ADP in this article. 70?!?! Really?!?
I just dont get it. Dude was Benitendi with steals last year. Seriously wtf is that adp?
People taking a long shot on a 40/30/.265 career year
I guess, but meh
He has the potential but is 70 adp a long shot? He had a HR every 14.4 AB that one good year in his 546 ABs. He had a HR every 25 AB in his 1250 other career ABs.
Is there really a difference between him and a guy like Mullins over the last few years (as far as performance, not upside)? Talent goes to Robert, but Mullins also has a 30/30 year so it isnt just no power and all steals.
I talk myself into Robert every year but the cost always seems too high since he came into the league.
Factoring in his health, team he is on, work ethic, and I just get baffled by that high of an adp.
That just seems to be the area that people draft for the potential of what could happen instead of what did happen. Think of past years washed up stars like Bellinger, Trout, Yelich, they always go in this 70-90 range. I’m not making the case to take him, just saying what I think the reason his ADP is.
trout when he plays certainly shouldn’t be put next to bellinger/yelich. the latter 2 have safer floors probably from being less injured nearly all the time, the per at bat ceiling not same ballpark. and good point above, if mullins also had a 30/30 once, why no upside him vs robert?
I don’t think people realize just how bad he was
Thanks Grey……14 team, 26 rounds, 5×5 with OBP replacing AVG. Can keep 3. Two of my keepers are going to be Skubal as a 10th rounder and L. Butler as a 15th. who should be my 3rd keeper: J Rod as a 1st, T. O’Neill 14, Schwellenbach, Toglia, Otani (pitcher only )
all 15 rounders or Jobe as a 23rd rounder? Thanks
JRod
Hey Grey,
I have Aaron Judge with the 3rd pick. I will be picking again #28 – who do you like out of Austin Riley, Jazz Chisolm, Matt Olson, Ketel Marte and Jackson Merrill? Please rank in your order of pairing preference. FYI – I will take CJ Abrams or O’Neil Cruz with my 3rd pick #33.
Judge Jazz gets you basically every cat at an elite level. Riley and Olson give you too much of what Judge already provides.
Valid point. Would you go CJ or Cruz following Jazz then or go somewhere else?
Jazz is massively talented but a massive injury risk. No way I’m risking my 3rd pick on him.
2nd pick!
oh. Then it’s ok I guess.
Haha — i don’t mind it tho, tbh
I’ve been burned by Jazz a couple times. Maybe the new gig changes things, but I’ll leave it to others to discover. As my Nonna used to say- “Besta luck!”
He’s gonna be in front of Judge in that goofy stadium all year
yes very tasty
as long as his back, toe, elbow, thumb, groin, hamstrings cooperate it’ll be great!
Haha
Agree with y2baier
Would you go with CJ or Cruz at with 3rd pick if you start Judge/Jazz?
Cruz
Have to drop two:
Dynasty AL Only – pitching is a challenge in this league:
Ernie Clement ($1)
Jose Soriano ($3)
Edwin Uceta ($1) – keeping Fairbanks
Drew Rasmussen ($1)
Uceta, Rasmussen
took a trip to LA the other week and rode in my first Waymo. wild stuff
It’s so nuts! It was driving me home, got lost on my block and rode around the block 3 times
Question for those in RCL’s. I’d like to join one. About how long do the drafts take?
So far the fastest one this season was 86 minutes; the longest 2.5 hours.
About 100 mins
You hope.
5 out of 6 this year have been over 2 hours. Average last year was 2:08.
Not bad actually
I hope for 60 and aim for 90 and accept 110
Yeah, I hate when they drag on. Perts was 84 minutes last year, so you’re probably safe.
Haha, anyone who uses more than 10 secs a pick is not asked back
is that serious? what’s the max clock time if that’s serious, like 30 seconds?
RuBis!! we’re happening it!
looking for bounce back players this year…
every year in april there are always a few players out there dressed up like they’re traveling with Admiral Byrd. The nearly full face ski mask and the look of really really REALLY not wanting to be out there in the cold. my poster kid for this was always edwin encarnacion. his 101 april wrc+ was 20 points below his mark in any other month.
i thought about him last year watching Jorge Soler try to make it happen in the not quite Candlestick climate over in SF. he’s for sure a warm weather guy. miami suited him. that park was just a terrible fit for him all the way around.
in 392 pa’s as a giant last year he hit 12 hrs and slugged .419. in 182 pa’s back in atl he hit 9 bombs and slugged .493.
was surprised that he’s still only 33. seems like he’s been around forever. anaheim seems like a really good landing spot. adp is 220 in a pool with thin outfield in that range (did retain his of eligibility). not to far removed from a 36 jack season.
Finally, some actionable info! I’m fine with him due to the ADP, but players also go to Anaheim to just collect a check and stop playing
i think the angels will be decent this year
I think they don’t know how to develop pitching, so don’t agree with the Soriano pick…Soler is a vet, he’ll be good or not, that’s on him…I don’t mind the price to try him…Feels like Ozuna last year
very fair on soriano. he’s just another animal in my glass menagerie of upside imaginary pitching on that team. but he did give 113 innings of 3.80 fip last year and his stuff+ score is super solid. in that format I don’t need him to break out. if he could go 120 innings that look like last year and be a usual match guy from time to time i’ll take it. he’s an eno saris dahling.
The stuff seems great, if he were on the Astros, Mariners or Marlins
as for the rest of the angels, they are my current front runner for lock to beat their win o/u at 71.5. as a sidebar, looked at kenley jansen the other day. his consistentency is pretty effing impressive. like him and joyce cleaning up the back end.
when neto comes back, i think they’ll have a league average player at least in every position but one corner OF. i like neto/ohoppe/schanuel to give them a decent core of youth energy. if moore can hold down 2b and shift rengifo back to third moncada works better as a util.
their rotation is all vets and it’s pretty janky but slightly better than what they’ve rolled out in years previous. Silseth and Dana are possible depth there as well.
plus i do trust wash. i think it’ll be more his style team year two and they’re out from under the rendon cancer. fangraphs projects them for 76 wins. think they get right around that or a little better
If they win 82 games, it’ll feel like a victory (82 of them!), but to come in third in their division? Meh, it’s fine…I agree with what you’re saying, it’s just not that exciting to call for a team to go barely .500…I actually really like the A’s this year…I think they can sneak into the wild card…Their hitting is very good, and their pitching just needs to keep them in
lay a grand on it and it gets exciting! also i had orioles in 2023 and tigers in 2024. Threes Peat! he said dodging around pat riley.
fangraphs has a’s at 77 wins. i think the a’s will see some (park adjusted) regression in their bats and that the heat and the stadium will do a coors like number on their whole staff and that their owner is a jerk (last one not super relevant)
Hahaha…Yeah, I’m hoping for a Coors like number with those bats, I’m buying so many of them
i know you been talkin’ them up. time will tell a true tale as my old irish girl friend used to say.
haven’t heard from your old polish neighbor in awhile. “what can do!”
I’ll tell ya what can do, Lawrence Butler, that’s what!
We’re making it happens!
Ottoneu league, I bid up Devers and got stuck with him. A) What’s your level of trust for him this year? B) I have two owners who are already interested. I was thinking of offering one of the following:
Devers/Skubal/Rafaela/Castellanos for Betts/Westburg/Ozuna (he has OF)/Reynolds
or
Devers for Vientos and SP to be named (thinking Yamamoto) and then Skubal for Betts with another owner
or
Devers/Castellanos/piece TBD for Betts/Westburg
My rotation as it stands: Skubal, Kirby, Steele, Castillo, Bibee, Sanchez, C. Holmes
https://razzball.com/rafael-devers-2025-fantasy-schmohawk/
1st two aren’t great trades tho…Betts/Westburg for Devers/Cast is good, but unlikely to ever happen
If it meant getting rid of Devers, would you do Devers and Castellanos for Betts and then start Burger and McMahon as my starting 3B?
Yes
Grey!!!
Awesome!!
a. Now that you mention Slater he looks sneaky good for a 220 overall pick. Him and your boy Michael Tauchman.
b. Rodney Dangerfield quote of the day for March 3, 2025
I tell you, I tell you, last week was a rough week for me. Last week, I saw my kid and the milkman going to a father and son dinner.
Cheers,
Ante
Ha, thanks! I’d try Slater there
I’ve had Luis Robert’s past 3 years in a keeper league. Besides being hot garbage except for the one year. One thing you’re leaving out is he’s very injury prone. Hes had the one season of 145 games the rest all 100 or less. It used to be look at all the potential and talent you get when he’s on the field. Now he just sucks..?
Yeah, there’s that little problem too!
The flavor is lacking. And the portions are too small!
Haha
In the first 6 RCL drafts, his ADP is 102.5. So, a little better there. The earliest he was picked was 92; the latest 121.
Indeed, I have him as a 21st round keeper in an OBP mixed league. Feel obligated to keep him at that price point but just waiting for the injury. Was really mulling keeping Jack Flaherty instead a round earlier, but pitchers are scum.
That’s better, but still not interested