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. I took a Frenchlish class, which was taught by a French fry dressed as a French maid. I’d tell you more, but that French fry was super distracting and I learned nothing. So, about 1st basemen and needing a top one? Kinda samesies for shortstops, right? Yeah, I think so, but we do have middle infidel slots, so here we are. That is me pointing out that I do not think you should punt shortstop and draft Masyn Winn. I like Winn, but I also like to win, and will draft a top shortstop. Last year, Masyn Winn went 15/11/.267 in 587 ABs. Silly thing to get the boosters juiced on your under the wears in the nethers, but I kinda love that he saw that many at-bats. In what is an ever-expanding Kevin Cash-ian universe that isn’t due to explode for another millennia, I keep stumbling on all of these sleepers who I love that won’t hit vs. lefties. It’s not the end to them, as mentioned in a few who I have gone over, but all hail Masyn Winn, who actually has no obvious splits and a glove that will keep him in the lineup every day. So, what can we expect from Masyn Winn for 2025 fantasy baseball and what makes him a sleeper?
PSYCHE! My 2025 fantasy baseball rankings are all on Patreon. Don’t wait for the rankings to come out next month. Anyway II, the Masyn Winn sleeper:
Masyn Winn hit .267 with a 17.1 K% and .303 BABIP as a 22-year-old rookie. I’m sorry, explain to me like I’m a Big Ol Dummy how he’s not going to hit higher than .262 as Steamer projects. The hate is so strong for young players with no track record. Projections are helpful, and you should not ignore them, but there is a big blind spot where they just discount what a young player does and expect them to just repeat vs. expect them to get better. If you were to look at projections — not just Steamer either — you’d think no one ever got better. Bobby Witt Jr. just won the MLB batting title with a .332 average, he’s being projected to hit .297. I don’t know how to do this research and likely wouldn’t do it even if I knew how, but I wonder how many players are expected to get better, according to projections. I’d bet less than 10%. Everyone is expected to get worse. Geez, projections, glass doesn’t always have to be half-empty. Masyn Winn made some weak contact — 87 MPH average exit velo, 3.7 Barrel%, 32.7 Hard Hit% — but also makes a lot of contact for a 22-year-old.
Speaking of 22-year-olds (I was), in 62 games in the 2nd half Masyn Winn hit 10 homers. If another 22-year-old did that, people would be Uncle Luke’ing “Don’t stop, get it get it.” And with good reason! Again, no player ever got markedly better, according to projections. He hit 15 HRs last year and they’re saying he’ll get all the way to 17. Wow. Dare to dream. Last year, he had a 37 FB% and 8.4 HR/FB%, but 40+ in the minors and 13.8% for HR/FB in Triple-A. If he gets to 40 FB% and 14% HR/FB, then he’s going to hit 25 HRs. Wasn’t that hard for me to dreamscape up to that number.
Will Masyn Winn’s 11 steals from last year get a boost? I have no idea. Could they? Absolutely. He’s fast. He stole 28 bags in Double-A, but in Double-A some catchers need a relay throw to 2nd base. Steals are about want as much as anything. Or in this case if Marmol wants. Last year Elly De La Cruz nearly stole as many bags as the Cards as a team. It’s easy to get a guy to 15 steals with the Pitch Clock 12, but it’s hard to just Trust Fall a guy into a 30+ steal season. Can Winn steal that many? I think so. Will he? I doubt it.
Masyn Winn reminds me of Jeremy Pena (15/20 last year), but the huge difference is Pena’s 27 years old. So, a younger Pena. Call him Pena Co-young-lad-a. And I like them, and making love in the rain. If Pena’s on the X axis and Winn’s on the Y axis, they just crossed and Winn’s line is going up and Pena’s is going straight and I know what the X and Y axises are. Oh, and Masyn Winn was around the 100th best player overall on the Player Rater last year and is being drafted around 200th. That makes no sense and why you must draft him; I demand of you. For 2025, I’ll give Masyn Winn projections of 94/24/60/.271/15 in 591 ABs with a chance for more, especially on steals.
Grey,
Keeper league. 12 team H2H 7×7
Was offered the following deals for Yordan
Yordan Kirby for Riley Ragans and rd 1 pick
Yordan Mclain for Riley Ragans and rd 2 pick
Yordan future pick for wheeler r. Greene
Yordan for Caminero Yamamoto
Take any?
Hold
When’s the next draft??
There’s a link below, we need one more
Nice!
mason or bryce turang?
Turang
As a Cardinals fan of 44 years, I have a right to say I’m gunna pass on Masynn. They haven’t produced a legitimate hitting prospect (and not traded him) since Albert Pujols. Pass!
Gotcha
Has nothing to do with you or your opinion Grey! Has everything to do with my frustration with the Cardinals! I hope you’re right!
I hope I am too!
Good stuff Grizzle! Just drafted Winn in a DC moments ago thanks to you…as my SS not MI (sad face.)
Took him over Swanson which was difficult for me. Feel Swanson is more predictable and has better pop/hard contact and a better supporting cast. But Winn has more upside and is leading off…so more PAs right?
Swanson is going pretty late too and I do t hate him at his price but Winn’s upside is more appealing
Did you get in the new best ball draft? Link is in a comment below
Thanks Grey. But best ball/points leagues are painful to the Cobblers! We need emotional attachment to our squads..and not ‘draft and forget’ ;)
Haha, gotcha, I didn’t realize
No worries amigo! Lemme know if/when you do another DC. We need some of that ‘pert cash! (Says the guy currently using said ‘pert’s rankings!!)
Yeah, maybe next week! I wanna get one going
Let’s do it! Cobblers are in yo!
Oh my God!
Dodgers To Sign Hyeseong Kim…..so another option for ya. RIP LUX
Haha yup
Well, he wasnt really on my draft board until now but I needed a reserve MI with speed + average, so just grabbed him 345ish.
That’s insane value
Keep in mind though that this H Kim is not the established major leaguer and former Padre HS Kim (who remains unsigned). This Kim is a 25 year old Korean who has never played in the US at any level. That’s why the Dodgers got him so cheap (3 years, $12.5 million). Could be strictly a bench bat this season.
Yeah, I’d imagine he is a bench bat
Apparently offered more by other MLB teams but chose Dodgers. .300+ hitter with no pop but SB threat, led there league at one point. Great glove too, won award for best SS and 2B.
Guy has a good resume coming out of KBO
Yeah, but it is the KBO
I think the biggest translation issue is power. Their power guys seem to do a 1/3 the damage. He seems underhyped compared to Lee. If he can steal, glove works, and bat .260 there is room for him. Im not hyped hyped, but it seems really quiet on him to the point where I am surprised.
My MI was a revolving door last year for many reasons so I owned Winn a few times. I was excited when he moved to the leadoff around may 20 something. Then the steals dried up…
Up through May 14, he stole 7 bags in 8 attempts (38 games). 162 game pace = 30.
After may 14, he only stole 4 more bags and was thrown out 50% of the time (4/8). He stole 4 bags over his last 112 games! 162 game pace = 6.
If he doesn’t run and the power doesn’t tick up, he becomes meh to me. You say Pena, I can see a right handed version of peak Cronenworth with a better arm.
He’s young with massive upside…He could be Cronenworth, but he’d have to fail pretty miserably
I like him and see upside but I generally need steals in a ss/mi spot. This is why I am usually low on Seager. I only brought up cronenworth b/c he had the same sprint speed when he was younger. And we know Crone is kind of boring.
If Winn runs like he did after May 14, his steamer projection with 6 steals instead of 17 is a lot closer to what they project for cronenworth.
Yeah, could be but I’d buy upside on a 22 year old vs regression
Well there is always a Correa comp. He stole more bags his rookie year in 99 games than he has in any other season.
The huge variable in this is Marmol. STL stole the 7th fewest bases in 2024. Can winn steal more? Maybe. Will he be allowed to? I’m not sure.
I realize I could be biased b/c I owned Winn last year and needed steals.
Yeah, Marmol might be only one that truly knows
Great stuff! could you rank Neto-Volpe and Winn 13 team dynasty 5×5 thsnk uiu!!
I mentally pronounce his name in a female southern drawl, “Ma-sin! Ma-sin! GET INSIDE IT IS GETTING DARK! NO MORE BASEBALL TODAY. LORDY TO HEAVENS YOU NEED JEEESUS!”
I havent been this excited since Jose Barrero.
CWS going to repeat? Big trade for Gilbert (Tyler), and Josh Rojas was signed too. That shores up end of the bench.
Angels might be on Alonso. I expect a 20 year billion dollar deal.
Angels saw that the Mets are competitive now so they want to lock up their 1st baseman who is not on their competitive team with a 7-year deal worth $300M
Ma-sin, your giblet gravy is all gone cold
Angels are that weird guy with money who brags about how much he spent on something. Then when you see it you are disappointed but politely act impressed because you know he got ripped off but dont want to hurt his feelings. Plus, he is rich so in end doesnt matter to him.
“I got this Escalade for $200K! FULLY LOADED! AMAZING!
*Mentally thinks it should be around like $120K*
*Mentally shrugs* Awesome man! Show me that thing!
Haha, more like check out this Rolegs watch I got that I’m making payments on for the next ten years…If only he knew it was supposed to be a Rolex
Mr. Parker: Fra-gee-lay. That must be Italian.
Mrs. Parker: Uh, I think that says FRAGILE, dear.
Mr. Parker: Oh, yeah.
Haha, yup
I wish I could say that is just a bad joke, but sadly it would fit the pattern of bad FA contracts Pujols, Gary Matthews Jr, Mo Vaughn, Josh Hamilton, Zach Cozart, Justin Upton, Rendon. Trading for Vernon Wells contract dump was pretty awful too. Trading Jim Edmonds in 2000 for Kent Bottenfield and Adam Kennedy still causes me PTSD symptoms.
Edmonds one just made me shudder 24 years later…Vernon Wells, ha!
I think you covered them all aside from my personal vendetta against Joe Blanton. F that guy. Dang near 5 ERA and Angels said here is $15 million.
Hamilton was sad. Pujols everyone knew was older and somehow Angels still said OK to that deal.
Yeah, Josh Hamilton was a disaster-class is obvious contracts that should’ve never been made
I just want to know the convo. It feels very much like ignored advice from…well..everyone.
“You are getting married? In Vegas? To the stripper from your first night there? No objections. Solid plan.”
Hahaha
How could you sign a player immediatley after this?:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=o5Fx4z0V2mY
Hahaha
He literally dropped his team out of contention.
Quite literally, brutal
Yeah, I was thinking position players but Blanton was horrid too. The only good FA pitcher signing since Langston in ‘89 that I can recall is CJ Wilson who was good but not great. It could be worse than Tyler Anderson. Ladies and Gentleman…. Kyle Hendricks. He’s a pitcher I wouldnt even take in a 50 round DC. I’d never want to start him if I became desperate due to injuries or something. Ratio destroyer.
Yeah Blanton was a joke and would crush my dad’s team when streamed. Then he got paid by Angels after an awful couple years and my dad said,”They paid that bum to suck? What am I doing. I can suck worse for less money. I am headed to Cali to get a job offer.”
CJ was decent. Only other big name I can think of is Weaver but he was homegrown I believe.
Weird how it is big FA bats they seem to add and not arms.
I wouldnt even say Weaver was home grown. He was a first round draft choice coming out of LB State and was considered MLB ready basically coming out of the draft. I think the only good SP in the 21st century they actuallt developed (that was not an elite college pitcher) was Ervin Santana.
Keeper/Dynasty H2H league. Both Masyn Winn and PCA were on my active roster down the stretch last year as injuries mounted up with my starters. They would both start this season on the bench in my league, but someone always gets hurts and eventually they would fill in. Is it worth holding onto one or both of these guys for the flexibility in hitting at the expense of keeping Kopech, Hodge or Cody Bradford? From one perspective I can usually always find a hot hitter to pickup on the waiver wire, on the other, both saves and holds are categories so if I give up closers I can always pickup setup men and go for holds instead. Can’t usually win both regardless. And Bradford’s had his own injury issues – and who knows if he doesn’t get moved back into the bullpen as a long reliever.
I guess what I’m saying is I could use your help picking 3 of the 5…
You’re asking Grey, but I’ll jump in with an opinion. PCA, Kopech, Winn. Kopech and PCA have extreme skillsets (speed and velo). Bradford is totally replaceable at the back of the draft or could be added later off the wire. He may not even be drafted in your league. Hodge is a tougher call, but I would favor an emerging every day SS with at least some blend of speed and power and an high leverage RP on the best team in MLB over an emerging RP with no guarantee of being the Cubs closer.
Winn, PCA, Kopech
Thanks. I think Masyn’s final month of the season had me souring on him, but didn’t I hear that he had some sort of (minor) injury? What was your take on the lower performance that final month?
Nothing, to be honest…Guys have bad months…he’s 22, maybe he was tired having his first full season in majors
Found it, he underwent surgery at the end of the season for a cyst in his hand, and the thought was that could of impacted his September performance where he hit under .200.
Ah ok, so that should be all better now
Keep 4. 12 team league, $260 budget, OPS and QS stats instead of the usual
I’m keeping Witt at $22. That’s a no brainer
Need 4 more, my options include:
Logan Gilbert – $24
Wyatt Langford – $22
Anthony Santander – $15
Tanner Bibee – $13
Marcell Ozuna – $11
Bryce Miller – $11
Jared Jones – $8
Jackson Jobe – $4
I’m leaning Gilbert, Bibee, Miller, and one of Jones/Jobe
I feel like Ozuna is def better value then some of those pitchers but he is also DH only and we only have 1 UTIL spot (we have 4 OF, MI and CI) so I don’t really want to commit to a single player there all year. Hurts my flexibility.
I want Langford but not at that price, hoping to throw him back and get him for cheaper. Honestly, same with Santander
Thoughts?
the more i look at it the more like I feel that Langford price is fine. No real savings but I’m not sure I could get him cheaper actually.
Gilbert, Miller, Wyatt, Bibee
perfect thanks. i think that was my lean as well the more i thought about it
No problem
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I’m in couldn’t pass up a chance to play against Grey
Nice!
Are $7 Vinnie @ !B, and either $14 Correa or $14 Willy Adames considered “studs”. (Fgpts, H2H). Thank you
Adames