[smells in deeply] What’s that, a new baseball season? How do I know? Because they’re playing baseball! That’s the wrong answer? Oh, because Royce Lewis is injured! That has to be the answer! No? That’s not it either? Because I’m craving a hot dog? Because I just stood outside and screamed at myself for starting Andrew Heaney and he gave up 7 ER in 2 IP? That’s not it either? Man, this is tough. Oh, I know! Because I’m seriously second-guessing my 2025 fantasy baseball rankings. Finally! I knew I had the right answer in me. Tigers did us all a favor and said Jackson Jobe would break camp with the team. That was kinda everyone’s assumption all along. For some reason, I haven’t drafted him anywhere, but, as I said in the starters to target, Jobe was Itch’s top prospect back in, like, November. Think Itch’s now moved off that, but this was before Sasaki, Cam Smith and maybe some others. Still, like Mary J. would say, the love is real. As I said in my Jackson Jobe fantasy, he’s this year’s Paul Skenes, though there is no ‘this year’s Paul Skenes.’ Now onto some more rankings changes, or: Anyway, here’s what else I saw this Spring Training for 2025 fantasy baseball:
PSYCHE! The first week’s Buy/Sell is already available for Patreon members. It will be released all year early for Patreons, so if people are getting a jump on you, it’s because they paid the $10. Anyway, the roundup:
Parker Meadows – Shut down for four weeks with a nerve issue in his arm. Or as Curly would say, “What noive!” It’s beginning to feel like a lost season for Meadows. My beautiful sleepers taking some hits early here. Updated Meadows in the top 100 outfielders and he’s droppable in 12-teamers, if you need IL room. By the by, Tigers will be fine, they have [checks notes] Javier Baez in center.
Cam Smith – Sounds like he’ll make the roster on Opening Day, and I am furious at myself for not moving on him earlier in drafts. It’s been apparent since around 1st week of March that the Astros wanted him to break camp to fill in for the loss of Bregman’s production. [screams at top of lungs] FUUUUUUUUUUUUUDGE! Only, I wasn’t in See’s Candies. Smith was added to the 3rd basemen rankings and top 500.
Ronald Acuña Jr. – As mentioned at different times during the offseason, we could get to the end of March and I could lower Ronald Acuña Jr. and I did just that last week. Not dramatically. I just lowered him to around Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Brent Rooker in the top 20 outfielders, and top 500 overall. As long as you followed the rankings, you were fine. They announced he wouldn’t be running as much and he might not play for the Sox, but I reached for mine because I got cold feet. I’m still the high man on him, and can’t figure out how five-ish months of Tildaddy will be anything but spectacular, if he’s healthy, but that “if” has a condo in your building and is the head of your HOA.
Craig Kimbrel – Signed a minor league deal with the Braves. In related news, the Braves lost a bet.
Alex Verdugo – Signed with the Braves. Oh, the Braves for real lost a bet. Unless. Dot dot dot. Braves have in their minor league system a Will Verdung, and now a Verdugo. If they sign a Verdungo, then they’ll have the set. Think this hurts Bryan De La Cruz, but might hurt Kelenic a bit too. Let’s face it, none of these guys are worthwhile in all but the deepest of leagues. Updated in the top 100 outfielders.
Jose Suarez – Traded to the Braves for Ian Anderson. Damn, the Angels means the end of Ian Anderson’s career and Jose Suarez about to become a top five reliever.
Vinnie Pasquantino – Sounds headed to the IL with a hamstring strain. Ay yo, Vinnie Pasketti can’t, ay yo, stay on the field. Va fangool. Will address him in the 1st basemen rankings as soon as we get a timetable.
Gerrit Cole – Confirmed via social media he was having Tommy John surgery. Better than my uncle who confirmed via social media he was “researching” measles. Cole was removed from the top 20 starters, and Devers was lowered. I kid on the Devers note, but his iffy projections just took another hit, losing Cole.
Clarke Schmidt – Sore shoulder and will start the year on the IL. How many times can Carrasco pitch the 1st week? Haven’t moved Schmidt in the top 80 starters, because it sounds minorish (as much as a shoulder injury can be minorish) and I don’t have him projected for many IP.
Carlos Carrasco – Made Yanks’ rotation, and Will Warren, uh, will too, then when Clarke Schmidt returns Warren is expected to be great on another team when he’s traded for someone like Tommy Pham or Ty France, then Warren will be great on the Yankees again after he’s a 31-year-old free agent.
Dylan Floro – A’s reassigned him to Triple-A Vegas, which is either a demotion for this year or a promotion for 2028.
Kutter Crawford – Dealing with a knee issue, and I just learned (relearned after previously forgetting?) that he acquired this knee injury in April of last year. Okay, so that’s a serious concern. Kutter can’t throw a cutter without two good knees and his name ain’t Healthyknee Crawford. Moved him down in the top 100 starters and removed him from the pitchers pairing tool.
Wilyer Abreu – Likely starting the year healthy after roughing it out with a stomach virus for a few weeks. The entire Red Sox team being sick can’t be a fluke. Only because the sushi restaurant was out of that. It was mostly salmon and tuna.
Masataka Yoshida – Will start the year on the IL. Red Sox clubhouse (sushi) sidelined.
Lucas Giolito – Will start the year on the IL with a hamstring strain. Geez, how bad was that fish?
Richard Fitts – Announced as the Red Sox 4th starter. If the Dick Fitts, you must acquit yourself to pitch (work inn progress). He has solid command and 8.5 K/9 strikeout stuff. Might be some streamer potential in April. By the by, Streamonator is up and running. Way too late in the game to be adding guys into the rankings, and I’m not clear D. Fitts is gonna be in the rotation for more than 75 IP, so grab him now to see if the Dick Fitts acquits himself (still work in progress).
Kristian Campbell – Will break camp with the team. By any chance, was Campbell the one serving his teammates the sushi and did he get it from a gas station? Here’s what I said back in November in my Kristian Campbell fantasy, “So, this brings us to playing time estimates for 2025. Much like Roman Anthony, I don’t know, but I can guess. I’d put Kristian Campbell at 70% odds of breaking camp, which is slightly better than Roman Anthony, because Campbell can play middle infield too.” And that’s me quoting me! Make it 100%. Upped him in the 2nd basemen rankings.
Aroldis Chapman – Likely to start year as the Red Sox closer. That doesn’t mean he’ll finish April as the closer, so act accordingly.
Alan Roden – Will break camp with the Jays. Went into camp without a chance to make a difference, then he burrowed his way in. That’s Roden to a T. Convoluted pun alert, and you just missed it! Roden is a 10/10/.280 type, so your mileage may vary. Or rather since he’s a Jay, your kilomileage. He was added to the outfielder rankings.
Danny Jansen – Mild intercostal strain. Starting job for Jansen or backup job for Jansen means exactly the same because he can’t stay on the field. Rortvedt could become the catcher. Or as Scooby would say, “Rortvedt!”
Shane McClanahan – Left Saturday’s game with an inflamed nerve in triceps. Shane Mc trying to run the WWE for a replacement. That’s Waiver Wire Excitement. Was that not clear? Hmm. Considered removing Shane Mc vs. moving him down from his spot in the top 60 starters, but I also told you not to draft him, so no one has him anyway, right? Cool, so, yeah, I left him alone. All things considered his injury sounds like good news, but also: Don’t draft, but also: Don’t draft, but also: Don’t draft.
Caleb Durbin – Sent down with Tyler Black to start the year. Asked a prospect guy this offseason why it seemed like Durbin wasn’t favored to start after they traded Devin for him, and I think his exact words were, “Durbin can’t hit.” So there’s that. Wasn’t adjusted in the 2nd basemen rankings because I didn’t have many at-bats for him.
Thairo Estrada – Fractured wrist. Unlike him, but I can’t catch a break. Estrada was my most drafted player. Sigh, he was adjusted in the 2nd basemen rankings.
Nolan Jones – Traded back to the Guardians. Conventional wisdom says leaving Coors should be a negative, but leaving Bud be bazinga. I kid, slightly. Jones has looked lost in the spring, and won’t be anything more than righty-side platoon guy, and won’t move him up in the rankings. I do wonder if the Guardians saw the Rockies wasting Jones and were like, “We can fix him.”
Tyler Freeman – Traded for Nolan Jones. Conventional wisdom says going to Coors should be a boon but Bud. That’s the Rockies’ motto, “Boon but Bud.” Freeman is nothing but an NL-Only flyer. Or. Dot dot dot.
Zac Veen – Trade of Jones opens a spot for Veen? Haha, you fool! Of course not! They’re the Colorado Prospect Blockies. For what it’s Cronenworth, here’s my Zac Veen fantasy. Maybe we see him in June.
Mike Clevinger – Might close for the White Sox. That’s like being a surgeon who specializes in appendix implants.
Colson Montgomery – Optioned to Triple-A. That should give more at-bats to Nick Maton and Josh Rojas, or Ickosh Majas.
Joey Gallo – Couldn’t make the White Sox roster, so he hung up his bat and announced he will become a pitcher. Or a practical joker.
Brice Turang – Had an MRI on his shoulder and will be shut down for precautionary reasons. Precautionary MRIs are my favorite MRIs to try to get my insurance to cover. Haven’t yet moved him down in the rankings, but it could be coming.
Coby Mayo – Sent to the minors. What the Hellman’s!
doing this every year and having Charlie Morton as your number two is more crackers than Gunnar Henderson’s high school
— Razzball (@razzball.bsky.social) March 18, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Kyle Gibson – Signed with the O’s. Finally, the O’s add a starter. Now they have a solid number six and just need a number two, three and four.
Gunnar Henderson – Will start the year on the IL, but they’re saying it’ll be a 7-day minimum stay. It better! Otherwise…[formulates what kind of threat I can make]…well, I don’t know just yet, but it will be something harsh. Gunnar was updated weeks ago in the top 10 and all throughout the rankings.
Brooks Lee – Will start the year on the IL. Oh, no, not Buddy Lee’s nemesis! So, Jose Miranda or Edouard Julien could make hay, but they’ve been nay for a while now.
Jesus Sanchez – Will start the year on the IL with an oblique strain and is expected to miss four weeks. On the 7th day, God gave his boy an oblique strain, instead of resting, because he had restless hands. Stop tinkering, God! Moved in the top 80 outfielders.
Edward Cabrera – Will start the season on the IL with a finger blister, but he has a leg up for the last spot on the Marlins’ Dire Straits cover band, Dire Team.
Ryan Weathers – Shut down for two months with a forearm strain. [strikethrough] Sleeper [/strikethrough]. The crappy thing is he needs Tommy John surgery now, but the Marlins will wait two months and prolong his surgery-slash-rehab-slash-we’ve seen this so many times why won’t teams smarten up?
Connor Norby – Left Saturday’s game with a side injury. Lock up all obliques!
Christian Encarnacion-Strand – After I posted my 1st basemen rankings, I moved CES down when Austin Hays was signed, now I moved him up since Steer’s injury seems to be lingering. I can’t say I’m 100% confident in how many at-bats I’m giving CES, but his upside is immense and you have to grab him to feel alive. If you look at our lineup page, you can quickly see how a player is being used:
Tyler Stephenson – Will start the year on the IL with an oblique strain. Sounds low-grade so it’s minor, which for an oblique means it’s nothing or something that they can’t pinpoint for months, and becomes a career-ender. He was lowered in the catchers rankings.
Andrew Abbott – Will start the year on the IL. Or rather, it was announced, “Reds have told Andrew Abbott he’ll open on IL,” which made me laugh. Does he have an injury?
Alexis Diaz – Hit the IL with a “hamstring” strain. Quotes are mine. It stands for “he’s really just terrible.” Lowered him in the top 500 and raised Taylor Rogers further. Was targeting Rogers in the last round of drafts, and don’t think I got him anywhere, which is just bad process.
Ranger Suarez – Will start year on IL dealing with a stiffy. Uh, back. A stiff back! You know what I’m saying. His projections were adjusted, but it sounds minor enough that I didn’t lower him in my top 60 starters.
Edwin Diaz – Velocity’s been down, and I’m worried. Don’t roster him anywhere and wouldn’t, so that makes my worry even more troubling. I schadenbawled.
Jeff McNeil – Out for 3-4 weeks with a strained oblique. DJ LeMahieu and Jeff McNeil should start an underground club called, You Don’t Have To Go Home, You Can Stay Here, and never close it, so they have to be there to manage it 24/7, which would open at-bats for prospects. Unfortch, McNeil (and DJ) aren’t entrepreneurial enough and will return at some point, so I’m fine with draft flyers on Luisangel Acuña, Brett Baty (taking reps at 2nd) and others, but your enthusiasm might be short-lived. Updated 3rd basemen rankings for Baty; the rest remained relatively similar.
Matt Waldron – Oblique will likely cause him to miss the opening of the season. That leaves Kyle Hart and Stephen Kolek for the 5th Padres’ rotation spot. It’ll likely be Kolek, who sounds like off-brand kaopectate, and that’s what you’ll need if you roster him, outside of NL-Only.
Yu Darvish – Elbow inflammation. Welp, I guess Kyle Hart will have a job too. I kid, maybe. Randy Vazquez is there too. So, I moved Yu Darvish into the top 100 starters; changed top 500 and the pitchers’ pairings tool.
Gavin Sheets – Seems to be favorite to DH for the Padres, which is appropriate, since I couldn’t give two Sheets about the bottom of the Padres’ lineup.
David Bednar – Derek Shelton was cagey when asked if Bednar was the closer. That’s similar to hitters facing Bednar, because it’s been like they’re in a cage and they know a meatball fastball is coming. It’s officially time to panic. [starts screaming, people in elevator look at me like I’m crazy] I should’ve waited to scream. It’s going back roughly a year since he’s been good and not Shit-the-Bednar. In my top 500, I upped Dennis Santana and Colin Holderman and lowered Bednar.
Jared Jones – Elbow is janky. Was removed from the top 40 starters, and the pitchers’ pairings tool. The list of pitchers who threw 97 MPH or harder in 2023, who were then hurt in 2024 is in that post, and, brucely, scary. It sucks, because I like the speed-balls, as well. They are all ticking time bombs. In fairness, all pitchers are, but throw hard and risk goes up exponentially. As Truss said in our Razzball writer Discord, “It’s Bubba Chandler SZN!” To which I said, “It’s Carmen Mlodzinski SZN.” They held down Skenes, but did promote Jones to start the year, so it’s hard to say, but worth grabbing Chandler, just in case.
Jung Hoo Lee – MRI on his back showed no structural damage. Hoo Lee crap, this guy can’t stay healthy. I do like him (at his price), but get it together with your insurance provider.
Jerar Encarnacion – Fractured hand. From maybe breaking camp to, well, you know.
Zack Gelof – Hand surgery to repair a hamate bone. That usually sidelines guys six-ish weeks, and then they return like 2001 Bonds. Gelof is gonna hit 89 homers in half a year. 2nd basemen ranks updated.
Max Muncy – They announced he made the team! No, not that team. No, not that Max Muncy. A’s middle infidel prospect, that I struggled to like for five minutes after looking at his stats. He’s young; he could still become appealing. Added him into the shortstops rankings.
Royce Lewis – Out with a hamstring injury. It’s too bad Charmin doesn’t make tissues, because you have “soft tissue injuries” and “soft like Charmin” just dying to be harmonious together. “Soft like Kleenex” feels strained like Royce Lewis’s hamstring. He currently has no timetable for return, so it’s hard to gauge when his next injury will happen. Some guys seem injury-prone, but, if being honest, I don’t know why or if that’s true or if that’s anecdotal, but Royce Lewis is producing a lot of anecdotal evidence. He was updated in the 3rd basemen rankings.
Tobias Myers – Will start the year with an oblique injury, and I seriously am wondering did anyone ever miss time from about 1900 to 2009? Ya know, before the oblique manufacturing craze of the 2010’s? Whoever discovered the oblique and implanted one into every baseball player should be sent to The Hague. Top 80 starters were updated for Myers.
Justin Martinez – Real World/Road Rules Challenge champion Torey Lovullo said the DBags won’t have a closer, they’ll play matchups. At least to begin the year. Still think Ju-Ma’s a better bet, but now their closer is more A. Just Martipuk, to you silly billies. Top 500 updated.
Hyeseong Kim – Optioned to the minors. Dodgers have so much money they buy players who would be the leadoff hitter for roughly 20 other teams and send them to the minors. Just gorgeous parity. 2nd basemen rankings were updated.
Andy Pages – Could have a strong side platoon spot in the Dodgers’ outfield. Could be James Outman, but he’s having a hard time keeping his K% under 35, which is, how do you say, effin’ awful. Pages is interesting, and in the top 100 outfielders, but I’m not convinced Outman or Pages are going to be anything more than NL-Only to start the year.
Cody Bradford – Dealing with elbow soreness. No! You’re supposed to be immune to that because you don’t go for strikeouts. You hacky-sack the ball to the plate! (With great command, don’t discount that!) Sigh, the top 100 starters were updated for Cody. Also, I updated DJ Herz, because he’s struggling as all-get-out and seems like they’re about to tell him to get out. Also, pitchers pairing tool updated.
Jon Gray – Fractured wrist. Rangers went from unsure if they had room for Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker to wanting to know if they had two more Jack Leiters or Kumar Rockers. Wish I liked Rocker or Leiter more, but their command is [spraying wildly in a port-a-potty]. Oh, the Rangers figured out a way around having only one Kumar and Leiter, they signed Patrick Corbin. Perfection.
Pick 3 in a 12-team redraft from among: Ashcraft, Cam S., Clevinger, Gavin Wil., Jobe, L.Jackson, Shawver, T.Rogers, V.Scott.
I have 5 adds for the week, but the week runs through April 6, fwiw. Starting pitching is probably my weakest area, followed by relief pitching, and then util.
King Grey of House Albright, the First of his name, King of the pitchers and the hitters, Lord of fantasy baseball and protector of the realm.
So stoked to be back and now that my respects have been paid, please roast my draft.
My early concerns are good but not great Steals and Ks. Wanted to leave the draft with an edge in at least one, if not both.
Weekly Lineups – HR, RBI, Stls, OBP, SLG x QS, ERA, WHIP, Ks, Svs+Hlds
C: Moreno
1B: C Walker
2B: Brandon Lowe
3B: Jo Ram
SS: Oneill Cruz
OF: Julio Rod
OF: Teoscar
OF: Doyle
Util: Rooker
Util: Casas
Be: Soler, Morel, G Mitchell
SP (start 6): Roki, Gallen, Flaherty, Lugo, Eovaldi, Ranger, Jobe, Taj Bradley, Reese Olson
RP(start 4): Alvarado, Estrada, Akin, Ginkel
# of teams?
12 teams
Just finished up my main league draft (12 team classic roto) and am thrilled, felt like I got lucky with how runs on positions went. Very Grey-heavy, so I hope you like!
C: Wong
1B: Harper
2B: Albies
3B: Cam
SS: Witt
OF: Rooker
OF: Doyle
OF: Happ
UT: H. Ramos
UT: M. Chapman
IL: Acuna
SP: Miller
SP: Steele
RP: Bautista
RP: Puk
P: Rodon
P: Lugo
P: Baz
P: Erceg
BN: Jobe
BN: Blanco
BN: Cortes
IL: Kirby
IL: Suarez
—-
I have two open bench spots. Should I prioritize relivers that could vulture saves given that obvious weak spot? More SPs? A bench bat (maybe with speed) to rotate in for Ramos when he’s benched?
RPs avail: Holton, Strahm, Weaver, Kinley, Uceta, Hodge (also, drop Erceg for any of these SAGNOFs?)
SPs avail: Wacha, Keller, N. Martinez, Peterson, Bassit, AJSS, Roupp, Mize
UTs avail: Maikel Garcia, Gurriel
The anticipation is palpable!
Cam Smith with a 2 run triple tonight at Stros Park- he’s gotta be making the team right? I wanted to hold out until IL slots opened or he gets fully announced but also don’t want to miss out on a rising player.
Here’s my squad this year 10 tm H2H redraft OBP and QS:
C: Raleigh
1B: Alonso
2B: Gimenez
3B: Vladito
SS: Elly DLC
MI: Edman
CI: Eugenio Suarez
OF: Duran, Teoscar, Brenton Doyle
U: Toglia
P: Framber, Webb, Castillo, Ryan, Eflin, Strider, McClanahan, Ranger Suarez
CL: Kenley Jansen and Iglesias.
BN: Volpe
Add Cam now for either Volpe, Toglia, Eugenio, or Ranger Suarez?
Thanks as always and have an excellent year!
Early season drops are tough on me! Need to cut two in a 12-team dynasty
Roden
Jhonkensy
Xavier Issac
Colt Keith
Luis Matos
Jake McCarthy
Luis. L Ortiz
Matthew Boyd
Simeon Wood-Rich
Hey-yo! LFG!
LFG!!!
Roupp or will Warren?
Roupp
Thanks grey
No problem
Hello again Grey! Glad I have Bednar and R. Suarez as my bullpen after reading your article and some of the comments below – HA!
Anyway, I would appreciate your take on my Yahoo 10 Team H2H Points Lineup:
C A. Wells
1B Vlad
2B A. Gimenez
3B Rengifo (Yuch!)
SS McClain
OF Judge
OF Butler
OF Yelich
OF Ramos
Util Harper
Not loving it, but it may do. My 3B is weak, but I guess I could maneuver Harper and Vlad and maybe pick up the best Hitter as Util?
Thanks much Grey. Give it to me straight – no chaser!
Looks solid to me, maybe a tad low on power…I don’t love your 3B for this shallow of a league, but you’ll be able to replace him if need be…
Thanks Grey. Good to know. I’m on it. I just grabbed Cam Smith after hearing all the hoopla, so we shall see.
LFG!
In a points league do you like Kirk or Joey Bart more?
Bart
Very new to fantasy but any tips for improvement on the team? 10 man h2h points league with 10 starts per week and this is the team ive got after the draft and a few pickups:
C: William Contreras
1B: Pete Alonso
2B: Jonathan India
3B: Manny Machado
SS: Lindor
OF: Judge
OF: Teoscar Hernandez
OF: Bryan Reynolds
UTL: Matt Chapman (Considering Tommy Edman since hes the 2 hole for the dodgers now but im not sure)
SP: Michael King
SP: Freddy Peralta
SP: Logan Webb
SP: Luis Severino
RP: Emmanuel Clase
RP: Johan Duran
BE: Taj Bradley
BE: Hunter Brown
BE: Tanner Houck
BE: Seth Lugo
IL: Jared Jones
IL: Luis Gil (yankees fan so just waiting for him to come back)
Probably going to be rotating severino, houck, and bradley for the extra starts, any free agent pitchers to target? Maybe some trade ideas to improve 2nd base but I have high hopes for india
You look low on AVG, which isn’t awful for H2H, and I like the hitting in general I love the power…Speed looks a little low…again, fine for H2H…Pitchers look awesome, I like them…Tho, I do worry about Clase prolly for no reason
Drop Keith, soderstom, or Burelson
Keith
What do you think of this lineup? H2H categories
Bart
J Naylor
Stott
M. Garcia
Lindor
Volpe
Chourio
Riley Greene
Santander
Heliot Ramos
Langford
Schwarber
Looks low on AVG and power
I have Ryan Pressley near the top of my first guys to lose a closer gig list….says the hopeful guy with some Porter Hodge shares.
I’d put my money on Robert Suarez
Do you think Adam or Estrada next up for saves?
Estrada
Master is Cam smith worth an add for 10 team shallow OPS leagues
Sure
Sounds like Turang is cleared to play (woot!). Start/sit Qs for the short week for ya…
Bench one:
Turang (3 @ NYY)
Volpe (3 v MIL)
Campbell (4@TEX)
McCarthy (4 v CHC)
H Ramos (3 @CIN)
Coincidentally they all are projected to bat 6th (besides Ramos, who’s projected for 5th)
Turang
thanks!
No problem
This Kristian Campbell development is terrible news! I drafted him for my NA slot, assuming he’d languish there until he came up late-season to propel me to the championship!
I have Ketel at 2B, so I can’t put him there, and am I really going to play him at Util ahead of Toglia, Arraez, or Rengifo?
Without going into too much detail he’s basically going to be clogging up a roster spot if I hold him. I probably have to throw him back, don’t I? *sad face emoji*
Ahead of Rengifo for upside
Grey
Here are my keepers for tonight’s draft
Where do you think I need to focus in on (10 team roto 5x 5)
1B Christian Walker
2B Westburg
SS Xavier Edwards
3B Camniero
OF Suzuki
OF Crews
OF Carroll
SP Flaherty
SP Sale
SP Baz
SP Arrighetti
Sp Ragans
RP Edwin Diaz
RP Chapman
RP Bautista
You look weak on power
Yup
That’s exactly what i thought. Thinking I should target Ryss Hopkins, Josh Naylor,Tucker, Alvarez
thanks
Please don’t look down on me for asking if it would make sense to drop Profar, who’s on my bench, for Cam Smith. 3B eligibility on the bench would be useful. It’s a 10 team 6×6 (obp) league. Will (Cam) Smith actually make the opening day roster? What about Dezenzo, who’s also having a good spring?
I would first seek out a trade partner. That’s the sort of pre-season drop that angers a league & potentially crowns a competitor for free.
make the switch. In a 10-team league, Profar isn’t special, while Cam might be.
Nah
Hey Grey – 12 TM OBP and TB league. Wanted to see your thoughts on my draft. Didn’t go pitching til 10th round.
C: William Contreras
1B: Vladdy
2B: Westburg
3B: Paredes
SS: X. Edwards
OF: Ozuna
OF: Rooker
OF: L. Butler
UT: Yelich
UT: Santander
SP: Ober, C. Sanchez, Lugo, Woodruff
RP: Erceg, A. Chapman, Alvarado, C. Martin, Romano
Your pitching doesn’t look good, and there’s not enough of it…Your hitting should be much better after avoiding pitching that long
Own both Bednar and Alexis Diaz. No closers available on waivers, just a few next in line types. I can put Diaz on IL when season starts.
Would you drop Bednar and/or Diaz and grab either of the following:
No
Hi Grey
Yahoo Point 10 team
Thanks for your help throughout the spring training season.Hard to believe that the MLB season is 3 days away.
Really looking forward to your analysis of team before the start of the season. We also now know the match ups for the first week. Of course, what is more important: short or long term priorities. I took your advice and picked up Baz
Match ups for the week:
A: Birdsong first start is at Hou. He is on my staff. Is Birdsong’s blister important?
B. Dustin May is home vs Detriot and then at Phil
C: Kumar Rocker is home vs Bost and then home vs TB
D: Verlander is at Cinn and home vs Sea
E. Reese Olson at LAD and home vs CWS
2.Would you keep Birdsong and start him at Hou. Is this blister important?
3.Waive Birdsong and pick up May, Rocker, Verlander or Olson
4.Waive Birdsong and pick up RP Kerkering
5.Cut McC and then pick up May, Rocker, Verlander or Olson.
note could also cut Birdson and McC and make two moves. If yes, what two moves?
SP: Framber Valdez
SP: Max Fried
SP: Seth Lugo
SP: Bowden Francis
SP: Shane McClanahan (IL)
SP: Carlos Rodon
SP: Shane Baz
SP: Casey Mize
SP: Hayden Birdsong
SP: Will Warren
SP: AJ Smith-Shawver
RP: Fairbanks
RP: Romano
Thanks so much!!!!!
Hope you have time to relax!!
Martin
No, see how your team looks
Thank you!!!!
No problem
Grey,
Do you like A or B? (Saves and k/9 and k league)
A: Freddy P and Joan of Duran
Or
B: Taj and Felix Bautista
Thanks Boss
A
Am I crazy for thinking that kepler could be playing more often than what was projected? He isn’t completely useless against lhp either. Deeper league here, but he is only 32 and was hurt last year. Good lineup and park.
Don’t see why he’d get lefties
Kepler actually hit better against lefties last year than he did righties. And in 2023, he was about equal L vs R. He’s been in the league a long time, and if you only look at his career stats, his splits are way skewed by being so horrible early on. He is gonna play every day for the Phils
Yeah, maybe, I don’t hate him for his price
@Grey: weekly roto. sagnof to start the season – clev, t rogers (or ashcraft) or minter?
Rogers
10 team OBP and QS 5×5 league. We have 3 IL slots. How do you feel about this auction result? Any priorities to improve upon? I know I need a third closer.
C – Langeliers
1B – Harper
2B – Xander
3b – Jazz
SS – Turner
IF – Volpe
OF – Oneil
OF – Butler
OF – Santander
OF – Ward
UT – Shohei
BN: Cam Smith, Brandon Lowe
P – Ober
P – Bibee
P – PabLo
P – Kirby
P – Sanchez
P – Ray
P – Jobe
P – Mize
P – Helsley
P – Trevor Megill
BN: Kerkering, Grant Holmes, Clarke Schmidt
Love the hitting, looks very solid on floor and upsides..Good speed and power too…Pitching is a bit of a mess, looks weak for a 12 teamer, forget 10
Thank you for the perspective! Agreed that the hitting worked out as well as I could have hoped. There’s always more FAAB opportunity with pitching, so I was okay going in a little weaker there. But if Kirby returns quickly, I feel pretty okay with a top 4 of him, Lopez, Bibee, and Ober, especially with some decent upside among Sanchez, Ray and Jobe further down the rotation. Also, no IP limit, so I can play the streaming game later on.
Where does Cam play – OF? Paredes (3B); Walker (1B).
OF
The Mets will still DFA Canario in a couple of days, just watch.
Anyway, who has better numbers by year end, Cam Smith or Matt Shaw? Shaw looked lost in Japan while Smith’s ST numbers have been very good.
Smith
Thanks
No problem
Need to grab two pitchers in roto league — how would you rank Reese Olson, Scherzer and Luzardo to start the season?
Luzardo, Olson
How would you rank these young starters now tha they have a rotation spot
Warren
Povich
Max Meyer
Casey Mize
AJSS
Mize, Meyer, ASS…
Hello Grey!! Thanks for a great write up on a dreary Monday.
I’m in a traditional 5×5 roto plus OBP and WHIP. I submit my team for your review.
C-A. Wells
1B- P. Alonso
2B- M. Semen (intentional)
3B- J. Chisolm
SS- E. de la Cruz
OF- Y. Alvarez
OF- S. Kwan
OF- C. Cowser
Util- CJ Abrams
Bench- A. Volpe, R. Arozarena (by accident, ditching him), L. Thomas, Rengifo
SP- Cease, Schwellenbach, Sasaki, Eflin, Ranger,
RP- Helsey, Megill, Jansen, Brieske
Alexis Diaz owner dropped him, should I pick up to stash?
# of teams?
Pretty shallow with ten.
Looks solid on hitting and pitching, it is shallow so you have to work waivers, etc. I like the team tho! Lurves
and sure stash Diaz…You can lose Rengifo
Thanks, and shhhhh, I am in disguise!!!!
I can’t believe I have a team with Jazz and Semien. Yuck.
Think I mighttry to package one of those SS with Randy for an OF that I don’t hate.
I can see everything lurves
I know, I know. LURVES!!!
Haha
Incidentally, “jazz semen” is the name of my new alt yacht rock jazz fusion band.
MWAahhahahahahha!!!!
Any thoughts on how to value Mookie late in draft season with his prolonged illness? Sat again yesterday, still having trouble keeping food down, weight down etc.
Seems concerning, might miss a couple of weeks
Vultures already circling. Was offered his Trea for my Mookie straight up.
No
Besides Gunnar and Tildaddy, who are your top 3 draft and stash candidates?
G. Kirby
Neto
Hoerner
Manaea
Hoerner seems good, Manaea seems fine
Allow me to be the first to describe your Italian accent as “potentially problematic.”
“It’s anti-Italian discrimination.”
—Silvio, on the Sopranos
HAHA
You still low on Spencer Strider? Looks like April he’ll be back. They said 1-2 more rehab starts. I grabbed him in my draft with a staff of Imanaga Gallen and Miller. Thoughts?
Hopefully he’s fine
Is roden an everyday player for the jays?
Looks like strong side of platoon
the jays gm looooooves roden
He’s the Ryan Fitzpatrick of MLB. Something tells me a physics genius (literal genius) might be able to figure out launch angles n stuff. But I’m no genius
I feel your pain on Thairo. I heavily drafted him and Weathers both. Weathers is gonna be like Skubal and pitch for the final 6-8 weeks of 2026 and then dominate in 2027. But I gotta drop him in 2025.
FWIW, I really like Otto Lopez as a Thairo replacement. I think he has a TEMU Nico Hoerner season with a nice OBP, 5-8 dongs and 25+ steals. But like 60 runs and 40 RBI. However, he’s had some pop in spring, and coaches have commented on his power. But I heard that about Nico all spring last year.
Yeah, it sucks….I like Otto too
i have a lopez share and am similarly, cautiously hopeful
12 team h/h points redraft
Am I dropping D Crews or Soler for Eug Suárez or T Ward ?
Soler for Ward
Great write up as always! 12 team mixed keeper league, snake format. OBP, R, HR, RBI, SB, TB for offense, QS, L, K, S, ERA, WHIP for pitching. Keep up to 6 guys, I’m keeping Ketel Marte (13th round), Alcantara (12th), Yainer Diaz (9), Bryan Woo (15), Devin Williams (21). Was also planning on keeping Jared Jones in 20 but planning alternatives now.
Ian Happ in 10th or Kristian Campbell in 12th? Keepers move up 3 rounds each year, Happ can be kept for one more year after this year (in the 7th), Campbell can be kept for 2 more years (9th then 6th). If I keep Campbell, Alcantara would be kept in 11th.
Thanks!
Thanks! Happ
Its crazy to have another draft season coming to a close. I caught the Mets/Marlins game yesterday on vacation at the in-laws near Port St. Lucie. Good times. Canario who?
Let the games begin! Im finishing my final slow. Did 11 Gladiators, and 6 other NFBC. Lotsa drafts but a manageable three FAAB teams. Got me lotsa Campbell and Jacob Wilson. Only a few deadbeats ( thanks again for the Meadows sleeper). I hope for your sake Estrada comes back on the earlier end of the time frame. I am surprised about McGreevey demotion, but Marmol is trying to unseat Bud Black for worst manager of player development.
Canario what?! Ha, yeah, I saw his bomb…I still have 2 leagues to draft, tonight and tomorrow
It was pretty funny, I was just explaining what a grand slam is to my daughters and boom!
What kind of leagues?
RCL is tonight and doing one $350 NFBC tomorrow
Nice. Good luck! May you draft an OC overall contender…
Ha, I hope so!
Probably would’ve been more efficient if you just had a “Injured players from over the weekend” and just listed them all. I was doing my draft prep for Tuesday night and halfway through I realized how many people were hurt and added to my do not draft list and then realized I might not have enough good players to draft… ugh
Cool
Drafted my 12-team keeper roto league (6×6, OPS and QS). Thoughts on your assessment? You keep 5 players in exchange for a draft pick…I am waffling on whether I should flip flop Gimenez for Colt Keith and rotate my Util based on categorical needs in-season:
C-Austin Wells
1B-Vlad Guerrero
2B-Luis Garcia
3B-Jose Ramirez
SS-Bobby Witt
CI-Ryan Mountcastle
MI-Andres Gimenez
OF-Juan Soto
OF-Julio Rodriguez
OF-Nick Castellanos
OF-Jorge Soler
Util-Colt Keith
Bench-Garrett Mitchell, Tyler Soderstrom, Joey Ortiz
SP-Tanner Bibee, Spencer Schwellenbach, Bryce Miller, Brandon Pfaadt, Ryan Pepiot
RP-Justin Martinez, AJ Puk, Bryan Abreu, Orion Kerkering, Garrett Whitlock, Taylor Rogers
Hitting looks good, maybe low speed, but that’s fine with OPS….I love the pitching too, maybe low on QS and RPs that are worth anything but fine with it
12 team h/h points redraft ….
going to need help with this hitting this season ..lack of power ?
C..Langeliers
1b..Olson
2b..Westburg
ss..Volpe
3b..Riley
of..Soto
of..O Cruz
of..Soler
dh..Crews
bench..Steer
See if Olson, Riley, Soler and Volpe can bounce back for power
Hey Grey! It’s so exciting to be starting a new baseball season!!! Woohoo!
Anyhoo , I wanted to
1) Get your take on my 10 team H2H mixed draft (see below)
2) Who should I drop to pick up Cam Smith?
3) Any other candidates to be the first ones to drop to pick up other players?
Thanks in advance for your help. You rock!!
My draft:
C – Yanier Diaz (C/1B)
1B – Vladimir Guerrero (1B/3B)
2B – Katel Marte (2B)
3B – Alex Bregman (3B)
SS – Elly De La Cruz (SS)
OF – Cody Bellinger (OF/1B)
OF – Jason Dominguez (OF)
OF – Michael Harris (OF)
UTIL – Lawrence Butler (OF)
BENCH – Jeremy Pena (SS)
BENCH – Taylor Ward (OF)
BENCH – Jung Hoo Lee (OF)
STARTNG PITCHING:
Garrett Crochet
Bryce Miller
Justin Steele
Brandon Pfaadt
Clay Holmes
Pete Fairbanks
Bowden Francis
Ryan Pepiot
Drew Rasmussen
Taj Bradley
Jackson Jobe
IL: Shohei Ohtani (SP)
1. Looks like a solid hitting team, love the balance of speed and power…Incredibly shallow league tho, so you’ll have to work waivers…Same with pitching…It wlooks good tho! Cam over Jung
Thanks Grey. We have 10 moves per week to work with.
No problem
Gavin Williams is also available. Should I drop anyone to add him?
Not yet
12 team h/h points start 5 SPers & 1 RPer per week
your thoughts on this staff
SPers
Gilbert
King
Schwellenbach
Steele
C Sanchez
Kikuchi
Pepiot
Rey Lopez
RPers
Helsley
T Megill
You have a great staff, see no issue
I know you wrote a sleep post on Burleson, but would you drop him for Cam Smith?
Util slot, H2H points league.
If the league was shallow, maybe
10-team — thanks
In a keeper league and want to make trades to acquire the best talent. How would you rank the following players?
Cam, Campbell, Holliday
Hey Grey, just had my draft in my 12-team 5×5 roto league, 1400 innings pitched cap. I was hoping to get your assessment and any suggestions for early management or what I should focus on regarding the waiver wire, considering that I’m feeling depressed about how I drafted my pitching, as you’ll soon see:
C-Gabriel Moreno
1B-Josh Naylor
2B-Jordan Westburg
3B-Vlad Guererro
SS-Oneil Cruz
OF-Fernando Tatis
OF-Wyatt Langford
OF-James Wood
Util-Riley Greene
Util-Colton Cowser
Bench-Cedanne Rafaela, Tyler Soderstrom
SP-Bryce Miller, Bryan Woo, Ryan Flaherty, Brandon Pfaadt, Nick Pivetta, Grayson Rodriguez (IL)
RP-AJ Puk, Bryan Abreu, Orion Kerkering, Cade Smith, Garret Whitlock
I love the hitting, solid balance of power and speed, maybe a tad low on power, kinda depends on Vlad….I like the pitching a lot, but no saves, so I guess focus on that
Grey,
12 team
H2H 12 categories
7 pickups weekly allowed
Avg/ runs/ Hr/ RBI/ SB/ hits
ERA/ WHIP/ K/ W/ QS/ Saves
C- Herrera
1b- Olson
2b- LGarcia
SS- Lindor
3b- Paredes
OF- Chourio
OF- Wood
OF- RGreene
U- Bichette
U- Arozarena
SP- Crochet
SP- Schwellenbach
SP- Ray
SP- Steele
SP- Peralta
SP- Lodolo
SP- Luzardo
SP/RP- CHolmes
RP- Chapman
RP- JMartinez
B- Encarnacion-Strand
B- India
B- Bleday
B- Baty
1- I wound up making a rash choice after losing out on a hitter somewhere in the draft and am feeling like my hitting is missing something. I know there is general speed/power balance BUT is there enough of each?
2- I’ll ride Chapman/Martinez until things become more clear.
3- Would adding Scott II be worth an addition over anyone on my bench or wait and see? OR Rice?
Thanks!
1. I don’t think you have enough power 2. ok 3. You’re carrying 4 bench bats already…India is so boring, can lose him for VS11 if you like
Concern level for Sonny Gray? Don’t care about the era. His velocity has been down all spring. I know some guys take a little time to ramp up, but he pitches for real on Thursday
Concerned, may bench him for his 1st start
Hey Grey,
10 team 5×5 h2h league, curious of your thoughts on my team and one follow up question for when waivers open.
C- W Smith
1B- V Guerrero Jr
2B- O Albies
SS- E De La Cruz
3B- A Riley
OF- Y Alvarez, J Wood, C Bellinger, T Edman
UT- I Paredes, A Volpe
BEN- S Steer (IL soon)
SP- Yamamoto, Glasnow, Bibee, Ryan, Ray, G Williams, Arrighetti, G Rodriguez (IL soon)
RP- M Miller, J Romano, C Estevez
Question: Will have pickups once Steer & Grayson go to IL. Who do you prefer from this group for the OF hitter replacement? H Ramos, T Friedl, C Mullins, C Smith? (C Smith looks like he will gain OF eligibility early for Y!)
Thank you sir!
I like the hitting a lot, looks like a nice balance of speed and power…Love the pitching, very sexy…Cam
Thanks Grey!
No problem
Grey, Birdsong, Mize, AJSS or Warren. 10 team league? flyer. We have some decent guys like Singer, Wacha and Megill.
ajss for me. uber athlete with a new cutter and a rotation spot
Mize
Hey Grey! In my 12 team H2H (QS and W in pitching categories; OBP and OPS instead of AVG in hitting) . . .
Would you trade your Riley Greene for Bryce Miller?
3 OF slots and 2 UTL . . . I’ve got Tucker, Wood, and Doyle keepers filling up my OF already, and Butler filling up 1 UTL spot, with Greene/Cowser/Campbell sharing the final UTL spot.
Leaning towards doing it because this league format tends to incentivize using all of your bench spots (besides 1 or 2 tops) on pitching. Only 3 moves per week, so the best way to max out streaming is to just carry mostly pitching…
My current SP are led by King and Roki (rounded out by Flaherty, Lugo, Reese Olson, Wacha, streamer slot)
Sure
Who do you think lands the Giants 5th rotation spot?
Hoping Roupp
Yo grey thanks for all your hard work! 12 team b2b I had pick 11. What do you think?
1 Soto
2 Lindor
3 Riley
4 Cruz
5 schwarber (auto draft)
6 Doyle
7 bellinger
8 caminero
9 gray
10 woo
Looks good
Last pick in a 12 teamer, would you grab Cam Smith, Victor Scott, or Christian Campbell ?
Smith
Cam
Hi Gray,
Auction yesterday, Roto, 5×5, 10 teams, mixed
C-Raleigh
1B-Olson
2B-Holliday
3B-Riley
SS-Gunnar (will be Bogaerts for 1 week)
CI-Pasquantino
MI-Arraez
OF-Chourio
OF-PCA
OF-Cowser
OF-Josh Lowe
OF-Kerry Carpenter
UT-Soler
UT-Edman
BN-Jung Hoo Lee
P-Snell
P-Schwellenbach
P-Robbie Ray
P-Joe Ryan
P-Bibee
P-Gavin Williams
P-Pivetta
P-Dustin May
RP-Presley
RP-Puk
BN-Erceg
(Yes, very light on saves)
Thoughts?
Thanks!!
You look solid on hitting, I think maybe a tad light on speed, even with PCA…The pitching looks excellent, maybe a bit risky on injury, but everyone is…And yes light on saves
Thanks
No problem
TIL about Gunnar Hunderson’s high school and that let to a Wikipedia dive where I read more about segregation in Selma after the march. As I keep trying to tell my wife, Razzball is educational!
Ha
Who’s the worst option in a SV+HLD league where saves are worth double?
Pressly
Erceg
Uceta
Weaver
Kerkering
Yates
Slaten
Slaten
@Grey once again thank you for your service. What do you think of this H2H Categories 12 team 6×6 league with keepers (OPS and QS):
C Logan O’hoppe
1B Matt Olson
2B Marcus Semien
SS Gunnar Henderson
3B Luis Rengifo
OF Jurkison Profar
OF Seiya Suzuki
OF James Wood
UTIL CJ Abrams
UTIL Josh Naylor
NA Cam Smith
Bench Michael Toglia
Bench Masyn Winn
SP Spencer Schwellenbach
SP Bailey Ober
SP Justin Steele
SP Carlos Rodon
SP Reynaldo Lopez
SP Bowden Francis
SP Ranger Suarez
SP Sean Manaea
Hitting looks like it’s very balanced and solid, don’t love Semien but in OPS he’s fine…Pitching looks great, exactly the type of staff I’d draft, but no RPs
Does it make any sense to add Cole and IL him or are we thinking hes cooked?
He’s done for 15 months
Hello Grey,
I just finished up the draft and as is the tradition, I get to joyfully ask you if you think this team is competitive – 14 team mixed keeper – Thank you!
C Hunter Goodman
C Connor Wong
1B Matt Olson
2B Ozzie Albies
3B Isaac Paredes
SS Elly De La Cruz
MI Matt McLain
CI Michael Toglia
OF Dylan Crews
OF Jasson Dominguez
OF Jarren Duran
OF Fernando Tatis
OF James Wood
U Nolan Schanuel
U Spencer Torkelson
SP Spencer Arrighetti
SP Shane Baz
SP Dylan Cease
SP Zac Gallen
SP Freddy Peralta
SP Framber Valdez
RP Grant Holmes
RP Justin Martinez
RPTrevor Megill
RP Tanner Scott
SP Hayden Birdsong
RP Bryan Abreu
RP Kris Bubic
RP Jared Koenig
OF Jordan Walker
Hitting looks very competitive, love the power and speed, not sure how you have some of those guys, assuming keepers…Your pitching is great too, looks like a very competitive pitching staff too, excellent team!
Yes it’s a keeper league. Thank you!
No problem
Cam Smith seems like Jordan Walker (circa 2023) with waaaaaaaaaay less helium on this site.
Cam should dominate without having to carry the burden of 1000 Razzballers on his shoulders.
I hope so!
Hey Grey!
H2h pts / weekly
Some of these players were dropped, thoughts on any of them?
– Cody bellinger (OF/1B/DH)
– Bo Bichette
– Ezequiel Tovar
– Christopher morel (3b/2b/DH)
– Josh Lowe
Players id considering dropping:
– lane Thomas
– Ryan McMahon
– seiya Suzuki (OF/DH)
– Pete crow Armstrong
– Riley greene (OF/DH)
Thanks man!
Cody over McMahon
Had my main auction league this past weekend (along with a billion other baseball nerds). 12-team, 5×5, 2 catcher, with weekly lineups. $260 budget per team:
C Will Smith (12)
C Jeffers (3)
1B Walker (17)
2B McClain (9)
SS Cruz (20)
3B Jazz (26)
CI Mountcastle (2)
MI Volpe (6)
OF Carroll (36)
OF Lankford (17)
OF Trout (10)
OF Doyle (9)
OF Suzuki (9)
U Willi Castro (1)
SP Gallen (12)
SP Bibee (10)
SP Roki (12)
SP Rodon (9)
SP Woo (11)
SP Brown (10)
SP Jobe (2)
RP Suarez (10)
RP Fairbanks (6)
RP Hendricks (3)
BE: J Adam (RP), M. Strahm (RP), Rogers (RP), Leiter (SP), J. McCarthy (OF), H. Ramos (OF)
Didn’t spend big on any top pitchers, but actually love my pitching more than my hitting. Just don’t have any ‘easy drops’ from my SPs to pick up ‘that guy’ off waivers.
Love to hear your thoughts.
Wow, Ray Lankford in your OF? Nice! I like the hitting a lot, I think it looks well balanced, and your pitching looks great too, I like this team a lot…Not sure what to quibble with, maybe low on WHIP
HA! I guess I am showing my age with Ray Lankford. Thanks for the feedback. Love the content.
No problem
Good Morning
a. Luis Garcia
b. Luis Arraez
c, Andres Gimenez
d. Luis Renigifo
e. Maikel Garcia
Thanks for all you do
Robles, Luis Garcia
Solid draft weekend and feeling good until the next injury. Can you razz this team please?
18 team roto, 6×6 w/ OBP, K/9, SVs/HLDs:
C – H.Goodman
1B – C.Bellinger
2B – B.Donovan
3B – J.Caminero (K)
SS – Gunnar (K)
OF – Tatis (K)
OF – Chourio (K)
OF- W.Langford
UTIL – PCA (K)
UTIL – M.Shaw
BN – C.Smith, J.Wilson (Ath), E.Julien, N.Kurtz
SP – C.Ragans (K)
SP – G.Crochet (K)
SP – R.Ray (K)
SP – D.Rasmussen
SP – N.Lodolo
RP – E.Uceta
RP – H.Gaddis
RP – M. Strahm
BN – G.Holmes, L.Roupp, H.Wesneski, Kershaw
You have two aces and a number three and then nothing, you likely need more IP…Your hitting looks very solid, keepers don’t hurt
hopefully the roupp-birdsong lines from yesterday tell the story…
I goofed and dropped Roupp in one league…I have him elsewhere tho, so still rooting
it might be birdsong anyway. i heard they like the contrast of his style with the high 4s fastball against the rest of their rotation that leans sinker
Yeah, that makes sense
Birdy possibly blister issue
ESPN points, this week only, please rank:
Gore vs Phil
Eovaldi vs Bos
Clay Holmes @ Hou
Severino @ Sea
Thanks!
Gore, Eovaldi, Severino
My RazzSlam draft finally finished last night–praise be!
Nice!
Sad to see Pasketti go down, felt he was a strong 1B target going for a good price. Hoping it is minor.
Warning, the 500th ‘how was my draft’ question coming below. Would appreciate your feedback Grey. Any weaknesses that you feel need addressed?
I think you’ll see alot of your influence on this roster construct.
10 Team Roto, OBP instead of AVG, QS instead of Wins. Saves only. 5 OF. Drafted from the 9 slot.
C: Austin Wells
1B: Pete Alonso
2B Brandon Lowe
3B: Westburg
SS: Treat Urner
OF: FTJ
OF: Julio Rod
OF: Lo-Butt
OF: Riley Greene
OF: Profar
UTIL: Casas
UTIL: Rooker
BENCH: Lourdes
P: Michael King
P: Logan Webb
P: Tanner Bibee
P: Hunter Greene
P: Robbie Ray
P: Finnegan
P: Jansen
P: Justin Martinez
P: AJ Puk
P: Jason Adam
P: Clevinger
IL: George Kirby (dropped to 152, had to).
Thanks in advance good sir.
you’re 499th, silly! The pitching looks excellent, I like it a lot, good balance and RPs and SPs…Your hitting looks low on power, and maybe AVG…I don’t know what a Lo Butt is
I am assuming Lawrence Butler lol
Lol, Lawrence Butler, figured that was a worthy nickname. Maybe not. Thanks for the feedback sir. Perhaps the fact it is an OBP league and not AVG makes a difference in you thinking low on AVG? All good either way. We shall adjust as the season grinds on when needed!
Yeah, that could help
Good morning Grey!
Thanks for the pre-season content, and looking forward to the start of a new season of fantasy baseballing.
Sorry in advance for the long post, but looking for thoughts….
I got invited to take over a team for a manager that abandoned the team/league toward the end of last season. It is one of the more insane leagues I have ever seen and wanted to get some thoughts from you and the Razzball community.
ESPN, 16 team, H2H categories with just 1 win, loss, or tie per week.
11×11 categories including:
At Bats (AB)
Hits (H)
Runs Scored (R)
Home Runs (HR)
Runs Batted In (RBI)
Walks (BB)
Stolen Bases (SB)
Batting Average (AVG)
On Base Pct (OBP)
Slugging Pct (SLG)
Fielding Pct (FPCT)
Innings Pitched (IP)
Earned Runs (ER)
Strikeouts (K)
Quality Starts (QS)
Wins (W)
Losses (L)
Saves (SV)
Holds (HD)
Earned Run Average (ERA)
Walks plus Hits Per Innings Pitched (WHIP)
Strikeouts per 9 Innings (K/9)
Starting roster, daily lineup changes is
C, 1, 2, 3, SS, LF, RF, CF, Util
2 P, 2 RP, 5 SP
7 Bench, 5IL
Also, it’s a keeper, required to keep 12, no more than 9 hitters can be kept.
With all that being said, how does 1 manage all the different categories? Is there any projection system out there to account for all those things?
We had the draft last night and some of the pick caught me off guard with how folks valued players.
My roster ended up as follows:
Connor Wong
Freeman – K
Arraez – K
Bregman – K
CJ Abrams – K
Gurriel Jr
Trout – K
Santander – K
Ozuna – K
BN – Robles, Hyeseong Kim, Candelario
2 RPs – Pressly – K, Justin Martinez
2 Ps – Bautista, Walker
5 SPs – Eflin – K, Christopher Sanchez – K, Senga – K, Bowden Francis – K, Nick Martinez
BN – Tyler Holton (SP/RP), Bubba Chandler (Rookies went quick)
IL – Manaea, Kershaw
The keepers were pretty much the only viable keepers I had, and could not get any trades done in the 24 hours or so I had before keepers had to be submitted.
The player pool is expectedly shallow, but I have 2 roster spots open after putting the 2 pitchers into IL slots.
Any thoughts on how to manage this team? Biggest needs to trade for? Best options for waiver pick ups? No one on waivers is more than 10% owned on ESPN, other than Jason Foley and I would wager someone with a higher priority than me will pick him up as saves are a bit scarce.
Again, my apologies for the long post, but any thoughts from anyone would be much appreciated!
I wouldn’t trade before the season, but it doesn’t look like you have much of a pitching staff..Is your ace…Eflin or Sanchez? That’s bad…Not sure why you’d want to pick up Foley, you have 5 RPs…Hitting looks fine
Thanks…Ace of the staff is probably Sanchez. And I agree, it’s bad, but he and Efflin were the best of the keepers available to me. With 12 keepers for 16 teams (the first 12 rounds of the draft), the best 2 SPs available in the draft were Sasaki and Gausman and they went 1st and 4th, before my pick (7th). After those 2, Kikuchi or Berrios were available, but Bautista fell to me and I didn’t think any top level RPs were making it back to me with the number that were included in other teams’ keepers.
I am hoping Manaea gets healthy soon. 16 teams, so while my pitchers don’t look good, there are not a lot of teams with hugely dominant pitching staffs…I do wish I had something even resembling an ace, but I plan on being very active/attentive for call ups, surprise successes, etc.
Im not picking up Foley, my RPs are set, just saying he is the highest ownership percentage player on waivers currently for context.
Hoping I can turn the team around in the next year or two from it’s second to last finish last year….
Gotcha
So, I was offered Schwellenbach for Christopher Sanchez by another manager.
I’m trying to figure out why, other than he is a Philly guy.
In an 11×11 league with pitching cats of
Innings Pitched (IP)
Earned Runs (ER)
Strikeouts (K)
Quality Starts (QS)
Wins (W)
Losses (L)
Saves (SV)
Holds (HD)
Earned Run Average (ERA)
Walks plus Hits Per Innings Pitched (WHIP)
Strikeouts per 9 Innings (K/9)
You take Schwellenbach, yes?!
I’d want Spencer
Hey Grey! Back for the 2025 season, hope the Fantasy Gods treat us well this year!
Seeing if you can give some insights on my keeper/dynasty team I just drafted. It’s a 10 team H2H with standard scoring with OPS, K/BB & NSVH as the only unique categories.
C – Wong
1B – C. Walker
2B – Albies
3B – Westburg
SS – Lindor
OF – Betts
OF – Carroll
OF – Duran
Util – Elly
Util – H. Ramos
BN – Goldschmidt, Burleson, L. Thomas, Robles
SP – Framber, Peralta, Steele, Pfaadt, G. Rodriguez, Fitts
RP – Devin Williams, Kenley, Jason Adams
Pitching looks solid, guess IL Grayson, then pick up an SP…Prolly need two or three more SPs, and lose some of the bench bats, starting at Robles…Hitting looks ok, low on power and high on speed
This is some of your best early szn stuff to date, Greybert.
I’m dodging pitcher injuries like the flying shrimp at a benihana’s (shellfish allergy).
Do you see anything greater than streamer appeal for these backend scoops, 12tm H2H CATs: cylor megil, kris bubic (too easy), chris bassitt, dick fitts, max meyer, brayan bello? thx.
Thanks! I’d stream
hey all
had the tenth pick and missed the draft yesterday…….. going to be a long season i think i have 3 guys in todays article on greys never draft list.. i didn’t even know yoan was still in the league. who do i get rid of first?.
i qued up the first 40 so happy w/ delacrua and henderson but the rest looks shaky
Elly De La Cruz Gunnar Henderson Marcus Semien Josh Naylor
Bryan Reynolds Mike Trout Bryce Miller Brandon Nimmo George Kirby
Merrill Kelly Edwin Diaz Nestor Cortes
Nolan Arenado Shane McClanahan Cal Raleigh
Pete Fairbanks Yoan Moncada Charlie Morton Lane Thomas Brice Turang Max Muncy
12 team h2h by the way
Hitting doesn’t seem too bad, and your pitching is a mess…Lots of injured guys and Charlie Morton
the Golden Girls are younger than some of my squad
HAHAHA
Asking for a friend …. Do you think Cal Raleigh could fit into Robbie Ray’s
uniform pants ?
Haha, v carefully
I’m in a 12 team league where you can keep 6 forever. It uses OBP and SLG instead of AVG. And NSB instead of SB.
I’m already set on keeping Yordan Alvarez, Julio Rodriguez, Rafael Devers, and Tarik Skubal.
Which two should I keep out of:
William Contreras
Ozzie Albies
James Wood
Wyatt Langford
CJ Abrams (OBP and NSB kind of kill him in this format)
I’d do Wood and Langford (which sounds like a Bourbon brand). But I’m no Fantasy Master Lothario. Probably not even a Fantasy B-movie Don Juan.
Albies, Wood
Pretty funny the Pirates set up man’s name is holderman.
New show alert: Ludwig – highly recommend
Nice! Thanks! Will check it out
Hello Grey!
12-team Weekly H2H Points League, and I’m being offered this trade:
1) Tatis
2) Bellinger, Fried, 1st Round Pick
My team:
Rutschman
Casas
Chisholm
J-Ram
T. Turner
Harris
Cowser
Soler
Edman
Cease
Crochet
Schwellenbach
Gore
Rodon
Mize
E. Rod
Singer
Tatis side
I know someone always goes nuts for a guy like smith. Honestly I thought you were the last one to go nuts on him. I thought 256 would do it. 447 from the master lothario. I can only believe you see the same I do that his swing is Judgian. Good luck…
Seems like odds on favorite to be AL ROY and a major impact, plus it’s before the season so you get the whole year of him? Honestly, didn’t think I’d get him
i think the rockies are the worst organaization in baseball. i read a bud black rant the other day that pretty much summed it up. he was complaining about how many guys go to driveline type places in the off season and every year they have to spend all spring getting players to unlearn whatever the learned from off campus coaching. then he added that they built their own lab for analytics and stuff or whatever but they were having a hard time getting players to use it instead of the outside coaching…
Rockies and Pirates vying for worst organizations in MLB. Rockies just seem dumb and incompetent while Pirates are thoroughly corrupt led by conman Bob “Hillbilly Billionaire” Nutting.
Pirates are bad 5
Rockies and Angels vying for worst
Pirates would give the Rockies a run for their money. Cole, Glassnow, Morton, etc. And that ke’bryan hayes article from a year or two ago is pretty damning (the Athletic I think).
Oh, absolutely…Angels/Rockies, Pirates, Marlins, whatever the hell is going on with the South Side
i put in a bid on cam smith but i was about 400 bucks short. some lunatic got him for half his faab budget for the year. guy with zero mlb abs. go figure, i’m sure it’ll be fine.
That it was grey to win him is telling…I was next at 256. Ever heard of frank Thomas? He didn’t spend much time on the farm either
I’m shocked I got him
i mean i am kind of on board with it. the earlier in the year you spend your faab the better in general. selfishly, hope he goes jack ho first half. i figured he’d go around 300. the power to the crowford box side, the 3b/of eligibility. a lot to like but still a prospect. time will tell the true tale, as my old irish girl friend used to say.
Yeah, I guess I overestimated…Maybe I needed to hype him up more to jack up the price
he went around 325 and just under 100 in
my other two leagues. i am a little jealous that you got him. possible high impact from day one. i have started limiting my rookie nookie to cup of coffee guys for the most part on the hitting side. like to see some mlb plate appearances to see if they find a hole in the swing or a chase pitch. but, on the one hand, fortune favors the bold. on the other hand fools rush in…
I got Campbell , Roden, Scott, and Smith in my last RCL
Also experimented taking Rooker and schwarber hoping Rooker gets tgat OF eligibility in 14 days
Haha, I’ll admit to feeling like I had a lot of money at end of the year last year and it felt wasteful…
i had the opposite. i blew all my money on guys who get one chance to close, blow it and then retire from baseball (which i seem to do every year)
He said he is more comfortable going the other way…he will have to prove he can turn on one inside it sounds like.
love righty hitters with right center power
Some guy paid $15 out of a $100 budget on Clevinger in one of my leagues. It’s just a 12-team roto, daily transactions.
Terrible
Competed RCL#15 draft yesterday. This has to be one of the most fun teams that I have drafted. Fun doesn’t always equal winning lol How do you think it will hold up?
C-Langeliers
1B- Alonso
2B- Rengifo
3B- JoRam
SS- Volpe
CI- Mountcastle
MI- Kristian Campbell
OF-PCA
OF- Jasson Dominguez
OF- Jarren Duran
OF- Josh Lowe
OF- James Wood
UT- Baty, Cam Smith , Shaw
SP-Cease
SP- Sasaki
SP- Taj
SP- Gavin Williams
SP- Reese Olson
SP- Max Meyer
SP- Birdsong
RP- Clase
RP- Justin Martinez
RP- AJ Puk
Love this team! So sexy, the hitting my god, love it….Maybe a tad risky, but eff it! Pitching is oh my god sexy too…Meyer and Birdsong are streamers tho in RCL
Sweet! Thank you! Do you prefer Nick Martinez and/or Kumar over Meyer and Birdsong or still streamers?
Streamers
Obliques, hammys, + sushi are the theme of this spring.
Thoughts on Victor Scott II? Second year in a row I’m psyched to have him for $1 in my keeper, but this year feels like the year, right? RIGHT?! [natalie Portman Star Wars meme]
Right?!?! Hopefully, I don’t know…He hit .300+ last spring and .179 in-season
So everyone is injured. Or sent down. Gotcha. Play ball!
Haha
Redraft roto. H, BB, HR, XBH,SB,K’s, Runs,RBI’s. Nimmo or Crews. Thanks as always.
Crews
HAHAHA, dude that Clevinger one, you have me rolling spitting up coffee!
So you really like Cam Smith that much? Dag gone, wish I could draft again and wait on 3B, right!!?
So crazy question if you would opine. How many MONEY leagues do you do a year, or at least this year Grey? I am just curious. I have done 1 for years but in 3 this year and it feels like I will be rooting for and against myself at the same time…..not cool, I think 1 was the sweet spot
Thank man love your tireless work! This is our week, it is Christmas in March!!!
Meh, I’m not a big money guy…Top league I’m in for is maybe $350
Morning G this is the week, only 3 more days of being sober remain for me then the madness begins!
So get this, in a 12 TM Yahoo $250 auction, 1400 IP limit so I planned to attack hitting anyway BUT, my GOD dude, top closers going for $26, shitty ones for $15, SP had 10% inflation or more, I knew it was gonna be a blast :/
So thoughts on this team and OTHER THAN be on the lookout for a closer or two with FAAB..
C- Keibert Ruiz
1B- Pete Alonso
2B- Matt McClain
SS- Trea Turner
3B- Mark Vientos
OF- Julio Rodriguez
OF- Brent Rooker
OF- Cowser
U- Victor Robles
Bench- Ronald Acuna Jr, Spencer Steer
SP- Michael King
SP- Logan Webb
RP- Trevor Megill
RP- Jason Foley
P- Roki Sasaki
P- Hunter Brown
P- Brandon Pfaadt
Bench- Colin Holderman, Tomoyuki Sugano, Grant Holmes
Meh, Megill is fine, now work waivers…And your pitching is solid otherwise…I like the hitting too, maybe a tad low on AVG and Robles is kinda superfluous with Turner but fine to hold for now
Dynasty League 6×6, saves, era, SO, whip, ip, w+qs, ave, ops, rbi, r, hr, sb
Is Alexis Diaz a drop? I have the ability to replace him with Torkelson or Mitch Keller.
No
Pick a side:
A – Yelich
B – Story, Rafaela, Ballesteros
Are you worried about Yelich or Story health wise? I feel like Yelich will have a solid season, but I don’t know if the back surgery will keep him in the lineup. Story’s injuries have been unlucky for the most part since arriving in Boston. Rafaela worked in the offseason to fix his deficiencies.
I’d personally take Yelich. What about you?
Yelich
Rats! Missed out on the Roden gag
Haha
Grey!!!
Awesome! Floro demotion was a lateral move, that’s how they explained it to him.
Team A
Langeliers
Naylor
Hoerner
Chisolm
Edwards
Aranda
Wilson
Acuna, Cowser, Dominguez, Doyle, Soler
Ohtani (1, 2)
SP Eflin, Eovaldi, Francis, Imanaga, Bryce Miller, Woo, Birdsong, Blanco, Bradley
RP Miller, Faucher, Adam
IL Stephenson
In this draft, I had Snell in my sites for round 5, selected him. Then SNAFU and Naylor was selected from my queue as autodrafted. I blame Gorbachaev.
Team B
Langeliers
Guerrero
Albies
Westburg
EDLC (1,9)
Shaw
Wilson
Cruz, Cowser, Dominguez, Garcia, Scott II
Aranda
SP Eovaldi, Francis, Imanaga, King, Birdsong, Eflin
RP Miller, Uceta, Smith, Abreu, Adam, Weaver
IL Eury Perez, Stephenson
a) Which team do you like better? Who’s the drop if any for streamers in both A and B?
b) Rodney Dangerfield quote of the day for March 24, 2025
My old man. Was he disappointed when I was born? He wanted a boy.
Cheers,
Ante
A is slightly better…Aranda, Weaver, Birdsong…
12 team Keeper league Daily moves.
C. R. Jeffers 1B. B.Harper 2b. J. Westburg
Ss: O. Cruz 3b: A. Riley Out: B. Rooker, L. Butler, J. Dominguez, M. Harris U: J.Wood, L. Robert.
P. L. Gilbert, T. Bibee F. Peralta, C. Sanchez, D. Rasmussen , J. jobe, A. Munoz, C. Estevez, K. Jansen.
Bench: L. Raley, M. Wacha, N.Pivetta, L. Severino.
Minors: Cam Smith.
I ended up with L. Robert actually went 8th round in this draft everybody hated him including myself. That being said with 60 plus keepers kept he fell a ton. He was drafted right before R. Arozerena.
I really think team is solid and fun with huge upside guys. What do you think?
If Cam Smith makes the team, I’ll end up dropping probably one of my streamers.
Like the hitting a lot, I think it can be competitive…Good balance on speed and power…Not much to complain about tbh…Pitching seems solid too, don’t have any issues