Ahhh, brings back memories, as this song hit right in my prime. Yes, I’m an old f’er, which segues perfectly…not Son Segwaying over to Grey’s neck of the woods in Los Angeles….Although, that would be fun, but the over/under on me getting splattered all over the concrete is 1 mile. Anyways, before I begin this piece, I must apologize because it’s going to smell of Salonpas and nonenal up in here. If you are here for sexy, don’t press the back button; just x out the browser completely.
Before I dive into Rudy’s War Room, I always go through the player pool and map out each position. My initial foray into that endeavor had me stopping at Tyler Soderstrom for first base. After drafting, the position goes, as Grand Verbalizer sang in What Time Is It, “Deeper than Atlantis.”
Granted, there will be no treasures or sites that pop eyeballs out of sockets, but there are some useful options. The two that stood out to me were Josh Bell and Carlos Santana.
Since I began the piece with another Carlos Santana, it’s only proper that the baseball Santana gets the written treatment first.
Santana is 38 years old, 5-foot-11, 210 pounds and is a switch hitter. He began his MLB career way back in 2010, then spent the next 10 of 11 seasons with the then Cleveland Indians. Then the fight against Father Time began at age 34. Santana played for the Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers, and Minnesota Twins. He’s now back with the now Cleveland Guardians on a one-year, $12 million contract at age 39.
Over the last two seasons, Santana played 146 and 150 games, racking up 619 and 594 plate appearances. He hit 23 home runs in each season while scoring around 70 runs and driving in around 70. The walk rate remained high, and Santana has never had a walk rate below 10% in his career. The strikeout rate was in the 16.7% range while the ISO was over .180. The batting average was in the .240 range.
Santana is slated to be full-time player at either first base or designated hitter and bat fourth in a Guardians lineup that has Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez up top, Kyle Manzardo batting third and Lane Thomas in fifth.
Bell is 32 years old, 6-foot-4, 261 pounds and also is a switch hitter. He began his MLB career in 2016 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. After five seasons, Journey started blasting, “Don’t stop, believing” as he went from Washington to San Diego to Cleveland to Miami to Arizona, finally ending up back in Washington. I have flashbacks of driving around LAX after the person I’m picking up told me they were ready, but in fact were still waiting for their bags. There’s a special place in hell for those people.
Anyways, Over the last three seasons, Bell has racked up over 600 plate appearances and driven in over 70 runs in each. Bell has had a double-digit walk rate in all but two seasons while the strikeout rate has been over 20% just twice. The batting average is a little better than Santana’s – .250 vs. 240 – but Santana has a smidge more power.
I know, I know. These players are boring and their statcast pages don’t make your eyes bleed, but let’s compare their projections to Soderstrom, per Steamer:
Soderstrom – .233/.296/.437, 506 PA, 24 HR, 60 R, 69 RBI, 7.5% BB%, 25.7% K% and .204 ISO
Santana – .236/.321/.406, 580 PA, 21 HR, 66 R, 72 RBI, 10.7% BB%, 18.2% K% and .170 ISO
Bell – .250/.328/.418, 574 PA, 20 HR, 66 R, 70 RBI, 9.9% BB%, 19.7% K% and .169 ISO
Soderstrom is only 23 years old, so there’s more upside for sure. His ADP is 272, while Santana and Bell are 477 and 496 respectively. Nathaniel Lowe is being selected with the 267th overall pick, yet he’s projected for 18 HR, 71R and 73 RBI with a .153 ISO.
I guess the point of this article is to show that, if you miss out on the top power bats at first base, there are punt options for very cheap, that could match the production of their higher-priced brethren.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Be sure to sign up for a Razzball Commenter League HERE. Time is running out to snag a spot and draft with your favorite Razzball writers and commenters.
SON!!
Loved the content, keep it coming!! Music impeccable or impeccable as they say in French!!
Rodney Dangerfield quote of the day for March 14, 2025
I know I’m not sexy, you kidding me. I went to the sperm bank to donate. I found out later in order to get the woman pregnant they had to drug her.
Cheers,
Ante
Lol. You’re the best, Ante!
I am a bit worried about Arrenado’s decline. So have hesitated on this trade offer I received:
His Skubal and Arenado for my Shota and Caminero. WDYT?
Niet!
I would take, you get the best overall player in the deal. Caminero has great upside but still has to do it at the mlb level. Imani’s has a great whip but the 2nd year is always harder and he is older. Seems like an easy take because for this year both guys you are getting are better, in my opinion. I get long term caminero could be a dude, but lots can still go wromg
in an AL only auction league with 10 keepers, I have W Abreu at $5. With keepers, inflation is high, 40%+ Is his illness enough to drop him in favor of keeping Miranda, Isbel, Povich or Detmers( all @ $2)
I’d hold for now
In a 12 team Roto league would you drop Woodruff or Darvish for Santana? I find myself deep with SPs with fewer bats.
Miss your hoops insights btw. Team below:
C – S Perez
CI – Harper, Caminero, Casas
MI – Altuve, O Cruz, Tovar
OF – Tucker, Suzuki, Cast, Ward, Robles
U – Bleday
Bench- McMahon
Sp – Shota, Yamamoto, Flaherty, Eovaldi, Buehler, Darvish, Luzardo, Woodruff
RP – Munoz, Joyce, Erceg
I would not.
I write hoops stuff over at The Athletic.
I am in on Josh Bell in deep leagues this year. I’ve had a lot of luck the last three seasons with Washington Nationals Reclamation Projects. Jeimer Candelario helped me win a chip in 2022, Tommy Pham was big for mein 2023, and last year, Jesse Winker was huge until he got traded to the Mets. I’m just not sure yet if it’s Bell or Lowe who is the one who busts out. Maybe both.
Good to know I’m on the right side of history
Hey Son. What is your personal outlook this year on Bichette and Gore?
Agnostic on Bichette. I do like Gore, especially at cost. Have a few shares
As the leaves turn brown in Oct, who’s the top rated 1B amongst the following? Casas, CES, Manzarado ( should gain 1b eligibility soon enough)?
I’m a Casas guy
Great article! 12 team dynasty 5×5…roster Casas-Burger and Mountcastle with Eldridge on the farm…thoughts on this trade…was offered Max Meyer-Kikuchi and either Seiya Suzuki or James Woods for Casas-Duran and Pepiot…thank you!
I like Casas/Duran/Pepiot better
What about Casas Duran for Kikuchi-Meyer and Seiya I keep Pep?
I’m high on both Casas and Duran, so I’d rather hold onto them.
the ONLY way you should consider dealing Duran is if you get James Wood back. A fair deal would be Meyer+Kikuchi+Wood for Duran+Pepiot