Today concludes the fantasy baseball sleepers‘ portion of our program. Like the 3rd basemen to target, 2nd basemen to target or outfielders to target, this post is necessary. You need to target the right names at the end of the draft for starters. As I always say, starters are available later. As with other target posts, these guys are being drafted after the top 200 overall. Also, all Steamer hitter projections are updated just about every day (mostly small adjustments), and all 2025 fantasy baseball rankings are updated daily until the (real) start of the season next week. Anyway, here’s some starters to target 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 starters to target:
Taj Bradley (ESPN 215, Yahoo 232, NFBC 201) Last year Taj-My-Ace was HIM-du, the Buddhist God of Pitching for 55 IP during a nine-game stretch when he had 70 Ks and 0.82 ERA, and I talked about him nonstop. If he can capture that for 120 IP, he’s gonna be a top 10 starter.
Brandon Pfaadt (ESPN 219) For these posts, I could just point you to my Brandon Pfaadt sleeper, but what I like to do instead is go to his player page and see if I can remember why I loved him. Pfaadt is one of the easiest. He literally was beat on one pitch and one pitch only and has great command, so just needs to figure out how to command that one pitch better.
Spencer Arrighetti (ESPN 231, Yahoo 223, NFBC 203) Same here as Pfaadt, could point to Spencer Arrighetti sleeper, or his incredibly filthy stuff. In just his rookie year, he seemed to already figure things out in the 2nd half: 65 IP, 3.18 ERA, 10.8 K/9, 2.9 BB/9. It’s a smallish sample size — that’s what she said, derisively! — but there’s real promise here to bring out the dazzlers.
Shane Baz (ESPN 210, Yahoo 248, NFBC 205) Now, it’s time for the Bazzlers. Bazzers? Brazz–Hmm, anyway. His stats are so all over the place that I honestly don’t know what you’re going to get here. Who knows if you even get more than 120 IP. ACKSUALLY, 100 IP might be asking a lot. It’s kinda his put up or shut up season. He was considered a can’t miss ace at one point, and he’s still only 25, so it could be this year. If you wanna dream a little dream on him, just watch him paint black with a 99 MPH turbo-sexy speed ball.
Ranger Suarez (ESPN 225, Yahoo 270, NFBC 262) He was 137th overall on the Player Rater last year. Not sure there’s anything more to say. Is he sexy? Not especially, but it’s sexy to win your fantasy league. Well, sexy to other guys, at least. But not guys who are into guys. Not that there’s anything wrong with that! I could do the Player Rater examples of sleepers with so many guys. Jameson Taillon was more valuable than Suarez last year, and is unranked by ESPN. (If you’re wondering if I, like everyone, now loves Cristopher Sanchez, I do, but he’s going at 117 overall on ESPN and 153 at Yahoo, so not close to qualifying for this post.)
Nathan Eovaldi (ESPN 238, NFBC 208) Since 2018, he’s had one year with a 4+ ERA and that was an injury-stricken 67 2/3 IP in 2019. You can’t convince me Eovaldi is sexy. Nathan’s ain’t no weiner or league winner. He’s exactly middle-of-the-road, you’re-okay-I’m-okay-I-need-a-4th-to-5th-starter-to-get-me-innings starter.
Drew Rasmussen (ESPN NR, Yahoo 278, NFBC 257) Looking at these starters to target and thinking about putting $10 on the Rays to win the World Series. Oh, not because they will, but the odds are against them, but if they can sneak into the playoffs with all these sexy arms, I’m interested. Rasmussen might be the sexiest too. Last year, 11 K/9, 1.9 BB/9, and my eyes literally fell out of my skull. Little help here O’m typiing offf memroy.
Jackson Jobe (ESPN 266, Yahoo 254, NFBC 240) My Jackson Jobe fantasy is still worth perusing, but the big takeaway is he’s Paul Skenes for this year, but no one is Paul Skenes for this year. There might not be a Paul Skenes for another twenty years. Also, Itch thought Jobe could be the top rookie this year, better than Dominguez, Crews, well, every other rookie.
Nick Lodolo (ESPN 267, NFBC 233) Searched for most recent news on Lodolo and found “will not return this season,” and figured with his history it was from some point this spring. It was not, it was from last September. There’s worse things to take a flyer on than a guy who is free in drafts and could be a top ten starter because of his nastiness.
Tobias Myers (ESPN NR, Yahoo 322, NFBC 314) I know about the oblique. Trust me when I say, I’m refreshing injury news 24/7 in the preseason. How’sever, his price is free, so when I say his biggest attribute is he pitches for the Brewers, who pull rabbits out of their pitching staff all the time, it’s well worth the pick. Also: He has a 3.00 ERA in 138 career innings. A three ERA isn’t bad last I checked.
Nick Martinez (ESPN NR, Yahoo 338, NFBC 298) I’m a big-time sucker for guys who walk zero hitters. You know that proverb: Give a man a fish and you feed him for one day, but teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime? I have a similar one for fantasy baseball: Show me strikeouts, and excite me for one game. Show me good command, and excite me for the season.
Michael Wacha (ESPN 289, Yahoo 279, NFBC 276) Not saying Wacha is incredibly exciting, but you know what is? Winning your fantasy league. Last year, an unranked ESPN example in this starters to target post was Seth Lugo. Who was the 6th best starter for all baseball.
Clarke Schmidt (ESPN 260, Yahoo 229, NFBC 248) So, I know he’s been having shoulder issues. That would usually scare me off like leafy greens seeing Popeye’s chompers, but Schmidt is going so incredibly cheaply in drafts, and the Yanks have said the injury is minor. I know, I know, I KNOW! How minor are shoulder injuries? But, again, price is cheap.
Bubba Chandler (ESPN NR, Yahoo 371, NFBC 310) Jared Jones (elbow’s noodled) 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. So, as Truss said in our Razzball writer Discord to this Jones news, “It’s Bubba Chandler SZN!” To which I said, “It’s Carmen Mlodzinski SZN.” Pirates held down Skenes, but did promote Jones to start the year, so it’s hard to say, but worth grabbing Chandler, just in case.
Will Warren (ESPN NR, Yahoo 295, NFBC 336) My only real concern with Will Warren is Will…they or won’t they start him? See what I did there? How could you have missed it? His new change looks nasty as eff, and he should have a rotation spot for at least a few, until Schmidt returns or they DFA Stroman.
Max Meyer (ESPN NR, Yahoo 351, NFBC 321) My starting pitcher sleeper has a first name, it’s M-A-X. My starting pitcher sleeper has a 2nd name it’s M-E–well, you can spell. Meyer was considered a huge prospect not that long ago, and might finally be reaching his potential, clocking two-plus miles on his fastball, and a slider, change and sinker that are all clicking, finally.
Casey Mize (ESPN NR, Yahoo NR, NFBC 333) Sticking with the post-hype sleeper theme that was just established with Meyer, Mize makes me smize, to quote Tyra Banks. He has a new splitter, and, as I mentioned on the starting pitcher pod from this week, every pitcher who has a splitter succeeds. It’s science.
Landen Roupp (ESPN NR, Yahoo NR, NFBC 639) Fine, one last one. I didn’t even rank him. Wait, one more! Hayden Birdsong! Okay, whoever wins the Giants’ 5th starter job is worth a look. Staying in NoCal, Osvaldo Bido looks very interesting too. These guys are streamers in 12-teamers. For now. Emphasize the shizz out of “for now.”
Bowden Francis (ESPN 263, Yahoo 242, NFBC 260) Okay, one more! But honestly there could be another 20 starters to target. It’s why there’s the pitchers’ pairing tool and 2025 fantasy baseball rankings. Not saying you could ignore starters until pick 250 and then draft a whole staff, but, well, I did just say that, didn’t I? I really have to wrap up this post.
AJ Smith-Shawver (ESPN NR, Yahoo NR, NFBC 470) Okay, one one more! And that’s it! Why AJ Smith-Shawver? Do you not know about the Shroud of Touki? Are you not aware that once a year a Braves’ prospect shrouds himself in the glory of Touki when he’s called up, pitches well for one year, then disappears? So, you never heard of Ian Anderson? The name Kyle Wright means nothing to you? How dare you not respect your elders, like Bryce Elder! Okay, all the 2025 fantasy baseball rankings are up to date. Good luck with your weekend drafts!
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Click the LINK in the ‘League Link’ column (see below grid) for the time you want and voila, you’re in. If you’re not signed up at Fantrax, you need to do that too (it’s free). Damn, that’s too easy. Oh, I guess I should also mention make sure you’re joining a league for free or for money, depending on your preference. That’s it! You can join as many leagues as you like. If you accidentally join a league, you can quit a league by going to OTHER –> All Options –> Quit League (located at the bottom). Now go join some leagues!
greetings Grey! it’s been a few minutes hope all is well in razzland. have a few backend of my roster questions
12tm head to head
1. I drafted Rengifo but snagged K.Campbell so I have a crowded 2B/SS/MI with Luis Garcia/Lindor/Bichette/K.Campbell I like rengifo but he’s the drop there right?
2. need an OF to replace Josh Lowe after 2 fugging ABs Nootbar or Soler?
3. C.Mize, D.Peterson, or TMegill? or matchups?
Appreciated as always.
1. Drop Rengifo 2. Noot 3. Matchups
Why did you remove the ability to editva comment within a few minutes?
This was an unintentional example.
Happy new season Grey!
Drafted Ranger Suarez last weekend, now he’s on the IL with a back injury. I’ve also got Strider and now McClanahan and only one IL slot. Can add one of the below when the IL opens up, and can also drop Ranger if his back issue drops him below any of these FAs.
Available arms are:
Bowden Francis
Shane Baz
Max Meyer
Available bats:
India
Muncy
Thanks and looking forward to another great season of your entertaining and prescient columns!
Baz
Alright, need some advice on a few guys to add via waivers.
Who’s your pick between Thomas Harrington, Andrew Heaney, DJ Herz, Pallante, or Sears?
Also, could use some advice at MI and OF.
Possible MI:
Willi Castro, Durbin, Josh Smith, Hamilton, Dylan Moore
Possible OF (need 2):
Willi Castro, Yastzremski, Jose Siri, Pham, Friedl, Raley, Dylan Moore, Larnach, Fraley, Marsh, Starling Marte
Who are your adds? Upside > safety for all of these. Thanks!
Sears…Castro…Raley, Larnach, none of these are that interesting, I’d just wait to see who starts hot
I have a free move, and I’d like a BoSoxSP on IL. Who’s the best choice for season value – Bello; Kut?er Crawford; Giolito?
Bello
@Grey: 12 team weekly roto, 2 keeper league. drafted last night and didnt go quite according to plan. thoughts?
c – o’hoppe
1b – c. walker
2b – rengifo
ss – witt, jr (k)
3b – caminero (k)
of – acuna
of – r greene
of – j dominguez
dh – edc
sp – gilbert
sp – sasaki
sp – bibee
sp – pfaadt
sp – r lopez
rp – r suarez
rp – finnegan
bench hitters – toglia, t o’neill, bleday, c smith, baty, veen
bench pitchers – wacha, m meyer, r suarez, l roupp
also, have an IL spot to fill. who do you like as an add: l hendriks, sugano, bello, warren, boyd, smith-shawver, ashcraft
thanks, man.
Hitting looks solid, you have great keepers, so that doesn’t hurt…I don’t see an issue, not sure what you’re saying…Looking like solid pitching too….Boyd
@Grey: wasn’t planning on drafting elly d (how I will be referring to him this season) but he dropped and couldn’t pass on him so then felt like I was chasing power rest of the draft. Much easier to find late speed than power, at least in my draft.
12 Team H2H 6×6 QS
Hello Grey,
Please rank top 3 of these late round fliers you would be willing to grab with your last 2 picks:
Mahle, Warren, J. Soriano, Megill, Fitts, Roupp, Lively, AJ S-S, E. Rodriquez, Bido
Thank you
Megill, Soriano, Bido
Grey,
With Smith-Shawver getting the 5th rotation spot, do you like him over either Canning, Irvin or Ty Megill now?
Can try him over Irvin
Or over Canning and keep Irvin?
Lose Irvin
Thank you! Please ignore the question about Canning. I ended up dropping Gavin Sheets and now I have a bench P spot.
Ok
Which pairing do u prefer?
Snell/Sasaki
Snell/Scwellenbach
Imanaga/Sasaki
Snell, Spencer
Just finished my H2H 12 team mixed draft. Categories are R, HR, RBI, SB, TB, AVG and W, L, K, ERA, WHIP, and Sv+H
Thoughts on this team from the 10 spot?
C: Langeliers
1B: Harper
2B: Mclain
SS: Elly (keeper)
3B: Riley
LF: Yelich
CF: Jas. Domniguez
RF: Suzuki
Util: Stott
Bench: Toglia, McCarthy
SP: Cease, Bibee, H. Brown (keeper), Woo, C. Holmes
RP: Jax, Gaddis, Adam
IL: Strider, Ohtani (Pitcher only)
As soon as rosters finalize, I will put Strider and Ohtani on the IL and add another RP and bench piece with 3B eligibility.
I notoriously hate my teams after I draft them, but all my outfielder targets went within the long break between picks and threw me way off my plan.
Teamlooks solid, love the pitching a lot…I think you have solid core…Hitting looks solid too, I don’t see any issues with it
Thanks Grey! I honestly don’t think I could be any more in love with Elly than I currently am. I know it’s spring training but…
I know!
Are you planning to lower Sonny Gray’s rating based upon the low speed this spring? (several publications indicate this’ll impact his 2025 K rate).
no
Ranger starting the season on the IL. Booo.
Yeah
Grey
I know preseason stats don’t mean much
But is Spencer Arrighetti worth keeping for $6 in a 10 team roto.
Also do you see Aroldis Chapman as the closer for the redsox
Yes
no idea of options
McClanahan w an inflamed nerve in triceps. No soft tissue concerns being reported; being described as “not long term” and manager says they “are very fortunate”.
Yay
Zach Gelof hamate surgery. FML. See ya at the ASB.
Yup
12 team mixed draft in 5 hours. For this draft, McClanahan a no-draft (unless a late-round flyer)?
I said in January I wouldn’t draft him
Who’s my final keeper in AL only with $260 limit, thank you
Big Christmas 5
Ramin Urias 3
JP Crawford 1
Seth Brown 1
Xmas
thoughts on this team? 10 team 5×5 h2h dynasty
1. Juan Soto (NYM – LF, RF) KEEPER
2. Julio Rodríguez (SEA – CF) KEEPER
3. Trea Turner (PHI – SS) KEEPER
4. Kristian Campbell (BOS – 2B)
5. Zac Gallen (AZ – SP)
6. George Kirby (SEA – SP) KEEPER
7. Adley Rutschman (BAL – C) KEEPER
8. Riley Greene (DET – LF, CF, RF) KEEPER
9. Christian Walker (HOU – 1B) KEEPER
10. Anthony Volpe (NYY – SS)
11. Robert Suarez (SD – RP)
12. Cam Smith (HOU – 3B)
13. Brandon Pfaadt (AZ – SP)
14. Spencer Steer (CIN – 1B, LF)
15. Pete Fairbanks (TB – RP)
16. Bryan Woo (SEA – SP) KEEPER
17. Spencer Arrighetti (HOU – SP)
18. Chris Martin (TEX – RP)
19. Drew Rasmussen (TB – SP, RP)
20. Ranger Suárez (PHI – SP)
21. Bubba Chandler (PIT – SP)
22. Bowden Francis (TOR – SP, RP)
23. Lawrence Butler (OAK – RF) KEEPER
24. Ronel Blanco (HOU – SP)
25. Jasson Domínguez (NYY – LF, CF) KEEPER
Looks pretty balanced on power and speed, not bad at all on hitting, bit high on risk with injuries and prospects…Pitching seems low for a 10-teamer and risky
Since Alejando Kirk just got 5 years/$58 million, Vlad is getting 50 years/$5.8 trillion, right?
Ha
Ended up with A. Diaz and Erceg as my only RP in a 12-teamer – roto. Joyce, Uceta, Puk, Jax, Weaver, J. Adam, Chad Green, Porter Hodge, all the Reds relievers, etc are available for speculative saves.
Or we could punt and grab Festa, T. Myers, Rasmussen, DJ Hertz, Mize, Bubic, Rocker, Leiter, Stroman, Morton, Warren, etc…
Make a move or just hold to see how things shake out?
Also – in a 2 catcher league with no IL spots, should I just forget about F. Alvarez and pick up one of the above pitchers? That leaves me with Heim and Bailey as my backstops.
Thank you FML.
In a 12 teamer surprised you ended up with those two but your WW is paaaaacked with SP talent.
There is no reason to carry Alvarez in a non dynasty. He will be out months. Hamate bone injuries sap power, his calling card. His odds of contributing much this year is absurdly low.
Maybe a guy like Goodman is out there. Amaya might make a jump this year.
Thanks JR. Yes – Amaya and Goodman are both available for C. (Soderstrom too if he gains 20 games of eligibility).
My current staff is
B Pfaadt
J Flaherty
B Ober
J Jones
Z Gallen
S Manaea
with Fairbanks (forgot about him)Erceg and Diaz
I like Sod and have him but he might not get that many games at C if that is what you need him to fill. if he does might be a few months before eligibility. Hard to tell his usage there.
No
Taylor Rogers over Erceg, IL Diaz
Thanks Grey. No IL spots though!
no one on here today complaining about me ruining their draft!
We just caught up on your fav show… every season I say the same thing it’s too easy to be on that stupid island nowadays it’s day three they already giving away food lol
It was a compliment, Grimey ;-)
I know buddy lol
Dammit Frank, you ruined my draft!
Haha yes for anyone enjoying this lovely thread go get some bomb ass hot sauce here:
https://luckydoghotsauce.com/collections/sauces/products/el-perro-afortunado-fire-roasted-tomato-4-pepper-salsa-picante-8-5-oz
Very kind of you.
<3
I could jump back in if you want haha
Tylor Megill just announced as the Mets SP2… anything to see?
Of course
Worth adding over any of the following or just cyclops with a monocle-ing at the moment:
Jameson Taillon
Will Warren
Casey Mize
Tobias Myers (IL stash)
Kris Bubic (got 5th spot in KC)
Landen Roupp
Over Roupp
Gunnar to IL – short stay?
They say 7 days
Just watched Strider strike out the the side with plus velo, mix and location. Looks really sharp. When (117 ADP) would you take the risk with him?
Sure
They never got him an MRI. They said he was feeling better and should be ready. Wasnt feeling better enough. Hopefully short but wouldnt be surprised if he misses a couple weeks.
Hi Grey,
As you recommended, I took Baz. Now, with the McClalahan injury, i have another opportunity. Would you select Kumar Rocker or Dustin Mayer or Brady Singer or wait for Tobias Myers to come off the IL list?
Thanks!!
Dustin May
Thanks!! i’ll
A spot has opened up in RCL 28, drafting tomorrow, Sun Mar 23, 9:00 PM ET.
Now RCL 28 is drafting today, Sun Mar 23, 9:00 PM ET.
Looks filled, is it not?
Yes, it is now full again. Thanks!
No problem
I kept carroll should I have kept Guerrero or harper instead
No
Hey good people, I have Conor Wong as my catcher at the moment, but someone offered Will Smith for my Roman Anthony? It’s a 14 team points mixed league w 3 keepers. Yay or nay?
Im not the biggest Smith fan but seems like an upgrade for a prospect. If you only keep 3 he wouldnt be a keeper for you would he? I assume best players are only kept? Def wait for someone with a more informed opinion than me.
nay
Hold
Rockies traded Nolan Jones for Tyler Freeman? What is happening? I dont understand any of this.
And Jones is likely to platoon, reportedly.
Wild.
You think the trade was due to Estrada? Freeman to be 2B with Farmer? Veen and Beck and Brouchard I guess the OF with Doyle of course. Did not see this coming.
Hahaha
Hey Grey finished my 12 team 6×6 OBP and Holds keeper league draft what do you think of it:
C – Soderstrom
1B – Naylor
2B – Gimenez
3B – Vientos (keeper)
SS – Seager
OF – Alvarez (keeper)
OF – JRod (keeper)
OF – Merrill (keeper)
OF – Greene
UT – Rengifo
UT – Crews
Bench – Mountcastle
Bench – Norby
Bench – Kristian Campbell
Bench – Cam Smith
SP – Imanaga (keeper)
SP – Sasaki
SP – Hunter Brown
SP – Eflin
SP – Arrighetti
RP – Iglesias
RP – Robert Suarez
RP – T. Scott
RP – Cade Smith
P – Jax
P – Estrada
Bench – Bello
Bench – Birdsong
Bench – Dustin May
Bench – Sugano
Pitching looks excellent, but maybe a tad light on IP…prefer to see an extra SP than so many RPs, but that’s fine with Holds…I love the hitting, don’t have much to quibble with there, nice upside bets and balance!
Yeah 4 auto drafters took a lot of the SP… one of them took 9 in the first 14 rounds so hoping once the managers login they’ll drop or need to trade some SP
Yup
Hey Grey, 12team, H2H, 6×6-sv/holds, keeper..staff is currently middle of the road in S/H’s, took a late flyer on Halvorsen(Col), but not feeling it. Can go either with FA P or RP. On wire are Alvarado, Minter, Soroka, Roupp. Your rank please. Or hold Halvorsen?
Roupp
Ceddanne has walked 6 times this spring and struck out only 4 times in 42PA’s. I hope that trend continues.
Love it!
What player is leading the Athletics in HR’s this spring?
Hint: he has twice as many HR’s as K’s.
WILSON
Yeppers. Gotta love it. I am banking on him exceeding all expectations. Many, many shares.
Totally!
Vinny P strained hammy and removed. Down goes the Pasquatch. :(
https://www.mlb.com/video/pasquantino-leaves-the-game-with-potential-injury-x9111
About a 1/4 of what Royce did so maybe back in a month?
Man. This dude has gone down every single season he’s been in the majors. I was so high on him when he was first called up. Hoping for a speedy recovery.
Guy is so injury prone too
Paying absolutley no attention to the fact that Toglia and Suzuki have both homered twice today. Nope, not a jot.
Ha
Nice work Grey you SP value guys each year are what separate great fantasy teams to just good ones!
Hey bro, do you think in a 12 man Y league with the basic 1400 IP limit and only 8 pitcher slots can have more RP than normal to game the ratios?
Daily league, daily moves with (2) SP (2) RP (4) P
I am thinking when I draft Monday it may be smart to draft 2 closers if not 3 from mid to later tier, and get 2 great RP like Kirby Yates, Jax, etc and MAYBE just MAYBE not go hard on SP, get like Bruce Miller, Schwellenbach etc as an ace, 3 late SP and stream a bit?
having wet dreams of Crochet though. Get him for $26 ish, then 4 SP at $2-$4 and rock the ratios!!??
Thoughts?
Works for me
TY sir, much appreciated! You and Bdon make fantasy fun!
Can you constitute $10 more on Crochet over the next tier if they are going to be my SP1?
Yes
and thanks!
I already have Pfaadt, Arrighetti, Eovaldi and Ranger from this list, but there’s always room for one more!
From your top 500 I’m assuming you’d rather have Wacha than Nick M or Tobias, but what about the crew from Bubba on down (excluding Francis and Meyer – they’re owned) – is there anyoen there you’d have ahead of Wacha? Warren has made the Yanks’ Opening Day roster, apparently, as of a few minutes ago…
Warren is fine for a flyer
Salve Grey,
Kindly advise on this lovely bunch of pasians.
12 TM H2H Dynasty Keep Forever/Can keep all
C- Jeffers
1B- Vinny Boombats
2B- Cedd Rafael
SS- Bobby W
3B- Jr Cam
OF-Caroll
OF-Oneil
OF-Trout
UTL-Jazz
Bench – Togila
SP – Yoshi
SP- Kirby
SP- Swellenbach
RP-Munoz
RP-Mason Mill
P-Ranger
P-Luzardo
P-Jax
P-Joyce
Minors – Eury, Painter, K Campbell, Jac Caglianone, Crawford, T. Bazzana.
Will be adding a SP or 2 once IL spots and a pending trade goes through just an FYI.
Love your stuff as always, Don Grey.
Love the hitting, think it’s a solid balance of speed and power and sexy, big fan of this, especially the sexy part…The pitching is also great, your keepers must’ve been solid…I don’t have much to quibble with, I guess Jax and Joyce, maybe but whatever
My keepers were sexy and you know why? Your guidance lead me to most of them. Did forget to add my man Spencer Spaghetti.
Grazie for all the wisdom.
Nice! No problem
Assuming Vinnie Bombats is Pasquatino, sad news, I’m afraid. Dunno what he hurt, but it sounded not awesome. Hopefully it was nothing, but he went straight to the clubhouse. Hopefully he just had to poop.
Update: pulled a hammy
No word on the bowel movement yet.
Send in the next manicotti man, Togila.
Lovely articles thanks dude! Glad Ranger had a sore back, now I can get him for $2!
Hey Grey, in a 12 team yahoo roto, do you think I am super short of power here for my offense?
C- Keibert Ruiz
1B- Triston Casas
2B- Matt McClain
SS- Elly De La Cruz
3B- Alex Bregman
OF- Ronald Acuna
OF- Riley Greene
OF- Colton Cowser
U- Josh Lowe
Bench – Victor Robles, Tommy Edman
No, I don’t think you’re super short on power
Trade Brenton Doyle for Jorge Soler and Kristian Campbell in a 18-tm H2H Points league? Or Bryson Stott for Soler/Campbell?
No….sure with Stott
Is thia dynasty? The first one kind of makes sense in that format, still a hard no. The second is a fleece in dynasty, and still doable in redraft but that is banking on Campbell doing well.So yeah. What Grey said lol
AL Only Dezenso or Bader?
Neither? Guess try Dezenso
The injury to McClalahan hurts since I just also lost Weathers and Clarke Schmidt. Is it a full moon?
Any thoughts on the following wire pitchers:
Kumar Rocker
Reese Olson
Varlander
Birdsong
Woods-Richardson
Varlander
Shane Baz
Jack Leiter
Kris Bubic
Brady Singer
Wacha
Birdsong
How would you prioritize this list?
Thanks so much!!!
I like Baz
Thanks!!!
No problem
Shane Mac leaves his final spring start with an apparent forearm injury… *foreboding music*
I think any SP in our generation that gets 500 IP is a first round HOF’er
Haha
Yeah, cooked
Only video ive seen was imbeded in this article my friend sent me
https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/3248184
Does not look good nor look like “just” tricep tightness (official designation atm).
Manager said “he’ll miss some time” and how it’s “very unfortunate”.
Which is manager speak for cooked.
Yeah, cooked
Hey G money, your fantasy analysis is like damn, it is the tops! You need a TV show with the Don Father!
So 12 team 5×5 seasonal league, plan on getting Casas as my 1B so I can spend elsewhere. If the bidding gets to $112-13 or so would you bail and maybe go Bellinger for $17, or Paredes for $8 or so?
Haha, I would, Cody at 17 is nice
Hey Grey! Gearing up for my draft next weekend. Pitching quite deep (12 team 5X5) considering going bats in first 3 rounds (pick 41 in the 4th) unless a big boy SP falls to me in the 3rd (32) Gettin close!
Yep! Good luck!
I went 5 straight bats, a SP, and then my next SP in the 9th. 12 of my first 15 picks were batters & I might have the best rotation I’ve ever had. It’s such a good year to wait it out.
The best part is when everyone who went SP early is scrambling to find bats, you get to cherry pick the SP. And when they get hurt (as SP always seem to do) it doesn’t tank your season because you didn’t over-invest.
Good luck!
Agree. Same scenario for me in my big money leagues. Grabbed a top closer within reason (Walker) but was able to draft a solid hitting team all cats over $30 in the WAR room.
Howdy! Can keep up to 5 players in a 10-team yahoo 6×6 with OBP and Holds. 3 hitters/2P or vice versa. Who ya got?
Hitters:
J. Ramirez – 1st
Treat – 2nd
LouBob – 7th
Yelich – 9th
Santander – 11th
Bellinger – 13th
Pitchers:
Crochet – 8th
Gallen – 9th
Sale – 8th
Kirby – 11th
Helsey – 12th
Flaherty – 18th
Reylo – 22
JRam, Sale, Hels, Santander, Crochet
Hi Grey — Hope you don’t mind one more question during this last weekend before the *real* start of the season!
About where would you rank Kristian Campbell (in your Top 500)?
I remember reading in the Comments section that you were upgrading Cam Smith to around where you had ranked Crews/Dominguez … but I don’t recall a similar comment about Kristian Campbell. Might have missed it (if so, my bad!)
Thanks!
Prolly will move him up to around 190 overall, so below the other prospects at 110
Thanks!
No problem
In your rankings, I think you’ve confused Tyler Rogers (SF) and Taylor Rogers. (Cin) You rank a Cin Rogers (the lesser Rogers) and not a SF Rogers.
I always get these confused (and, I suspect, so do their parents).
I didn’t
@Grey: with news Jobe is making the opening day roster, does he move up your rankings? If so, how high/what tier?
Thanks!
No, I assumed he was making team
Budddeeeeehhhh! Getting ready to answer 200 plus questions a day? when the season starts?
Do you do hand stretching/strengthening efforts in the offseason? After your 200th question how can I know your brain isn’t fried answering my 201st? My mother in law lives in our back apartment now and she has entered the I have a question for everything phase of her life.
After answering a few stupid ones my nerves are shot! If I was you I would be like manage your own fantasy team you IDIOT when somebody asks a question and then blame you for the move not working or something.
I do have one question though. I have been debating what round to start drafting sp in my league this year. Last year I think I grabbed Peralta in round 6 but he was meh and I could have had another solid bat. I’m thinking of pushing it farther to like round 9 or 10 and based on mocks it looks like Miller Gallen Maybbbeee Shwellen or Woo as an Sp1.
Is round 9 too late or should I be looking to try and grab a King or Imanagi round 5 or 6? the league is a weekly 12 team 5×5 OBP with Quality starts and net svs and holds so I can stream pitching or grab late round Rps without issue. positions are C , 1, 2, ss, 3b, of, of, of, ut, ut. 2 Sp 2 Rp 4 any P
thanks man
Haha, It’s not too late if you can get a #1, that includes Shota or King
haha no going long would mean no sp1 from your list. Is that tooooo dangerous?
oh sorry it would mean targeting Miller as Sp1 based in ADP
Sounds it
Which threesome do u prefer
Snell/Scwellenbach/Woo or
Imanaga/Roki/Bibee
Snell
Welp Jerar Encarnacion out broken hand. Schmidt to IL despite them pretending it wasnt a big deal. Carrasco now a Yank. Steer to IL. Meadows probably not gonna be ready until ASB. Just pouring it on.
Yup
Hey Grey – With the news that Parker Meadows is out at least another 4 weeks, is he worth hanging onto in an 18 team H2H Points league with no IL spots? Waiver pool is shallow in a league like this but equally as hard to hang onto injured guys. 7 bench spots
No, drop
Man no IL spots in an 18 teamer is bbbbbrutal.
Any Statcast data on Wood’s lifting the ball more this spring? I can’t find much.
Last season – 2.4 LA, 55% GB and 18% FB with a 29% K. He kills a lot of worms. He will be hard pressed to get to 20HR if he doesn’t get the ball in the air.
I passed on him & took Langford instead. The GB rates are way too high – he might start lifting the ball more, but until he does his price tag is a bit too high for my tastes. Good player, but wish he were a 5th or 6th round pick instead.
I wanted Wyatt but couldn’t get him. Would you take Santander for Wood? I have Elly and others that provide more than enough SB and the power Santander provides is nice. It’s an AVG and OBP roto league and Santander is traditionally around .300 OBP.
Haven’t seen
Mead is a hot target but is having the same issue.
Saves and holds are separate categories in our H2H 12 teamer. We have ten hitting and nine pitching cats…singles, doubles, walks, k’s etc for hitting. WW has Treinen and Romano on it. I could move a bat for one of them. Maybe ditch one of my utility/platoon guys? Would you do so given my lineup below and if so who would you grab? Who gets cut? Or just hold?
C – W Contreras
CI – Vlad, Machado, C Santana
MI – Lindor, Altuve, Donovan
OF (must play five) Tucker, Suzuki, Nimmo, Freidl, Cast, (Steer Out now)
Util – McMahon or Joc
SP – Yamamoto, Shota, Steele, Eovaldi, Eflin,
RP – Iglesias, Finnegan, C Martin, Hodge
Joc and McMahon are pretty bad 12 team bats…your last OFs aren’t great either…Your pitching is better than your hitting, I don’t know why you need Romano or Treinen either
Appreciate it. WW bats include Campbell, Anthony, Wallner, Raley, Frelick. Swaps for either Joc/Ryan or both? Have a good one.
I like Raley, but I may be on an island. Reportedly he’s not going to platoon, and he’s got a nice power/speed combo.
Yes, 100%…Campbell and Raley over both
Hey Grey love you! Like you know, in a fantasy way, not a dude on dude way HAHA
Do you think Rooker is a $20 player in 12 team roto redraft? The BA worries me. I think he is a 250 hitter at best
Haha, love you too, Ed44…I do think he’s a $20 player
Huh – I edited my post for a typo and it got flagged as spam?
Weird.
i retrieved it, oops
Did you do it twice? I think that is the trigger. I recall this happening to me and I believe that is what did it. Two embarrassing typos in an 8 word reply. I didnt mind it getting removed haha.
Yup!
I failed to close my parentheses twice. I didn’t want to go through life with everything else I ever typed being a parenthetical.
Spring is in the air and you know what that means?!
No, no, not that – it’s a FBB site, no one here has ever touched a boob. I thought we’d established that by now.
It means draft time!
My lone league, a 12-man 6×6 with 30 man rosters. We added a new owner for the 1st time in 10 years and he’s a (imma throw up) Dodgers fan. Sigh
Pulled the 1.01 for the 1st time. I don’t love my team. Kinda went silly on youth & upside. Yupside. I may have to change my team name. Junior Caminero was a dude I didn’t want, but I’d just missed Cassis & Westberg, and needed a CI. I didn’t want one of the geriatrics. That pick might haunt me.
Went with the all-scrub SP rotation as well. I love these dudes. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Kept getting sniped on 1B (Naylor by 1 pick, Casas by 2 picks) and 2B (Westberg 1 pick, Stott by 3 picks, etc) – picking 1st suuuucks for that. SV+HLD, so waited until super late for RP. I also took a C before the 20th for the first time in 20 years and it cost me Mountcastle. Dumb. I love my OF/Util at least. Yupside, baby!
C – Wells (15.01)
1B – Encarcion-Strand (18.12)
2B – Renigfo (20.12)
3B – Riley (3.01)
SS – Witt Jr (1.01)
CI – Junior Caminero (8.12)
MI – Oneil Cruz (5.01)
OF – Merrill (2.12), Langford (4.12), Butler (7.01)
Util – Dominguez (11.01), Arozarena (13.01)
BN – Maikel Garcia (23.01), Railey (26.12), Nootbar (28.12)
SP – Schwellenbach (6.12), Steele (9.01), Woo (10.12), Pfaadt (12.12), Pivetta (14.12), Arrighetti (16.12), Taj (17.01), Lodolo (19.01), Baz (21.01), Bowden Francis (22.12)
RP, SV+HLD – Jason Adam (24.12), Porter Hodge (25.01), Yimi Garcia (27.01), Kerkering (30.12)
We’re so back, baby.
Flame away!
Love the hitting, it is ao solid, maybe a little risky on CES but I love him, and don’t mind it…I think it’s speed and power balanced very nicely…I think the pitching is sexy and I love the guys you have, maybe a tad upsidey/risky but not bad
It’s Yupside SZN!
Updog
What’s updog?
#RIP Justin Tucker – damn, I liked that video, too.
Speaking of RIP, the George Foreman documentary is well worth watching. Also he has like 17 kids all named George or Georgina. #legend
Hahaha, I know, a legend at boxing and naming kids
Good and weird team but you know it. Surprised you were able to grab some of that talent so late in the draft, Arrighetti nice! Would have liked Toglia to cover CES. Def wish you got Westy and had Rengifo to back up. Fun team hope it works out.
Thanks – and yeah, I’d prefer Westberg too.
:::runs away crying:::
As someone who cant recall being in this situation before, when do MLB teams officially put guys on the DL? Is it just before game time opening day? I have 6 players to start the year. I am wondering if I am in danger of having to make cuts and then having to add them back to roster.
(Estrada, Meadows, Giolito, Stephenson, Bello, Stanton in case it mattered who)
Starting Wednesday thru opening pitch
Kyle Gibson to Os, guess that ends any hope of Povich long term this year.
Ugh
Fanthrax is letting us down again tonight. Another draft frozen.
Their timing has been rough this year. Had a bunch of issues when the football season started last year and crashed.
Damn sorry to hear
Yes, its been really bad this year. 3 of my 4 Ftrax drafts have been wrecked.
Any thoughts on Cam Smith for a 9-team weekly roto?
Also, CES or Mountcastle?
I like the flyer
H/H points 12 team …with 4th pick I’m taking Elly,Soto or Ramirez ?
Elly
Austin Well or Yanier Diaz? Like Wells getting looks for lead off spot, lefty @ Yankee stadium and hitting in front of Judge.
Diaz….he hit .280 and almost .300 last year. Plus, more PT with DH work. Wells could breakout but he has a smaller and less impressive track record.
Yainer
Grey, if i drafted
Lindor ss
Vlad 1b
Cruz of
Would u take Langford OF or Rooker DH next?
Langford
Feel like I’m going to be annoyed I didn’t draft Garrett Crotchett.
Yeah I could see that
I’ve got my spring training blinders on for Bowden Francis!
Ha, same
Is that good or bad? What happened?
He’s been awful
Ahhh see Crazy J had blinders for Francis on, I had blinders to avoid all of ST. I look, and his last start was yesterday. Apparently the only good one, 5.1 IP 3H 2BB 4K. See not worried. *missed all the stuff that would have worried him on Francis*
Meh, spring training means nothing
*Sees Ragans’ line, starts “its only Spring Training” incantation*
Think he had a 6+ ERA last spring
Rooker’s home run on the other hand, now – that was truly significant lol.
Haha yes
Same with Toglia! Definite pointer as to how things will go! On the serious, .255 with 3 dingers so far extrapolated across the season? We’ll take that, and what’s more, we’ll like it.
Yeah
I own Jared Jones. League waivers are $1+. Last year, I ran out of $ and missed some key late season pickups.
The best waiver starters are David Peterson; Eduardo Rodriguez; Marcus Stroman; Casey Mize; Verlander; and Birdsong.
Thanks.
Also Dustin May is available. Include him in the list.
with a bunch of good options left open, i would hold for more news and maybe 2 weeks into the season to see who starts off well and roll then.
1. https://razzball.com/2025-fantasy-baseball-rankings/ 2. Sure
Happy Fantasy Season Grey. Or not so happy season for me as my league scheduled the draft when I was out of the country with spotty WiFi and it resulted in this mess. Would you please evaluate and share any advice you may have in this 12 team roto league? 2 catchers…
J Heim
P Bailey
F Alvarez(R)
M Toglia
A Gimenez
L Rengifo
R Lewis(R)
F Lindor
B Bichette
J Westburg
A Bohm(R)
W Langford
C Carroll
I Happ
J Merrill
M Conforto
R Acuna(R)
L Erceg
B Pfaadt
J Flaherty
A Diaz
B Ober
J Jones
Z Gallen
P Fairbanks
S Manaea
Gonna really need the handsome guy this season, I fear.
That sucks you were out of country, but hope you had a nice trip! You have like 5 guys already injured and three guys waiting to be placed on IL…Pretty iffy on risk there, but hopefully you can replace them from waivers….I like the hitting and not so much your pitching, needs some work
Would you add Jake McCarthy, Jordan Walker, Nootbar, Tork over any hitters?
Or Mize, Fitts, Fedde over any SP?
Uceta, Yates or Puk?
Slim pickings on the ww
Soderstrom also available if you think he gets 20 games at C
McCarthy over Conforto — hold on the pitchers for now
@Grey: just finished reading/cramming every ranking, sleeper, shmohawk and targets post. you really do do god’s work. thank you. have my 12 team roto draft tomorrow. any favorite closer targets you wouldnt mind touting?
Haha, whoever is available reasonably? Finnegan, Suarez, Megill?
yeah, i know…just curious if there were guys who you ended up drafting more often than not. thanks again. best to cougs….
Nah, not really…Drafted Thairo a bunch but he has a fractured wrist so yeah
I have Pfaadt at 14 in an NL only keeper league with a 260 cap. I like him but think that is too much. I’d think I could drop him and get him for less. The other two keeper pitchers I have are King at 12 (Whoo hoo) and Lodolo at 1
Ok
Which 2 should I not start this coming week? Buehler @Tex. vs Mahle, Lodolo At home vs. SF Verlander, Wacha at home vs. Cle. Ortiz, C.Holmes @ Hou. vs. Valdez, Bibee @ KC vs. Ragans, Arrighetti at home vs. Mets Canning Francis at home vs. Bal. Sugano or R. Lopez @SD vs Cease. Thank you for your insight.
Bibee, Lodolo
Wait are you sure those are the two that you would not start?
Sorry, no, I missed “not” good catch! — Don’t start Arrighetti, Holmes
1. Is Wood and Flaherty for Gunnar fair or not enough?
2. Do you like Flaherty or Glasnow better? You have them ranked close together. Flaherty hasn’t been sharp this spring. He was great last spring and up until he was traded to LA. Both have injury concerns, more so Glasnow.
1. Not enough 2. nothing’s changed from my rankings which i update daily
Hello again!
Any of these bats “must-ish adds” in a 12-team 6×6 (OBP) league:
Thanks again!
who would you drop?
Yes, all of them…Nico should be rostered in all leagues…CES tho too
no drop, just moved Cam Smith to my “NA” spot to open up a roster spot.
Will eventually be moving Acuna to my IL once he’s officially moved there too.
Full Roster below:
C: Jeffers
1B: C. Walker
2B: Arraez
3B: Rengifo
SS: CJ Abrams
OF: Judge, Jazz, Cowser
UTL: Swanson, X. Edwards
BN: Mason Winn, Acuna (IL)
SP: Cease, Bryce Miller, Kirby (IL), Lugo, R. Lopez, Clay Holmes, Ranger Suarez, Sugano
RP: Helsley, Robert Suarez (can start 3 max)
IL: no official IL yet
NA (minor league stash spot): Cam Smith
Ok
thanks and I realize the above is likely a bunch of additional information that’s not entirely useful to my question.
I’m guessing Nico would be your top add of that bunch then?
thanks again!!
I’d go CES with that team
Grey,
Need a trade opinion in a points keeper league. Kinda got myself into a jam after keepers were announced and traded picks for guys that were kept, but now don’t have much for draft picks in the first 10 rounds (only 3 picks, all between rounds 6-10) but have tons of keepers with 11th-15th round values (Langford, Chourio, Wood, Caminero, Skenes, Webb, McClanahan, Grayson). I have an offer for Wood for a 3rd and 6th round pick, so essentially Pete Alonso and like Lawrence Butler. Would you make type of deal, or hold and load up on guys in the 11th-20th rounds where I have a bunch of picks?
Hold your players and load up
Thairo Estrado out a while with broken wrist. Is it Kyle Farmer seasoooon? No? Oh. I guess Amador will get some run again this year?
great, ugh
I thought he was a sneaky good late pick too. You had me at Coors. Can spring training be over with already
Yeah, brutal
Hey Grey,
10 team mixed, standard 5×5 except OBP
Please lmk what you think:
C Yainer
1B/3B/CI Bellinger/Machado/Rengifo
2B/SS/MI Stott/Gunnar/Oneil
5 OF Alvarez/KerryC/DylanCrews/BrentonDoyle/LaneT
2 UT JPena/LourdesG
BN Arraez/Caballero/Burleson
SP Gilbert/SSchwellenbach/Gore/Roki/SonnyG/Ronel Blanco/Jobe
RP Hader/FelixBautista/DavidBednar/KirbyYates
Hitting looks very solid, I like the balance of speed and power…I think the pitching is great too…Overall, nice team!
Thanks Big Dawg. Finally just said fark it and signed up for your in season tools. LFG!
No problem
Darvish to start the season on the IL. I should have known better than to draft this guy again. Possible replacements include Kremer, Mize, Severino, Paddack, Detmers or Verlander. Who would you pick, Grey?
Mize
Hi Grey,
On Wednesday, I offered Yelich plus Pena for Michael Harris II. Since it has been 2 days, I was going to cancel. Do you agree?
Thanks!
if the other team has not responded within 24 hours I usually pull it back.
Thanks!
1. I read that Chris Paddack looked good on Thursday. His first start is against the White Sox. Is it too early to think like this?
2. Since I live in AZ, i was at the Royal game on Thursday and saw Bubic pitch. He looked terrible. I have now no interest in picking him up. Would you take him off the wire?
3. What about offering Yelich plus Pena for Taj? Would you try and execute this trade?
Thanks!!
Paddack and Bubic are all bottom of the barrel starters. I would not touch them.
Keep Yelich. If you really need pitching, wait and you would probably get a 2nd or 3rd for Yelich straight up during the season
Great Advice!!
They probably got sick and of your offers and are ignoring you
Sure
Did you see Mayos’s comment about his demotion? He of course apologized after, I am not sure what for, but I agree with him.
The Baltimore Orioles made the decision to demote top prospect Coby Mayo to Triple-A on Tuesday. This decision makes sense based on Mayo’s performance this spring, but the 23-year-old prospect seemed to see things a bit differently.
Mayo made the following statement after being demoted to Triple-A:
“It definitely is difficult. It obviously sucks because you feel like you’ve proven everything you’ve needed to. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like it’s quite enough. Obviously, you go back there and if you have success, it’s: ‘Oh, he’s supposed to have success because he’s already proven it, and if he doesn’t have success, it’s, ‘Oh, well, obviously he’s fallen off. It’s kind of a lose-lose going to Norfolk.”
Of course guys like Cameron Maybin jumped all of over it…
Foul Territory host Cameron Maybin slammed Coby for making the comments, he said: “This isn’t daddy ball.. You’re in a situation where you needed to come in and impress, and you didn’t.
“You gotta make good on your opportunity, I have been there before, I was the worst Spring Training player.
“You gotta look in the mirror, check yourself, you have said what you have said, but you now have to put your big boy pants on and go down to Triple-A and show that you belong in the big leagues.”
Who misses the point of course. He HAS shown in AAA he deserves a shot in the big leagues. He has dominated AAA. Maybin would have been whining if he didnt get his shot.
Maybin, in 1898 AB in the minors was, had 53 HR and 97 steals (27 CS) with a .289 average.
Mayo, in 1432 AB in the minors so far, has 82 HR and 25 steals (4 CS) with a .283 average. He got a whole 41 AB in majors last year.
Not like Holliday was good his first, what 100 ABs? Well really at all. But he didnt get demoted. Hell Holliday never even dominated AAA.
Baltimore has moved Ortiz, Norby, Stowers, and Hall and two of the four are MLB starters, one a platoon bat, and the other hurt. All those guys were rotting in AAA. Kjerstad is now what, 26? 27? Guy has maybe 100 MLB AB and he hit .300+ last year in AAA. Instead the team went and got Eloy Jimenez and Austin Slater at the deadline.
The team is also higher on Basallo so if Mayo cant play 3B he is bumped at 1B when he comes up. Even if he hit .400 this spring where would he have played? Mountcastle is blocking him.
Guy is probably afraid to spend another 2-3 years having to magically prove himself at AAA for a spot that doesnt exist because blocked at MLB level to finally get a shot, and then gets moved to Miami for some meh pitcher like Norby and Stowers did.
Lets be real, Orioles aint giving reps to young guys. They had Chayce and Povich and they went and got Sugano. Only resason there is a shot is because Grayson got hurt.
I just hate the way this has played out over the past few years with their prospects when the AAA squad could probably run with the Marlins and CWS. Then they dont give them a shot year in and year out. Sorry for the rant!
I did see it…They should trade him for a starter yesterday
Happiest of Days Meister Gray-A (a little Canadian for you),
I know you are the best FML on this site:). Thank you, I must’ve honed in on too many of your articles because I drafted the first three on your list, woo-hoo, yippie kai yeah motherfather…………
A) Can my O be competitive, 14 team, H2H?
C There is no C
1B Bellinger
2B Westburg
SS Cruz
3B Parades
OF Carroll
OF Wood
OF Dominguez
U Tovar
B Acuna
B J Walker
B B Lee (From my neck of the woods)
B) I hope you are right about Acuna!!!
C)
D) If you were SF management, who stays, Birdsong or Roupp?
Many thanks as always, have a great weekend and here’s to Fantasy success…
CCC
CCC, what’s up? Looks solid! I like the hitting a lot, love the balance…B. Me too! D. Birdsong seems to have advantage but I don’t know
10-tm AL-only, keep 1 of:
Pena $17
Melendez $1
Erceg $2
Pena
Hey now your Greyness, what do you think of this lineup?
H2H categories with BB as a category
C Cal Raleigh
1B Christian Walker
2B Jordan Westburg
3B Junior Caminero
SS Elly De La Cruz
OF Yordan Alvarez
OF Julio Rodriguez
OF Ronald Acuna
U Brent Rooker
U Kyle Schwarber
BN Michael Busch
BN Adolis Garcia
BN Matt McLain
spanks for the mammaries
# teams?
10 teams (was supposed to be 12 but 2 backed out last minute unfortunately)
feels tainted..
Looks excellent, stacked…It’s a super shallow league tho so you’re gonna have to stay on top of waivers
NL-only keep 10, limited FA pickups (basically only for IL replacement), I have 6 arms I like at their prices (especially given inflation):
Imanaga 23
S. Gray 16
King 16
R. Walker 11
Eury 1 (move to IL week 1)
Birdsong 1
However, according to Razz projections, I’d get more surplus value out of keeping Donovan (2B/3B/OF eligible) at $3 than any of them.
So, throw one of these guys back to the auction in favor of Donovan, or keep the arms?
BDon over Birdsong
I friggin hate Pitchers. Already lost Grayson, J Jones, Weathers, Giolito and Darvish. Even worse when they pull a Painter and try the useless PRP injection so you can’t drop them. What do you think about Mahle for an emergency pick up?
Meh
I think you mean Mehle
Yeah
Jose Ramirez at $45 or Lindor at $37?
Already keeping Soto ($43) and Rooker ($12). OPS is a category. Regular $260 auction. JRam worth the extra $8?
JRam
Grey! After few seasons off (babies are a lot of work, turns out!) I am back for beisbol. Been devouring your rankings and the Razball Blogomatic Universe (RBU) the last month.
20 team league (deeeeep!), 5×5 roto with OBP/QS/SV+HLD rather than AVG/W/SV.
Given the roster rules (see below), I went hard on holds guys late in the draft with good stuff/ratios/Ks to start every day, and I can rotate in the SPs as needed when they are starting. Staff feels a little weak on the backend after my top 3 SPs, but c’est la vie.
Any glaring weaknesses to focus on for early season waiver wire action / first month trades? Before you shame me for the Catcher pick, he fell crazy late and was so high on the OBP rankings, it felt like I had to do it!
C: Willson Conteras
1B: M. Olson
2B: L. Rengifo
3B: W. Castro
SS: N. Hoerner
OF: Y. Alvarez
OF: B. Rooker
OF: K. Carpenter
UT: C. Mullins
UT: Jung Hoo Lee
SP: B. Miller
SP: B. Woo
RP: C. Smith
RP: J. Estrada
P: D. Nunez
P: M. Montgomery
P: T. Santillan
P: A. Morejon
BN: J. Steele (SP3)
BN: J. Soriano (SP4)
BN: O. Bido (SP5)
BN: S. Burke (SP6)
BN: C. Mize (SP7)
Love the pitching, maybe a tad light on actual IP, so too many RPs…need more SPs…like the hitting, but looks low on power, which isn’t great…Mullins, Hoerner, Castro, Lee, Rengifo…almost zero power there
thanks!
No problem
would you send Steele for Paredes to get some more power? Paredes owner asking for pitching, they went in the same round of the draft.
No
ok–I’ll pray on Kerry Bonds playing 150 games and Jung Hoo hitting some more fly balls for now…
Haha
Thoughts on this pitching staff and would you make any changes? I am intrigued with Zebby and think I could probably flip him for a bat if he does well when called up but when will that be? I was thinking of dropping him for that dart throw or is Zebby the dart? I also really like Dedniel and Warren and Bubic and Megill lol
Keeper League
200 GS Limit
IP, K, QS, ERA, WHIP, K/BB and SVHD
SP:
Cease
Freddy P
Flaherty
Pfaadt
Robbie Ray
Wacha
Bubba Chandler
Zebby Matthews
IL:
Kirby
Kutter
Tobias Myers
Schmidt
RP:
Jax
Jason Adam
Cade Smith
Luke Weaver
Uceta
Chris Martin
IL:
Strahm
Evan Phillips
Pitchers Available:
Dedniel Nunez
Nick Martinez
Jose Soriano
Bido
Tylor Megill
Will Warren
Smith-Shawver
Mize
Festa
Fitts
Bubic
Sugano
Roupp
Zebby gone for anyone, I guess you can try Mize
many of the opening day starters pitching today in last tune up signaling the beginning of the longest 5 days of the year between now and opening day.
Yes, ugh, but also everyone stay healthy
Bored at work so tear my RCL from the 12th spot apart. Lots of rubi… insert eye roll emoji
C Wells
1B Diaz
2B Westburg
3B Vientos
ss Volpe
CI Ortiz
MI Campbell
OF Carroll
OF Chourio
OF Langford
OF Wood
OF Dominguez
U Cam Smith\Manzardo
P Strider Webb Steele Rodon Pepiot Rasmussen
RP Munoz Duran Estevez Slaten
i like this team. grimey! that of is suhweet
It’s a fun one!
Like my teams like my women, RuBI-esque — Your pitching is fun, I hope it works…Looks light on top guys…Your hitting looks excellent, absolutely can make this team work because you are Grimey
RuBI’s!!
Guy’s got RuBIs of steel
hA
I let you have half those guys….certain ones I couldn’t touch because the commish from my AL only home league was in there. Can’t have him knowing who I want in the auction and the stash minor leaguer draft Monday.
Ya ok buddy
My team is going to crush pitching….I dont see where your RBIs are coming from more runs than rbis. Your gonna have to grind
That staff is a time bomb lol
I think you mean that staff is the Bomb…
As someone whose draft plans were hurt by Grimey, I disapprove of this post! Kidding aside, you were a one team run. Grabbing those four OF from the get-go and then reaching (a little bit) for Cam Smith later … forced many of us to draft some rather meh OFs much earlier than we should … Master Class! (ignore Joed1414 ;-)
Round 19 is hardly a reach
Hey, I said a little bit! ;-) The ADP for Cam Smith for NFBC drafts done on Wed/Thu of this week was 289, with the earliest 219 (19th round) — you drafted Cam Smith at 18.1. I was planning to draft him at 18.5 (as NFBC seemed to suggest that would be early enough … alas)
What is adp?
An avg made up of mostly losing picks.
My plans were not Derailed by his 4 OF early have to pivot in any draft Razzkai. Seems like he put you on tilt. Not me
Good morning Grey — any new thoughts on David Peterson? I’m gonna need a replacement for J. Jones in a H2H points league. I know, “milkrowave” tier, and “one of the hardest guys to project” (that’s me, selectively quoting you!). But his numbers have looked good this spring. Thanks!
I have no new thoughts…I like him, and have drafted him
Good enough for me! Thank you sir
No problem
Do you think that Jordan Beck wins out over Zac Veen for the Rockies outfield position?
Yes
Gonna piggy back this. In a 12 team dynasty points league should I drop Adell for Beck if Beck gets the spot?
No
Hi Grey,
Re: Yahoo 10 Team Points League
I hope great minds think alike. On the backend of my staff, I have AJ Smith-Shawver, Clarke Schmidt,Casey Mize, Will Warren and Francis
The staff also includes Rodon, Fields, Lugo, Valdez and Shane McClanahan.
RP: Fairbanks and Romano
1. Would you waive Weathers after his injury?
2. Thoughts on Birdsong. Is he a streamer?
3. Of those that you have listed, do you have a favorite or two?
PS it seems over the years that your pitching predictions have been the most accurate.
Have a great weekend!
1. yes 2. yes 3. Taj
Better stash – David Festa or Zebby Matthews?
Festa
Morning Grey. In a Vacum Rooker or Butler. Also do you think Rooker will gain outfield eligibility this year. Thanks
Rooker
What do you think his chances are he gains outfield eligibility
Maybe by June
Thank you
No problem
Did you know that blues jay utilility candidate will wagner is newly minted hof’r billy wagner’s son? blue jays still trying to corner the nepo market.
and wagner has hit lead off and played 3b a few times recently. who hits leadoff has been a big ? in jays camp. wags jr had a 16% bb rate paired with a 10% k rate at aaa last year to go with a .432 obp. doesn’t run or hit homers but could be a 3 cat RuBi avg guy in very deep leagues.
I did…A RuBI play, you say, huh?
12 team H2H(cat) OBP SV+HLDS 5×5. Weekly. MI/CI/2UTL/4 SP/3RP/3P/NA spot
Finished 2nd last year…usually I go heavy hitter with first 5 rounds….but man this year every hitter was snatched and great starters were staring me down. Still think I have a real good lineup. Although I essentially punted 3rd(hoping Baty comes thru). I think if Baty and K.Campbell come thru hitting will be real nice. Might be the deepest pitching I’ve ever had in 26 years of Fantasy. Worst case I have the guns to trade a sp for a top 30 hitter
What says you sir?
(C)Jeffers
(1b) T.Casas
(2b) M.Mclain
(SS) B.Witt
(MI) F.Lindor
(3b) B.Baty
(CI) A.Burelson
(OF) J.Merrill
(OF) R.Greene
(OF) H.Ramos
(OF) J.Lowe
(UTL)W.Abreu
(UTL)J.McCarthy
Bn.K.Campbell
Bn.H.Kjerstad
Bn.J.Cabalerro
(Sp) L.Gilbert
(Sp) M.King
(Sp) S.Schwellenbach
(Sp) B.Ober
(Rp) A.Munoz
(Rp) M.Strahm
(Rp) J.Adam
(P) B.Woo
(P) B.Pfaadt
(P) N.Pivetta
Bn. E.Uceta
Bn. P.Hodge
Bn. W.Warren
(IL) E.Perez
NA B.Chandler
Pitching does look solid, more sollid than you need and your hitting is weak…Prolly weak in every hitting category, last two bench bats are pretty superfluous
I def dnt have a sure fire 30 hr outside of Witt and Lindor…Casas SHOULD be…Greene could get there. I think almost everyone in the lineup outside of McCarthy and maybe Abreu get to at least 20 though. I think im solid in sb’s as well;..no crazy sb guy like Edwards or anything but a alot of 20-25 guys. I think at worse I will be middle of pack in OBP and sb. As long as I can hang in top 6 in most offense cats with that pitching I think I will be alright….but yeah its def a bit weaker than I annually have. I always have at least 1-2 35-40 plus HR guy.
Def think I will be able to spin a pitcher or 2 for a top 30 hitter or 2 if need be…espec if Chandler/Warren provide something and I get a 2nd half from Perez. Guys get desperate for pitching later in the year
I forgot to ask…guys like Cagliaone are on the ww as well as Stephenson and Baldwin at C….would u drop a bench bat or bench sp for a stash like Cagliaone or swap Jeffers with 1 of the 2 catchers mentioned?
Nah, not yet
Hi grey, super excited for the upcoming season, and look forward to your help along the way for another year
Anyway can you give me your thoughts on my lineup? (10-team h2h catagories)
and your thoughts on the Garcia Jr move
C: Will smith
1b: Vlad Guerrero jr
2b: Jackson Holliday (who I dropped Luis Garcia Jr for)
3b: Austin Riley
Ss: Elly De La Cruz
Of: Cody Bellinger
Of: Brenton Doyle
Of: Wyatt Langford
Utility: James Wood
IL: Ronald Acuna Jr.
Sp: Max Fried, Kevin Gausman, Framber Valdez, Yusei Kikuchi, Jacob DeGrom, Bryan Woo
Rp: Pete Fairbanks, Trevor Megill, Yennier Cano
I don’t like Fried, Gausman, Kikuchi, or deGrom, so pitching’s not my favorite…Hitting looks incredibly solid tho…I’d want Garcia
ESPN points, redraft
Please rank, ROS
1-Rodon
2-Woo
3-Renaldo Lopez
4-Lugo
Thanks
Woo, Rodon, Lopez
Morning & Happy “National French Bread Day”, Carb up!
With real-real season almost upon us, I’m getting the itchy trigger finger on my adds/ drops (get 6 total each week).
12-team, 6×6 (OBP & QS), H2H league & I’ll have a few guys move to IL soon (Acuna, Kirby)
Looking to get ahead of things and curious how you’d rank the following SP’s:
Tomoyuki Sugano
Tobias Myers
Will Warren
Hayden Birdsong/ Landen Roupp
Thanks in advance!
Sugano, Myers, Birdsong
Thank you!
No problem
Would you target Roki as an SP2/3 Grey ? Or are you worried his arm may fall of
I’m not worried about his arm anymore than any other pitcher
ESPN points, redraft
Please evaluate trade:
Altuve and Cortes
For
Cease and Munoz
(Altuve would be replaced by Westburg or Norby)
Cease
I’m in a 12 team, H2H keeper league. We can roster 10 pitchers, start any 6. I have Sale, King, H.Brown, S. Gray, Pivetta, Buehler, Schmidt, Sugano, Helsley and Felix. A few guys on your list are available. Nick Martinez, Meyers, Rasmussen, Shawyer, Birdsong/Roupp and Bido. Wins are the most important (10 points) Would you drop Sugano for any of these guys, and if so which one?
Hold for now
hey grey do we still have a pitch pairing article coming
Check out the Bubba Chandler blurb above.
https://razzball.com/2025-fantasy-baseball-draft-prep-pitchers-pairing/
sweet thanks!
No problem
let’s gooooo, only FIVE spots left in the RCLs. literally your last chances to get in on the fun this year, don’t come back next week with a case of FOMO.
LFG!!!
Jose Soriano not a bad add to this list? I have 4 of these guys looks like I’m set
I’m looking at Soriano too. Is week 1 too early to stream agains the White Sox?
Never too early
never too early
oaktown: the angels suck at developing pitching.
albright: agree with oaktown
oaktown: i disagree with oaktown and albright, soriano is going to be a solid pick for leagues where you need deep pitching with sandy alcantra lite upside
In fairness, the Angels also suck at developing hitters
The Angels suck at everything. I drafted Mike Trout last night. First time in years. Hopefully he won’t get hurt and won’t suck. Don’t fall behind on outfield you might have to gamble on him.
Ha, yup
Cool
Hi Grey,
I had my 12 team 5×5 (OBP instead of AVG) draft, I think my RP need some work. Can you let me know your thoughts
C- Herrera
1B- Casas
2B- India
SS- BWJ
3B- Jazz
IF- Paredes
OF- Duran
OF- Santander
OF- Robles
OF- Bleday
UTL- Schwarber
SP- King, Schwellenbach, Woo, Gallen, Flaherty, Luzardo, May
RP- Tr Megill, Martinez, Holmes
Bench- Yandy, Norby
IL- Eury, Sean Murphy
Hitting looks very solid, I like the balance…Pitching looks excellent too…Nice team! Not much to quibble on
Grey
Need help
Can only keep 4 of the below
11 team Roto
Westburg $6
Caminero $6
Corbin Carroll $31 (Cant keep after this year)
Dylan Crews $6
Edwin Diaz $16
Cole Ragans $16
Felix Bautista $6
Thanks
westburg
caminero
crews
ragans
IMO
Thanks
I normally would agree but closers also go for a premium in my league as well
So I am thinking 2 hitters, Ragans and either Bautista or Diaz
Caminero $6
Corbin Carroll $31 (Cant keep after this year)
Dylan Crews $6
Cole Ragans $16
interesting Thanks
If you had to choose between Bautista for $6 and Edwin Diaz $16 who would it be
Felix
thanks
No problem
Great list G. Serious question. How do you look past Arrighettis walks and WHIP? (12 walks and a 1.7 WHIP in ST this year.) I kept waiting for the fall last year, and couldn’t figure out how this guy was so good. He looks like a complete outlier. How does he do it?
Tomoyuki Sugano has ZERO K potential, but do you think he can fool mlb for a season?
Arrighetti and Sugano are being drafted after 200 overall
I think I waited too long for pitching…12 team dynasty 5×5…thoughts on this staff
M.Boyd
Reid Detmers
G.Holmes
Luzardo
Steele
B.Francis
C.Mize
Pepiot
Will Warren
M.McGreevy
Sproat and Hagen Smith down on the farm..was offered Logan Webb for Jarren Duran but I am passing…thoughts? Thank you!
Looks like a mess…Yes, pass
Thanks Grey, love the cheaper pitchers to target every year you help me round out my staff so well!
So in a basic auction 12 TM Yahoo league that starts SP SP RP RP P P P P and has a 1400 IP limit and only 5 bench spots, how many SP and RP would you have on your bench?
Is the Bryce Miller, Schwellenbach tier ok to get my first SP or go with the $17 King, Framber range?
Two RPs, at most 3 RPs…sounds fine on Miller or Spencer
This makes me want to punt pitching til 200 ADP! Lol
Haha, exactly
I have Ragans, Ray and Crochet for super cheap in a deep 18 team roto, gonna go $1 pitchers for my back end of the rotation, grab some $1 RPs (Svs/HLds) and focus on hitting at the auction tomorrow!
Cool
Hi Gray. I have been following for 10 years – it’s been a blast. I am about 18 rounds into a 25 round slow draft. It’s a points league w/ LF, CF, and RF. Can I get your assessment of things so far? I realize that I am going to have to Frankenstein a catcher together at some point, and my bench is more theoretical at this point. Thanks!
C:
1B: Vinnie Pasquantino, KCR (1B)
2B: Luis Rengifo, LAA (2B/3B)
SS: Bobby Witt, Jr., KCR (SS)
3B: Isaac Parades, HOU (3B)
LF: Yordan Alvarez, HOU (LF)
CF: Mike Trout, LAA (CF/RF)
RF: Kyle Tucker, CHC (RF)
UT1: Fernando Tatis, Jr., SDP (RF)
UT2: Bo Bichette, TOR (SS)
SP1: Tarik Skubal, DET (SP)
SP2: Cole Ragans, KCR (SP)
SP3: Logan Webb, SFG (SP)
SP4: Shane McClanahan, TAM (SP)
SP5: Robbie Ray, SFG (SP)
RP1: Felix Bautista, BAL (RP)
RP2:
Bench1: Cam Smith, HOU (3B)
Bench2: Matt Shaw, CHC (2B/3B/SS)
Bench3: Andrew Painter, PHI (SP)
Bench4:
Bench5:
Bench6:
Bench7:
Bench8:
BTW – It’s an 11 team keeper league. Thx!
ahhhhh. That explains it. Your team is pretty stacked, even for an 11 team league. Like, seriously stacked. I could see you easily win your league by a pretty wide margin.
You pitching is excellent, you have two top line aces…guess a little light on saves, but you can pick up releivers…I like the hitting too, looks a little light on steals…Nice team overall
I need to cut one of Mahle, Paddack or Canning in a 10 team points league. Who’s out?
Thanks Grey
Bottom of the Barrel!
Mahle
Paddock
Canning
That order, my 0.02$
Cheers,
Ante
Paddack
Grey!!!
Awesome write-up! Thank you much.
Rodney Dangerfield quote of the day for March 21, 2025
No respect, I tell you. It started the day I was born. First the doctor hit me twice. Then the nurse got in a few shots too.
Cheers,
Ante
Oof. It’s gonna be another looooong season at the bottom of the comments … ;)
Ante! I heard you was so damn ugly. Is it true when you were born, the doctor smacked your mother? I tell ya…
HAHA
Rowdy Piper quote of the day: I came here to make dumb comments and chew bubble gum. And I’m all out of bubble gum.
Thanks!