That’s What I Like: Wilmer Flores, Andrew Heaney, Agustin Ramirez

Welcome back, Razzies! I hope you’re having an awesome week. Myself? I’m dealing with a 7-year-old who just learned how much attention you can get by shouting swears non-stop. Fun! Except that’s not the word he’s saying. The best way to get people to think of an elephant is to tell them not to think of elephants. Us fantasy baseball writers do that all the time, except instead of elephants, it’s “don’t draft catchers.” But I can’t stop talking about J.T Realmuto, you think to yourself. I still have a Willians Astudillo bobblehead. Don’t worry — if you can’t stop thinking about catchers either, I’ve got a recommendation below for you. On to the players!

That’s What I Like

Wilmer Flores, 1B, SF: This is one of those moments where we just gotta admit that good things happen to bad (or at least, not great) players. Flores is not a great player, and good things are happening to him, and he’s maintained his spot in the top 30 overall for way too long. Just when I thought it was safe to say his luck streak was over, he batted .474 over the past week with a dinger and 4 RBI. He’s still playing way above his pay grade, and you’ll probably be dropping him come June, but I’d be remiss to let another week pass without saying something about a guy that’s still available in 25% of leagues and is a top 30 player. Just make sure he’s your first drop target when he reverts to a .240 hitter at the bottom of the order.

Andrew Heaney, SP, PIT: Can you believe it’s been two years since I was Razzball’s Whiffernaut? I was the guy who ranked the pitchers, if you didn’t know. That’s when I had way more free time and way less of an addiction to Clair Obscur. But those who’ve been around the site long enough may remember my ranking system’s absolute infatuation with Andrew Heaney. I mean, the Dodgers loved him too and signed him to a contract — it’s not like I’m the villain here. And then Heaney went and rewarded fantasy managers with a 4+ ERA for the past two years, where he’s largely been off the fantasy radar except in deep leagues. Now the year is twenty and 5×5 — a perfect year for fantasy baseball! — and Andrew Heaney is doing good things again. He’s 2-1 with a 1.79 ERA and a vanishing walk rate. His K rate has taken a dive from his premier years — did he even have premier years? I’d say he’s always shown plenty of potential, but just got injured too often. But after two healthy and non-descript years in Texas, he’s headed north and having his best year in…years. I’d like to say he’s doing his 2021/2022 thing, but that’s just gonna scare people. Let’s rephrase: compared to his last 300 innings, his barrel rate is down, his swinging strike rate is up, and his SIERA is a sterling 3.07. If Heaney stays healthy, those rates are good enough to stick in the Top 40 starters. He’s still available in 20% of leagues. If you’re stuck with an underperforming starter, Heaney’s got enough upside to stick on your roster for the rest of the year.

Agustin Ramirez, C, MIA: You ever start your career with a .500 batting average and a 1.000 SLG? I mean, these feel like numbers from the old NES game Baseball Stars. Still one of the best baseball games, if you ask me. Ramirez has done nothing but destroy the ball since getting called up last week. He’s only 23, which means two things are increasingly likely: 1) cold streak, 2) the Marlins realize they called him up too soon and send him back down for development before they run down his clock. If we’re lucky, we get neither of those, and Ramirez becomes that savior of all the Razzball teams that punted catcher. If you’re one of our loyal catcher free-fallers, it’s time to cast your net and snag Ramirez this week. Fingers crossed he stays up the whole year.

I’m the Problem, It’s Me

Zac Gallen, SP, ARI: Gallen is one of those starters that has benefitted from extraordinary Win Luck over the past few years. From 2022-2024, he was 42-19 while sporting an uninspiring 9.4 K/9 and 3.20 ERA. Like, those K rates and run rates are fine, but not extraordinary. His whiff rate never topped 12%, and he allowed a line drive rate above 20% every year. He doesn’t miss a ton of bats, and he doesn’t limit damage in any elite way. But he does throw a lot of innings and gets those lucrative Wins, which has made him a fantasy darling. In 2025, he’s 1-4 and struggling with control (4.18 BB/9), and his ERA and FIP surging towards 5.00. Gallen has a strong perceived trade value as a “top” starter, and it might be time to see what value you can get for him.