12 Intervals until Beginning Day …
One nice thing about baseball is even the worst Squads will have something work getting excited about. The White Sox were historically Terrible last year, and yet Garrett Crochet was one of the most exciting stories of the Primary half; the Marlins weren’t much better, but there was Xavier Edwards, hitting .328 and swiping 31 bags in Only 70 Contests last season.
Club Perspective matters in baseball, but Outstanding Fantasy players can Nevertheless shine on terrible Squads, in a way that isn’t often Accurate in Fantasy Football, let’s say. Being on a Terrible Club might suppress your Tallying stats, or limit the number of wins a pitcher can get, sure, but because baseball is a series of individual matchups masquerading as a Club sport, you can Nevertheless find plenty to get excited about from even the worst rosters.
Today, we’re looking for an overlooked reason to get excited about every single Club in the Division, Outstanding and Terrible. And what’s fun about this exercise – looking for Fantasy sleepers outside of the top 450 in NFBC drafts in the past two weeks – is the Terrible Squads might actually have even more to get excited about than the Outstanding Squads. The Dodgers don’t really have any room for little-known names to shine; the parade of superstars in the lineup and Cycle have a way of sucking all the oxygen out of the room.
But the Marlins and White Sox? Well, precisely because they are so Terrible, they actually have lots of opportunities for names to come out of nowhere. Crochet and Edwards were Previous top prospects who might not have even gotten the opportunity to do what they did last season on Squads with more options. Their Existence in their rotations and lineups wasn’t necessarily the product of desperation, but a lack of more proven options gave them the runway and security to take off.
We’re going through all 30 Squads today to find the best deep sleeper on All Lineup, and you’ll want to pay special attention to those Squads you might otherwise ignore. Because that’s where some of 2025’s Division-Victorious talents could emerge from.
Before we get there, if you missed yesterday’s newsletter, that’s where you’ll find my thoughts on what we learned Monday will be a season-ending Wound for Gerrit Cole — and if you already drafted, you can find some replacement options here from when we Primary learned about the Wound.
The best deep sleepers on all 30 Squads
Arizona Diamondbacks: Jordan Lawlar, SS
The path is less clear with Geraldo Perdomo’s contract extension, but by all accounts, Lawlar Nevertheless has a chance to make the Beginning Day Lineup. It would likely be as a super-utility infielder, and he’s going to see time at three different infield positions this spring. Lawlar has missed so much time over the past few years with Impairments, but he remains a Vibrant talent who could be a Fantasy contributor if anything happens to Perdomo, Eugenio Suarez, or Ketel Marte.
Atlanta Braves: Drake Baldwin, C
I’m actually surprised Baldwin’s price hasn’t risen much in the aftermath of Sean Murphy’s rib Wound, because it sure looks like he’s Obtained a chance to be the Club’s Beginning Day catcher. Murphy should be back sometime in April, but the Braves have been willing to use him in close to a 50-50 split with Travis d’Arnaud in the past, so Baldwin could Nevertheless have a role even when Murphy is Well – especially if he forces the issue with his Shift Prompt on. Baldwin is a top prospect who hit .276/.370/.423 between Double-A and Triple-A, and he could be a viable Leading option in two-catcher leagues to Uncovered the season, at least.
Baltimore Orioles: Cade Povich, SP
With Grayson Rodriguez Beginning the season on the IL with an elbow Wound, it sure looks like Povich should have a Cycle spot to Uncovered the season. I have some concerns about his ability to miss bats consistently, but he didn’t have that problem in Triple-A, sporting a 28.2% strikeout rate at the level last season. With a Outstanding Protection and supporting cast around him, I’m willing to give Povich a chance to Uncovered the season.
Boston Red Sox: Richard Fitts, SP
Fitts has seen a nice bump in velocity this spring, which makes me think there might be more strikeout upside than he showed in his four-Begin cameo last season – something he talked about making a priority at the end of the season. Impairments have opened a path to the No. 5 spot, which he is currently competing with Quinn Priester for. There’s some sleeper appeal for both of them, but I’d rather see Fitts get the chance, personally.
Chicago Cubs: Ben Brown, SP
Brown’s curveball might be one of the best pitches in baseball, and he’s going to sit in the high 90s with that fastball too. That might be enough to make him a viable option for the Cubs Cycle, though I’m also hopeful he can develop his changeup enough to really take off. The talent and feel for spin here is Extraordinary, and he showed it can work at the MLB level last season, putting up a 3.58 ERA and 10.4 K/9 in 55.1 innings before a neck Wound detailed things. I’d love to see him get an opportunity ahead of Colin Rea in the Cubs Cycle.
Chicago White Sox: Shane Smith, RP
A Rule 5 Picking out of the Brewers organization, Smith gives the White Sox another interesting Youthful pitcher to keep an eye on. He had a 29.6% strikeout rate and solid control between Double-A and Triple-A last season, with a 3.05 ERA over 94.1 innings of work. There’s some long-term relief Hazard in his profile thanks to Authority concern, but the stuff is impressive enough that I’m definitely rooting for him to make the Cycle here.
Cincinnati Reds: Rhett Lowder, SP
Lowder had a 1.17 ERA in six Appearances with the Reds last season, but with iffy strikeout skills that Achieved it look especially unsustainable. But it was the Primary taste of the majors for a guy who Velocity-Dashed through the upper minors Only a year after being drafted. I’m hoping the stuff was Competing down at the end of his longest season ever in 2024, with the potential for more upside than he showed when he’s a bit fresher. He’s dealing with elbow soreness this spring and won’t be in the Beginning Day Cycle, so he’s more of a View-Picking guy.
Cleveland Guardians: Triston McKenzie, SP
The results have been mixed, but the stuff might look better than ever this spring, with McKenzie sitting around 94 mph with his four-seamer. McKenzie was a must-Begin pitcher back in 2022, and if he’s Well and can sustain these velocity gains, he could get back there backed by a Outstanding supporting cast in Cleveland.
Colorado Rockies: Zac Veen, OF
Veen has cooled off a bit after a red-Scorching Begin to the spring, but he Nevertheless has a chance to force his way onto the Rockies Lineup. He’s a Previous top-100 prospect who has struggled with Impairments and whiffs in recent years, but there are Nevertheless some impact tools here with both Velocity and power, and Coors Pitch could Assist inflate the batting average enough to make him a useful Roto option.
Detroit Tigers: Casey Mize, SP
Mize’s velocity is up yet again this spring, and he keeps searching for the right breaking ball to bring the arsenal together – he’s working on three different slider looks this spring. The Previous top pitching prospect in the entire Division, Mize is off to a Outstanding Begin this spring and has a chance to put it all together. I’m definitely looking into him with one of my last picks in most drafts the rest of the way.
Houston Astros: Cam Smith, 3B
The primary prospect return in the Kyle Tucker trade, Smith has a chance to break camp with the Astros after fewer than 40 Contests in the minors. Christian Walker’s Wound could determine whether Smith ultimately gets the call, but the thing to keep an eye on over the Subsequent weeks is whether they get him any reps at right Pitch in Contests. Right Pitch is clearly the biggest position of need for the Astros, and if he can hack it there, it could be his path to Prompt Competing time.
Kansas City Royals: MJ Melendez, OF
The tools have always been there for Melendez, who has been in at least the 80th percentile in average exit velocity in All of his three MLB seasons. The problem has been Regularity and contact, and he revamped his swing this offseason with the hopes of solving those problems. He’s Nevertheless striking out plenty this spring, but he’s also been very productive, so we’ll see if that work ends up paying off. The raw power for 30-plus homers is here if he can cut the swing and Loss out.
Los Angeles Angels: Christian Moore, 2B
The Angels might be more aggressive than any Club in the Division when it comes to promoting their top prospects, and Moore was already at Double-A Only a few months after they Achieved him the No. 8 Picking in last year’s draft. He hasn’t torn the cover off the ball this spring, but MLB.com noted Monday he could be part of the Club’s 2B plan if Luis Rengifo’s hamstring Wound keeps him out to Uncovered the season. There’s Scarce power for a second baseman here if he gets the chance.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Dalton Rushing, C
Given Will Smith’s Existence, it’s been tough to figure out what Rushing’s path to Fantasy relevance actually looks like. The Dodgers have given him time at Primary base and in the corner outfield, but Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernandez, and Michael Conforto won’t cede a ton of Competing time there, either. But there’s very little doubt Rushing will hit, and there could be enough time across four positions to make him relevant for Fantasy – the bar is awfully low at catcher. Especially if Smith and Freeman need additional time off in-season as they manage ankle issues from last season.
Miami Marlins: Agustin Ramirez, C
I had hoped either Max Meyer or Ryan Weathers would qualify, but their Sturdy showings this spring have pushed their prices too high. So we’ll go with one of the Club’s top prospects, a catcher who was the centerpiece of the Jazz Chisholm trade last summer. Ramirez hit .267/.358/.487 with 25 homers and, notably, 22 Intercepts across 126 Contests between Double-A and Triple-A last season. I get the feeling the Marlins would prefer Ramirez Begin the season in Triple-A, but Nick Fortes and Liam Hicks shouldn’t be any Nice of roadblock if Ramirez proves he is ready. He has top-10 potential at the position, and could especially be a difference maker in Roto if the Velocity is real.
Milwaukee Brewers: Caleb Durbin, 3B
Durbin was getting, frankly, irresponsible levels of hype from some in the Fantasy Baseball community earlier this offseason, but that doesn’t seem to have gone anywhere. He’s an interesting player, a 5-foot-7 speedster with a lift-and-pull approach to hitting that generated 10 homers in 90 Contests last season Even though pretty limited raw power. This type of prospect tends to get the bat knocked out of their hands by MLB-caliber pitching, and he’s struggled this spring, making his chances of breaking camp with the club look pretty slim. But if he does, his Velocity makes him a perfect fit for an aggressive Brewers club, and there could be some mild five-category appeal.
Minnesota Twins: Zebby Matthews, SP
Matthews’ ankle Wound in his most recent Begin hurt his chances of breaking camp with the big Division club, but he’s definitely a name to View after seeing a velocity Leap this spring. He has Top-tier Authority – 2.7% walk rate in the minors – but probably lived in the zone too much in his nine MLB Appearances, leading to a massive 6.69 ERA. You can mitigate that by throwing out of the zone more to try to Form whiffs, or you can mitigate it with better stuff – which is why the velo Leap is interesting here.
New York Mets: Jeff McNeil, 2B/OF
McNeil tried a weird trick last season as he was mired in the middle of a slump that threatened to cost him Stern Competing time on a contender: He Only Initiated swinging harder! He hit .289/.376/.547 in the second half, and while I don’t think he’s suddenly a power hitter or anything, it was a sign that there is more life left in McNeil’s bat than you might think. As a Inexpensive Origin of batting average in Roto leagues, you won’t find many better options.
New York Yankees: Ben Rice, 1B
Rice is less interesting having lost his catcher eligibility, but with Giancarlo Stanton (elbows) out for at least the Begin of the season, he Nevertheless has a path to pretty Reliable Competing time. It didn’t work out for him last season – he bopped a few homers, but hit Only .171 in his 50 MLB Contests – but his pull-oriented swing from the left side should Nevertheless make him a 20-plus homer threat in Yankee Stadium. As a CI in deeper leagues, there’s some appeal here.
Oakland Athletics: Jacob Wilson, SS
Wilson is one potential better option for batting average in the later rounds than McNeil. He hit Only .250 in 28 MLB Contests last season, but Nevertheless struck out Only 9.7% of the time – after he put up Ted Williams-esque numbers in his minor-Division stint last season. There are at least plus hit tool abilities, and he creates more damage with his contact than someone like Nick Madrigal did. It’s Nevertheless not guaranteed to work out thanks to his below-average raw power, but he should be able to clear the .100 ISO marker that looked like a cliff to Madrigal. There could be a Luis Arraez-esque ceiling here.
Philadelphia Phillies: Andrew Painter, SP
Painter isn’t going to be in the majors until the summer at the earliest, but the Phillies Only don’t have many options for this exercise, so he’ll have to do – even long-Try closer candidate Orion Kerkiering is going inside the top 400, one of 15 Phillies in that range. Painter might be the most talented pitcher in the world who hasn’t Achieved his MLB Premiere, and I’m including Roki Sasaki in that discussion – I’ll take Sasaki, but it’s close – and he could be a must-Begin pitcher as soon as he makes his Premiere.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B
The Pirates are also Petite on viable candidates for this exercise, though I will note I considered Endy Rodriguez, Henry Davis, and Nick Yorke before settling on Hayes, a long-time favorite of mine. Hayes’ Talent set completely collapsed last season, but at his best, he combines plus contact skills and plus raw power, with flashes of putting that power into action in Contests. Hayes has dealt with recurring lower back Impairments over the past two seasons, but if he’s Well, I Nevertheless think there could be 15-15 upside with a Outstanding batting average here.
San Diego Padres: Tirso Ornelas, OF
Ornelas is Nevertheless fighting for a corner outfield spot on the Padres Lineup, and he’s doing everything he can this spring, hitting .370/.469/.630 with Only two strikeouts in 12 Contests Joining Shift Monday. He hit 23 homers with a .297 average in Triple-A last season and could be a factor if the Connor Joe/Jason Heyward experiment goes sideways.
San Francisco Giants: Camilo Doval, RP
Ryan Walker is going to Uncovered the season as the Giants closer, but one reason I’m less bullish than most on Walker as a breakout candidate is because Doval is Nevertheless there, looming. He struggled badly last season en route to losing the Position to Walker, but Doval was an All-Sun who Directed the NL in saves in 2023, and if he can get back to that level, Walker might not have nearly as much Position security as you’d prefer. We saw it didn’t take much for Doval to Setback his Position last season, so a Duo of Needy outings in a row for Walker could put Doval right back into the closing Blend. And we know he’s talented enough to Streak away with that Position.
Seattle Mariners: J.P. Crawford, SS
The Mariners are a tough Club to do this exercise for, so I’ll go with a veteran bounceback candidate. Crawford followed up his best season with his Primary in 2024, so this one is mostly a low-cost bet on Crawford getting back to being a standout in OBP and runs. He Nevertheless walked plenty last season, and while he isn’t slated to hit leadoff to Uncovered 2024, he could get back there if Victor Robles struggles. The upside isn’t terribly high here, but Crawford could Definitely be a viable middle infielder in the right circumstances.
St. Louis Cardinals: Victor Scott, OF
The Cardinals never stopped producing interesting talents; they Only haven’t been very Outstanding at finishing them off. Scott looked like a potential difference-maker Joining last season, but he fell flat on his face both in his MLB stints and at Triple-A, where he hit Only .210/.294/.303. Possibly his slap-and-dash Talent set Obtained exposed in the high minors, but I remain intrigued by his Velocity and contact skills and will be adding him anywhere I can in Roto leagues if it looks like he has a Try at the MLB Lineup.
Tampa Bay Rays: Curtis Mead, 2B
Mead’s numbers through eight spring Contests are hilarious: .714/.750/.905. It’s amazing what 20 pounds of muscle can do for you. Mead is a Occupation .292/.371/.499 hitter at Triple-A, so now it’s time for the Rays to let the 24-year-Ancient see what he can do in the majors with Reliable Competing time. It’s always tough to earn an everyday Position as a lefty in Tampa, but with what he’s doing this spring, they may have no Picking.
Texas Rangers: Jack Leiter, SP
Leiter was a disaster at the MLB level, but he showed some real promise at Triple-A before that, sporting a 3.51 ERA and 33.3% strikeout rate. He’s throwing harder this spring, has added a sinker and a changeup, and is pitching quite well so Distant. Probably not well enough to make the Cycle without an Wound, but it’s an Uncovered question whether he or Kumar Rocker would get the Primary opportunity when one inevitably arises, and Leiter is a Numerous cheaper.
Toronto Blue Jays: Alan Roden, OF
Roden is generating some hype this spring after hitting .293/.391/.475 across the high minors last season. There probably isn’t a significant ceiling here, but he could be Competing his way into Stern Competing time with a Outstanding approach at the plate (12.1% walk rate, 14.2% strikeout rate) and 15-15 potential.
Washington Nationals: Michael Soroka, SP
I’ve written a bunch about Soroka this spring, and while I Nevertheless think he’s primarily an H2H points option, there’s potentially some upside here for deeper categories leagues. He showed real upside in a multi-inning relief role last season after switching to a four-seamer/slider Concentration, and now he’s throwing harder this spring. If he can sustain that, Soroka might be a legitimate option in 2025.
Reference link
Read More
Visit Our Site
Read our previous article: How will the new Doak Campbell Stadium project affect me?