2025 Offseason Rankings
“Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.”
-George Washington
Ah, the off season. The time where nothing really happens. And then a lot of stuff happens. And then a lot of stuff reacts to those things happening. Concluding with some stuff mellowing out because they got left out from all the happenings and now they’re waiting for something to happen for them.
Trades. We’re talking trades and signings. But for the fantasy baseball season, we’re talking only trades. And this off season for the League of Mediocre Gentlemen Gentle(Wo)men (petition to name it as Gentlefolk and avoid this senseless slaughter of punctuation?) is no different. With one big deal the moment the off season began, we were very quiet for a while. But then the calendar changed to January, and we’ve seen a bevy of trades flying all over the place as owners attempt to curate a stable of keepers that they can draft comfortably around. The question now is, how did they do?
Below I will be ranking how each announced (as of this article) or projected set of keepers of each team. I’ll attempt to give some thoughtful analysis after each team and what more (if any) moves they should consider. I want to clarify a couple of things before I start in how I ranked the teams:
This is a tier list of both offseason moves and keeper ranks. I’m combining the two. Each team will be judged on how well they have done in the offseason so far and how well off they are with their keepers for next year.
I used tiers. While I have an order within the tiers, know that the people in the tiers are decently close, or at least, have such a similar theme that they warrant being next to other folks.
I did not take minor leaguers into account. I don’t care if you have Lawler or Anthony. Neither are starting in the big leagues and I’m not able to give much thought on them. HOWEVER. I do keep them in mind since some made trades for them.
Some teams just didn’t need to make moves as their keepers were already pretty sparkly. I’m not dinging those teams for not making any moves. In fact, the team would probably be dinged if they did make moves.
“Lol You think I’m keeping _?” Yes I do. You didn’t post your keepers yet so I’m guessing here. For two weeks I tried imagining that I owned your team and these are the players I pulled out.
Now, some house cleaning. A flurry of trades not only occurred for players, but also for draft picks. Most notoriously, the one I did for Elly de la Cruz at the start of this off season. HOWEVER! Some owners decided to be confusing about this and the 8th and 10th round picks specifically have been thrown around to a ton of teams. Below is a graphic I put together to try to track the movement of draft picks that have occurred so far:
I’m probably the most screwed, but the swapping of 8th rounds back and forth by Jon and Mike and Ian’s insistence to get a 10th round back to complete his set makes this a fun chart to follow. So, keep all of those draft rounds in mind as you read through everyone’s keepers as they will factor into how teams come off in terms of draft navigation.
The Rankings:
* Indicates a 7th conditional keeper via the Dan/Buxton/Holliday rule
The WELL-OFF Tier:
This tier is the collection of teams that don’t need anything more. They might even have too much already and are actually worried they might leave value on the table. Most importantly, the teams here don’t need your help. You need theirs.
Ian: THe Gameshark
Kyle Tucker (1)
Austin Riley (2)
Chris Sale (5)
Adley Rutschman (6)
Bailey Ober (7)
Cole Ragans (24)
What he’s done:
Traded Elly de la Cruz (21), Christian Encarnacion-Strand (24), and his 10th round pick for Richard’s 1st, 2nd, 7th round picks, Trea Turner (1), Austin Riley (2), and Bailey Ober (7th)
Traded Andrew Painter and his 8th round pick for Vinson’s Chris Sale (5th)
Traded Oneil Cruz (21) for Mike’s Kyle Tucker (1) and his 8th round pick
Traded Spencer Arrighetti (FA) for Jon’s 15th round pick
What I like:
Ian has a second 1st, 2nd, and 7th round picks meaning that three of his players are bonuses despite being top heavy. This doesn’t matter as much for the 7th round since you see that kind of thing every year. But for the 1st and 2nd rounds this is huge. And contrary to my decision to punt those early rounds, this is NOT the year to do that because of the large amount of talent being thrown back into the draft.
Ian stands to gain one of the strongest drafts we’ve ever seen in the history of the league. Combining with Tucker and Riley, Ian could grab one of the following as well: Jose Ramirez, Trea Turner, Rafael Devers, Francisco Lindor, Zack Wheeler, Freddie Freeman, Corey Seager, Dylan Cease, Jose Altuve, Manny Machado, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, or even Mike Trout. It’s an incredibly deep talent pool for the first two rounds.
What makes me itch:
The only thing I can say negatively about Ian’s offseason is Chris Sale is not worth a keeper spot at round 5 and certainly not worth the trade for him. Plus I’ve never been a 3 pitcher and 3 hitter keeper kind of guy. I like a 4 hitter 2 pitcher split if I can get it. Having done several mock drafts, the number of starting pitchers available is ridiculous: Zack Wheeler, Blake Snell, Bryce Miller, Aaron Nola, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Luis Castillo, Freddy Peralta, Joe Ryan, Tanner Bibee, Zac Gallen, Roki Sasaki, and Max Fried. It just feels weird to seek out another starter to go into this draft when you already had a pretty cushy group with Ragans and Ober.
But this is such a weird nit-pick because Ian can just draft two more bats in the first two rounds and invalidate any criticism someone could lob his way.
You’re welcome, Ian.
Patrick: The 1%
Aaron Judge (1)
Gerrit Cole (5)
Gunnar Henderson (20)
Corbin Carroll (21)
Wilyer Abreu (FA)
Jared Jones (FA)
*Dylan Crews (FA)
What he’s done:
Traded Luis Gil (FA) and Triston Casas (9) for Brooke’s Roman Anthony (MiLB)
Traded Grayson Rodriguez (21) for Richard’s 8th round pick
What I like:
Pat had his keepers relatively set for 2025 before the offseason even began, so all that was left was selling off the excess. Getting Anthony was a bit of an overpay, but with players Pat had no room to keep anyway, it’s a fine deal. Same with GrayRod who probably fell just short of making the cut. If Jared Jones starts in the minors, then Pat is going to have some first world problems to figure out who fills that 6th spot. Crews sliding in as the 7th keeper feels unfair.
Last year, Pat went into the season with the undisputed best 1 and 2 in the league in Ronald Acuna Jr and Aaron Judge. This year, Pat only has Judge… and some guy named Gunnar Henderson. Gunnar is one of the best players in baseball and I would argue the best well-rounded player after Bobby Witt Jr. He hits for power, decent average, steals bases, is on a great team, and plays at a position that can be full of defense first guys. Pat’s faith in Cole seems to have paid off by putting up another fantastic season (albeit a slightly shorter one). And Carroll might become the biggest steal of the season as his horrifically slumping first half made him much easier to pry off of Mike in a trade that saw Pat send Snell, Albies, and Burnes away.
What makes me itch:
My only critique is Pat almost has too many outfielders that he could stand to trade some of them to get maybe a first baseman since for some reason that position has become sapped of power this year, or another pitcher to support Cole in case his elbow becomes worse than just inflamed. However, it’s hard to really say “you're in bad shape” when Pat has 3 of the top 12 hitters in all of baseball on his team and has a budding prospect plus the growth of Abreu to look forward to.
Full transparency, I don’t 100% know if Pat will keep Abreu as he’s currently shopping him around, nor do I know if Jones will start in the majors. So, there’s a chance Pat might pick up a 1B or pitcher to round out these keepers, in which case the rich just get richer… call me.
James: Always the Bridesmaid, Never the Bride
Framber Valdez (4)
Juan Soto (6)
Willy Adames (7)
Pete Alonso (12)
Julio Rodriguez (17)
Paul Skenes (26)
What he’s done:
Traded Michael Harris II (21) for Willy Adames (7)
What I like:
Congratulations on getting out from under Michael Harris. That guy was such a frustrating player to own and now with Julio Rodriguez, was just going to make your team construction a living nightmare in season. Adames in the 7th is a fine acquisition for Harris.
Despite being one of the longest members in this league, James’s relationship with the playoffs has been rocky. Since 2010, James has made the playoffs just twice (three times if you were to count making the top 4 in 2020). In 2015 he made it all the way to the finals and in 2018 he finished 3rd in the consolation bracket. This year, James is looking to change some philosophies. No longer is he stacked with unproven rookies or sentimental picks with a heartwarming narrative. James has accumulated a core of players that not only click together but do so in a way that has him looking to win now.
Having the best pitcher in baseball not named Tarik Skubal helps. Livy Dunne’s boyfriend proved that all the hype was real and then some. The Pirates might limit his innings a tad this year, but having someone like Valdez to accumulate those innings without hurting Mr. Olivia Dunne’s stats is a great combo. Yes, last year Valdez was bad… at first. His strong finish to the season has a lot of people buying back into him, me included. The fourth round isn’t a fantastic value, but I would say it’s exactly at cost which is perfectly fine for me and for this team.
Moving on to the bats, James has collected a mix of power, speed, and average with Alonso, Soto, JRod, and Adames. JRod is, at this point, infamous for starting slow in seasons. Usually that’s because of injuries. Sometimes, it’s because he starts slow, starts ramping up, AND THEN gets injured only to have to start the whole process all over again. Thankfully, James has Soto, who is as dependable as they come, combined with Alonso whose power is as dependable as it comes. Adames rounds this out nicely by coming off a great year and now on a new team that arguably should be more competitive this year. If he can keep up the power he showed, then James will be a team that’ll be tough to out play.
What makes me itch:
If Adames doesn’t adapt to his new ballpark, it could spell trouble for his power numbers. Julio Rodriguez being slow to start the year would be devastating in combination. But those are risks we knew going in.
Here’s the one that really makes me itch: you better hope Seattle doesn’t sign Alonso.
Vinson: Springtime for Hitler
Mookie Betts (1)
Vladimir Guerror Jr. (3)
Seiya Suzuki (12)
Michael King (13)
Michael Harris II (21)
Mark Vientos (FA)
*Jackson Jobe (FA)
On the outside looking in: Hunter Greene (6), Christopher Sanchez (14), Brenton Doyle (FA)
What he’s done:
Traded Willy Adames (7) for James’s Michael Harris II (21)
Traded Chris Sale (5) for Ian’s Andrew Painter (MiLB) and his 8th round pick
What I like:
I wanted to hate Vinson’s keepers. I went in believing he had sold all of his good options last year and he was now stuck with whatever he could scrape out of the peanut butter jar. Instead, it turns out the evil empire has a pretty good group. Mookie may have dipped a bit last year, but the talent is still there and on a team that keeps getting better. Vlad is the best first basemen in baseball at the moment and in a contract year. Last year he seemed to finally find the performance all of us knew he had in him by slashing .323/.396/.544 with 30 homers, 98 runs, and 103 RBIs. He even stole 2 bases! Michael King proved me wrong by being the elite starter folks thought he could be. Vientos tapped into the power Vinson told us he could a year ago and finished with a 356 wOBA for the year. I like Suzuki a lot for some pop in the OF position and so long as he can stay healthy, he should have a great year with the improved Cubs’ lineup.
What makes me itch:
I really don’t like Michael Harris II. I’m glad James was able to cast off this millstone because this is a player that causes ulcers for their owner. He is notoriously slow to start each year which is made worse when he’s hurt as he was last year. It’s just one thing after another with this guy and I’m just not touching it. Yes, in the last two months of the season he hit a .283 avg, an 823 OPS (hey same numbers but switched around! Neat!) with 11 home runs, but too little too late man. In a head-to-head league, Michael Harris kills you.
The Rabble Rousers:
This tier is for teams that want to, and potentially, can punch above their weight class. All of their players are hot young studs looking to dethrone the veterans of yesterday. The risks are there for slumps as they adjust, but that reward is going to be sweet if they pull it off.
Dan: The Jacksons Two
Pablo Lopez (8)
Ketel Marte (9)
Tyler Glasnow (21)
Royce Lewis (24)
Jackson Chourio (24)
Jackson Merrill (25)
*Brooks Lee (FA)
On the outside, looking in: Ronald Acuna Jr. (1), Nick Lodolo (20), Bo Bichette (11)
What he’s done:
Traded Lawrence Butler (FA) for Richard’s Tyler Glasnow (20)
Traded Jordan Westburg, Kyle Manzardo, and his 8th round pick for Jon’s Pablo Lopez (8) and Ketel Marte (9)
What I like:
Dan, have you considered trading for Jackson Holliday and Jackson Jobe, and then drafting Jackson Rutledge to complete your set? You’d have way better options for team names than a play on Marlon Brando.
But I digress. I had a real tough time putting Dan into this ranking. His team feels like it should be in the tier above. Both Jacksons are in the top 20 of hitters and top 30 of players. Marte is the best second baseman in a sweet draft round at a time when even just decent 2B are hard to find. I’m all in on the Jacksons this year even if I don’t own them. I love the upside play here for this team as everyone here has now done it before and has the pedigree to do it again. I also kind of like Glasnow because I have a problem with quitting that man and at that round, he can’t hurt you. Speaking of hurting you…
What makes me itch:
Acuna isn’t going to be ready for opening day (he’ll be missing at least a month) and to keep a hurt player going into the year is one thing. To keep him in the first round is much worse and that’s not even factoring in what his performance might look like coming off a second knee surgery (different leg so there’s that I guess ¯\_(ツ)_/¯). Acuna needs to be traded to someone who can tank this risk. Pending that, he should probably just be thrown back. Acuna’s ADP is falling as more and more people wise up to what his injury means, and even more people finally remember what Acuna looked like the last time he had this injury (.266 15 HR, 27 SB). There’s a chance for Acuna to fall into the second round in our league and possibly farther if last year’s Gerrit Cole is any indication of how an injury plays on the league’s psyche.
I think Dan ultimately tosses him back and takes Lewis who is possibly the Glasnow of hitters in terms of great talent but frequent injury mixtures. Speaking of…
Glasnow is the best pitcher in baseball when he’s healthy. The problem is that “when” does a lot of lifting as Glasnow hasn’t had a full season in a good while. Last season’s injuries (real or made up) cost him a lot of innings which in our league is a hot commodity to win. I don’t trust Lopez anymore. Or maybe I never did. But I worry about another middling season as it seems all of the Twins pitchers are fly ball heavy, and Lopez just could not stop them from leaving the park.
If everything goes right, Dan’s keepers are best in the league. Chourio and Merrill have to build off their breakout seasons, Lewis and Glasnow need to stay healthy, Pablo needs to stop letting homers hurt him so much, and Marte needs to… well he just needs to stay the same. That’s 5 out of 6 “have to’s” or “needs to’s”.
Andrew: THe Inside Man
Fernando Tatis Jr (1)
Shoto Imanaga (7)
CJ Abrams (12)
Wyatt Langford (24)
Jacob deGrom (FA)
James Wood (FA)
On the outside looking in: Josh Jung (11), Tommy Edman (FA)
What he’s done:
Andrew has made no offseason moves yet.
What I like:
This is an exciting group of keepers that all have some great upside at draft rounds you can be comfy in. Langford and Wood are hyped up to insane rounds this year and Andrew has both in the last rounds. I doubt Abrams is going to fall off in the second half again, but a 12th round is still safe enough to handle it if it does. I’m a full believer in Imanaga and it killed a part of me to trade him last year.
What makes me itch:
I’m just out on deGrom. Thank God his price is basically free or else I’d show hands. I get that he can be the best pitcher in baseball, but his health frustrates me. At least Glasnow can top 100 innings in a year, deGrom hasn’t done that since 2019. Speaking of health, Tatis seems to be unable to have a season without being on the IL for at least a month. It’s not as bad as Mike Trout… yet. But it does worry me as a first rounder. I’m not into Edman’s ceiling as I think what we see is what we get with him: mid power, some speed, meh average. He’s fine, but it makes me itch that Heller might consider him over Abrams or Jung who also have their own doubts but have better upside. For Abrams it's to get his head on straight after that disappointing second half. For Jung, he just needs to freaking stay healthy. STOP THROWING FASTBALLS AT HIS HANDS!
Joey: Harper’s Medicinal Blend
Bryce Harper (1)
Bobby Witt Jr. (3)
Brent Rooker (16)
Logan Webb (17)
Tanner Scott (24)
Jarren Duran (12)
*Rhett Lowder (FA)
On the outside looking in: Kodai Senga (17), Seth Lugo (20), Christian Javier (21)
What he’s done:
Joey has made no offseason moves yet.
What I like:
Bobby Witt Jr. is being taken first overall in some drafts. I find that nuts when you have Ohtani there, but hey, whatever turns you on man. The guy is fantastic though. No injury risk (knock on wood), a great blend of power and speed while keeping the batting average up at .330, and the team he plays for should continue to support his runs and RBIs.
Brent Rooker is a steal at 16. I should know, I drafted him there. He’s coming in with only DH eligibility, but that was because of an injury to his arm last year rather than defense related. He has since gotten right forearm extensor surgery and should be taking OF eligibility back within ten days of the season.
I really like Rhett Lowder, and I think he’ll be a sneaky steal by Joey to be able to have him as a conditional 7th keeper. Lowder has 4 pitches, wasn’t walking anyone in AAA, and when he came up for his cup of coffee, he put up a sparkling 1.17 ERA. The only worry would be if he’s not in the rotation to start the year.
What makes me itch:
I put Lugo and Javier down because I have a sneaky suspicion Joey is going to keep one of those. He shouldn’t, but the mirage of Lugo might make him believe he’s broken out and is a value pick in round 20. I’m not super thrilled with keeping a closer because the position is so volatile (even for the greats!), but Tanner Scott is elite and now on the Dodgers and I would much prefer him over Lugo or Javier.
One of these years, Harper will need to be thrown back. I already don’t like him for a first round keep, but if he’s your favorite player, I get it. Just be ready for next year when Witt inflates to the first round.
The Toyota Camry Tier:
These teams are as steady as they come. The ceiling is rather low for how far they could go, but the floor is particularly high. These teams will need to focus on the draft to find players to even out either some lopsided aspects of their keepers or to find that big all-star player to anchor their team to.
Brooke: The Keeper of Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani (1)
George Kirby (6)
Triston Casas (9)
Ezequiel Tovar (15)
Garrett Crochet (23)
Luis Gil (FA)
What she’s done:
Traded Roman Anthony for Patrick’s Luis Gil (FA) and Triston Casas (9)
What I like:
Brooke’s team surprised me. After last year, I came into this ranking expecting to hate her keepers situation again. Instead, I found that after the trade with Pat, her team looks rather solid. Which is no surprise considering who is on it.
Ohtani is the best player in baseball. Probably the first time in a while that someone is unquestionably the #1 pick in all drafts. I have always liked George Kirby and his ability to throw 4 pitches, and I like him in that 6th round spot. I also don’t have any concerns with Crochet going into this year. The White Sox limited his innings pretty well that I don’t think he’ll have problems for the Red Sox. The 1B position is shallow enough in power that Casas is a great get, regardless of whether he’ll be traded or not.
What makes me itch:
Getting Gil from Pat was weird because Brooke already has two great pitchers in Kirby and Crochet and a third with Ohtani. I don’t know what Tovar will do next year. I just can’t trust any Rockies hitters to be consistent year over year. I also know that despite Ohtani being projected here as a keeper, it’s not guaranteed that Brooke doesn’t keep Devers instead because of her love for the Red Sox. If that’s the case, Brooke needs to trade one of them. A package from Ohtani could get her some incredible players for this season. I hear the door knocking from Dan from here.
Mike: Low risk, High Floor
Teoscar Hernandez (5)
Corbin Burnes (13)
Spencer Strider (19)
Marcel Ozuna (20)
Oneill Cruz (21)
Tarik Skubal (23)
What he’s done:
Traded Cody Bellinger and his 26th round pick for Jon’s 8th round pick
Traded Riley Greene (5) and Mike’s 8th round pick for Jon’s Teoscar Hernandez (5) and his 10th round pick
Traded Kyle Tucker (1) and his 10th round pick for Ian’s Oneil Cruz (21)
What I like:
Mike has a 10th round pick and only a 10th round pick. I have to say this because keeping track of his trades has been confusing. As a fellow 10th round haver, I approve.
I obviously like Tarik Skubal in the 23rd. I also have always been a Hernandez fan so I like seeing him get love here. Ozuna should provide a ton of power despite his DH handicap.
There’s a lot of safe picks here with Hernandez, Burnes, and Ozuna being players unlikely to have the floor fall out. Skubal’s health will always be a concern, but the results are too good to pass up. This team feels like a more successful version of what Jon was going for down below. A lot of low round players that have very predictable results to play around with.
What makes me itch:
Strider being delayed for a month to start the season with his second Tommy John surgery on top of the usual command problems TJ returners have, makes me nervous. Is round 19 low enough to handle that risk? Probably. But I would also feel better if someone else could take this off my hands, so I don’t have to deal with it.
Mike’s team is one that really needs an early round pick to start the draft so he can get a bat that truly feels like an all-star bat. While the depth is there for more hitters to achieve this, it’s still something that would be a priority when the draft order gets released.
The “Huh?” Tier:
These teams made questionable moves or have stood by and not made moves when they should. Either to the detriment of the teams or for a complete confusion of a plan. The draft is going to be trickier for these teams.
Mark: Don’t Call Him an Accountant
Jose Ramirez (1)
Logan Gilbert (3)
Yordan Alvarez (11)
Sonny Gray (13)
Spencer Schwellenbach (FA)
Jurickson Profar (FA)
*Jackson Holliday
On the outside, looking in: Zack Wheeler (1), Jose Altuve (3), Josh Naylor (6)
What he's done:
Mark has made no offseason moves yet.
What I like:
Schwellenbach in the last round is beautiful and someone I tried to get. Holliday being a free 7th keeper is probably the best conditional keeper out there for next year (Thanks Orioles for being so weird with your 2024 roster). Alvarez in the 11th is still fantastic for a guy that is becoming rather stable in his production of power. I do love Logan Gilbert for the same reasons I love George Kirby, but...
What makes me itch:
That 3rd round for Gilbert is asking a bit more than I’m happy paying. I toyed with the idea of Mark keeping Altuve in the 2nd and Gilbert in the 3rd, as JRam, Altuve, and Gilbert are a pretty nice 1-2-3. But in every mock draft I’ve done, Mark has managed to get Trea Turner, Rafael Devers, or could draft Altuve again in the 2nd so I don’t see a reason why he should keep both unless he’s really feeling spicy. Sonny Gray seems like a ho-hum keeper that preformed over expectations last year. And I already said I don’t like keeping 50-50 hitters and pitchers. This team seems like it drops off after the first 4 in keeper options so taking Gray and Profar are probably the best it can do unless it trades for something more before the draft. And I’m not even super sold on Profar repeating his 2024 season. Especially on a Braves’ team that will probably platoon him when Acuna returns.
Based on my mock drafts, Mark benefits a lot from having a last round pick to get that first grab in the 2nd round. A mid round pick or early would bury him in the beginning of the draft, although in my last mock, Altuve went 22nd overall. So, the depth is there to bail him out if he’s stuck with some awkward draft position.
Richard: Possessed
Christian Walker (3)
Grayson Rodriguez (21)
Elly de la Cruz (21)
Colt Keith (FA)
Lawrence Butler (FA)
Junior Caminero (FA)
*Joey Cantillo (FA)
Every day one or two of those changes to one of these: Christian Encarnacion-Strand (24), Pete Crow-Armstrong (FA), Alec Burleson (FA), Spencer Horwitz (FA), Bowden Francis (FA)
What he’s done:
Traded his 1st, 2nd, 7th round picks, Trea Turner (1), Austin Riley (2), Bailey Ober (7) for Ian’s Elly de la Cruz (21), Christian Encarnacion-Strand (24), and 10th round pick
Traded Tyler Glasnow (20) for Dan’s Lawrence Butler (FA)
Traded his 8th round pick for Patrick’s Grayson Rodriguez (21)
What I like:
It’s amazing to say that I really like these keepers but also rank the team second last at the same time. Elly hits the piss off the ball and if he can continue his zone contact improvements, should be the first-round value everyone is projecting him as (about a .260 avg with 30 home runs and 50+ steals). I’m convinced that Junior and Butler are going to have big years, specifically a season that looks like 2023 Gunnar Henderson. Butler adjusted to pitchers’ fastballs last year and then again when they threw him junk. Caminero has elite power and has the plate discipline of a veteran. Both will be in minor league parks. GrayRod has a healthy arm, is low to keep, has more than two pitches, and a team that won’t hurt him.
What makes me itch:
Everything falls off the cliff. I do like Colt Keith a lot, but his ADP is so low that this keep feels like I’m wasting the opportunity to find someone else. Christian Walker at 3 is actually pretty good for our league, but not when you gave up your 1st and 2nd round picks and this is the first one in the draft. Is Walker really the best choice for that round? Is PCA actually good?
The thin needle I have to thread after trading all the draft picks is a lot thinner than I’d like. I will finish the draft with no bench and in a lot of instances in mocks, I’ve finished drafts without having drafted all 9 pitchers. You can see how well that has gone according to the grades FantasyPros has given out:
But to be fair, what does FantasyPros know? The site doesn’t understand that all those “reaches” are because of the keepers in other rounds bumping up players.
Jon: The Mediocre Minutemen
Riley Greene (5)
Cody Bellinger (12)
Jordan Westburg (17)
Justin Steele (22)
Colton Cowser (FA)
Spencer Arrighetti (FA)
*Kyle Manzardo (FA)
Could easily be one of these switching in: Parker Meadows (FA), Jasson Dominguez (FA), Tanner Bibee (5), *Zebby Matthews (FA)
What he's done:
First, he traded for Cody Bellinger (12), giving up his 8th round pick to Mike. Then he traded Ketel Marte (9) and Pablo Lopez (8) to Dan for Kyle Manzardo (FA), Jordan Westburg (17), and a 10th round pick. He then traded that 10th round pick and Teoscar Hernandez (5) for Mike’s Riley Greene (5) and the return of his 8th round pick. His last move was with Ian, giving him his extra 15th round pick he got from Richard to get Spencer Arrighetti (FA).
It's a list of moves that feel, at best, have made the same team from before and at worst has actually lost production and innings. I think the best compliment I can give Jon’s keeper situation is that he didn't trade his first and second round draft picks away.
What I like:
I really buy into Westburg, and I think if he gets regular playing time from the Orioles (a task that's difficult thanks to them trying to field 3 major league teams at once) then he'll have a fantastic year. His keeper value has the potential to make him a cornerstone for Jon for years to come. I also kind of like Arrighetti as I had contemplated trying for him from Ian. Justin Steele has to be kept. He’s steady Eddy even if a little boring and having that in the 22nd round is a very nice stabilizer for building a pitching staff around.
What makes me itch:
This collection as a whole. Jon’s offseason confuses me. He's made some deals but for players that are a lot of 260 hitters with middling pop. These players all feel like the 6th keeper on any other team. Riley Greene is a great youngster for next year… if he wasn't in the freaking 5th round. Cody Bellinger is hardly the big bat to anchor this staff, even if he's in New York now. Will Manzardo even get enough playing time now that Cleveland has signed Carlos Santana? Colton Cowser… same question as Westburg but less sexy.
I find this core very mediocre and uninspiring. There's still a path to making this into something if Jon were to package up some of these players and a draft pick for a really good bat, but as of right now, I liked this team more when it still had Ketel and Teoscar on it.
