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After Ronald Acuna established the 40-50, 40-60 and 40-70 clubs in 2023, Ohtani created a new exclusive club of his own in 2024, becoming the first player in major-league history to reach 50 homers and 50 steals in a season. It will go down as one of the greatest fantasy campaigns of all time, and the fact that he was coming off September 2023 Tommy John surgery makes it all the more impressive. His play was not affected by a gambling scandal involving his former interpreter, as Ohtani led the league or was in the 99th percentile in xwOBA, xBA, xSLG, average exit velocity, barrel rate and hard-hit rate, per Statcast. There is usually only one way for a player to go after a career year, and his return to pitching complicates things somewhat, but Ohtani is a once-in-a-lifetime talent and the unprecedented can be expected at this point. Even as a UT-only player coming off a torn labrum in his left shoulder suffered during the World Series that will delay his return to the mound a bit, Ohtani will likely be the first player off the board in many leagues in 2025.

De La Cruz silenced his doubters with an All-Star season at age 22, smacking 25 homers with a league-leading 67 stolen bases. He struck out 17 times in his first 33 at-bats to begin the campaign, but De La Cruz quickly found his groove at the plate and would go on to finish as the No. 5 hitter in rotisserie leagues behind Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt and Jose Ramirez. In the end, De La Cruz cut a couple points off his strikeout rate, but it was still something of an eyesore at 31.3 percent. He's shown that he can offset the whiffs with walks and all of his other flashy tools, both on offense and defense, where he shined by standard and advanced fielding metrics. Surprisingly, De La Cruz was better on the road (126 wRC+) than at home (110 wRC+), which leaves open the question of what he's capable of when he really gets rolling at Great American Ball Park. Beware that his plate discipline profile leaves him open to batting-average variance.

A femoral stress reaction in Tatis' right quadricep cost the shortstop-turned-outfielder more than two months of the 2024 season. He showed little rust down the stretch, however, slugging .578 with seven home runs in his final 22 regular-season games. He didn't stop there, adding four homers in seven postseason contests. Overall, his running was down; Tatis' stolen-base total fell from a career-high 29 to 11 last season as his sprint speed ranked in the 77th percentile. Whether related to prior PED use or not, the simple fact is that over the past two seasons Tatis has not come close to replicating the kind of rate power we saw from him before his wrist injury and subsequent PED suspension in 2022. The good news is that neither the power nor the speed need to fully return for Tatis to return to fantasy superstardom. It would just be nice if he took advantage of those bigger bases and new rules limited pickoff attempts in his remaining prime years.

When Tucker landed on the 10-day injured list in early June, his injury was labeled a right shin contusion. It wasn't until he was on the verge of his return in September that we learned Tucker was dealing with a fracture all along. Despite missing half the season, Tucker smacked 23 homers and stole 11 bases, though he only swiped one bag in 18 regular-season games following his return. Tucker took yet another step forward with his plate skills in 2024, walking more than he struck out in 336 plate appearances. Already a three-time All-Star heading into his age-28 season, Tucker has established an incredibly high floor with his pull-heavy approach from the left side. The steals may be somewhat in question coming off the shin fracture, but Tucker has been ultra efficient on the basepaths throughout his career, stealing 94 bases in 107 attempts. Now with the Cubs following a December trade, Tucker will still be an appealing choice in the first round as he plays for a huge payday next winter.

A first-round pick in most fantasy leagues last spring, Carroll was a bust for the first four months of 2024. At the end of July, he sat with a .664 OPS and just eight home runs. He more than doubled that latter number with 11 long balls in August alone before adding three more in September to bring his total to 22 home runs for the season. He still ended up down more than 50 points in batting average and 40 points in on-base percentage from his National League Rookie of the Year campaign in 2023. As a result of his struggles during the summer, Carroll dropped to the bottom third of the Arizona order at various points and his opportunities to steal bases weren't as plentiful. The outfielder still ranked in the 96th percentile in sprint speed, led the majors in triples with 14 and scored 121 runs despite the ups and downs. At 24 years old, Carroll appears to have a 20-30 floor and top-five overall upside given his speed, even if he doesn't necessarily light up Statcast with his batted-ball numbers.

Traded from the Padres to the Yankees in December of 2023, Soto put New York over the top in the American League last season. He posted 8.1 fWAR, the highest mark of his career and fourth in MLB behind Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt and Shohei Ohtani. Soto reached 40 homers for the first time ever, led the AL in runs scored with 128 and powered the club to the pennant with a .327/.469/.633 line and four homers in the postseason. A four-time All-Star before the age of 26, Soto received a historic payday from the Mets this winter. He's staying in New York but shifting from a park that was third best for lefty power, per Statcast, to the park that ranked 21st. His elite plate skills and proven durability give him a sky-high floor and top-five overall upside if his batting average swings toward the high end of his range of potential outcomes. The only drag in the rotisserie game is limited speed, but Soto isn't a total zero in the stolen base category, as he's swiped a total of 25 bags over the last three years.

Don't let Lindor's friendly smile fool you. He's a bad, bad man. Lindor fell one stolen base shy of a second straight 30-30 season and finished second in the National League in fWAR behind Shohei Ohtani. Some say the best ability is availability, and Lindor has missed a total of 13 games over the past three years. His strikeout rate has hardly budged and the shortstop has emerged as the Mets' leader on the field and in the clubhouse, making his 10-year, $341 million contract look like a bargain as opposed to an overpay. Somehow he wasn't an All-Star last season and hasn't been one since 2019, and some may flippantly slap the "compiler" label on him, but compiling is a good thing in the fantasy game. It's possible and perhaps likely that Lindor is surrounded by a better New York lineup as he enters his age-31 season.

Betts missed close to two months of the 2024 campaign due to a fractured left wrist, but he returned to help lift Los Angeles to a championship with a .951 OPS and four homers in the postseason. Now a three-time World Series champion, Betts has been an All-Star in each of the last eight full MLB seasons. His slugging percentage was down close to 90 points from 2023, when he was an MVP finalist in the National League, but Betts still graded out as 41 percent better than league average by wRC+. While he's still just 32 years old, Betts is at the point where he may need a few more days off after battling various injuries and falling below 123 games played in two of the past four years. His speed is starting to dry up, but he knows how to pick his spots, as evidenced by his 16 steals in 18 attempts last season. Eligible at shortstop and outfield entering 2025 -- plus second base in leagues with a 15-game minimum -- Betts should continue to thrive while batting between Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman in the Dodgers' lineup.

Your eyes are not failing you; Schwarber's final 2024 batting average was five points above the league-wide average for the season. Perhaps now, his only issue on draft day is that he is a man without a position, as he lost his outfield eligibility last season with Bryce Harper healthy enough to return to playing the field. Schwarber and Pete Alonso are the only players to hit at least 30 homers in each of the past five full seasons, and with Schwarber heading into the final year of his existing deal, the skills and motivation to continue that streak are both in play. His jump in batting average is directly correlated to his improved average on ground balls. We cannot fully credit the shift rule changes since they were present in 2023 when Schwarber hit .164 on ground balls, but the .300 batting average on grounders in 2024 was a huge surprise and certainly helpful, given his 41.7 percent ground-ball rate last season was his highest in recent seasons. In short, the 2022 to 2024 window is very repeatable.

The 2021 second-round pick made his MLB debut in 2024 and quickly adjusted to The Show with nine homers, 14 steals and a .264/.354/.427 slash line in 79 games. His upside for counting stats should get a boost if the Nationals make any significant additions to their lineup during the offseason. Wood turned 22 years old in September and showed good patience at the plate with an 11.7 percent walk rate, though he also had a 28.7 percent strikeout rate, which is consistent with his swing-and-miss tendencies from the minors. Wood exclusively played left field in his first taste of the majors, but more time at designated hitter could be in store if he's unable to improve upon the minus-seven DRS and minus-six OAA he posted in nearly 700 innings. There's still plenty of upside here given his raw power and strong early performance, but Wood's contact issues could be problematic as he gets more exposed to major-league pitching.

Turner missed more than six weeks of the 2024 season with a left hamstring strain, but he added almost 30 points back to his batting average to finish fourth in the National League at .295. He also fell just one stolen base shy of a fourth straight 20-20 season. His time with Philadelphia got off to a brutal start before a standing ovation amidst his struggles famously turned his 2023 season around. This past season was more in line with expectations -- including the IL stint. His walk rate dipped to just 5.0% and his barrel rate dropped by a point and a half to 6.9%. The advantage Turner used to provide in steals isn't as great anymore with his totals dropping back to the pack in recent years, but that's not to say Turner can't still be extremely valuable in fantasy baseball as he approaches his 32nd birthday in June. The shortstop hit exclusively in the two hole for the Phillies last season and is still surrounded by a good lineup to drive run-scoring opportunities.

Entering his age-23 season, Crow-Armstrong's bat is still well behind his glove, but he improved his offensive numbers down the stretch and positioned himself atop the Cubs' depth chart in center field to begin 2025. The first half of 2024 was ugly -- he sat with a .192/.243/.277 slash line at the end of June following his promotion from Triple-A Iowa -- but he went on to slash .287/.338/.470 over his final 202 MLB plate appearances. In addition to 10 homers, Crow-Armstrong chipped in 27 stolen bases in 30 attempts last season, ranking 13th in the National League in steals. He made just 17 starts against lefty pitching and his splits leave him open to platooning, but his excellent speed and defense would seem to give him a stable floor against right-handed pitching. Those skills prop him up and make Crow-Armstrong a viable pick in the middle rounds, although a speed-needy manager may push him up a bit higher than the overall package warrants.

The Polar Bear continued his downward trend at the plate in 2024, as his 34 homers, 88 RBI and .788 OPS are the worst full-season totals of his career. However, Alonso came alive in the playoffs with four homers and a .999 OPS in 58 plate appearances, including a clutch three-run home run in the ninth inning against the Brewers in the NL Wild Card Series to save the Mets season. He also played in all 162 regular-season games and hasn't missed more than 10 contests in any of his six MLB campaigns, so Alonso is as reliable as it gets from an availability perspective. It's not an ideal time to hit free agency given the trajectory of his production and that he turned 30 years old this winter, but he's likely a safe bet to hit 30-plus homers again in 2025. Alonso's outlook could vary depending on which team he signs with, both due to the potential change in supporting cast and home ballpark.

Remember when Merrill accompanied the Padres overseas for the Korea Series but wasn't guaranteed to make the traditional Opening Day roster? He obviously stayed with the club, playing in 156 games and finishing second in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. A shortstop by trade, Merrill held his own in center field, displaying a plus arm and range. At the plate, he parlayed 68th percentile hard-hit and 78th percentile barrel rates into a 130 wRC+. The only hole in the Merrill's freshman season was a 4.9 percent walk rate, but fanning just 17 percent of the time masks a lack of patience. The Padres were mid-pack in steals, with Merrill chipping in with a useful 16 bags. It wasn't much, but Merrill undershot his xBA and xSLG, so he could benefit from positive regression. He lost shortstop eligibility, but in today's landscape Merrill's fantasy value is unaffected.

Cruz missed nearly all of 2023 due to a fractured ankle but avoided the injured list last season and played in 146 games. He provided plenty of fantasy production with 21 homers, 22 steals, 76 RBI, 72 runs and a .259/.324/.449 slash line, but his 30.4 percent strikeout rate illustrates the ongoing concern with the swing-and-miss in his stroke. A 20-20 campaign is nothing to sneeze at, though the homer total is still a bit underwhelming given he hit 17 long balls in just 87 games as a rookie in 2022. Cruz also committed 24 errors with minus-nine DRS in 112 contests at shortstop, which led to the Pirates moving him to center field for the final month of the season. It was his first time playing center field as a professional, and he posted minus-three DRS in 195 innings. Having a full offseason to get more comfortable with the position should help immensely, and Pittsburgh is reportedly committed to keeping him in the outfield. Fantasy managers will benefit from the dual-position eligibility for at least 2025, and another 20-20 campaign -- with room for growth -- should be the expectation for Cruz.

Expectations were sky high for Skenes when he was called up by the Pirates for his big-league debut in May, and yet he exceeded expectations as a rookie, even earning the start for the National League in the All-Star Game. The right-hander struck out more than five batters for every one he walked (5.31 K/BB) and finished with a 1.96 ERA over 133 innings spanning 23 starts, the second-lowest ERA for a rookie pitcher since the earned run became an official stat in both leagues in 1913. With a devastating four-seamer that averaged 98.8 mph in 2024, five secondary pitches highlighted by the sinker and breaking ball, plus exceptional command of his repertoire, Skenes is already an ace and arguably the SP1 overall in fantasy baseball heading into 2025. However, the velocity, while great for getting results on the field, could be seen as something as a red flag given many of the game's hardest throwers have gone down in recent years due to elbow trouble. Skenes, who will still be just 22 years old at the start of the upcoming season, has avoided the operating table so far in his young career.

Wheeler hit 200 innings exactly during the 2024 regular season, marking his second time reaching that threshold. The right-hander continued to hammer the strike zone with six different pitches and remained an absolute headache for opposing batters. His ERA fell below 3.00 for the fourth time in the last five years and he set a new career high with 16 wins for the Phillies last season. Wheeler's K-BB rate exceeded 21 percent for the fourth consecutive year while is 0.96 WHIP was the best in the National League among qualified starters. Incredibly, Wheeler may still be under-appreciated. Never the most dominant arm in terms of strikeouts (career 9.6 K/9), Wheeler is approaching his 35th birthday in May. He's done a great job distancing himself from prior health woes, but the age and forearm blip from 2022 could push him behind some of the younger, flashier arms at the draft table.

Webb stands alone as the only pitcher to work at least 200 innings in each of the past two seasons and is one of just seven pitchers with at least 10 wins in each of the last four seasons. Whether you're in a traditional league or one which uses innings pitched rather than wins, Webb is a valuable fantasy asset. The workload helps make up for Webb's biggest weakness as he has to work the volume to get the strikeouts. Webb does not have the strikeout rate of most of his staff ace contemporaries, but the inning workload allows him to amass enough strikeouts to not hurt fantasy managers in the category. Webb's ratios were both the highest of the past few seasons, which could point to the stress of working 420.2 innings over the past two seasons and working more regular-season innings than any other pitcher over the past three seasons. Webb is also left wanting for more offensive support, as he won just 36 percent of his starts thanks to below-average run support when he is on the mound. The 2022 season may be the high-water mark for his win potential unless the Giants find more hitting.

The veteran left-hander was traded from Boston to Atlanta last winter and turned back the clock in 2024 with a 2.38 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 225:39 K:BB over 177.2 innings, which along with an 18-3 record should net him his first Cy Young Award. Sale's 29 starts were the most he's made in a season since starting 32 games during his first year with the Red Sox in 2017, and it was a remarkable turnaround in his age-35 campaign after pitching in just 31 games across the previous three seasons. The big question at this point is whether Sale can sustain that resurgence, both in terms of effectiveness and availability. The stuff hasn't faded too much over the years, and he averaged 94.8 mph on his fastball last season, but there's always some risk with older pitchers, and he'll turn 36 years old in late March. The bigger immediate potential issue is availability, since one mostly healthy season doesn't eliminate the health concerns, especially at this point in his career. Still, Sale is a future Hall of Famer coming off arguably the best season of his career, and he'll certainly be worth the risk in 2025 if he's able to stay healthy again.

Diaz returned to action last season after missing all of 2023 due to a torn ACL. The right-hander didn't pitch at the level of his remarkable 2022 campaign, but his 38.9 percent strikeout rate ranked 2nd among relief pitchers and was right in line with his career average (40.1 percent). Diaz only posted 20 saves, but he missed some time near midseason (shoulder injury, 10-game suspension) and finished most of the games he appeared in when healthy. He worked through a rough patch in May and had notable home (1.74 ERA) and road (5.96 ERA) splits, but his stability as the Mets closer was never in question. On average, the 31-year-old has been selected as the third closer off the board in early 2025 drafts. He warrants an early pick thanks to his 30-save and 100-strikeout upside.

Snell didn't secure a contract for 2024 until signing with the Giants in mid-March, and the turbulent offseason carried over into the regular season. He joined San Francisco's rotation in early April but made just six starts and had a 9.51 ERA during the first three months of the campaign as he missed time due to groin and hamstring injuries. The left-hander was dominant once he returned from the injured list in July and closed the season with just 11 earned runs allowed in his final 14 starts, and he had a 114:30 K:BB over 80.1 innings during that stretch. Snell cashed in with a long-term deal with the Dodgers, so he is well positioned to log double-digit wins for the third time in his career. He's topped 130 frames in a season just twice in his eight full MLB campaigns, so fantasy managers shouldn't be counting on more than 20-to-25 starts. However, Snell won the Cy Young Award in those other two seasons, so he could be a league-winning pitcher if he's able to stay healthy.

The Japanese right-hander's MLB career got off to a rocky start as he surrendered five runs in one frame during his debut against the Padres, but he posted a 2.34 ERA in his next 13 starts before landing on the injured list with a rotator cuff strain. Yamamoto returned down the stretch for eight starts between the regular season and playoffs, during which he had a 3.64 ERA to help the Dodgers win the World Series. He had a 105:22 K:BB across 90 innings during the regular season, so the skills of a low-end SP1 are there, he just hasn't shown that he can log SP1-caliber innings yet. He is likely to open 2025 as the Dodgers' ace since Shohei Ohtani's left shoulder surgery will delay his return to the mound, and Yamamoto's strikeout ability and potential for wins will once again make him a hot commodity come draft day.

Cease had an up-and-down career through five years with the White Sox, but he delivered on his potential in 2024 after being traded to the Padres and posted a 3.47 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 224:65 K:BB over a career-high 189.1 innings. The right-hander had a career-best 8.5 percent walk rate, while a 29.4 percent strikeout rate ranked fifth best among qualified starting pitchers. He's entering his age-30 campaign and should be San Diego's ace in his final year of arbitration eligibility in 2025. Cease seems unlikely to recreate the 2.20 ERA from 2021 that resulted in a second-place finish in Cy Young voting since he significantly outperformed his peripherals that year, but he should continue to be a high-value fantasy starter in 2025 given his strikeout floor.

Nola posted a mid-4.00 ERA in 2023 and rebounded last season with a 3.57 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 197:50 K:BB over 199.1 innings. It's the first time he's failed to eclipse 200 strikeouts in a full season since 2017, and his 8.9 K/9 is the worst mark since his rookie campaign. The right-hander also surrendered 30-plus home runs for the second straight season. Nola's run of extreme durability has been impressive, and he hasn't missed a start since 2017. Zack Wheeler remains the clear ace of Philadelphia's staff, but Nola is a strong and reliable No. 2 arm even though his 92.1-mph average fastball velocity is down a half tick from a couple years ago. He hasn't produced a sub-4.00 ERA in back-to-back seasons over the past four years, but there's no reason he can't buck that trend in 2025.

At age 34, Iglesias had one of the best seasons of his career, tying a career high with 34 saves while posting career-best marks in ERA (1.95) and WHIP (0.74). His strikeout rate (26.3%) was down compared to prior outputs as he generated fewer whiffs on his changeup and four-seamer, but his five percent walk rate was a top-15 mark among qualified relievers while his .156 batting average against ranked sixth. All four of Iglesias' offerings produced a .179 BAA or better. The veteran closer has been remarkably consistent throughout his 10-year career, constantly delivering ratios in line with his career 2.87 ERA and 1.05 WHIP, but with Iglesias entering his mid-to-late 30s, the downswing of his career may soon be on the horizon. He certainly warrants a selection as a top-10 closer for 2025, but as he enters the final year of his contract with Atlanta, he could become a trade candidate if the team does not perform to expectations.

Helsley entered 2024 with a tentative grasp on the closer role in St. Louis, but the hard-throwing righty led the majors with 49 saves, setting the Cardinals franchise record for a single season. Prior to the campaign, he had yet to achieve a 20-save season and had trouble staying healthy, but Helsley rewarded drafters who exhibited a higher risk tolerance. In fact, he did not miss any time, establishing new career highs in games played (65) and innings pitched (66.1). Helsey's 89.1 percent team save share was the second-highest mark among closers. The injury risk remains for someone who throws as hard as Helsley does -- he averaged 99.6 mph on his fastball (fifth among relievers) -- but the 30-year-old still warrants a pick among the top-10 closers for 2025. Just keep in mind this is Helsley's final year of salary arbitration before he becomes a free agent. If the Cardinals aren't competitive in 2025, he'll be a likely trade candidate.

Burnes was everything the Orioles could have hoped for when they traded for him, as he took the ball 32 times during the regular season and pitched to a 2.92 ERA, seventh lowest among qualified starters. The right-hander added eight innings of one-run ball in his lone postseason start before Baltimore was bounced by Kansas City. Burnes surprised the baseball world in December when he inked a six-year, $210 million contract with the Diamondbacks. There may be some slight yellow flags, including a 23.1 K% last season, down significantly from just a couple years ago, coinciding with a drop in whiff rate on his curveball. Burnes is now on the wrong side of 30, but throwing hard, limiting walks and racking up innings make him a rare commodity given the current pitching landscape. The underlying numbers over the past couple years point to him being more of a low-to-mid 3.00s ERA pitcher, but if the strikeouts ramp back up it would help to stave off regression.

King came into the 2024 season as an uncertainty but finished it as a star. King was part of the Juan Soto deal and had been a valuable Swiss Army knife for the Yankees as they had used him as an opener, a closer and in all situations between as he worked 104.2 innings over 49 games. The question about King was how he would hold up as a full-time starting pitcher, something he had never done at the big league level. In fact, the last time King started even 10 games in any season was in Double-A in the 2018 season. King silenced the critics, and then some, as he finished the season as the 16th-best starting pitcher in the final fantasy rankings and did well in the postseason, too. King adjusted his repertoire by dialing back on the sweeper, adding a slider and ramping up his changeup. His 19 percent K-BB percentage and .221 opponents batting average were in the top 20 for all starters with at least 150 innings of work. The big question now is how will King's body bounced back after a season in which his overall pitch count jumped 79 percent from the previous season.

Glasnow was traded from the Rays to the Dodgers in December of 2023 and quickly signed an extension with his new team. The right-hander has been well established as an effective but injury-prone pitcher, and he lived up to those labels for better and worse during his first year in Los Angeles. Glasnow made a career-high 22 starts for the Dodgers and had a 3.49 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 168:35 K:BB across 134 innings, and he missed the final six weeks of the regular season due to elbow tendinitis. He said the injury was fully healed in late October, so he could have a relatively normal offseason. Glasnow has been able to set new career highs for his workload in each of the past two seasons, but even if that continues, he shouldn't be expected to make more than 25 starts given the consistent injury history.

Scott sustained the level of success he achieved in 2023, arguably turning in the finest season of his career thus far. The southpaw permitted just two earned runs from mid-April through the end of July, a span of 37 appearances and 38 innings (0.47 ERA) en route to NL Reliever of the Month honors for July and his first All-Star selection. Between Miami and San Diego, Scott established a new career-high with 22 saves. He added 11 holds and was only one win shy of double-digits, only boosting his fantasy value. Strikeouts dipped from 33.9 percent in 2023 to 28.6 percent, while his walk rate regressed to 12.2 percent, but both metrics were in line with his career averages. Scott's success can be attributed to inducing weak contact, as his 84.3 mph average exit velocity was a 100th percentile Statcast metric alongside his 27.5 percent hard-hit rate (99th percentile). He landed a four-year, $72 million contract in January and should be one of the most productive closers in baseball, assuming manager Dave Roberts utilizes him as a traditional closer. Though that's not guaranteed given the club's plethora of late-inning options.

Contreras had an .824 OPS in his first full year as a starter in 2023 after being traded from Atlanta to Milwaukee, and he delivered similar results in 2024 with a .281/.365/.466 slash line, 23 homers, 92 RBI and nine steals while playing in 155 games. The 27-year-old's framing numbers behind the plate took a major step forward during his first year with the Brewers, though those regressed significantly last season. Still, he's a much-improved defender from earlier in his career. Contreras' 131 wRC+ in 2024 was the best in MLB among catchers with at least 400 plate appearances by a significant margin, and he has a strong case to be considered the best catcher in baseball. He made 120 appearances at catcher and 35 at designated hitter, and his everyday presence in the lineup is a major boost to his fantasy value in an era where catchers are receiving more time off.

A player named Will Smith has now been in each of the last five World Series with this version book-ending the three consecutive appearances by his name twin on the mound. Smith finished the season as a top-five catcher and within the top 70 overall while resuming full-time catching duties. Smith was able to take days off at DH before the arrival of Shohei Ohtani, but that luxury was not there in 2024, so Smith caught in 121 games and appeared in seven more. His numbers did have a bit of a fall-off in the second half, no doubt in part to the resumption of all the time spent donning the infamous tools of ignorance. Smith's .272/.346/.492 first half line with 15 homers fell to .206/.295/.331 after the break. His .248 final average was the lowest of his career, but still a few points above the league average, mitigating that issue. Ohtani will not need to take all the DH time in 2025, so some half-days off should be available to Smith to keep him fresher throughout the season. After all, this is the only player with catcher eligibility who has had at least 500 plate appearances each of the past four seasons. You cannot beat that type of consistency and volume from a position of such scarcity.

He's not a great defensive catcher, but Ramirez does enough things well to likely carve out a prominent role for Miami as early as this summer. Agustin makes his share of weak contact (23.7 Soft%), but he struck out 18.6 percent of the time and walked at an 11.3 percent clip, leading to a .361 OBP last year while splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A as a 22-year-old. He's not fast, but he stole 22 bases in 24 attempts and hit 25 homers in 126 games. The Marlins acquired Ramirez at the deadline along with two other prospects in exchange for Jazz Chisholm, and while there's nobody to really contend with at the big-league level (Nick Fortes has been worth 0.6 fWAR each of the last two seasons), Double-A catcher Joe Mack represents a viable challenger for catcher work in the coming years. Ramirez's poor defense could lead to him getting significant run at designated hitter, which could result in him being a top 10 fantasy catcher in terms of plate appearances during his prime.

Goodman was picked up across a number of leagues amidst stretches of semi-regular playing time in Colorado, but his batting average ultimately settled at just .190. He hit .160/.189/.270 away from Coors Field. After being drafted in the fourth round in 2021, Goodman shot through the farm system, taking advantage of the favorable hitting conditions throughout the Rockies organization. That success has not yet translated to the highest level. Even with 14 home runs in 93 MLB games to date, Goodman has a career 59 wRC+ as he enters his age-25 season. The selling point here is catcher eligibility (23 appearances in 2024), but there is no track record in the majors to stand on. It's possible Goodman is not even on the big-league roster to begin the season given that he has multiple minor-league options remaining and no clear defensive home between catcher, outfield and first base.

Bart looked to be the latest example of the difficult transition from top catching prospect to reliable fantasy contributor, as he was designated for assignment by the Giants on March 31. However, he ironically resurrected his career at the expense of Henry Davis after being acquired Pittsburgh and served as the primary backstop for long stretches of the campaign. He earned those plate appearances by showcasing his power, highlighted by a 9.4 percent barrel rate and 111.5 mph max exit velocity. While not as flashy, equally important was Bart's improved infield flyball rate (6.5 percent compared to career 13.0 percent rate) and strikeout rate (25.9 percent compared to career 32 percent). GM Ben Cherington indicated Bart will enter spring training as the favorite for the No. 1 catching job, but the Pirates are likely not ready to give up on the aforementioned Davis and will welcome back a healthy Endy Rodriguez (elbow). Regular at-bats at DH are possible if Andrew McCutchen isn't back or takes on a lesser role. If Bart finds his way into regular playing time, he has the chance to be a poor man's Cal Raleigh or Shea Langeliers, but the way this offseason progresses will provide more answers.

Fractures to his left forearm and left pinkie in separate incidents resulted in Contreras being limited to just 84 games last season. He was very productive when on the field, finishing with a career-high 136 OPS+ with 15 long balls over 358 plate appearances. Nearly 40 percent of Contreras' starts in 2024 came from the designated hitter spot, and the Cardinals plan to play him there and at first base regularly in 2025 with Paul Goldschmidt no longer around. Fantasy managers will be happy with that setup if it helps keep Contreras off the IL, as he's been a consistent source of offensive production, albeit one that typically falls shy of the elite at the position. The move off catcher increases his counting stat upside for 2025, but those in dynasty leagues should prepare for him to lose catcher eligibility heading into 2026.

Realmuto had a good five or six years with a claim to the "best catcher in baseball" title, but those days are probably over heading into his age-34 season. Realmuto used to be good for elite volume and elite productivity (both by catcher standards), but last year, he was good for neither. He started an average of 124 games behind the plate from 2021 to 2023, with only Martin Maldonado coming with 15 games of that mark, but in 2024, meniscus surgery in mid-June cost him nearly six weeks and limited him to 99 games caught. Those knee troubles also affected his ability on the basepaths, as he stole just two bases after averaging 17 steals over the prior three seasons. It wasn't all bad, as he remained a capable hitter. His .266/.322/.429 slash line was good for a 109 wRC+, and his 10.4 percent barrel rate marked his third straight season in double digits, even if it led to a modest 14 homers. Realmuto should remain useful in 2025, but he's no longer a five-category superstar.

Ruiz was basically a league-average hitter in 2023 but took a big step backward in 2024. Among players with at least 400 plate appearances, only Jose Siri had a worse on-base percentage than Ruiz's .260 mark, and only five players had an OPS lower than Ruiz's .619. The batted ball data wasn't any better, with Ruiz sporting an average exit velocity in the fourth percentile and a barrel rate in the sixth percentile. Ruiz remained an elite contact hitter with just an 11.1 percent strikeout rate, but even that wasn't enough to keep his average afloat, in large part because he hits so many weak fly balls and popups. Working in Ruiz's favor is that he plays a ton for a catcher, with only three other backstops accumulating more plate appearances than him since 2022. It allows him to accumulate enough stats to be a viable second fantasy catcher even if the rate stats are likely to be lackluster.

Stephenson took a big step forward at the plate in 2024, raising his OPS from a career-low .696 to .782. He set career highs in home runs (19), runs (69) and RBI (66), fueled by improved performance and a rather surprising amount of playing time behind the dish. Stephenson went from 78 starts at catcher in 2023 to 112 last season, and he led the National League in total appearances at catcher with 127. After Stephenson suffered a collarbone injury and the third concussion of his playing career in 2022, the Reds made an effort to limit him, but the reins were off last season and he seemed to re-establish himself as the catcher of the present and future in Cincinnati. His defense improved by various metrics last year, although he still grades out less than favorably in terms of blocking, framing and pop time.

Rushing was a good prospect prior to 2024, but he improved in every aspect of the game while setting himself up for a chance to compete for an Opening Day job in 2025. He upped his hard-hit rate from 25.1 percent to 36.9 percent, while cutting his strikeout rate from 24.4 percent to 20.3 percent and upping his contact rate from 67.9 percent to 75.7 percent. Rushing will not enter the year atop of the Dodgers' catching depth chart, but he is arguably the best catching prospect in the game yet saw more starts in left field than at catcher down the stretch at Triple-A. He could be the backup catcher (Austin Barnes has a $3.5 million club option) and a part-time left fielder next year, which could allow Rushing to play as much as a starting catcher despite being Will Smith's backup. Rushing's fantasy prime could actually mirror Smith's, as a top-five catcher who hits 20-plus home runs while hitting for a good average and logging elite on-base percentages relative to other catchers.

Herrera's reputation as an offensive-minded catcher held true in 2024. Among Cardinals hitters to accrue at least 250 plate appearances, Herrera led the club with his .369 xwOBA. However, while he graded out fine as a framer and blocker of balls in the dirt, Herrera was so inept at throwing out opposing base stealers (he caught just four of them in 59 tries) that he was leap-frogged on the depth chart by the defensively-superior Pedro Pages during the stretches Willson Contreras was hurt. Contreras will move off catcher full-time in 2025, leaving Herrera and Pages to split starts behind the dish. Herrera's offensive upside makes him a fine fantasy sleeper, but he'll need to show some level of improvement with his throwing if he wants to outpace Pages in playing time.

Moreno slashed just .230/.313/.346 through the first three months of last season and ended June on the injured list with a sprained thumb. He would miss more time after that with an adductor strain, but when on the field he sported a robust .325/.418/.439 batting line across his final 36 contests. Moreno's 11.7 percent walk rate and 14.8 percent strikeout rate really stood out, and he was above average in terms of average exit velocity and hard-hit rates, too. Unfortunately, while he did loft the ball a little more in 2024, Moreno still pounded it into the ground at nearly a 50 percent clip. His power ceiling will always be limited unless he can reverse that tendency, but it feels like nitpicking to some degree since we're talking about a 25-year-old catcher who's already an above-average hitter.

Alvarez missed more than seven weeks with a torn UCL in his left hand, suffered while catching his fall after tripping while rounding second base. When healthy, he was the Mets regular backstop, his role again this season. Alvarez will be one of the youngest starting catchers at just 23 years old; his offense is still a work in progress. His 62nd percentile hard-hit rate was down a tick from the previous season but still promising relative to his age. Alvarez's contact rate is below average, but it's improved a tick each of his last two seasons. His patience is above average, boding well for improved quality and quantity of contact. Behind the dish, he's an excellent framer, with a great pop time. All signs point to continued improvement, with more playing time. This is probably the last time he's a borderline option in one-catcher leagues. Alvarez will be a staple sooner than later.

Murphy strained his oblique on Opening Day last season and wound up missing more than eight weeks of action. It turned out to be a harbinger of doom, as the 30-year-old suffered through his worst season with a lowly .636 OPS and sub-.200 batting average. Dating back to the 2023 All-Star break, Murphy is slashing just .181/.294/.323 across 432 plate appearances. He also has a 37 percent hard-hit rate over that stretch, which is down significantly from his career 42.4 percent mark. A spike in his ground ball rate (53.9 percent) also conspired to hold Murphy back in 2024. He's young enough and talented enough to return to being a starting-caliber fantasy catcher in 2025, and Murphy's playing time outlook went up after Atlanta declined Travis d'Arnaud's option and he wound up signing with the Angels.

Rodriguez went from one of the more anticipated catching prospects to reach the majors to all but forgotten after failing to play in the majors in 2024 due to an elbow injury. He did manage to log some plate appearances in the minor leagues to close the campaign and is expected to be ready for spring training in 2025. However, there are still more questions than answers for Rodriguez heading into the new campaign. He has only a 204 plate-appearance sample in the majors, and he also produced just a 95 wRC+ in his most significant stretch at Triple-A Indianapolis in 2023. There have also been questions about where Rodriguez settles defensively, as there are doubts about his ability to stick behind the plate. On the other hand, his ability to play second base and more specifically the corner outfield could serve him well in 2025. Midway through the offseason, the Pirates have done nothing to address their void in right field, with Rodriguez likely to emerge as a top option at the position with a solid spring training. The most prudent approach from a fantasy perspective is to monitor Rodriguez's progress from both a health and skills standpoint, but it wouldn't be a surprise if he gets himself back on the radar in deeper formats at some point in 2025.

The Polar Bear continued his downward trend at the plate in 2024, as his 34 homers, 88 RBI and .788 OPS are the worst full-season totals of his career. However, Alonso came alive in the playoffs with four homers and a .999 OPS in 58 plate appearances, including a clutch three-run home run in the ninth inning against the Brewers in the NL Wild Card Series to save the Mets season. He also played in all 162 regular-season games and hasn't missed more than 10 contests in any of his six MLB campaigns, so Alonso is as reliable as it gets from an availability perspective. It's not an ideal time to hit free agency given the trajectory of his production and that he turned 30 years old this winter, but he's likely a safe bet to hit 30-plus homers again in 2025. Alonso's outlook could vary depending on which team he signs with, both due to the potential change in supporting cast and home ballpark.

It feels like not all that long ago that Harper was anointed "Baseball's Chosen One" while gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated as a 16-year-old, and similar to LeBron James in the NBA, Harper has managed to exceed seemingly impossible expectations. He reached 30 homers last season for the fifth time in his career while also surpassing 40 doubles for a second time. After an elbow injury and subsequent Tommy John surgery necessitated a full-time move to first base in 2023, Harper made only one trip to the injured list last season due to a low-grade hamstring strain. He played through wrist and elbow discomfort later in the campaign, which led to 30-game homerless drought. A two-time MVP and eight-time All-Star, Harper is still in search of that elusive World Series title, and that will be his and the Phillies' primary motivation in 2025. Expect well-rounded production around some missed time over the course of the long season.

After delivering the best year of his career in 2023 with 54 homers, 139 RBI and a .283/..389/.604 slash line, Olson took a major step back last season and finished with 29 home runs and a .790 OPS. The decline was well earned, as the first baseman saw his average exit velocity dip two ticks to 91.5 mph, and his barrel rate and hard-hit rate dropped four points (to 12.4 percent) and nearly eight points (to 47.4 percent). Olson's batted-ball profile remained largely unchanged, but pitchers attacked him more aggressively (50.3 zone percentage), while he also swung at more pitches out of the strike zone. Atlanta's lineup as a whole went through some troubles, and the injury absences of Ronald Acuna and Ozzie Albies diminished the group significantly. Olson was still a productive piece, but fantasy managers likely overpaid while coming off a career-best year. Now entering his age-31 campaign, Olson is a strong candidate to rebound and has a high floor given the offense around him and the fact he's played in all 162 games in each of the past three seasons.

Naylor had a wonderful season of volume as he has embraced the role of hitting cleanup for the Guardians behind the likes of Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez. Naylor rarely took a day off and remained in the lineup against righties and lefties to set career highs in the run production categories. The overexposure to lefties was part of the reason for his batting average tumble, as he hit .224 against lefties in 174 plate appearances, but the 70-point tumble in his batting average against righties hurt Naylor more. Naylor's contact rate remains one of the better ones for a slugging first baseman, and repeating 30-plus homers could be tough for him, given his historical HR/FB rates, but another season of 600-plus plate appearances will make it possible. He has big shoes to fill after being acquired by the Diamondbacks following the departure of Gold Glove first baseman Christian Walker.

After suffering an ankle injury late in the regular season, Freeman struggled through the initial playoff rounds before catching fire in the World Series and sparking the Dodgers to a championship. He homered four times in the Fall Classic en route to the MVP award and in doing so became the first player in history to homer in six consecutive World Series games dating back to his time with Atlanta. His regular-season numbers took a sizable step backward, but he was still an All-Star for the sixth consecutive full season and finished as the No. 4 first baseman in traditional fantasy formats. Freeman's consistency gives him a case to still be the top 1B off the board entering 2025, although Vladimir Guerrero's age and upside will likely give him the edge in many drafters' minds. Regardless, Freeman is not showing serious red flags in terms of skill decline at 35 years old and he should be highly sought after as a building block capable of surging up past 200 runs-plus-RBI once again.

Encarnacion-Strand struggled to fill Joey Votto's shoes at first base in Cincinnati, slashing just .190/.220/.293 in 29 games before a fractured right wrist ended his season. When he first went down, Encarnacion-Strand was expected back in 4-to-6 weeks, but after receiving a second opinion, he opted for surgery. The Reds sent him to the Arizona Fall League for make-up at-bats, and those live reps should have given him some peace of mind and set him up for a relatively normal offseason heading into 2025. Part of the Reds' return for Tyler Mahle, Encarnacion-Strand still seems to be very much part of the organization's plans, though he won't be assured anything entering spring training. His power is off the charts, but he will likely struggle to find consistency until he refines his plate skills (28.5 K%, 3.3 BB% last season).

After putting up new career highs with an .863 OPS and 23 home runs in 2023, Flores collected a disastrous .595 OPS with only four home runs over 71 games during an injury-shortened 2024 campaign. The veteran infielder dealt with a knee problem before eventually undergoing season-ending surgery in August. Flores will be back with the Giants after picking up his player option for 2025 and, given his track record, it's reasonable to assume he'll return to being a lefty-mashing, solid part-time starter, provided he's healthy. The 33-year-old will enter the 2025 season only with first base eligibility, which isn't ideal for a low-ceiling player whose versatility had been part of his deep-league appeal.

Arraez won his third straight batting title in 2024 and was also traded for the third year in a row, going from the Marlins to the Padres in a rare May swap. That teams have been so willing to part with a perennial batting champ speaks to how difficult it can be to ascertain the proper value of his unique skill set, which features a lot of batting average and not much else. Thankfully, in fantasy we have unbiased formulas to figure out that value, and Arraez finished outside the top-15 at second base and first base in spite of that .314 average. Arraez was better for five months in San Diego than he was in his one month in Miami last season even as he was playing with a torn UCL in his thumb for a large chunk of it. He should maintain his leadoff role in 2025 for a team that will provide plenty of firepower behind him. Still, Arraez will mostly remain a one-category contributor whose appeal on draft day will be fairly limited.

Hoskins returned to action in 2024 after missing a season due to a torn ACL, and he popped 26 home runs in 131 games. That essentially sums up the positives for the veteran first baseman, who had the worst offensive season of his career with a .214/.303/.419 slash line and 28.9 percent strikeout rate. It's no surprise that he then exercised his $18 million player option with the Brewers for 2025, and he's likely to remain with the club through the offseason given that salary. Hoskins could rebound with another winter being between him and major knee surgery, and in a best-case scenario he replicates the 30 home runs and .794 OPS he posted with Philadelphia in 2022. He's entering his age-32 campaign, however, and a more modest improvement is more likely, assuming he's able to bounce back at all.

Lowe boasted a .359 on-base percentage in his four seasons as the Rangers' primary first baseman, which is the sixth-best mark at his position over that time. He has not been a consistent fantasy contributor over that stretch, however. Lowe popped 27 home runs while batting .302 in 2022, but in his three other seasons with Texas he's hit between 16 and 18 home runs and batted between .262 and .265. The 29-year-old also saw his quality of contact diminish for the second year in a row in 2024. Lowe was traded to the Nationals this winter and should continue to be afforded regular opportunities given his on-base skills and quality glove, but you can aim higher in shallower fantasy leagues.

Few big-league clubs would give De Los Santos a long look as a regular due to his flawed approach and poor defense, but the Marlins only have a few credible candidates to hit 20-plus home runs, so he's in the right place. In the lead up to the trade deadline, Miami dealt A.J. Puk to Arizona for De Los Santos and a lesser prospect (Andrew Pintar), so they accepted him as the headliner for a real player and must like him to some extent. De Los Santos has always had prodigious power relative to most of his peers, and he logged a strong 32.7 percent hard-hit rate and 40 homers in 137 games split between Double-A Amarillo (an extremely hitter-friendly home park) and Arizona and Miami's Triple-A affiliates, including 49 games for Reno in the Pacific Coast League. Bandboxes aside, 40 homers for any minor leaguer is an impressive total. However, De Los Santos is a free swinger (108:22 K:BB at Triple-A), and he slashed .240/.284/.459 with a 28.4 percent strikeout rate and 5.2 percent walk rate after getting dealt out of the PCL and into the still favorable, but less cartoonish, International League. De Los Santos will get to play regularly at first base or designated hitter, and he should provide more power and a worse batting average and on-base percentage than most rookies.

For a second straight season, an underperforming Bell was traded to a playoff contender, and the first baseman used a fortunate BABIP to hit well for the new team. In 2024, that team was the Diamondbacks, who needed a first baseman when Christian Walker was sidelined by an oblique injury. Bell had a 121 OPS+ for Arizona before becoming a free agent during the offseason, and he ultimate signed with Washington, where he played in 2021 and 2022. There is still some value to Bell, who has averaged 21 home runs over the last four years and could be a run-producing bat in the middle of any order.

Busch joined the Cubs prior to the 2024 season after never really getting a shot at regular playing time with the Dodgers, and he quickly took advantage of the opportunity in the new locale. The 26-year-old settled in as the primary first baseman for Chicago and appeared in 152 games. Busch ended up recording 21 home runs, 65 RBI and a .775 OPS during his extended run, and he figures to head into 2025 as the team's top option at first once again. There are some limitations to his game from a fantasy perspective, as he doesn't really have a ton of positional versatility. The left-hand hitting Busch has also shown some vulnerability to southpaws during his career, so the Cubs not surprisingly limited his exposure to lefties last year. That caps Busch's upside heading into 2025, but as long as he plays most days against righties, Busch should be able to build on his promising 2024 campaign.

One of the few bright spots for the last-place Rockies in 2024, Toglia cracked 25 homers and stole 10 bags in 116 games between first base (107 games) and the outfield (15 appearances). After a couple years spent riding the shuttle between Triple-A and the majors, he found his way against big-league pitching. His batting average settled at just .218, but Statcast had Toglia at a .244 xBA on account of his impressive batted-ball metrics, and he walked at an 11.8 percent clip. He supplied most of his power away from Coors Field, hitting 17 of his 25 homers on the road. With a career strikeout rate of 33 percent and no MLB track record beyond last season, Toglia should be considered a risky option. That said, his slugging and home ballpark make him a reasonable gamble at a top-heavy first base position.

Candelario's first season with Cincinnati was a letdown after he inked a three-year, $42 million contract in December of 2023. He played through various injuries throughout the first half, including elbow, shin and hamstring issues, before a fractured left great toe ended his season in August. The Candy Man deserves credit for taking advantage of his new digs, hitting 15 homers at home to reach 20 for the season in 463 total plate appearances. That is about where the fun ends since his rate numbers crashed across the board. A career-low walk rate suggests he might have been pressing in Year 1 of a new deal, and the injuries likely played a part. There may still be power upside here and he is eligible at first base and third base entering his age-31 season.

Albies was limited to 99 games in 2024 as he spent significant time on the injured list due to a fractured wrist and fractured toe, and it's the second time in the past three seasons he's failed to reach 100 games played. The three-time All-Star underwhelmed at the plate when available and had a .251/.303/.404 slash line with 10 home runs, eight steals, 51 RBI and 50 runs scored, with a 95 wRC+ being the second worst of his career. Albies has been an elite producer when healthy overall, but whether he's able to stay on the field over the past few years has basically been a coin flip. His ceiling is as high as any second baseman in the league -- especially given the rest of Atlanta's offense and the potential for counting stats -- but that ceiling comes with plenty of risk given the up-and-down availability and recent performance.

McLain was forced under the knife in late March to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder and never made it on to a big-league field in 2024. He appeared to be nearing a rehab assignment in August, but a stress reaction in his rib cage took a return off the table. The 25-year-old was able to make up for lost time a bit in the Arizona Fall League, where he slashed .240/.356/.520 with four homers, 12 RBI and one stolen base across 59 plate appearances. Durability has become a major question mark after he also missed the final month of his rookie season in 2023 with an oblique strain. However, McLain still appears to be a priority for the Reds, likely in center field after the team acquired Gavin Lux to play second base. While projecting a full season's worth of at-bats would be foolish entering 2025, McLain has shown an intriguing power/speed combo when on the diamond, and the boost provided by Great American Ball Park is no small one. Don't forget about him at the draft table.

Marte set a new career high with 36 home runs last season, four more than he hit during the infamous juiced-ball year of 2019. He also lifted his batting average above .290 after it dipped as low as .240 in 2022. Despite making a trip to the injured list in the second half with an ankle sprain, Marte exceeded 90 runs and 90 RBI for the second time ever, finishing as a top-15 hitter in traditional fantasy formats. Once a part-time outfielder, Marte now plays second base pretty much exclusively. At 31 years old, Marte is a risk to miss time, as he's reached 150 games just twice in his career. However, his plate skills are super steady, propping up his floor. While not a burner, Marte is capable of chipping in 5-to-10 steals given his instincts and efficiency on the base paths. He should continue to bat first or second in the Arizona lineup under manager Torey Lovullo in 2025.

Stott's big steps forward in his sophomore season two years ago hinted at a very promising age-26 campaign. Instead, he slipped to a .245/.315/.356 slash line, with his 88 wRC+ barely an improvement on his 84 wRC+ as a rookie. He did make plenty of contact, striking out just 16.3% of the time, but a 30.8% hard hit rate meant that most of that contact resulted in weak outs. He cleared the fence just 11 times, the sixth-fewest among batters who came to the plate at least as often as he did. Despite an underwhelming performance at the plate, Stott preserved a fair amount of his fantasy value by stealing 32 bases, tied for 13th in the league and one more than his previous career high. Stott should keep running in 2025, and his bat could take at least a modest step forward in his age-27 season, but don't expect a sudden power breakout.

The Nationals' patience with Garcia paid off as he had a 111 wRC+ season, by far his best. An uptick in exit velocity aided career bests in hard-hit and barrel rates. Garcia also lofted a few more fly balls, though his 32.5 percent clip was still below average. Even so, Garcia doubled his previous career high with 18 long balls while also swiping 22 bags, more than twice his past high-water mark. The only downturn was with his strikeout rate where Garcia gave back some of the previous season's gains. Defense at the keystone is below average, which could eventually be an issue, but he seems safe this season. There is danger in paying for a repeat of a breakout season, but Garcia's improvement was supported by underlying metrics, so it's a matter of trusting he'll sustain the elevated level as opposed to fearing regression.

Hoerner is one of the most consistent players in the league, with his wRC+ ranging between 103 and 108 over the last four seasons. He's better for fantasy teams since steals aren't captured by wRC+ and Hoerner has averaged 31 steals over the last three seasons. Hoerner's game is putting the ball in play 90 percent of the time, mostly line drives and grounders. His career hard hit rate is 31.6 percent, with last season's 27.7 percent being a career worst, but he fanned at his lowest rate ever. This is a risky profile, dependent on batted ball fortune. Hoerner had surgery on his right flexor tendon in October, and his availability for the start of the season is in question since he had not resumed hitting or throwing as of mid-January. His availability early in spring training should provide a better idea of his chances for Opening Day. Players with batting average and steals as chief assets grade well with a formulaic ranking method but are often faded by those using a more subjective approach. He can be a fantasy asset, but it takes the right team build.

Turang delivered an underwhelming rookie campaign at the plate in 2023 with a .585 OPS in 137 games, though he did bring some value on the basepaths with 26 stolen bases. He took a significant step forward as a sophomore and finished 2024 with a .254/.316/.349 slash line, seven home runs, 57 RBI, 72 runs and 50 steals in 155 contests. It initially looked like he was headed for a full offensive breakout since he had .292/.354/.417 through the first three months of the season, but he struggled to a .551 OPS over the final 75 games of the year. Turang maintained a regular spot in the lineup through the struggles thanks to his elite defense (plus-22 Defensive Runs Saved), which was rewarded with a Gold Glove at second base. He improved his hard-hit rate over three percentage points to 29.4 percent and his average exit velocity by 1.5 ticks to 87 mph, which combined with a double-digit increase in his groundball rate (to 52.8 percent), better allowed him to take advantage of his speed. Turang's strong work on the basepaths and respectable batting average give him a decent fantasy floor, and there's some upside beyond that if he can capture that first-half form and cement himself atop Milwaukee's lineup, at least against right-handed pitching.

Cronenworth's 2024 campaign was a near carbon copy of his 2022 season, as he hit the same amount of homers (17), drove in five fewer runs (83) and batted two points higher (.241) over 28 fewer plate appearances. The infielder has established a pretty predictable skill set over his time in the majors -- he makes good contact (both his chase rate and whiff rate last year were just below the 90th percentile leaguewide) but doesn't hit the ball with enough authority (his hard-hit rate has been below the 30th percentile in four straight seasons) to produce more than middling power numbers. Cronenworth's lack of speed (he's never stolen more than six bases in a season in the majors) further drags down his fantasy profile, though he does get a boost from having eligibility at both first and second base and from hitting in a potent lineup. Overall, the parts add up to a rosterable fantasy middle infielder -- the second-base eligibility is particularly important given the current dearth of impactful hitters at the position -- best left for the very late rounds of drafts.

After a flexor tendon issue limited him to just 95 games in 2023, Donovan stayed healthy in 2024, reaching career highs in games (153) and plate appearances (652). That helped lead to career bests in home runs, RBI and runs, too, although the 28-year-old's .759 OPS and 115 wRC+ were both low-water marks. It was due mainly to Donovan's walk rate falling for the second year in a row down to 7.2 percent, which is below average and a far cry from the 12.8 percent mark he had as a rookie. He still had a solid .342 OBP thanks to an elite contact rate keeping his average up, but the Cardinals moved away from Donovan as their regular leadoff man in June and Masyn Winn grabbed that gig. Because he's not a standout in any statistical category, Donovan really needs a prime spot in the batting order to elevate his standing in fantasy leagues.

Lux's 2024 season was a tale of two halves. He batted just .213 with three homers over 76 games prior to the All-Star break, but the Dodgers stuck with him, and the infielder turned things around with a much more intriguing .304 batting average and seven long balls the rest of the way. Even after heating up, however, Lux largely sat against lefty hurlers -- he logged just 46 at-bats versus southpaws as opposed to 393 against right-handers during the campaign. While Lux's second-half surge was promising, it's hard as a fantasy manager to get excited about a player who barely reaches double-digit homers and rarely steals a base (Lux finished the campaign with five thefts). Lux's playing time was hardly guaranteed in Los Angeles, so being traded to Cincinnati in January provides him a much clearer path to a regular lineup spot. Having hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park as his home field should also boost his offensive profile. The change of scenery could allow Lux to settle in and reach his offensive potential, and he's an upside play for fantasy managers willing to take on his inconsistent track record through three full seasons.

Lopez was waived by the Giants in the first week of the 2024 season, but he was promptly picked up by the Marlins and assigned to Triple-A Jacksonville. He was called up by mid-April, initially serving in reserve capacity. Lopez hit his way into the starting lineup, which is where he stayed, other than a short IL stint for lower back inflammation. Lopez parlayed a 17.3 percent strikeout rate and a 53.6 percent groundball clip into a .270 batting average. He doesn't hit the ball hard, but 86th percentile sprint speed helped Lopez log an infield hit rate twice the league average and swipe 20 bases. He's a plus defender at second base and can play all around the infield and outfield. He'll be given a chance to be the regular second baseman but also can handle a utility role. Batting average and steals provide a floor, but unless he's playing every day, Lopez has limited fantasy allure.

The Dodgers, Rays and Reds have all failed to coax anything more out of Rosario over the past two seasons. Los Angeles at least thought enough of Rosario to bring him back in July after he finished 2023 with the club, though the reunion only lasted a couple weeks before the Dodgers moved on. After being claimed off waivers by the Reds, Rosario went on to hit .158/.186/.211 across 59 plate appearances. He famously co-headlined the trade that sent Francisco Lindor to Queens, but that was a lifetime ago in today's MLB. Rosario inked a one-year deal with the Nationals in January and will fill a utility role, with most of his playing time likely to come against left-handed pitching. The power and speed are not completely gone, but he will be a tough sell in shallow mixed leagues.

Gonzales failed to win the Pirates' second base job out of spring training, but an injury to Ke'Bryan Hayes gave him a chance in the majors in early May. He took advantage while relying on his contact ability and hit tool-the primary factors that led to him being a top prospect - as his strikeout rate dipped below 20 percent for the first time in any significant sample at any level as a pro. A groin injury cost Gonzales all of August, ultimately limiting him to 387 plate appearances. While it was a promising sample, it is worth noting that Gonzales still posted just a 94 wRC+, .307 wOBA and .128 ISO. He's the favorite to man second base for the Pirates in 2025, but his fantasy appeal will likely be limited due to a relative lack of speed and power. Some solid contributions in batting average and counting stats are possible, but both were arguably bloated in 2024 thanks to a .347 BABIP with runners on base and .352 with runners in scoring position. Gonzales is a fine middle infield option in deeper leagues, but he shouldn't be viewed as much more until (or if) his skills take another step forward.

Gorman struck out at a 31.9 percent clip in 2023, but it was acceptable because he also walked at an 11.4 percent rate, boasted a 48.5 percent hard-hit rate and slugged 27 home runs. However, the strikeout rate ballooned to 37.6 percent in 2024, the walk rate dropped to 8.5 percent and the hard-hit rate tumbled to 38.6 percent. Gorman was optioned back to Triple-A Memphis in late August following a particularly brutal stretch and stayed there for the remainder of the season. A 16.7 percent barrel rate last season showed that Gorman can still sting the ball when he makes contact, but he will have to get the swing and miss down to an acceptable level for the quality of contact to matter. Gorman will turn just 25 in May, and St. Louis' plan for a youth movement means he should get another opportunity in 2025.

McNeil won the National League batting title in 2022 with a .326 batting average, but the past two years have been a much bumpier road with a .270 average in 2023 and career-low .238 mark last season. He missed most of the final month of the 2024 regular season due to a fractured wrist but returned to action during the playoffs. McNeil isn't a great defender but will have dual-position eligibility with 110 appearances at second base and 28 in the outfield last year. His middling power and speed (38 home runs and 22 stolen bases over the past four seasons) limit both his floor and ceiling, and the drop in batting average has cratered his one elite category. A 30.8 percent hard-hit rate last year was his best figure since 2021, but McNeil also had a career-worst 14.6 percent strikeout rate. He's on the wrong side of 30 and has been on a downward trajectory the past two years, so he likely isn't worth more than a late-round flier with high-average potential if he bounces back.

Among active players, only Giancarlo Stanton has more seasons with 25-plus homers than Machado. The Human Statue has 10 such seasons, while Machado and Mike Trout are tied at nine. Machado continues to produce at a consistent level, as 2024 was his 10th career season with at least 600 plate appearances, something only Carlos Santana and Freddie Freeman have done more frequently. Last season offered a view of Machado's younger days with him stealing double-digit bases for the first time since the 2021 season and nearly swiping as many in 2024 (11) as he did the previous two seasons combined (12). He pulled that off despite another season in which his walk rate declined, as it has now each of the past four years. He still makes excellent contact, but the lower walk rate means the batting average is going to be at the mercy of the batted-ball luck dragons. There is little reason to think Machado will not have another 600-plus plate appearances with the voluminous numbers that go along with that playing time. Consistent production such as what Machado offers is difficult to find in these volatile days.

Riley's 2024 season was one to forget. He suffered a fractured right hand in mid-August, ending his season, just when it seemed like he was hitting his stride after an uncharacteristically average first half. His first two months were downright bad, as Riley had a .228/.295/.353 line at the end of May (82 wRC+). From that point on, he looked much more like the player that slugged 33-plus homers with 93-plus RBI in each of the prior three seasons. Overall, his strikeout rate remained right around his career average of 25.7 percent, and he ranked in the 94th percentile or above in average exit velocity, barrel rate and hard-hit percentage. Entering his age-28 season, Riley remains an offensive force to be reckoned with, and there may be an opportunity to buy low coming off a down year. He should still be considered among the best of the rest behind Jose Ramirez at third base.

Despite not making the Opening Day roster last spring, Vientos finished third on the Mets with 27 homers during the 2024 regular season, and he led the team with five long balls in the postseason. It was a breakout campaign at 24 years old, as Vientos added more than 200 points to his OPS from the year prior. He has a career strikeout rate of 30 percent, but he blisters the ball when he makes contact. His barrel rate ranked in the 92nd percentile and he crushed lefty pitching to the tune of a .300/.338/.546 slash line last season. A second-round pick in 2017, Vientos is paying dividends for New York, but speed is not part of the equation and his defense at third base graded out poorly, which has led to speculation he could be on the move to first base if Pete Alonso departs in free agency. The club will almost certainly find a way to keep Vientos' powerful bat in the lineup.

Chapman lingered on the free-agent market last offseason before finally agreeing to a one-year contract with two player options with the Giants in early March. The fit proved to be a good one, as he went on to have his best offensive season since 2019 and inked a six-year, $151 million contract extension in September. Chapman remained among the game's elite in terms of quality of contact and he did so while cutting his strikeout rate to 24.4 percent, which was easily the lowest it's been since the aforementioned 2019 campaign. The 31-year-old even stole 15 bases, which more than doubled his career total coming into the season. While it might be tempting to throw that number out as a fluke, Chapman does boast a surprising 84th percentile sprint speed. He'll again have to deal with Oracle Park in 2025 - where he hit just nine of his 27 homers - but Chapman showed he's capable of overcoming that to be a top-10 fantasy option at third base.

It would have been difficult for Suarez's first season in the desert to get off to a worse start. The 33-year-old was sitting on a .196/.279/.312 batting line and had homered only six times through the end of June. One of the game's streakiest hitters then went on an epic three-month run which saw him slash .312/.357/.617 with 24 homers and 69 RBI across his final 78 contests. All told, Suarez finished with his fifth career 30-homer season, his third 100-RBI season and a career-high 90 runs scored. There will eventually be a season where Suarez won't be able to get up off the mat, but Suarez's batted-ball data in 2024 was right along with his recent norms and his strikeout rate was actually his lowest in six seasons. He should remain a productive, albeit inconsistent, fantasy asset again in 2025.

Bohm's 2024 stats were a nice representation of the league as a whole. Bohm made more hard contact, had a higher barrel rate and a higher average exit velocity than he did in 2023, yet he hit five fewer homers on the season despite a nearly identical amount of plate appearances. That playing time consistency is one of Bohm's endearing qualities, as he is just one of seven third basemen with 600-plus plate appearances in each of the past three seasons. Bohm was also granted the honor of hitting cleanup in Philadelphia for most of the season, which allowed him to match his 2023 RBI total despite having fewer homers. The homer decline was offset by a career-best 44 doubles. Bohm's groundball rate puts a soft cap on his home run upside. He has shown a bit more loft in recent seasons, and Bohm setting a new career-high in pull rate in 2024 may be a sign he's going to join the elevate-and-celebrate mindset, which proliferates baseball these days. A hand issue, which led to an IL stint in early September was certainly a second-half factor in (.681 OPS) compared to his first half (.830 OPS.)

Arenado's power output has trickled down every year since he arrived in St. Louis and it bottomed out to just 16 home runs in 2024. Part of that was probably out of his control with fly ball distance being down league-wide, but he also posted career lows in average exit velocity (86.3 mph), hard-hit rate (31.6 percent) and barrel rate (3.2 percent) and one of his lowest fly ball rates (39.1 percent). Dating back to August of 2023, Arenado hasn't hit more than four long balls in any of his last eight months. A rebound is possible, but with cavernous Busch Stadium as his home and his 34th birthday coming shortly after Opening Day, it's difficult to say a bounce-back is probable.

McMahon hit the ball harder than he ever has in 2024 with an average exit velocity in the 91st percentile and hard-hit rate in the 92nd percentile. He also hit lefties better than he had in years (.740 OPS). Unfortunately, he ended with just a .714 OPS versus righties and a dreadful second half (.592 OPS) wiped out all the good work he did in the first half (.797 OPS, 14 home runs). McMahon has never been even a league-average hitter in terms of OPS+ and his swing-and-miss issues mean he's more likely to hurt than help in the average department. However, the 30-year-old has been very durable and will keep getting the Coors Field boost, assuming the Rockies continue to resist any trade overtures.

Norby was part of a long list of good prospects with the Orioles who were blocked at the major-league level, but he was finally freed at the trade deadline in a deal that sent him to the Marlins. The 24-year-old showed off both the good and bad parts of his profile during his 36-game audition in Miami, as he put up a 1.043 OPS with six home runs in his first 18 contests before cratering to a .481 OPS with one home run and a 34.5 percent strikeout rate in his final 18 tilts. Norby smacked 26 home runs and stole 16 bases combined between the majors and minors in 2024 but also struck out at a 29.5 clip, including a rate of 33 percent in the big leagues. With a 14.8 percent barrel rate and well above average fly ball and pull rates, Norby should provide power even in Miami if he can make enough contact.

Shaw's game was built for standard 5x5 fantasy, as he could be a 25-homer/25-steal infielder who hits for a high average during his prime years. A sturdy, athletic 5-foot-9 second baseman who has spent a signifiant amount of time at third base over the past year, Shaw figures to debut at the hot corner on Opening Day after Isaac Paredes was shipped to Houston as part of the return for Kyle Tucker. Shaw slashed .284/.379/.488 with 21 homers, 31 steals and strong hard-hit data (29.7 Hard%, 13.4 Soft%) in 121 games at Double-A and Triple-A, and his command of the zone didn't lessen after his promotion to Triple-A. If Shaw embraced pulling the ball more regularly (Oppo% over 40% at both stops) he could reach another level as a power hitter, but he already has a high floor and high ceiling in our game and is ready for primetime.

Muncy's 135 wRC+ this past season was his highest mark in three years. Unfortunately, it came over only 79 games, as the veteran infielder was shelved for more than three months with a nagging oblique strain. Muncy took his extreme fly ball tendencies to even greater lengths in 2024, with his 54.2 percent fly ball rate representing the highest mark of his career and the second-highest in all of baseball among players with at least 250 plate appearances. His 16.7 percent HR/FB rate was his second-lowest as a Dodger, however, which isn't surprising since the ball didn't carry as well across the league. The left-handed-hitting Muncy's effectiveness versus lefty hurlers has waned in recent years. It's led to fewer starts for the 34-year-old against southpaws, but to this point it hasn't been a strict platoon situation.

The outlook for Hayes could write itself at this point in his career, as his lack of power and injuries have continued to hold back his fantasy potential. He managed only 396 plate appearances in 2024 while spending two stints on the injured list with back inflammation that cost him a combined two months of the campaign. Even when he was on the field, it was Hayes' worst showing from a skills perspective. His groundball rate jumped to 52.7 percent, which limited him to just four home runs and a .058 ISO. Nearly 2,000 plate appearances into his career, the breakout that the fantasy community has been waiting for from Hayes appears unlikely to occur. However, his defense should keep him locked into an everyday role at third base and his ability to steal bases (11 on 13 attempts in 2024) keep him on the radar in deep mixed formats and NL-only leagues.

Marte was suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball in March for violating the joint drug prevention and treatment program. Despite a rough offensive showing during his rehab assignment, Marte was brought back to the Reds' active roster on the first day he was eligible, debuting with a three-hit game June 27. He finished with an ugly .210/.248/.301 line across 242 plate appearances. Once a top prospect and centerpiece of the Luis Castillo trade, Marte has lost some of that shine in the last calendar year, but the 23-year-old still has time to regain the goodwill of the fans and trust of the front office. While his limited range at third base leaves some question about his future at the position, the power-speed combo and hitter-friendly park give him some buy-low appeal entering 2025. First things first, he will have to earn his keep under new manager Terry Francona.

Acquired from Cleveland last year in the Lane Thomas deal, Tena got a look in Washington over the final two months, mostly at third base (35 games). He smacked a walk-off hit in his team debut Aug. 10 and finished with a respectable .274 average, three homers and six steals in seven attempts across 164 plate appearances for the Nationals. Tena has some speed and has reached double-digit homers in the minor leagues several times, but it will be tough for him to stick at the hot corner long term given the general offensive expectations at the position. Realistically, he may be best suited for a utility role, but as he enters his age-24 season in 2025, Tena appears tentatively set for an extended audition as a lineup regular between third base and second base.

Hernandez re-signed with the Dodgers for 2024 and was a key piece in the World Series run. He wasn't particularly productive in the regular season with 12 home runs and a .654 OPS in 126 games (which closely resemble his 2023 numbers), but he turned it on in the playoffs and had a .294/.357/.451 slash line in 57 plate appearances. Hernandez has proven he can be relied upon in big spots throughout his career but has never consistently produced during the regular season, and that's unlikely to change in his age-33 campaign. Versatility remains a calling card, as he made at least nine appearances at all four infield spots in addition to his work in the outfield. He should land a job for 2024 and is likely to again fill a super-utility role, with that flexibility being a key aspect of his limited fantasy upside.

De La Cruz silenced his doubters with an All-Star season at age 22, smacking 25 homers with a league-leading 67 stolen bases. He struck out 17 times in his first 33 at-bats to begin the campaign, but De La Cruz quickly found his groove at the plate and would go on to finish as the No. 5 hitter in rotisserie leagues behind Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt and Jose Ramirez. In the end, De La Cruz cut a couple points off his strikeout rate, but it was still something of an eyesore at 31.3 percent. He's shown that he can offset the whiffs with walks and all of his other flashy tools, both on offense and defense, where he shined by standard and advanced fielding metrics. Surprisingly, De La Cruz was better on the road (126 wRC+) than at home (110 wRC+), which leaves open the question of what he's capable of when he really gets rolling at Great American Ball Park. Beware that his plate discipline profile leaves him open to batting-average variance.

Don't let Lindor's friendly smile fool you. He's a bad, bad man. Lindor fell one stolen base shy of a second straight 30-30 season and finished second in the National League in fWAR behind Shohei Ohtani. Some say the best ability is availability, and Lindor has missed a total of 13 games over the past three years. His strikeout rate has hardly budged and the shortstop has emerged as the Mets' leader on the field and in the clubhouse, making his 10-year, $341 million contract look like a bargain as opposed to an overpay. Somehow he wasn't an All-Star last season and hasn't been one since 2019, and some may flippantly slap the "compiler" label on him, but compiling is a good thing in the fantasy game. It's possible and perhaps likely that Lindor is surrounded by a better New York lineup as he enters his age-31 season.

Turner missed more than six weeks of the 2024 season with a left hamstring strain, but he added almost 30 points back to his batting average to finish fourth in the National League at .295. He also fell just one stolen base shy of a fourth straight 20-20 season. His time with Philadelphia got off to a brutal start before a standing ovation amidst his struggles famously turned his 2023 season around. This past season was more in line with expectations -- including the IL stint. His walk rate dipped to just 5.0% and his barrel rate dropped by a point and a half to 6.9%. The advantage Turner used to provide in steals isn't as great anymore with his totals dropping back to the pack in recent years, but that's not to say Turner can't still be extremely valuable in fantasy baseball as he approaches his 32nd birthday in June. The shortstop hit exclusively in the two hole for the Phillies last season and is still surrounded by a good lineup to drive run-scoring opportunities.

Abrams' achievements on the field in 2024 were overshadowed by a lapse in judgment late in the year when he stayed out past curfew at a Chicago casino, resulting in a trip back to Triple-A as punishment. It was an unfortunate way to end his first All-Star campaign. His first three months were especially productive; Abrams hit .283/.344/.513 with 13 homers and 14 steals through the end of June before dipping to .203/.260/.326 in the second half. Concerns about Abrams' maturity and work ethic are now just as valid as unrest over his 11th percentile chase rate (35.2 percent) or 29th percentile average exit velocity (88.2 mph). The team is standing by the 24-year-old and believes the wakeup call will have the desired effect. While Abrams is still a little rough around the edges, he brings to the table an appealing combination of power, speed, youth and upside.

Perdomo, who went down with a knee injury in early April and missed two-plus months, had career-bests in average (.273), slugging (.374) and OPS (.718) over 98 games in 2024, but a deeper look reveals he exceeded expected rates. Ahh, the benefits of a favorable BABIP (.317), which also pumped up his wRC+ (101). He continues to exhibit elite plate discipline though his walk rate fell to 9.3%. Had the organization's plans for 2024 played out, prospect Jordan Lawlar would challenge Perdomo in 2025 or have been called up last year when Perdomo was out, but Lawlar had his own drama. He injured his thumb late in spring training, missed two months, then injured a hamstring and finished with just 14 games played outside of the Arizona Complex League. That means Perdomo is a lock to open the season as the starter at shortstop, but the organization is deep at the position.

It's not often that a breakout comes with just one home run, but Edwards slashed an impressive .328/.397/.423 with 31 steals over 303 plate appearances for Miami last season, putting himself firmly on the map after a long, winding road as a prospect. Edwards, a supplemental first-round pick by the Padres in 2018, was traded twice before he reached the majors, first to the Rays and ultimately to the Marlins in 2022. He missed the start of last season with a foot infection and was initially optioned upon activation from the 60-day injured list in late May. Eventually he seized hold of an everyday job on the strength of his contact skills and speed. Edwards is willing to take a walk and the totality of his offensive contributions added up to a 128 wRC+ last season, best on the team. The glaring issue is the total lack of home-run power, but the 25-year-old shortstop can have utility with the proper roster construction.

Swanson was one of the worst-hitting regulars in baseball for the first four months last season, slashing a sickly .219/.291/.346 with nine home runs and seven stolen bases in 99 contests. He got hot over the final two months to salvage his campaign, collecting a .283/.351/.471 batting line with seven long balls and 12 steals. However, Swanson's batted-ball data was actually worse from August on, so it might simply have been the result of some BABIP luck. Swanson's ground ball rate has been way up in his first two seasons with the Cubs as compared to his last few years in Atlanta, which includes a career-high 49.9 percent ground ball rate in 2024. The 31-year-old could easily return to being a 20-plus home hitter if he can reverse that trend. Even if he doesn't, Swanson offers a safe floor.

Winn was dreadful during a cup of coffee with the big club down the stretch of the 2023 season, but that didn't stop the Cardinals from handing him their starting shortstop gig heading into 2024. The youngster rewarded the club's faith with a quality rookie season, as Winn collected a .730 OPS with 15 home runs and 11 stolen bases while playing 150 games. Ten of Winn's 15 long balls came after the All-Star break after the infielder tweaked his approach to eke out more power, but it came at the expense of 37 points of batting average. Winn was the Cardinals' leadoff hitter from June on, which helped boost his counting stats, but with just a .290 OBP from the leadoff spot, he's no guarantee to stay there, especially not versus righties. The shortstop had an .818 OPS against left-handers in 2024 but just a .691 OPS versus right-handed pitching.

Tovar laughed in the face of the sophomore slump theory and had a very productive 2024 season, albeit with some flaws. Tovar once again played nearly every day, but set new career highs in all run producing categories while also elevating his batting average. He was not as much of a help in OBP leagues, as his .295 OBP was a direct result of an anemic 3.3 percent walk rate. It is one thing when Judge or Schwarber strike out 200 times because they're hitting 45-plus homers while also walking 125-plus times in a season. Tovar hit 26 homers while striking out 200 times and walked 23 times all season. We have seen 21 instances of a player strike out at least 200 times in a season, and Tovar has the lowest walk total in that group. Tovar's home/road splits were surprisingly close to neutral, especially for a Colorado hitter, as his homers were evenly split, while the batting average was a difference of 16 points. Tovar will be there to volume his way through production again for Colorado, but managers and fans should expect a step, or even two steps, back rather than a step forward.

Adames had a down year in 2023 with 24 homers and a career-low .717 OPS, but he rebounded last season in a contract year as he finished with 32 home runs, 112 RBI, 93 runs, 21 steals and a .251/.331/.462 slash line. That set a new career high for homers, which came as the result of an increased 20.6-degree launch angle. It wasn't all roses for Adames in 2024, however, as he took a major step back defensively with minus-16 Defensive Runs Saved and zero Outs Above Average, which is a difference of 24 and 16, respectively, from his 2023 figures in each category. A defensive bounce back in 2025 wouldn't be surprising, but he is unlikely to approach his 2024 offensive production, especially after signing a long-term deal with the Giants. Given that the Brewers were second in the majors in stolen-base attempts and the Giants ranked 28th, there's no reason to project Adames to approach his 21 steals from 2024, and he'll also be playing his home games in the fourth-worst park for righty power, per Statcast (Brewers' home park ranks sixth best).

Fitzgerald's overall production was somewhat predicted by his work in the minors the previous two seasons, as he was a 20-20 player in both Double-A and Triple-A in the San Francisco system. He made the club out of camp, but did not see consistent playing time and was even sent back down to Triple-A until just before the All-Star break. He homered in his last start before the break and then proceeded to homer in each of the first four games after the break. That magical week was fun, but Fitzgerald only went on to homer nine more times with a .263/.311/.455 triple-slash line in the second half. The homers and steals were there, but so were the strikeouts, as Fitzgerald has consistently had below-average strikeout rates throughout his professional career. He made his living off hunting for fastballs, hitting .328 (.287 xBA) with nine of his 15 homers coming off fastballs, but his expected batting averages off nonfastballs was near .150 with a 44 percent whiff rate. The Giants signed Willy Adames and are moving Fitzgerald to second base, but there are some concerns given the swing-and-miss in his stroke.

The Padres elected to shift Bogaerts to second base early in spring training, but he still ended up making 20 starts at shortstop when Ha-Seong Kim was out due to injury, though Bogaerts himself was limited to 111 appearances overall with a shoulder fracture. That should give Bogaerts dual-position eligibility in most formats for 2025, but his .688 OPS is a more pressing concern. He totaled 11 home runs and 13 stolen bases, and his .381 slugging percentage was the lowest since his rookie year in 2014. Now entering his age-32 campaign, Bogaerts has an underwhelming .276/.332/.415 slash line in two seasons since inking an 11-year, $280 million contract with the Padres, which is a far cry from the .880 OPS he posted across his final five years in Boston. The solid batting average gives him a stable floor in one category, but Bogaerts' diminishing power -- which was often middling anyway in his prime -- will continue to limit his upside as a fantasy asset, unless he can turn back the clock. Given what's left of the contract, he should have every opportunity to get back on track.

Kiner-Falefa split his 2024 season between Toronto and Pittsburgh, but he's had remarkably stable production across all four of his teams. His primary asset at the plate is his ability to make consistent contact (career 15.6 percent strikeout rate) while maintaining a passable batting average. However, his 1.8 percent barrel rate and .089 career ISO highlight the lack of pop in his bat, and he's stolen just 25 bases combined across the last two seasons. That leaves the majority of his fantasy value tied up in team context. His current home in Pittsburgh likely offers him steady playing time at shortstop, but neither the home park nor lineup around him will help in terms of run-scoring or run-producing opportunities. Heading into 2025, Kiner-Falefa is best described as a player who is likely to have secure playing time but with little fantasy intrigue outside of the deepest formats.

A lot of the prospect shine has come off Lawlar due to a mounting injury history and some uncertainty about how much he'll hit at the highest level. Lawlar's season began with him getting optioned from big-league camp March 10, as Arizona didn't entertain the idea of him beating out Geraldo Perdomo for the everyday shortstop job and only wanted Lawlar on the big-league roster if he were going to play regularly. He had surgery for a torn ligament in his thumb in late March and returned within the initial 8-to-10 week timeline in early June. He went 8-for-20 with a home run, a triple and two doubles in his first four games with Triple-A Reno before suffering a Grade 1 left hamstring strain. Lawlar's recovery may have been rushed, as he aggravated the hamstring during his rehab assignment in early July and didn't return until mid-September. He played in 119 games in 2023 and 100 games in 2022, so while Lawlar has some major injuries on his ledger, the injury-prone tag wasn't applicable prior to 2024. His dynasty value is on a tipping point this offseason, as there are merits for buying low and for cashing out. He's a priority follow early in spring training.

Many scoffed at the idea of Arcia replacing Dansby Swanson at shortstop in Atlanta, but Arcia has been a net-positive player over the past couple years, less so in 2024. His numbers fell off almost across the board after a surprise All-Star campaign in 2023, with the most painful in fantasy being a 46-point drop in batting average to just .218. He equaled his homer total from the year prior with 17 and continued to provide well-above-average defense, which keeps him penciled in atop the depth chart at shortstop entering 2025. Atlanta could very well look to upgrade at the position before long since Arcia has limited offensive upside and is now on the wrong side of 30.

A femoral stress reaction in Tatis' right quadricep cost the shortstop-turned-outfielder more than two months of the 2024 season. He showed little rust down the stretch, however, slugging .578 with seven home runs in his final 22 regular-season games. He didn't stop there, adding four homers in seven postseason contests. Overall, his running was down; Tatis' stolen-base total fell from a career-high 29 to 11 last season as his sprint speed ranked in the 77th percentile. Whether related to prior PED use or not, the simple fact is that over the past two seasons Tatis has not come close to replicating the kind of rate power we saw from him before his wrist injury and subsequent PED suspension in 2022. The good news is that neither the power nor the speed need to fully return for Tatis to return to fantasy superstardom. It would just be nice if he took advantage of those bigger bases and new rules limited pickoff attempts in his remaining prime years.

When Tucker landed on the 10-day injured list in early June, his injury was labeled a right shin contusion. It wasn't until he was on the verge of his return in September that we learned Tucker was dealing with a fracture all along. Despite missing half the season, Tucker smacked 23 homers and stole 11 bases, though he only swiped one bag in 18 regular-season games following his return. Tucker took yet another step forward with his plate skills in 2024, walking more than he struck out in 336 plate appearances. Already a three-time All-Star heading into his age-28 season, Tucker has established an incredibly high floor with his pull-heavy approach from the left side. The steals may be somewhat in question coming off the shin fracture, but Tucker has been ultra efficient on the basepaths throughout his career, stealing 94 bases in 107 attempts. Now with the Cubs following a December trade, Tucker will still be an appealing choice in the first round as he plays for a huge payday next winter.

A first-round pick in most fantasy leagues last spring, Carroll was a bust for the first four months of 2024. At the end of July, he sat with a .664 OPS and just eight home runs. He more than doubled that latter number with 11 long balls in August alone before adding three more in September to bring his total to 22 home runs for the season. He still ended up down more than 50 points in batting average and 40 points in on-base percentage from his National League Rookie of the Year campaign in 2023. As a result of his struggles during the summer, Carroll dropped to the bottom third of the Arizona order at various points and his opportunities to steal bases weren't as plentiful. The outfielder still ranked in the 96th percentile in sprint speed, led the majors in triples with 14 and scored 121 runs despite the ups and downs. At 24 years old, Carroll appears to have a 20-30 floor and top-five overall upside given his speed, even if he doesn't necessarily light up Statcast with his batted-ball numbers.

Traded from the Padres to the Yankees in December of 2023, Soto put New York over the top in the American League last season. He posted 8.1 fWAR, the highest mark of his career and fourth in MLB behind Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt and Shohei Ohtani. Soto reached 40 homers for the first time ever, led the AL in runs scored with 128 and powered the club to the pennant with a .327/.469/.633 line and four homers in the postseason. A four-time All-Star before the age of 26, Soto received a historic payday from the Mets this winter. He's staying in New York but shifting from a park that was third best for lefty power, per Statcast, to the park that ranked 21st. His elite plate skills and proven durability give him a sky-high floor and top-five overall upside if his batting average swings toward the high end of his range of potential outcomes. The only drag in the rotisserie game is limited speed, but Soto isn't a total zero in the stolen base category, as he's swiped a total of 25 bags over the last three years.

Betts missed close to two months of the 2024 campaign due to a fractured left wrist, but he returned to help lift Los Angeles to a championship with a .951 OPS and four homers in the postseason. Now a three-time World Series champion, Betts has been an All-Star in each of the last eight full MLB seasons. His slugging percentage was down close to 90 points from 2023, when he was an MVP finalist in the National League, but Betts still graded out as 41 percent better than league average by wRC+. While he's still just 32 years old, Betts is at the point where he may need a few more days off after battling various injuries and falling below 123 games played in two of the past four years. His speed is starting to dry up, but he knows how to pick his spots, as evidenced by his 16 steals in 18 attempts last season. Eligible at shortstop and outfield entering 2025 -- plus second base in leagues with a 15-game minimum -- Betts should continue to thrive while batting between Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman in the Dodgers' lineup.

The 2021 second-round pick made his MLB debut in 2024 and quickly adjusted to The Show with nine homers, 14 steals and a .264/.354/.427 slash line in 79 games. His upside for counting stats should get a boost if the Nationals make any significant additions to their lineup during the offseason. Wood turned 22 years old in September and showed good patience at the plate with an 11.7 percent walk rate, though he also had a 28.7 percent strikeout rate, which is consistent with his swing-and-miss tendencies from the minors. Wood exclusively played left field in his first taste of the majors, but more time at designated hitter could be in store if he's unable to improve upon the minus-seven DRS and minus-six OAA he posted in nearly 700 innings. There's still plenty of upside here given his raw power and strong early performance, but Wood's contact issues could be problematic as he gets more exposed to major-league pitching.

Entering his age-23 season, Crow-Armstrong's bat is still well behind his glove, but he improved his offensive numbers down the stretch and positioned himself atop the Cubs' depth chart in center field to begin 2025. The first half of 2024 was ugly -- he sat with a .192/.243/.277 slash line at the end of June following his promotion from Triple-A Iowa -- but he went on to slash .287/.338/.470 over his final 202 MLB plate appearances. In addition to 10 homers, Crow-Armstrong chipped in 27 stolen bases in 30 attempts last season, ranking 13th in the National League in steals. He made just 17 starts against lefty pitching and his splits leave him open to platooning, but his excellent speed and defense would seem to give him a stable floor against right-handed pitching. Those skills prop him up and make Crow-Armstrong a viable pick in the middle rounds, although a speed-needy manager may push him up a bit higher than the overall package warrants.

Remember when Merrill accompanied the Padres overseas for the Korea Series but wasn't guaranteed to make the traditional Opening Day roster? He obviously stayed with the club, playing in 156 games and finishing second in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. A shortstop by trade, Merrill held his own in center field, displaying a plus arm and range. At the plate, he parlayed 68th percentile hard-hit and 78th percentile barrel rates into a 130 wRC+. The only hole in the Merrill's freshman season was a 4.9 percent walk rate, but fanning just 17 percent of the time masks a lack of patience. The Padres were mid-pack in steals, with Merrill chipping in with a useful 16 bags. It wasn't much, but Merrill undershot his xBA and xSLG, so he could benefit from positive regression. He lost shortstop eligibility, but in today's landscape Merrill's fantasy value is unaffected.

Cruz missed nearly all of 2023 due to a fractured ankle but avoided the injured list last season and played in 146 games. He provided plenty of fantasy production with 21 homers, 22 steals, 76 RBI, 72 runs and a .259/.324/.449 slash line, but his 30.4 percent strikeout rate illustrates the ongoing concern with the swing-and-miss in his stroke. A 20-20 campaign is nothing to sneeze at, though the homer total is still a bit underwhelming given he hit 17 long balls in just 87 games as a rookie in 2022. Cruz also committed 24 errors with minus-nine DRS in 112 contests at shortstop, which led to the Pirates moving him to center field for the final month of the season. It was his first time playing center field as a professional, and he posted minus-three DRS in 195 innings. Having a full offseason to get more comfortable with the position should help immensely, and Pittsburgh is reportedly committed to keeping him in the outfield. Fantasy managers will benefit from the dual-position eligibility for at least 2025, and another 20-20 campaign -- with room for growth -- should be the expectation for Cruz.

Edman's recovery from offseason wrist surgery dragged on much longer than anticipated, as he didn't make his season debut until late August. The super utility player was a Dodger by that time, having been flipped there from the Cardinals at the trade deadline in a three-team deal with the White Sox. Edman clubbed a surprising six home runs in September before starring for the Dodgers in the postseason. The switch-hitting Edman has long been better from the right side of the plate, and he took that to the extreme during a small sample with the Dodgers in collecting a 1.299 OPS against lefties and .523 OPS versus righties. He's going to be an everyday guy in 2025 and is expected to see significant action in center field, however, but he offers plus defense at whatever position the team decides to use him. Edman did finish shy of 20 games played at shortstop and second base, so his positional eligibility could be limited.

Chourio inked an eight-year, $80 million extension with the Brewers in November of 2023 before making his MLB debut, and he lived up to the hype during his rookie campaign and finished with 21 homers, 22 steals and a .275/.327/.464 slash line in 148 contests. However, the road wasn't smooth for the young outfielder, as he struggled mightily through the first two months of the season and had a .581 OPS at the end of May. Chourio then got comfortable and had an .883 OPS the rest of the way, which likely would have been enough to win him National League Rookie of the Year most seasons, but Paul Skenes and Jackson Merrill were even more impressive. Chourio's numbers were supported by a .278 xBA and .438 xSLG, so there's no reason to believe the production is unsustainable. He'll turn just 21 years old in March and has as much upside as anyone in the sport while coming off an already strong rookie year.

Hernandez is arguably one of the game's most underrated sluggers, even after he helped lift the Dodgers to a championship in 2024. Signed to a one-year, $23.5 million contract last winter, he popped a career-high 33 homers with 99 RBI during the regular season, both second on the team to Shohei Ohtani. Hernandez has now reached 25 homers in each of the last five full MLB seasons, and he's driven in 90-plus in three of the last four years. The outfielder hits the ball so hard that he's rarely a batting-average drain despite a K rate of nearly 30 percent for his career, while his defensive deficiencies are not enough to cost him playing time, at least not at this stage. The steals are the cherry on top from a fantasy standpoint, but it would not be a surprise if he fell back to single digits in 2025. Expect him to hit in the heart of the order for Los Angeles once again after he re-upped on a three-year, $66 million deal in late December.

First off the board in nearly all drafts last spring, Acuna suffered a complete tear of the ACL in his left knee in late May, ending his season. President of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said in November that Acuna is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day in 2025, and he had previously indicated the outfielder's absence could extend into June on the lengthier end of his timetable. Acuna's numbers were down virtually across the board before the injury, as he managed just four homers in 222 plate appearances while his strikeout rate more than doubled to 23.9%. He dealt with meniscus irritation in his right knee in spring training, which could explain some of the issues. A four-time All-Star and former MVP entering his age-27 season, Acuna is on a Hall of Fame trajectory, but the fact that he tore both ACLs in the span of three years has to bring into question his durability and the sustainability of his production, at least to the levels we've seen so far in his career. It may be best to set expectations closer to 2022 when he was coming off his prior knee repair surgery.

Reynolds is on a four-year run of production after the 2020 season scared so many into thinking 2019 was a fluke. What is particularly impressive is just how consistent Reynolds has been over these three seasons, with his counting category production around the volatility of what batting average brings to the table. Yes, his walk rate has declined a bit in each of those seasons, which has cut into his OBP rates, but the new stolen base environment uncovered more value for Reynolds, so he is now a true five-category contributor hitting in the top of the lineup. The switch-hitter is at his best as a lefty and has come to really enjoy hitting at PNC as well. The 2024 season saw him once again feast on fastballs, with 17 of his 24 homers coming off heaters. This continues a trend of him hitting at least 16 homers off fastballs in each of the past four seasons. The one negative to look at is his second-half performance, which included a .261/.338/.380 slash line and six homers compared to the .284/.347/.487 line with 18 homers before the break. Maybe mix in a day off here and there in 2025?

Castellanos was one of just four players to appear in all 162 games last season, allowing him to reach 23 homers, six steals, 80 runs and 86 RBI on a respectable but unexciting .254/.311/.431 slash line. With no obvious threats to his playing time, $40 million remaining on his contract over the next two seasons and a fairly durable health track record, he could be one of the better compilers in fantasy baseball again in 2025, riding everyday at-bats in a strong lineup with a hitter-friendly home park to big counting-stat totals. But we can't ignore the fact that his real-world profile already looks ill-suited to an everyday job on a contender, with his lack of walks (6.2%) keeping him to a modest 105 wRC+ and a lack of value with his legs or glove limiting him to 0.4 fWAR. A step back at the plate in his age-33 season could threaten his everyday role even without an obvious alternative on the roster, leaving him unable to post the totals fantasy managers are used to.