Top fantasy baseball draft strategies for 2025
Although I have some tried-and-true fantasy baseball draft strategies, I like to alter my plans each year. After all, the MLB landscape is constantly changing, and using last year’s plan is a great way to lose this year’s league. Here are my top tips for having a successful 2025 draft.
Start with 30-homer, .280 players
Based on my experiences the past two seasons, I’m making a change in how I attack the early rounds of drafts. Wise managers make draft decisions in conjunction with expected free-agent availability. Recent Major League rule changes have led to an increase in stolen bases, and there are now plenty of base stealers at all points of the drafts.
Additionally, base stealers are often readily available on the waiver wire. Players who produce at least 30 homers and a batting average of .280 or better are rarely available beyond the early rounds of drafts, and I have a goal of selecting two of those players before looking for speedier men in the subsequent rounds.
Balanced contributors
Research I completed a few years ago showed that hitters who produce lofty totals in a specific category rarely match their production the following year. Of course, I would be happy to draft Aaron Judge this season, as he could experience a significant home run decline and still rank among the most productive players. But in general, I try to avoid players who specialize in one area, such as Kyle Schwarber, Anthony Santander, Cal Raleigh, Luis Arráez or Brice Turang. These men tend to have little value if their singular skill deserts them for a period of time. Instead, I would like to have several players who offer some help in most areas.
Stockpile starters
Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal are great pitchers, but so far they can’t hold a candle to the prime years of Clayton Kershaw, Jacob deGrom, Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer. For that reason, this isn’t the year to invest a first-round pick on a starter. Additionally, this isn’t the year to go with “pocket aces,” which is a strategy of drafting two elite starters in the first 3-4 rounds of your draft.
Instead, this is a great year to grab a few impactful hitters before building a deep group of above-average starters. Given the volatility that comes with hurlers, there is an excellent chance that a couple of members of your rotation will break out, especially if you put some research into your choices. I would be happy to draft as many as four starters in rounds 4-10.
Wait on closers ...
In Yahoo leagues, this is a good year to wait on closers. There are plenty of relievers coming off the board in the range of pick 145-200 who have an excellent chance to earn 30 saves. Pirates closer David Bednar could bounce back from an injury-impacted season, as could Jordan Romano, now that he is with the Phillies. Ryan Pressly was once a terrific closer for the Astros and should meet expectations with the Cubs. Kenley Jansen is past his prime but has sole possession of the ninth inning for the Angels.
My goal is to land a couple of those hurlers, while also dabbling in muddled bullpens in the final rounds from teams such as the D-backs, Tigers, Red Sox and Rangers.
... and wait on catchers, too
The 2025 catcher pool is deep, which makes it appealing to wait on the position in one-catcher leagues. The No. 1 backstop, William Contreras, is worth an early-round pick, but once he is off the board, I’ll pass on reaching for the likes of Adley Rutschman or Salvador Pérez. Instead, I’m happy to let my draft run past pick 160 before considering the likes of J.T. Realmuto, Shea Langeliers and Logan O’Hoppe. And I don’t hate the idea of being even more patient and gambling on Austin Wells or Iván Herrera in the range of pick 250.
Late upside
Chasing upside in the late rounds is always the right move in Yahoo leagues. I want to draft players who will either be significant contributors or easy players to cut by the middle of April because that’s the time of year when the waiver wire is the most fertile. Rookies who secure spots on the Opening Day roster are the best gamble.
In a perfect world, you’ll find this year’s Jackson Merrill, Colton Cowser or Luis Gil. And you have nothing to lose at that point in the draft. The goal of chasing upside doesn’t need to exclusively involve rookies, either. Other groups to consider are possible closers, post-hype sleepers and bounce-back players. Either way, the last thing I want in the final rounds is a group of veterans with low floors and high ceilings.
Get your guys
My last, and most important, piece of advice is to blaze your own trail.
Do your research, identify the players you want and get them on your roster. You can listen to advice from writers like me, but don’t let us tell you what to do. The only stipulation to this part of the plan is that you need to identify the reason why you want to target certain players in your draft. If you can’t come up with a good reason, then you haven’t put enough thought into it.
The worst thing in fantasy sports is to identify a breakout player and then spend the season watching him blossom on someone else’s roster. Make sure that doesn’t happen to you.
Topics
-
7 fantasy baseball sleepers to target in the last round of 2025 drafts
Some late sleepers to target in 2025 fantasy baseball drafts.Yahoo Sports - 1h -
2025 Fantasy Baseball: Top rookie prospects to consider in drafts
Fantasy baseball analyst Andy Behrens puts the spotlight on some key youngsters who could make a huge impact whenever they get the chance.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Fantasy Baseball: Top outfield sleepers for 2025
Fantasy baseball analyst Dalton Del Don shares why he believes these five outfielders could make waves in 2025.Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Fantasy Baseball: Top pitching sleepers for 2025
Fantasy baseball analyst Dalton Del Don uncovers some intriguing sleeper candidates on the mound.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
2025 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit: Rankings, sleepers and much more
We've compiled all the awesome content the Yahoo Fantasy baseball crew has put together to help you draft a winning team this season!Yahoo Sports - Mar. 5 -
Fantasy Baseball Rankings 2025: Top sleepers, breakouts, busts from model that nailed Rutschman's slow season
SportsLine simulated the entire MLB season 10,000 times and identified 2025 Fantasy baseball sleepers, breakout and bustsCBS Sports - 1d -
Fantasy Baseball: Top infield sleepers (1st base, 2nd base, 3rd base & shortstop)
Fantasy baseball analyst Dalton Del Don offers up some underrated infielders to consider in drafts.Yahoo Sports - 4d -
2025 Fantasy Baseball Draft Prep: How far do George Kirby and Gerrit Cole's injuries drop them?
With two aces out for Opening Day, how does this change things for Fantasy draftsCBS Sports - 5d -
2025 Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitcher Preview: Sleepers, breakouts, busts, ranking the top 12 and more
A complete position breakdown on what you need to know before you draftCBS Sports - 2d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
As the NWSL brings in foreign talent, international players savor new opportunity: ‘Everyone just goes for the win all the time’
A new NWSL season kicks off this weekend, and there are a number of new faces across the league. Many of these players represent a trend in the NWSL: an influx of foreign players as the U.S.-based ...Yahoo Sports - 6m -
Dallas governor Patrick Dumont on Doncic trade: 'This was a decision about the future'
Trading a 25-year-old Doncic for a 32-year-old Anthony Davis was about the future? Sure.Yahoo Sports - 8m -
Free agent LB Eric Wilson leaves Packers to sign with Vikings
Free agent linebacker Eric Wilson is leaving the Packers to sign a two-year deal with the rival Vikings.Yahoo Sports - 11m -
Panthers' Jaycee Horn speaks on being the highest-paid DB in NFL history
Jaycee Horn worked hard to get his record-breaking contract extension. And now, he wants to work even harder to get the Panthers some more wins.Yahoo Sports - 11m -
Allen O’Donoghue: The Psychological Impact of Liverpool’s Champions League Exit
Mindset, Expectations, and the Weight of Defeat: Liverpool’s Champions League Exit and the Psychological Battle AheadLiverpool’s elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Paris Saint-G...Yahoo Sports - 11m
More in Sports
-
As the NWSL brings in foreign talent, international players savor new opportunity: ‘Everyone just goes for the win all the time’
A new NWSL season kicks off this weekend, and there are a number of new faces across the league. Many of these players represent a trend in the NWSL: an influx of foreign players as the U.S.-based ...Yahoo Sports - 6m -
Dallas governor Patrick Dumont on Doncic trade: 'This was a decision about the future'
Trading a 25-year-old Doncic for a 32-year-old Anthony Davis was about the future? Sure.Yahoo Sports - 8m -
Free agent LB Eric Wilson leaves Packers to sign with Vikings
Free agent linebacker Eric Wilson is leaving the Packers to sign a two-year deal with the rival Vikings.Yahoo Sports - 11m -
Panthers' Jaycee Horn speaks on being the highest-paid DB in NFL history
Jaycee Horn worked hard to get his record-breaking contract extension. And now, he wants to work even harder to get the Panthers some more wins.Yahoo Sports - 11m -
Manchester City vs Brighton and Hove Albion (Premier League): Match Preview, Team News, Stats, Head to Head, How to Watch
Manchester City return to action back at the Etihad Stadium against Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend in the last fixture before the March international break.Pep Guardiola and his players are ...Yahoo Sports - 11m