Fantasy Baseball Player Notes

Christian Walker has been chronically undervalued for most of his career. Over the past three years, he has been a model of consistency, though an oblique injury cut into his production in 2024. He was traded from Arizona to Houston in the offseason, where he will bat in the middle of the order and provide protection for Yordan Alvarez. While he is heading into his age-33 season, Walker should be the fifth first baseman off the board in most drafts and should provide similar production to the four above him at a much cheaper cost.

Yainer Diaz became the Astros' starting catcher in 2024, which put a dent in his power numbers given the physical responsibilities of playing the position more regularly. In 148 games, he hit 16 homers with 84 RBI and 70 runs while slashing .299/.325/.441. For some, the catcher position in fantasy is about finding someone who isn't going to hurt you, and Diaz offers that, particularly in batting average. His xBA was the exact same as his actual, and he has a career average of .291. It's possible that the 26-year-old could cross the 20-homer mark in 2025, but you should draft him for his average and RBI potential.

​Isaac Paredes delivered a solid fantasy performance in 2024, hitting 19 home runs, driving in 80 runs, and scoring 64 times across 153 games split between the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago Cubs. His .238/.346/.393 slash line remained in line with 2023's numbers. Paredes's average exit velocity of 85 mph and a 27.1% hard-hit rate suggest some caution regarding drafting him for potential power. A 16.4% strikeout rate aligns with his career norms, but his 11.9% walk rate indicates a keen eye at the plate. The Astros' Minute Maid Park, with its short left-field porch, should complement Paredes' pull-heavy approach, potentially boosting his home run totals.