Fantasy Baseball Player Notes
2025 Fantasy Baseball Draft Notes
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14.
Devin Williams
RP
Devin Williams had a truncated 2024 season due to back fractures, but he returned to form after resuming closer duties. He racked up 14 saves while only blowing one of them and struck out 38 batters in 21 2/3 innings for a ridiculous 43.2% strikeout rate. He will always walk more people than we'd like for fantasy purposes, but it's the trade-off for one of the top strikeout artists in the closer role. Now in the Bronx, Williams will be the ninth-inning guy for the Yankees with all the job security in the world.
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31.
Max Fried
SP
Max Fried delivered a solid fantasy performance in 2024, recording 11 wins against 10 losses over 29 starts, with a 3.25 ERA, 166 strikeouts, and a 1.16 WHIP across 174.1 innings. His underlying metrics support his effectiveness; he induced a 58.8% ground ball rate (leading the National League), held opponents to an average exit velocity of 86.3 mph (second-lowest in the NL), and allowed a hard-hit percentage of 26.1%. His Statcast data further reinforces his performance, with an average exit velocity of 86.3 mph, a hard-hit rate of 34.6%, and a barrel rate of 5%. He signed his eight-year, $218 million contract with the Yankees. While the ballpark is a bit of a downgrade, Fried's consistent performance and ability to induce weak contact make him a solid option for fantasy managers seeking reliability and upside in the 2025 season.
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52.
Carlos Rodon
SP
Carlos Rodon rebounded impressively in 2024, delivering a strong fantasy season with 16 wins, a 3.96 ERA, and 195 strikeouts over 175 innings pitched. This performance marked a significant improvement from his injury-plagued 2023 season, where he struggled with a 6.85 ERA over 14 starts. Rodon's 1.59 HR/9 rate in 2024 raises some concerns and 2025 projections suggest some overall regression is in store. He is a decent SP3 or SP4 but nothing to get excited about.
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93.
Clarke Schmidt
SP
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136.
Luis Gil
SP
Luis Gil seemingly came out of nowhere and took home the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year award. Fantasy managers who snagged him off waivers early were rewarded with a 0.70 ERA in May. He had a terrible June (6.45 ERA) but bounced back in July with a 3.33, and that is where the fantasy fun ended. The Yankees began managing his workload, and his 4.36 xFIP suggests there is plenty of regression on tap in 2025. Gil has a rotation spot locked up in New York, and if he can improve his 12.1% walk rate, he could return some value. Just don't draft him because he won the Roy award, and expect his intensely good May to be the norm.
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137.
Luke Weaver
RP
Luke Weaver emerged as a pivotal asset for the Yankees' bullpen in 2024, transitioning seamlessly into the closer role during the season's final month. Over 62 appearances, he posted a 7-3 record with a 2.89 ERA and 0.93 WHIP, striking out 103 batters across 84 innings, and securing four saves. The closer role is Devin Williams's to lose, but Weaver will be waiting in the wings should he falter.
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156.
Will Warren
SP
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226.
Marcus Stroman
SP
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256.
Ian Hamilton
RP
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269.
Mark Leiter Jr.
RP
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275.
Carlos Carrasco
SP
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306.
Fernando Cruz
RP
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319.
Allan Winans
SP
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382.
Jake Cousins
RP
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415.
Clayton Beeter
RP
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454.
Jonathan Loaisiga
RP
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476.
Ryan Yarbrough
RP
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582.
Scott Effross
RP
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586.
Brent Headrick
RP
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607.
Tyler Stuart
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636.
JT Brubaker
SP
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754.
Cam Schlittler
SP
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804.
Yerry De Los Santos
RP
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805.
Wilking Rodriguez
RP
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817.
Colten Brewer
RP
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836.
Geoff Hartlieb
RP
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853.
Tim Hill
RP
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912.
Michael Arias
RP
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964.
Chase Hampton
SP
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981.
Carson Coleman
RP
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985.
McKinley Moore
RP
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