After Hyeseong Kim signed with the Dodgers, noticed somebody write that he might hit on the prime of the order, and to that I say, certain, if Ohtani, Betts and Freeman are all injured. By the way in which, throughout this Christmas break, I used to be in Palm Springs with Cougs and Mom Cougs out at a restaurant that had an elevator (Nobu). Any hoo! We’re exiting and Mom Cougs has a cane, so gingerly, and I’m tending to her as a result of I’m the perfect son-in-law. Coming onto the elevator was 4 individuals, very tall, and I solely observed the very tall blonde lady as a result of she stepped apart for us, and the opposite individuals had been so tall I didn’t even hassle to look that prime up. So, we get again to the valet and there’s a Rolls SUV and I joked that they pulled my automotive round already and the valet says, “Ha, that is Freddie Freeman’s, did you see him by the elevator.” No! I didn’t! As a result of I used to be tending to my mother-in-law! Good guys end final! Okay, again to Hyeseong Kim. His title gained’t in any respect be complicated in feedback when individuals abbreviate his title. This Kim gained’t bat vs. lefties. Final yr, the 25-year-old hit 11 HRs, stole 30 baggage and hit .326 with a .841 OPS and .383 OBP. His near-namesake smoked most of these numbers within the KBO, for comparability’s sake. Ha-Seong Kim peaked at 30 HRs, 33 SBs and hit .306 (in numerous seasons). Right here, that turned 14/25/.250-ish. By the way in which, individuals holding out hope for Pages, Outman or Dashing, the Dodgers won’t ever play their prospects or they only sux like Lux. 2025 Projections: 55/7/51/.262/26 in 479 ABs. Anyway, right here’s what else I noticed this offseason in 2025 fantasy baseball:
PSYCHE! The rankings begin on Monday! [rings old fashioned school bell] The rankings begin on Monday! However in the event you don’t wish to wait because the rankings come out over the course of a month, they’re all on Patreon now. Anyway II, the roundup:
Jeff Hoffman – Signed with the Jays. Sorry, Chad Inexperienced, you at the moment are a setup man. As KRS-One sang, the Y-the I-the M-the I. It’s Yimi! Yeah, Yimi Garcia is now a setup man. Erik Swanson? Properly, you had been by no means in consideration for saves anyway. Kinda excited to see what The Hoff can do when a crew doesn’t problem him, and let’s him save video games all yr. If he can keep wholesome, he may very well be a sneaky prime 5 nearer who isn’t drafted as one. The “if wholesome” is slightly giant although since he failed a pair shoulder exams earlier than this signing. 2025 Projections: 3-2/2.71/0.95/64, 21 saves in 52 IP
Colin Rea – Signed with the Cubs. Meh, nothing right here for fantasy, however groups at the moment are all like, “Who’re we bumping from the rotation so as to add on this new pitcher we simply signed? Uhh, how about we simply go to a six-man rotation since nobody can throw 200 IP anymore?”
Braxton Garrett – Will miss 2025 season having the interior brace surgical procedure, which isn’t fairly Tommy John surgical procedure, name it Tommy Juan surgical procedure. I do know surgical procedure sucks for gamers, however groups ought to be pushing these guys to get surgical procedure manner faster. Braxton had a difficulty final February! Simply threw away an additional season for no cause.
Dom Smith – Signed with the Yanks. Yanks signed Paul Goldschmidt to be their on a regular basis 1st baseman. So, in July, Dom Smith and Ben Rice might be dealing with duties for the foreseeable future.
Justin Verlander – Signed with the Giants. That may be summed up with:
Justin Verlander to the Giants
— Razzball (@razzball.bsky.social) January 7, 2025 at 5:01 PM
2025 Projections: 7-7/4.32/1.36/86 in 106 IP
Amed Rosario – Signed with the Nats. It’s not onerous to be a hater, however it’s onerous to be constant about my hate, which I attempt to be. I hate groups that do nothing so it doesn’t utterly sq. the circle to additionally hate groups that do make strikes, however the Nats strikes actually annoy me. Play Yepez, not Nathaniel Lowe. Play Jose Tena, not Amed Rosario. Play anybody however Josh Bell. Don’t you’ve got Brady Home? Nats made a multitude of their enjoying time this offseason. 2025 Projections: 43/5/33/.276/18 in 354 ABs
Charlie Morton – Signed with the O’s. Orioles are like, “Take a look at all our horny hitters! Why are you taking a look at our pitchers? Cease taking a look at them…I stated cease!” The Orioles and Mariners collectively would make one superteam aka the Dodgers. So, I wasn’t going to rank Charlie Morton, then went again and appeared on the Participant Rater to see the place he ended up and it was eighty fifth general for starters (proper behind Dean Kremer and Albert Suarez, ha), so Morton is draftable, if barely. 2025 Projections: 10-10/4.10/1.30/169 in 167 IP
Gavin Lux – Traded to the Reds, or as Kendrick Lamar would say, “Dodgers not like Lux.” As I theorized final yr, how a lot wouldn’t it take to purchase off prospect writers to make them say good issues about your prospects? $2K? Perhaps a thou? So, what in the event you paid them to say good issues about your prospects then traded them? I’m not satisfied this isn’t what the Dodgers are doing. One thing tremendous fishy about how well-respected their prospects are and the way terrible all of them end up. Lux goes to a touch higher park (however not that a lot better), and worse lineup and might’t play wherever however 2nd, which is the place McLain ought to play. 2025 Projections: 48/13/51/.279/4 in 311 ABs