FTN Fantasy Baseball Podcast

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Outfield is Shallow with Lucas Biery Mar 04, 2025

Show notes

Vlad Sedler is joined by FTN colleague and writer Lucas Biery as they break down outfielders in the ADP 150-450, discuss outfield-related draft strategies and tackle fantasy-relevant news nuggets on over a dozen players including Freddie Freeman, Luis Gil, Sean Murphy and Adolis Garcia. If you're on Bluesky, follow Lucas there @lucasbiery33@bsky.social.

Spring Training News

Sean Murphy, Drake Baldwin (Braves)
Adolis Garcia oblique (Rangers)
Brandon Knee-mo (pronounced nih-moe)
Junior Caminero helium - how to adjust
Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker
Avoiding Parker Meadows
Freddie Freeman maintenance
Jacob deGrom - wise limitations
Luis Gil - avoid altogether?
Jackson Jobe and Walker Buehler - to the moon?
Kumar Rocker to the minors?
Quinn Mathews, coming soon
Alexis Diaz, Reds job leash

Outfield Tiers

Tier 5: Arozarena, J. Lowe, Profar, Lane Thomas, Casty, Soler, Ward
Tier 6: Revisiting Kerry Carpenter, TON!, Buxton wow expensive, Noooot, Nolan Jones
Tier 7: Steady Brendan Donovan, Roman Anthony, Wallner, injuries beget injuries
Post-300 ADP: Vlad and Lucas' favorite targets
Strategy talk - how to attack the position in roto drafts

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The 2025 FTN Fantasy Baseball Guide is loaded with the best preseason fantasy baseball content, rankings, projections and fantasy tools! Join us this season at www.FTNFantasy.com. No team of analysts is better equipped to help you dominate your drafts and leagues.

NEW!! The FTN Custom Rankings & Projections tool

A few of our preseason tools:

Your fantasy baseball cheat code: FTN Fantasy Baseball

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CPGs and Outfield Tiers Feb 28, 2025

Show notes

Vlad Sedler (@rotogut) and Jason Anthony (@booms62) break down the latest spring training news, discuss position battles, explain the value of FTN's new Custom Rankings & Projections tool and dive into outfielders in the ADP top 150 overall.

Spring Training News

Orioles: Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg setbacks. Too many hitters, need Cease ASAP.
Blue Jays: Daulton Varsho back soon, George Springer's value if not a leadoff man, Andres Gimenez rising.
Yankees: Battle for the leadoff spot: Dominguez, Jazz, Volpe and...LeMahieu?
Angels: Zach Neto news, Mike Trout helium, Tim Anderson making the team?
Cubs: Nico Hoerner not big in Japan, Matt Shaw on the mend.
Reds: Bad org, CES, McLain power.
Dodgers: Freddie Freeman's new value
Starting Pitchers: Max Meyer, Brandon Woodruff, Dodgers SP5 battle, Tomoyuki Sugano
Closers/Relievers: Felix Bautista, the Royals, Kyle Finnegan never ever or maybe

Outfield Tiers

Aaron Judge on an island
Carroll, Soto, Tucker or Tatis?
Chourio and Yordan
The Duran, Jazz, Merrill tier
Ronnie doing Ronnie (running?)
Oneil Cruz statmash
Brenton Doyle, VMI
Luis Robert Jr., we're out
Santander and Greene on SP Island
Trout and Yelich
Happ, Kwan, Crews, PCA, Lowe, Randy and Adolis

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NEW!! The FTN Custom Rankings & Projections tool

A few of our preseason tools:

Your fantasy baseball cheat code: FTN Fantasy Baseball

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Second Base and Shortstop Tiers Feb 21, 2025

Show notes

Vlad Sedler (@rotogut) and Jason Anthony (@booms62) dive into the two middle infield positions - second base and shortstop - by value tiers, through ADP 400. They discuss some news from around MLB with the beginning of the exhibition season.

News from around MLB spring training camps

Dodgers and Cubs game on Thursday
Ohtani leading off again - Giants fans still despise the Dodgers
Effect of Justin Turner on Michael Busch - Cubs
Matt Shaw playing time expectations
Angels news - Mike Trout, Tim Anderson, Yoan Moncada, Kenley Jansen, Yusei Kikuchi
Yankees' leadoff possibilities
Big Mouth Casas, Alex Bregman's leadership and the Boston Red Sox
This Kristian Campbell hype is no joke
Astros and the 40 stolen bases Brendan Rodgers brings (sarcasm)
Phillies: Trea and Schwarbs

Middle Infield Tiers

The 2024 position leaders and the post-100 ADP breakouts
Bobby Witt > Shohei Ohtani at 1.01?
Elly vs. Gunnar
Mookie Betts is getting older (we stay the same age)
Ketel Marte data re-dive
Oneil Cruz's Statcast metrics are insane
Corey Seager and Wyatt Langford
Altuves in the Outfield
What's with the Jordan Westburg hype?
Marcus Semien was bad
Masyn Winn + Xavier Edwards promise 100 SB
Is Anthony Volpe overrated?
Ceddanne Rafaela Overdrive
Gleyber in Detroit
Nico Hoerner's health
Tyler Fitzgerald is not Nolan Jones
Brandon Lowe or Lowe?
Thairo Estrada in Coors
Falafels of Isiah
Durbin's got Wheels

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Corner Infielder Tiers with Mike Mager Feb 14, 2025

Show notes

Vlad Sedler (@rotogut) and Mike Mager (@bronxyankees23) discuss a variety of topics, starting with the volatility of the closer position, Alex Bregman in Boston and Kenley Jansen back in LA, though now with the Angels. The bulk of the episode dives into each of the first seven tiers of corner infielders (1B and 3B) then the show is wrapped up with a breakdown of the Utility-Only hitters like Brent Rooker, Marcell Ozuna and Kyle Schwarber. Sit back and relax but make sure to have a pen and paper (or laptop) handy to take some notes! You've got fantasy baseball rankings to adjust.

Closer Issues

Bye bye Ben Joyce, hello Kenley
More clarity with Tanner Scott
Blake Treinen is a value

Recent News

Alex Bregman and the fantasy impact on the rest of the Red Sox infield
Nick Pivetta and Kyle Hart to the Padres
Orioles: Sugano visa issues and concerns about Felix Bautista

Corner Infielders

Tier 1 - Jose Ramirez, Guerrero, Freeman and Harper
How we really feel about Jazz this season
Tier 2 - Machado, Olson and concerns with Rafael Devers
Tier 3 - Mets corners, Caminero, Walker, Vinnie P - so much value
Tier 4 - Casas, Royce, Burger; do Goldschmidt and Toglia belong here?
Tier 5 - Spencer Steer, power hitters and some batting average boons
Tier 6 - Some sneaky speed here and some profitable 1B's
Tier 7 - 4-P Willi C, thoughts on Christian Encarnacion-Strand's upside, Tyler Soderstrom and poor Andrew Vaughn
Tier 8 - A few solid veterans in this group including Carlos Santana

Utility-Only

Is Mike taking Ohtani first overall?
Schwarber, Ozuna and Rooker - who's our favorite?
Giancarlo Stanton and Joc Pederson
Kyle Manzardo and Masataka Yoshida

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A few of our preseason tools:

The best fantasy baseball subscription money can buy: FTN Fantasy Baseball

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Catcher Tiers & Closer Chicken Feb 07, 2025

Show notes

Vlad Sedler (@rotogut) and Jason Anthony (@booms62) begin their position tiers podcast series with a deep dive into the catcher position. Is William Contreras worth a second-round pick? Who is the Cal Raleigh-clone you can draft several rounds later? How can you help the batting average category with a late-round catcher? Vlad and Jason have all the answers in this week's episode. They also cover the recent signing of Pete Alonso by the Mets and other recent free agent additions, discuss the ADP shift in the closer and relief pitcher market, open a sneaky pocket of late-round reliever fantasy value, and review some player news ahead of pitchers and catchers reporting to camp.

The Closer Rabbit Hole

Carlos Estevez and Lucas Erceg on the Royals
How to value Kirby Yates and Tanner Scott
Robert Suarez trade rumors keep on swirling
Booms loves him some Kenley Jansen. To the Tigers?
Is Ryan Pressly going to win and hold that Cubs job?
Wasting time on Calvin Faucher and Jesus Tinoco
Playing Closer Chicken in the middle rounds

Recent Signing and News

Pete Alonso rejoins the Mets - how does this impact Mark Vientos?
Ha-Seong Kim to Florida because you can smoke indoors (oh, wait, he can't?)
Jack Flaherty, Jackson Jobe and the Detroit Tigers pitching staff
Platoon outfielders - Tommy Pham (PIT), Ramon Laureano (BAL), Randal Grichuk (ARZ), Harrison Bader (MIN)
Playing Time effects based on these recent signings
A sidetrack on creative ways the Dodgers will use their pitchers

Catchers in 2025

Tier 1 - Can William Contreras do it again?
Tier 2 - Expectations for Willson Contreras, Cal Raleigh and Will Smith
Tier 3 - Differing opinions on Logan O'Hoppe. Love for Shea Bangeliers
Tier 4 - What to do with Realmuto, Sean Murphy and Keibert Ruiz's 3% barrel rate
Tier 5 - Sneaky values
12-team streaming strategies early in the season

Please help us out by rating and reviewing the podcast!

A few of our preseason tools:

The best fantasy baseball subscription money can buy: FTN Fantasy Baseball

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PT Presumptions & Educated Edges Jan 16, 2025

Show notes

Vlad Sedler (@rotogut) and Jason Anthony (@booms62) are back in the swing of things for 2025 in this week's episode of the FTN Fantasy Baseball podcast. Vlad and Jason discuss recent news, free agent signings, the value of projections and playing time assessments and dig into undervalued players in relation to the recent ADP market. The overall theme in this episode is looking for angles and edges in this competitive fantasy landscape.

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Episode Overview

Recent News

Roki Sasaki down to the Dodgers, Padres and Jays - does "Godfather" Yu Darvish get this over the line for the Friars?
Jeff Hoffman with a chip on (hopefully, not in) his shoulder
Justin Verlander and his impact on the J.P. Martinez's stable of young arms
Paul Goldschmidt rebound and the high-flying Yankees

Playing Time, Projections, Finding Edges

The VDP Projections symmetrical environment
FTN Custom Rankings Tool on the way
Playing Time inputs and where to challenge them
Left-handed power hitters and their fantasy value
- Kerry Carpenter, Tigers
- Josh Lowe, Rays
- Matt Wallner, Twins
- Max Kepler, Phillies
- Kyle Manzardo, Guardians
- Joc Pederson, Rangers
Evan Carter's 2024 wRC+ vs. LHPs
Luis Garcia Jr. and the platoon assumption rabbit hole
Alec Burleson and the value of Cardinals hitters
Those crazy Red Sox and their reclamation projects
A couple of edges to explore amidst a sea of transparent data

A few of our preseason tools:

Promo code 'VDP' gets 10% off a fantasy baseball subscription (expiring soon)

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Top 30 Starting Pitchers with Mike Mager Dec 20, 2024

Show notes

Vlad Sedler is joined by FTN Fantasy Baseball analyst and reigning NFBC Auction Champ, Mike Mager. Vlad and Mike discuss the recent signings of Christian Walker and Max Kepler and dive into the starting pitcher player pool, reviewing the top 30 via NFBC ADP.

Episode Overview

Mike's Auction Primer preview

Recent Transactions

Christian Walker, Astros
Max Kepler, Phillies
Gio Urshela, Athletics
Hoby Milner, Rangers and the likelihood of signing Kirby Yates
Sandoval (BOS), Soroka (WAS), Canning (NYM) - no, thank you

Early Player Pool Thoughts - Top 30 Starting Pitchers

Comparing Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal
Zack Wheeler vs. Logan Gilbert
The X-Factor, Jacob deGrom
Garrett Crochet helium
Overall FILTH arsenal grades
Expectations for Snell, Yamamoto, Glasnow
Old Reliable, Corbin Burnes
Dylan Cease vs. Cole Ragans
The 3 Twins - Lopez, Ryan, Ober
Sasaki, Schwelly and the rest of the top 30

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The 2025 FTN Fantasy Baseball Guide is out!

Join www.ftnfantasy.com for the best fantasy baseball content, rankings, projections and fantasy tools!

Use code HOLIDAYEDGE for 15% off Fantasy Baseball+ or a High Stakes Baseball subscription.

A sample of our preseason fantasy tools:

FTN VDP Projections (Jan): Fueled by Vlad, Frank Brank (CDO) and Russ Prentice
Uploadable Roto Rankings: Vlad Sedler’s VDP: Top 500, sort, up/download; updated weekly
Underdog Rankings: Best Ball points-based rankings fueled by VDP Projections
Biery’s Offseason Tracker: Transactions and fantasy implications, managed by Lucas Biery
FILTH Leaderboard: Leaderboard for FTN’s FILTH metric which quantifies SPs’ pitch quality
12-Team Grid Rankings (Jan): Vlad’s famous 12-team grid rankings by position
NFBC Cutline Rankings (Jan): Points contest ranking fueled by VDP Projections
NEW: Relievers on the Rise Tracker (Jan): Tracking all draft-worthy RPs > 250 ADP
NEW: Custom Rankings Tool (Feb): For your league format, built-in with our projections

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ADP Market Movement with Mike Mager Dec 19, 2024

Show notes

Vlad Sedler (@rotogut) is joined by FTN Fantasy Baseball analyst and reigning NFBC Auction Champ Mike Mager (@bronxyankees23). Vlad and Mike discuss the projected fantasy impact of the recent free agent moves and trades for the Yankees, Red Sox, Orioles, Dodgers, Mets and more. There are some strong feelings about Kyle Tucker in Chicago, and a discussion about the fantasy value of Athletics and Rays players based on their new 2025 home ballparks.

Fantasy Implications of Recent Free Agent Signings and Trades

Expectations for Max Fried in the Bronx
Devin Williams' ADP bump
Which big corner infielder the Yankees are signing
Garrett Crochet, the new SP4?
Hendriks or Aroldis or other?
Tomoyuki Sugano: not just a guy
Michael Conforto career season incoming? Expectations for Tommy Edman
Willy Adames, # 2 hitters for the Giants
The Truth about Kyle Tucker
Soto and all those arms in Queens

New Home Parks

Left field in Walltimore and the fantasy impact
Value of Lawrence Butler and Brent Rooker
The Rays' lefty bats
Projections for Pete Fairbanks and the Rays' bullpen
Is Jeffrey Springs still a thing?

An homage to Kyle Schwarber

Please help us by rating and reviewing the podcast. We would greatly appreciate it!

The 2025 FTN Fantasy Baseball Guide is out!

Join www.ftnfantasy.com for the best fantasy baseball content, rankings, projections and fantasy tools!

Use code HOLIDAYEDGE for 15% off Fantasy Baseball+ or a High Stakes Baseball subscription.

A sample of our preseason fantasy tools:

FTN VDP Projections (Jan): Fueled by Vlad, Frank Brank (CDO) and Russ Prentice
Uploadable Roto Rankings: Vlad Sedler’s VDP: Top 500, sort, up/download; updated weekly
Underdog Rankings: Best Ball points-based rankings fueled by VDP Projections
Biery’s Offseason Tracker: Transactions and fantasy implications, managed by Lucas Biery
FILTH Leaderboard: Leaderboard for FTN’s FILTH metric which quantifies SPs’ pitch quality
12-Team Grid Rankings (Jan): Vlad’s famous 12-team grid rankings by position
NFBC Cutline Rankings (Jan): Points contest ranking fueled by VDP Projections
NEW: Relievers on the Rise Tracker (Jan): Tracking all draft-worthy RPs > 250 ADP
NEW: Custom Rankings Tool (Feb): For your league format, built-in with our projections

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Early Bird Discounts with Phil Dussault Nov 27, 2024

Show notes

Vlad Sedler and Jason Anthony are joined by the best fantasy baseball player in the world, Phil Dussault. The trio break down the first NFBC 12-team OC of the fantasy season that both Phil and Vlad were in. This episode went off outline, covering a variety of interesting topics related to early draft strategy, player analysis, roster construction, and assessing market value. If you love talking about fantasy baseball year-round, this episode is for you. It's also guaranteed to immediately bolster your fantasy baseball IQ.

Topics Discussed:

Drafting before setting our own projections and rankings
The early OC with Vlad and Phil (a Waxman sandwich)
Avoiding biases from setting in (aka, Pfaadtology)
The early catcher strategy
Playing time for the young Cardinals
Surf or Turf for TON in Toronto
Correa vs. the MI field
Gladiator closers vs. DC closers (not a Marvel movie)
Pivetta or Flaherty on the Nationals
Jordan Romano is big mad, but is he healthy?
The Rays have 27 starting pitchers going 3-4 innings each
"Why draft Reliever X in Round 10 when you can draft Reliever Y in Round 45" - The Robot

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MLB Free Agent Rapid Fire with Bob Nightengale Nov 22, 2024

Show notes

FTN Fantasy's Vlad Sedler (@rotogut) is joined by renowned MLB insider, Hall of Fame voter and USA Today columnist Bob Nightengale to discuss a variety of offseason baseball and 2025 fantasy related topics.

Background on Bob
The Guiding Light of reporting for the 2022 lockout scare
Maintaining relationships in MLB
The state of pitchers in the max velocity era
The deal with Roki Sasaki
Fantasy expectations for Lawrence Butler and Brent Rooker in Sacramento
Yandy Diaz and Brandon Lowe - what do the Rays know?
Where Juan Soto should ultimately sign
Yankees' backup plans if Soto doesn't sign
Alex Bregman's presumed landing spot
A Paul Goldschmidt bounceback?
Tyler O'Neill (of course)
Expectations for Jurickson Profar and Walker Buehler
Who among Verlander, Scherzer, Lynn, Morton, Cobb, Boyd, Clevinger are worth drafting?
Kenley Jansen's last hurrah (and potential landing spot)
Closers in 2025? Clay Holmes, Kirby Yates, Carlos Estevez, Blake Treinen
2025 Hall of Fame ballots
Bob Nightengale's 2025 Yelich!

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