Before we get into the top 100 for the 2nd half of 2025 fantasy baseball, let’s just be glad our 18-year-old selves can’t see us now, we’d get beat up! But our twelve-year-old selves would think we’re the coolest! So, as with all of the other 2025 fantasy baseball rankings, slop this up with a grain of salt. If you need a 2nd baseman, but an outfielder is above him that doesn’t mean you can’t trade that outfielder for that 2nd baseman. Also, things change in fantasy baseball. Daily. I could put Aaron Judge number one, and he could strain his–Well, we won’t even mention an injury with the top players after we lost Gunnar Henderson to becoming a circus clown. As I say about the Giancarlo underwear I bought off eBay, why soil a good thing? This list is a road map for where I think guys are valued. This list is NOT (caps for emphasis, not aesthetics) where I see guys ending up if you were to take their first half and combine it with the 2nd half. This is simply a list of the top hundred fantasy baseball players if you were to pick them up today. So while Jackson Merrill did not have the greatest first half, he will appear on this list because, well, we have to believe in miracles — my 12-year-old self would want that, and to sleep with Cher. 12-year-old Grey loved Cher. The projections are not their combined 1st half and 2nd half numbers; these are their projections for the 2nd half of 2025. I also liberally used our rest of the season Fantasy Baseball Player Rater. That’s right, we have a Player Rater that tells you what players will do. It’s like that camera from The Twilight Zone. Welcome to the future! Anyway, here’s the top 100 for fantasy baseball for the 2nd half of 2025:
1. Aaron Judge – Judge and Ohtani are the most 1A/1B players that I can ever remember at the top, and, in hindsight, how was Judge being drafted lower than 2nd overall in drafts? Hindsight is well-named, because it’s the act of looking out at the world through your backside and all your see is what an ass you are. Unless you’re talking about Cal Raleigh with hindsight, then you’re talking about an obstructed view. On the Historical Player Rater, Judge’s already in the top 20 overall. Nuckin’ futs, as Spooner once said. 2025 Projections: 46/23/53/.326/4 in 233 ABs
2. Shohei Ohtani – In the preseason, I received criticism I had Ohtani ranked too high (2nd overall) because Ohtani was returning from consequential shoulder surgery. Would he really be able to return to his former self? I’ll admit to being worried a bit too, but I bit the bullet and ranked and drafted him as if Ohtani was some kind of super-being that could have major surgery and return to his former self, hitting homers, stealing bases, all while rehabbing to pitch. In retrospect, it seemed foolish to doubt him. He’s The Unreal One. No one has ever done what he can do. Between Judge and Ohtani, we have to keep believing they can do the impossible until they prove us wrong. 2025 Projections: 51/22/45/.294/10 in 236 ABs, 3-2/2.88/1.05/46 in 40 IP
3. Elly De La Cruz – 20/20 in the 2nd half is nearly impossible. There’s just not as many games. It’s not really the midpoint. Anyway, E! can go 20/20 in the 2nd half. Not predicting him for it, but just that “he can” is glorious. We are living through a great time to watch baseball and E! is one of the biggest reasons. If E! is on TV, watch immediately. This was also how I felt when I was 15, hoping to catch Brooke Burke. 2025 Projections: 48/14/44/.266/21 in 241 ABs
4. James Wood – He became a 35/20/.300 hitter in his 2nd year as a 22-year-old–Hold on, would you? “Hello, Doc? Yeah, I was wondering if you can remove the part of my brain that just thought how similar James Wood currently is to what we thought Gunnar Henderson would be.” 2025 Projections: 42/17/45/.284/11 in 239 ABs
5. Kyle Tucker – Just did a looksie to see if a 40/40 season is within reach for Tucker, and it absolutely is. The gloriousness of Tucker this year is in direct opposition to everyone’s feelings right now who had Tucker last season but not this year. You poor, poor fantasy baseballer. I feel your pain. I have Gunnar in multiple leagues! 2025 Projections: 44/15/41/.282/14 in 238 ABs
6. Tarik Skubal – In past years I said some form of, “My 2nd half rankings depart from my 1st half rankings in one major way, I give more credence to top pitchers. A few reasons A) Pitchers get hurt and are risky, but, at this point in the season, we know which pitchers are healthy and pitching well. B) A top pitcher can make a huge difference still, whereas an upside flyer on a pitcher isn’t as valuable, i.e., if your ratios need help, a flyer on someone like Sean Manaea is only going to get you so far, whereas Skubal can make a difference in the final months. C) There’s no C. As long as Skubal stays healthy, and betting on a pitcher to stay healthy is like betting on public perception recognizing Phil Collins as the greatest singer/songwriter of all-time, but here we are.” And that’s me quoting me! More in next blurb. 2025 Projections: 8-3/2.31/0.94/96 in 81 IP
7. Zack Wheeler – While no one is safe, and no pitchers are less safe than “no one,” but these two starters are as safe as they come, and, if something bad happens to them, you just have to chalk it up to bad luck. Betting on luck is a fair bet, as long as you’re not facing Luis L. Ortiz. 2025 Projections: 8-2/2.42/1.02/95 in 87 IP
8. Ronald Acuña Jr. – Just to make myself feel something, I went to look at his 2023 2nd half: 70/20/51/.345/32 in 284 ABs. Tildaddy gets back his knees! 2025 Projections: 47/17/35/.309/6 in 254 ABs
9. Bobby Witt Jr. – In retrospect, he never had a chance once he was ranked 1st overall in the preseason. The 1st overall pick is cursed going back to 2020. If you get the 1st pick in your draft next year, trade it for two 2nd round picks. It’s the only way to save yourself. 2025 Projections: 47/12/41/.302/17 in 245 ABs
10. Fernando Tatis Jr. – I considered putting Vlad Jr. here just to keep the Junior run — the Runior, if you will. Unfortch, Vlad Jr. isn’t this good, even if the Rest of the Season Player Rater says he is. Fun The Jewels ends the line of Juniors for now, I’m sorry, ma, there will be no more grandkids. 2025 Projections: 45/13/34/.271/15 in 252 ABs
11. Juan Soto – If Sexy Dr. Pepper wasn’t his nickname, and the name he chooses to go by if I can figure out how to edit Wikipedia, he could easily be called June Soto, as he took the title from Kyle Schwarber’s sausage fingies. 2025 Projections: 46/16/40/.294/5 in 223 ABs
12. Corbin Carroll – Corbin is the 1st “I need to check his health update before finalizing my 2nd half rankings” guy. 2025 Projections: 44/12/34/.261/14 in 243 ABs
13. Jose Ramirez – Jo-Jo-Ram moved up in the last week, and he’s now at the point where he’s a good August away from being exactly where he was drafted in the preseason. 2025 Projections: 42/16/40/.282/15 in 247 ABs
14. Francisco Lindor – This is likely the first guy who is more “category filler” than “possibly becomes the King of the World in the 2nd half and carries fantasy teams.” Nothing wrong with not becoming ruler of the world and just giving five categories. 2025 Projections: 43/13/35/.267/12 in 250 ABs
15. Pete Crow-Armstrong – Large group of vets above were all safe and shizz, and this guy and Chourio are [bring out the emphasis] UPSIDE! If PCA went 20/20 in the 2nd half like I said for Elly, it wouldn’t shock me. If PCA went 5/7/.200 and finally hit his first big slump, it also wouldn’t shock me. Both scenarios are on the table. 2025 Projections: 36/12/43/.251/17 in 249 ABs
16. Jackson Chourio – Jack-Chou, God Bless you, and now sneeze yo’ shizz all over my fantasy team by way of stats! 2025 Projections: 38/14/40/.279/12 in 253 ABs
17. Kyle Schwarber – He got a jumpstart on June Schwarbombs in April and May, and it seemed like he was depleted, as he trailed off after May–Oh my God, I just realized I’m the resident Schwarber hater. Why can’t I like him, I will ask my therapist. 2025 Projections: 41/17/49/.247/5 in 245 ABs
18. Trea Turner – Out of all the aging stars of yesteryear (from like 2023), Treat Urner is actually holding his value way better than most, even though he garners a lot of his value from speed. Treat Urner, may you never stop getting the zoomies. 2025 Projections: 43/8/31/.289/16 in 257 ABs
19. Garrett Crochet – Fair to point out, I differ quite a bit from Rest of Season Player Rater with my Crochet ranking. It has him as the 14th best starter. I have him as my 1, 2, well, you can count. Think I get what’s going on there. It has him much higher per game, but doesn’t expect as many innings from him. That’s fair, I don’t really either, but no one is throwing a lot of innings the rest of the season. 2025 Projections: 7-2/2.46/1.07/90 in 71 IP
20. Manny Machado – For some guys in the preseason, we (me) should just look at what they did last year, and rank them in the same place. Machado does top 25 numbers every year, then in the preseason it’s like, “Meh, I guess around 50.” No! He’s a top 25 guy! 2025 Projections: 37/14/39/.282/7 in 246 ABs
21. Paul Skenes – His strikeouts are way down, but his ERA is ridonk still. I think his agent said to him, “If you want dat generational money, see, then ya gotta save your arm, see, so don’t tries to get dem strikeouts–” Why do I think his agent is Jimmy Cagney? Here’s the thing: I think he could throw a 6 K/9 and have a barely 2 ERA, because he knows how to pitch. 2025 Projections: 4-1/2.12/0.94/71 in 67 IP
22. Cal Raleigh – Anyone remember the book, The Great Tuchus Mystery, about how someone could rank a guy this low when they’re on pace for 60 homers? Think it was Nancy Drew but I can’t find it on Amazon. I remember the mystery was solved because the ranker’s brain was in direct inverse correlation to the size of the player’s ass. 2025 Projections: 28/16/38/.237/3 in 202 ABs
23. CJ Abrams – I’m secretly worried that the new Nats manager will be like, “Wait, didn’t someone do research that says steals are bad? I remember reading something like that 20 years ago.” 2025 Projections: 39/8/28/.278/17 in 246 ABs
24. Ketel Marte – Ya know what I could do to end The Reign of Ketel? Rank him 1st overall. Go ahead, dare me. 2025 Projections: 38/11/35/.288/3 in 223 ABs
25. Jazz Chisholm Jr. – A’la A Tribe Called Quest, “We got the Jazz, we got the Jazz…” Now please let him stay healthy and be great! 2025 Projections: 31/13/33/.258/12 in 212 ABs
26. Gunnar Henderson – Grounder Henderson becoming “Zach Neto but with less power” has got me up in my feels and I’m feeling like I want to find Grounder this offseason and have a serious discussion with him about how he owes me some fantasy league entry fees. “Bro, you owe me $150!” That’s me on a stepladder at Grounder’s bedroom window in November. 2025 Projections: 41/10/24/.277/10 in 247 ABs
27. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – Unlike the next two guys, Cake Batter is basically the best fantasy player in the world with his 12-homer power and almost-zippo speed. Cake’s almost fully a counting stats guy at this point. He’s basically Freddie Freeman, only thing is Freeman’s almost ten years older! This subsection of guys from Gunnar to Wyatt have reached my last nerve. More in next blurb. 2025 Projections: 43/12/41/.281/2 in 246 ABs
28. Jackson Merrill – The good news about the guys in this little subsection is they can all be top five overall fantasy contributors in the 2nd half. The bad news is they’re not currently producing anywhere near there. Merrill and Langford specifically have been laughably bad. Langford’s hitting, like, .230! Continued in next blurb. 2025 Projections: 34/11/35/.282/7 in 241 ABs
29. Wyatt Langford – Honestly, think we’re gonna need to have some come-to-Jesus moments about the guys in this subsection for next year’s preseason rankings, and I’m not talking about Jesus Sanchez. Is Langford a top 30 player? Top 50? Then why hasn’t he been? 2025 Projections: 33/10/29/.253/11 in 225 ABs
30. Logan Webb – Kicking myself because I should’ve been more aggressive in the preseason for Webb’s reliability. On a short list of three guys who could throw 200 IP and won’t hurt you in ratios. He’s sneakily headed for a HOF career. At least what it should be now, which is 1500 IP of a 3.50 ERA or better. Can’t rely on lots of Ks or Wins anymore as a benchmark. 2025 Projections: 6-3/2.88/1.12/83 in 80 IP
31. Framber Valdez – I’ll admit that after his 1st May start, when his ERA was 4.39, I was concerned that I put all my “This guy is the ace I need, while not being drafted as an ace” eggs in the wrong basket. Well, tsket-a-tasket, you em-effers! As for Cole Ragans, well… 2025 Projections: 6-3/2.95/1.11/79 in 78 IP
32. Hunter Brown – Some of the guys’ stats I look at I’m underwhelmed, then there’s guys like Brown, who have me like, “Do I really want to rank him this low? He’s superb.” Sadly, saying ‘superb’ aloud gets you punched in the lip. I deserved it! It’s a very stupid word to hear! I am not a French waiter introducing a diner to the escargot. I should know better! 2025 Projections: 5-2/3.04/1.03/76 in 71 IP
33. Pete Alonso – There’s a few guys in the top 100 that could have the most homers in the 2nd half. Albombso’s definitely one. 2025 Projections: 37/16/44/.243/1 in 237 ABs
34. Josh Hader – On the Historical Player Rater, Hader was hovering around the top 20 reliever seasons of all-time, and a chance to be the best RP since 1981’s Rollie, when he won the Cy and MVP, when Angel Martinez hit a 343-foot homer on Tuesday of last week. Baseball, man, it’s tough. 2025 Projections: 3-0/2.02/0.83/40, 17 saves in 27 IP
35. Edwin Diaz – Said some variation of this many times before, but at this point in the season, I am not above buying anyone I need. Buy a high-end closer in a trade now to help my team if I can make up points in saves? Bring on dem crooked save vultures! 2025 Projections: 3-0/2.37/0.97/37, 15 saves in 25 IP
36. Andres Munoz – He ate all 1st half, as the kids say. Just nomnomnomnom’d the heck out of hitters. It was a great year for a few high-end closers. In the final week, he was caught tipping his slider and the Yankees jumped on it, but, prior to that, Munoz had a chance for a sub-1 ERA on the year and wasn’t the best reliever! Nomnomnom. 2025 Projections: 2-1/2.23/0.86/35, 13 saves in 26 IP
37. Max Fried – After trashing Fried because he has one good elbow tendon and it’s in his non-throwing arm, I’m done with the lambasting! I have had my share of lampooning and no more! I have — please help, thesaurus — ridiculed for the final time! I will trust him from now until the day he retires! (Just in time for him to finally stink.) 2025 Projections: 7-2/2.84/1.01/73 in 78 IP
38. Matt Olson – Besides Tildaddy, he’s about the only Braves hitter left who I have any faith in, praying to Allahson that he doesn’t catch whatever funk Albies and Michael Harris II caught. Saw one Braves person speculate Harris might get sent down in the 2nd half, and that Megahertz to hear for some people. 2025 Projections: 36/15/41/.258 in 247 ABs
39. Brent Rooker – No cares about Brent Rooker even though he’s one of the most reliable guys for power. Let’s move on! 2025 Projections: 34/15/40/.267/2 in 231 ABs
40. Joe Ryan – This guy stands out as the number one, “He was on top of Rudy’s War Room when I was drafting, and I ignored him to my own detriment.” Burned from 2nd guessing the Robots. 2025 Projections: 5-4/2.92/0.96/78 in 71 IP
41. Eugenio Suarez – If you remove the names of Eugenio, Alonso, and Olson and can pick out which is which from their stats alone, you are Eugenio, Olson or Alonso. Hey, guys, thanks for reading, but importantly, thanks for hitting those homers! 2025 Projections: 37/17/44/.244/1 in 233 ABs
42. Byron Buxton – This little subsection is guys who are having top 20 overall-type years on the Player Rater who I can’t fully believe they are having top 20 years even though I am looking at them and there they are having them. 2025 Projections: 31/9/29/.262/9 in 204 ABs
43. Jacob deGrom – You see his innings for the last five years and all you can do is shrug that he’s finally staying healthy. If you’re being honest with yourself, you know his 2nd half can be 70 of the most perfect innings or one start and shut down. 2025 Projections: 4-1/2.23/0.93/51 in 53 IP
44. Seiya Suzuki – This subsection from Joe Ryan until Yelich feels like this, “Baseball is totally predictable until it’s not.” I’m sorry, but if you have a guy in this tier, you’re lucky. Of course, we could’ve all imagined the best case scenario, but it had been five to seven years since we saw the best case scenario and, in some cases, we never saw it, just hoped we would. 2025 Projections: 31/13/39/.262/3 in 207 ABs
45. Christian Yelich – Where’s Cody Bellinger? They’re forever linked in the rankings, aren’t they? Usually Cody is ranked just above Yelich too, and yet. Dot dot dot. He’s somewhere stoned, huh? 2025 Projections: 33/10/38/.256/10 in 227 ABs
46. Oneil Cruz – Just as Byron Buxton is in the top 20 overall on the Player Rater– HA! C’mon! — Oneil Cruz can have a 2nd half that’s as good if not better. He just needs to cut his Ks. Possible? I don’t know, maybe it will help when he’s playing for the (insert team he’s traded to). 2025 Projections: 32/13/29/.213/16 in 223 ABs
47. Robbie Ray – Whatcha gon’ do with all that junk, all that junk you pitch from your trunk? Sorry, I didn’t hear you come in. I was just watching Robbie Ray clips and singing My Humps. As one does. 2025 Projections: 5-3/3.03/1.10/70 in 68 IP
48. Julio Rodriguez – Had him ranked way higher than this — in the top 25! — but I just couldn’t do that. I get it! He’s better in the 2nd half, and maybe he will be again, but he hit 20 homers last year, and he’s on pace for only 24 homers this year. It’s not great! 2025 Projections: 34/11/31/.253/12 in 242 ABs
49. Lawrence Butler – He’s on pace for a season almost identical to 2024. That’s a compliment. He had a nice 2024. He’s also super fun to watch. The A’s are, actually. I am a major A’s stan now. It’s weird, but I’m ready for my vagabond misfits to go from SacTown to Vegas and will follow them anywhere. Not to like Poughkeepsie though, or anywhere too cold or wet or–Okay, I have some caveats about travel destinations. 2025 Projections: 34/10/31/.251/10 in 231 ABs
50. Junior Caminero – Putting The Matchbox behind JRod feels like malpractice, but the tiny car is in his first full season, so there’s some risk here. That’s a fair thing to point out. Just because a guy’s projections look better — like Andy Pages, for unstints — than someone with more of a track record, it’s because there’s risk factors. 2025 Projections: 31/14/35/.262/3 in 241 ABs
51. Andy Pages – No matter what BDon says I like Pages like a bookbinder. I like Pages like Marlo Stanfield. I like Andy like a Real Housewife! I am in, baby! Now let me get hurt! 2025 Projections: 33/12/35/.262/4 in 234 ABs
52. George Springer – Sophie B. Hawkins’s Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover came onto my boombox, and feels appropriate for Springer. I wish I loved him and rostered him. There’s no reason not to get on board. Other than he’s a Zombino and you can befriend a Zombino for only so long until it turns on you and starts snacking on your brain custard. “Hey, why is Springer sticking a metal straw into my ear?” 2025 Projections: 34/11/36/.273/7 in 219 ABs
53. Mookie Betts – Here we have a little subsection of players (from here until Riley Greene) who I’ve said to sell weeks or months ago as the case was with Betts. As I mentioned recently, I think Betts might’ve turned a corner and become a Buy again because he started to play so poorly, expectations went into the gutter. Something Betts usually avoids. 2025 Projections: 41/12/31/.272/5 in 239 ABs
54. Jose Altuve – You’d think figuring out the best 2nd basemen this year would be easy since it’s been the world’s tallest midget contest. Altuve is not having a particularly awful season, it’s just a very regular season that’s been a little less valuable than you paid for in drafts. Kinda meh, but not terrible. “Not terrible,” not what you’re drafting for, though I wish I got not terrible from his teammate, Yordan. 2025 Projections: 35/11/34/.271/6 in 244 ABs
55. Freddie Freeman – I debated Freeman or Betts first in the top 100 for longer than I care to admit (12 seconds) and ended up, after much consternation, going this route because I’d bet someone lot of imaginary money that we get to September, Dodgers have clinched and Freeman rests his ankle for a week or two. When you only have 70-ish games left of a season, missing 15 of them is a lot. To place that bet, I wonder if Luis L. Ortiz has any bookies to recommend. 2025 Projections: 37/10/41/.297/1 in 212 ABs
56. Jarren Duran – Funny thing about ranks (not funny at all), I moved Duran all over the place in these ranks. Said above in the Altuve blurb this subsection is of guys I said to sell, but, technically, Jarren wasn’t a Sell. Or was he?! Damn, Mr. Reversal, you scared me. So, he was a Sell last week in the Buy/Sell that went out to the Patreon, but then I retracted him, because he homered twice last week before Friday’s Sell was posted. I’m still not sold he’s not, uh, a sell. This Friday there will be a Buy/Sell of all players over 50% rostered, and I’m still debating Duran. 2025 Projections: 36/8/24/.264/12 in 224 ABs
57. Riley Greene – Said to sell him a few weeks ago, and someone commented about what a moron I am, which is fair. I guess I should’ve specified that Greene was a top 20 player on the Player Rater when I said it. Don’t sell him for coins you find between your ass cheeks after you sitting on your couch naked. Greene does look like the Royce Lewis we were promised that we never got. My one problem with Greene is he’s stealing zero bags and his Ks are up, so his projections are fine, but not top 20 overall. 2025 Projections: 34/12/38/.267/2 in 235 ABs
58. Carlos Rodon – We’re at the point in the starter ranks, where in a small sample size like the 2nd half, a guy like, say, making up a name, Macob Jisiorowski could be a top 100 arm and a guy like Rodon could be droppable in a month if he starts looking awful. I say this as I see some people are projecting Rodon for a 4+ ERA the rest of the way. 2025 Projections: 5-4/3.34/1.15/80 in 72 IP
59. Josh Naylor – He’s having one of those “Yelich after his big 2019” years. Suddenly Naylor is a 20/20 player, when he appeared to be a steady as they come 30/10 guy. Not really what you signed up for with Naylor, but there’s value to what he’s doing. 2025 Projections: 33/10/39/.271/6 in 229 ABs
60. Cristopher Sanchez – There was a cliff somewhere between Robbie Ray’s pants and Rodon where starters fell off. Not that Cris-San is no good, but you have to admit he’s not quite Skenes or even Framber. 2025 Projections: 4-2/2.92/1.09/74 in 69 IP
61. Alex Bregman – With his activation from the IL, he fixes all the teams where I have him, including whatever it was that happened with Cole Ragans. Thanks, Alex! 2025 Projections: 37/12/36/.274/2 in 239 ABs
62. Ranger Suarez – We should give Dom Dombrowski some props for the pitching staff he put together, but we don’t give credit to any front office personnel ever. It’s like the first rule of the internet! 2025 Projections: 5-2/3.04/1.12/67 in 72 IP
63. Cody Bellinger – “I miss you Yelich.” That’s Cody seeing Yelich way above him in the rankings. 2025 Projections: 35/12/36/.277/5 in 219 ABs
64. Corey Seager – He could have a top 10 overall 2nd half and I am 100% saying this so he does for my team where I have him leave me alone I’m doing wishcasting and a run-on sentence! 2025 Projections: 36/12/31/.273/1 in 212 ABs
65. Teoscar Hernandez – Almost exact same sentiment to Corey Seager and I’m still talking without any pauses look at me go I’m starting to run out of breathe though I need oxygen. Gasp! 2025 Projections: 31/12/36/.264/3 in 218 ABs
66. Nathan Eovaldi – There’s zero reasons to not trust Eovaldi with how well he’s pitched this year. [whispers] Don’t say an ‘except.’ [loudly] EXCEPT! [whispers] Damn it. [loudly] He seems to fall off every 2nd half. 2025 Projections: 4-3/3.61/1.04/68 in 66 IP
67. Jeff Hoffman – Might be having one of the best closer of all-time seasons that has an ERA over 4.50. About to win The Rodney, and get a gold-plated askew cap. 2025 Projections: 3-3/3.02/1.09/35, 15 saves in 28 IP
68. Jhoan Duran – Pretty remarkable how good he is and Baldelli mucks up his fantasy value by bringing him into random situations. Roughly a dozen managers were fired in the 1st half of this season and somehow the bane of my existence continues on. (Watch the universe come for me by Baldelli being fired for Bud Black.) 2025 Projections: 4-1/2.21/1.08/34, 10 saves in 28 IP
69. Emmanuel Clase – Clearly the time to buy Clase was right after he was replaced from the closer role, which lasted for roughly 17 minutes. 2025 Projections: 3-2/2.88/1.13/28, 13 saves in 29 IP
70. Zach Neto – He plays his home games in The House That Bobby Grich Built and is having a classic Grich season. Heart emoji that is wearing a Halos heart and is at a Dave and Buster’s because they’re all over Anaheim. 2025 Projections: 36/10/28/.261/12 in 241 ABs
71. Bryce Harper – You know I’m a long-time fan of Bryce, but is he right? I don’t know. I’m concerned. Bums me out, tee be aitch. 2025 Projections: 26/10/34/.261/5 in 208 ABs
72. Rafael Devers – Took a random trade to the Giants for him to make good on not being as good as his preseason draft ranking and for me to look prescient on him, but we got there, fam! Was thinking how he seems to be a 1st half hitter, but then I had a moment of clarity. Are 1st half hitters just guys who accumulate so many little injury issues they end up being useless by September? Imagine you wrap your hand with masking tape, you go around and pick up dust. Now, imagine you had it on your hand for months. By July, you’d be carrying around so much garbage, you’d be looking forward to the offseason to rest, rejuvenate and take the seven inches deep of pet fur off your hand. 2025 Projections: 36/10/40/.259/1 in 239 ABs
73. Spencer Strider – Was a tough guy to rank. I think he can be the best starter in baseball for the 2nd half or get to end of August and get shut down because the Braves stopped hitting in 2023 and Michael Harris II might actually be Michael Harris I or III, who is either in his 50s or zeros. 2025 Projections: 3-2/2.91/1.04/68 in 59 IP
74. Sonny Gray – He’s gonna have a 2nd half that is 1.05 ERA in 65 IP and a 8.95 ERA in 3 IP. If you know, you absolutely know. 2025 Projections: 5-2/3.49/1.13/72 in 68 IP
75. MacKenzie Gore – Just realized the key to drafting starters: Draft all of them every year and eventually each will be great for one year. It’s called the MacKenzie Gore Draft Plan. Or MacGo DraP, as it’s commonly called. 2025 Projections: 4-3/3.54/1.22/77 in 67 IP
76. Yoshinobu Yamamoto – Since he is the only reliable starter for the Dodgers, I think this is gonna happen in early September, “Yamamoto’s just dealing with a little soreness in his foddle. He’ll be good in two weeks.” Then when a reporter says, “What’s a foddle?” Dodgers will get together for ten hours and return to say, “Oblique.” Then the reporter says, “Did you just make that up?” And the Dodgers confer for four days and return to say, “No.” 2025 Projections: 5-2/2.66/1.03/56 in 49 IP
77. Seth Lugo – It feels like Lugo is going to be underrated next year, after having his 5th straight year with an ERA of 3.0 or lower. A career ERA of 3.30 in about 950 innings. Ya know, ace shizz. I get it, no Ks, but that’s why he’s down here and not ranked, like, in the top 40. 2025 Projections: 5-2/2.96/1.08/58 in 65 IP
78. Michael Busch – In a shocking turn of events, not every single player the Dodgers give away that is supposedly a “top” prospect doesn’t need scare quotes around top. It’s okay, Dodgers can give Busch $450 million in five years and reunite him with Kyle Tucker, who they’re giving $1.2 billion this offseason. 2025 Projections: 31/11/35/.278/3 in 225 ABs
79. Taylor Ward – If you throw out April’s .189 average, he’s around 15/.270 in 60 games. Or roughly 33-homer, .270 hitter. I’m the first one to point out how bad the Angels are, but Ward’s solid (and Neto). 2025 Projections: 36/12/38/.263/1 in 247 ABs
80. Heliot Ramos – Yes, he was a preseason sleeper, thanks for pointing that out so I didn’t have to. He’s being buoyed by one huge May, but if he can have one big month, why not more big months in the 2nd half? Not to answer, but to ruminate. 2025 Projections: 37/9/32/.262/4 in 229 ABs
81. Hunter Goodman – Thought about how it is likely good to give y’all a few catchers to trade for in the top 100, then I thought about how you shouldn’t trade for a catcher, so I gave you one more after Dumper. Does annoy me a bit that Warren Jerko Schaeffer seems to give Goodman more rest days for no reason. Let my man DH every game! 2025 Projections: 33/12/38/.253/1 in 207 ABs
82. Randy Arozarena – Debated Mike Trout, Adolis Garcia, and a few others for that “back-end guy in the top 100 who is a vet and likely has seen his best days behind him,” and The Rice Bowl just happened to be the hottest as I was writing this up. For what it’s Cronenworth, a guy ranked around here or someone not even ranked is about the same. One week into the 2nd half and Adolis gets hot and Randy cold and I’d switch them. Though I do think Mike Trout is more of a top 120-140 guy now vs. here. 2025 Projections: 36/10/34/.241/9 in 233 ABs
83. Yandy Diaz – Here’s Yandy Diesel’s deal: He hits .290 every year, but he hits 20+ homers and is a top 75-ish player or he hits 15-ish homers and is a top 130 player who is very boring to roster. This year we’re getting the former Diesel. 2025 Projections: 30/9/35/.296/1 in 239 ABs
84. Shota Imanaga – Wow, his strikeouts are trash. Haha, wha’ happened? I don’t think his stuff is as good as Skenes. Meaning: He can’t just want to throw a 7 K/9 and a 2.50 ERA or a 10 K/9 and a 2.50 ERA. See, last Friday’s Buy/Sell for more. 2025 Projections: 4-4/3.77/1.21/61 in 71 IP
85. Cam Smith – This is mostly a what he could do vs. what he did do. What he did do is fine. Not F-I-N-E like in an R&B song, but just fine. Okay. Capital O, lowercase kay. Fine! But I still have a lot of faith in him. Maybe too much. 2025 Projections: 25/10/33/.276/1 in 209 ABs
86. Andrew Abbott – Almost don’t want to jinx him by ranking him in the top 100. I just did, didn’t I? DAH! 2025 Projections: 4-4/3.61/1.16/57 in 66 IP
87. Mason Miller – Kinda hope his ERA stays in the 4.50 range this year, or even higher–Yes, I’m already think about next year’s drafts! I’m sorry, I have a problem! 2025 Projections: 1-1/3.47/1.08/40, 11 saves in 26 IP
88. Brice Turang – The back end of the top 100 is about upside as it’s about anything. See Cam Smith, see Brice. Shoot, see Bryce! Unlike some of those other names, Turang actually had a great April, and is in a decent spot on the Player Rater, but he’s been meh for a few months. All he needs is one good month in the 2nd half though to return this value. 2025 Projections: 34/2/18/.271/17 in 237 ABs
89. Jeremy Pena – Astros feel pretty confident in Pena’s health, which is to say, he’ll be out until 2029. Sad emoji leaving the doctor’s office. 2025 Projections: 35/7/29/.308/8 in 221 ABs
90. Isaac Paredes – If only every player followed a clear narrative like Paredes. Pull Guy who now plays in a good park for Pull Guys and he does well. I’m farting in your general direction, Christian Walker! 2025 Projections: 35/13/37/.245 in 228 ABs
91. Ryan Helsley – Welcome to the Chicago, Ryan…No, the Cards won’t trade with them. Welcome to the New York…No, Yankees won’t trade for anyone for the fifth year in a row and the Mets have Diaz, but they might add Helsley as their 8th inning guy–Anyhoo! He’ll be traded somewhere. 2025 Projections: 2-2/3.12/1.17/34, 13 saves in 28 IP
92. Ceddanne Rafaela – Here’s the thing with Ceddanne, he was the 35th best outfielder last year. He’s already done this. This being, well, here’s what I said last year, “The promising thing is if Ceddanne gets better at picking spots to steal? He might challenge Duran next year as star of the Red Sox.” And that’s me predicting the future! 2025 Projections: 30/8/32/.268/9 in 221 ABs
93. Wilyer Abreu – He was underrated coming into this year, and is still underrated. He’s going to go 27/10/.265 and you’re hating? How dare you, sir and four ma’ams. 2025 Projections: 30/9/33/.267/5 in 203 ABs
94. Kyle Stowers – Really liking what I’m seeing in his Statcast. Don’t think any of what he’s doing is luck. The one issue is he is who he is, and, for fantasy, that has its ceiling. 2025 Projections: 26/11/31/.257/2 in 223 ABs
95. Chris Sale – This is a total flyer for the 2nd half that he returns immediately around August 15th and is lights-out for six straight weeks. The other option with him is he has a setback and the Braves just shut him down because there’s no point in a lost season. Well, there is one more option. Wanna hear it? Okay, Sale returns and Hulk-smashes a TV over OZUNA’s head, which wakes him up from the dead and he starts hitting but Sale, thinking that was a good idea, starts smashing TVs over every Braves hitter and it actually concusses everyone else and they lose the rest of their games. Actually, that might be a best case for Albies, Riley, Harris, Ozuna and others. 2025 Projections: 3-1/2.03/1.05/51 in 39 IP
96. Maikel Garcia – Ya know he was a sleeper of mine, and people still might be sleeping on him. He’s doing what you would’ve taken from Jarren Duran. 2025 Projections: 27/5/30/.288/15 in 229 ABs
97. Yordan Alvarez – Moved him around a bit in the rankings, more than I’ve moved him around on my fantasy team as I moved him into the IL slot and never moved him again. Captain Woo Cubano would have his worst season ever the first time I drafted him in multiple places. The reality of it is he could return next week and be a top 10 player (ha, sure) or announce in August he’s not returning this year at all because his hand isn’t right (more likely). He’s a flyer. 2025 Projections: 28/10/33/.254/1 in 172 ABs
98. Brenton Doyle – “Grey’s ass must be as large as Cal Raleigh’s to get his head up in it.” That’s you seeing my rank Doyle in the top 100. Yes, he’s been hideous, and maybe he stays that hideous, but if you’re looking at acquiring a guy who could have a 2nd half, well, here ya go. Did I omit an adjective and just say, “…(he’d) have a 2nd half?” Umm, yes. You know what I’m saying, maybe he gets right! These are flyers. Is a guy who’s not ranked here, say, Caleb Durbin better than Doyle? Yes, likely, but if you’re looking for upside, here ya go. 2025 Projections: 28/9/26/.251/12 in 221 ABs
99. Chandler Simpson – This is to highlight how you should trade for a guy who can win you a category if you can. Are there guys who are unlisted here worth more than Chandler Simpson for homers? Yes, dur! 2025 Projections: 20/1/12/.291/24 in 166 ABs
100. Nick Kurtz – Yes, this is a random guy to finish the top 100 to illustrate how anyone can be worthwhile in a half season. Brooks Lee could be a top 100 guy in the 2nd half, Dane Myers could, Gavin Lux–No, not Gavin Lux, but you get the idea. If you want to take a flyer on upside in a trade, I don’t hate it. Will Freddie Freeman be better than say Dane Myers, Kurtz and Glasnow combined? Yes, but those three guys have upside and you just never know. Sometimes you gotta take those risks. It’s not like anyone thought Pete-Crow Armstrong would be ranked in the top 15 here and there will be people who say, “He’s too low!” 2025 Projections: Dream/A/Little/Dream in Fantasy
101. Whoever Helps You Win – Don’t get tied to projections and rankings and “I drafted this guy in the 4th round this year.” Yeah, we all hate Ozzie Albies, not just you. The worst thing you can do at this stage is hold onto players just because of what they could do vs. what they are doing. What they are doing is what wins championships and that’s what excites the ladies in your daydreams and your daydreams are real to you.
