We’re moving along with the Shuffle Up series — my version of tiered rankings — for the new fantasy baseball draft season. The dollar values you’ll see below are unscientific in nature but reflect how I see the clusters of talent for outfield-eligible players.
Note: I have also included Shohei Ohtani the hitter, who obviously is only eligible at utility, but wanted him represented somewhere in the positional tiers.
Use these tiers however you like.
Have some disagreements? Good, that’s why we have a game. I welcome your reasoned disagreement over at X (@scott_pianowski) or on Blue Sky (@pianow.bsky.social).
[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Baseball league for the 2025 MLB season]
Outfield Overview
There have been seasons where outfield felt absolutely deep and there have been other seasons were outfield had more shallow elements. I think we’re in the middle for 2025, it’s a position I want to address gradually as a draft meanders along. And like most positions, take an upside down view of the landscape before you formulate your plan. Ask yourself how comfortable you are with the cheapest options you might be able to get in your draft, that will help you formulate your strategy for the early and middle rounds.
Tier 1: The Big Tickets
You thought Judge was unstoppable in 2022? He was actually even better last year, giving us the highest OPS+ since Barry Bonds broke baseball two decades ago. The center field chore didn’t wear down Judge, though we prefer him in the corner slot he’ll have for 2025. The loss of Juan Soto stings, but I was satisfied with the other moves New York made in the offseason. Even if Judge shifts back down to 2023 levels of production, this is a player who belongs in the top three of any draft, and could certainly command the No. 1 slot.
Tucker was headed for a career season — more fly balls, an improved home-run rate, perfect on the bases and new bests for OBP and slugging percentage. Alas, a fractured shin wrecked half of his season. Chicago’s often a run-suffocating park due to erratic weather patterns, but Tucker is the type of talent who can’t be stopped anywhere. He’s entering his age-28 season and playing for his next contract; all the signals are pointing to a strong buy.
These are the floor seasons for Betts, as he no longer runs aggressively (though the efficiency is there) and the loaded Dodgers have the luxury of being careful with any player who’s dinged up during the year. Los Angeles has given us a top-five scoring…