A Guide for your First-Year Player Draft in Win-Now Mode

One of the trickiest parts of playing in a dynasty league is balancing your competitiveness with your desire to prepare for the future. This month, the Pitcher List dynasty team has worked hard to bring you the most relevant information surrounding first-year player drafts. We have hit everything from player breakdowns to our favorite sleeper picks. Before it all winds down with Martin’s First Year Player Draft Primer, this article looks at how to attack your draft with a win-now strategy in mind.

 

Ranking the Top Five

 

The top five for a contending team may look different than the top five for a rebuilding team. High school studs like Walker Jenkins or Max Clark come with as much or more upside than some of the more polished players in the draft. However, they also come with considerably more risk and an ETA that is likely still a few years away.

 

1) Roki Sasaki- SP, N/A

 

There needs to be a giant asterisk next to this pick. If you are in win-now mode and Roki Sasaki is both posted and signs with an MLB team this off-season, he is a lock for the top spot in your rankings. Sasaki just turned 23 years old and has been one of the best pitchers in Japan for a few years at this point. This past year, Sasaki threw 111 innings going 10-5 with a 2.35 ERA. His strikeout remained up at 28% although this is a dip from the previous season. His fastball is lethal sitting in the upper 90s with over 16″ of vertical break. Like most prized International Free Agents, Sasaki comes with a great secondary offering in his splitter which can be a plus-plus offering. Lance Brozdowski gives a great breakdown of what his arsenal could look like that you can check out here.

Sometimes prioritizing International Free Agents in dynasty leagues requires sacrificing age for talent. This is not the case with Sasaki who would instantly step into a Major League rotation and become an impactful fantasy asset for years to come. His age however creates a dilemma due to restrictions on bonuses allowed for International Free Agents below the age of 25. This could potentially delay Sasaki’s signing for another couple of seasons. However, if Saski is posted, do not hesitate to take him first overall in your FYPD.

 

2) JJ Wetherholt– 2B, STL

 

This was a toss-up between the first overall pick in Travis Bazzana and JJ Wetherholt. Both players put together outstanding collegiate careers and played well in their debut last year. Both prospects rank inside of my top five for the top dynasty prospects in baseball and it is difficult to really make a case that one is a significantly better pick than the other. So, why does Wetherholt snag the number two spot? Well, look at the depth chart ahead of him. The Cardinals do not have a lot cooking at second base. Nolan Gorman failed to show any positive developments this season and wound up finishing the season in Double-A. Thomas Saggesse is a fine player, but nobody that will prevent Wetherholt from claiming the starting job. Meanwhile in Cleveland, Andres Gimenez is a platinum glove winner at second base and is signed through 2029 making Bazzana’s path to the majors slightly more difficult.

Wetherholt’s best tool is definitely his hit tool. His bat control is superb and he makes contact at a well above average rate. There is potential for him to become a .300 hitter with plus walk rates. His power is not game-changing, but his exit velocities were encouraging and he should be able to reach 20 in a season. If you are chasing proximity, Wetherholt should have a slight edge over Bazzana in your first-year player drafts.

 

3) Travis Bazzana– 2B, CLE

 

For all of the reasons mentioned above, Travis Bazzana comes in at third on this list. The first overall pick from last year’s draft ranks as the third-best option for dynasty managers in win-now mode. Bazzana’s hit tool is a tick below that of Wetherholt’s but he holds more upside for fantasy managers in other categories. Bazzana is a bit more physically mature than Wetherholt and projects to have a higher floor when it comes to game power thanks to his ability to consistently pull the ball. Bazzana also has more speed and profiles as a better base stealer. The upside is certainly higher for Bazzana, but his path to the Major Leagues is not as clear. A positional change away from second base might be in his future if Gimenez continues to provide serviceable offense with elite defense. Regardless, Wetherholt or Bazzana, dynasty managers really cannot go wrong here.

 

4) Christian Moore– 2B, LAA

 

Proximity and buzz are everything when it comes to prospect value. Do I think that Christian Moore is the fourth-best option in this crop of players to draft from? Absolutely not. However, he is an excellent target for managers attempting to contend in 2025. There are a couple of scenarios that taking Moore could lead to and both are beneficial to dynasty managers who take him. Scenario one is that Moore continues to develop and becomes an impactful Major League starter as early as this season. Moore is not a bad player by any means, there is a reason he was taken inside of the top ten and could turn out to be the starting second baseman for Los Angeles for the majority of 2025. He has plus power and plus speed with the potential to become a 25/15 player for fantasy managers.

The second scenario for dynasty managers who draft Moore is to trade him when the value is the highest. The Angels are going to rush Moore to the Major Leagues. They did it with Zach Neto, they did it with Nolan Schanuel, and they are going to do it with Moore. As soon as Moore is promoted, there is a chance that will be the highest his dynasty value will ever be. This creates a great chance for dynasty managers to trade Moore to a rebuilding team excited by the promotion and recoup significant value on the investment made. Other options like Bryce Rainer or Konnor Griffin will not have the opportunity for their value to spike like Moore has in 2025. He is a great option in drafts for those dynasty managers in win-now mode.

 

5) Cam Smith– 3B, CHC

 

The Cubs seem to have done it again with Cam Smith. A year after taking Matt Shaw, they were able to grab Smith 14th overall which already looks like one of the biggest steals from the draft. The final choice for this ranking came down to Charlie Condon and Smith, but Smith outperformed him in a major way in their first taste of professional baseball. That is not to say Condon will not wind up having a better career, but in win-now mode, dynasty managers need to focus on value. Nothing improves value more than current results. Smith dominated in 32 games played. He slashed .313/.396/.609 with seven home runs across three different levels. His swing is quiet, compact, and powerful and he seems to be having no difficulty transitioning to professional baseball.

Smith is unlikely to debut in 2025, but dynasty managers can expect him to continue climbing up prospect rankings as the 2025 season moves along. The further he moves up rankings, the more his dynasty value will improve. Matt Shaw now ranks as my top prospect yet to debut in baseball. Here is calling my shot that Smith could follow closely in Shaw’s footsteps.

 

Late First-Round Players to Target

 

Nick Kurtz– 1B, ATH

 

The argument is there to say Nick Kurtz will wind up being the most impactful first base option from this year’s class. While Jac Caglianone gets most of the attention, Kurtz put together an excellent collegiate career himself. Kurtz crushed 61 home runs across three seasons at Wake Forest with a batting average of over .300 all three seasons. Caglianone is unlikely to last toward the back of the first round, but Kurtz should be viewed as more than just a consolation prize.

In just 12 games with the A’s organization, Kurtz crushed another four home runs and has shown no signs of slowing down in the AFL The best part for dynasty managers looking to win now is that Kurtz was already promoted to Double-A. The A’s are showing no signs of taking things slow with their first-round pick and are trying to get him as many at-bats as possible. Considering the Major League team has plenty of holes in its lineup, it should come as no surprise if Kurtz makes his Major League debut next season. There is 40 home run potential here if everything clicks.

 

Tomoyuki Sugano- SP, N/A

 

Opposite Roki Sasaki, Tomoyuki Sugano is no spring chicken. Sugano has flirted with the idea of coming Stateside a few different times throughout his professional career and appears to be flirting with the idea again. Now 35, Sugano has had a long and storied career in Japan. This past season, Sugano pitched 156.2 innings with a 1.67 ERA which is the second lowest of his career. Although his fastball is underwhelming according to most metrics, Sugano’s deep arsenal and elite control allow him to overcome this shortcoming. Sugano mixes in a splitter, slider, cutter, and curveball with the splitter and cutter being particularly effective. He only walked 16 batters all of last season helping to give him a stable floor.

The issue and reason Sugano will not be a top-five pick if he signs is his age. While Sasaki could start his Major League career at 25, Sugano only has a few seasons left in the tank. However, the gamble could be well worth the reward for those dynasty managers contending in 2025. Sugano may not have the highest ceiling, but being able to draft a capable starter in your FYPD can help set your team apart. He is a name to monitor closely throughout the off-season to see where he signs.

 

The Best Late-Round Targets

 

Hyeseong Kim- 2B/SS, N/A

 

All signs are pointing to Hyeseong Kim being posted and signing with an MLB team this off-season. Even with that assumption, Kim’s name has rarely been brought up in the fantasy baseball community. The lack of buzz makes it likely dynasty managers will have the opportunity to take Kim after the first round. Any dynasty manager who is in win-now mode should prioritize scooping Kim up whenever they can. Unlike most prospects, Kim has a high likelihood of having an everyday role in the Major Leagues come Opening Day of 2025. Availability and Kim’s path to the Major Leagues make him a far more attractive option than other late first-round picks from this past draft.

As far as skillset goes, Kim’s best attribute is his defense. He is a slick defender up the middle but should contribute offensively as well. He hit .326 this past season and has not posted a batting average below .300 since 2020. His strong contact skills and plus speed make it easy to project 20-30 stolen bases for Kim when he comes over from Korea. Although not an apples-to-apples comparison, his fantasy profile is very similar to Ha-Seong Kim’s. He is likely to hit around .270 with plus speed and 8-12 home runs. There is not much power production here, but an everyday player you can take in your FYPD holds incredible value for teams trying to contend in 2025.

 

Brendan Durfee- C, SDP

 

The Padres already have a catching prospect stealing the headlines in the dynasty community. Yes, Ethan Salas profiles to be the catcher of the future in San Diego, but Brendan Durfee is flying completely under the radar. The Padres took Durfee in the 14th round of last year’s draft and he put up excellent numbers in his debut. Durfee slashed .288/.413/.479 showing off plus contact skills and excellent plate discipline. Durfee hit nine home runs in just 46 games in his final season at UC Santa Barbara and has plus power from behind the plate. The Padres do not have a lot of catching depth and coming out of college, Durfee could move quickly through their system. He is an underrated option you can get toward the end of your First-Year Player Draft.

 

Consider a Different Avenue

 

Last year, I discussed how it could be worthwhile to field trade offers for your draft picks if you are attempting to compete for a championship. This thought process still largely holds true. Wyatt Langford was the first overall pick in most FYPDs last season. He put together acceptable numbers for a rookie, but was largely disappointing for fantasy managers who were relying on him. While Langford likely has a long Major League career ahead of him, contention windows can open and close incredibly quickly in dynasty. Transforming the potential of a successful player into a player you can utilize and rely on this next season could be the best move for dynasty managers.

This can be even more true if you are a team that contended last season. If you are contending in 2025, chances are high that you were a contender in 2024 as well. This means you are likely picking toward the back of your FYPD and might not even have a chance at the five names listed above. While settling for Kurtz or Sugano later in the first round could pay dividends, both players have plenty of question marks. However, the opportunity to grab a player like Kurtz or even one of the two high school bats (not mentioned in this article) could be incredibly attractive for a team looking to rebuild or retool for the future. Getting back a veteran player who will contribute to your team’s success in 2025 is worth considering.