As the leaves change colors and the temperature drops, the hot stove of the MLB offseason is just starting to heat up. While the NFL, NBA and NHL are in full swing, capturing the attention of most sports fans, there’s still plenty of important news breaking in the baseball world. It may fly under the radar for the casual fan, but for dedicated fantasy baseball managers, now is the time to stay informed. Let’s break down the key stories from the past week and analyze whether they’re truly impactful news or just offseason noise.
Mookie Betts Transitioning Back to the Infield
In a surprising move, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced that star outfielder Mookie Betts will be moving back to the infield for the 2025 season. Betts, who played primarily right field over the final two months of 2024, will be eligible at both shortstop and outfield in most fantasy leagues thanks to his positional versatility.
The specific infield position Betts will man is still unclear, but this shouldn’t have major fantasy ramifications. He’ll retain immense value as an elite five-category contributor regardless of where he plays on the diamond. At 32 years old, Betts continued to produce at an MVP level when healthy in 2024, averaging a robust 3.4 fantasy points per game.
Fantasy managers investing an early pick in Betts can do so confidently, knowing they’re getting a stud who can slot in at multiple positions. The position change is more noise than true fantasy news, but it’s still worth monitoring how the Dodgers’ infield puzzle pieces fit together come spring.
Shohei Ohtani Undergoes Shoulder Surgery
In more concerning news, two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani underwent surgery in November to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, an injury he sustained on a slide in Game 2 of the World Series. While it was his non-throwing shoulder, there’s still some worry about how this could impact Ohtani’s recovery from Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow.
The timetable for Ohtani to pitch in 2025 may be pushed back, but the Dodgers have not said it will delay his ability to hit.
According to a source close to the team
Ohtani is still likely to be the #1 pick in most fantasy drafts after his historic 2024 campaign where he led the league in most hitting and pitching categories. But managers will need to temper expectations on his pitching volume early in the season. Don’t be surprised if Ohtani doesn’t take the mound until May as the Dodgers exercise caution with their prized acquisition.
Willson Contreras Moving to First Base
After years of being a fantasy stalwart behind the plate, Willson Contreras will be moving out from the catcher position permanently in 2025. The Cardinals announced the 32-year-old will take over as their starting first baseman, filling the void left by departing slugger Paul Goldschmidt.
This position change likely means a boost in volume for Contreras, which could help him finally cross the elusive 25 homer and 75 RBI thresholds. However, he’ll also lose the positional scarcity that made him so valuable in fantasy. Contreras will need to post a big offensive season to warrant top-10 consideration at a loaded first base position.
The vacated catcher job in St. Louis will lead to an intriguing position battle between Ivan Herrera and Pedro Pages. Herrera showed flashes as a rookie in 2024, hitting .301 with five homers and five steals in a part-time role. He’s the favorite to win the job and could be a nice late-round sleeper pick.
Key Braves Unlikely for Opening Day
The Braves got some discouraging injury news about two of their young superstars. Outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. and starting pitcher Spencer Strider, who both missed significant time in 2024, are not expected to be ready for Opening Day.
- Acuna tore his ACL in June and hit just .250 with 4 HR in 49 games
- Strider made only 2 starts before undergoing elbow surgery in April
This news shouldn’t come as a big surprise given the typical 12+ month recovery from their respective surgeries. But it does mean fantasy managers will need to drop Acuna and Strider down their draft boards a bit. Acuna was a consensus top-3 pick prior to the injury but now projects more as a second rounder. Strider flashed ace potential as a rookie in 2023 but is now a risky top-25 SP coming off major elbow surgery.
The MLB offseason is a long and winding road with new twists and turns every week. Some of the news will prove impactful, shifting the fantasy baseball landscape going into 2025 drafts. Other stories will fade into the background as spring training draws closer. The key is identifying which is which and staying ahead of your league mates. Check back next week as we continue to parse the signal from the noise in the always unpredictable world of baseball’s hot stove.
