2025 Fantasy Baseball: Auction Hitting Strategy
This Fantasy Baseball Strategy Guide is courtesy of Shawn Childs. Read Shawn’s expert fantasy analysis at his Substack.
A fantasy manager must separate hitting from pitching when preparing for an auction. While each accounts for 50% of the game, finding a spending balance that fits your strategy is key. Here is my 2025 Fantasy Baseball: Auction Hitting Strategy.
Core Batters
Building a strong offensive foundation starts with identifying cornerstone players. Depending on your budget, your core may consist of three or four hitters. I typically begin with three:
- A high-average power hitter (.300/30/100).
- A balanced player with speed (.300/10/60/40).
- A well-rounded contributor (.300/20/80/20).
The increased stolen bases in 2023 and 2024 have expanded the player pool and raised the target number needed to compete in that category.
Shifting Batting Average Standards
Pitching depth and injuries fluctuate each year, impacting offensive production. Fewer hitters now exceed a .300 average, affecting category targets.
In 2024, MLB’s league-wide average was .243, down from .248 in 2023 and equal to 2022’s mark. By contrast, early 2000s averages were higher (.270 in 2000, .266 in 2004). Given this decline, a .280 hitter may now serve as the new “.300” in fantasy baseball.
Hitting Budget
Allocating your hitting budget effectively is crucial. My approach involves spending $90-$100 on three to four cornerstone batters and about $180 of my $260 total budget on offense. However, the player pool shifts yearly, requiring flexibility.
Eight Foundation Bats
In a single-league auction, your offensive core consists of a catcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, shortstop, and three outfielders. These eight players form your team’s backbone.
Each year, I analyze the player pool by position to identify my core targets, assess positional depth, and adjust my spending accordingly. This includes identifying breakout candidates and potential value picks.
Understanding the Player Pool
With 15 teams in both the AL and NL, there are 135 starting lineup spots across the league, divided among 12 fantasy teams (approximately 11-12 starting hitters per roster). Many real-life starters will be platoon players or unproven bats, creating gaps.
Strategically, you can position your weaker spots in areas where depth or upside exists. Ideally, you’ll patch those holes through the waiver wire or bench.
Core Spending Strategy
A fantasy manager typically invests between $120 and $170 in their eight-core hitters. Patience is critical—finding full-time at-bats for minimal cost is the ultimate goal. The focus should be on at-bat volume and young players with upside rather than established part-timers.
Rounding Out Your Roster
Many managers hesitate to take zeros in their starting lineup, but sometimes, drafting an upside minor leaguer is better than grabbing a low-ceiling bench bat. For instance, in an NL-only league in 2025, rostering a prospect like 3B Matt Shaw or 1B Tyler Black could pay off if they get called up early.
Instead of drafting a $1 low-upside middle infielder, I’d rather take a shot on a player with real growth potential. Similar part-time at-bats are often available on the waiver wire, making it wiser to gamble on a player who could earn regular playing time.
I generally target three or four high-upside players for my bench while staying mindful of waiver wire opportunities to plug roster gaps.
Understanding Player Value
Auction success depends on preparation. Studying real-money auction drafts helps gauge market trends. The LABR auctions in early March provide insight into player valuations heading into the season.
You should never be caught off guard by a player’s auction price. Top players will always draw heavy interest—if you want one, be ready to strike when their name is called.
The 2025 NFL off-season is underway but you can still get access to the best help out there! All FullTime Fantasy members get exclusive access to our 24/7 Chat Room on Discord!
All morning on Sunday, Senior Analyst Jody Smith will be standing by to answer all your crucial fantasy questions and keep you updated with all the latest news and injury updates.
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