Drafting effective pitchers in the late rounds can be the secret to fantasy baseball success, especially this season where volatility in pitching is high. While traditionally reliable options such as Cristopher Sánchez and Zack Eflin have value, true sleepers can be found well past pick 200. Bowden Francis of the Toronto Blue Jays stands out with his impressive 1.53 ERA since becoming a full-time starter. Clarke Schmidt of the Yankees is poised for a breakout, aided by injuries in the rotation. Jason Adam could emerge as a top closer for the Padres, while Jesús Luzardo's potential makes him a high-risk, high-reward pick. Other noteworthy late-round options include Nestor Cortes and Cody Bradford, who both show promise despite limited prior opportunities. DJ Herz and David Festa are rookies with high strikeout potential, and Ben Brown's swing-and-miss capability rounds out a list of intriguing options.

This offseason has seen a flurry of movement with major names switching teams, impacting fantasy rosters significantly. Notably, Juan Soto's move to the New York Mets set the stage for a series of trades and signings that are reshaping the landscape of Major League Baseball. Starting pitchers have been particularly in demand, with Luis Severino now heading to Oakland and Max Fried joining the New York Yankees. Fantasy managers must take note of these changes as new environments can greatly influence a pitcher's performance. Factors such as park dimensions, run support, and the strength of a team's bullpen can alter expected outcomes for fantasy points.

Corbin Burnes, now with the Arizona Diamondbacks, continues to be a top-tier pitcher, boasting impressive metrics from his time in Milwaukee. His ability to consistently log innings with a high strikeout rate makes him a valuable asset. Meanwhile, Garrett Crochet's transition to the Boston Red Sox offers potential upside, particularly given the team's stronger lineup compared to his previous club. Lastly, Jesus Luzardo's trade to the Philadelphia Phillies could provide him with the support he needs to finally thrive in a competitive environment, making him a sleeper pick for fantasy enthusiasts.

As the 2025 fantasy baseball draft season approaches, identifying potential sleeper pitchers can drastically enhance your roster. This article analyzes four starting pitchers—Eduardo Rodriguez, Jesus Luzardo, Jeffrey Springs, and Sandy Alcantara—who possess significant upside relative to their current average draft positions (ADP).

Eduardo Rodriguez, now with the Arizona Diamondbacks, has a low ADP of 533 but boasts a career 4.08 ERA and was signed to a lucrative contract, suggesting potential rebound value. Jesus Luzardo, a former top prospect with the Philadelphia Phillies, is another intriguing option, currently sitting at an ADP of 392 despite past success and health challenges.

Jeffrey Springs, recently with the Athletics, presents a risk-reward scenario as he comes off Tommy John surgery, but his past performance indicates he could be a valuable asset. Lastly, Sandy Alcantara, who won the Cy Young in 2022, is being undervalued at an ADP of 166 after recovering from surgery. Each of these pitchers offers a chance for fantasy managers to gain an edge in 2025 drafts.

This offseason, the NL East has emerged as a financial powerhouse in Major League Baseball, largely due to the blockbuster signing of Juan Soto by the New York Mets for a staggering 15-year deal worth $765 million. The overall spending in the division reached nearly $973 million, but excluding Soto, the figure drops significantly to just over $207 million, indicating a mixed bag of activity among the teams.

The Philadelphia Phillies made strategic moves by acquiring Jesús Luzardo and adding depth to their bullpen, though questions linger about their overall improvement. Meanwhile, the Mets have focused heavily on revitalizing their pitching staff, bringing in multiple arms while hoping to retain star slugger Pete Alonso. The Atlanta Braves, however, have remained surprisingly quiet, opting to rely on internal options despite the free agency of key players.

The Washington Nationals have made modest additions but seem to be missing opportunities for significant upgrades, while the Miami Marlins appear to be in rebuilding mode, trading away veteran talents in favor of future prospects.

The NL East has become a financial powerhouse this offseason, primarily driven by the New York Mets' acquisition of superstar Juan Soto for a staggering 15-year contract. Despite this, when Soto's contributions are excluded, the division's spending drastically reduces, revealing a quieter market among its other teams. The offseason has seen the Phillies, Mets, Braves, Nationals, and Marlins making varying degrees of moves, with the Mets' actions standing out significantly.

The Philadelphia Phillies have focused on enhancing their pitching staff, acquiring Jesús Luzardo and signing several players, including Max Kepler and Jordan Romano, but did not make major roster overhauls following their disappointing playoff exit. The New York Mets, however, made headlines with Soto's signing and bolstered their pitching with the re-signing of Sean Manaea and the addition of other arms, aiming to solidify their rotation after losing several starters.

The Atlanta Braves have been relatively silent, opting to rely on internal options after a season marred by injuries, while the Washington Nationals made modest moves without breaking into the top-tier free-agent market. The Miami Marlins appear to be in full rebuild mode, parting with key players like Luzardo and focusing on future prospects.