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.

In fantasy baseball leagues that include holds as a scoring category, making informed decisions during draft day becomes crucial. Identifying pitchers who can consistently contribute holds involves targeting teams poised for victory and having a defined closing option. Notably, holds can be secured by multiple players, as long as the entering pitcher maintains the team's lead without being the final pitcher in the game.

As the 2025 season approaches, several pitchers stand out as potential leaders in holds. Bryan Abreu of the Houston Astros, who led the league with 38 holds last season, is projected to continue his dominance. Yennier Cano from the Baltimore Orioles and Griffin Jax of the Minnesota Twins also showcase strong potential for accumulating holds this season.

The Baltimore Orioles are aiming to build on their recent regular-season success, having won over 90 games in 2024. However, the team's playoff struggles continue, with back-to-back seasons of failing to win a postseason game highlighting their postseason woes. This offseason, the Orioles made headlines by acquiring ace pitcher Corbin Burnes from the Milwaukee Brewers. Yet, with Burnes on a short contract, he turned out to be a rental player for them. Baltimore has supplemented their roster by adding seasoned pitchers Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano, but neither offers the same caliber as Burnes. The Orioles are considering a significant trade proposal that would send Heston Kjerstad and Dean Kremer to the San Diego Padres in exchange for star pitcher Michael King and reliever Jason Adam. The addition of King, who recorded an impressive 2.95 ERA last season, could provide the Orioles with the ace they desperately need, while Adam's track record in late-game scenarios would bolster a struggling bullpen.

The Houston Astros are contemplating trading star outfielder Kyle Tucker due to financial constraints, particularly with the potential loss of Alex Bregman. As the organization weighs its options, several teams, including the Toronto Blue Jays and San Diego Padres, have emerged as potential suitors.

Trade packages from teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and New York Yankees are being discussed, each offering varying degrees of talent and financial relief.

The Houston Astros face a pivotal offseason following their unexpected exit from the ALCS, leading to potential payroll cuts and tough roster decisions.

Star player Alex Bregman is set to hit free agency, raising concerns about his future with the team. In-house options like Shay Whitcomb and Zach Dezenzo could step up if he departs.

The Astros also need to bolster their bullpen, with potential trade interest in Jason Adam from the San Diego Padres, who has shown exceptional performance recently.