10 Fantasy Baseball Bold Predictions - Dave Funnell's 2025 Picks

As we move closer to Opening Day, more and more fantasy baseball leagues will be having their drafts. When looking for ways to differentiate yourself from the pack, it's important to remember that those decisions can make or break your chances of winning.

While making bold predictions can provide for league-winning decisions, taking on too much risk can be the ultimate downfall, resulting in more failure than fortune. That said, sometimes you need to take that chance when nobody else will. If you're zigging when others are zagging, and if it pays off, you put yourself in quite a fortuitous position.

So then, here they are -- my 10 bold predictions for 2025 fantasy baseball, as I look toward my crystal ball and go for it all with this fearless forecast. You can also read other bold predictions from RotoBaller's MLB team as part of our yearly Bold Predictions series.

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Xavier Edwards steals at least 50 bases

Xavier Edwards comes into this season with a short track record of success. After a brief stint in 2023 with the Marlins, he returned to Miami in June 2024 to take over as the team's everyday shortstop during their full rebuild. Upon doing so, he set the tone by recording 31 stolen bases through 35 attempts over just 70 games played. He also finished with a .328 batting average alongside a 10.9% walk rate and a 17.2% strikeout rate, leading to many opportunities to repeat these types of numbers.

It's also a reminder that he's done this sort of thing throughout his Minor League career, as he was no stranger to finishing multiple years well above the .300 mark with an influx of steals. In addition to all of that, he said at the Marlins' Fan Fest that his goal this year will be to steal 60 bases. As someone who can get on base and is looking to accumulate steals, why can't he come close to that over a full season?

Steinbrenner Field will be the new Coors Field

This off-season, tragedy struck when Tropicana Field was destroyed by a hurricane, rendering it unsafe to be used. The Tampa Bay Rays needed a new home and got one in the form of Steinbrenner Field in Tampa Bay, which was the stadium for a team within the Yankees' Minor League farm system. Two very interesting parts make this situation completely different for the Rays from years past.

First, its dimensions are the same as those of Yankee Stadium, meaning that the short porch in the right field plays well to left-handed power. As a result, players like Brandon Lowe, Josh Lowe, and Jonathan Aranda should see an uptick in their offensive output. Secondly, the weather will now be a factor in their games, making it different from years past. As such, the heat, wind, and humidity should all aid in balls traveling faster, and thus make Rays games more offensive in nature than ever before. Finally, with the stadium being outdoors, the perks that made Tropicana Field such a pitcher's realm will be missing.

This means an improved batter's eye, elements of nature, rain delays, and more will all factor into higher-scoring games. With all of these factors coming together, Steinbrenner Field looks like it could be one of the most extreme offensive-minded stadiums in baseball, making it optimal to take advantage of hitters playing there.

Lawrence Butler will finish the season outside the Top 100 overall

Yes, you read that right, Lawrence Butler will disappoint fantasy owners this season and not finish within the Top 100 overall of players. There was a lot to like regarding his breakout in 2024. For instance, when he was on his game, he was smoking hot. In just over 400 at-bats last year, he finished with 22 home runs and 18 stolen bases, giving the fantasy community the hope that over a full season, he could ascend into 30/30 territory.

However, digging deeper, his massive offensive output came in waves, where his highs were extreme highs, but his lows were borderline disastrous. For reference, I summarized the numbers here once the season ended here, but here's some additional context.

While many have pointed out the better decisions that he made, which led to elite output, by the end of the season, it looked like he had begun to revert to his ways of striking out more and swinging at pitches outside the strike zone. The fact that he finished the season batting .182 over his final 12 games isn't the biggest endorsement for those who believe in September gains. Sure, he will have an off-season to prepare, and yes, his new stadium should promote offensive numbers.

However, these statements are meant to be bold, and this is being written by someone who isn't as big a believer in Butler as others. We just haven't seen a consistent enough performance over a long enough stretch to warrant this designation within the Top 100 overall. There is a chance that he will disappoint this season.

Gleyber Torres will finish as a Top-10 overall second baseman

This one is more hunch-based than anything, but now that he has left the big lights of New York City, Gleyber Torres looks poised to return to his old form. Yes, the ballpark downgrade is just as real as the lineup downgrade, but I'm betting that he can pull it off. Last season was the worst of his professional career, hitting for a career-low batting average, showing minimal power, and an unwillingness to steal bases. Bigger than all of that, he seemed unmotivated to play, which is likely the biggest reason for his downfall.

Whether it was a lack of hustle on plays, miscues with the glove in the field, or feeling disrespected when the team tried to replace him with Jazz Chisholm Jr., Gleyber Torres was not himself in 2024. And now, he's taken on a smaller "bet on myself" contract in Detroit and is out to show the world that he is the man we all thought he could be. It's an uphill battle, but it's also one that I'm willing to bet on, especially given the draft price.

Not only that, but he's now able to sport that facial hair, which gives him a whole other swagger that we haven't yet seen. Bet on Gleybeard in 2025 to at least outperform his draft price but also skyrocket up the second baseman rankings.

Tyler Glasnow will not exceed 50 innings pitched

In 2024, Tyler Glasnow threw a career-high 134.0 innings for the Dodgers, making it a successful debut for his new team. However, his season would come to an end in August, as he was shut down with what was being labeled as tendinitis of the elbow. He tried to come back before the season concluded, but he ultimately called it quits because, as he put it, his arm hurt when he threw.

"It's really difficult sitting and watching."

Tyler Glasnow shared the latest on his recovery timeline and convos he's had with doctors. pic.twitter.com/Ue4sfHWGrE

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) October 23, 2024

This is a major red flag when analyzing the future of Glasnow and all other pitchers. Throwing a baseball this hard is an unnatural motion that eats away at a pitcher's arm, shoulder, and elbow every time it is being done. When he tried to come back the first time, he was diagnosed with an elbow sprain, which could technically be some sort of tear within his elbow.

As such, rest does not always mean that it will heal on its own. That being said, if he feels better now, it may just be a matter of time before the pain returns, especially once he starts to ramp up. It wouldn't be surprising if, once the season starts and he begins to throw pitches at his maximum velocity, he starts to hurt again and opts for surgery. He is someone that I am avoiding in all drafts.

Thairo Estrada will have himself a career-best season

Exiled out of San Francisco due to injuries and underperformance, Thairo Estrada landed in the best place possible this offseason, signing with the Colorado Rockies. Now, with Brendan Rodgers out of the way, the coast is clear for Estrada to put aside the problems from last year and get his career back on track. He will be the starting second baseman for the Rockies, playing his home games in a stadium that he loves about as much as it loves him.

Over his six seasons in baseball, he owns a .348/.406/.565/.971 slash line over 102 plate appearances, which is by no means a sample that should be considered too small. Let's assume that last season is a write-off and that all can and will be redeemed in 2025. If everything goes right, he can be a five-category contributor.

Trevor Williams will finish as a Top-40 overall starting pitcher

In his free-agent year, Trevor Williams broke out in a way that not many people saw. Over the first two months of the season, the 32-year-old surprised many with a 5-0 record, 2.22 ERA, and 47 strikeouts over 56.0 innings pitched. Unfortunately for him and the Nationals, he suffered a right flexor muscle strain, resulting in many months missed and what can be described as a costly injury.

He did return in September and improved his stats, surrendering just one run over 10 innings pitched while striking out twelve batters. So how did he do it? He introduced a sweeper last season, which confused so many hitters.

Looking at his injury history, health has never really been a major concern. His biggest ailment was this past season, and other than that, he hasn't missed time for anything major. While late-career breakouts are difficult to trust, it was reassuring that he was able to return and pitch well. The Nationals have been a surprisingly good franchise at developing pitching in recent memory, and there is a chance that this is a legitimate breakout.

Given his price at the end of drafts, you can do worse with your last pick. If his sweeper can continue to be an effective weapon, Williams may be able to keep this momentum going over a full season and surprise everyone yet again.

Trevor Story finally has a healthy season

It's been three years since Trevor Story signed a six-year, $140 million contract with Boston, and since that time, he has yet to show much of a return on that investment. In fact, over the first three seasons of his Red Sox tenure, he has played in a total of 163 games played and has 323 games missed, with a lot of that due to some bad luck.

He has missed time due to injuries to his wrist, heel, shoulder, and elbow, some of which have required surgery. What makes it all the more shocking is that while he was a member of the Colorado Rockies, he played in at least 88% of his team's games for five consecutive years before leaving in free agency.

Every year, we see one player defy the odds and remain healthy. In 2021, Tyler O'Neill played in 138 games and proved he could be more than just a man with muscles. In 2022, Mike Trout was in the lineup for 119 games, which is more than he would end up playing in the next two seasons combined.

In 2023, Luis Robert played in 145 games and became a five-category stud. Last season, Jazz Chisholm Jr. endured for 147 games and showed that he is capable of being one of the league's best players. Why can't 2025 be the year for Story?

David Bednar finishes the season as a top-10 closer

Last season was a disastrous one for David Bednar. After three seasons of proving himself to be one of the elite relievers in the game, he would go on to finish the season with a 5.77 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP over 57.2 innings pitched. It was obvious from the beginning that he wasn't himself, as first he suffered a lat injury during Spring Training, and then midseason he endured an oblique ailment.

What was peculiar about both of those injuries is that he returned in a much sooner timeframe than others typically need to heal. His oblique injury specifically took three weeks out of his season, when in reality, those ailments can require months. Health aside, there was also speculation that Bednar was tipping his pitches, which could have led to his diminished results on the mound.

David Bednar has struggled this season, but why? Well... there may be a little tipping going on.https://t.co/jC9T38o9ww

— Trevor May (@IamTrevorMay) September 8, 2024

With health on his side, the ability to fix the tipping issue, and a lack of competition, it would appear that the table is set for Bednar to reclaim his status as a reliable closer. Despite his struggles last year, he still managed to save 23 games, which is nothing short of amazing, given the circumstances. He is said to have arrived in camp after an offseason focused on maintaining his health and keeping his body fit and active. His 2025 season looks to be primed and ready for a comeback.

Isaac Paredes has a career-best year in Houston

There may not be a more perfect fit for a player than Houston for Isaac Paredes. With his pull-heavy approach at the plate, the Crawford boxes in left field are a match made in heaven for the powerful 26-year-old slugger. Now tasked with the ordeal of replacing the departed Alex Bregman, Paredes seems poised and ready to do so, making him a very attractive option at the hot corner for 2025.

When examining his spray chart, nine extra hits could have been home runs in Houston that were hit by him. As someone who has pulled the ball more than 50% of the time for two consecutive seasons, this seems like a dream scenario for both him and the Astros.

Looking at his expected home runs by park, Paredes would have hit 28 home runs last season had he played all his games in Houston. It doesn't seem inconceivable that he could surpass 30 home runs. After all, he's leaving the pitcher-friendly confines of Tropicana Field, and the third worst stadium for right-handed power (according to Statcast Park Factors) in Wrigley Field for a place that seems tailored to his skill set. It's not out of the question to suggest that we see a minimum of 25 home runs, but hitting more than his career-high of 31 home runs is entirely possible.

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