RADIO
The beauty of fantasy baseball auction drafts is that you can go in with a specific plan or players to target. Whether it's general strategy tips, mid-range values, or $1 bargains, we have it all covered in our fantasy baseball auction draft series.
A popular strategy in auctions is to take a stars and scrubs approach, loading up on top-end talent and then filling out the rest as best as possible. One way to save some money for the superstars is to go into drafts with a group of $1 targets. Nailing the right sleepers at the minimum price is a good way to set your team above the rest.
It's important to have backup plans, so you will always have targets to fall back on if some go to other bidders. Nolan Schanuel, Edwin Uceta, Luke Weaver, and Jonathan Aranda are great $1 options that have been covered in depth here, but here are four more players to consider toward the end of auction drafts.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball draft tools and resources:- Fantasy baseball draft kit
- Fantasy baseball rankings
- Team Sync platform and Draft Assistant
- Fantasy baseball mock draft simulator
- Fantasy baseball draft cheat sheets
- Fantasy baseball closer depth charts
- Fantasy baseball prospects
Max Kepler, OF, Philadelphia Phillies
$1 AAV (Average Auction Value)
Max Kepler signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Phillies this offseason. He had a very rough 2024 where he battled knee injuries, slashing just .253/.302/.380 with eight home runs, 42 RBI, and 43 runs in 105 games.
However, he isn't far removed from his 2023 season, where he batted .260 with 24 home runs, 66 RBI, and 72 runs in 130 games. He put up a .503 xSLG and 91.9 mph average exit velocity, which both ranked in the 89th percentile. It's not like that was his only taste of success, either. He was a very useful player throughout the early parts of his career, which peaked in 2019 when he blasted 36 home runs.
A change of scenery could be just what he needs, especially when his new scenery is having an everyday spot in one of the best lineups in baseball. He figures to be the Phillies starting left fielder, and he is already showing off his power display this spring.
Someone should probably check on that baseball 😳 pic.twitter.com/vsVeXYK11D
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) March 6, 2025
Philadelphia platooned much of its outfield last season, but Kepler has the skills to avoid that. He has only batted 22 points lower against lefties in his career than righties, and he performed better against left-handers last season. He slashed .273/.305/.416 against them, compared to .247/.301/.371 against right-handers.
His guaranteed playing time in a high-octane offense makes him worth his $1 price tag alone, and the massive power potential he has shown earlier in his career makes him an intriguing sleeper.
Robert Garcia, RP, Texas Rangers
$1 AAV (Average Auction Value)
Robert Garcia was one of the Washington Nationals' best relievers in 2024, posting a 4.22 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 75 strikeouts over 59.2 innings. He was traded to the Rangers this offseason, where he could be in the mix for saves.
While his 4.22 ERA doesn't look too impressive, there's reason to believe that he was faced with some bad luck. He posted a 2.38 FIP, 2.77 xFIP, and a 2.53 xERA that ranked in the 97th percentile. He was one of the best pitchers in baseball when it came to avoiding hard contact, putting up 98th-percentile marks in barrel rate and hard-hit rate. He also excelled at missing bats, with an elite 29.9 percent strikeout rate and 33.6 percent chase rate.
Robert García — potential closer candidate? — with a three-pitch strikeout in the Rangers’ B game pic.twitter.com/CkiUwQa7nv
— kennedi landry (@kennlandry) March 3, 2025
The Rangers did not sign a surefire closer this offseason, leaving 38-year-old Chris Martin and Garcia as the leading candidates for saves. They likely start the year in some sort of committee, with Martin possibly earning the majority of save chances. However, if Martin struggles, it could be a very short leash. Garcia is the most talented option in the bullpen, and it's hard not to see him taking over the job eventually this season.
With an average auction value of $1, he is one of the better cheap prospective save sources in leagues where saves are scarce.
Ryan Weathers, SP, Miami Marlins
$1 AAV (Average Auction Value)
Ryan Weathers missed most of last season with a finger strain and posted a 3.63 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 80 strikeouts over 86.2 innings while healthy. While it wasn't a dominating season by any means, it was encouraging to see him improve his strikeout and walk rates to 21.8 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively.
He wasn't on many fantasy managers' radars this offseason until he showed up at spring training looking like a completely different pitcher. He lost 20 pounds over the winter and is throwing the ball harder than he ever has. He has topped out at 99.6 mph this spring and averaged 98 mph on his fastball in his last appearance. That's a significant jump from his 2024 average fastball velocity of 95.9 mph. All of his other pitches are up at least 1 mph, too.
Ryan Weathers overpowers Lars Nootbaar at 99 🔥 pic.twitter.com/KbeuzFufHK
— Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) March 11, 2025
He has looked overpowering this spring, and it's not just due to the added velocity. His new delivery and velocity have changed the break of his pitches, too. This is especially evident in his fastball, which averaged an induced vertical break of 18 inches in his last appearance.
Compare that to his average of 15 inches in 2024, and it's basically like looking at a new pitcher. To put in perspective how much of an improvement that is, he ranked 248th in his four-seam fastball's vertical break last season. If he had averaged 18 inches instead, he would have ranked in the top 50 in that metric.
Spencer Torkelson, 1B, Detroit Tigers
$1 AAV (Average Auction Value)
Spencer Torkelson is the prototypical post-hype sleeper. The hype was always high for the top prospect ever since being drafted first overall in the 2020 draft. That all came to fruition in 2023 when he slashed .233/.313/.446 with 31 home runs. His underlying metrics looked even better, and all signs pointed to a huge breakout coming for 2024.
Instead, he slashed just .219/.295/.374 with 10 home runs in 92 games. He looked so lost at the plate that he was demoted to Triple-A, where he stayed for two-and-a-half months. He did look better after returning, batting .249 with six home runs in 38 games, compared to batting .201 with four home runs in 54 games before the demotion.
Even the Tigers didn't have high hopes for a return to form in 2025, as they went out and signed Gleyber Torres to play second base. This move shifted Colt Keith to first base, seemingly blocking Torkelson from even having a spot in the lineup.
However, injuries to Parker Meadows and Matt Vierling should allow the flexibility for him to work into the lineup at first base or DH most days if the Tigers let him. So far in spring training, Torkelson has shown why he deserves that spot in the lineup.
TORK BOMB pic.twitter.com/TGrDmkIEMw
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) March 7, 2025
He's hit four homers this spring so far, reminding everyone of his massive power potential. He is still only 25 years old, which is way too young for the Tigers or fantasy managers to give up on him.
With an average auction value of $1, the reward outweighs the risk. He could return to his 2023 form and end up as one of the best values in the draft, or you could cut him early in the season if he continues to struggle and not have to worry about the $1 you spent on him.
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!
More Fantasy Baseball Advice
