Justin Mason’s Baseball Chat – June 9, 2025

Justin Mason: I will begin at the top of hour. In the meantime, please follow me on all my social media’s (twitter, tiktok, facebook, youtube, bluesky, and instagram) at JustinMasonFWFB! I am doing regular podcasts on the FWFB podcast as well as three episodes a week for the Sleeper and the Bust so definitely make sure you are subscribed there as well!

Rodger Dodger: Rostering Tanner Scott in a saves only league, is it worth hanging on to Kirby Yates too? My other relievers are Palencia, Romano and R Garcia

Justin Mason: Probably not. I think Scott’s job is safe and no guarantee that Yates would take the job all on his own even if Scott lost his job.

RAGBRAI: Pivetta outlook? Stats were rough, just a big blip, or something more serious?

Justin Mason: I think Pivetta is good as long as he is healthy. He will definitely regress a little, but I am not expecting the floor to fall out from under him.

Matt: How do you deal with teams not giving any feedback in trades? I’m in an Ottoneu league with randos, of my last 4 trade offers, no comment, no comment, “i’ll pass for now” and “X player is not available”. No: not looking to trade now, I can move this player but I’d need more, these aren’t positions of need for me, etc. I’m kinda just frustrated and giving up, as I don’t want to just keep peppering offers at people that are just rejecting with no feedback. I make it a strong policy of mine to never decline a trade without feedback.

Justin Mason: It’s really hard to deal with this when you are in a public league with people you don’t know. Often I will ask to exchange emails with the person to have a further dialog. If they are unwilling to do that, there isn’t much you can do other than continue to add your own dialog and hope they reciprocate.

Brenton Doyle: Thx for taking the question.  How long to be patient in a 10 team NL only?

Justin Mason: Underlying numbers are much better than the surface ones. I am sticking with him.

Kyle: Still have optimism for McLain ROS?

Justin Mason: I do. BABIP is extremely low and he is still making league average z-contact, hitting hard like he did in 2023, and walking at a 10% rate. I think he will turn it around.

RAGBRAI: Quite a few teams have unsettled bullpens. Is it more than normal? Seems like fewer solid closers anymore.

Justin Mason: It definitely feels like a bad year for closers, but it’s not extremely out of the ordinary. This is the most volatile position in fantasy baseball.

Hey Abbott: Rank these starters ROS in a 12-team 5×5 roto league? Abbott, Peterson, Liberatore, Ober, Baz, May

Justin Mason: Ober, May, Liberatore, Abbott, Baz, Peterson

bdubs: 12T, mixed…drop Jung and/or Happ for any of Mauricio, Anthony, Kurtz, Meadows, CES?
On the SP side, drop Boyd for Abel?

Justin Mason: I would not drop Boyd for Abel. I would drop Happ for Kurtz or CES

JT: 14tm, redraft, h2h 6×6 was offered Chourio for Caminero ? I know the answer is yes but some of Chourio’s underlying #s scare me, Burger would take over at 3B if I agree or can continue with a Ward/Doyle combo as my 3rd OF

Justin Mason: I would take this, but I understand the fear around Chourio’s o-swing and lack of walks especially if the sixth cat is OBP. I do expect things to improve for him there, but he is never going to be a high walk rate guy.

Matt: You giving up on Adames yet?

Justin Mason: In shallower formats, yes

Rookie: Am I going to regret trading Jacob Wilson윌슨 for Walker Jenkins in a dynasty that counts hits, avg, and ops?

Justin Mason: Yes, you will

Matt: Weekly lineups, 12 team roto, need to pick 2 of Flaherty (CIN), Webb (@LAD), Sugano (LAA), S Gray (@MIL)

Justin Mason: Webb and Gray

Too many OFers: Trying to trade an OF for a SP. 13tm std roto
Trying to trade one of Langford, Greene, Suzuki. Who would be a good SP target? Cristopher Sanchez? Luzardo?

Justin Mason: I would do Greene for Sanchez

RAGBRAI: I don’t want to get political but what is more costly, Trump’s military parade or the salary of the Dodger’s pitchers on the IL?

Justin Mason: Not touching that one with a 10 foot pole

Justin Mason: Point awarded though!

Anvay: 10 team head to head. IPs and Ks are worth the most. I was offered Mahle and Eflin for Pfaadt and Bryce Miller. Should I do it?

Justin Mason: I think I would pass, but I recommend running your point system through the auction calculator with ROS projections

Sam: Who do you think the best young infield bat I could get back for Taj Bradley is? Is CES worth getting?

Justin Mason: If you could get CES back, that would be amazing

Max Fried Rice: What feels like a fair offer for Fried in an OBP roto league? I’m considering sending over a Riley Greene + Masyn Winn combo for Fried and Jung Ho Lee

Justin Mason: I would do this in a heartbeat

BP: General complaint, but why do managers always bench my players on Mondays and Thursdays when it’s already a light schedule!!

Justin Mason: They hate us

Steve E: How was everybody so universally wrong about Roki Sasaki? He was a mega-rare 65-grade prospect on this website and if not for two homers that Andy Pages kept in the ballpark defensively, he would have an ERA of about 6.00. He’s got two pitches and labors to throw either for strikes. His velocity was nowhere near what was advertised.

Justin Mason: As a person who was lower on Sasaki than the industry, I would say that as a whole the industry gets star struck by new talent. We see this all the time when players enter the league for the first time whether it be international guys or rookies. These guys are often overrated but we forget the misses and remember too much of the wins.

Tatis: Do you have a trading philosophy for studs? Picked up a cellar dwellar and looking to leap frog into contention since it has prospects like Caglianone, Roman Anthony, Sebastian Walcott etc but no pitching. I’m thinking of moving Tatis or Betts for a haul but not sure what’s reasonable. Was offered Lindor, Yainer Diaz, and Logan Gilbert for Tatis

Justin Mason: So I look at it like an equation. Is the difference between player X and player Y greater than the rest of the package. For instance, I don’t think the difference between Tatis and Lindor is greater than Gilbert and Diaz.

RPF: Are the Marlins ever going to let Ronny close? Been holding but wondering if it’s time to move on and stop chasing saves there.

Justin Mason: I think it will always be a fluid situation there which is why I just traded him in a keeper format.

Jerry Reinsdorf: Rank these IF ROS in an OBP league? Meidroth, Shaw, Otto Lopez, Royce Lewis, Colt Keith

Justin Mason: Shaw, Keith, Lewis, Meidroth, Lopez

Mike: Rice or McClain?  What side of that potential trade do you want?  Rice sits more but also hits at the top of the order.  Rice will also likely have C eligibility by the end of the year, which matters in an H2H playoff league?

Justin Mason: Rice for me

Matt: 12 team dynasty roto (OBP, TB) – you dropping Burger for C Santana? If not dropping, you benching and trying to grab Santana with a different drop?

Justin Mason: I would make that drop in OBP

RAGBRAI: In an NL only with SHDs is Santana worth holding onto in case Bednar gets traded? He has as many wins as Nola.

Justin Mason: I think he is

Mike: Trusting CES in 12-team H2H?  Start over Goldy this week, who has been cold (Cincy is on the road)?

Justin Mason: Absolutely

ransofast: which 2 are you starting this week out of this high risk pool: Cecconi vCIN, Paddack @HOU, Bryce Miller @ARI, Liberatore vTOR, Roupp @LAD, and Estrada (3vLAD, 3@ARI, S+H league)

Justin Mason: Paddack and Liberatore

LGM: Impatient owner who scooped up Ronny Mauricio already dropped him. Think he’s worth a snag in a 12-teamer?

Justin Mason: I think he is on the upside alone

Danielles boyfriend: Hey Justin! Kyle Teel or David Fry for my second catcher in NFBC league. Thanks!

Justin Mason: Teel. Fry just won’t play quite as much

Bruce: 5×5 OBP league Roman Anthony is a top __ OF once he’s called up?

Justin Mason: 25

Stott is Not Hot: Stott has been in a brutal slump, and I need power more than steals. Defensible to start Mauricio over him this week?

Justin Mason: I think itis

Adenolith: Drop May or Pepiot to activate Eury this week?

Justin Mason: Pepiot

Guest: 2B is a black hole for me. Would you go with K. Campbell, O. Lopez, R. Mauricio, L. Garcia, or J. McNeill going forward?

Justin Mason: McNeill

131: What shall I do with Pfaadt in an NL keeper league? Bench and pray?

Justin Mason: Pray is definitely a good start. I still believe in the talent so I am not dropping

Cheese: Cags exit velos last week were pretty eye-popping.  He is a top (blank) 1B and a top (blank) OF rest of season.

Justin Mason: Top 15 1B, Top 35 OF

Cheese: Does Palencia keep the closer role all year?

Justin Mason: I think he likely shares it with Hodge or the Cubs bring in a stud at the deadline

Screw Balls: Are you looking to buy Vladito where available?

Justin Mason: Absolutely

Adenolith: Standard h2h. Would you rather have CES or Royce?

Justin Mason: CES

Guest: Looks to me like Lamonte Wade Jr in line for a lot of PA as the only Angels lefty outfielder (and possible Soler injury replacement).  Will he recover enough to carry value in a deep AL-only OBP league?

Justin Mason: Maybe in a league that deep, but he won’t win you any leagues.

Jesus de la Nazareth: What’s your take on Woo in dynasty leagues?

Justin Mason: I am a huge fan of Woo’s stuff. I think when he is on the mound, he is a top 25 guy, but I worry a ton about his health. I don’t think I would sell him in a dynasty league unless I got a haul, but I wouldn’t buy him either.

Pete: What do you make of Luis Robert ROS.  Is he a buy low or an avoid?  Thanks!

Justin Mason: Avoid

K: Are you optimistic that Semien has righted the ship, top 5 2B finish ROs likely?

Justin Mason: I don’t think he will be a top 5. I do think he will be better and be a very good accumulator, but his best days are behind him.

Guest: Giolito has had 4 good-to-great starts and 3 nuclear disasters.  What’s his ROS look like?

Justin Mason: A lot like this. He will be hard to predict. Guys in their first season back from TJ often struggle with command and control and it is hard to predict. Think about Robbie Ray last year. He would go out and throw a gem and then next outing couldn’t find the zone or command it in the zone.

Joe: How concerned are you with Logan Gilberts flexor strain even when he comes back its still a risk right?

Justin Mason: I am super concerned, but not much you can do but hope he stays on the mound.

Grady: Ros who you taking b/w Agustin Ramirez & CES?

Justin Mason: CES

1b: CES or Aranda in points redraft?

Justin Mason: CES

Trade review: Had the chance to flip Corey Seager for Logan Webb, Logan Gilbert or George Kirby in a 6×6 redraft with k/bb. I won’t tell you who I chose — who SHOULD I have chosen?

Justin Mason: I don’t know if you can go wrong, but depending on the depth of league, I probably would rank them Webb, Kirby, Gilbert due to health concerns.

Morgan: Drop Ryan Weathers for Mick Abel?  10 team H2H categories, with K/BB as the 6th pitching category.  Also, ever seen a pitcher get beaned by the catcher before?

Justin Mason: I have only seen this once before and it is crazy. Dude is just super unlucky. I am ok making that drop but there is a chance Abel goes back down to the minors, so you may want to wait and see what happens there.

Guest: Dynasty 15 team….rebuilding M Olson and T Turner for W Langford and J Holliday.  Good deal for the future?

Justin Mason: Feel like you should have gotten more back, but long term that will be nice

Big Ole Tendi: What do you think of Eno’s take on park factors in KC get worse for pitchers as the summer heat makes the ball travel farther?  Do you agree or no, and if so what would you do with KC pitchers like Bubic?

Justin Mason: I do agree, but it is still a big park and almost every park will have this happen to some extent or another (outside of domed stadiums)

Big Ole Tendi: Do you think J. Mateo will continue to play if the Orioles Westburg gets back?

Justin Mason: Probably not very much

Archie: ROS- Liberatore or Ben Brown?

Justin Mason: Liberatore

Mitch: Is there any hope that Royce Lewis can finish the season as a top 5 3B?

Justin Mason: I still believe in the talent, but top five is a long way off with his start and missed time

Mike: Wells, O’Happe, or Teel ROS?

Justin Mason: O’Hoppe

Guest: painter or burns ROS (w/ potential to keep) in 10 team roto

Justin Mason: Painter

bdubs: Drilling down from previous…CES or Kurtz

Justin Mason: Kurtz, but close

D: Pls rank ros: Luzardo, Schwellenbach, Gore, Woo

Justin Mason: Schwellenbach, Gore, Woo, Luzardo

Idiotic Failson: I’m losing my patience with Kjerstad in my dynasty points leagues. Can I cut him without feeling like I’ll regret it?

Justin Mason: depends on your depth of league, but probably

Jesus de la Nazareth: McClain or Semien RoS?

Justin Mason: McLain

Aaron: Why is Michael Harris II aging like he’s 34 instead of 24? He’s on the verge of losing playing time.

Justin Mason: This is the problem with his lack of approach. You cant swing outside the zone this much and continue to be consistent. He will heat up at some point and his defense and contract will keep him on the field, but this is why I do not draft him at his price.

Showbusiness77: Commish here in my 10-tm ESPN daily H2H pts league. My opponent took issue with my trade of Cease/Strider/Romano for Peralta/Bibee/Taillon. Is this a veto-worthy trade in your opinion? We have never had veto/voting for trades in my league. And I have never wanted to veto one as commish. I always stated if there was anything egregious lole

Justin Mason: Vetos should only be reserved for collusion in my opinion. Is this trade a little lopsided, maybe, but I don’t think it is veto worthy at all

Mike: Adell?  Or is this Lucy pulling away the football again?

Justin Mason: I have tried kicking the football on Adell for a long time, but I truly believe this is growth as a player. Z-Contact is by far the best of his career. He is hitting the ball hard. Making better swing decisions. I don’t want to go crazy, but I am a buyer.

Albert: Very thin in pitching land on the wire. Any of this group worth flipping B Miller out for?  Falter, Priester, Buehler, Povich, or Kolek.

Justin Mason: nah

Cheese: Starting Eury this week in total points league, weekly lineups, with his two-step?

Justin Mason: With his matchups, I would, but there is risk here as I stated above with Giolito, guys returning from TJ struggle with consistent command and control, but if you aren’t going to use him for this two-step, when will you?

Adenolith: Better name of a former major leaguer – Pickles Dillhoeffer or Johnny Dickshot?

Justin Mason: Pickles

Justin Mason: Point awarded!

Trade review: Damn, chose Gilbert over Webb and Kirby. Wanted the ceiling, and was worried Webb’s strikeouts would evaporate (swstr% still meh) and Kirby control wouldn’t be all the way back. Oh well!

Justin Mason: I don’t think you can go wrong. Just got to hope Gilbert’s health is there because he was higher in my ranks preseason than Kirby and Webb.

AJ Smith-Shawver: All this CES talk. The tragedy of torn UCLs took ASS from us.

Justin Mason: Point awarded

555Filk: Do we believe in Cease moving forward? Was offered cease and Robert suarez for Max fried in a roto league that counts QS and k/bb%, and I have a sizable lead in ERA. Play it safe and hold fried or go with cease and the closer?

Justin Mason: Give me Cease and the closer

Why not Zoidberg?: Which 2 are you starting this week Ragans, Eury, Pepiot, or May?

Justin Mason: Ragans and Eury

Guest: kurtz or cags ROS in 10-team keeper roto w/ OBP instead of AVG

Justin Mason: Kurtz

Mateo: Happy Monday Justin! Any SF bar recs? Recent spots?

Justin Mason: I don’t drink so I don’t know that I am a good person to ask about bars, but The Wreck Room is my favorite sports bar in SF.

Dylan: Isaac Peredes or Tyler Soderstrom ROS

Justin Mason: Paredes for me, but I love Soderstrom too

Chimney Sweeper: Just traded a couple Baby Birds in CMayo and GRod for Vlad and Woo in Ottoneu 4×4. How’d I do?

Justin Mason: great!

Stott’s Tots: How long is the rope with Bryson Stott? Is he worth dropping in an OBP league with multiple IF positions for any of Otto Lopez, Andres Gimenez or Colt Keith?

Justin Mason: I would drop for Keith

Wet Wenceel: Thoughts on Wenceel Perez? Is he worth rostering in a 12-team roto league? Thanks!

Justin Mason: I worry that the lack of in-zone contact will become an issue for him, but he is striking the ball well and lifting and pulling it, so he could make it work for a while. The problem is playing time when he does go into a cold streak. I think he could lose it completely.

Megill Mayhem: Tylor looked better at Coors yesterday but is still so inefficient. Any hope for improvement as the season goes on?

Justin Mason: I really like Megill’s stuff and think he should be really good rest of the season. However, there is a lot of risk that when Manaea returns, he heads to the pen because his stuff plays up better there than Canning’s or Peterson’s would and I think the Mets would be smart to manage his innings a bit considering his health history. I would ride it out until it happens because there may be a natural opening for Manaea before he returns if someone else gets hurt or the regression could come for Peterson or Canning before then, but there is a fair amount of risk here.

Adenolith: Need help in everything but HRs. Which of this group would you drop for J. Lowe, if any: Goodman, K. Carpenter, Royce, Springer?

Justin Mason: Royce and that makes me sad

Cheese: Total points league / weekly lineups.  2B…. start Altuve (6 home games vs csox and minn) or a hot R Mauricio (6 home gms vs Tampa and Wash)?

Justin Mason: Altuve

Keeper League Qs: 13 tm std roto keeper league. I offered Wyatt Langford and Tylor Megill for Chris Sale. The people I’ve asked are split; half say no way that gets Sale and the other half says omg why would you trade Langford. Am I way off here (trade was rejected without comment so yay)?

Justin Mason: I want Langford in that deal because it’s a keeper. Love sale and if it was a redraft, I probably lean the other way, but in a keeper, you have to take the Langford side.

Cash In Ray: Good idea to try to cash in Robbie Ray now for an upper tier batter if my need is more hitting than pitching?

Justin Mason: I think Ray is going to be great rest of the way, but if you need the hitting I get it.

Mike: Lugo, Abel, Warren, Mize, ROS and short term in 12-team H2H.  Is that the right order for now?  Does Abel drop longterm?

Justin Mason: Lugo, Mize, Abel, Warren

Ward: Ward’s homers have been nice, but the lack of on-base has been tough to stomach in an OBP league. Do you think he will return more to his career norms there, or is this a byproduct of him selling out for power? He is walking less than prior years and striking out more…

Justin Mason: I think this is a product of his approach and pitchers taking advantage of him being more patient in the zone. It should improve some. I would project like a .310-.320 OBP

Steve: Trade Review
Standard roto league. Freeman for Skubal straight up. Which side would you take?

Justin Mason: Skubal but it is close

Trade town: Trade Gavin Williams for Josh Lowe? (AL obp league)

Justin Mason: yes

J Bone: Desperate for Steals, but also someone that isn’t a complete zero everywhere else. Preferably at 2B. 10 team keeper. Can you rank the following for ROS: Caballero, X Edwards, David Hamilton, L Acuna, Andres Gimenez, McLain

Justin Mason: McLain, Edwards, Gimenez, Caballero, Acua, Hamilton

Eduardo: Keeper league 12t with OPS and I have roman anthony, OF is shallow on my team and Im in a place to win this year. Trade anthony for a stud OF vet now? or wait until he arrives and plug in/hoping he produces enough this year to make a difference?

Justin Mason: wait

Missing MI: I like the idea of Whitcomb, but he’s not playing. Who’s your favorite bench bat in a daily OBP league: Whitcomb, Brooks Lee, DJ LeMahieu?

Justin Mason: Lee

Cheese: Better movie…. Major League or Bull Durham?

Justin Mason: Major League

Justin Mason: That is all the time I have today. Thank you for chatting with me. Please follow me on all my social media’s (twitter, tiktok, facebook, youtube, bluesky, and instagram) at JustinMasonFWFB! I am doing regular podcasts on the FWFB podcast as well as three episodes a week for the Sleeper and the Bust so definitely make sure you are subscribed there as well!