LBB: Stacks, Ducks Standout in Early 2025 CBS Projections

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Auv9w27MoF4

The early 2025 CBS Projections for the Roger Dorn Baseball League are with the Alamo Short Stacks looking like a contender to become the first Franchise to win back to back Titles while the Burlingame Blue Ducks look ready to open up a potentially historic run.

Three clubs currently hold a Keeper Roster projection over 5,000, led by the Ducks (6,473.5), Stacks (5,215.0) and Nashville Aristocrats (5,123.0). While the Ducks have a substantial lead in the projection category, it comes with an anticipated 10 Activations which would presently leave them needing just four players on Draft Day.

The Burlingame Blue Ducks could activate a RDBL-Record 10 Players led by 2024 Pitching Prospect of the Year Paul Skenes as well as sluggers Wyatt Langford and Dylan Crews.

The Stacks stand out with a strong balance across all categories, ranking third in overall projection, second in projected points per Keeper and sixtrh in cap space per opening, showing a balance of a strong Keeper Roster with spending power on Draft Day. The Stacks, fresh off posting the best pitching numbers in RDBL History, will again by led by Tarik Skubal (3/$1) who won the 2024 RDBL Pitcher of the Year Award.

The 'Crats possess a similarly strong Keeper Roster, but currently hold just $5.38 in Cap Space per Opening, ranking last in the league. That group is set to be infused with young star prospects Jackson Chourio and Jackson Holliday with Jackson Jobe lurking as a potential difference maker in 2025.

The Spokane Fightin' Fish match the San Mateo Oppo Tacos with a league-high 15 projected open roster spots, but GM Michael Tirabassi certainly is bringing back some high-end talent with a league-best 381.1 points per projected Keeper. That group is led by Shohei Ohtani (2/$61) and Corey Seager (3/$42).

The RDBL provides an 8,600 Full Season point target to weigh the strength of Keeper Rosters and their Cap Space.

As we have done in recent years, the Commissioner's Office holds a 8,600 point target to compare Keeper Rosters against. The 8,600 provides a rough estimate for where eventual RDBL Champions land in total points at the end of a season. That target then allows us to balance the current strength of a team's Keeper Roster against the club's spending power on Draft Day. That metric highlights the strength of the Mission Viejo Maulers who rank first in Points Needed per Open Roster for every $1 they have available. The Meinert Hops rank second in that metric.

2025 Free Agent Power Rankings: Witt, Jr. Leads Crop

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKAlASwpQhE

Fresh off the 11th 600+ point season in RDBL History, shortstop Bobby Witt, Jr. leads the 2025 Free Agent Class heading into the league's 12th Draft on March 23rd, 2025. Witt, fresh off his Rookie contract with the Asti Grape Stompers, is sure to have a wide range of suitors on Draft Day with his contract certainly headed north of $60 in late March.

Witt is far from the only impact talent available with Yordan Alvarez and Marcell Ozuna both eclipsing 500 points last season in the final year of their contracts while Jose Ramirez came in just under that mark at 492.0 points.

The overall strength of the Free Agent Class is on the mound as plenty of frontline starters sit available for RDBL Front Offices. That group of starters is headlined by Logan Gilbert, Chris Sale, Dylan Cease, George Kirby and Blake Snell. Corbin Burnes also looms as a potential target for clubs as the Cloverdale Clovers are unlikely to pick up his 3/$73 option.

While the Top 25 Overall Free Agents are ranked below, we have also broken down the Positional Rankings heading into the 2025 Draft.

Top 25 Overall Free Agents

1. Bobby Witt, Jr., KC

2. Yordan Alvarez, HOU

3. Jose Ramirez, CLE

4. Logan Gilbert, SEA

​5. Chris Sale, ATL

6. Matt Olson, ATL

7. *Corbin Burnes, ARI (CC)

8. Dylan Cease, SD

9. George Kirby, SEA

10. Blake Snell, LAD

11. Brent Rooker, ATH

12. Marcell Ozuna, ATL

​13. *Manny Machado, SD (ASS)

14. Willy Adames, SF

15. *Pete Alonso, FA (LMG)

16. Aaron Nola, PHI

17. Mike Trout, LAA

​18. Seiya Suzuki, CHC

19. Bryan Reynolds, PIT

20. Will Smith, LAD

21. Christian Yelich, MIL

22. Luis Arraez, SD

23. Jazz Chisholm, NYY

24. Mason Miller, ATH

25. *Dansby Swanson, CHC (LMG)​​

https://rogerdornbaseball.wixsite.com/rdbl/2022freeagents

LBB: 2025 Off-Season Storylines, Jokers Ready to Rumble

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbovxjZXkCw

With Roger Dorn Baseball League Front Offices just settling back into preparations for the 2025 Season, it's time for a little catch-up with the off-season storylines for each RDBL Franchise entering the Winter.

The RDBL Archives have been updated with a refresh of the 2025 Projected Keeper Rosters and the 2025 Reserve Draft Order and teams quickly approaching the window of approved transactions that starts on January 15th.

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Alamo Short Stacks: Seeking Repeat

The Alamo Short Stacks have won RDBL Titles in two of the last three seasons and look to have their strongest Keeper Roster in Franchise History at their fingertips this off-season. A pitching staff that set RDBL Records in 2024 is largely set to return led by ace Tarik Skubal (3/$1) while an overflow of hitting options should allow GM Greg Shelley to be active this Winter and add to their Farm System.

Trade Candidate: 3B/2B Colt Keith (2/$13)

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Asti Grape Stompers: Trust in Tatis to Lead Young Roster?

The Grapes appear set to build around 2024 Draft Day grab Fernando Tatis, Jr. (2/$52) who backed up a 379.0 point 2023 with just 285.5 point year last season in another injury-riddled campaign. Keeping GM Terry Shelley up even more is a group of talented but unproven talents in Jordan Walker (2R/$3), Kyle Harrison (2R/$3), Joey Ortiz (2/$1), Francisco Alvarez (2R/$3) and Colton Cowser (Minors) that could point his season one of two ways.

Trade Candidate: LHP Framber Valdez (3/$48)

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Burlingame Blue Ducks: Activation Wave?

GM Ryan Walsh is staring at the possibility of 10 Opening Day activations led by ace Paul Skenes (Minors) as well as sluggers Dylan Crews (Minors), Heliot Ramos (Minors) and Wyatt Langford (Minors). The remainder of the roster is hardly bare with superstars Bryce Harper (3/$41), Max Fried (2/$38) and Ketal Marte (3/$20) ready to lead the Ducks back into Title contention. Just how many Ducklings hit the Opening Day Roster for Walsh will be one of the league's top storylines before Draft Day.

Trade Candidate: OF Nick Castellanos (3/$16)

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Cloverdale Clovers: Cutting Ties with High-Price Arms?

The Clovers pushed all-in in 2024, only to come up short of the Playoffs while coughing up prized prospects Bryce Eldridge and Andrew Painter to the Meinert Hops along with the the top overall pick in the 2025 Reserve Draft. The sting is still with GM Chris Shelley who aims to make up for the step back in 2025 behind Elly De La Cruz (2R/$3) and Freddie Freeman (3/$57). The club was hardly left empty handed in their deal with the Hops as Logan Webb (3/$38) will return on a team-friendly deal though right-handers Corbin Burnes (3/$73) and Kevin Gausman (2/$45) both could be candidates to be moved this Winter.

Trade Candidate: RHP Corbin Burnes (3/$73)

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Honolulu Hammerheads: Creativeness Needed to Improve Off-Season Roster

The Hammerheads are coming off their best season in Franchise History, finishing second in the RDBL Playoffs after a Regular Season Wild Card berth. There's plenty to like for GM Ross Horiuchi with Cole Ragans (2/$36) and Jarren Duran (3R/$5) leading the roster, but a creative approach might be needed for the club to make big leaps this off-season. The Heads currently have just four prospects under contract and they are without two of their first four Draft selections, further tightening the club's options to deal this Winter. They are a candidate to take on salary which could be an avenue to a move for Horiuchi in the coming months.

Trade Candidate: OF Luis Matos (Minors)

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Lake Merced Goutfish: Offense Looking to Play Catch-Up

Lake Merced Goutfish GM Ryan Atkinson has always keen eye for pitching talent, developing a Top-3 staff again in 2024 for the fifth time in 10 seasons. 2025 looks to be no different with a group overflowing with talent led by Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2R/3), Jacob deGrom (2/$3) and Garrett Crochet (2/$4). With Randy Arozarena (2/$32), Xander Bogaerts (2/$36) and Pete Alonso (2/$40) all likely out the door, Atkinson will need to dip into that pitching pool or Farm System to infuse some high-end talent on the offensive side to help star Rafael Devers (3/$44) in 2025.

Trade Candidate: RHP Ryan Pepiot (3D/$15)

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Lunatic Fringe: Acuña Leading Roster Turnover?

Another significant knee injury to 2023 Hitter of the Year Ronald Acuña (3/$66) has his future in doubt as the star is expected to miss the early portion of the 2025 season. The club is expected to see additional turnover in their starting rotation where building blocks Josiah Gray (2R/$3), Kyle Bradish (3D/$15) and Triston McKenzie (2R/$3) all are in line for releases this Winter.

GM Tony Guglielmi is ecstatic to add 2024 Minor League Hitter of the Year Jackson Merrill (Minors) to the lineup on Opening Day as well as Waiver pickup Spencer Schwellenbach (2FA/$5), though more will be need to infuse the remainder of the roster with star-power.

Trade Candidate: C Cal Raleigh (2/$5)

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Maltese Falcons: Heavy Lifting Done?

The Falcons enjoyed another strong year, finishing 3rd Overall before sputtering to a 6th Place finish in the Playoffs. It was GM Gary Falzon's 8th Cash Finish, tying the Alamo Short Stacks for the most in the RDBL though the Falcons are still looking for that first League Title. They certainly have the high-end talent to get it done in 2025 behind Juan Soto (3/$65), Zach Wheeler (2/$61) and Ozzie Albies (3/$27), though they each come with significant contracts. There's good young (and cheap) talent on the roster that gives Falzon a major boost, but as currently constructed, the Falcons are expected to have league-low $5.33/open roster spot in cap space.

Trade Candidate: 2B Ozzie Albies (3/$27)

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Meinert Hops: Big Contracts Looming

GM Garrett Shelley waived the white flag in 2024, dealing away aces Corbin Burnes and Logan Webb which leaves a large gap in their cap space to play with this off-season. The offense has some interesting and cost-efficient pieces led by Michael Harris (3R/$5) and C.J. Abrams (3R/$5) who both enter their final year of control. With $18.00 in cap space per opening, Shelley will have plenty of room to chase the top of the market at least twice this off-season while 2026 looks extremely promising with the expected arrivals of elite prospects Andrew Painter, Bryce Eldridge, Chase Dollander, Charlie Condon and Chase DeLauter.

Trade Candidate: SS J.P. Crawford (3/$1)

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Mission Viejo Maulers: Money Ready to Spend

The Mission Viejo Maulers return some strong foundational pieces which is boosted by the bargain price for Gerrit Cole (2/$20) who is joined by fellow Yankees hurler Luis Gil (2D/$5) atop the club's rotation. The offense is filled with interchangeable 300+ types under cheap deals, but lacking star power on the offensive side which will likely be a key area for GM Chris Ferraro to address this Winter. As currently projected, the Maulers have the third highest spending power in the RDBL with $19.00/open roster spot in cap space.

Trade Candidate: 1B Rhys Hoskins (3/$10)

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Mt. Diablo Devils: Mookie and the Kids

The Mt. Diablo Devils are coming off a 13th Place finish while finishing outside of the money for the fifth time in the last six seasons. That has GM Jason Watson considering all options as they look to build around star Mookie Betts (3/$52) as he enters his final season of control. The top of the pitching staff is healthy with Michael King (3/$9) and Freddy Peralta (3/$9) both elite values but a glaring lack of depth behind them. Pete-Crow Armstrong (Minors) and Luis Angel Acuña (Minors) both look positioned for Opening Day spots, but neither project as true impact bats which could make the Devils one of the most active clubs this Winter.

Trade Candidate: OF/2B/SS Mookie Betts (3/$52)

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Nashville Aristocrats: Cut the Cord with Elite Prospects?

The Nashville Aristocrats have moved from one of the league's bottom ranked Amateur Scouting Departments to among the best since the addition of Assistant GM Russ Colburn, laying the groundwork for what could be a special 2025 season. The club has already committed to the activation of star outfielder Jackson Chourio (1R/$1) with his activation for the 2024 Playoffs, but plenty of talent appears ready. Jackson Holliday (Minors), Jackson Jobe (Minors), Kumar Rocker (Minors) and Max Meyer (Minors) all look positioned for Opening Day spots on their respective MLB clubs. With stars already in place (Francisco Lindor, Kyle Tucker and Jose Altuve), the 'Crats are likely to push all-in on 2025 which could start as soon as this Winter.

Trade Candidate: C Shea Langeliers (2R/$3)

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San Mateo Oppo Tacos: Rebuild on Schedule?

Pulling the roster back for 2024, GM Erik Nielsen's season went as expected with a last place finish and some foundational pieces to build around in the Minor Leagues. Entering 2025, the club has some building blocks in the rotation but some heavy lifting will need to be done this off-season on an offense that is currently bare on talent. A flurry of Reserve Draft picks and 15 prospects under contract give Nielsen plenty of ammo to use if the club decides to be aggressive this Winter with a likely focus on players under control through at least 2026.

Trade Candidate: OF Starling Marte (2/$8)

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Spokane Fightin' Fish: Elite Top Line

The Spokane Fightin' Fish hold 381.1 projected points per Keeper, the highest mark in the RDBL led by Shohei Ohtani (2/$61), Corey Seager (3/$42) and Sandy Alcantara (2/$2). While the star-power is certainly there, the depth isn't with the club matching the Oppo Tacos with a league-low eight projected Keepers. The Fish have been incredibly consistent as a contender and hold three of their first four Reserve Draft selections for the first time in years. That makes Tirabassi a GM to watch this Winter as the Fish look to build out the remainder of their Keeper Roster heading into Draft Day.

Trade Candidate: 2B Luis Garcia (2FA/$5)

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St. Joseph Jokers: Playoffs or Bust?

GM Rick Steen enters the off-season with his best Keeper Roster in Franchise History led by Aaron Judge (2/$62), Gunnar Henderson (3R/$5), Trea Turner (2/$45) and soon to be activation-ready right-hander Roki Sasaki (Minors) which has Jokers fans thinking Playoffs for the first time since their lone visit in 2018. Sasaki is far from alone in the rotation with Michael Wacha (3/$1) and Sean Manaea (2D/$5) both fresh off elite seasons. While there is more work to be done, the Jokers certainly have the look of a contender early this Winter.

Trade Candidate: RHP Kodai Senga (3/$12)