MLB Who Am I Buying 2025 Edition
The baseball regular season is just about over. That means it is time for my favorite part of the year: baseball buying season. I like to focus on a few players each year to stock up on between the end of the regular season and the start of Spring Training. I normally choose a player or two at various stages of their career: a clear first-ballot guy, a HOF player fans are sleeping on, a young superstar, a prospect/younger star, and Shohei Ohtani (yes, he gets his own category).
Last year, I went with Mike Trout, Francisco Lindor, Gunnar Henderson, Corbin Carroll, and Shohei Ohtani. While Carroll and Ohtani saw serious gains, Trout and Lindor were fairly flat, with Gunnar Henderson seeing a drop. Overall, there wasn’t any player whose cards I regretted buying, even with a bit of a dip for Gunnar.
So, who am I after this year? It’s a tougher task. Last year, Corbin Carroll stood out like a lighthouse on a foggy night. This year, there are quite a few players who look like fun buys.
1st Ballot HOF Guys
Mike Trout was my pick for this category last year, and he is my pick again this year. I was going to pick Clayton Kershaw, but looking at an old Beckett from 2004 changed my mind. It was from the time period where Ken Griffey Jr.’s popularity was waning, and guys like Jeter, Ripken, and even Nomar Garciaparra could see their similar cards sell for more.
I think Trout is in a similar hobby funk, and collectors will eventually make their way back to him just like they did with Griffey. If not, I don’t really care, as I just want some more Trout cards for my PC. The dip might last a few more years, but I’m buying nice Trout cards when I see one I like at an affordable price.
Quiet HOF Player
I chose Francisco Lindor over Jose Ramirez last year. I’m tempted to choose either of them, but I realistically think I’ll be able to get their cards at this point next year for about what they go for today, so I’m not motivated to chase them this offseason.
It’s my list, so I’m cheating a bit. While most would consider Freddie Freeman a HOF player, there are enough naysayers that he might not be a first ballot guy. I think he is, but I’m using that soupçon of doubt to justify picking him here.
In particular, I’m hunting Freeman Braves stuff, but there are deals galore to be had on his Dodgers cards.
Also, I think my younger player picks are a bit riskier, so I like having a sure thing here. I’m not sure that Freeman’s cards will go up in price; in fact, the hobby history of guys like Jeff Bagwell suggests they won’t, but I am sure cards of Freeman in his good guy Braves uniform fit perfectly in my PC.
Young Superstar
I’m close to doubling down on Gunnar Henderson for a second year in a row, chalking up his lower production to an early-season injury, but he was merely solid when ostensibly healthy after the All-Star break and needs to play like a superstar to justify current pricing. I’ll pick up one nice Gunnar card, but he’s not my pick.
My choice seems like he’s been around forever, but he’s still only 26. I'm going with Juan Soto. He’s likely the only player in the league with a legitimate shot at a 100 WAR career. I also think he’s still got room for improvement and is more than capable of reeling off multiple MVP seasons.
Younger Superstar
This choice is just about impossible. Skenes? The 2024 rookie studs? Roman Anthony? Nick Kurtz? PCA? Caglianone? Sal Stewart even? There are probably twenty players I wouldn’t feel bad making a case for.
I’m going upside, and I think James Wood has it in spades. He showed flashes of greatness this year and had a solid season despite lower power production post-All-Star game. He strikes out a ton, but so do most of the other young stars and prospects.
What he does better than any young player is crush the ball. His exit velocity stats put him in the company of guys like Ohtani, Judge, Guerrero Jr., and Schwarber. If he can get his average launch angle up to 10 degrees, he can be a regular 40-50 homer guy.
With tons of attractive options, I might regret this one, but I’ve got James Wood. Eat your heart out, Peter Griffin.
The Ohtani Category
In a world without Ohtani, Judge would get his own category. We don’t live in such a world, so Ohtani it is. Ohtani is inevitable.
Wrap Up
So, Trout, Freeman, Soto, Wood, and Ohtani. Not very risky, but that’s by design. I would note that if any of these guys see major spikes during the postseason, I’ll pivot and avoid them for a bit until prices settle.