I am doing a series where I offer up three fantasy baseball thoughts for every MLB team. I’ll take a look at under-the-radar stats, playing time projections, projected roles, and off-season news to try and highlight the nuggets that might help you in your 2025 fantasy baseball drafts. We’ll do this thing in alphabetical order, and next up are three thoughts for the 2025 Chicago Cubs.
3 Fantasy Baseball Thoughts for the 2025 Chicago Cubs
Porter Hodge Won’t Come Cheap
It was a strong season overall for Porter Hodge, but ending the season closing games for the Cubs pushed things over the edge. Hodge finished the season with nine games and he opens up 2025 as Chicago’s closer once again.
In 26.1 innings in the second half of the season, Hodge had a 1.71 ERA with opposing hitters batting just .116 against him. We do have to keep an eye on his 12 walks, but Hodge did strike out 32 batters. On the season, Hodge’s ERA was 1.88 with a 2.62 xERA. While he kept the ball in the park, just 0.42 home runs per nine innings, Hodge’s control is going to be the deciding factor in his success.
With about 11 strikeouts per nine innings, Hodge can pitch out of trouble. That is also consistent with what we have seen from him throughout his minor league career. The problem though, is Hodge walked four batters per nine innings and benefited from a .189 BABIP. That brings some risk into the equation, and while the Cubs don’t currently have another option, his hold on the role could be tenuous.
However, opposing hitters had a barrel rate of just 3.3% against Hodge last year. That could be the leading factor in his success, but based on the price, you are taking on some risk.
Pete Crow-Armstrong is an Exciting Player
The tools are there for Pete Crow-Armstrong, and so is the potential. The problem though, is that Crow-Armstrong is far from a finished product at this point. With a current ADP of around 140, the price might be closer to that finished product than we would want it to be, but it’s the speed drawing us in.
Even with stolen bases up across the league, that doesn’t mean they aren’t rare and difficult to acquire. Last season, Crow-Armstrong stole 27 bases in 123 games. The problem though, is that the young outfielder hit just .237 and only walked five percent of the time. Both are going to make it tough for him to initially establish success beyond his current level, but the upside is there. Throughout his minor league career, Crow-Armstrong was able to hit for a higher average, we just might not see it until 2025.
Last season, he hit 10 home runs with 47 RBI and 46 runs scored. While he isn’t going to be a 30-HR hitter, getting to 15 this season and maybe 20 next year is likely. The batted ball metrics didn’t exactly do him a ton of favors last season, as the stolen base upside is what we are really after from Crow-Armstrong in 2025. Be careful not to overvalue it.
Michael Busch is a Solid Corner Infield Option
All he needed was regular playing time. After being traded from the Dodgers before last season, Michael Busch had a consistent role with the Cubs and it agreed with him. He played 152 games at first base and earned the right to remain in that role for 2025.
Busch hit .248 with a strong 11.1% walk rate which helps in OBP leagues. We will have to live with strikeouts, 28.6% last year, and making contact will be the biggest issue. Ultimately, that will limit Busch’s upside as he had just a 74.4% contact rate last season. There is the possibility that Busch does improve there as he had just a 25% swing rate last year on balls out of the strike zone.
When Busch made contact, the quality was there with an 11.2% barrel rate. Batting in the middle of the order helps as Busch drove in 65 runs with 73 runs scored. He went deep 21 times, but that’s likely where his ceiling stops. However, in the minor leagues, Busch hit 32 and 29 home runs in 2022 and 2023, respectively, so at least there is some room for a higher-end ceiling. However, a repeat of 2024 with perhaps a few more RBI plays from around pick 240 in your corner infield slot.
For more of the great fantasy baseball rankings and analysis you’ve come to expect from FantraxHQ, check out our full 2025 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit! We’re here for you all the way up until Opening Day and then on into your championship run.
