There’s a lot that goes into fantasy baseball. We have the player pool, the strategy, the research, and all of the fun stuff down. But as we prepare for a new season, and all of the optimism that comes along with it, there are some overarching themes to remember. With that being said, let’s dig into my 10 Commandments of Fantasy Baseball. You can take these in any direction you like, but this forms a good start of things that should be considered. After all, your fantasy baseball season is what you make of it.
Fantasy Baseball Strategy: 10 Commandments of Fantasy Baseball
1. Treat Everyone with Respect
I know that it sounds obvious, or even that I’m simply spewing common sense, but it’s important not to lose sight of this. When money gets involved though, things quickly change. People can simply change and pull a 180 degree shift. Unfortunately, it often happens quicker than anyone would like to admit. We aren’t running a charity program, but at the same time, everyone needs to be the best version of themselves.
When dealing with league mates, treat them as you would like to be treated. Respond to all of your trade offers in a timely and respectful manner. At the same time, when proposing trade offers, put yourself in the other manager’s shoes. How would you feel about receiving that offer?
It’s also important to remember that being a commissioner is a thankless job. All league members are lucky that someone has taken the task, so don’t make their job any harder. Respond to all messages and make sure you pay your dues on time.
2. Remember Why You Are Playing
Yes, everyone wants the money. And we all want the bragging rights and the glory. That’s simply human nature.
However, there are multiple ways to achieve those items. When you choose fantasy baseball though, there are clear reasons why you have done so. I’m not here to extol the virtues of our great game, but it’s also important not to lose sight of them either.
Playing fantasy baseball requires a fair amount of time and effort. It’s supposed to be a hobby, and most of all, it’s supposed to be fun. You are already watching the games and following baseball on a daily baseball. Above all, you are a baseball fan. That’s what has brought you to this great game. Well that and the camaraderie with your fellow fantasy managers and friends.
3. Only Play in Leagues You Like
As hard as you might be sold on joining a league, it still might not be the right place for you. When a new league is brought to your attention, there’s always going to be some level of excitement. I mean, it’s fantasy baseball, so why wouldn’t there be?
But we all have specific formats we like. Some might be preference – Roto vs. Points – but some might be skills-related as well. If you historically prefer the Roto format, maybe it’s not a good idea to join a Points league on a whim. Losing interest in a league where you might not be committed to the format is always going to be easier. This is whether it’s intentional or not, as it’s simply human nature.
The same can be said for the difference between daily and weekly moves. Part of it might be a bandwidth issue as far as your schedule as well. If you don’t enjoy leagues that require daily attention, or if you cannot do so logistically, then don’t force it.
When building your portfolio, it’s perfectly alright to say no. It’s important to be selective.
4. Think Before Committing
There is a lot that goes into managing a fantasy baseball team. Some leagues certainly require more effort than others with a greater degree of difficulty, but all require some level of investment.
It goes beyond watching the game and knowing baseball. There is another level involved here, and that is a dedication to your specific fantasy league. Your knowledge might be enough to get you in the door, but you need to keep up with it. How good of a fantasy player you are doesn’t necessarily matter here either.
Do you have the bandwidth to add this league to your portfolio? Are the rules and settings enjoyable to you? Will you be able to be an active participant throughout the whole season?
If you cannot answer in the overwhelming affirmative to those questions, then it might be best to pass.
5. Have Fun
Now that your portfolio is set, it’s time to begin the season. And by season, I don’t mean Opening Day. Instead I mean the journey that begins from the last pitch of the prior year’s World Series.
Fantasy baseball is 365 day a year process and it’s something you have to be committed to. It is an investment of time, money, and energy. Regardless of anything else, it’s meant to be a hobby. And that means you need to have fun. That’s something we can’t lose sight of.
6. Know Your League Settings
Each league is its own individual entity. We can go on at complete length on the different settings available, but it has to be noted.
Understanding the scoring settings is always going to be the first priority, but it goes beyond that. You need to be aware of the roster settings, positional eligibility, and any keeper implications.
While doing your research on the player pool, it’s important to keep the specific settings of your league in mind. It’s not a one-size-fits-all mentality. Depending on the league, a player might become more or less valuable.
7. Do Your Preseason Research
Don’t show up to your draft unprepared. While everyone is going to differ on player evaluation and how they view the draft pool, it’s important to have your own, individual thoughts.
At this point, you’re already aware of the league settings, but don’t be that fantasy manager. While we don’t want to disparage any preseason materials, things change on a constant basis. There is up-to-the-minute news that must be considered prior to your draft. Showing up with outdated materials, or worse a generic cheat sheet that doesn’t apply to your league, is one of the worst things that can be done.
Use all of the materials at your disposal. Of course, if you are reading this, you already know that Fantrax has a phenomenal Draft Kit. Additionally, there’s a Primer for the 2025 season available on Amazon.
Everyone has different methods of preparing, and this isn’t the place to dig into that, but just make sure you pick a method and stick with it. Preparation is critical, and you’ll get out of this what you put in.
8. Propose Trades As If You Are the Other Team
In a perfect world, we would win every trade and all of our offers would be accepted. But where does that leave you?
If you even get the other team to accept your lopsided trade, at some point, they won’t be so willing to do business. Again, that doesn’t mean you can’t win the trade, but don’t go after it looking to obliterate the competition.
Propose trades that make sense. If there’s no way you would accept the trade, then assume the other team won’t either.
9. Think Before Reacting
Something is going to happen over the course of the season. It’s inevitable. Whether it’s a team taking too long in the draft, someone proposing a bad trade, a bad rule proposal, or questionable communication, we know drama is a given.
How you react to that determines a lot.
The first thought is going to be simply to react. It’s not that simple though as that first reaction is often not the best. Take a step back, and be professional and reasonable here.
10. Stay Engaged All Season
Life happens. We get busy. Other leagues take priority. Football season starts. Work gets in the way. There are vacations.
In reality, the excuses are endless, but your league, your investment, and this hobby all enjoy better. Even if you are stuck in last place, take the five minutes each week to set your lineup. Make sure you are starting active players to keep everything on a level playing field. Use waivers to not dilute the player pool. Respond to trade offers on a timely basis and move things forward.
WIN
No matter what, let’s not forget that above all else, we are here to win the league. It’s important to have fun and be respectful, but you can do that while bringing home the championship.
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.
