In the ever-evolving world of fantasy baseball, identifying breakout players can significantly influence your draft strategy. This year, several players are primed to exceed their current ADP and provide substantial value. Kansas City Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino showcased impressive stats in the latter half of the season, hitting .276 with 15 homers and a high hard-hit rate. Meanwhile, Lawrence Butler from the Athletics demonstrated his potential post-All-Star break, slashing .300 with 13 homers and 12 steals. Washington Nationals' James Wood and Detroit Tigers' Parker Meadows also stand out as rising talents worth considering.

Other notable mentions include Junior Caminero of the Rays, whose youth and power potential are worth monitoring, and Baltimore's Jordan Westburg, who flashed power and speed last season. Kerry Carpenter of the Tigers is also on the radar after a strong performance, but don't overlook Brandon Lowe from the Tampa Bay Rays, who boasts a history of power hitting. Finally, Francisco Alvarez of the Mets and Pavin Smith from the Diamondbacks are intriguing options, showcasing the depth of potential breakouts this season.

In the current landscape of fantasy baseball, first basemen are proving to be a mixed bag of value. Stars like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Freddie Freeman still command attention, but value can be found in middle-to-late round picks. Christian Walker of the Houston Astros emerges as a prime undervalued option, signing a lucrative deal and boasting a track record of power. Conversely, Cody Bellinger's recent performance raises concerns about his ADP, placing him in the overvalued category. Meanwhile, Spencer Steer and Vinnie Pasquantino offer intriguing upside, but their draft positions may be too high given their recent stats. Finally, Michael Busch is positioned as a sleeper, showing promise going into his second year with the Cubs.

As fantasy baseball drafts approach, identifying undervalued first basemen can be crucial for success. Jake Burger, now with the Texas Rangers, slashed .250/.301/.460 with 29 homers for the Miami Marlins, showing immense power potential but facing challenges with his new lineup position. Paul Goldschmidt of the New York Yankees, despite a decline in production, remains healthy and is positioned to contribute significantly. Triston Casas of the Boston Red Sox, returning from injury, possesses a high ceiling if he can harness his strikeout rate. Christian Walker, now with the Houston Astros, is a reliable option for power and runs with a solid lineup behind him. Finally, Vinnie Pasquantino's potential for a strong RBI season with the Kansas City Royals remains tantalizing but is tempered by his injury history.

As spring training approaches, free agent first baseman Pete Alonso remains unsigned, raising questions about the New York Mets' valuation of him. Alonso, who has hit 226 career home runs since 2019—second only to Aaron Judge—had expressed a desire to stay with the Mets. However, contract negotiations have stalled, with reports suggesting he turned down a three-year offer around $70 million.

Vinnie Pasquantino of the Kansas City Royals commented that Alonso's lack of market success may stem from the Mets perceiving first basemen as less valuable due to their typically lower WAR totals. Pasquantino pointed out that first basemen handle the ball frequently but are often not valued highly in comparisons with players in other positions.

Alonso's performance last season yielded a career-low fWAR of 2.1, further complicating his market appeal. As the Mets appear to undervalue Alonso's contributions, the future of the slugger in New York remains uncertain.