This week's Baseball Barbercast dives into the recent extension of Lawrence Butler, a promising young player for the Oakland Athletics. Butler, at just 24 years old, has secured a 7-year, $65.5 million deal, signaling the A's commitment to building a competitive future as they plan to move to a new stadium in Las Vegas by 2028. Despite facing scrutiny for his strikeout rate early in his career, Butler turned heads with a stellar second half last season, showcasing his potential to be a cornerstone player for the franchise. The discussion also touches on the A's draft history, highlighting Butler's unexpected rise from a sixth-round pick to a key figure in the organization.

Additionally, the podcast features a segment on the A's new president, Mark Badain, who previously oversaw the Raiders' relocation to Las Vegas. As the franchise looks ahead to its future, the hosts express cautious optimism about Butler's trajectory and Badain's leadership role. The episode concludes with a humorous look at the A's evolving stadium renderings, pointing out improvements made based on feedback from fans and analysts.

The podcast dives into the current landscape of utility-only players in fantasy baseball, highlighting a notable shift with four utility players projected to be drafted within the top 70 picks. This marks a significant change from the previous year when only Shohei Ohtani was in the top 140. The discussion emphasizes the potential value of players like Brent Rooker, Marcel Ozuna, and Kyle Schwarber, suggesting they could be undervalued based on their average draft position (ADP) compared to their projected performance.

Spring training discussions also highlight the evolving eligibility of players, particularly noting that Rooker may gain outfield eligibility soon. The conversation touches on the potential for these players to impact fantasy lineups significantly, even as other utility-only bats like Giancarlo Stanton and JD Martinez fall further down the draft board due to health concerns. This season's draft strategies reflect an optimistic view of utility players, pushing fantasy managers to consider these players more seriously than in previous seasons.

Brandon Nimmo stands out as a sleeper pick for fantasy baseball enthusiasts following a lackluster 2022. Despite a batting average of .224, he demonstrated significant power with 23 homers and 15 stolen bases, benefiting from rule changes that enhanced base running. His batting position, behind Juan Soto and Pete Alonso, promises strong RBI potential if he returns to his typical form of hitting around .275-.280.

Josh Lowe remains another intriguing sleeper after a challenging year marred by an oblique injury. However, given his previous season's success, where he achieved a .292 average with 32 steals, he could bounce back as a top performer in a favorable ballpark setting.

Lawrence Butler is highlighted as a breakout candidate, showing improved performance post-minor league adjustments. Should his strikeout rate stabilize, he might transition into an impactful player, justifying a mid-round pick. Conversely, Brenton Doyle presents bust potential due to high strikeout numbers and disappointing road performance, raising concerns over his consistency.