The 2024 Tout Wars industry experts drafts took place during the weekend of March 16-17, with leagues encompassing a number of different fantasy baseball formats: 15-team mixed, 12-team mixed head-to-head, AL- and NL-only (all salary-cap based) as well as 15-team mixed, 12-team mixed and draft-and-hold (all draft based).
For 2024, I switched over from the NL-only format, a league in which I participated for roughly 20 seasons, to the 15-team mixed league. Listed below are the results, to help guide you in your own draft preparations for similar rotisserie leagues.
Tout Wars uses a traditional rotisserie 5x5 scoring format with one change, replacing batting average with on-base percentage, as well as 23-man rosters (two catchers, one apiece at first base, second base, third base, shortstop, corner infielder, middle infielder and utilityman, five outfielders and nine pitchers of any type).
My strategy going in was to acquire a pair of $30-plus bats, go entirely after discount pitching, and keep the offense as balanced as possible. Considering the steep prices for the game's elite -- 12 hitters cost at least $40 in price and four of those cost $48-plus -- I was plenty pleased to acquire Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (one of the 20 players I'm targeting in all my drafts this preseason) for only $30. Five members of that list are on my final roster, which is listed below along with the rest of the league's 15 teams.
Tristan H. Cockcroft, ESPN
Catchers: J.T. Realmuto $17, Austin Wells $1
Infielders: 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. $30, 3B Manny Machado $22, CI Maikel Garcia $10, 2B Zack Gelof $10, SS Bo Bichette $20, MI Jorge Polanco $6
Outfielders: Kyle Schwarber $31, Mike Trout $22, Kerry Carpenter $3, Ceddanne Rafaela $1, MJ Melendez $4
Utilityman: Salvador Perez $7
Pitchers: Jesus Luzardo $15, Logan Gilbert $18, Jose Berrios $8, Shane Bieber $11, Tanner Scott $8, Nathan Eovaldi $5, Jose Leclerc $3, Walker Buehler $6, Gavin Williams $2
Reserves: DJ LeMahieu, Reynaldo Lopez, Jake Meyers, Jason Adam, Jhony Brito, Jeffrey Springs
Best bargain: Perez
Overpriced: Garcia, a player I needed to have at the time to make my overall plan work
Bret Sayre, Baseball Prospectus
Catchers: Willson Contreras $15, Cal Raleigh $14
Infielders: 1B Pete Alonso $32, 3B Yoan Moncada $1, CI Ty France $3, 2B Brandon Lowe $4, SS Jose Caballero $2, MI Jeff McNeil $1
Outfielders: Aaron Judge $40, Fernando Tatis Jr. $45, Ramon Laureano $1, Joc Pederson $1, Mike Yastrzemski $2
Utilityman: Shohei Ohtani $46
Pitchers: Gerrit Cole $12, Yoshinobu Yamamoto $29, Kyle Finnegan $2, Charlie Morton $2, Andrew Heaney $1, Seth Lugo $2, Kyle Bradish $2, Jordan Hicks $1, James McArthur $2
Reserves: Yennier Cano, John Means, Ranger Suarez, Jon Berti, Ricky Tiedemann, Colin Rea
Best bargain: Judge, one player I immediately regretted not going to $41
Overpriced: Tatis
Andy Behrens, Yahoo Sports
Catchers: Yan Gomes $1, Connor Wong $1
Infielders: 1B Josh Naylor $13, 3B Nolan Arenado $11, CI Josh Jung $5, 2B Thairo Estrada $9, SS Bobby Witt Jr. $45, MI Ezequiel Tovar $6
Outfielders: Juan Soto $55, Jackson Chourio $10, Lane Thomas $9, Spencer Steer $9, Luke Raley $2
Utilityman: Eloy Jimenez $5
Pitchers: Corbin Burnes $28, Blake Snell $14, Andres Munoz $14, Kutter Crawford $7, Adbert Alzolay $6, Triston McKenzie $6, Gavin Stone $1, Nick Lodolo $2, Andrew Nardi $1
Reserves: Michael Busch, Johan Rojas, Victor Scott II, Brendan Rodgers, Jordan Wicks, Graham Ashcraft
Best bargain: Arenado
Overpriced: Snell, still seeking a team and for whom regression is due
Justin Mason, Friends With Fantasy Benefits/TGFBI
Catchers: Gary Sanchez $1, Elias Diaz $1
Infielders: 1B Christian Encarnacion-Strand $10, 3B Matt Chapman $4, CI Vinnie Pasquantino $10, 2B Brendan Donovan $4, SS Anthony Volpe $15, MI Xander Bogaerts $14
Outfielders: Ronald Acuna Jr. $61, Randy Arozarena $27, Bryan Reynolds $16, Jarren Duran $8, Daulton Varsho $8
Utilityman: Nathaniel Lowe $1
Pitchers: Josh Hader $22, Tanner Bibee $13, Zach Eflin $17, Alexis Diaz $10, Bailey Ober $12, Braxton Garrett $1, Shane Baz $2, Dean Kremer $2, Steven Matz $1
Reserves: Colt Keith, Clayton Kershaw, Michael Wacha, Michael Massey, Brenton Doyle, Austin Hays
Best bargain: Bibee was a nomination of mine in the hopes he'd eat up a chunk of someone's budget, but it didn't play out that way
Overpriced: Arozarena
Kev Mahserejian, RotoBaller
Catchers: Alejandro Kirk $8, Tyler Stephenson $7
Infielders: 1B Yandy Diaz $14, 3B Alex Bregman $22, CI Jose Abreu $2, 2B Mookie Betts $48, SS Gunnar Henderson $25, MI Jake Cronenworth $1
Outfielders: Starling Marte $2, Jordan Walker $7, Tyler O'Neill $5, Will Benson $3, Sal Frelick $1
Utilityman: Byron Buxton $5
Pitchers: Jhoan Duran $22, Tyler Glasnow $22, Grayson Rodriguez $22, Bobby Miller $18, Bryce Miller $10, Hunter Brown $8, Yuki Matsui $4, Luis Severino $2, Louie Varland $2
Reserves: Taj Bradley, Trevor Megill, Alex Verdugo, Dane Dunning, Jordan Lawlar, Ezequiel Duran
Best bargain: Diaz, always a bargain in OBP leagues
Overpriced: Betts, who earned just $42 in this format in 2023
Scott Chu, PitcherList
Catchers: Danny Jansen $3, Jake Rogers $1
Infielders: 1B Justin Turner $4, 3B Rafael Devers $33, CI Elly De La Cruz $27, 2B Marcus Semien $25, SS J.P. Crawford $3, MI Jonathan India $5
Outfielders: Jorge Soler $9, Nick Castellanos $6, Steven Kwan $4, Max Kepler $6, Lars Nootbaar $6
Utilityman: Marcell Ozuna $9
Pitchers: Spencer Strider $37, Tarik Skubal $26, Edwin Diaz $27, Hunter Greene $7, Kodai Senga $2, Mason Miller $4, DL Hall $5, Tanner Houck $3, Reese Olson $4
Reserves: Matt Manning, JJ Bleday, Casey Mize, Ryne Nelson, Patrick Bailey, Jonathan Aranda
Best bargain: Castellanos, who earned three times this price in 2023
Overpriced: De La Cruz
Jeff Zimmerman, FanGraphs
Catchers: Will Smith $21, Yainer Diaz $10
Infielders: 1B Spencer Torkelson $17, 3B Austin Riley $29, CI Isaac Paredes $13, 2B Gleyber Torres $19, SS Nico Hoerner $19, MI Andres Gimenez $13
Outfielders: Wyatt Langford $21, Wilyer Abreu $2, Parker Meadows $4, Leody Taveras $2, Brent Rooker $2
Utilityman: Bryan De La Cruz $1
Pitchers: Framber Valdez $22, Kevin Gausman $26, Pete Fairbanks $11, Craig Kimbrel $10, Kyle Harrison $3, Brandon Pfaadt $5, Will Smith $2, Marcus Stroman $3, Yusei Kikuchi $5
Reserves: Alex Cobb, Zack Littell, Cole Irvin, Lance Lynn, Robbie Ray, Jose Butto
Best bargain: Gausman
Overpriced: Langford, in whom I believe, but $21 is a steep asking price
Scott Swanay, Fantasy Baseball Sherpa
Catchers: Mitch Garver $12, Ryan Jeffers $8
Infielders: 1B Andrew Vaughn $3, 3B Jeimer Candelario $5, CI Josh Bell $4, 2B Jose Altuve $26, SS Willy Adames $10, MI Carlos Correa $7
Outfielders: Corbin Carroll $37, Yordan Alvarez $43, Christopher Morel $7, Jack Suwinski $9, TJ Friedl $6
Utilityman: Jake Fraley $3
Pitchers: George Kirby $25, Emmanuel Clase $19, Carlos Rodon $8, Robert Suarez $6, Jose Alvarado $8, Nestor Cortes $6, A.J. Puk $3, Eduardo Rodriguez $3, Griffin Canning $2
Reserves: Frankie Montas, Sean Bouchard, Clarke Schmidt, Ryan Weathers, Andrew Abbott, Max Meyer
Best bargain: Morel
Overpriced: Jeffers
Frank Stampfl, CBS Sports
Catchers: Jonah Heim $9, Rene Pinto $1
Infielders: 1B Bryce Harper $42, 3B Jake Burger $7, CI Anthony Rizzo $5, 2B Luis Arraez $9, SS Trea Turner $34, MI Bryson Stott $9
Outfielders: Nolan Jones $21, Seiya Suzuki $15, Henry Davis $8, Josh Lowe $11, Brandon Marsh $2
Utilityman: Junior Caminero $1
Pitchers: Luis Castillo $28, Raisel Iglesias $14, Justin Steele $12, Chris Bassitt $7, Yu Darvish $10, Justin Verlander $3, Carlos Estevez $5, Aaron Civale $6, Devin Williams $1
Reserves: Jackson Merrill, James Paxton, Michael Kopech, Davis Schneider, Jared Jones, Mitch Haniger
Best bargain: Iglesias, probably the best-priced closer of the draft
Overpriced: Harper
Brent Hershey, Baseball HQ
Catchers: William Contreras $20, Tyler Soderstrom $1
Infielders: 1B Ryan Mountcastle $4, 3B Jose Ramirez $36, CI Nolan Gorman $9, 2B Edouard Julien $11, SS Jackson Holliday $5, MI Ha-Seong Kim $18
Outfielders: Michael Harris II $26, Christian Yelich $22, George Springer $16, Chas McCormick $9, Jose Siri $5
Utilityman: Trevor Story $4
Pitchers: David Bednar $14, Evan Phillips $15, Joe Musgrove $15, Nick Pivetta $13, Ryan Pepiot $7, MacKenzie Gore $3, Kenta Maeda $3, Sean Manaea $2, Brayan Bello $2
Reserves: Tylor Megill, Jackson Jobe, Jon Gray, Nick Senzel, Josiah Gray, Colton Cowser
Best bargain: Pepiot
Overpriced: Pivetta
Mike Carter, Fantrax
Catchers: Gabriel Moreno $7, Luis Campusano $4
Infielders: 1B Christian Walker $19, 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes $10, CI Alec Bohm $3, 2B Ozzie Albies $27, SS Oneil Cruz $18, MI Ryan McMahon $5
Outfielders: Kyle Tucker $48, Ian Happ $16, Riley Greene $12, Masataka Yoshida $6, Jarred Kelenic $2
Utilityman: Gavin Lux $2
Pitchers: Pablo Lopez $23, Chris Sale $14, Paul Sewald $13, Brady Singer $4, Merrill Kelly $7, Michael King $7, Alex Lange $4, Garrett Whitlock $4, Justin Lawrence $5
Reserves: Garrett Crochet, Jasson Dominguez, Jordan Leasure, Joey Ortiz, Joe Boyle, Colson Montgomery
Best bargain: Kelly
Overpriced: Tucker
Todd Zola, ESPN/Mastersball
Catchers: Bo Naylor $9, Keibert Ruiz $6
Infielders: 1B Paul Goldschmidt $26, 3B Eugenio Suarez $4, CI Ryan Noda $1, 2B Matt McLain $22, SS Corey Seager $28, MI Dansby Swanson $12
Outfielders: Brandon Nimmo $12, Evan Carter $19, Teoscar Hernandez $9, James Outman $8, Kris Bryant $3
Utilityman: Vaughn Grissom $1
Pitchers: Logan Webb $23, Aaron Nola $23, Zac Gallen $24, Kenley Jansen $8, Mitch Keller $8, Sonny Gray $6, Cristian Javier $6, Hunter Harvey $1, Logan Allen $1
Reserves: LaMonte Wade Jr., Hunter Renfroe, Ross Stripling, Emmet Sheehan, Hector Neris, Chris Martin
Best bargain: Swanson or Webb
Overpriced: McLain
Scott Engel, The Game Day/RotoBaller
Catchers: Adley Rutschman $26, Francisco Alvarez $13
Infielders: 1B Freddie Freeman $46, 3B Brett Baty $1, CI Matt Olson $39, 2B Jordan Westburg $1, SS Francisco Lindor $36, MI Tim Anderson $1
Outfielders: Giancarlo Stanton $5, Esteury Ruiz $9, Alek Thomas $1, Matt Wallner $1, Whit Merrifield $1
Utilityman: Brice Turang $1
Pitchers: Zack Wheeler $27, Camilo Doval $15, Dylan Cease $13, Alek Manoah $1, Eury Perez $12, Joel Payamps $4, Jack Flaherty $4, Chris Paddack $2, Jose Quintana $1
Reserves: Abner Uribe, J.P. France, Nolan Schanuel, Masyn Winn, Jacob deGrom, James Wood
Best bargain: Wheeler
Overpriced: Lindor, who earned $30 in this format in 2023
Alex Chamberlain, FanGraphs
Catchers: Logan O'Hoppe $13, Shea Langeliers $5
Infielders: 1B Rhys Hoskins $9, 3B Luis Rengifo $4, CI Ryan O'Hearn $1, 2B Tommy Edman $4, SS Jeremy Pena $4, MI Zach Neto $3
Outfielders: Julio Rodriguez $43, Luis Robert Jr. $28, Adolis Garcia $22, Cedric Mullins $16, Anthony Santander $9
Utilityman: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. $6
Pitchers: Cole Ragans $21, Max Fried $23, Trevor Rogers $4, Clay Holmes $13, Ryan Helsley $11, Shota Imanaga $8, Cristopher Sanchez $7, Robert Stephenson $1, Max Scherzer $5
Reserves: Nelson Velazquez, Chase Silseth, Adam Duvall, Tyler Wells, Patrick Sandoval, Nick Martinez
Best bargain: Garcia, the best-priced outfielder of the draft
Overpriced: Ragans, for nearly Pablo Lopez-level money.
Dave Adler, Baseball HQ
Catchers: Sean Murphy $15, Travis d'Arnaud $1
Infielders: 1B Triston Casas $17, 3B Royce Lewis $25, CI Max Muncy $14, 2B Ketel Marte $11, SS CJ Abrams $24, MI Brandon Drury $6
Outfielders: Cody Bellinger $27, Jazz Chisholm Jr. $26, Taylor Ward $10, Jung Hoo Lee $3, Mark Canha $1
Utilityman: J.D. Martinez $1
Pitchers: Joe Ryan $19, Jordan Romano $14, Freddy Peralta $22, Bryan Woo $10, Jordan Montgomery $4, Reid Detmers $6, David Robertson $2, Erick Fedde $1, Edward Cabrera $1
Reserves: Paul Skenes, JP Sears, Orlando Arcia, Ryan Pressly, John Brebbia, Jose Urquidy
Best bargain: Marte
Overpriced: Abrams