After a prolonged hibernation — what some of our less charitable readers might call “giving up” — the Quibbler is back. And we brought reinforcements.
You see, dear readers, the Neeldy Nitros have finished in the bottom half of the BBL standings for what feels like a geological era. The kind of drought that makes you question your life choices, your spreadsheets, and whether the other owners are secretly colluding against you at dinner. (They are. We have sources.)
So the Nitros ownership did what any desperate, slightly unhinged fantasy baseball owner would do: they built an AI.
Introducing The QuiBBLes — a fully AI-powered fantasy baseball drafting application that will either revolutionize the BBL or crash and burn in spectacular fashion. There is no middle ground. The app runs auction simulations, values every player in the BATX universe, tracks keepers and toppers, and — this is the important part — generates its own scouting reports on every relevant player in the league. That’s right. The Quibbler now has an artificial intelligence doing player analysis. Because apparently decades of human analysis wasn’t cutting it for the Nitros.
Think of it this way: if the Nitros can’t out-think the other 13 owners, maybe they can out-compute them. The QuiBBLes has already crunched every projection, scoured every scouting report, and generated takes on over 600 players. It does not sleep. It does not get distracted by the beer girls. It does not accidentally bid $38 on a player with a torn ACL.
Will it work? The Quibbler gives it 50/50 odds. Which, for the Nitros, is a significant improvement.
But enough about our robot overlord. Let’s talk about what matters: keepers and toppers for BBL 2026. The official lists are in, the prices are locked, and our AI — let’s call him “Claude” — has opinions on all of them. Strong opinions. Below, the Quibbler presents Claude’s Take on every kept player across all 14 teams, with our usual editorial commentary sprinkled in for flavor.
Without further delay, here are your 2026 BBL Keepers and Toppers, in no particular order.
1. Neeldy Nitros
The Nitros enter 2026 with the most technologically advanced front office in BBL history and the least impressive keeper class. Some things never change.
Jakob Marsee ($11) — Claude’s Take: “Marsee projects as a 13 HR/26 SB contributor with a .320 OBP. The speed is the calling card — 26 SB floor with room for more. At $21.8 value, the surplus over his $11 keeper price is excellent. A young OF with five-category upside who could develop more power as he matures.”
Spencer Torkelson ($4) — Claude’s Take: “Torkelson projects 27 HR with a .317 OBP. The power has developed nicely at $4 — one of the best values on the team. The BA may lag (.250 range) but the HR production at his price is a steal.”
JoJo Romero ($1) — Claude declines to comment on JoJo Romero, which tells you everything you need to know. A dollar-bin reliever who may or may not be closing games by June. The Nitros are banking on upside here, which is a polite way of saying they’re banking on hope.
Toppers: Ketel Marte, Trevor Megill
Claude’s Take on Marte: “Marte leads the 2B rankings heading into 2026 — elite all-around bat with .361 OBP and strong power (29 HR). At 33, the speed is fading but the contact quality and plate discipline remain sharp. He’s the safest 2B option with a high floor.”
Claude’s Take on Megill: “Solid closer with the Brewers projecting 72 K and 20 saves with a 3.79 ERA. The ratios are decent and save opps should be steady. A mid-tier closer.”
The Quibbler’s Take: The Nitros’ best asset this year might genuinely be their software. Marsee and Torkelson are legitimate values, but the topper situation tells the real story — Marte is elite at 2B and could anchor this team if the Nitros can actually exercise the topper without accidentally bidding on the wrong Marte.
2. Blue Moon Odum
The Professor returns to his laboratory with another collection of bargain-bin experiments. At this point, BMO’s auction strategy should be studied in economics courses.
Cade Smith ($8) — Claude’s Take: “Cade Smith projects 89 K and 32 saves with a 3.03 ERA in 68 IP. He’s a solid mid-tier closer in Cleveland’s competitive team. Not elite but consistent.”
Andy Pages ($1) — Claude’s Take: “Andy Pages projects 22 HR/9 SB with a .311 OBP in LA. A developing power bat in the Dodgers lineup. He’s a sleeper with 25+ HR upside. The team context is elite.”
Agustin Ramirez ($1) — Claude’s Take: “Ramirez projects 17 HR/9 SB with a .305 OBP. A catcher prospect in Miami with power-speed upside. The C eligibility makes him interesting.”
Toppers: Juan Soto, CJ Abrams
Claude’s Take on Soto: “Soto’s plate discipline is near-flawless and now he’s adding steals — 38 SB in 2025. Projects for 34-37 HR and a .400+ OBP lock. The Mets lineup with Bichette gives him the best protection he’s ever had. He’s a cornerstone first-rounder.”
Claude’s Take on Abrams: “A pure speed play at SS with 30+ SB upside and improving power (16 HR projected). The OBP (.304) is concerning — he doesn’t walk enough, which caps his ceiling.”
The Quibbler’s Take: Three keepers for a combined $10 and a topper on Juan Soto? The Professor may have done it again. If Pages develops in that Dodgers lineup and Ramirez gets everyday ABs behind the plate, this is a sneaky-good foundation. Soto as a topper is simply terrifying for the rest of the league.
3. Hoodoo Cats
The Cats continue their tradition of keeping exactly one expensive player and two guys you’ve never heard of. It’s worked before. Sort of.
Will Smith ($21) — Claude’s Take: “Will Smith is a top-5 catcher with 24 HR and an elite .364 OBP. The OBP at the C position is a massive advantage. Projects for consistent production in LA’s lineup. A premium catcher option who provides set-and-forget stability.”
Sal Frelick ($2) — Claude’s Take: “Frelick projects 6 HR/17 SB with a .315 OBP. A speed/contact OF in Milwaukee. He provides SB on the cheap. Limited power but useful for category balance.”
Abner Uribe ($1) — Claude’s Take: “Uribe projects 76 K and 17 saves with a 3.09 ERA in Milwaukee. The ratios are strong but the saves may be shared. A high-K reliever with closer upside if he locks down the role.”
Toppers: Shohei Ohtani (H), Matt Olson
Claude’s Take on Ohtani: “The 1.01 in most formats. Ohtani’s 130/50/120/20 profile is historic. At age 31 the tools are still elite — barrel rate, exit velo, plate discipline all top-tier. The floor is still the best hitter in fantasy.”
Claude’s Take on Olson: “Olson has back-to-back 29 HR seasons after his 54-HR 2023. Projects 27 HR/86 RBI with a .335 OBP. He’s a reliable 1B with a high floor — won’t win the league but won’t lose it.”
The Quibbler’s Take: A topper on Ohtani. Let that sink in. The Cats are basically saying, “We would like the best player in fantasy baseball, please.” Will Smith at $21 is rock solid at catcher, and if Uribe locks down the Milwaukee closer role, this keeper class quietly has no weaknesses. The Ohtani topper alone makes the Cats a contender before the auction even starts.
4. Cocky Spaniards (Champ)
The Champ. The GOAT. The franchise that operates on a different plane of existence from the rest of us mortals. Or so they’d have you believe.
Hunter Goodman ($9) — Claude’s Take: “Goodman projects 28 HR/3 SB with a .307 OBP in Colorado. Coors inflates the HR total. The C eligibility would make him extremely valuable.”
Carter Jensen ($1) — Claude’s Take: “Jensen put up a 159 wRC+ in 69 MLB PA in his 2025 cup of coffee — elite contact and surprising pop for a 20-year-old. KC loves him and he should get extended time in 2026. The hit tool is advanced beyond his years with real game power developing. One of the best catcher stashes in fantasy.”
Geraldo Perdomo ($3) — Claude’s Take: “Perdomo had a breakout 2025 — 20 HR (up from 3!) with 20 SB and a .345 OBP. The question is whether the power sustains. His plate discipline and speed are real. If the power holds at 15+, he’s an elite-value SS.”
Toppers: Luke Keaschall, Daniel Palencia
Claude’s Take on Keaschall: “A breakout candidate — projects 10 HR/20 SB with a .343 OBP. The speed and plate discipline are advanced for his age. A late-round 2B who could deliver 15/25 value with a strong OBP.”
The Quibbler’s Take: The Champ always seems to find prospects before they pop. Two catchers in the keeper pool is a bold move — Goodman for the Coors power and Jensen as the long-term play. Perdomo at $3 after a 20/20 breakout is highway robbery. If even half of these kids develop, the Spaniards are going to be insufferable. Again.
5. Darcy Jaye’s Crew
The Crew: where Stars and Scrubs isn’t just a strategy, it’s a lifestyle.
Ronald Acuna Jr. ($38) — Claude’s Take: “The ultimate high-risk, high-reward pick. Two years removed from ACL tear, Acuna says he’s healthy and will bat leadoff. If right, 30/20+ with elite runs is in play — barrel rate was 95th percentile. But he’s played 100+ games only twice in 5 seasons. He’s a league-winning upside play if you can absorb the injury risk.”
Bryce Eldridge ($1) — Claude’s Take: “Eldridge has 70-grade raw power — the kind of thump that wins leagues in the late rounds. The concern is a 30%+ K-rate in the upper minors and a DH-only profile with SF. If he makes consistent contact, the HR upside is enormous. High variance pick: could slug 25+ HR or strike out too much to be useful.”
Drake Baldwin ($1) — Claude has no notes on Baldwin, which tracks perfectly with the Crew’s tradition of keeping at least one player that makes the rest of the league say “…who?” A $1 dart throw that the Crew will insist was a genius move by October.
Toppers: Bryce Harper, Bubba Chandler
Claude’s Take on Harper: “Harper posted 27 HR/12 SB with a .357 OBP in 2025 despite missing time again. He’s failed to reach 600 PA in 3 of 4 seasons — durability is the primary risk. The contact quality and plate discipline are still well above average. High-floor early-round anchor.”
The Quibbler’s Take: Acuna at $38 is the ultimate Crew move. All or nothing. If Acuna is healthy, this team could finish first. If he’s not — and history suggests caution — the Crew just lit $38 on fire. Harper as a topper adds another “if healthy” star to the mix. The Crew is essentially betting their entire season on orthopedic luck. Bold. Very bold.
6. Earl’s Squirrels
Earl’s Squirrels: the franchise that shows up with three screens, proprietary algorithms, and somehow still finishes in the bottom four. We kid because we love. Sort of.
Kyle Schwarber ($38) — Claude’s Take: “Schwarber hit 56 HR in 2025 — a career high at age 32 — and projects for 40+ again in 2026. Citizens Bank Park has the best LHB HR park factor in MLB over the last 3 years. His barrel rate and bat speed are elite. The .231 BA is a drag, but in OBP formats his .353 OBP makes him a top-20 bat. Massive power floor.”
Kyle Manzardo ($3) — Claude’s Take: “Manzardo projects 24 HR with a .311 OBP at 1B. The power is promising for a young bat in Cleveland. He could be a great value if he gets full-time ABs.”
Otto Lopez ($6) — Claude’s Take: “Lopez projects 12 HR/17 SB with a .324 OBP. A speed/OBP play in Miami. He provides SB and OBP on the cheap.”
Toppers: Bobby Witt Jr., Bryan Reynolds
Claude’s Take on Witt: “Top 3 overall pick with legitimate 40/40 upside. Projects .293/28 HR/31 SB with elite durability. The five-category dominance is unmatched at SS. Floor is a top-5 fantasy player, ceiling is the overall #1. There is no weakness in this profile.”
Claude’s Take on Reynolds: “Reynolds projects 17 HR/6 SB with a .331 OBP. A reliable OF in Pittsburgh with strong plate discipline. A safe OF3/4 who provides OBP and moderate power.”
The Quibbler’s Take: Bobby Witt Jr. as a topper. BOBBY WITT JR. The Squirrels may have just won the offseason without spending a dollar. Schwarber at $38 gives you 50 HR in your sleep, and Witt is arguably the best player in fantasy baseball. If Earl can pair these toppers with a competent auction — and that’s a big if — the algorithms might finally pay off.
7. French Pastries
The Commissioner’s team. The Quibbler would like to remind everyone that we are an independent publication and our coverage of the French Pastries is entirely unbiased. Entirely.
Chris Sale ($24) — Claude’s Take: “Sale is 37 and still producing — 203 K projected with a 3.57 ERA. The age-related decline risk is ever-present but the stuff has held up. In Atlanta, the win potential is solid. A reliable SP2 who could be an ace or could fall off a cliff.”
Carlos Estevez ($12) — Claude’s Take: “Estevez projects 54 K and 31 saves with a 4.63 ERA. The ratios are poor but the save total is high. A saves-only option — he’ll hurt your ERA/WHIP.”
Hunter Gaddis ($1) — Claude’s Take: “Gaddis is NOT actually Cleveland’s closer — Cade Smith owns the 9th inning. Gaddis is the primary setup man projecting for 30+ holds and only ancillary saves. The ‘CL’ tag is misleading. In a saves-only format, he’s a setup man without save opportunity.”
Toppers: Fernando Tatis Jr., Christian Yelich
Claude’s Take on Tatis: “Tatis re-established himself as an elite five-category force in 2025 with improved plate discipline. Projects for 30+ HR, 25 SB. At 27, the tools are in their prime. Durability is the only question mark, but the profile screams top-5 upside.”
Claude’s Take on Yelich: “Yelich launched 29 HR in 2025 but the underlying metrics are alarming — career-low launch angle and career-low exit velocity. That suggests the power is on borrowed time. At 34 and injury-prone, there’s significant downside risk.”
The Quibbler’s Take: Let us be blunt. Keeping a setup man (Gaddis) and a closer with a 4.63 ERA (Estevez) alongside a 37-year-old pitcher (Sale) is a choice. The Pastries are clearly banking on Tatis and Yelich toppers to carry the offense. Claude is waving a red flag on Yelich’s underlying metrics. The Commissioner may need to science the sh*t out of this one.
8. The Sundance Kids
The Kids. Always drafting with one eye on the board and the other on their phone. Yet somehow, they always seem to be in the mix come September.
Trea Turner ($33) — Claude’s Take: “Turner projects for .300/20 HR/30 SB with 95+ runs — a four-category stud at SS. At 33, he’s still one of the best table-setters in baseball. The only concern is hamstring injuries in both legs over the last two years. If healthy, he’s a borderline top-25 asset.”
Cristopher Sanchez ($11) — Claude’s Take: “Sanchez threw 202 IP with a 2.50 ERA in 2025 — elite ground ball rate drives the run prevention despite modest velocity. His K upside is limited compared to other aces but the ratios are bankable. A safe SP2 who won’t blow up your ERA/WHIP.”
Matt Svanson ($1) — Claude’s Take: “Svanson broke out in 2025 with a 1.94 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and 10.14 K/9 — the best skills in STL’s bullpen. He’s the closer-in-waiting behind Riley O’Brien, not the named closer yet. If O’Brien falters, Svanson’s elite stuff makes him a league-winning pickup. High-upside closer sleeper.”
Toppers: Elly De La Cruz, Cole Ragans
Claude’s Take on EDLC: “De La Cruz’s speed is generational — 40+ SB floor with 70+ theft upside. The K rate remains the BA risk. Projects 25 HR/40 SB. The ceiling is 30/50 which would make him a top-3 fantasy asset, but the floor involves a sub-.250 BA. High variance, league-winning upside.”
Claude’s Take on Ragans: “Ragans is returning from a rotator cuff issue that limited him to 62 IP in 2025, but his skills are frontline caliber. His 2.52 SIERA suggests the talent is still there despite the 4.67 ERA. If healthy, he’s a top-15 SP. The injury risk is significant.”
The Quibbler’s Take: Turner at $33 is the backbone of this team, and Sanchez at $11 is one of the best pitching values in the league. But the real headline is the Elly De La Cruz topper. If the Kids exercise that topper and EDLC stays healthy, we’re talking about a 30/50 player anchoring their offense. The Kids have always had a knack for proving the Quibbler wrong. We expect nothing less this year.
9. Pimpin’ Paezans
In the category of best actor playing a father in prison, the Oscar goes to… wait, wrong publication. The Greatest Champ Ever returns with another roster built on vibes and veteran savvy.
Jac Caglianone ($7) — Claude’s Take: “Caglianone is a physical freak — elite bat speed, top-tier barrel rates in the minors, and 80-grade raw power from the left side. KC fast-tracked him and he could see significant MLB time in 2026. The K-rate is a concern but when he connects, the ball explodes. Highest HR ceiling of any $5-and-under player.”
Pete Crow-Armstrong ($20) — Claude’s Take: “PCA went 30/30 before the break in 2025, then cratered to .216/.262/.372 after. The second-half collapse was dramatic — just 6 HR and 8 SB in 246 PA. He can’t hit lefties and the BA risk is real. But the elite speed and improving power give him a 30/35 ceiling. A boom-or-bust OF who could win or sink your team.”
Kris Bubic ($3) — Claude has nothing to say about Kris Bubic, which we suspect is Claude’s polite way of saying “next.” A dollar-bin pitcher who exists primarily to fill a roster spot and keep the keeper count at three.
Toppers: Mookie Betts, Austin Riley
Claude’s Take on Betts: “Betts has seen a significant dropoff in bat speed and exit velocity over the past two seasons. Projected for .268/22 HR/80 RBI — still productive but no longer elite. At age 33, the decline curve is real. Safe floor, but the superstar days may be behind him.”
Claude’s Take on Riley: “Riley projects for 30 HR with solid average potential — the power is bankable when healthy. Coming off injury concerns, the risk is availability. The bat speed and exit velocity remain elite. A mid-round value play with top-15 3B upside.”
The Quibbler’s Take: Caglianone at $7 could be the steal of the entire keeper class if that raw power translates. PCA is the classic Paezans move — high ceiling, terrifying floor. Claude is not kind to Betts, suggesting the decline is real. But this is the Paezans. They’ll trade three guys by June and somehow be in contention by August.
10. Meat
Meat. The franchise that drafts the most points and manages the least. A tradition unlike any other.
Kyle Teel ($1) — Claude’s Take: “Teel impressed in his debut — .273/.375 with 8 HR in 78 games, ranking 2nd among catchers in OBP. Elite 12.5% walk rate and 91st percentile pull-air rate. Set to be everyday catcher with a floor of 60 R / 15 HR / 60 RBI / 5 SB. The OBP is elite for the position.”
Kyle Stowers ($1) — Claude’s Take: “Stowers projects 24 HR/4 SB with a .315 OBP. A power-first OF in Miami. The team context is poor but the power is real.”
Emilio Pagan ($1) — Claude’s Take: “Pagan projects 71 K and 26 saves with a 3.99 ERA in Cincinnati. The ratios are below average for a closer. He’ll get save opps but the ERA risk is real.”
Topper: Jordan Beck
Claude’s Take on Beck: “Beck projects 17 HR/16 SB with a .313 OBP in Colorado. Coors helps but the production is genuine. A developing OF with five-category potential.”
The Quibbler’s Take: Three keepers for $3 total. Meat is going into this auction with $257 to spend and basically a blank roster. This is either brilliant or a catastrophe waiting to happen. Teel at $1 is a fantastic catcher value — Claude loves the OBP. The question, as always with Meat, is whether anyone will actually be managing this team after Week 4. The talent is there. The management… remains to be seen.
11. Al’s Pals
The Pals. A franchise that historically drafts like they’re picking players out of a hospital waiting room. But this year’s keeper class actually looks… competent?
Michael Busch ($12) — Claude’s Take: “Busch projects 25 HR/3 SB with a .325 OBP. A power-first 1B in Chicago. He’s a value play with 30 HR upside. A potential breakout 1B.”
Sal Stewart ($6) — Claude’s Take: “Stewart projects 18 HR/6 SB with a .329 OBP as a Reds prospect. The OBP is strong for a young bat and the power is developing.”
Luisangel Acuna ($1) — Claude’s Take: “Acuna made a transformative swing change this offseason — staying loaded in his back leg for more power. After 0 HR in 193 PA with NYM in 2025, he slashed .282/.397/.542 with 8 HR in Venezuelan Winter League, and his spring exit velo is a massive leap. Projected leadoff hitter with 30+ SB upside. If even a fraction of the power gains are real, he’s a 15/40 player at a dollar-bin price. Elite sleeper — the swing change data is measurable and real.”
Toppers: Paul Skenes, Edwin Diaz
Claude’s Take on Skenes: “Skenes projects 3.09 ERA, 219 K in 184 IP. He’s won just 38% of his starts due to Pittsburgh’s offense but the ERA and WHIP are elite. A top-3 SP with ace upside. The Pirates’ lack of run support is the only thing holding him back.”
Claude’s Take on Diaz: “Diaz signed with LAD and brings elite ratios — sub-2.00 ERA in 4 career seasons. Projects 35 saves. The Dodgers will win 100+ games, guaranteeing save opps. He’s the safest closer option with bankable ratios.”
The Quibbler’s Take: Luisangel Acuna at $1 might be the single best keeper value in the entire league if that swing change is real. Claude is practically screaming “BUY” on this kid. The Skenes topper gives the Pals a potential ace, and Diaz on the Dodgers is a closer cheat code. The Pals may have accidentally assembled a competent roster. Stranger things have happened. Not many, but some.
12. Peep Rub
Peep Rub. The franchise that somehow always has the most interesting keeper class and the most confusing auction strategy. Let’s see what they’ve cooked up this time.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto ($24) — Claude’s Take: “Yamamoto is in the Elite SP tier after an amazing playoff run. The Dodgers run a 6-man rotation which caps his innings, but the stuff is ace-caliber. Projects 178 K with a 3.36 ERA. In LA, the win support is enormous.”
Daylen Lile ($1) — Claude’s Take: “Lile projects 8 HR/15 SB with a .317 OBP. A young Washington OF with speed and developing tools. Could break out.”
Nolan McLean ($1) — Claude has no notes on McLean, which we will interpret as either a ringing endorsement or damning silence. In the BBL, sometimes the best $1 keepers are the ones nobody is talking about. Or they’re replacement-level flotsam. Peep Rub has experience with both.
Toppers: Mason Miller, Matt McLain
Claude’s Take on Miller: “Mason Miller is the RP1 with starter-level K upside — 125 K projected in ~64 IP. He has 40-save and 125-K upside that can swing entire leagues. The ceiling is unmatched. The most dominant reliever in baseball.”
Claude’s Take on McLain: “McLain projects 18 HR/16 SB with a .313 OBP — solid four-category value at 2B. Returning from injury, the upside is 20/20 if healthy. A bounce-back candidate with mid-round value.”
The Quibbler’s Take: Yamamoto is a stud. Mason Miller as a topper is terrifying — Claude calls him “the most dominant reliever in baseball.” If Peep can exercise that topper and Miller stays healthy, that’s 40 saves and 125 K from one roster spot. Combined with Yamamoto, the Peep pitching staff has a very high ceiling. The hitting… well, that’s what the auction is for.
13. Streak
The Streak. A franchise that has quietly been one of the most consistent teams in the BBL over the last few years. Quiet is how they like it. The Quibbler does not do quiet.
Jhoan Duran ($22) — Claude’s Take: “Duran had his best season in 2025: 2.06 ERA, 32 saves, 80 K in 70 IP. Now in Philadelphia, the team wants a workhorse closer — 36 saves projected. His stuff is electric and Philly will provide plenty of save opps. He’s a top-tier closer with elite stuff and a great team context.”
Alec Burleson ($5) — Claude’s Take: “Burleson projects 21 HR/5 SB with a .316 OBP in St. Louis. A solid corner bat with moderate power. Nothing exciting but fills a roster spot.”
Dennis Santana ($1) — Claude’s Take: “Santana projects 59 K and 24 saves with a 4.16 ERA in Pittsburgh. The ratios are mediocre. A save source on a mid-tier team.”
Toppers: Kyle Tucker, Jackson Chourio
Claude’s Take on Tucker: “Tucker signed with the Dodgers and slots in batting 2nd behind Ohtani, in front of Betts. That’s the best lineup context in baseball. Projects .275/30 HR/90 RBI/25 SB — an elite five-category floor. One of the safest early-round picks in fantasy.”
Claude’s Take on Chourio: “Chourio is the breakout bet of 2026. From June 8 on in 2025, he paced 102 R, 26 HR, 103 RBI, 26 SB, .306 AVG. He’s only 21 batting near the top of a Brewers lineup that scored 806 runs. First-round talent at a second-round price.”
The Quibbler’s Take: Kyle Tucker in the Dodgers lineup. Jackson Chourio at 21 years old. Two closers already locked up. This is one of the best keeper/topper combinations in the league and nobody is talking about it. The Streak doesn’t need headlines — they need the Smitty Cup. And this roster has a real shot.
14. Limp Wists
Limp. The franchise that is not afraid to mix it up with the big boys of the BBL. Whether they should be mixing it up is a different question entirely.
Francisco Alvarez ($5) — Claude’s Take: “Alvarez is the best value in this entire tier. After returning from a thumb injury, he slashed .276/.360/.561 in 41 games — top-3 among catchers. Elite Statcast power metrics. Only 24 years old. The injury discount is a gift — top-5 catcher upside at a backup catcher price. Screaming buy.”
Brice Turang ($17) — Claude’s Take: “Turang was the #1 overall 2B in 5×5 leagues in 2025 — 97 runs, 18 HR, 81 RBI, 28 SB. The question is sustainability: can the power hold? Even with power regression, the speed and runs floor makes him a top-5 2B. Breakout looks real.”
Maikel Garcia ($8) — Claude’s Take: “Garcia doubled his HR from 7 to 16 in 2025 while maintaining 23 SB. He’s the premier SB source at 3B. Projects 13 HR/25 SB with a .330 OBP — a solid four-category contributor. In KC’s lineup, the run production keeps growing.”
Toppers: Corbin Carroll, Travis Bazzana
The Quibbler’s Take: This might be the most quietly loaded keeper class in the league. Alvarez at $5 has Claude literally typing “screaming buy” — and when your AI scout starts screaming, you listen. Turang was the best 2B in fantasy last year and he costs $17. Garcia provides elite steals at 3B. Add a topper on Carroll — who has 25/25 upside — and Bazzana, the #1 overall pick who could be an impact bat immediately, and the Wists have built something dangerous. Limp by name only.
Final Thoughts from the Quibbler
And there you have it. Fourteen teams. Forty-two keepers. Twenty-seven toppers. One AI that won’t stop generating opinions.
The BBL has never seen anything quite like the QuiBBLes app, and the Quibbler has never had a staff member who works 24 hours a day without complaining about the coffee. Whether Claude’s takes prove prophetic or laughably wrong remains to be seen — but for the first time in a long time, the Nitros ownership actually feels prepared walking into the auction.
That alone should terrify the rest of the league. Or amuse them. Probably amuse them.
See you at the auction.
— The Quibbler Staff (Human and Artificial)
Venture 