When it comes to salary cap drafts in fantasy baseball, every manager must decide how to allocate their budget. Some opt for balance, spreading their funds evenly across multiple positions. Others take a more aggressive approach—known as the Stars & Scrubs strategy—where they invest heavily in a few elite players while filling the rest of the roster with bargain-bin options.

Is this boom-or-bust strategy the key to winning your league, or does it leave you vulnerable to disaster? Let’s break down the pros, cons, and best practices for executing the Stars & Scrubs strategy effectively in fantasy baseball.

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Stars & Scrubs 

What is the Stars & Scrubs Strategy?

The Stars & Scrubs strategy is exactly what it sounds like: spending a significant portion of your budget on a few top-tier players (the “stars”) and then rounding out your roster with lower-cost, high-upside players (the “scrubs”). In a traditional $260 salary cap draft, this might mean dropping $180+ on four or five superstars and using the remaining $80 or less to fill out the rest of your team.

Why Use the Stars & Scrubs Strategy?

There are several advantages to deploying this strategy in a salary cap draft:

1. Securing Elite Production

• By locking in top-tier talent, you ensure that your team gets consistent, high-level production from the best players in the game.
• Players of this caliber provide massive statistical advantages that lower-tier players simply can’t replicate.

2. Capitalizing on Replacement-Level Talent

• Fantasy baseball is a long season, and injuries, slumps, and breakout performances constantly reshape the waiver wire.
• If you draft well and stay active on the wire, you can often find quality production from unheralded players throughout the season.

3. Maximizing Trade Leverage

• Superstars hold significant trade value, allowing you to potentially upgrade weaker areas of your team by dealing one of your stars later in the season.

4. Upside-Driven Late-Round Picks

• Every season, undervalued players break out and become fantasy assets. With the Stars & Scrubs strategy, you’re more reliant on these types of players, but this also means you could hit on a league-winning sleeper.

The Risks of Stars & Scrubs

While there are clear advantages, this strategy isn’t without its pitfalls:

1. Injury or Underperformance Can Sink Your Team

• If one of your “stars” suffers a significant injury or fails to meet expectations, it can derail your season since you’ve allocated so much budget to them.

2. Depth Issues Can Hurt in Roto and H2H Leagues

• Roto leagues require balance across all categories, while H2H leagues require consistent production each week. A top-heavy roster can make it hard to compete if your scrubs don’t contribute.

3. Risky Late-Round Dependence

• The “scrubs” you draft will determine your success. If they flop, you may find yourself scrambling on the waiver wire more than you’d like.

4. Limited Budget Flexibility

• Spending big on stars means you’ll have less money for mid-tier players, forcing you to take more gambles on unpredictable assets.

How to Execute the Stars & Scrubs Strategy Successfully

If you’re committed to this approach, here’s how to make it work:

1. Identify Your Core Stars Before the Draft

• Decide which elite players you’re willing to overpay for and which ones you’re comfortable passing on.
• Focus on multi-category contributors who provide value in multiple areas.

2. Target High-Upside “Scrubs” Late

• Look for undervalued players with potential breakout upside, such as young prospects, post-hype sleepers, or veterans coming off down years.
• Monitor ADP trends and spring training reports to find under-the-radar assets.

3. Avoid Overpaying for Mid-Tier Players

• Spending $12–$18 on mid-level players can be tempting, but this strategy thrives on either stars or extreme value.
• Instead, use that budget to chase multiple late-round lottery tickets.

4. Stay Aggressive on the Waiver Wire

• Monitor hot streaks, playing time trends, and injuries closely. The ability to find valuable free agents will make or break your season.

5. Draft Multi-Position Eligibility Players

• Players who qualify at multiple positions give you lineup flexibility to adjust for injuries and underperformance.

6. Know Your League Settings

• In H2H leagues, you can afford to be more top-heavy, as weekly matchups allow for streaming.
• In roto leagues, ensure your stars cover a wide range of categories so you don’t fall behind in key areas.

Should You Use the Stars & Scrubs Strategy?

The Stars & Scrubs strategy is a high-risk, high-reward approach that works best when executed correctly. If you’re confident in your ability to find value late in drafts and on the waiver wire, this method can give you an elite core capable of carrying your team to a championship.

However, if you prefer a safer, more balanced roster construction, this strategy might not be the best fit. It requires constant in-season management and a willingness to take risks on lower-tier players.

Final Verdict: If you’re an active manager who thrives on making bold moves and capitalizing on undervalued talent, Stars & Scrubs could be the path to fantasy baseball glory. Just be prepared to hustle on the waiver wire and take some calculated risks along the way.

With the right approach, your Stars & Scrubs draft could set you up for a dominant fantasy baseball season. Good luck!

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