Plate Discipline: Using Sabermetrics for 2023 Fantasy Baseball

No matter how high a particular player's BABIP may be, his average will be mediocre at best if he strikes out too much. This is why fantasy managers have known for years that players like Mike Zunino are potential drains on a fantasy team's batting average. Furthermore, players who whiff a lot tend to continue […]

DJ LeMahieu Feeling Much Better

New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu (toe) is feeling significantly better in the offseason, according to a person with knowledge of the team's personnel decisions. The 34-year-old has worked out at the team's facility in Tampa this offseason and hasn't had any setbacks. He decided against offseason surgery after consulting with several doctors. Before his […]

Marlins Not Certain To Sign Yuli Gurriel

Free-agent first baseman Yuli Gurriel isn't viewed as a certainty to sign with the Miami Marlins now after it was reported over the weekend that the two sides were progressing towards a deal, according to sources. Talks between the two sides have cooled in recent days, although that could change again. The Marlins have been […]

A's Agree To Contract With Jesus Aguilar

The Oakland Athletics have reportedly agreed to a deal with first baseman Jesus Aguilar, per a tweet from FanSided's Robert Murray on Tuesday. Murray tweeted the following: "Free-agent first baseman Jesus Aguilar and the Oakland A's are in agreement on a contract, pending physical, according to a source familiar with the deal. First to report […]

Batted Ball Distribution: Using Sabermetrics for 2023 Fantasy Baseball

Fly balls can turn into home runs. Ground balls never do. It would seem as though fantasy baseball owners want their batters to hit nothing but flies, yet this is not always the case. Why would this be? The answer, of course, comes down to batted ball distribution and how batters make contact. The league […]

Yuli Gurriel Close To Signing With Marlins?

It was reported over the weekend that free-agent first baseman Yuli Gurriel was moving toward a deal with the Miami Marlins, according to sources. The soon-to-be 39-year-old suffered a sprained right MCL in Game 5 of the World Series, although he should be ready to go for Opening Day in 2023. Gurriel's numbers dropped in […]

Triston Casas An Obvious Extension Candidate

Boston Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas is viewed by the organization as a big piece of what Boston hopes is their next evolution, as he's currently Baseball America's No. 29-ranked prospect in the sport. Casas hit just .197 in his first 27 major-league games in 2022, but it's clear that the Red Sox want […]

Jon Singleton Designated For Assignment

The Milwaukee Brewers have reportedly designated first baseman Jon Singleton for assignment on Monday, per a tweet from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Curt Hogg. Per Hogg's tweet, Singleton was designated for assignment to open up a 40-man roster space for new signing Brian Anderson. Singleton appeared in 134 games for Milwaukee's Triple-A club this past […]

HR/FB: Using Sabermetrics for 2023 Fantasy Baseball

Using BABIP to predict a player's batting average is great. Batting average is a category in many league formats, and every hit is an opportunity to steal a base or score a run. Most fantasy managers find the long ball sexier, though. Every HR comes with a guaranteed run scored and at least one RBI. […]

Hitter BABIP: Using Sabermetrics for 2023 Fantasy Baseball

The most accessible of the fantasy-relevant advanced stats is BABIP, or Batting Average on Balls In Play. It simply measures a player's batting average on balls in play, with outcomes such as strikeouts and home runs removed from consideration. In general, the league average hovers around .300, a nice round number to remember. However, it […]

Rogers Centre Moving The Fences In

The Toronto Blue Jays are making their already hitter-friendly stadium (Rogers Centre) even more hitter-friendly going forward. Per sources, the right center field alley is moving in from 375 feet to 357 feet. The left center alley will move in from 375 feet to 366 feet, while center field will move in from 400 feet […]

The Toughest Players to Rank for 2023 Fantasy Baseball, Part 2

Welcome to part two of my mini-series on the toughest players to rank. I have been in the numbers for months now, and there are plenty of players I really don't know what to think about for next year. These post series help me get a little bit of clarity on how to view them, […]

Ronald Guzman Signs Minor-League Deal With Giants

The San Francisco Giants signed free-agent first baseman Ronald Guzman to a minor-league deal on Thursday. Guzman spent the first four years of his major-league career with the Texas Rangers, slashing .227/.304/.414 with a .718 OPS, 31 home runs, 104 RBI, 91 runs scored and three stolen bases in 243 games played. He ended up […]

Spencer Torkelson Will Have Shot To Be 1B Regular

It sounds as though Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson will get every chance to earn a regular role at first base for the team in 2023. He will meet with the Tigers hitting coaches this week in Arizona. "We have other options if we need to, but clearly our best team has Spencer Torkelson […]

Alex Kirilloff Taking Swings

Minnesota Twins first baseman/outfielder Alex Kirilloff (wrist) has been taking full swings while working out this offseason and is expected to be ready to go for the start of spring training after needing season-ending surgery in 2022 to fix a ligament tear in his right wrist. The 25-year-old former first-round pick has only been able […]

Lewin Diaz Outrighted To Triple-A

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Lewin Diaz passed through waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. Diaz has had a tumultuous offseason to say the least, after originally being designated for assignment on Nov. 15 of last year by the Miami Marlins. Since then, he was claimed by the Pirates on Nov. 22, DFA'd by […]

Matt Mervis Likely To Start At Triple-A

Chicago Cubs first base prospect Matt Mervis will almost certainly begin 2023 at Triple-A Iowa after the team signed first basemen Eric Hosmer and Trey Mancini this offseason. Hosmer will take the at-bats against right-handers and even some lefties, with Mancini also a prime candidate at designated hitter. Mervis hit 36 home runs across three […]

Marlins Having Talks With Yuli Gurriel

The Miami Marlins have had talks with free-agent first baseman Yuli Gurriel, according to a source. If signed by the Marlins, Gurriel could potentially share time at the cold corner with Garrett Cooper. General manager Kim Ng and Gurriel have spoken directly, but it remains to be seen if the Fish will actually sign the […]

Rangers Sign Yoshi Tsutsugo To Minor-League Deal

The Texas Rangers have signed first baseman Yoshi Tsutsugo to a minor league deal, per a tweet from the team's public relations Twitter account on Sunday. Also per the tweet, Tsutsugo will be invited to Major League Spring Training. The 30-year-old appeared in 50 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates last season, hitting .171 with a […]

Trey Mancini Signs Two-Year Deal With Cubs

The Chicago Cubs and first baseman Trey Mancini agreed to a two-year, $14 million deal with an option year for 2025. Mancini will bank seven million a year and could earn more with escalators and incentives. The 30-year-old was hauled to the Astros in a three-team deal that included Christian Vazquez to Houston. Mancini slashed […]

Jared Walsh, Angels Avoid Arbitration

The Los Angeles Angels and first baseman Jared Walsh (shoulder) avoided salary arbitration after inking a one-year, $2.65 million deal. Walsh was sidelined for the last month of the season after undergoing a thoracic outlet surgery. He is expected to be ready for the 2023 season and shouldn't miss any time. Across 454 plate appearances, […]

Ty France Agrees To One-Year, $4.1 Million Deal

The Seattle Mariners agreed to a one-year, $4.1 million deal on Friday to avoid salary arbitration with first baseman Ty France. The 28-year-old has found a home in Seattle and has had a really nice last couple of seasons. He made the All-Star team for the first time in his career in 2022 and finished […]

Jake Cronenworth Settles For $4.25 Million

The San Diego Padres and infielder Jake Cronenworth avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $4.25 million deal. Cronenworth is coming off back-to-back All-Star nods for the Friars. He finished up his third MLB season with a .239/.332/.390 slash line with a career-low .722 OPS, 17 home runs, a career-high 88 RBI, […]

Mets, Pete Alonso Avoid Salary Arbitration

The New York Mets and first baseman Pete Alonso agreed to a one-year, $14.5 million deal on Friday to avoid salary arbitration. Alonso made his second All-Star team in 2022 and finished the regular season with 40 long balls, a league-high 131 RBI, 95 runs scored, five stolen bases, a .271/.352/.518 slash line and an […]

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Gets $14.5 To Avoid Arbitration

The Toronto Blue Jays and first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $14.5 million deal. Guerrero is coming off back-to-back All-Star seasons for the Blue Jays. He finished second in the American League MVP voting in 2021 but took a slight step back in 2022. The 23-year-old […]

Keston Hiura Settles For $2.2 Million

The Milwaukee Brewers and infielder Keston Hiura avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $2.2 million deal. Hiura was once one of the Brew Crew's better infield prospects, but the 26-year-old just hasn't been able to put much together after his rookie season in 2019 when he hit .303 and clubbed 19 […]

Guardians, Josh Naylor Avoid Arbitration

The Cleveland Guardians and first baseman/outfielder Josh Naylor avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.35 million deal on Friday. Naylor had by far his best season in the big leagues for Cleveland last year, posting career-highs in home runs (20), RBI (79), runs scored (47) and stolen bases (six) in 122 games while […]

Phillies Settle With Rhys Hoskins Friday

The Philadelphia Phillies and first baseman Rhys Hoskins avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $12 million deal on Friday, according to sources. In an even more formidable Phillies lineup heading into 2023 with the addition of superstar shortstop Trea Turner, Hoskins will be more attractive in fantasy in the heart of Philly's lineup. […]

Padres Sign Alfonso Rivas To Minor-League Deal

The San Diego Padres signed free-agent first baseman Alfonso Rivas to a minor-league deal on Thursday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training after he was released by the Chicago Cubs last week. The 26-year-old played in 101 games for the Cubs last season in his second year in the majors and hit .235/.322/.307 […]

Tigers Moving Center Field In At Comerica Park

The Detroit Tigers are moving in their fence in dead center field from 422 feet to 412 feet, starting with the 2023 season. Left field is being "relabeled" as 342 feet instead of 345 feet. It is not being moved in, but it's just a more accurate measurement. The height of the walls in center […]