ESPN ADP Comparison - Underpriced and Overpriced Players for Fantasy Baseball

Average Draft Position (ADP) is a must-have piece of information when it comes to drafting. While every league is different and may have a particularly aggressive or conservative group of owners when it comes to certain players, it’s the best tool we have when analyzing players’ value. Now, instead of just talking about total ADP […]

Anthony Rizzo Takes Batting Practice On Monday

New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo (back) was able to take batting practice on Monday. This is good news after the 33-year-old slugger was scratched ahead of Sunday's contest. Rizzo said he felt fine after batting practice, but continues to undergo treatment for a back issue. It doesn't sound like this injury is going […]

Yandy Diaz Back In The Lineup Monday

Tampa Bay Rays corner infielder Yandy Diaz (hand) is back in the Grapefruit League lineup on Monday against the Detroit Tigers and right-hander Miguel Diaz. Diaz is starting at third base and hitting leadoff for the Rays. Diaz was hit on the left hand by a pitch in the spring game on Friday, and this […]

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Should Return To Lineup In A Few Days

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (knee) should be fine to return to the Grapefruit League lineup in a few days after his baserunning session went well over the weekend. It sounds like the knee worry is almost behind him. Guerrero is dealing with right knee inflammation, but the Blue Jays were taking […]

Ronald Guzman Pulled From Sunday's Game

San Francisco Giants infielder/pitcher Ronald Guzman (forearm) was pulled out of Sunday's Cactus League matchup due to injury. Guzman threw a wild pitch to the backstop and immediately bent down in pain afterwards. Manager Gabe Kapler mentioned that Guzman felt something in his forearm on the final pitch that he threw. The expectation is that […]

Anthony Rizzo Scratched With Cranky Back

New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo (back) was scheduled to make the trip for Grapefruit League action on Sunday, but he was scratched from the lineup because his back is "a little cranky," according to manager Aaron Boone. The plan is for Rizzo to play again on Tuesday when the team returns home. Billy […]

Joey Votto Making Cactus League Debut Against Dodgers

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto (biceps, shoulder) is making his spring debut in the team's Cactus League game on Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Dustin May. Votto is starting at first base and batting second in the lineup. He missed the end of the 2022 season due to a torn rotator […]

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. To Run The Bases Sunday

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (knee) will run the bases on Sunday, according to manager John Schneider. Guerrero has been hitting and doing defensive drills recently, and all has been going well with his knee. The 23-year-old has been dealing with some minor knee inflammation, but the Blue Jays aren't taking any […]

Joey Votto Takes Part In Minor-League Game

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto (biceps, shoulder) had a few plate appearances in one of the team's minor-league games at spring training on Friday. Votto is not expected to be ready for Opening Day this year after he had surgery on his left biceps and on a torn rotator cuff in his shoulder last […]

Brandon Belt Making Spring Debut As DH

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Brandon Belt (knee) is making his Grapefruit League debut on Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles and right-hander Austin Voth, serving as the designated hitter while batting third in the lineup. Belt has been delayed in camp this spring after having surgery on his right knee last September. He limped to […]

Brandon Belt Takes Live Swings On Friday

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Brandon Belt (knee) was able to take live batting practice on Friday. This is just one step closer for Belt to get back into game action. The organization is hopeful that Belt can make his Grapefruit league debut at some point this upcoming week. The 34-year-old has been brought along […]

Andrew Vaughn Doubles, Continues Hot Spring

Chicago White Sox outfielder Andrew Vaughn went 2-for-3 with a double during Friday's Cactus League game versus the Chicago Cubs. Vaughn has nine hits in nine games for the White Sox so far this spring, but only two of them have gone for extra bases. Nonetheless, Vaughn looks locked in at the plate right now, […]

Trey Mancini Slugs Two-Run Homer Thursday

Chicago Cubs first baseman Trey Mancini hit a two-run home run on Thursday in helping the Cubs to an 8-6 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. The long ball was the second of the spring for Mancini and he added a single on the afternoon as well, raising his batting average to a hefty .579 on […]

X-Rays Negative On Yandy Diaz

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that X-rays on corner infielder Yandy Diaz's hand came back negative on Friday after he left the Grapefruit League game after his first at-bat when he was hit by a pitch on his hand/wrist. Diaz was returning from a hip-flexor injury on Friday before getting hurt again right […]

Tyler Nevin Sidelined Indefinitely With Oblique Strain

Detroit Tigers corner infielder Tyler Nevin (oblique) has been sidelined indefinitely at spring training with a left oblique strain. The 25-year-old will start baseball activities once his symptoms subside. The Tigers haven't revealed the grade of his strain or a timetable for his return, only announcing it as a "mild" strain. He has hit .211 […]

Yandy Diaz Leaves Early After Hit By Pitch

Tampa Bay Rays corner infielder Yandy Diaz (hip, hand, wrist) returned to the Grapefruit League lineup on Friday against the Atlanta Braves after dealing with a hip-flexor injury, but he left the game after his first at-bat after getting hit by a pitch on his hand/wrist area. It's a tough break for the 31-year-old, but […]

Mid-Round First Basemen - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values and Targets

Welcome officially to the 2023 fantasy baseball season! Spring training is in full force, and fantasy managers are gearing up for another exciting season in the MLB. Once you reach the middle rounds of drafts, everyone is looking to draft players that can provide a great return on value. You can start taking calculated risks […]

Ben Rosener's Fantasy Baseball Beat: Yuri Gurriel and Jose Iglesias News Updates

The offseason is officially no more, but Spring training is here, and with it comes the daily influx of baseball news that fantasy managers have missed in the last few months. Lineup news, actual games happening, constant waiver wire moves, pitching assignments, and bullpen usage. Baseball is back and so too is fantasy baseball, with […]

Five Hitter Breakouts for OBP - Infield Draft Values for Fantasy Baseball

On-base percentage. It has become a go-to statistic in baseball and fantasy baseball. It gives a better indication than average for if a player is giving his team an opportunity to put a run on the board. Some fantasy baseball owners are forward-thinking when it comes to stats and OBP is a step forward from […]

Yuliesky Gurriel Agrees To Deal With Marlins

The Miami Marlins have signed first baseman Yulieski Gurriel to an undisclosed deal on Thursday. The assumption is that it's going to be a one-year minor-league deal. The 38-year-old should provide depth at first base and designated hitter for Miami. Last season, Gurriel struggled at the plate with a .647 OPS and only eight home […]

Carlos Santana (1B, PIT) - 2023 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 450 CURRENT ADP: ~540 overall ANALYSIS: I'm beating the "shift ban" drum here, but Santana is set to benefit from that as the league shifted on him in nearly all of his PAs as a lefty last year. The Pirates saw an opportunity there and scooped him up, and PNC […]

Yandy Diaz To Play First Base On Friday

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said corner infielder Yandy Diaz (hip) will play first base in a Grapefruit League game on Friday against the Atlanta Braves after missing some time in camp with a hip-flexor injury. The 31-year-old has missed almost a week of spring training action, but he'll be back in action this […]

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Likely To Face Live Pitching Friday

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (knee) took some ground balls and hit again on Thursday, and he'll likely face live pitching on Friday and go from there. The good news is that he's feeling good, according to manager John Schneider. The Blue Jays are taking things slowly in camp with the 23-year-old […]

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Hits In Cages Wednesday

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (knee) hit in the cages on Wednesday and did some light running and fielding work at spring training. There's no timeline on his return to Grapefruit League games, but it's possible that he'll play again next Wednesday. Guerrero is dealing with some right knee inflammation that isn't […]

Trey Mancini (1B/OF, CHC) - 2023 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 240 CURRENT ADP: ~260 overall ANALYSIS: While it was a tale of two seasons for Trey Mancini before and after his trade to Houston, the pull rate numbers showed growth throughout 2022. While Statcast has him for a 40.9% pull rate, FanGraphs has a 45% mark, both of which are […]

Keep It Simple, Stupid - Finding Homers and Strikeouts Throughout the Draft

Rotisserie fantasy baseball is a complex game. The best players give equal attention to each category, build balanced teams, and then prune their teams effectively throughout the year. Not everybody has the time for that though - and it's a lot easier said than done. Sometimes we can do just fine focusing in on the […]

Triston Casas Stays Hot At The Plate This Spring

Boston Red Sox first base prospect Triston Casas continued to hit in Tuesday's 10-2 Grapefruit League win over the Braves. The 23-year-old went 2-for-3 with a single, a double, an RBI, a walk and a strikeout. He is now batting .444 with two home runs in 18 spring at-bats. Casas is Boston's top-ranked prospect and […]

Marlins Continue To Talk With Yuli Gurriel

The Miami Marlins continue to talk with free-agent first baseman Yuli Gurriel, according to sources. If they were to sign him, it would likely be a minor-league deal with an invitation to big-league spring training. Gurriel remains on the open market a year after slashing .242/.288/.360 with a career-low .647 OPS, eight home runs, 53 […]

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Could Resume Swinging This Weekend

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (knee) continues to get treatment on his right knee and is feeling better every day, according to manager John Schneider. Guerrero could get back in the batting cages by the weekend. Guerrero is dealing with a sore right knee and is taking things slowly in camp. It's […]

Christian Encarnacion-Strand Continues To Hit This Spring

Cincinnati Reds corner infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand continued to make a strong impression this Spring in Monday's 6-1 Cactus League win over the Rockies. The 23-year-old went 2-for-3 with a single and a solo home run. He mashed in Double-A in 2022 and is now batting .647 with three HR in 17 spring at-bats. With Joey […]