Daniel Murphy (2B, WSH) - 2018 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers & Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target ~40 CURRENT ADP: 67 ANALYSIS: Despite a litany of aches and injuries, Washington Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy played in two more games this past season than in 2016 and came to the plate 11 more times. He posted slightly lower numbers in every category but runs (94 in 2017 vs. 83 in 2016), […]

Three Up, Three Down – 2018 Second Base Prospects

The keystone should be a position for players developed to keep everything together, both offensively and defensively. However, that is not the case in most years. It is generally comprised of athletes that move off of shortstop for one reason or another. Therefore, the position is usually very thin in the minor leagues. It is […]

Top 600: Dynasty League Fantasy Baseball Rankings

What's up RotoBallers. Today we are bringing you our top 600 fantasy baseball dynasty rankings for the 2018 MLB season. Dynasty leagues, or keeper formats, are becoming more and more popular in the fantasy sports landscape. For those of you who are playing in dynasty formats, or are interested in long-term valuations of fantasy players, this is […]

Brad Miller In The Running At Both First and Second Base

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Brad Miller could be in the running at either first base or second base. The general manager of the Rays went on the radio that they had an "open mind" when figuring out the right side of the infield. It was also noted that Miller would be in the running at either first […]

Robinson Cano (2B, SEA) - 2018 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers & Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target ~50 CURRENT ADP: 79 ANALYSIS: Seattle Mariners second basemen Robinson Cano suffered a power outage in the second half of the 2017 season, but still managed to hit .280 with 23 home runs and 97 runs batted in. Most infielders would sign up for those numbers any day of the week, but 2017 could be considered […]

Rangers Trade Russell Wilson To The Yankees

ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reports that the Texas Rangers traded Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson today to the New York Yankees in exchange for future consideration. It might surprise some that Wilson actually played nearly 100 games in the Colorado Rockies system after being drafted in the 4th round of the 2010 MLB Amateur Draft. Wilson […]

Yoan Moncada (2B, CHW) - 2018 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers & Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target ~105 CURRENT ADP:  134 ANALYSIS: The White Sox are not supposed to contend in 2018, which, in a lot of ways, is a good thing for Moncada. For one, it means that he will have a longer leash at 2B. Not that it matters, anyway, because Moncada was killing it at the end of […]

Using Sabermetrics for Fantasy Baseball Part 3 - Statcast for Batters

If you've watched a baseball broadcast in the so-called Statcast Era, you have undoubtedly noticed the broadcasters commenting on a batted ball's exit velocity, or EV. Many have taken to using stats like Hard% and Soft% to forecast how a player should be performing, expecting larger Hard% rates to produce larger BABIP and HR/FB figures. […]

Brad Miller Expected To Play First Base

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said the plan for now is for infielder Brad Miller to play first base, with Micah Johnson, Daniel Robertson, Ryan Schimpf and Joey Wendle battling for the second base duties. Miller is also a candidate to start at the keystone if the Rays add a first baseman before the […]

Michael Martinez Undergoes Surgery to Repair a Ruptured Achilles Tendon

Cleveland Indians utility player Michael Martinez underwent surgery this week to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon. He was performing agility exercises in his native Dominican Republic when he was injured. Rehabilitation for a ruptured Achilles usually takes at least six months, so Martinez's entire 2018 season is in jeopardy right now. He had signed a […]

Using Sabermetrics For Fantasy Baseball Part 1 - BABIP for Hitters

Hello fellow RotoBallers! Sabermetrics have become an integral tool for fantasy baseball draft prep, but a concise resource for understanding the basics can be difficult to find. This series attempts to define and explain all of the metrics fantasy owners may find useful, citing examples of how to use them in the process. Twenty degrees […]

Phillies Sign Adam Rosales

The Philadelphia Phillies signed free-agent infielder Adam Rosales to a minor league deal that will pay him $1.75 million if he makes the big league roster. Rosales will be invited to spring training. The veteran utility player will attempt to serve in a utility role on the infield for the rebuilding Phillies. In 105 games […]

Yangervis Solarte (2B/SS/3B, TOR) - 2018 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers & Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target ~260 CURRENT ADP: 271 ANALYSIS: Yangervis Solarte personified mediocrity in 2017, slashing .255/.314/.416 with 18 long balls and a trio of steals. With eligibility at all three positions listed above plus seven games at first base, a competent batting line is really all Solarte needed to have fantasy value as a reserve. Yet there […]

T.J. Rivera Hopes To Return By May

New York Mets infielder T.J. Rivera (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery on his injured right elbow in September, but he has been progressing nicely and hopes to return in May. Rivera has had a solid couple of years for the Mets, slashing .290/.330/.430 with five home runs and 13 doubles in 73 games in 2017 prior […]

Mets Still Trying To Acquire Josh Harrison

If you’re sick of hearing rumors about the New York Mets trying to acquire a second baseman this offseason, you’re not alone. Those rumors aren’t going away anytime soon, as it’s been reported that although the Mets are still trying to acquire infielder Josh Harrison from the Pittsburgh Pirates, the free agency route is more likely. […]

2018 Dynasty Baseball Strategy - Basic Asset Valuation

Dynasty baseball is a beautiful thing. In a redraft league, everybody is trying to win now. You all have the same goal. Dynasty formats allow for long-term planning. If your team is competitive, you'll value players differently than a rebuilding owner. This discrepancy makes it much easier to find mutually beneficial trades. Unfortunately, this same […]

Tigers Sign Alexi Amarista

The Detroit Tigers signed free-agent infielder Alexi Amarista to a minor league deal Tuesday, according to a source. The Little Ninja is mainly useful for his positional versatility, and he figures to perform as a super-utility player for the rebuilding Tigers. Amarista hit just .238 with the Rockies in 2017 in 96 games, and he […]

2018 Second Base - Early Points League Rankings and Tiers

Aside from catcher, second base is amongst the shallowest positions heading into the 2018 season. Assuming a standard 10-12 team league, depending on the bench size it makes sense to roster only one 2B upon conclusion of your draft. If you can’t scoop up Jose Altuve, Jose Ramirez or Anthony Rizzo, you may need to […]

Willie Calhoun is Coming...

Last season, the Rangers surprised the baseball world by trading superstar Yu Darvish to the Los Angeles Dodgers for a return that, at the time, was deemed pretty sparse. The centerpiece was a little known, and maybe lesser-appreciated infielder named Willie Calhoun. Drafted in the fourth round of the 2015 MLB draft, Calhoun started his […]

Top 100: MLB Prospect Rankings for Fantasy Baseball

Prospects. For any fantasy baseball enthusiast, it's all about knowing about the prospects, rookies and call-ups. More than any other sport, baseball offers a fresh influx of rookie talent every year, both before and during the MLB season. And adding the right guy at the right time can be a league winner (see Aaron Judge and […]

Top 450: Points Leagues Tiered Staff Rankings (January)

In case you haven't noticed, we've already been cranking out all sorts of 2018 fantasy baseball rankings at RotoBaller HQ. It's only mid-January but you can already find preliminary staff rankings for mixed leagues, points leagues, AL/NL only leagues, dynasty leagues, top 2018 prospects, dynasty prospects and more. Today we are here to start looking […]

Josh Harrison Prefers Trade If Pirates Aren't Contenders

Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Josh Harrison said he would prefer to be traded if the team doesn't expect to be in contention in 2018 or 2019 after the trades of starting pitcher Gerrit Cole and outfielder Andrew McCutchen. “In our minds, a rebuild implies you’re looking five years down the road,” general manager Neal Huntington […]

Champ or Chump - Yangervis Solarte and Mitch Moreland

Much is made of a team's projected batting order early on in the offseason, but the discussions quickly become moot as the realities of the regular season alter every team's plans. Slumping players move down the batting order, replaced by their more productive teammates. A utility guy could escape the bench and become a fixture […]

Howie Kendrick Re-Signs With Nationals

Updating a previous report, the Washington Nationals re-signed second baseman Howie Kendrick to a two-year, $7 million deal Monday, according to a source. The deal is pending a physical. Kendrick will return as a utility player for the Nats in 2018 after hitting .315/.368/.475 with nine home runs, 41 RBI and 12 stolen bases in […]

Orioles Discussing Mike Moustakas, Brandon Drury

The Baltimore Orioles are discussing Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Brandon Drury as a potential return for third baseman Manny Machado. The D-backs have become the most serious suitors for Machado, but there is no indication that the sides are close to a deal. Drury is under team control through 2022 and hit .271/.319/.448 in parts of […]

Nationals Closing In On Deal With Howie Kendrick

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that free-agent infielder/outfielder Howie Kendrick is closing in on a deal with the Washington Nationals for two years and $7 million. Kendrick came over from the Philadelphia Phillies at the trade deadline this past season. The 34-year-old hit .315 over 91 games between Washington and Philadelphia in 2017. He’s a solid […]

Diamondbacks Avoid Arbitration With Several More Players

The Arizona Diamondbacks avoided salary arbitration with starting pitcher Robbie Ray (one year, $3.95 million), starting pitcher Taijuan Walker (one year, $4.825 million), outfielder David Peralta and infielder Chris Owings. Ray was excellent for fantasy owners in 2017 with a 15-5 record and 2.89 ERA, and he managed to strike out 218 batters in 162 […]

Joe Panik, Giants Avoid Arbitration

San Francisco Giants second baseman Joe Panik avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.45 million deal, according to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle. Panik hit .288 this past season with 10 home runs, but doesn’t hold much value outside of NL-only leagues or deeper mixed leagues.

Jonathan Villar Avoids Arbitration

Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Jonathan Villar avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.55 million deal, according to a source. Villar was one of the bigger busts in 2017, as he had just 11 home runs and 23 steals after clubbing 19 long balls and stealing a whopping 62 bags in 2016. There remains […]

Phillies, Cesar Hernandez Avoid Arbitration

Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.1 million deal, according to a source. Hernandez has quietly put himself on the fantasy map after hitting over .290 each of the last two seasons while also stealing at least 15 bases in each of the past two years, and […]