MLB Draft Will Be Only Five Rounds

The 2020 Major League Baseball draft will only be five rounds, according to sources. All of the players who go undrafted will be eligible to sign for a maximum of $20,000. There was a proposal to the union for the draft to extend to 10 rounds, but the sides couldn't come to an agreement. A […]

Justin Turner Hasn't Talked Extension With Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner said that he hasn't discussed a contract extension with the team with the season currently postponed due to COVID-19. Turner, 35, is heading into the final year of his deal in 2020, so there's a chance he could move on from LA without playing at all this year […]

The King's Insider Report: Views From an MLB Scout

The award-winning Fantasy Baseball Insider Series continues on RotoBaller, this time with the takes of a longtime Major League scout. Every year during fantasy baseball draft season, Scott Engel talks to prime MLB sources to get exclusive nuggets of information. On the condition of anonymity, former and current players, executives, scouts, media members and others […]

Detroit Tigers: Top 10 Dynasty Prospects

Major League Baseball will return. When it does, minor league systems may be more important than ever. With all teams losing money during the pandemic layoff, teams will be looking for sources of cheap production. It might also take older players longer to rebound from a long layoff meaning we could see more injuries and […]

Hidden Gems to Watch - 2020 Infield Prospects

As we continue through this window of uncertainty, the chances of having a “normal” season are getting far less likely. And while we still don’t have any concrete solutions for having a 2020 season, some ideas seem to be more likely than others. Whether implementing regular doubleheaders in a truncated season or a universal designated-hitter, […]

Roster Stabilizers - Bases Loaded Podcast

What's up RotoBallers! Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) is joined by Jorge Montanez (@Roto_Nino) and Zach Braff (@braffz)are back at it and we are discussing roster stabilizers! Subscribe to the Bases Loaded podcast, part of RotoBaller Radio's Podcast Network. Like and Subscribe to the RotoBaller channel on Youtube to get all our latest podcasts and catch us on iTunes and […]

ADP Comparison: Biggest Fallers from March to May

MLB first announced that its season would be postponed on March 12. Over the past month or so, a plan to resume games has taken several forms, but nothing is set in stone yet. For now, it appears as though teams will play in a maximum of 100 games in 2020, with the minor league […]

Giovanny Urshela (3B, NYY) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~220 CURRENT ADP: ~250 overall ANALYSIS: Giovanny Urshela was an afterthought on the Yankees roster before last spring, but he wound up being one of their most indispensable players by season's end. In 132 games, Urshela batted .314 while also contributing elsewhere thanks to 21 homers and 74 runs batted in hitting […]

Fantasy Baseball Impact of the Universal DH

With each passing day, we are receiving more news that points to Major Leauge Baseball starting sooner rather than later. Most of the news hints at an 80-100 game season, with the locations of the games still up for debate. There are also some roster changes that are being proposed for this shortened season, one […]

Evan Longoria (3B, SF) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~340 CURRENT ADP: ~Undrafted ANALYSIS: Evan Longoria is not the MVP candidate that he once was, but he doesn’t have to be considering he is not being drafted in NFBC contests currently. In 2019, Longoria posted a .254/.325/.437 slash line that appears to be replicable in 2020. Longoria possesses a patient plate […]

Spencer Torkelson, Austin Martin MLB's Top Draft Prospects

Arizona State first baseman Spencer Torkelson and Vanderbilt center fielder/third baseman Austin Martin are the top two candidates to go first overall in this year's draft to the Detroit Tigers. The consensus is that Torkelson is the best power hitter available and Martin is the best pure hitter. Torkelson has double-plus raw power and broke […]

Drafting First Overall In Rotisserie Formats

I really do believe there’s no such thing as too much draft strategy. There are a lot of factors that play into draft selections. I will be discussing topics ranging from positional scarcity to team construction and many things in between. The idea is to go into my strategy and targets through the first 10 […]

Third Base ADP Reflections

Third base is arguably the deepest position in fantasy this year, with plenty of highly productive options outside of the first 20 third basemen being drafted. The position is so deep that if a player isn’t a lock for an OPS above .900, doesn’t have positional versatility, or doesn’t offer stolen bases, then they may […]

Infielder Busts Set to Bounce Back in 2020

Fantasy baseball owners tend to put too much emphasis on the previous season when it comes to valuing players. There is a reason projection systems use three years of data, because while last year's numbers are typically the most important thing to consider, what a player has done in the past matters as well. Each […]

Mid-Round Third Base Targets and Avoids in 2020

Once you reach the middle-to-late rounds of drafts, it would be smart to consider drafting some upside fliers that can provide a great return on value. You can take a risk or two on a variety of different players, including a prospect, forgotten veterans, players returning from injuries, or even players with skills but have […]

WPC+ Videocast: Using xPA to Find Value

Pierre Camus and Nicklaus Gaut evaluate xPA (expected plate appearances) to determine how much lineup spot and team context matters for fantasy baseball. Like and subscribe to the RotoBaller channel on Youtube to get all our latest podcasts and catch us on iTunes and BlogTalkRadio as well! Be sure to also tune into RotoBaller Radio on […]

Latest MLB Proposal, Draft Strategies & Listener Mailbag - Bases Loaded Podcast

What's up RotoBallers! Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) is joined by Jorge Montanez (@Roto_Nino) and Zach Braff (@braffz) as they dive into MLB’s latest proposal and hit a few other topics along the way. Subscribe to the Bases Loaded podcast, part of RotoBaller Radio's Podcast Network. Like and Subscribe to the RotoBaller channel on Youtube to get all our latest […]

MLB Targeting Early July For Start Of Season

There remains optimism that there will be a Major League Baseball season played in 2020, and early July remains the target for the start of the season. However, health remains the overriding factor and the plans for a season depend on having ample and reliable testing for the coronavirus. Spring training would likely be around […]

Mind Games with Riley Robbins - Bases Loaded Pod

What's up RotoBallers! Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) is joined by Cory Ott and Riley Robbins to dive into a topic that isn't discussed a lot in the baseball industry. We dive into the mental aspects of the game of baseball. Subscribe to the Bases Loaded podcast, part of RotoBaller Radio's Podcast Network. Like and Subscribe to […]

WPC+ Videocast: Finding xOPS Underachievers and Overachievers

Pierre Camus and Nicklaus Gaut use Statcast to find the top underachievers and overachievers for xOPS (expected on-base plus slugging). These players could be fantasy baseball draft sleepers or busts based on ADP. Like and subscribe to the RotoBaller channel on Youtube to get all our latest podcasts and catch us on iTunes and BlogTalkRadio […]

Introducing xPA to Project Plate Appearances

I like big rates and I cannot lie. You other readers can't deny. When a rate walks in with an itty PA and an integer in my face, I get sprung...Whoa! Wait just one second, Sir-Mix-A-Nick. Before I go full-Rhymenoceros on everyone, maybe we oughta back the track up a little bit. What I like […]

Dynasty League Buy/Sell

With the uncertainty of opening day, there is no better time to play in an MLB Fantasy Dynasty League. Due to the league format, it by far the most unaffected by the delay of Opening Day. Drafting and trading can proceed in full force as the value assigned to these players go long beyond this […]

How a Revamped MLB Season will Impact Fantasy Baseball

No matter how this MLB season plays out it will look like something we have never seen before. Not only is the start of the season already delayed, but there is no definitive end in sight. If we do see baseball this season, the game is going to look very different. First, there will be […]

Players Who Gain Value With The Universal DH - Bases Loaded Podcast

What's up RotoBallers! Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland), Jorge Montanez (@Roto_Nino) and Zach Braff (@braffz) are discussing all the players who could gain value if the universal DH is adopted by the league in 2020. Subscribe to the Bases Loaded podcast, part of RotoBaller Radio's Podcast Network. Like and Subscribe to the RotoBaller channel on Youtube to get all […]

OPS Overachievers: Using xOPS to Judge Performance

We've already dug into xOPS by looking at the biggest underachievers from last year. Now, it's time to examine the other side of the coin - the less shiny side. Many might believe that wOBA is the stat you should be looking for and people much smarter than I have been duking out this debate […]

Ron Roenicke Sheds Interim Tag

The Boston Red Sox are removing the interim tag from manager Ron Roenicke's status as manager on Wednesday. This comes after the Red Sox were punished by Major League Baseball for their part in sign-stealing during the 2018 season. Then-manager Alex Cora is suspended for all of the 2020 season, but it was for his […]

Red Sox Disciplined Amid Sign-Stealing Investigation

Commissioner Rob Manfred disciplined the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday after an investigation of sign-stealing from the 2018 season. J.T. Watkins, the team's video replay system operator will be suspended for the 2020 season and playoffs, and he'll be prohibited from serving as a replay room operator during all of 2021. Boston will forfeit their […]

Josh Donaldson (3B, MIN) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~70-80 CURRENT ADP: ~88 overall ANALYSIS: Josh Donaldson is ready to feast within a monstrous Minnesota offense, and he comes with greater power numbers than a premium third-base target like Anthony Rendon. Of course, you trade roughly 50 points of batting average for the 70-pick discount on Donaldson, but the added […]

Howie Kendrick (1B/2B/3B, WAS) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~230 CURRENT ADP: ~250 overall ANALYSIS: A lot has changed for Howie Kendrick in this new baseball landscape. For one, Kendrick may be a full-time player now with Ryan Zimmerman opting out and the presence of the universal DH. That's great news because he just had the best fantasy year of […]

OPS Underachievers: Using Differences in xOPS to Judge Performance

Add a player's on-base-percentage to his slugging-percentage and you wind up with OPS. Easy-peasy, lemon squeezy. But some things don't need to be complicated to be useful and descriptive. There are a hundred ways to judge a baseball player's performance but OPS remains one of the best proxies for quickly judging a player's overall offensive […]