Mitch Garver Wants To Start 40-45 Games At Catcher

Minnesota Twins catcher Mitch Garver said he would like to start 40-45 games behind the plate in the MLB's 60-game season. While Garver wants to contribute as much as he can for Minnesota at his natural position, his health needs to be a priority after missing time last season. The 29-year-old enjoyed a breakout year […]

Kristaps Porzingis Develops New Skill During Hiatus

Dallas Mavericks center Kristaps Porzingis mentioned that he has developed a new element to his game during the hiatus. “It’s a secret," Porzingis said. "I’ll show it on the court.” The shutdown has been great for Porzingis to get back into shape. He mentioned that he was able to get back to 100 percent health […]

Tom Murphy To Sit Out Monday

Seattle Mariners catcher Tom Murphy (foot) is likely to sit out of Monday's workouts after fouling a ball off his foot on Sunday, but manager Scott Servais said it's just a bruise. Consider Murphy day-to-day for now, and he should be completely fine for the regular season opener later this month. The power-hitting backstop was […]

Astros Cancel Workout On Monday

The Houston Astros canceled their workout on Monday because they are still awaiting the results from Friday's COVID-19 tests, according to sources. The Washington Nationals also canceled their Monday workout for the same reason. Teams are emphasizing the priority of player health and safety, but the Astros are "optimistic that this process will be ironed […]

Nationals Cancel Workouts On Monday

The Washington Nationals have canceled their workouts on Monday because the results from their Friday coronavirus tests have still not shown up, according to sources. The Oakland Athletics also canceled a workout on Sunday because they hadn't received the results of their COVID-19 tests. MLB testers didn't show up to Angels camp on Sunday either. […]

Nets Planning To Sign Another Center

Brooklyn Nets center DeAndre Jordan has decided to opt out of the upcoming NBA restart in Orlando. The Nets are left without much depth at the center position with Jordan sitting out and Nicolas Claxton (shoulder) unable to play. Head coach Jacque Vaughn mentioned the organization will likely sign a big man before the season […]

Aaron Nola Still Absent From Phillies Camp

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola is not at Phillies Summer Camp, but has not been placed on the COVID-19 Injured List. Nola, as well as outfielder Adam Haseley and catcher Christian Bethancourt, are being kept away from the team amid COVID-19 protocols. The Phillies had seven players test positive for COVID-19 last week and […]

Salvador Perez Tested Positive For Coronavirus

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez has tested positive for coronavirus. Perez is reportedly asymptomatic and is optimistic that he can return after self-isolating for 12 more days. That puts Perez back with the team on July 16th, likely giving the catcher enough time to be ready for the start of the season. Perez missed […]

Myles Turner Working Hard During Shutdown

Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner has been continuing basketball-related activities for about four or five weeks now. He built a makeshift gym in the family garage, so Turner has found a creative way to stay in shape. Turner was on fire before the NBA went on hiatus, so hopefully he can pick up where he […]

Willians Astudillo Tests Positive For COVID-19

Minnesota Twins catcher Willians Astudillo is one of the Twins players to test positive for COVID-19 upon his arrival to summer camp. Astudillo has been quarantined and is asymptomatic. Minor leaguers Edwar Colina and Nick Gordon tested positive before arriving, so they are not in camp. Colina is the team's No. 16 prospect, while Gordon […]

Marvin Bagley Expected To See More Time At Center

Sacramento Kings center Marvin Bagley (foot) said he's added 10 pounds of muscle, assuming he's going to spend more time at center. Bagley says that he is 100 percent ready to go and doesn't feel any discomfort in his foot. He has been battling injuries all season long, but it sounds like he is finally […]

Jusuf Nurkic Expected To See Minutes At Power Forward

Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic is expected to see playing time at power forward when the season resumes. He hasn't played since March of 2019, but the Blazers reportedly won't have Nurkic on a minutes limit. Nurkic was originally expected to split playing time with Hassan Whiteside, but it doesn't appear that will be […]

Welington Castillo Opts Out Of 2020 Season

Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez said that catcher Welington Castillo has opted out of playing in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic. Castillo will join teammates Ryan Zimmerman and Joe Ross in opting out this year. The 33-year-old was on a minor league deal that he signed in January and was unlikely to make much, if […]

Jesperi Kotkaniemi Feeling Healthy After Extended Break

Montreal Canadiens center Jesperi Kotkaniemi (spleen) will be a full participant in the team's upcoming training camp ahead of their play-in series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Kotkaniemi suffered the injury while playing in the AHL back in March. It has been a tough season for the former third overall pick, but perhaps he can carve […]

Indians Sign Steve Baron, Jake Elmore, David Hernandez

The Cleveland Indians have signed catcher Steve Baron, infielder Jake Elmore and relief pitcher David Hernandez to minor league deals on Friday. Baron will report to the club’s Lake County camp, while Elmore and Hernandez will report to Progressive Field in Cleveland. Hernandez should be used regularly early on as starters begin to build up their […]

2020 MLB All-Star Game Canceled

Due to health circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic, Major League Baseball announced on Friday that the All-Star game will not be played in 2020 for the first time since World War II. The Dodgers, who had been scheduled to host the game, will host the next available All-Star game in 2022. The Braves will […]

Short-Season Draft Risers and Fallers: RotoBaller Staff Picks

Recently, the RotoBaller MLB staff provided their thoughts on the best draft strategies for a shortened season. You can read that article right here. The fantasy baseball season is ready to kick up (finally) but things won't be the same as usual. Some players may be more appealing now that they've had time to work […]

30 Burning Questions (and Answers) for 2020 Fantasy Baseball

Upon hearing that Major League Baseball was finally set to return to action and the fantasy season was back, a million questions popped in my head. Sadly, I forgot most of them by the next day so I'm left with just 30, coincidentally a nice even number. Actually, my initial plan was to do 60 […]

Jusuf Nurkic, Zach Collins Expected To Start

Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic and forward Zach Collins are expected to join the starting five when the season resumes, according to head coach Terry Stotts. Both players are returning from injuries that have sidelined them for most of the regular season. Trevor Ariza has decided to opt out of the restart, so Carmelo […]

Anthony Davis Says He's 100 Percent Healthy

Los Angeles Lakers center Anthony Davis (elbow) says that the NBA shutdown has allowed him to get back to being 100 percent healthy. He was dealing with a minor elbow issue and a number of other problems during the early part of March. Davis mentioned that having the hiatus has given him enough time to […]

Jakob Poeltl Ready To Step Up

San Antonio Spurs center Jakob Poeltl mentioned that he is ready to step up with LaMarcus Aldridge (shoulder) done for the season. “Losing a big man, I have to step up,” said Poeltl. “I’m going to take on that challenge." Poeltl is averaging 5.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 16.6 minutes this season. […]

Dwight Powell Begins Treadmill Work

Dallas Mavericks center Dwight Powell (Achilles) has begun working on a treadmill and doing some light shooting. He had right Achilles surgery in late January and is considered questionable for the beginning of the 2020-2021 season. He obviously won't take part in the upcoming NBA restart, but he will travel with the team. Willie Cauley-Stein […]

Joel Embiid Working Hard During Shutdown

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has taken his work to another level during the league shutdown. Head coach Brett Brown said that no player on the roster has "put in more time than Joel Embiid" during the hiatus. Earlier in the season Embiid admitted he was not playing up to his standards. However, he has […]

Thomas Bryant Says He's 100 Percent Healed

Washington Wizards center Thomas Bryant (foot) said that he is "fully healed, 100 percent healed." He missed time earlier in the season due to a foot stress fracture. The Wizards are happy to have him back for the restart. Davis Bertans has decided to sit out, which will likely mean more minutes for Bryant. It […]

Jusuf Nurkic Will Not Have Minutes Limit

Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic (leg) will not have a minutes limit during the restart, according to head coach Terry Stotts. It appears the Blazers are debating on starting Nurkic over Eli Whiteside. Nurkic would likely see minutes around the 20-23 range, but it should be a 50/50 split with Whiteside. The fact that […]

Hassan Whiteside Expected To Move To The Bench

Portland Trail Blazers center Hassan Whiteside is expected to come off the bench during the upcoming NBA restart. Head coach Terry Stotts said that "in all likelihood" Jusuf Nurkic will start with Carmelo Anthony. Trevor Ariza has decided to opt out, which means Anthony will likely start at small forward. Zach Collins would be the […]

Lakers Hopeful Dwight Howard Will Play In Orlando

Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard is unsure whether or not he'll join the team for the upcoming NBA restart in Orlando. Head coach Frank Vogel and the rest of the organization is "hopeful and optimistic" that Howard will play during the restart. However, JaVale McGee and Kyle Kuzma would see bigger roles if Howard […]

Giants Sign First-Rounder Patrick Bailey

The San Francisco Giants signed first-round catcher Patrick Bailey (13th overall) for $3.8 million on Wednesday. Bailey's deal is just under the slot value of $4.197 million for the 13th overall selection in the draft. The catcher from North Carolina State was the top catching prospect in this year's draft. He has solid power from […]

MLB Can't Identify Players That Test Positive For COVID-19

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and Chicago Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer both said that because of the HIPAA Act, teams are not allowed to divulge the names of any player who tests positive for COVID-19 during the season. "The information I've been given is [the media] will be left to try to […]

Minor League Season Officially Canceled

Baseball's minor leagues officially canceled their 2020 season on Tuesday after MLB decided not to provide any players to its affiliated teams during the coronavirus pandemic. An agreement between the majors and minors expires after this season, and MLB has proposed reducing the minimum affiliates from 160 to 120. MLB clubs will retain expanded 60-player […]