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 […]

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 […]

Shohei Ohtani Almost Ready To Face Hitters

Los Angeles Angels general manager Billy Eppler said that starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (elbow) is almost ready to face live hitters in his rehab from Tommy John surgery, but that might be difficult to do given the restrictions surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. "We're going to have to get creative somewhere down the line here if […]

Giancarlo Stanton Ready To Play

New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (calf) is reportedly healthy enough to play and is expected to start for the team whenever the season begins. Stanton suffered a calf strain early in spring training and had been expected to miss time, but with the season delayed the outfielder appears unlikely to start the season on […]

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 […]

The King's Fantasy Baseball Insider Report: Exclusive Scouting Reports From an MLB Veteran

The award-winning Fantasy Baseball Insider Series continues on RotoBaller, this time with the seasoned input of a current Major League Player. 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 […]

MLB Optimistic That Games Will Be Played In 2020

Executive director of the MLB Players Association Tony Clark is optimistic that games will be played at some point in 2020, but how and when that comes about is still up in the air. "We don’t have the answers," Clark said, "and we don’t expect those to come anytime soon." Players would be willing to […]

A.J. Hinch, Jeff Luhnow Suspensions Won't Leak Into 2021

Former Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow will fulfill their one-season suspensions for the team's sign-stealing scandal even if no baseball is played in 2020 due to the coronavirus, according to sources. Hinch and Luhnow were banned for a year and fired in January after MLB investigated the Astros using cameras […]

MLB Teams To Expand Rosters For First Month Of Season

When Major League Baseball is able to start the regular season, teams are expected to expand their rosters from 26 players to 29 players for the first month. MLB is also considering expanding the playoffs from 10 to 14 teams this year. To get creative with a shortened season, doubleheaders could be implemented as well, […]

Jose Martinez Limits Rays Flexibility

The Tampa Bay Rays want to get the most out of outfielder Jose Martinez's right-handed power bat, but to do so they need him to play first base occasionally. Martinez was making slow progress defensively in spring training. As only a designated hitter or as a pinch-hitter off the bench, Martinez limits what the Rays […]

Aaron Judge, James Paxton, Giancarlo Stanton Could Be Ready

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone reported on Monday that starting pitcher James Paxton (back) and outfielders Aaron Judge (ribs) and Giancarlo Stanton (calf) could all be ready for Opening Day. With season unlikely to start until June at the earliest, the injured Yankees should have plenty of time to heal. As a result, the […]

MLB Season Won't Start On April 9

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred announced on Monday that the regular season will not start on April 9. Owners are still hopeful that there will be a full schedule of games in 2020. Teams are limiting informal workouts but aren't locking spring camps in response to the coronavirus pandemic. It's unknown when exactly the […]

MLB Season Could Be Pushed Back To Memorial Day

There's a possibility that the 2020 Major League Baseball season could be delayed until Memorial Day weekend or even longer due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, according to two MLB executives. Players, executives and coaching staffs have started to head home from their respective spring training facilities. It's unlikely that a full 162-game schedule […]

Shohei Ohtani Won't Be Shut Down From Throwing

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (elbow) won't be shut down from throwing while Major League Baseball is suspended from play, according to general manager Billy Eppler. The same goes for the rest of the team's pitchers, but they're all still deciding where they'll be working out. The Japanese right-hander didn't pitch all […]

Edwin Encarnacion (1B/DH, CHW) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~150s CURRENT ADP: ~170 overall ANALYSIS: Edwin Encarnacion continued to defy Father Time during the 2019 season. While his .244 batting average and 21.2% K-rate were mediocre, the 37-year-old managed to blast 34 home runs and pick up 86 RBI in just 418 at-bats split between the Seattle Mariners and New […]

Opening Day Delayed Two Weeks

With Major League Baseball officially canceling the rest of spring training due to concerns about the coronavirus, the start of the regular season will be delayed at least two weeks. Thursday will be the final day of spring training action. Players trying to rehab injuries will be forced to work out in bullpen sessions, simulated […]

MLB Suspending Spring Training

Major League Baseball will suspend spring training games, beginning on Friday, due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. The NBA and NHL have also put their seasons on pause due to concerns about the spread of the virus. It remains to be seen how long the spring season will be delayed, which is also likely to […]

Shohei Ohtani Likely To Pitch On Wednesdays

The Los Angeles Angels have a plan for which days to pitch starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (elbow) when he returns sometime in May. Manager Joe Maddon wouldn't say which day they are targeting, but he said that Wednesday "is a lot of common sense." The Angels will have four Thursday off days in May and […]

Edwin Encarnacion Sidelined With Hip Injury

Chicago White Sox first baseman/designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion (hip) will be sidelined with a sore right hip. Encarnacion has already dealt with a back issue in camp and is expected back in a couple of days. The injuries are a bit of concern, but if Encarnacion can stay healthy, he is a good source of […]

Giancarlo Stanton Takes Live Batting Practice On Wednesday

New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (calf) took live batting practice on Wednesday as he continues to recover from a calf strain. Stanton has reported feeling good when hitting, and the real test for his calf will come when he runs. Stanton has been running on an anti-gravity treadmill and is expected to run on […]

Giancarlo Stanton To Start Running

New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (calf) will reportedly begin running on the field in the next couple of days. Stanton has yet to see game action this spring but started running on an anti-gravity treadmill last week and seems to be progressing relatively well. The Yankees have not provided a clear update on Stanton's […]

Finding Over/Undervalued Second Basemen Using Expected Draft Values

A couple weeks ago, we introduced our Expected Draft Values and explained how they would help us identify both over and undervalued players of all types. Power, speed, power+speed, batting average+power, and so on, with pitchers as well. Today, we'll look at four "power" hitters, as identified by our site projections. Stay tuned over the […]

Daniel Vogelbach Still Without A Home Run

Seattle Mariners designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach went 0-for-2 with a strikeout and a walk during the loss to the Brewers on Monday. Despite failing to go yard during Cactus League play thus far, the 27-year-old is currently batting .308, while walking six times. He will likely strike out more often than fantasy managers would like […]

Finding Over/Undervalued First Basemen Using Expected Draft Values

A couple weeks ago, we introduced our Expected Draft Values and explained how they would help us identify both over and undervalued players of all types. Power, speed, power+speed, batting average+power, and so on, with pitchers as well. Today, we'll look at four "power" hitters, as identified by our site projections. Stay tuned over the […]

Giancarlo Stanton Resumes Running

New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (calf) has started running on a treadmill for the first time since straining his calf earlier this spring. Stanton is still on track to miss Opening Day, but the Yankees are encouraged by his progress so far and hope for the outfielder to be back in the lineup in […]

Using Expected Draft Values to Find Over and Undervalued Speed Hitters

A couple weeks ago, we introduced our Expected Draft Values and explained how they would help us identify both over and undervalued players of all types. Power, speed, power+speed, batting average+power, and so on, with pitchers as well. Today, we'll look at four "speed" players as identified by our site projections. Stay tuned over the […]

Miguel Cabrera Homers Twice in Tigers Offensive Barrage

Detroit Tigers designated hitter Miguel Cabrera hit two home runs against the New York Yankees on Thursday. Both of Cabrera's homers were off Gerrit Cole. The Tigers offense was unstoppable during this game, as they combined for nine home runs. Outfielder Travis Demeritte also homered twice. Cabrera is a solid late-round DH in deep mixed […]

Nelson Cruz Belts Third Home Run Of Spring

Minnesota Twins designated hitter Nelson Cruz continued his hot hitting in a tie with the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday. Cruz went 3-for-3 with a solo home run to left in the first inning. The 39-year-old currently leads the team in hits, home runs, and has an OPS of 1.676. With a .351 BABIP last year, […]

J.D. Martinez Blasts Three-Run Home Run Against Tigers

Boston Red Sox outfielder/designated hitter J.D. Martinez launched his second home run of the spring in Wednesday's 13-9 loss against the Tigers, as the 32-year-old went 2-for-3 to go along with three RBI, one run scored and a strikeout in the contest. Martinez has produced two home runs, four RBI, two runs scored, a .267 […]