Kris Bryant to Play Some Outfield in Spring Training

It’s no secret that Chicago Cubs mega prospect Kris Bryant could be on the verge of superstardom, especially after being the 2014 Minor League Player of the Year last season. That doesn’t mean he’s content. In fact, it looks like the 22-year-old is open to expanding his game, having recently said he would be willing […]

Matt Kemp: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Overvalued Outfielder and Potential Bust

  Busted Hips, Busted Fantasy Asset Matt Kemp’s first half of 2014 was as ugly as they come with only eight home runs, 35 RBI, and a .269 batting average. He fixed whatever was bothering him in the first half by hitting 17 homers, 54 RBI, and a .309 average in the second half. Moving […]

Soothsaying, Particle Acceleration, and R.O.I.D.S

What Happens When Javier Baez and Archie Bradley Collide? The final cycle of Fantasy Baseball ROIDS, your quasi-scientific guide to drafting players that will consistently outperform their ADP, has arrived. Previously, we've talked about Ranking anomalies, new Opportunities, the impact of International players and the conspiracy of a Dark Horse in the draft. Sometimes, I […]

Jay Bruce: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Undervalued Outfielder

Jay Bruce is a Bounce-Back Candidate for 2015 With the exception of 2014, Cincinnati's Jay Bruce has tallied 20+ HR in each of his 7 MLB seasons. His highest totals came during the 2011, 2012, and 2013 seasons, in which he hit 32, 34, and 30, respectively. In 2013 he also drove in 109 RBI […]

2015 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Outfield (OF) - February Update

Last month, we brought you RotoBaller's preliminary outfield fantasy baseball rankings. The February update is here. We'll be releasing all the other positional rankings updates this week, with analysis from all the RotoBaller writers on their favorite risers and fallers at each MLB position. Make sure to also check out our MLB Fantasy Baseball Rankings blog, along with all of RotoBaller's outfield rankings […]

Fantasy Platoons - Blackmon, Dickerson, Stubbs

Platoon Power Platoons can be an excellent source of cheap, high quality production. Last season, the Colorado Rockies featured a useful outfield platoon with Charlie Blackmon, Drew Stubbs, and Corey Dickerson. All three compiled great seasons individually, and I expect the same from them this season. With Carlos Gonzalez a permanent injury risk, there should be […]

Steven Souza (OF, TB) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as Low-End OF3 ANALYSIS: Steven Souza can be described as late-bloomer, mainly due to his off-the-field problems, which included a 50-game suspension for a banned stimulant in 2010. Since that time, he has destroyed minor league pitching. He won the International League MVP in 2014 with a .345/.427/.577 line, 18 HR, 77 RBI and […]

Steven Souza: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Outfield Sleeper

  Quad-A or Stud? Quad-A. The one distinction no baseball player wants to ever see on their scouting report. It is typically designated for older prospects who mash in the minors but can never put it together on the big stage. Steven Souza, 25, is at the age when questions begin surfacing about a player's potential. […]

Jacoby Ellsbury: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Star

2011 - It Was A Very Good Year When the New York Yankees signed Jacoby Ellsbury as a free agent before the 2014 season they hoped they would be getting the same player who tore up the world of fantasy baseball in 2011. That season Ellsbury batted .321 with 32 HR, 39 SB, 105 RBI and […]

A.J. Pollock (OF, ARI) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as OF5 ANALYSIS: After a head injury in May of 2014, A.J. Pollock returned on September 2 and finished the season strong, tallying six stolen bases and 13 runs in his final 23 games. Not only does he provide stellar defense in center field, but he combines his strong contact rate (84.2%) with his speed […]

Michael Saunders (OF, TOR) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target in Late Rounds ANALYSIS: Michael Saunders posted a .273/.341/.450 line with eight homers and four steals last year in 78 games in 2014. Not particularly exciting, but useful in deep leagues. He’s two years removed from a 19 HR/21 SB season and, at 28, is still theoretically in his prime. But he’s not especially […]

Jorge Soler (OF, CHC) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as OF3 ANALYSIS: With all of the hype surrounding the Cubs heading into 2015, one name that has nearly been lost in the shuffle is Cuban outfielder Jorge Soler. At 6’4”, 215 pounds, Soler is an impressive physical specimen with five-tool talent. He hit .340 with 15 HR and 57 RBI in […]

Travis Snider (OF, BAL) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as OF5 ANALYSIS: Travis Snider's role on his new team, the Orioles, remains unknown, but he should get his chances. The lefty hitter may platoon to begin with, but he can still hit most days, thanks to his pinch-hitting skills. Snider was tied for fifth in all of baseball with 13 hits as […]

Kris Bryant (3B/OF, CHC) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as 3B1 ANALYSIS: The Chicago Cubs may choose to wait two weeks to bring up Kris Bryant, giving themselves control over their top prospect through 2021. Bryant was Baseball America’s 2014 Minor League Player of the Year after hitting .325 with 43 HR and 110 RBI. Translating that success to the big league level is hard […]

Braves Ink Young to Minor League Deal

Eric Young Jr. has signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves that also includes an invitation to spring training. The 29-year-old will be competing for a potential starting job in left field, if not a platoon role or to be the club’s fourth outfielder. In 2015, Young will be entering his seventh season […]

A.J. Pollock: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Outfield Sleeper

  A Late Season Bounceback Life is full of setbacks. How people respond to setbacks can define their character – it shows work ethic and pride. After taking a Johnny Cueto fastball to the hand in late May, no one would have batted an eye if A.J. Pollock chalked up 2014 as a lost season. […]

Michael Saunders: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Deeeeeep Outfield Sleeper

  A New Home in Toronto Could Help Saunders Reach Potential When we put together our rankings earlier this winter, I had Michael Saunders lower than every other outfielder on my list except one. I may have forgotten that he was traded to the Blue Jays, a move which should provide a bump to his […]

Jorge Soler: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Outfield Sleeper

  For Owners In Need of HR and RBI, Soler Might be a Perfect Sleeper Candidate Expectations are sky-high in the Windy City. First Baseman Anthony Rizzo has guaranteed an NL Central Division Title. In order to fulfill that promise, the Cubs will need their nucleus of young talent to contribute in a big way. […]

Travis Snider: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Outfield Sleeper

  With More ABs in Baltimore, 2015 Could Be Travis Snider's Year As a die-hard Pittsburgh Pirates fan, I hated hearing the news of outfielder Travis Snider's trade to the Baltimore Orioles. The guy made some spectacular catches, had a bunch of clutch at-bats, and turned out to be the perfect complementary mentor, backup, and […]

Oswaldo Arcia (OF, MIN) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as OF3 ANALYSIS: Oswaldo Arcia will turn 24 in May, and has yet to play a full season in the majors. Still, in just 723 career AB, he has crushed 34 HR and knocked in 100 runs, including 20 HR and 57 RBI in just 372 AB in 2014. In a full […]

Michael Cuddyer: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Bust

  Don't Let His Colorado Numbers Fool You: Michael Cuddyer is on the Decline Only seven players in baseball have posted a wOBA over .400 in the last two seasons: Troy Tulowitzki, Miguel Cabrera, Mike Trout, Jose Abreu, Paul Goldschmidt, Andrew McCutchen...and Michael Cuddyer. Cuddyer has hit .331/.385/.543 with 30 HR, 106 R, 115 RBI, […]

2015 Dynasty / Keeper Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Outfield (Part 2)

This is part 2 of my dynasty rankings for fantasy baseball. We looked at part 1 last week, and before that we analyzed dynasty rankings at Third Base, Catcher, Shortstop, First Base, and Second Base.  These rankings are for a fresh dynasty draft where you are primarily drafting to win but also strongly considering the future upside and downside of […]

St. Louis Cardinals sign Outfielder Jon Jay to Two-Year Deal

  Outfielder Jon Jay will avoid salary arbitration with the St. Louis Cardinals after the team announced a two-year deal through 2016. #STLCards reach agreement with OF @jonjayU on a 2-year contract through 2016, thus avoiding salary arbitration. pic.twitter.com/FnzZilgzHN — St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) February 9, 2015   Additional details of the agreed contract come […]

Ryan Zimmerman (1B/3B/OF, WSH) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target in Middle Rounds ANALYSIS: During an injury-plagued 2014 campaign, Ryan Zimmerman posted a .280/.342/.449 triple-slash line, just below his career line of .286/.352/.476. However, there was a drastic decrease in his power, as his 7.8% HR/FB rate was by far the lowest of his career. Back from his hamstring injury, Zimmerman should return to his […]

Conspiracy Theories and the "D" in R.O.I.D.S.

  Conspire With ROIDS As we begin cycling off our first official ROIDS program, I want to direct your attention away from fantasy baseball for a moment. A popular Katy Perry song goes: “So you wanna play with magic? Boy, you should know what you’re falling for. Baby, do you dare to do this? 'Cause I’m coming at […]

Ryan Zimmerman: Comeback Player of the Year?

  He's Baaaaack (And Could be a Sneaky Draft Value) Despite media outlets everywhere outside the Capital Beltway proclaiming Bryce Harper or Stephen Strasburg as the face of the franchise, true Washingtonians know that Ryan Zimmerman is the real National treasure. Since he was drafted fourth overall in 2005, Zim has been the Opening Day […]

2015 Dynasty / Keeper Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Outfield (Part 1)

I'm breaking up this dynasty / keeper league rankings article into two parts. It has to be done. To give any sort of depth in the outfield position, you at least have to rank 50-60 outfielders. I ranked 60 in total, and this article will cover the first 30 on my list. Remember, these are my […]

Melky Cabrera (OF, CHW) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target in Rounds 10-12 ANALYSIS: Melky Cabrera is coming off a good season with the Blue Jays in which he hit .301 with 16 HR and 73 RBI. Cabrera has hit 64% of his home runs from the left side of the plate in his career, and his new team, the White Sox, play […]

Shane Victorino (OF, BOS) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target Late in Very Deep Leagues ANALYSIS: Considering he missed all but 30 games in 2014, Shane Victorino is a big risk for fantasy owners in terms of health. Throw in his declining production and the deep outfield competition he’ll face in Boston, and you have the recipe for a player who should go […]

Yasiel Puig: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Stud

It's Time To Face Your Fears The only thing to fear about making Yasiel Puig a high pick in your fantasy baseball draft is Yasiel Puig himself. Blessed with talents on loan from a higher source, Puig has all the tools necessary to be considered a perennial five tool player. The question remains, does he […]