Cubs Sign David Ross Through 2024

The Chicago Cubs signed manager David Ross to a contract extension through the 2024 season on Friday. The deal includes a team option for the 2025 campaign. Ross' previous contract was set to expire after this season. The 44-year-old has gone 105-117 in his two seasons as the skipper in Chicago, including a National League […]

Cardinals Sign Drew VerHagen To Two-Year Deal

The St. Louis Cardinals reopened MLB free agency on Friday by signing right-hander Drew VerHagen to a two-year, $5.5 million deal, according to a source. VerHagen pitched for the Detroit Tigers from 2014-19 and played in Japan the last two seasons. He will make up to $2.5 million this year and $3 million in 2023, […]

Dodgers Sign Daniel Zamora To Minor League Deal

The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed relief pitcher Daniel Zamora to a minor league deal. The 28-year-old appeared in four games for the Seattle Mariners last year, pitching to a 6.23 ERA and a 1.385 WHIP over 4 1/3 innings. The Mariners wound up designating him for assignment in June. Zamora had some strong minor […]

Alex Reyes, Jordan Hicks Unlikely For Rotation

St. Louis Cardinals pitchers Alex Reyes and Jordan Hicks seem to both be destined for bullpen roles, at least to start the year, according to a Tweet from Cardinals beat writer Jeff Jones. In his Tweet, Jones reported that Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol stated, "I do think getting Alex and Jordan stretched is going to […]

MLB, Players Association Reach Tentative Agreement

Major League Baseball and the Players Association have reached a tentative agreement on a new labor deal on Thursday, according to sources. It needs to be officially ratified by both parties, but that's expected to be a formality. Players can report to spring training camps as early as Friday, while Opening Day is expected to […]

MLB Free Agency Could Open Thursday Night

Major League Baseball free agency could reopen by Thursday night if there is a new collective bargaining agreement on Thursday, according to Tom Verducci. The league and players agreed to work on a new international draft with a deadline this summer. If they agree on something by then, an international draft will kick off in […]

2022 Keeper Value Rankings - Relief Pitchers

Many many years ago, I noticed the managers in my long-time keeper league were consistently making terrible keeper decisions year after year. Instead of taking their money every year, I thought I would help them out and find a good set of Keeper League Rankings to share with them. What I found was quite disturbing. […]

MLB, Players Agree On Draft/Qualifying Offer

Major League Baseball and the Players Association agreed to a solution for the international draft/qualifying offers for free agents, which was the biggest sticking point in talks for a new collective bargaining agreement on Wednesday. The two sides will now have until July 25 to work on a fair international draft, and if something gets […]

2022 Fantasy Baseball Prospect Rankings - Prospects #26-51 (Part 1)

We've seen quite a few challenges thrown at fantasy baseball managers over the past couple of years and the 2022 season is going to be no different. Labor discourse will delay and shorten the 162-game schedule, which will, in turn, have repercussions on fantasy baseball. One of the biggest unknowns heading into the 2022 season […]

MLB Cancels Games Through April 13

Major League Baseball announced on Wednesday that games have been canceled through April 13 after the league and players were unable to agree on a new collective bargaining agreement. Almost no progress was made in negotiations on Wednesday, although the players union moved slightly on the luxury tax -- the two sides are now $12 […]

Junior Fernandez Resumes Throwing

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Junior Fernandez (shoulder), who ended last year on the 60-day injured list due to a strained shoulder, posted a video of him throwing off a mound on his Instagram account on Wednesday. Some sort of spring training would probably be helpful for Fernandez as he attempts to win a spot […]

Codi Heuer Out For 2022 After Tommy John Surgery

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Codi Heuer (elbow) will miss all of the 2022 season after having successful Tommy John surgery on Tuesday, according to a source familiar with the situation. The 25-year-old was part of the trade that sent closer Craig Kimbrel to the Chicago White Sox last year. Heuer is a hard-throwing, high-leverage reliever […]

Royals Sign Brad Peacock

The Kansas City Royals signed free-agent right-handed pitcher Brad Peacock to a minor league deal on Monday. Peacock wasn't on a 40-man roster at the end of last year despite briefly pitching for the Boston Red Sox in 2021, so he was able to sign during MLB's lockout. The 34-year-old has spent eight of his […]

MLB Sets Another Deadline For Tuesday

Major League Baseball and the Players Association lawyers met again on Monday and plan to meet again on Tuesday, with the league suggesting Tuesday is another deadline to play 162 games and for players to get full pay and service time in 2022. Commissioner Rob Manfred canceled the first two series of the regular season […]

Shawn Armstrong Was In High Demand Before Lockout

Free-agent right-hander Shawn Armstrong was receiving interest from more than 20 teams before the lockout began in early December. Armstrong, 31, posted a 6.75 ERA and 1.50 WHIP with 44 strikeouts and 15 walks in 36 relief innings for the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays in 2021. The Rays were willing to re-sign him […]

Colin Poche Chomping At The Bit

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Colin Poche (elbow) completed his rehab in the last couple of months and was cleared to return in the fall instructional league after not pitching in a game since the 2019 playoffs. Poche injured his left elbow during spring workouts leading up to the shortened 2020 season and spent last […]

MLB, Players Not Making Much Progress

Both Major League Baseball and the Players Association believe they've made many major concessions and the other side has made very few. Both sides believe the other side is being unreasonable, so we may be in for quite a wait for a new collective bargaining agreement to be finalized. The competitive balance tax remains the […]

MLB, Players Union To Meet Again Sunday

Major League Baseball and the players union negotiators will resume talks on Sunday after a one-day break. The labor talks will mostly center around the competitive balance tax. The players union is expected to present their counterproposal to the league. Spring training games have already been canceled through at least March 18, and the first […]

MLB Teams Asking About Canceling Rule 5 Draft

Multiple teams have inquired with Major League Baseball about the possibility of canceling the Rule 5 draft this year, according to sources. Teams have clamped down on scouting of minor leaguers currently in spring training camps during the lockout due to uncertainty over the Rule 5 draft. No decision has been made on the major […]

Top-Five Strategies for Winning NFBC Best Ball Leagues

Best-ball leagues have become more popular in recent years in fantasy baseball. Dedicated players have made fantasy baseball a year-round game, and nothing prepares us better than to participate in drafts. Many of us have learned the hard way that overloading on leagues that require FAAB or setting lineups can hurt our overall results. One […]

Bubba's 2022 Tout Wars 12-Team Mixed Draft Recap

Even though Rob Manfred and the MLB owners decided to prolong the lockout and already cancel some regular-season games, we are drafting. I had the pleasure of partaking in the 12-team mixed league draft for Tout Wars on Tuesday. It is my second year in the league, and it is the second year for this […]

MLB Cancels More Spring Training Games

Major League Baseball officially canceled another week's worth of spring training games on Friday. All spring training games in Florida and Arizona have now been canceled until at least March 18. The Players Association turned down the league's best and final offer on Tuesday, and the two sides haven't met since, although a small contingent […]

MLB, Players Expected To Meet Again Soon

The Major League Baseball players union is working on a response to the league's last proposal, according to sources. No further meetings are scheduled, but they are expected soon after small contingents from each side briefly met in New York on Thursday. Commissioner Rob Manfred already canceled the first two series of the regular season, […]

Dan Halem, Bruce Meyer To Meet Thursday

Major League Baseball lead negotiator Dan Halem and Bruce Meyer of the Players Association will meet on Thursday. Both sides want to hammer out a new collective bargaining agreement, but there's still a large bridge to gap on several key economic issues. The meeting on Thursday will be an informal one-on-one meeting, so baseball fans […]

Tanner Houck: 2022 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

There are a lot of different ways the 2022 season could go for Boston Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck. In a best-case scenario, the 25-year-old would pick up where he left off last year and stick in the rotation throughout the season. If that indeed ends up being the case, he’s going to be a […]

MLB Cancels First Two Regular Season Series

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred announced on Tuesday that the sport will cancel the first two series of the regular season that was originally set to begin on March 31. The move comes over a labor dispute between the league and players for the first time in 27 years. The league and union haven't […]

MLB, Players Still Far Apart With Tuesday Deadline Looming

The Major League Baseball players union's recent request on the bonus pool was for $85 million, while the league's offer came in at $25 million. So despite the fact that the two sides had a positive day during 16 hours of negotiating on Monday, they still remain far apart, and things are looking bad for […]

MLB Hopes To Finalize Deal Before Tuesday Deadline

Major League Baseball and the Players Association moved the deadline for a new collective bargaining agreement that would save regular season games from being canceled to 5 p.m. ET Tuesday after a 16-hour day of negotiations on Monday. While the two sides made progress, gaps remain on competitive-balance tax thresholds, minimum salary and bonus pool […]

MLB Willing To Miss A Month Of Regular Season Games

Major League Baseball indicated a willingness on Monday to miss a month of regular season games and took a more threatening tone than Sunday, according to sources briefed of Monday's first meeting between the league and Players Association. The league is pressing for a 14-team postseason, among other things, and it hasn't been well-received by […]

Derek Jeter Stepping Down As Marlins CEO

Derek Jeter announced in a statement on Monday that he is stepping down as the chief executive officer of the Miami Marlins, according to sources. In his statement, he wrote, "Today I am announcing that the Miami Marlins and I are officially ending our relationship and I will no longer serve as CEO nor as […]