Players Union Proposing Schedule Of Around 70 Games

Updating an ongoing story, the Major League Baseball Players Association has finalized a proposal to the league for a season in the neighborhood of 70 games, according to sources. The season would run from July 19 to Sept. 30 and would include full pro-rated salaries and $50 million in playoff bonuses. It would also include […]

Players Want More Than 60-Game Season

Following a four-hour negotiation in Arizona between MLB commissioner and union executive director Tony Clark on Wednesday, the league believed the framework of a deal had been agreed upon, according to sources. But the union disagreed and players said they view the 60-game schedule proposal as too short. Absent a deal, the league has the […]

Spring Training 2.0 Could Start By June 29

If Major League Baseball and the Players Association can complete their negotiations by this Friday, the plan is for players to report to spring training 2.0 by June 29, with three full weeks of spring training before the 2020 season would begin. Most teams would train in their own home cities before starting the regular […]

MLB Sends New Proposal To Players

Major League Baseball has sent a new proposal to the Players Association on Wednesday, sources told ESPN.com's Jeff Passan. No deal is done yet, but commissioner Rob Manfred and union chief Tony Clark have met and made significant progress in negotiations for a 2020 season. The league knows players must get full pro rata, and […]

Oakland Athletics: Top 10 Dynasty Prospects

The Oakland Athletics will be our next stop on the farm to evaluate the best prospects on each MLB team. Once the 2020 MLB season begins, it may turn out that Minor League systems will be more important than usual. Franchises are losing money during the pandemic layoff, so many teams will be looking for […]

Rob Manfred Not As Confident Baseball Will Happen In 2020

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said on Monday that he's "not confident" that there will be a 2020 baseball season and that "as long as there's no dialogue" with the Players Association, "that real risk is going to continue." Manfred said "unequivocally we are going to play Major League Baseball this year" and estimated the likelihood […]

Judge Rules MLB's Letter To Yankees Should Be Unsealed

A New York judge ruled on Friday that a letter from MLB commissioner Rob Manfred to the New York Yankees addressing a 2017 investigation of the team should be unsealed. The Yankees have made an emergency appeal before the letter is to be unsealed on June 19. The Yankees and MLB have the chance to […]

Players Reject MLB's Latest Offer

The Major League Baseball Players Association asked the league to set a schedule for the 2020 season rather than submit another counterproposal. "Further dialogue with the league would be futile. It's time to get back to work. Tell us when and where," MLBPA executive director Tony Clark said in a statement. The league has suggested […]

Ty Brown Among Astros Final Draft Selections

The Houston Astros selected Vanderbilt pitcher Ty Brown with the 101st overall pick in the third round in the 2020 MLB draft on Thursday. Houston wrapped up their draft by taking Tennessee outfielder Zach Daniels in the fourth round (131st overall) and UC San Diego shortstop Shay Whitcomb in the fifth round with the final […]

MLB, Players Remain At Impasse

MLB's latest return-to-play proposal has left the Players Association frustrated and increased the likelihood of commissioner Rob Manfred instituting a shortened season without input from the union, according to sources familiar with the situation. Dan Halem, the deputy commissioner, accused the players' union of causing "enormous damage to the sport" with its negotiating posture. The […]

Nats Go With Reliever Holden Powell Among Final Picks

The Washington Nationals selected UCLA pitcher Holden Powell with the 94th overall pick in the third round in the 2020 MLB draft on Thursday. Following Powell, Washington selected Oklahoma catcher Brady Lindsly in the fourth round and San Jacinto College North lefty pitcher Mitchell Parker in the fifth round. Powell is an attractive late-inning reliever […]

Giants Close Out Draft With Three Hurlers

The San Francisco Giants selected De La Salle High School left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison with the 85th overall pick in the third round in the 2020 MLB draft on Thursday. They followed that up by going with Arizona State pitcher R.J. Dabovich in the fourth round and Le Moyne College pitcher Ryan Murphy in the […]

Bryce Bonnin Highlights Cincy's Late Picks

The Cincinnati Reds selected Texas Tech pitcher Bryce Bonnin with the 84th overall pick in the third round in the 2020 MLB draft on Thursday. The Reds followed that up with St. Edward High School outfielder Mac Wainwright in the fourth round and Notre Dame pitcher Joe Boyle in the fifth round. Bonnin has been […]

White Sox Stick With More Pitching To Close Out Draft

The Chicago White Sox selected Wabash Valley College pitcher Adisyn Coffey with the 83rd overall pick in the third round in the 2020 MLB draft on Thursday. The Pale Hose proceeded to take Grand Canyon University pitcher Kade Mechals in the fourth round and Auburn lefty Bailey Horn in the fifth round. All five of […]

Pirates Load Up On Arms In Day 2 Of Draft

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Chapman University pitcher Nick Garcia with the 79th overall pick in the third round in the 2020 MLB draft on Thursday. The Bucs then took Appalachian State pitcher Jack Hartman in the fourth round and Northwestern State pitcher Logan Hofmann in the fifth round. All three are right-handed pitchers, and Pittsburgh […]

MLB Owners Expected To Offer 70-75 Games In New Proposal

Major League Baseball owners are expected to propose a 2020 season lasting between 70 and 75 games to the players' union on Friday, sources told ESPN's Karl Ravech. The proposal would include a payment of somewhere between 80 percent and 85 percent of the players' prorated salary, which is a slight increase from their latest […]

Arizona Diamondbacks: Top 10 Dynasty Prospects

The Arizona Diamondbacks will be our next stop on the farm to evaluate the best prospects on each MLB team. Once the 2020 MLB season begins, it may turn out that Minor League systems will be more important than usual. Franchises are losing money during the pandemic layoff, so many teams will be looking for […]

Stock Your Dynasty Farm: AL West Sleeper Prospects

If you've been following my series on sleeper prospects, you probably correctly noted that there are actually more than the four divisions I've already written about. Who knew?! No worries Rotoballers, a six-week gap isn't enough to keep me from tucking my tail firmly between my legs and returning to finish what we started. I […]

Cubs Take Relief Pitcher Burl Carraway

The Chicago Cubs selected Dallas Baptist pitcher Burl Carraway with the 51st overall pick in the second round in the 2020 MLB draft on Thursday. Carraway was initially recruited as a center fielder out of high school and made a big leap as a pitcher in his sophomore year by averaging 15.6 strikeouts per nine […]

Gigantes Take Two-Way Star Casey Schmitt In Second Round

The San Francisco Giants selected San Diego State third baseman Casey Schmitt with the 49th overall pick in the second round in the 2020 MLB draft on Thursday. Schmitt is one of the top two-way players at the college level in 2020 as a power-hitting corner infielder/reliever. He racked up 17 saves with a fastball/splitter […]

Major League Baseball 2020 Mock Draft

The 2020 MLB amateur draft takes place later tonight and it will be unlike any draft we’ve seen. With owners crying poor and minor league systems set to be permanently compressed, the draft has been slashed from the normal 40 rounds to just five — although teams will be able to sign undrafted players as […]

Baseball Will Be Played In 2020

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said that "we will play Major League Baseball this year." The league will make a new proposal to the players union after receiving their 89-game proposal on Tuesday night. The next proposal will be a "significant move in the players' direction," but the league is fully prepared to exercise […]

Players Counter With 89-Game Proposal

The Major League Baseball Players Association is making a new proposal to the league for a season of 89 games with a full prorated share of salary and expanded playoffs, according to sources familiar with the situation. It could bring the two sides closer to an agreement, with the 89-game schedule proposal just 25 games […]

Fantasy Baseball Insider Report: Shortened Season Alters Strategies

The award-winning Fantasy Baseball Insider Series continues on RotoBaller, this time with in-depth takes on the shortened season from a former MLB executive and current broadcaster. Every year, 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 […]

Los Angeles Angels: Top 10 Dynasty Prospects

The Los Angeles Angels will be our next stop on the farm to evaluate the best prospects on each MLB team. Once the 2020 MLB season begins, it may turn out that Minor League systems will be more important than usual. Franchises are losing money during the pandemic layoff, so many teams will be looking […]

Players Union To Reject MLB's Latest Proposal

The MLB Players Union, according to sources, plans to reject the league's latest offer of a 76-game schedule in which the players would receive 75 percent of their prorated salaries for the regular season if the playoffs are completed and 50 percent if the postseason is canceled. However, the likelihood that baseball is played in […]

MLB Makes Another Proposal To Players Union

Major League Baseball made another proposal to the players on Monday: 75 percent prorated salary for a 76-game season in 2020. There would be playoff-pool money with no draft-pick compensation for signing players and the regular season would end on Sept. 27. The playoffs would wrap up at the end of October. It's a significant […]

How to Approach MLB Rookies in 2020 Re-draft Leagues

While the players and owners continue to trade demands for getting the 2020 season on its feet, we're going to turn our attention to fantasy. This article will specifically look at players who have yet to make their major league debut (or come up for more than the proverbial cup of coffee) and how fantasy […]

Four Things I Wish I Knew Before My First "Only" Draft

If you're looking to liven up your fantasy experience, trying your hand at an Only league could be a great way to bring a fresh perspective to one of your favorite pastimes. While standard mixed leagues are largely a race to accumulate as many elite performers as possible, Only leagues allow owners to demonstrate their […]

San Diego Padres: Top 10 Dynasty Prospects

The San Diego Padres will be our next stop on the farm to evaluate the best prospects on each MLB team. Once the 2020 MLB season begins, it may turn out that Minor League systems will be more important than usual. Franchises are losing money during the pandemic layoff, so many teams will be looking […]