Pedro Strop Down To Marlins, Rangers

The Miami Marlins and Texas Rangers are the two finalists for the services of relief pitcher Pedro Strop, according to a source. The 34-year-old right-hander struggled to the tune of a 4.97 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 50 outings (41 2/3 innings) for the Cubs in 2019, but he did close out 10 saves after […]

2020 Saves+Holds Rankings - Fantasy Baseball Mixed Leagues

To any reader who thinks they don't have a voice here at RotoBaller, let it be known that this article came from a simple Reddit comment about how those seeking Saves+Holds reliever ranks were often overlooked. Poof, and here we are. Allow me, Nick Mariano, 2018's most accurate draft expert and sharer of names with […]

2020 Early Bullpen Outlooks - A.L. West

Welcome to 2020, fantasy friends. There are two football teams left and basketball and hockey are doing their things, so it's past time now to start thinking about the 2020 baseball season. Free agency has been a little more front-loaded this season, leaving fewer questions about rosters heading into Spring Training. Still, there will be […]

Luis Rojas To Be New Mets Manager

The New York Mets are finalizing a deal with Luis Rojas on Wednesday to be the next manager. He'll replace Carlos Beltran, who the team parted ways with last week in the wake of Beltran's role in the Astros sign-stealing scandal. The 38-year-old was the team's quality control coach in 2019 and interviewed for the […]

Francisco Liriano Agrees With Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies agreed with relief pitcher Francisco Liriano on a minor league deal on Wednesday, according to sources. Liriano can make $1.5 million with $1.25 million in incentives if he makes the major league roster. The veteran left-hander made 69 relief appearances for the Pirates in 2019 and had a 3.47 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, […]

Brusdar Graterol Will Continue To Work In Relief Role

Minnesota Twins pitching coach Wes Johnson said that pitching prospect Brusdar Graterol will continue to work out of the bullpen for the time being as he builds a physical and mental routine in the big leagues. The 21-year-old Venezuelan right-hander is listed by MLB Pipeline as the Twins No. 3 prospect and No. 53 in […]

Four Teams Interested In Pedro Strop

The Marlins, Cubs, Rangers and Brewers are believed to be interested in relief pitcher Pedro Strop. The right-hander had a down year with the Cubs in 2019 by posting a 4.97 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 49 strikeouts in his 41 2/3 innings of work over 50 outings. He did have 10 saves, however, and has […]

Eric Samulski's Prospects Live Bestball 50 Draft Breakdown

This offseason, Prospects Live announced a new draft format that they were hoping would bring together the dynasty crowd with more redraft-heavy players. The format was simple and also completely complicated. Each league would be a five-year Best Ball Dynasty featuring 30 teams where each owner would draft a roster of 50 players, and the […]

2020 Early Bullpen Outlooks - A.L. Central

Welcome to 2020, fantasy friends. There are four football teams still playing and basketball and hockey are in full swing, so it's time to start thinking about the 2020 baseball season. Free agency has been a little more front-loaded this season, leaving fewer questions about rosters heading into Spring Training. Still, there will be changes […]

Marlins Acquire Stephen Tarpley

The Miami Marlins and New York Yankees completed a trade on Wednesday, sending pitcher Stephen Tarpley to Miami in exchange for third baseman James Nelson and cash. In a corresponding move, pitcher Brian Moran was designated for assignment by the Marlins. Tarpley had a 5.88 ERA and issued 21 walks in just 33 2/3 innings […]

Using xwOBA to Identify Breakout Pitchers

Heading into a new baseball season, fantasy owners are looking for any leg up on our competition. We turn over stones looking for any stat or training report that might suggest a breakout that few others can see coming. I’m not here to promise some groundbreaking stat, but I do believe that Expected Weighted On-base Average […]

How To Win Your Fantasy Baseball Leagues on Draft Day

I hate intros. Nobody takes the time to read these things. I could say whatever I wanted and it would literally pass zero sets of eyes. Watch.... I have hemorrhoids! See? No one. But in the rare occasion that one of you sad saps does in fact read this paragraph before jumping to the meat […]

Kirby Yates Receives Raise

San Diego Padres closer Kirby Yates avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $7.062 million deal. Yates was in the final year of arbitration eligibility. The right-hander was one of the best relievers in the game last season and posted a microscopic 1.19 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 41 saves and 101 strikeouts in […]

Liam Hendriks Avoids Arbitration

Oakland Athletics closer Liam Hendriks avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $5.3 million deal, according to a source. It was Hendriks' final year of arbitration eligibility. The 30-year-old right-hander ended up taking over the team's closer role in 2019 and was fantastic, posting a 1.80 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, a career-high 25 […]

Alex Colome, White Sox Avoid Arbitration

The Chicago White Sox and closer Alex Colome avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $10.532 million deal, according to a source. Colome earned the hefty raise from $7 million last year by posting a 2.80 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 30 saves and 55 strikeouts in 61 innings pitched over 62 outings in […]

Mychal Givens Avoids Arbitration

Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Mychal Givens avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $3.225 million deal, according to a source. Givens had a rough 4.57 ERA but also recorded a career-high 11 saves for the last-place Orioles as the primary ninth-inning arm for Baltimore down the stretch. He has a nice 10.8 […]

Matt Barnes Avoids Arbitration

Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Matt Barnes avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $3.1 million deal, according to a source. The 29-year-old reliever had a 3.78 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 110 strikeouts over 64 1/3 innings in 70 outings for the BoSox in 2019. He also recorded a career-high four saves […]

Diamondbacks Agree With Hector Rondon

The Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to a one-year deal with relief pitcher Hector Rondon on Wednesday, according to sources. Rondon, 32 next month, is guaranteed $3 million. He'll make $2.5 million in 2020 with a $500,000 buyout on his team option. The right-hander had a 3.71 ERA in 62 games last year with the Astros and […]

Brewers Give Craig Counsell Contract Extension

The Milwaukee Brewers are signing manager Craig Counsell to a contract extension that will run through the 2023 season, according to sources. It's a well-deserved extension, as Counsell led the Brew Crew to a National League Championship appearance in 2018 before a wild-card showing this past season. The 49-year-old coach started as the head man […]

2020 Early Bullpen Outlooks - A.L. East

Welcome to 2020, fantasy friends. With football season winding down and basketball and hockey in full swing, it's time to start thinking about the 2020 baseball season. Free agency has been a little more front-loaded this season, leaving fewer questions about rosters heading into Spring Training. Still, there will be changes between now and Opening […]

Top 570: Early Fantasy Baseball Tiered Rankings (January)

Welcome back RotoBallers, and Happy New Year! Below you will find our staff's early 2020 fantasy baseball tiered rankings (top 570) for mixed leagues. In case you missed it, you can also see our tiered positional rankings and position-by-position analysis breakdowns as well. Four of our lead fantasy baseball analysts - Nick Mariano, Pierre Camus, Riley Mrack and Nicklaus Gaut - have analyzed the […]

Steve Cishek Joining White Sox

The Chicago White Sox and relief pitcher Steve Cishek agreed on a one-year, $6 million deal on Tuesday, according to sources familiar with the agreement. The deal includes an option that could take the deal to a second year at $12 million total. Cishek had a 2.95 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, seven saves and 57 K's […]

Nationals Bringing Back Daniel Hudson

The Washington Nationals are finalizing a two-year deal to re-sign relief pitcher Daniel Hudson on Monday, according to sources familiar with the agreement. Hudson was excellent for the Nationals after coming over from the Blue Jays in 2019, going 3-0 with a 1.44 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, six saves and 8.3 K/9 in 25 innings down […]

Padres Bring Back Craig Stammen

The San Diego Padres agreed to a two-year, $9 million deal to re-sign relief pitcher Craig Stammen on Saturday, according to sources. The deal includes a club option for 2022 that would raise the total value of the deal to $12 million. Stammen has been with San Diego for the last three years and had […]

Nationals Sign Will Harris

The Washington Nationals have come to terms with relief pitcher Will Harris on a multi-year contract. Harris was excellent in 2019 with the Astros, pitching 60 innings and posting a 1.50 ERA. His 62:14 strikeout-to-walk ratio was very impressive as well. Harris will likely take on an eighth inning role with his new team, ahead […]

Dellin Betances Expects To Be Ready For Spring Training

New York Mets relief pitcher Dellin Betances (Achilles, shoulder) remains on track to be ready for spring training despite pitching in just one game with the Yankees in 2019. Betances didn't need surgery after he suffered a partially torn left Achilles on Sept. 15. The hard-throwing right-hander has spent the last three months rehabbing, and […]

Robinson Chirinos, Will Harris Could Sign Soon

Catcher Robinson Chirinos and relief pitcher Will Harris could come off the market soon. Chirinos is said to be close to making a decision, while Harris has multiple multi-year offers worth $6-7 million annually, according to sources. Chirinos isn't the most polished of defensive catchers, but he did hit 17 home runs in 114 games […]

Top 30 Impact Prospects for 2020 Redraft Leagues

When last we checked in on the top rookies for 2020, the World Series had yet to be decided, the Astros’ obsession with garbage cans was still a secret, and Neal Huntington was running the Pirates. A number of things around baseball have changed since the last update but few, if any, moves have rattled […]

2020 Closer / Relief Pitcher Offseason Rankings - Fantasy Baseball Mixed Leagues

It's never too early to start looking ahead to the next baseball season, so here we deliver our 2020 rankings to those of you looking to scratch your fantasy itch. Whether you're searching for a reprieve from a long fantasy football season or you're getting a head start on next year's keeper selections, RotoBaller has […]

Mets Agree With Dellin Betances

The New York Mets agreed to a one-year deal with relief pitcher Dellin Betances on Tuesday, according to sources. The deal includes two player options. Coming off Achilles and shoulder injuries that held him to just one outing with the Yankees in 2019, Betances' stock is obviously down. However, he has a career 2.36 ERA, […]