AL-Only Deeper League Draft Targets

Objectively, deep-league AL or NL-only fantasy baseball is the best format to play this summer. For one, NL-only leagues are the original formats of fantasy baseball. If readers are not into history, the strategy should also convince them to jump in. With both an expanded and limited player pool, the unique challenges of balancing depth […]

Archie Bradley Settles With Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Archie Bradley avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to an undisclosed one-year deal. Many pegged Bradley as the favorite for saves in Arizona's bullpen heading into 2018, but that didn't happen and they preferred to use him in a setup role. The hard-throwing righty had a 3.64 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, […]

Dodgers Avoid Arbitration With Chris Taylor, Others

The Los Angeles Dodgers avoided salary arbitration on Friday with infielder/outfielder Chris Taylor, outfielders Kike Hernandez and Joc Pederson and relief pitchers Pedro Baez, Josh Fields and Yimi Garcia by signing them to undisclosed one-year deals. Taylor is the most attractive fantasy piece of the bunch because of his ability to player almost anywhere on […]

Yankees Settle With Dellin Betances

The New York Yankees avoided salary arbitration on Friday with relief pitcher Dellin Betances by signing him to a one-year, $7.125 million deal. Betances is set to become a free agent after the 2019 season, but general manager Brian Cashman has expressed interest in entering extension talks at some point. The hard-throwing right-hander posted a […]

Astros Avoid Arbitration With Roberto Osuna, Others

The Houston Astros avoided salary arbitration on Friday with relief pitchers Roberto Osuna, Brad Peacock, Will Harris and Ryan Pressly, starting pitcher Collin McHugh and outfielder Jake Marisnick by signing them to undisclosed one-year deals. Osuna served a suspension in the middle of the 2018 season and was then traded to the Astros, where he […]

O's Avoid Arbitration With Three Players

The Baltimore Orioles avoided salary arbitration on Friday with starting pitcher Dylan Bundy, relief pitcher Mychal Givens and infielder Jonathan Villar by signing them to undisclosed one-year deals. Villar was proving to be a bust in 2018 with the Brewers before he was traded to the Orioles, where he flourished in 54 games by hitting […]

Alex Colome Gets $7.325 Million From White Sox

Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Alex Colome avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $7.325 million deal. Colome split his 2018 season with the Rays and Mariners and had a 3.04 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 9.5 K/9 and 12 saves, with 11 of them coming in Tampa early in the season. He posted […]

Kirby Yates Settles With Padres

San Diego Padres closer Kirby Yates avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $3.062 million deal, according to a source. Yates will enter 2019 as the Friars closer, but he's merely a low-end fantasy closing option on a team that is perennially near the bottom of the National League West. The right-hander […]

Will Smith Earns $4.225 Million For 2019

San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Will Smith avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $4.225 million deal. Smith was one of the team's most reliable late-inning relievers last season, posting a shiny 2.55 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 71 strikeouts in 53 innings and 14 saves. The southpaw is likely to enter the 2019 […]

Ken Giles Gets $6.3 Million From Toronto

Toronto Blue Jays closer Ken Giles avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $6.3 million deal. Giles had a rough 2018 season. He posted a 4.65 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with Houston before being traded to the Blue Jays midseason. He was slightly better in Toronto and saved 26 games total between […]

Dan Winkler Gets A Raise

Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Dan Winkler avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $1.61 million deal, according to a source. Winkler was a huge high-leverage asset for Atlanta last year, posting a 3.43 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 69 K's in 60 1/3 innings with two saves. While he won't be drafted in […]

Corey Knebel Avoids Arbitration

Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Corey Knebel avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $5.125 million deal, according to sources. Knebel's 2018 season wasn't as fruitful as 2017, as he dealt with an injury and even spent time in the minors. But he bounced back late in the year and looked like his […]

Arodys Vizcaino Avoids Arbitration

Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Arodys Vizcaino avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $4.8 million deal, according to sources. Injuries limited Vizcaino to just 38 1/3 innings last season, but he was solid when on the field, posting a 2.11 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, career-high 16 saves and a 9.4 K/9. The right-hander […]

2019 Bullpen Outlooks - National League East

Last year's Bullpen Outlook got started with the American League, so let's take the National League on first this time around. Some signings and trades have made a splash in the bullpens of the NL East, and there may still be more to come. With some top free agent closers and setup men still looking […]

Red Sox Settle With Steven Wright

The Boston Red Sox avoided salary arbitration with pitcher Steven Wright by signing him to a one-year, $1.375 million deal. Knee issues limited the knuckleballer to only 53 2/3 innings (four starts) for the BoSox in 2018, but he was great when on the mound (2.68 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 7.0 K/9). He doesn't strike many […]

Shane Greene Avoids Salary Arbitration

Detroit Tigers closer Shane Greene avoided salary arbitration on Thursday by agreeing to a one-year, $4 million deal, according to sources. Although Greene managed to close out 32 games for the rebuilding Tigers in 2018, he was one of the worst fantasy closers due to his bloated 5.12 ERA and 1.37 WHIP despite his 65 […]

David Robertson to the Phillies - Fantasy Impact

David Robertson became one of the highest-paid relievers this offseason after negotiating a two-year, $23 million deal to join the Philadelphia bullpen. Robertson has long been thought of as one of the top bullpen arms in the game, but recently has dipped in the fantasy world without a clear path to saves after a few […]

Blake Parker Agrees With Twins

The Minnesota Twins are finalizing a one-year deal worth slightly more than $3 million with free-agent relief pitcher Blake Parker on Monday, according to sources. Parker had a 3.26 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 9.5 K/9 and 14 saves in 67 outings for the Angels last year. He should be the favorite to close with his new […]

Kelvin Herrera Agrees With White Sox

The Chicago White Sox agreed to a two-year, $18 million deal with free-agent relief pitcher Kelvin Herrera on Monday, according to sources. The deal includes a vesting option for a third year. The 29-year-old reliever had a sharp 2.44 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 38 strikeouts in 44 1/3 innings and 17 saves between the Royals and […]

Blake Parker Expected To Sign With Twins

Free-agent relief pitcher Blake Parker is expected to land with the Minnesota Twins. Parker had a nice 3.26 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 9.5 K/9 and career-high 14 saves with the Angels last year, but he was removed from the closer's role late in the season with the Halos trying to get a look at their other […]

Yankees Bringing Back Zach Britton

The New York Yankees re-signed relief pitcher Zach Britton to a three-year, $39 million deal on Saturday, according to league sources. The deal includes both a club option and a potential player opt-out clause. The Yanks can exercise a fourth-year option after the 2020 season worth $14 million. Britton can opt out of his deal […]

David Robertson Agrees With Phillies

Free-agent relief pitcher David Robertson agreed to a two-year deal that will guarantee him at least $23 million with the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday. He will make $10 million this year, $11 million in 2020 and has a $12 million club option ($2 million buyout) for the 2021 season. Robertson went 8-3 with a 3.23 […]

Statcast Review 2018 - Noteworthy SP Launch Angle Leaders

Fret not fantasy baseball fans, Winter Meetings have come and gone, big deals are getting struck, and we are continuing our quest to find value for next season! In this edition of Statcast Review, I take a look at some of 2018’s pitching leaders in launch angle. Launch angle alone is not all that telling […]

Joakim Soria Agrees With A's

Free-agent relief pitcher Joakim Soria agreed to a two-year, $15 million deal with the Oakland Athletics on Friday, according to multiple reports. Soria was 3-1 with a 4.09 ERA in 26 games with the Brewers last year after he was acquired from the White Sox. He earned 16 saves with the White Sox in the […]

Andrew Miller Signs With Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals officially signed free-agent relief pitcher Andrew Miller to a two-year, $25 million deal that includes a vesting option and a full no-trade clause, according to a source. His option is worth $12 million and vests at 110 games combined in 2019 and 2020. He'll also be able to make $500,000 per […]

Cardinals Closing In On Andrew Miller

The St. Louis Cardinals are closing in on a deal for free-agent relief pitcher Andrew Miller, according to sources. Miller was on the disabled list multiple times in 2018 and never really found his footing, finishing with an un Miller-like 4.24 ERA and 1.38 WHIP, although he still struck out 45 hitters in 34 innings. […]

Yankees Meet With Andrew Miller

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has already met with the representatives for free-agent relief pitcher Andrew Miller. They are also interested in re-signing lefty reliever Zach Britton. Miller has been one of the most dominant left-handed relief pitchers in the game in recent seasons, but 2018 was not one of them. The southpaw […]

Joe Kelly Agrees To Contract With Dodgers

Multiple outlets have reported that relief pitcher Joe Kelly has agreed to a three-year, $25 million deal, pending a physical. Kelly had a 4.39 ERA with 68 strikeouts in 65 2/3 innings for the World Series champions last year. Kelly will be a late-inning arm for the Dodgers and a strong candidate for holds in […]

Jeurys Familia Agrees To Terms With Mets

Relief pitcher Jeurys Familia has agreed to a three-year contract with his former team the New York Mets. Familia spent his first six and a half years with the Mets, prior to being dealt at the trade deadline last year to the Oakland Athletics. The reliever posted a 3.13 ERA with 83 strikeouts in 72 […]

White Sox Pursuing Jeurys Familia

The Chicago White Sox are pursuing free-agent relief pitcher Jeurys Familia, according to a source. The White Sox are looking to boost the back end of their bullpen, as they currently have Jace Fry and Nate Jones as their top two candidates for the ninth inning. Familia had a solid season in 2018, posting a […]