Brad Hand (RP, SD) - 2018 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers & Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target ~105 CURRENT ADP: 119 ANALYSIS: Brad Hand followed up a strong 2016 with a fantastic 2017 campaign in which he posted a 2.16 ERA (2.90 xFIP) with 21 saves and a 33.4% K% over 79 1/3 IP. His innings total is likely to go down with a full season in the closer's role, but the […]

Tigers Sign Travis Wood

The Detroit Tigers signed free-agent pitcher Travis Wood to a minor league deal Monday, according to the Tigers. In 39 games (14 starts) for the Royals and Padres in 2017, Wood boasted an ugly 6.80 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and only 65 strikeouts in 94 innings. the soon-to-be 31-year-old southpaw doesn't have much left at the […]

Chris Bassitt, Jesse Hahn Could be Bullpen Pieces in 2018

The Oakland A's are currently stretching out pitcher Chris Bassitt as a starter, but manager Bob Melvin mentioned that both Bassitt and Jesse Hahn could be bullpen options next season. Injuries cost Bassitt all of 2017, but he has been a starter for the majority of his major league career. Hahn made 13 starts for the […]

Felipe Rivero (RP, PIT) - 2018 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers & Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target ~80 CURRENT ADP: 88 ANALYSIS: Felipe Rivero combined a sparkling 1.67 ERA with a 29.3% K% in 2017, making him among the most valuable relievers in the fantasy game. He did it with a fastball velocity spike (98.5 mph vs. 95.8 mph in 2016) that helped his entire arsenal play up. Rivero threw his fastball for […]

Matt Albers Agrees To Terms With Brewers

Free-agent relief pitcher Matt Albers has agreed to a two-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Albers, 35, spent last year with the Nationals, where he had a 1.62 ERA in 61 innings and struck out 63 batters. It was the best year of his career, and he was […]

Champ or Chump - Felipe Rivero and Colin Moran

The Milwaukee Brewers bought all of the available outfielders, so let's continue to discuss the Gerrit Cole deal. This column previously concluded that Cole may disappoint owners in Houston, while Joe Musgrove has considerable upside. Both of the articles linked above noted that Pittsburgh's infield defense is superior to Houston's, thanks in part to the […]

Mets Not Expected To Name Closer Before Season

New York Mets manager Mickey Callaway doesn't plan on naming a specific closer in spring training. Relief pitchers Jeurys Familia, AJ Ramos, Anthony Swarzak and Jerry Blevins are all suited for high-leverage situations. "I don't think we're going to name a closer to start the season," Callaway told MLB.com in a telephone interview. "If there […]

Preston Claiborne Signs Minor League Deal With Indians

Right-handed pitcher Preston Claiborne has signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians, which includes an invitation to spring training. Claiborne appeared in just one game last season at the major league level, but he pitched well in Triple-A. In 38 Triple-A appearances, he put up a sparkling 1.89 ERA. The 30-year-old will be […]

2018 Dynasty Baseball Strategy - Basic Asset Valuation

Dynasty baseball is a beautiful thing. In a redraft league, everybody is trying to win now. You all have the same goal. Dynasty formats allow for long-term planning. If your team is competitive, you'll value players differently than a rebuilding owner. This discrepancy makes it much easier to find mutually beneficial trades. Unfortunately, this same […]

2018 Saves Risers and Fallers - What We Learned

For the fourth straight season we have a new No. 1 at the top of the closer leaderboard. Alex Colome concluded the 2017 regular season with 47 saves, six more than the second-place finisher, Kenley Jansen. No one has repeated as the top save-earner since Jim Johnson (2012-2013). As for consistency, Jansen slammed the door shut 41 times […]

Koji Uehara Expects To Play One More Year

Free-agent relief pitcher Koji Uehara said he expects to retire after one more season in 2018, although he's not interested in signing a minor league deal. "I want to play this year, for one more year," the free-agent right-hander said at a baseball clinic in Fukushima. "If I get a contract, I'm more than 90 […]

Champ or Chump - Brad Hand and Gerrit Cole

Pitching is the name of the game in both real life and fantasy baseball. Rostering the wrong arms can put any team into a hole it's difficult to dig out from under, but overpaying for the right ones can leave your team exposed on the offensive side. What's a fantasy owner to do? The best […]

Top 100: MLB Prospect Rankings for Fantasy Baseball

Prospects. For any fantasy baseball enthusiast, it's all about knowing about the prospects, rookies and call-ups. More than any other sport, baseball offers a fresh influx of rookie talent every year, both before and during the MLB season. And adding the right guy at the right time can be a league winner (see Aaron Judge and […]

Top 450: Points Leagues Tiered Staff Rankings (January)

In case you haven't noticed, we've already been cranking out all sorts of 2018 fantasy baseball rankings at RotoBaller HQ. It's only mid-January but you can already find preliminary staff rankings for mixed leagues, points leagues, AL/NL only leagues, dynasty leagues, top 2018 prospects, dynasty prospects and more. Today we are here to start looking […]

Kyle Crick Headed To Pirates In Andrew McCutchen Deal

Pitching prospect Kyle Crick will head to the Pittsburgh Pirates as part of the Andrew McCutchen deal, according to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area. Crick, 25, was used as a starting pitcher before being moved to the bullpen in 2017. His numbers improved as a reliever for Triple-A Sacramento, and he even appeared […]

Cardinals Bullpen is "Good Enough"

St. Louis Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak recently stated that his team's bullpen was "good enough." The Cardinals were reported to have interest in Tampa Bay's Alex Colome, but it seems that interest was overstated. They have also tempered their interest in Greg Holland. For now, it looks like Luke Gregerson may open the season […]

A's Remain Interested in Tony Watson

The Oakland A's are looking to add a left-handed reliever and remain interested in free-agent relief pitcher Tony Watson. Watson, 32, had a 3.38 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP last season with 53 strikeouts. He would be unlikely to see any saves in Oakland and would only be worth an add in deep leagues that count […]

Luke Gregerson Could Open the Season as Closer

St. Louis Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said he sees reliever Luke Gregerson opening the season as the team's closer if no other moves are made. The Cardinals are still reportedly shopping for relief help, and Mozeliak also mentioned the idea that Jordan Hicks could develop into the closer's role. Gregerson would likely be a […]

Angels, Cam Bedrosian Avoid Arbitration

The Los Angeles Angels and reliever Cam Bedrosian avoided arbitration at the last minute, agreeing on a one-year, $1.1 million dollar contract. Bedrosian opened 2017 as the closer, but an injury cost him a big chunk of the season. He finished the year with a 4.43 ERA and six saves. He is the favorite to […]

Joe Musgrove Among Four Players Acquired By Pirates For Gerrit Cole

As part of the Gerrit Cole deal, the Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired pitcher Joe Musgrove, relief pitcher Michael Feliz, infielder Colin Moran and outfielder Jason Martin. Musgrove spent most of his time as a starter in 2016 but worked in a swing role for the Astros this past season. In 38 games (15 starts), the […]

Luis Avilan, White Sox Avoid Arbitration

Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that the Chicago White Sox and relief pitcher Luis Avilan have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.45 million deal. Avilan was recently acquired from the Dodgers, where the left-hander sported a 2.93 ERA in 61 games. He is likely to work in a late-inning role […]

Reds Targeting David Hernandez

The Cincinnati Reds are targeting free-agent relief pitcher David Hernandez as they look to fortify their bullpen behind closer Raisel Iglesias, according to sources. The Reds and Hernandez aren't close to a deal, but they are involved in serious discussions. Cincinnati is looking at other free-agent relievers, too. After having Tommy John surgery and missing […]

Brandon Morrow Likely To Close For Cubs In 2018

Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein spoke at the Cubs convention this weekend and said that he has "faith" in relief pitcher Brandon Morrow if he is the team's closer in 2018. The Cubs can still add more arms and have shown interest in free-agent closer Greg Holland. Morrow has had plenty of health […]

Fernando Rodney Expected To Remain Closer

Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Fernando Rodney is expected to remain the team's closer after they signed reliever Addison Reed on Saturday, according to a source. The Twins are honoring their word to Rodney after they signed him, but Reed was signed for more years and more money, so we wouldn't be surprised if he gets […]

Rule 5 Picks to Watch for Keeper Leagues

Every year the MLB Rule 4 draft, more commonly known as the First-Year Player Draft, gets a lot of attention from casual baseball fans and fantasy baseball players alike. In terms of fantasy relevance, though, the Rule 5 draft, which occurs during baseball's annual Winter Meetings, is far more impactful than the Rule 4 draft for […]

Kelvin Herrera Avoids Arbitration

Kansas City Royals closer Kelvin Herrera avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $7.937 million deal, according to a source. He will receive a $50,000 bonus if he makes the All-Star team. Herrera was a disappointment as a full-time closer in KC in 2017, posting a 4.24 ERA and 1.34 WHIP, and he also […]

A's, Blake Treinen Avoid Arbitration

The Oakland A's and closer Blake Treinen have avoided arbitration, coming to terms on a one-year, $2.15 million contract. Treinen came over to the A's at the trade deadline from the Nationals. Treinen was solid for the A's down the stretch, pitching to a 2.57 ERA with a 10.9 K/9 in his final 14 innings. […]

Shane Greene Avoids Arbitration

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Shane Greene avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.95 million deal, according to a source. A few dominoes fell Greene's way in 2017, and he was given the closer's role on a rebuilding team, going 9-for-10 in save chances on the season. A converted starter, he also posted an […]

Arodys Vizcaino And Braves Avoid Arbitration

The Atlanta Braves and relief pitcher Arodys Vizcaino avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.4 million deal, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports. Vizcaino had a nice season with a 2.83 ERA, 14 saves and 64 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings. He is shaping up to be the Braves closer entering 2018 and […]

Alex Colome Avoids Arbitration

Tampa Bay Rays closer Alex Colome avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.3 million deal, according to a source. While Colome recorded an MLB-leading 47 saves in 2017, his overall numbers elsewhere weren't as impressive as his 2016 campaign. His strikeout and walk rates both went in the wrong direction, and his ERA […]