Steven Souza Jr. Close To Deal With Cubs

The Chicago Cubs are close to a deal with outfielder Steven Souza Jr., according to a source. Souza tore multiple ligaments in his knee and missed all of the 2019 season and only played in 72 games in 2018 with the Diamondbacks because of injury. He's said to be healthy right now, however, and his […]

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 Offseason Starting Pitcher Rankings (Part 3) - Fantasy Baseball Mixed Leagues

We continue with our analysis of the early 2020 fantasy baseball starting pitcher rankings by looking at the middle tiers. To read part one, click right here, or right here for part two. After a record-setting year for offense and a sense among the industry that 2020 likely won't be dramatically different, being able to […]

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 […]

D-Backs Avoid Arbitration With Robbie Ray

The Arizona Diamondbacks and starting pitcher Robbie Ray avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $9.43 million deal. It's his final year of arbitration eligibility and he can become a free agent after the 2020 season. The 28-year-old lefty has been the subject of trade rumors dating back to last summer. He […]

Diamondbacks Reach Extension With David Peralta

The Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to a three-year, $22 million extension with outfielder David Peralta on Friday to avoid salary arbitration. He can make an extra $1.25 million in incentives. Injuries held Peralta to only 99 games for the D-backs in 2019, but he hit a useful .275/.343/.461 with 12 home runs and 57 RBI when […]

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 […]

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 […]

Early 2020 ADP Reflections - Second Base

When a baseball season ends, the following season can’t come here soon enough for some fans, myself included. We start thinking about what we want to see from some players, which includes letdowns, bounce-backs, and even young prospects. Instead of letting them bounce off the brain walls, let’s put these musings into digits. This includes […]

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 Offseason Starting Pitcher Rankings (Part 1) - 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. Today we are bringing you part one of our 2020 starting pitcher rankings and analysis - you can read part two here. We know you're […]

2020 Offseason Starting Pitcher Rankings (Part 2) - Fantasy Baseball Mixed Leagues

We continue with our analysis of the early 2020 fantasy baseball starting pitcher rankings by looking at the middle tiers. To read part one, click right here. After a record-setting year for offense and a sense among the industry that 2020 likely won't be dramatically different, being able to navigate the ever-murkier waters of starting […]

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 […]

2020 Offseason Outfield Rankings (Part 1) - Fantasy Baseball Mixed Leagues

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

2020 Offseason Outfield Rankings (Part 2) - Fantasy Baseball Mixed Leagues

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

2020 Offseason Shortstop 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 fantasy baseball rankings to those of you looking to scratch your fantasy itch. Whether you're already eliminated from fantasy football contention, or you're getting a head start on next year's keeper selections, RotoBaller has got you […]

2020 Offseason Third Base 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 already eliminated from fantasy football contention, or you're getting a head start on next year's keeper selections, RotoBaller has got you covered. We've […]

2020 Offseason Second Base 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 fantasy baseball rankings to those of you looking to scratch your fantasy itch. Whether you're already eliminated from fantasy football contention, or you're getting a head start on next year's keeper selections, RotoBaller has got you […]

Kole Calhoun Agrees With Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to a two-year deal worth $16 million guaranteed with outfielder Kole Calhoun on Tuesday, according to a source. The deal comes with a $9 million club option for 2022 with a $2 million buyout. The Arizona native will return home after spending the first eight years of his career with the […]

Madison Bumgarner to Diamondbacks - Fantasy Impact

The Arizona Diamondbacks signed three-time World Series champion Madison Bumgarner to a five-year, $85 million contract in the middle of December. This will be the first time in 11 seasons that Bumgarner will not take the hill for the San Francisco Giants, but instead will head the rotation of their division rivals. The Diamondbacks finished the […]

2020 Offseason First Base 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 fantasy baseball rankings to those of you looking to scratch your fantasy itch. Whether you're already eliminated from fantasy football contention, or you're getting a head start on next year's keeper selections, RotoBaller has got you […]

2020 Offseason Catcher 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 fantasy baseball rankings to those of you looking to scratch your fantasy itch. Whether you're already eliminated from fantasy football contention, or you're getting a head start on next year's keeper selections, RotoBaller has got you […]

Mariners Interested In Taijuan Walker

The Seattle Mariners are interested in a reunion with starting pitcher Taijuan Walker (elbow) after they drafted him in the first round back in 2010. The 27-year-old right-hander would add depth to a rotation that is rebuilding, and he's still young enough to have upside if he's healthy moving forward. Walker is a bounce-back candidate […]

A Healthy Steven Souza Jr. Is Attracting Interest

Outfielder Steven Souza Jr. (knee), who is running, hitting and throwing at 100 percent intensity after April surgery on his left knee, is drawing interest from the Rangers, Rays, Cubs and Giants, according to a source. The 30-year-old tore multiple ligaments in his knee in spring training for the Diamondbacks and missed the entire 2019 […]

Early 2020 ADP Reflections - First Base

When a baseball season ends, the following season can’t come here soon enough for some fans, myself included. We start thinking about what we want to see from some players, which includes letdowns, bounce-backs, and even young prospects. Instead of letting them bounce off the brain walls, let’s put these musings into digits. This includes […]

Mike Moustakas to Reds - Fantasy Impact

At the start of December, the Cincinnati Reds signed All-Star infielder Mike Moustakas to a four-year, $64 million contract. It serves as the largest free-agent contract in Reds history. While it may be an overly rich deal for a 31-year-old power hitter, it was a necessary investment for a team that desperately needed to revamp their […]

Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Prospects: Top 12 Potential Relievers

This week we’re doing something a little different. We’ve been traveling through the minor leagues reviewing the best dynasty prospects at each position. Now, we find ourselves looking at the relievers. This position is a bit of an anomaly. Teams often don’t directly develop impact relievers - they’re often initially starters that fail to fully […]

Diamondbacks Serious About Madison Bumgarner

The Arizona Diamondbacks floated a contract in the range of $70 million for starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner, according to sources. However, it seems likely that number will fall well short of what it will take to land the veteran left-hander. Bumgarner is likely to reach nine figures in his next deal after Gerrit Cole ($324 […]

Marcell Ozuna Unlikely To Land With Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks have checked in on outfielder Marcell Ozuna, but they aren't considered among the players for Ozuna's services, according to sources. Arizona could be a viable landing spot for Ozuna if he's still available later in the offseason. Landing in Arizona would be a nice fit for the 29-year-old Dominican, but it remains […]

SP Strikeout Risers: 2019 Season Review

For the last four seasons, MLB has seen an increase in strikeout rate (K%). Since 2015, K% has increased from 20.4% to 23.0%. We’ve also seen an increase in walk rates and a poorer league-wide ERA. Those trends can make it difficult to assess whether a pitcher is actually better at inducing swings and misses. […]