Is it Legit? David Peralta's Breakout
We continue with our next edition of "Is It Legit?" to discuss another surprising breakout performer from the 2018 MLB season in order to assess his value heading into 2019. With so many players seemingly becoming fantasy baseball darlings overnight, it can be challenging to sift through the multiple hype trains and determine which players […]
Shelby Miller Agrees With Rangers
The Texas Rangers agreed to a one-year deal with free-agent starting pitcher Shelby Miller on Wednesday. League sources confirmed to ESPN's Jeff Passan that the deal is worth $2 million with performance bonuses that could bring it up to $5 million. The 28-year-old right-hander dealt with injuries in his three seasons with the Diamondbacks and […]
2019 Shortstops - Early Fantasy Baseball Tiered Rankings
It’s never too early to start looking toward the fantasy baseball season, so I’m here to kick off RotoBaller’s position-by-position rankings analysis series with the ever-so-glamorous shortstop position. Shortstop is rich at the top and while it boasts intriguing depth, this is not a position to wait on, especially if you also have a middle-infield […]
White Sox Agree With Jon Jay
The Chicago White Sox agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal with free-agent outfielder Jon Jay on Monday. On a rebuilding White Sox club, Jay may be able to find a starting gig in the outfield, but he still doesn't have much of a fantasy ceiling. Jay will turn 34 in March and hit just […]
White Sox In Serious Discussions With Jon Jay
The Chicago White Sox are in serious discussions with free-agent outfielder Jon Jay, according to sources. Jay is a better real-life commodity as more of a fourth-outfield type than a fantasy one, as he hit just .268/.330/.347 with three home runs, 40 RBI, 74 runs scored and four steals in 143 games last year with […]
Top 660: Early Fantasy Baseball Tiered Rankings (January)
Welcome back RotoBallers, and Happy New Year! Below you will find our staff's early 2019 fantasy baseball tiered rankings (top 660) for mixed leagues. In case you missed it, you can also see our tiered positional rankings as well. Four of our lead fantasy baseball analysts - Nick Mariano, Pierre Camus, JB Branson and Chris Zolli - have analyzed the MLB offseason moves and […]
Teoscar Hernandez - Promising or Pretender?
Every new beginning signifies an end elsewhere. This was the case for Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Teoscar Hernandez last season. The hard-hitting righty broke through in more ways than one in his first full year in the big leagues, finishing with a .239/.302/.468 line, and most importantly 22 home runs. The path to the plate […]
Everything You Need to Know About Brandon Nimmo
You must be a fan of cliffhangers if you’ve been following New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo. After an offseason of trade talk, fantasy owners breathed a sigh of relief when it was Wilson Ramos announced as the team's newest cash signing, rather than the potential Nimmo - J.T. Realmuto deal proposed between the Mets and […]
Top 10 Dynasty First Basemen - Fantasy Baseball Prospects
It might seem like I drew the short straw among the prospect analysts here at RotoBaller, but I actually picked this assignment! You won’t see many of these names on top 100 lists. Despite being one of the positions from which teams expect to get the most offensive production, first base gets the least amount […]
2018 Pitching Fallers - ERA
In my last piece, we took a look at some of the pitchers who made significant improvements to their ERA in 2018. Now it's time to take a look at the guys who went in the other direction, and see if it's time to panic on them. This list features two starters who were being […]
Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp, Alex Wood Become Reds
Starting pitcher Alex Wood, catcher Kyle Farmer, and outfielders Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig are trading Dodger blue for the bright kit of the Cincinnati Reds. The trio was traded for Homer Bailey and prospects in what was essentially a salary dump for Los Angeles as they attempt to sign or trade for more superstars. […]
Daniel Descalso Joins Cubs
The Chicago Cubs agreed to an undisclosed deal with free-agent infielder Daniel Descalso on Tuesday. Descalso was a utility player for Arizona the last two years and hit .238/.353/.436 with a career-high 13 home runs and 57 RBI in 138 games last season. He spent most of his time at second base (51 games) and […]
Diamondbacks May Wait To Trade Zack Greinke
The Arizona Diamondbacks feel they'll get a better return for starting pitcher Zack Greinke in a trade if they wait until the deadline over the summer. Greinke has a lot of money left on his current deal and also carries a no-trade clause. Teams will likely be more desperate to take on Greinke and his […]
Braves Considering A.J. Pollock
The Atlanta Braves could make an offer to free-agent outfielder A.J. Pollock. Atlanta already has Ender Inciarte lined up as their starter in center field, but they could opt to trade him if they ended up signing Pollock. Pollock has had trouble staying healthy in his career, but he has a very attractive power/speed combination […]
Diamondbacks Not Targeting Jackie Bradley Jr.
Sources with knowledge of the situation say that the Arizona Diamondbacks are not targeting Boston Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. as a replacement for free-agent center fielder A.J. Pollock. Bradley is a similar player to Pollock defensively, but he doesn't have the upside with the bat that Pollock does. Either way, the Red Sox […]
2018 Baseball Winter Meetings Recap (Monday/Tuesday)
MLB Winter Meetings have started in Las Vegas, Nevada and the headlines thus far have been more about what has been rumored to happen rather than what has happened. There have been some relatively minor moves thus far (including the signing of a former stolen base leader), but most of the stories have revolved around […]
Diamondbacks Covet Jackie Bradley
Boston Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. is high atop the Arizona Diamondbacks wish list to replace free-agent outfielder A.J. Pollock in center field, according to a major league source. The Red Sox are trying to shed some salary to improve their bullpen, so Bradley could be had in a trade this winter. Although he […]
Archie Bradley Expected To Close In 2019
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo appears to be leaning toward using relief pitcher Archie Bradley as the team's closer next season. The D-backs preferred to use Bradley as more of a setup man in 2018, although he did close out three games to go along with a 3.64 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 75 K's in […]
Jake Lamb To Play Some First Base In 2019
Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said that third baseman Jake Lamb will play some first base next year along with third base. 2018 was a lost season for Lamb, who required shoulder surgery. He played in just 56 games and was bad before his injury, hitting .222/.307/.348 with six home runs and 31 RBI. […]
Robbie Ray Not Available?
Teams that have checked in on Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray say that he is not available for a trade. The assumption was that Ray would be easier to deal than Zack Greinke, who has almost $100 million left over three years and a partial no-trade clause, but Ray is a dominant left with […]
Robbie Ray Figures To Surface In Trade Talks
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray figures to be the player whose name comes up the most this week at the winter meetings. Zack Greinke remains a difficult player to trade because he's owed around $95 million over the next three years with a partial no-trade clause. Ray is projected to make $6.1 million in […]
Reds Pursuing A.J. Pollock
The Cincinnati Reds are among the teams pursuing free-agent outfielder A.J. Pollock. Cincy is looking for a replacement in center field after non-tendering Billy Hamilton and making him a free agent. Pollock would definitely be an upgrade, as he possesses a nice power/speed combination despite being injury-prone as a 31-year-old. Pollock hit .257/.316/.484 with 21 […]
Goldy Finds a New Home in St. Louis
First baseman Paul Goldschmidt was in the last year of his deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the 31-year-old was thought to be a trade candidate this offseason. The deal was finalized on Wednesday, as the Cardinals got their man and Goldy was traded for Luke Weaver, Carson Kelly, Andy Young, and a Competitive Balance […]
D-Backs Land Carson Kelly, Luke Weaver
The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired catcher Carson Kelly, starting pitcher Luke Weaver, infielder Andy Young and a Compensation Round B pick in next year's draft from the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday in exchange for first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. Goldy is a superstar but had just one year left on his deal and the D-backs weren't […]
Cardinals Acquire Paul Goldschmidt
The St. Louis Cardinals will acquire Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt in exchange for catcher Carson Kelly, starting pitcher Luke Weaver, infielder Andy Young and the team's compensation Round B selection in next year's draft. Goldy is a six-time National League All-Star and is a premiere power-hitting first baseman that will certainly hit in […]
Royals Agree With Chris Owings
The Kansas City Royals agreed on a one-year deal with free-agent infielder/outfielder Chris Owings on Wednesday, according to sources. Owings had a miserable year in 2018, hitting .206/.272/.302 with four home runs, 22 RBI and 11 steals in 106 games. But he managed 12 homers in 2017 in just 97 games and stole a season-high […]
Patrick Corbin to Nationals - Fantasy Impact
Starting pitcher Patrick Corbin was one of the top free agents on the market this winter, with his market dwindled down to the New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, and Washington Nationals. On Tuesday, the Nationals got over the line with Corbin, inking a six-year/$140 million deal with the 29-year-old lefty. This was a mild shock […]
Mets In Contact With A.J. Pollock
The New York Mets have been in contact with the agent for free-agent outfielder A.J. Pollock, and general manager Brodie Van Wagenen thinks Pollock is a good fit for their team. The Mets are restocking their roster quickly under new leadership and hope to contend immediately in 2019. Pollock would help them achieve that, as […]
Nationals Sign Patrick Corbin
The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with free-agent starting pitcher Patrick Corbin on a deal expected to be for six years and over $125 million, according to a person familiar with the situation. The Phillies and Yankees were the favorites, but the Nats won out and now have perhaps the best rotation in baseball […]
Cardinals Discussing Trade For Paul Goldschmidt
The St. Louis Cardinals are discussing a trade for Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, according to a source. Goldy is under contract for one more season before he becomes a free agent, and the D-backs would be looking at a mini rebuild if they were to trade him away this winter. The slugger had […]