Mets Skipper: Zack Wheeler Is A Starting Pitcher

Earlier Wednesday, reports began to surface that New York Mets starting pitcher Zack Wheeler was to start the season in the bullpen. Now, comments directly from Mets manager Mickey Callaway arguably puts some water on that fire: “He’s definitely a starting pitcher,” Callaway said. While that may sound contradictory to the earlier news, it may […]

2018 Catchers - Dynasty Tiered Rankings

As we move closer to the 2018 baseball season, we at RotoBaller have released our Dynasty Rankings. We have been dissecting the tiers of each position, showing fantasy owners where to find value in their draft. At the catcher position, we have a total of 41 players ranked across eight tiers. When looking at dynasty leagues, […]

Michael Conforto Hitting Off Tee

New York Mets outfielder Michael Conforto (shoulder) has progressed to hitting off a tee. This is a step forward from when we last heard about Conforto the other day, where he was simply long tossing. Although Conforto’s return date remains up in the air, the team is still targeting May 1. If it truly ends up shaking […]

Luis Severino Rankings Debate - Comparing RotoBaller's Rankers

We continue our long-running series of articles debating fantasy rankings with a player that is sure to be one of the first few pitchers off the board in all formats. Or is he? RotoBaller's expert writers have come up with our consensus rankings for mixed leagues, but that doesn't mean we agreed on everything. In this […]

ADP Sleepers and Busts - Third Basemen

Take a quick look at the NFBC ADPs of third basemen. What do you notice? Is Manny Machado going too high? Is Joey Gallo the boom-or-bust pick of the year? Is Josh Donaldson the best early-round value pick? Third base might just be the deepest infield position in fantasy this year, so it's important to […]

ADP Myth Busters - Debunking Myths in the NL East

This series will attempt to help fantasy baseball owners make informed opinions on players whose ADP may not be in line with their value for the 2018 season. As fantasy owners, we can fall into a "group think" mentality and start to overlook certain teams and players. If we aren't careful, those ideas can turn […]

Kevin Siegrist Scouted By Mets

The New York Mets have scouted free-agent relief pitcher Kevin Siegrist, according to a source. The Mets are still in the market for relievers and could use a lefty specialist in their bullpen. Siegrist was a dominant lefty arm in recent seasons, but his value is down this offseason after he posted a 4.81 ERA […]

Second-Year Pitchers Poised for a Breakout

The first year in the big leagues is full of ups and downs for most players, particularly pitchers. Adjusting to the best hitters in the world simply takes time, and many hurlers need multiple seasons to find their footing. Thus, identifying breakout candidates among second-year pitchers is no easy task, as the league has time […]

Three Up, Three Down – 2018 First Base Prospects

Power. Nothing else defines the first base position more than pure, raw power. If you have it, you better display it in abundance or there will be concerns. If you are smaller in stature, there will be concerns. If your talent is just hit tool, there will be concerns. If your defense is lacking, there […]

Jason Vargas Signs With Mets

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports that the New York Mets have agreed to terms with free-agent starting pitcher Jason Vargas. Vargas is coming off of his best year in the majors. In 2017, he made his first All-Star team and finished with an 18-11 record and 4.16 ERA for the Royals. Jerry Crasnick of […]

Three Up, Three Down - 2018 Shortstop Prospects

Much like the wave of third basemen to sweep the league, we’ve had an equally impressive push of young shortstops. Trea Turner, Carlos Correa, Francisco Lindor, and Corey Seager are all 24-years-old, or younger, and are in the Top 30 in fantasy baseball rankings. Who will be part of the next breath of fresh air […]

Juan Lagares Expected To Open Season As Starting Center Fielder

New York Mets outfielder Juan Lagares is unlikely to be traded, and the Mets are expecting him to open the season as the everyday center fielder with Michael Conforto (shoulder) sidelined. Lagares continues to see major league playing time because he's an excellent defender. You can't say much about his bat, though. Lagares has zero […]

Bad Mechanics To Blame For Matt Harvey’s Struggles?

If you’ve been a fantasy owner of New York Mets starting pitcher Matt Harvey at any point after 2015, chances are you’ve said “never again” quite a few times. About that…according to new Mets pitching coach Dave Eiland, Harvey fell into some bad habits mechanically due to the injuries he suffered, has been made aware […]

Michael Conforto Resumes Baseball Activities

In what has to be music to the ears of fantasy owners everywhere, New York Mets outfielder Michael Conforto (shoulder) has resumed baseball activity. He isn’t swinging a bat yet, but the long tossing he took part in on Wednesday is obviously a big step in the right direction. After separating his shoulder last September and […]

Jeurys Familia Expected To See Majority Of Save Chances

New York Mets pitching coach Dave Eiland said relief pitcher Jeurys Familia "will probably get the majority of the saves" in 2018. New manager Mickey Callaway initially said the team would use several relievers in various roles at the back end, but it looks like Familia will be the favorite in the ninth inning, but […]

David Wright Reports To Spring Training

While it probably doesn’t matter, New York Mets third baseman David Wright has reported to spring training. The difference in his latest comeback attempt, though, is that the Mets recently brought third baseman Todd Frazier on board since Wright can clearly no longer be relied upon. Wright has played in only 75 games over the […]

Should We Be Wary Of All Mets Starters?

On July 26th, 2012, the New York Mets called up a hard-throwing right-handed starting pitcher by the name of Matt Harvey. Harvey dazzled the Diamondbacks in Arizona that night, striking out 11 over 5 1/3 innings pitched without allowing any runs. This was supposed to mark a turning point in the Mets’ rebuild, the first […]

Zack Wheeler Wins Arbitration Case

New York Mets starting pitcher Zack Wheeler won his arbitration case and will make $1.9 million in 2018. The Mets were offering $1.5 million. With Wheeler, the story has been arm injuries, as he missed two full years following Tommy John surgery, and he was inconsistent in 2017 with more arm issues. There remains upside […]

Yoenis Cespedes (OF, NYM) - 2018 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers & Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target ~65 CURRENT ADP: 90 ANALYSIS: New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes did not have the 2017 many people expected. However, this was mainly due to nagging injuries, rather than flat-out underperformance. Before a hamstring injury derailed his season, Cespedes was crushing it with a 1.020 OPS, with stats that would have prorated to a […]

Champ or Chump - Brandon Moss and Todd Frazier

The theme of this article is cheap power. As more players than ever before start cracking 20 homers, fantasy owners can rely on legitimate power bats remaining available in the latter stages of their draft. Some owners believe that this allows them to wait on power, but the league-wide increase in home runs has also […]

Noah Syndergaard Focusing On Lean Workouts

New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard, who missed four months in 2017 with a torn lat muscle, is doing a vastly different workout routine this year that is focused on athleticism instead of bulking up. "I'm trying to become more athletic overall and doing the right kind of lifts," said the leaner Syndergaard. "It's […]

Todd Frazier Agrees To Terms With Mets

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that free-agent infielder Todd Frazier has agreed to a two-year, $17 million contract, with the New York Mets. It is a nice deal for Frazier, who aside from home runs, has struggled in recent years. This past season, the 31-year-old hit .213 with 27 home runs and 76 RBI […]

Mets Still Unlikely To Sign Bartolo Colon

New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said it's still unlikely that the team signs free-agent starting pitcher Bartolo Colon, even to a minor league deal. The 44-year-old veteran pitcher would only like to play for the Mets for one more season, but it appears that they won't give him that opportunity. The right-hander was […]

T.J. Rivera Hopes To Return By May

New York Mets infielder T.J. Rivera (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery on his injured right elbow in September, but he has been progressing nicely and hopes to return in May. Rivera has had a solid couple of years for the Mets, slashing .290/.330/.430 with five home runs and 13 doubles in 73 games in 2017 prior […]

Mets Still Trying To Acquire Josh Harrison

If you’re sick of hearing rumors about the New York Mets trying to acquire a second baseman this offseason, you’re not alone. Those rumors aren’t going away anytime soon, as it’s been reported that although the Mets are still trying to acquire infielder Josh Harrison from the Pittsburgh Pirates, the free agency route is more likely. […]

Mets Starters Healthy Leading Up To Spring Training

New York Mets manager Mickey Callaway said starting pitchers Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Matt Harvey, Steven Matz and Zack Wheeler have shown good results in their respective throwing programs, and each are expected to be full participants when spring workouts start Feb. 14. That doesn't mean that the Mets won't be careful with each pitcher's […]

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 […]

Steven Matz Says Elbow Is Pain-Free

Something that hasn’t been said often throughout New York Mets starting pitcher Steven Matz’s (elbow) career is that he’s been pain-free. Matz told the New York Daily News that he currently feels no ill effects in his elbow after surgery to reposition his ulnar nerve, which ended his 2017 season, and he expects to be ready […]

Mets Not Discussing Bartolo Colon

The New York Mets are not discussing free-agent starting pitcher Bartolo Colon, according to at least two members of the team's front office. “You never know, things could change, but it’s not something I see happening,” one source said. “It’s not a name I’ve been hearing.” Colon pitched three seasons for the Mets and would […]

David Wright's Future Uncertain

New York Mets third baseman David Wright (back, shoulder) admitted that his playing future is uncertain after missing all of the 2017 season after undergoing rotator cuff surgery on his right shoulder and surgery to remove bone spurs and fix a herniated disc in his back. "It really hurts to say this, but I obviously […]