Using Sabermetrics for Fantasy Baseball: Barrels

Last time, we looked at how exit velocity (or EV) is only one piece of the fantasy analysis puzzle. Baseball broadcasts will commonly cite Launch Angle (LA) to complement their EV figures, but it is given in terms of degrees. Am I evaluating a baseball player or trying to find the hypotenuse of an isosceles […]

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 […]

Eric Samulski's Prospects Live Bestball 50 Draft Breakdown

This offseason, Prospects Live announced a new draft format that they were hoping would bring together the dynasty crowd with more redraft-heavy players. The format was simple and also completely complicated. Each league would be a five-year Best Ball Dynasty featuring 30 teams where each owner would draft a roster of 50 players, and the […]

2019 Season in Review: Carlos Correa

Over the first five seasons of his career, Carlos Correa has demonstrated why the Astros chose him first overall in the 2012 MLB amateur draft. He captured American League Rookie of the Year honors in 2015, along with some down-ballot MVP consideration. In 2017, he made his first All-Star team, finishing 10th in the league […]

Using Sabermetrics for Fantasy Baseball: Exit Velocity

If you've watched a baseball broadcast in the so-called Statcast Era, you have undoubtedly noticed the broadcasters commenting on a batted ball's exit velocity, or EV. Many have taken to using stats like Hard% and Soft% to forecast how a player should be performing, expecting larger Hard% rates to produce larger BABIP and HR/FB figures. […]

Marlins Acquire Stephen Tarpley

The Miami Marlins and New York Yankees completed a trade on Wednesday, sending pitcher Stephen Tarpley to Miami in exchange for third baseman James Nelson and cash. In a corresponding move, pitcher Brian Moran was designated for assignment by the Marlins. Tarpley had a 5.88 ERA and issued 21 walks in just 33 2/3 innings […]

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 […]

Using Sabermetrics for Fantasy Baseball: HR/FB

Using BABIP to predict a player's batting average is great. Average is a category in many league formats and every hit is an opportunity to steal a base or score a run. But most owners find the long ball sexier. Every HR comes with a guaranteed run scored and at least one RBI. Many owners […]

Don't Doubt Mike Trout: Why He's Still #1

It has become fashionable for fantasy owners to suggest that perhaps this is the year that Mike Trout should be supplanted as the consensus first overall draft pick. Not one, but two other players - Ronald Acuna and Christian Yelich - are being regularly selected in early NFBC drafts ahead of the 28-year-old Trout, who […]

Gary Sanchez Settles With Yankees

New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $5 million deal, according to a source. It's a pretty big raise for Sanchez in his first year of arbitration eligibility. He played in just 106 games due to injuries in 2019 and hit .232/.316/.525 with a career-high 34 […]

2020 Early Bullpen Outlooks - A.L. East

Welcome to 2020, fantasy friends. With football season winding down and basketball and hockey in full swing, it's time to start thinking about the 2020 baseball season. Free agency has been a little more front-loaded this season, leaving fewer questions about rosters heading into Spring Training. Still, there will be changes between now and Opening […]

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 […]

Domingo German Suspended 81 Games

New York Yankees starting pitcher Domingo German was suspended for 81 games on Thursday for violating the league's domestic-violence policy. German was on administrative leave for the final 18 games of last year, including nine postseason games, so he will sit out the first 63 games of the 2020 season. The right-hander will not appeal […]

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 […]

Edwin Encarnacion Signs With White Sox

The Chicago White Sox have signed first baseman/designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion to a one-year, $12 million contract that includes a club option for $12 million in 2021. The White Sox struggled mightily to find production out of their designated hitter spot in 2019. Encarnacion hit .244 with 34 home runs and 86 RBI in 109 […]

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 […]

Mets Agree With Dellin Betances

The New York Mets agreed to a one-year deal with relief pitcher Dellin Betances on Tuesday, according to sources. The deal includes two player options. Coming off Achilles and shoulder injuries that held him to just one outing with the Yankees in 2019, Betances' stock is obviously down. However, he has a career 2.36 ERA, […]

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 […]

White Sox Serious About Edwin Encarnacion

The Chicago White Sox are in serious pursuit of first baseman/designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion, although nothing is likely to be completed until after the holidays. Encarnacion, 37 in January, would be Chicago's full-time designated hitter if he lands with them, while occasionally spelling Jose Abreu at first base. It'd be a good setup for the […]

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 […]

White Sox Talking With Edwin Encarnacion

The Chicago White Sox had talks with first baseman/designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion at the winter meetings and since. Encarnacion will turn 37 next month, but he still managed to hit .244/.344/.531 with 34 home runs and 86 RBI in 418 at-bats with the Mariners and Yankees. Staying in New York would be ideal for his […]

Blue Jays Make Offers To Hyun-Jin Ryu, Edwin Encarnacion

The Toronto Blue Jays have made competitive offers to starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu and first baseman/designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion. The Jays are still looking to upgrade their rotation after adding Tanner Roark. Ryu has been flying under the radar despite going 14-5 with a 2.32 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 163 strikeouts in 182 2/3 innings […]

Blue Jays Interested In Edwin Encarnacion, Travis Shaw

The Toronto Blue Jays are interested in first baseman/designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion. They've also monitored Travis Shaw, while Mitch Moreland and Eric Thames could also be options. Encarnacion isn't getting any younger -- he'll turn 37 in January -- but he still managed to hit .244/.344/.531 with 34 home runs, 81 runs and 86 RBI […]