Gary Sanchez On Track For Second Week Of Spring Games

New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez (shoulder) said he is on track to begin playing in spring training games in the second week of action. It was a frustrating year for the Yankees backstop in 2018, as he played in just 89 games and hit .186/.291/.697 with 18 home runs and 53 RBI. Fantasy owners […]

Jacoby Ellsbury Won't Join Team Until March

New York Yankees outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury (hip, foot) isn't expected to join the team in spring training until March after having issues with plantar fasciitis while rehabbing from hip surgery, according to manager Aaron Boone. The 35-year-old just cannot stay healthy as he ages. Ellsbury didn't play at all in 2018 and played in only […]

2019 To Be CC Sabathia's Final Season

New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia will announce at a press conference on Saturday that the 2019 season will be his last. The left-hander will turn 39 in late July and isn't the dominant strikeout guy he was earlier in this career, but he was serviceable for the Yankees in 2018 by going 9-7 […]

Jordan Montgomery Has Been Throwing

New York Yankees starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery (elbow) said he is making 50 throws at 90 feet and has been doing that for around three weeks. He'll throw off a mound next month and is aiming to return to big league action after the All-Star break after he had Tommy John surgery last June. The […]

Yankees Having Extension Talks With Luis Severino

The New York Yankees and starting pitcher Luis Severino have engaged in contract talks, but no deal is close yet. Severino's salary arbitration has yet to be heard. The rising right-hander requested $5.25 million for the 2019 season, while the Yanks are offering $4.4 million. The soon-to-be 25-year-old has big upside as one of the […]

ADP Cost Analysis - Eddie Rosario vs. Aaron Hicks

After years of struggles at the plate early in their careers, Eddie Rosario and Aaron Hicks both figured something out in 2017, which they were able to transfer to 2018. Rosario hit .288/.323/.479 last year with 24 home runs, 77 RBI, eight steals, and 87 runs scored. Meanwhile, Hicks hit .248/.366/.467 with 27 home runs, […]

ADP Champ or Chump - Josh Hader and Arodys Vizcaino

Recent seasons have shown how a great relief corps can sometimes be a cheap and effective way to bolster a team. Moreover, the move to convert semi-viable starters to relief pitchers has increased the number of legitimately good relievers rather than hoping to luck into the good Joel Hanrahan (excellent for two years, unusable otherwise). […]

Yankees Not Out On Manny Machado

The New York Yankees may not be the favorites to sign free-agent shortstop Manny Machado, but they are not out on him and their front office continues to check in with Machado's representatives, according to major league sources. The White Sox and Phillies have been more aggressive. People close to Machado continue to believe he'll […]

Didi Gregorius Does Some Throwing Monday

New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius (elbow) resumed throwing on Monday for the first time since having Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on Oct. 17. He said he did 25 tosses from 60 feet pain-free. He was also spotted making light throws to first base after fielding grounders at shortstop. Depending on how […]

Yankees Offering Manny Machado $220 Million?

MLB.com analyst Jim Duquette heard on Friday night that the New York Yankees made an offer to free-agent shortstop Manny Machado in the range of seven or eight years for $220 million. However, "a lot of teams are in that range also" and "another club has gone further than that." The Phillies and White Sox […]

Luke Voit (1B, NYY) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 180 CURRENT ADP: ~200 overall ANALYSIS: A key part of Luke Voit's potential success in New York could likely come down to opportunity. There is not a huge amount of competition for the first base job in the organization and that should mean Voit is given every opportunity in 2019. […]

2019 Bullpen Outlooks - American League Central

Moving right along with our pre-season coverage of the bullpens around the league, let's give the American League Central a look. Most "baseball people" are predicting the AL Central to be one of the worst divisions in the league in 2019, but that doesn't mean there won't be plenty of fantasy value coming out of […]

J.T. Realmuto to Phillies - Fantasy Impact

While Manny Machado and Bryce Harper remain on the free agent market as spring training approaches, the Phillies have continued to improve their 2019 roster via other means. After trading for Jean Segura and inking Andrew McCutchen and David Robertson to three-year deals in free agency, Philadelphia brought star catcher J.T. Realmuto into the fold […]

Marlins Keep Eye Toward Future in Realmuto Deal

After months of speculation, the inevitable finally happened. Catcher J.T. Realmuto was dealt from the perennially rebuilding Marlins to a hopeful contender, namely their in-division rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies. In exchange for the All-Star catcher, Miami received a package of Jorge Alfaro, Sixto Sanchez, Will Stewart, and a quarter-million of international bonus pool money. Given […]

How to Approach Rookies in Re-Draft for Success

With the NFL season officially a thing of the past, we can now turn our undivided fantasy attention to preparing for our baseball drafts. We are still waiting on the answers to a few key questions (such as, I don't know, where Bryce Harper and Manny Machado might play their home games?), but we have […]

Starting Pitcher - Early Points League Rankings and Tiers

Fantasy experts are placing a bigger emphasis on drafting elite starters early this year. It is apparent this strategy is making its way across the fantasy community, as the high-end starters are being valued higher than before. In points leagues, this is a wise methodology, as an ace can serve as the backbone of a […]

Scooter Gennett - 2019 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

Sleepers typically have one or more of some certain characteristics that make them seem undesirable. That may include playing for a bad team, old age, lack of the “big name” or “big prospect,” or the “too good to be true” factor. Scooter Gennett is safely in his prime at age 28, but he plays for […]

Didi Gregorius Cleared To Begin Throwing Program

New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius (elbow), who will miss the first half of the season after having Tommy John surgery, has been cleared to begin a throwing program, according to manager Aaron Boone. Gregorius was one of the most valuable fantasy shortstops in 2018, hitting .268/.335/.494 with a career-high 27 home runs, 86 RBI, […]

Relief Pitcher - Early Points League Rankings and Tiers

It’s never too early to start looking toward the fantasy baseball season, and I’m here to continue RotoBaller’s position-by-position rankings analysis series for points league and head-to-head (H2H) formats with the ever-volatile relief pitcher position. The "closer carousel" seems to spin faster and faster every year, and there are very few names in the 'set […]

Manny Machado Prefers Yankees?

Free-agent shortstop Manny Machado isn't thrilled with his current offers and may still have long-shot hopes to land with his preference, the New York Yankees, according to sources. The Phillies, White Sox and Padres are the only other known teams to have interest, but they apparently aren't willing to give Machado the type of contract […]

Top 130 Prospect Rankings for 2019 Fantasy Baseball Redraft Leagues

Prospects. For fantasy baseball enthusiasts, we are always looking to know about the next wave of prospects, rookies and call-ups. More than most other sports, baseball gives us a fresh influx of rookie talent every single year. Impact prospects are called-up both before and during the MLB season. Knowing about the right prospect, and drafting/adding him […]

Shortstop - Early Points League Rankings and Tiers

It’s never too early to start looking toward the fantasy baseball season, so I’m here to carry on RotoBaller’s position-by-position rankings analysis series for points league and head-to-head (H2H) formats with the stars of the infield, the shortstops. The position is star-studded, and in roto leagues, I think I'd be comfortable with any of the […]

Outfield - Early Points League Rankings and Tiers

It’s never too early to start looking toward the fantasy baseball season, so I’m here to continue RotoBaller’s position-by-position rankings analysis series for points league and head-to-head (H2H) formats with the incredibly deep outfield position. There is a seemingly neverending stream of useful bats, but there are still clear chokepoints where the risk portfolio thickens. […]

2019 Bullpen Outlooks - American League East

With the National League already taken care of, it's time to jump into the bullpens of the American League and take a look at what we can expect for the 2019 season. After a slow offseason, it seems like relief pitchers are finally coming off the free agent board and signing with the teams they'll […]

ADP Champ or Chump - J.T. Realmuto and Wilson Ramos

This week I am turning my attention to the position that gives most fantasy owners the biggest concerns, the catcher position. Every year there is at least one catcher who rises to the top of the position and ends up being drafted clearly ahead of the others. This season that catcher is J.T. Realmuto, who is […]

Catcher - Early Points League Rankings and Tiers

It’s never too early to start looking toward the fantasy baseball season, and I’m here to continue RotoBaller’s position-by-position rankings analysis series for points league and head-to-head (H2H) formats with the increasingly scant catcher position. Traditionally a thin position to begin with, catcher seems to be growing thinner every year as far as fantasy production […]

Third Base - Early Points League Rankings and Tiers

The hot corner is stacked like never before, especially with the anticipated arrival of mega-prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Waiting on a third baseman won't hurt given the relative depth of the position. With the multi-position eligibility of several players on this list, one could easily grab several of these names within the first few rounds […]

Second Base - Early Points League Rankings and Tiers

It’s never too early to start looking toward the fantasy baseball season, so I’m here to carry on RotoBaller’s position-by-position rankings analysis series for points league and head-to-head (H2H) formats with the keystone position. Traditionally a scarce position in fantasy, second base has truly risen over the past few years, and truthfully I'd be happy […]

First Base - Early Points League Rankings and Tiers

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 for points league and head-to-head (H2H) formats with the hard-hitting first base position. Traditionally a power haven, first base has a fairly clear top three tiers and then the floor starts to […]

Is Punting Steals a Viable Draft Strategy in 2019?

For readers who tune in to watch MLB games regularly, the phrase “small ball is dead” is becoming more and more the cliche. Managers do not feel the need to run as much, there is a decreasing rate of sacrifice bunts, and above all, no more hit-and-run as a primary offensive tactic. While many factors […]