Cardinals Hire Vance Joseph To Coordinate Defense

The Arizona Cardinals hired former Denver Broncos head coach Vance Joseph as their next defensive coordinator on Friday. He went 11-21 in his two seasons as the top man in Denver but spent 11 years coaching defensive backs with the 49ers, Texans and Bengals before serving as the Dolphins defensive coordinator in 2016. The defense […]

Steve Sarkisian Closing In On Coordinator Job With Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals are closing in on hiring former Falcons offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian as their next offensive coordinator. Sarkisian was mostly a disappointment in his two years coordinating the offense in Atlanta with a bevvy of weapons, so he'll have his work cut out for him with a roster with very few playmakers outside […]

Hunter Henry Questionable For Sunday

Los Angeles Chargers tight end Hunter Henry (knee) is listed as questionable for the divisional round on Sunday against the Patriots despite practicing in full all week. The Chargers are understandably being cautious with a player that torn his ACL last spring and didn't play at all in the regular season. Even if Henry is […]

Melvin Gordon Will Play Against Patriots

Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon (knee) practiced in full on Friday and was taken off the final injury report for the divisional round against the Patriots. Gordon is battling issues in both knees to close out the season and won't be 100 percent this Sunday, but he'll play. How many touches he'll be […]

Jake Lamb Settles With Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Jake Lamb avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $4.825 million deal, according to a source. Lamb played in only 56 games for Arizona due to injury last season, but he hit a combined 59 home runs the previous two seasons and could bounce back as a corner […]

Austin Hedges Avoids Arbitration

San Diego Padres catcher Austin Hedges avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $2.06 million deal, according to a source. Hedges hit a disappointing .231/.282/.429 in 2018 with 14 home runs and 37 RBI in 91 games for the Friars. The power keeps him relevant at a weak position in two-catcher leagues, […]

Dodgers Acquire Russell Martin

The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired catcher Russell Martin from the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday, according to league sources. Toronto will eat a large portion of Martin's $20 million salary for 2019. Martin will turn 36 in February and is near the end of the line after hitting .194/.338/.325 with 10 home runs and 25 […]

A's Avoid Arbitration With Four Players

The Oakland Athletics avoided salary arbitration on Friday with outfielder Mark Canha, starting pitcher Sean Manaea, infielder Jurickson Profar and shortstop Marcus Semien by signing them to undisclosed deals. Profar is the biggest name from a fantasy perspective. He was acquired from the Rangers in the offseason and figures to be the team's regular second […]

Khris Davis Receives $16.5 Million From A's

Oakland Athletics outfielder Khris Davis avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $16.5 million deal. Davis is a beast in the power department with three straight years of 40-plus home runs as well as a career-high 48 in 2018. He's also had three straight seasons of 100-plus RBI and has had a […]

Mike Zunino Avoids Salary Arbitration

Tampa Bay Rays catcher Mike Zunino avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to an undisclosed one-year deal. He was projected to make $4.2 million in his second arbitration-eligible season. Zunino came over from Seattle in a trade this offseason after hitting .201/.259/.410 with 20 home runs and 44 RBI in 113 games. The 27-year-old […]

J.T. Realmuto Settles At $5.9 Million

Miami Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $5.9 million deal. Realmuto is one of the top offensive catchers in baseball these days, and he hit .277/.340/.484 with 21 home runs, 74 RBI and 74 runs scored in 477 at-bats in 2018. He's RotoBaller's second-ranked fantasy catcher in […]

Steven Souza Jr. Avoids Salary Arbitration

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Steven Souza Jr. avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $4.125 million deal, according to a source. Souza managed 30 home runs and 16 stolen bases in his final season with Tampa in 2017, but he came back to Earth in 2018 by hitting a measly .220/.309/.369 with only […]

Kirby Yates Settles With Padres

San Diego Padres closer Kirby Yates avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $3.062 million deal, according to a source. Yates will enter 2019 as the Friars closer, but he's merely a low-end fantasy closing option on a team that is perennially near the bottom of the National League West. The right-hander […]

Miguel Sano Avoids Arbitration

Minnesota Twins third baseman Miguel Sano avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $2.650 million deal, according to a source. 2018 was a disaster for Sano, as he dealt with injury and spent time in the minor leagues. He hit an embarrassing .199/.281/.398 with just 13 home runs and 41 RBI in […]

Twins Avoid Arbitration With Jake Odorizzi

The Minnesota Twins avoided salary arbitration with starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi on Friday by signing him to a one-year, $9.5 million deal. Odorizzi had a forgettable first season in the Twin Cities by going 7-10 with a 4.49 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 8.9 K/9 in 32 starts (164 1/3 innings). There is bounce-back potential in […]

Noah Syndergaard Receives A Raise

New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $6 million deal. Thor is a risk/reward high-end fantasy ace because of his injury history, but when he's healthy he's usually lights-out on the mound. The hard-throwing right-hander went 13-4 with a 3.03 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 155 […]

Trea Turner Avoids Arbitration

Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $3.725 million deal, according to sources. Turner is mainly useful for his speed (89 steals the last two years), but he also hit .271/.344/.416 with a career-high 19 homers and 73 RBI in 2019. His 20-homer, 40-steal upside firmly puts […]

Will Smith Earns $4.225 Million For 2019

San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Will Smith avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $4.225 million deal. Smith was one of the team's most reliable late-inning relievers last season, posting a shiny 2.55 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 71 strikeouts in 53 innings and 14 saves. The southpaw is likely to enter the 2019 […]

Michael Wacha Receives $6.35 Million From Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael Wacha avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $6.35 million deal. Injuries ruined Wacha's 2018 season, as he made just 15 starts (84 1/3 innings). He was pretty good before his injury, though, going 8-2 with a 3.20 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 7.6 K/9, but his […]

Scooter Gennett Avoids Arbitration

Cincinnati Reds second baseman Scooter Gennett avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $9.775 million deal. Gennett proved his 2017 breakout was no fluke by slashing .310/.357/.490 with 23 home runs, 92 RBI, 86 runs scored and four stolen bases in 2018. He may never reach the 30-homer mark, but Gennett is […]

Ken Giles Gets $6.3 Million From Toronto

Toronto Blue Jays closer Ken Giles avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $6.3 million deal. Giles had a rough 2018 season. He posted a 4.65 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with Houston before being traded to the Blue Jays midseason. He was slightly better in Toronto and saved 26 games total between […]

Angels Settle With Tyler Skaggs

The Los Angeles Angels avoided salary arbitration with starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs by signing him to a one-year, $3.7 million deal. Skaggs went 8-10 in 2018 with a 4.02 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 9.3 K/9 over 24 starts (125 1/3 innings). His innings total was his highest in his six-league career, and the left-hander remains […]

Aaron Hicks Avoids Salary Arbitration

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $6 million deal. Hicks has a nice combination of power and speed -- he hit 27 dingers and stole 11 bases in 2018 -- but injuries are a concern for the 29-year-old and the fact that New York has […]

Diamondbacks Settle With Robbie Ray

The Arizona Diamondbacks avoided salary arbitration with starting pitcher Robbie Ray on Friday by signing him to a one-year, $6.05 million deal. Rumored to be on the trade block this offseason, the D-backs ultimately would like to hang onto the talented southpaw. Ray went 6-2 in 2018 with a 3.93 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 165 […]

Dan Winkler Gets A Raise

Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Dan Winkler avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $1.61 million deal, according to a source. Winkler was a huge high-leverage asset for Atlanta last year, posting a 3.43 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 69 K's in 60 1/3 innings with two saves. While he won't be drafted in […]

Dan Straily Avoids Arbitration

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Dan Straily avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $5.0 million deal. Straily missed some time in 2018 with an injury and made just 23 starts (122 1/3 innings), posting a 4.12 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 99 strikeouts (7.3 K/9). There's not much upside left in the 30-year-old […]

Jose Urena Settles With Marlins

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Urena avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $3.2 million deal, according to a source. Urena had a 3.98 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 6.7 K/9 across 31 starts (174 innings) for the Fish in 2018. His career 6.1 K/9 in four seasons in Miami leaves a lot […]

Cubs Avoid Arbitration With Kyle Schwarber

The Chicago Cubs avoided salary arbitration with outfielder Kyle Schwarber on Friday by signing him to a one-year, $3.39 million deal. Schwarber played in a career-high 137 games last season and hit .238/.356/.467 with an .823 OPS, 26 home runs, 61 RBI and 64 runs scored. Injury concerns and a high strikeout rate keep Schwarber […]

Yankees Closing In On DJ LeMahieu

The New York Yankees are closing in on a two-year deal with free-agent second baseman DJ LeMahieu. This could signal the end of the Yankees pursuit of free-agent shortstop Manny Machado, as Gleyber Torres would presumably move to the 6 until Didi Gregorius is recovered from Tommy John surgery. LeMahieu, 31 in July, hit .276/.321/.428 […]

Mookie Betts Avoids Arbitration

Boston Red Sox outfielder and 2018 American League Most Valuable Player Mookie Betts avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $20 million deal, according to sources. It's a new high mark for a second-year arbitration-eligible player. Betts is in consideration for the top overall fantasy pick in 2019 after leading all of baseball in […]