Jonathan Villar Avoids Arbitration

Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Jonathan Villar avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.55 million deal, according to a source. Villar was one of the bigger busts in 2017, as he had just 11 home runs and 23 steals after clubbing 19 long balls and stealing a whopping 62 bags in 2016. There remains […]

Vic Fangio Agrees To Stay In Chicago

Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio agreed to return for the 2018 season Friday, four days after new head coach Matt Nagy was hired. Mark Helfrich was also hired as the offensive coordinator, and Chris Tabor was brought on as the new special teams coach. It gives the Bears continuity on the defensive side of […]

Phillies, Cesar Hernandez Avoid Arbitration

Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.1 million deal, according to a source. Hernandez has quietly put himself on the fantasy map after hitting over .290 each of the last two seasons while also stealing at least 15 bases in each of the past two years, and […]

Kelvin Herrera Avoids Arbitration

Kansas City Royals closer Kelvin Herrera avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $7.937 million deal, according to a source. He will receive a $50,000 bonus if he makes the All-Star team. Herrera was a disappointment as a full-time closer in KC in 2017, posting a 4.24 ERA and 1.34 WHIP, and he also […]

Sam Bradford Not Expected To Be Active This Weekend

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford (knee) is not expected to be active for the Divisional Round against the Saints, with Teddy Bridgewater likely serving as Case Keenum's backup. Bradford could dress as the No. 3 QB, but head coach Mike Zimmer has never dressed three quarterbacks in a game. Bradford also would still need to […]

Shane Greene Avoids Arbitration

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Shane Greene avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.95 million deal, according to a source. A few dominoes fell Greene's way in 2017, and he was given the closer's role on a rebuilding team, going 9-for-10 in save chances on the season. A converted starter, he also posted an […]

Twins, Robbie Grossman Avoid Arbitration

Minnesota Twins outfielder Robbie Grossman avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2 million deal, according to a source. Grossman's ability to draw walks and get on base frequently is his calling card as a designated hitter in Minnesota, but he doesn't carry a ton of fantasy value elsewhere with just modest power and […]

Jimmy Nelson Avoids Arbitration

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.7 million deal, according to a source. 2017 was a career year for Nelson, but a shoulder injury in September cut his season short, and it will cause him to open 2018 on the disabled list. He may still be worth […]

Blue Jays, Devon Travis Avoid Arbitration

Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.45 million deal, according to a source. Travis started out hot in 2017, but yet again, injuries derailed his season and limited him to just 50 games and 185 at-bats. The good news is he was showing that his power […]

Steven Souza Jr. Avoids Arbitration

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Steven Souza Jr. avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.55 million deal, according to a source. Although his batting average remained low (.239) due to inconsistent contact, Souza otherwise had a career year, hitting 30 home runs and driving in 78 runs in 148 games. Despite the lack of […]

Mariners, James Paxton Avoid Arbitration

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher James Paxton avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4.9 million deal, according to a source. Paxton can be elite when healthy, as evidenced by his 2.97 ERA in 24 starts in 2017, as well as his career-high 12.5 percent swinging-strike rate. The main risk with the southpaw has been […]

Jackie Bradley Avoids Arbitration

Boston Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $6.1 million deal, according to a source. Bradley remains one of the best defensive center fielders in the game, but his bat took a step back in 2017, mainly in the power department. His inconsistencies at the plate have led Boston […]

Terence Newman Questionable Against Saints

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Terence Newman (foot) was limited in practice Friday and will be questionable against the Saints in the Divisional Round, according to head coach Mike Zimmer. We would expect Newman to be fine for the playoff matchup this weekend. Newman is part of a solid Minnesota secondary that was very stingy on opposing […]

Mike McCoy, Rob Chudzinski Candidates For Bills Offensive Coordinator Position

Mike McCoy and Rob Chudzinski are the top two candidates for the Buffalo Bills vacancy at offensive coordinator, according to a source. Both McCoy and Chudzinski have Panthers roots and ties to head coach Sean McDermott. McCoy recently served as the Broncos offensive coordinator before being fired around midseason, and Chudzinski last coordinated the Colts […]

Anthony DeSclafani Avoids Arbitration

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $860,000 deal, according to a source. He will also receive a $75,000 bonus if he makes the All-Star team. DeSclafani did not pitch at all in 2017 due to a ulnar collateral ligament sprain in his elbow, but the Reds are […]

Mets, Travis d'Arnaud Avoid Arbitration

New York Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.475 million deal, according to a source. 2017 was a bounce-back year for d'Arnaud thanks to better health, and he managed 16 home runs and 57 RBI in 112 games, but his average and on-base percentage leave a lot to be […]

Alex Colome Avoids Arbitration

Tampa Bay Rays closer Alex Colome avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.3 million deal, according to a source. While Colome recorded an MLB-leading 47 saves in 2017, his overall numbers elsewhere weren't as impressive as his 2016 campaign. His strikeout and walk rates both went in the wrong direction, and his ERA […]

Rays, Corey Dickerson Avoid Arbitration

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Corey Dickerson avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.95 million deal. Dickerson made some gains against left-handed pitchers in 2017, which is encouraging, but he remains a power stick that is BABIP-dependent. However, he'll be valuable for fantasy owners across all leagues with a full-time outfield role for Tampa […]

A.J. Pollock Avoids Arbitration

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder A.J. Pollock avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $7.75 million deal. Injuries remain a concern for Pollock, but he seems to have balanced his power/speed profile, and he resides in an excellent hitter's park. If his health cooperates, Pollock could return to around 20 home runs and 30 stolen bases.

Rangers, Jurickson Profar Avoid Arbitration

Texas Rangers second baseman Jurickson Profar avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.05 million deal, according to a source. It seems like ages ago that Profar was once considered MLB's highest rated prospect, but a serious shoulder injury that wiped out his 2014 and 2015 seasons has taken him off track. With full […]

Jordy Mercer Avoids Arbitration

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $6.75 million deal. Mercer's 2016 and 2017 seasons were nearly identical, as he had just three more homers last year and one less RBI in four fewer games. He doesn't have much pop and won't help in stolen bases or average, so […]

Manny Machado Won't Settle On Arbitration

The Baltimore Orioles and third baseman Manny Machado will not settle on salary arbitration before the deadline Friday, according to a source. It's another indication that the Orioles are ready to trade Machado away before he reaches free agency after the 2018 season. However, their price for the third base slugger is extremely high, and […]

Mets, Wilmer Flores Avoid Arbitration

New York Mets infielder Wilmer Flores avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.4 million deal. Flores missed more time with injuries in 2017, and his value really lies in his ability to fill multiple positions for fantasy owners on the infield. He's an excellent cheap daily pick against left-handed pitchers, but he could […]

Lonnie Chisenhall Avoids Arbitration

Cleveland Indians outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.587 million deal. 2017 was a lost season for Chisenhall because of various injuries, and he ended up playing in only 82 games, and when he did play, he was platooned in the outfield. However, when he was on the field, he […]

Nationals, Tanner Roark Avoid Arbitration

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Tanner Roark avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $6.475 million deal. Roark took a bit of a step back in 2017 with a 4.66 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 166 K's in 181 innings, and pitching in the World Baseball Classic may have had something to do with it. His […]

Maikel Franco Avoids Arbitration

Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.95 million deal, according to a source. It was a very disappointing 2017 season for the young third baseman in Philly, and his batting average has dropped steadily the last two years. However, he's still young and makes plenty of contact, […]

Brewers, Corey Knebel Avoid Arbitration

Milwaukee Brewers closer Corey Knebel avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.65 million deal. Knebel took over the closer's role in Milwaukee in 2017 and ran away with it. He was highly effective and extremely dominant (14.9 K/9) for the fantasy owners that swooped him up. Knebel has earned the closer's job heading […]

Jake Lamb Avoids Arbitration

Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Jake Lamb avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4.275 million deal. Lamb has proven to be a fine everyday third baseman for the Snakes, but he'll need to improve against left-handers in order to take a step forward for his fantasy owners. Still, he's an extremely valuable corner infielder […]

Norv Turner Hired As Offensive Coordinator

The Carolina Panthers "agreed in principle" to make Norv Turner their offensive coordinator Thursday, according to a source. This was expected to happen for the last couple of days, and now it looks to be official. It's somewhat of an odd fit, since Turner typically works with pocket passers instead of dual threats like quarterback […]

Twins, Eduardo Escobar Avoid Arbitration

Minnesota Twins infielder Eduardo Escobar avoided salary arbitration Thursday by agreeing to a one-year, $4.85 million deal, according to a source. Mostly a utility player for Minnesota, he wound up playing more than expected at shortstop and third base, and he hit a career-high 21 dingers in 129 games. A bloated fly-ball rate was responsible […]