MLB Ready Prospects: Top 30 Rankings for Fantasy (Week 20)

UPDATE: I had mistakenly reported that Nomar Mazara had been called up to the big leagues. He in fact has been promoted to AAA, but won't be joining the big-league club at this time. If and when he does get the call in September, Mazara may be given quite a lot of playing time, especially for... Read More

Minor League Spotlight: Top Hitting Prospects from Week 19

How about those Blue Jays?! They really are all the proof in the world that an offensive juggernaut can for the most part carry the load of a below-average starting rotation. People have compared them to the Big Red Machine. And though I won’t go that far, I will say that I do believe that they... Read More

MLB Ready Prospects: Top 30 Rankings for Fantasy (Week 19)

Jose Peraza was recently called up by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He should be owned in all leagues because of his speed and shortstop eligibility. Peraza will likely lose playing time when Howie Kendrick returns from his injury, but it appears Kendrick will be out for awhile. To be clear, this list is not the... Read More

Minor League Spotlight: Top Hitting Prospects for Fantasy from Week 18

Just a quick heads up to fantasy owners in need of offensive production in the second base/third base department. Once off the DL, Hector Olivera is expected to be called up by the Atlanta Braves and take the full time role at third base. He looks like a very potent bat and could be a... Read More

Minor League Spotlight: Top Fantasy Pitching Prospects from Week 18

This is the special pitchers edition of a newly formatted Minor League Spotlight for fantasy baseball. In this new version of the article, I will give three prospect profiles and where their potential 2015 fantasy value is for fantasy owners. I am also going to divide up the articles by pitchers and hitters, so I can... Read More

MLB Ready Prospects: Top 30 Rankings for Fantasy (Week 18)

As if the trade deadline weren’t intriguing enough, there have been plenty of prospects to receive the call up shortly thereafter. Tyler Duffey will be making a spot start for the Twins, Daniel Norris recently dominated the Orioles with his new club (the Tigers), and Jon Gray was recently promoted as well. The most interesting... Read More

Minor League Spotlight: Pitchers (Week 17)

This is the special trade deadline edition of a newly formatted Minor League Spotlight. In this new version of the articles, I will give three prospect profiles and where their potential fantasy value is for fantasy owners. I am also going to divide up the articles by pitchers and hitters so I can go more... Read More

Minor League Spotlight: Hitters (Week 17)

This is the special trade deadline edition of a newly formatted Minor League Spotlight. In this new version of the articles, I will give three prospect profiles and where their potential fantasy value is for fantasy owners. I am also going to divide up the articles by pitchers and hitters so I can go more... Read More

Matt Cain (SP, SF) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ Team Leagues/NL-only Leagues OWNED: 22% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Matt Cain has not been overly impressive in his return from injury earlier in the season. He has a pedestrian 4.09 ERA that is really harmed by his alarming 1.64 HR/9 this season. Granted, he has pitched in only a small... Read More

Erasmo Ramirez (SP, TB) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ Team leagues OWNED: 12% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Erasmo Ramirez has been having a sneaky good year this season. He currently has a 3.74 ERA with a 3.76 FIP, 7.19 K/9, 2.56 BB/9, and 0.79 HR/9 in 91.1 IP in 2015. His SIERA (Skill-Interactive Earned Run Average which creates an... Read More

Eugenio Suarez (SS, CIN) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ Team Leagues OWNED: 4% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Zack Cozart was in the midst of a career offensive year before going down with a gruesome knee injury. Luckily for the Reds, they had acquired then 23-year-old shortstop Eugenio Suarez in a trade with the Tigers for Alfredo Simon. Suarez has... Read More

Mike Leake (SP, CIN) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 45% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Following the trade of Johnny Cueto, the only Reds starting pitcher likely to still be dealt is Mike Leake. Leake has been solid on the season throwing 128.2 IP with a 3.78 ERA, 3.94 FIP, 6.09 K/9, 2.10 BB/9, and 0.97 HR/9. His... Read More

MLB Ready Prospects: Top 30 Rankings for Fantasy (Week 17)

As many of you know by now, I am a die-hard Reds fan. So when Johnny Cueto was traded to the Kansas City Royals, I was sad to see him leave, but was glad to see the Reds front office actually make a trade. A lot of Reds fans have complained about the return for... Read More

Minor League Spotlight: Top Fantasy Prospects from Week 16

This wait before the deadline is killing me. As a Reds fan, I am waiting for them to begin the fire sale and see what kind of prospects they can get for players like Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake, Jay Bruce, Marlon Byrd, and maybe Aroldis Chapman. I will also be eager to see some of... Read More

MLB Ready Prospects: Top 30 Rankings for Fantasy (Week 16)

This next month is going to tell a lot about the future of Kyle Schwarber. With Miguel Montero injured, Schwarber will be tasked with catching (not all the time however). This is his opportunity to prove to Cubs management that he can catch at the MLB level. His defensive skills will not be great, but if they... Read More

MLB Ready Prospects: Top 30 Rankings for Fantasy (Week 15)

At this point, the MLB trade market is a big factor in whether the remaining MLB prospects will get called up before September, and with which team they will play. Guys like Aaron Nola will see much of their value come from players ahead of them in the depth chart being dealt. Other names like Alen Hanson... Read More

Minor League Spotlight: Top Fantasy Prospects from Week 13

For all fantasy owners of Steven Matz, we have been dealt some bad news. Yes, we, because I was someone who owned him as well. Matz will miss the next several weeks with a lat injury which will really put a damper on what has otherwise been a tremendous start to his Major League career.... Read More

MLB Ready Prospects: Top 30 Rankings for Fantasy (Week 14)

As promised, I am going to fill you all in on the recent news involving recovering starting pitchers, Dylan Bundy and Jameson Taillon. Bundy will be shut down indefinitely, which does not necessarily rule him out for a possible call-up this year, but it certainly pushes the time table back. Jameson Taillon on the other... Read More

Minor Leagues Spotlight: Top MLB Prospects for Fantasy from Week 12

Unsurprisingly, Joey Gallo was sent back down to Triple-A when Josh Hamilton was activated from the DL. Gallo performed as expected at the majors: flashed tremendous power and demonstrated that he isn’t ready to face Major League pitching on a regular basis. Gallo hit five home runs in 25 games, but he hit .218 and... Read More

MLB Ready Prospects: Top 30 Rankings for Fantasy (Week 13)

Steven Matz was finally called up. It was a little bit earlier than I had expected, but he made his MLB debut last Sunday. He threw quite well, but really dazzled with the bat, going 3-3 and driving n four runs. Did I ever mention that he can hit? Probably not. Matz finished the day... Read More

MLB Ready Prospects: Top 30 Rankings for Fantasy (Week 12)

Just a quick heads up about two of the names on this list. Domingo Santana is still listed even though he's on the active roster. He's expected to be sent down once Jacob Marisnick returns from a short DL stint. It's a similar story with Kyle Schwarber. He will be sent down on Monday. To be clear,... Read More

Minor League Spotlight: Top Fantasy Prospects from Week 11

That trade between the Atlanta Braves and the Arizona Diamondbacks is very odd to me. In case you missed it, The DBacks traded an injured and old Bronson Arroya and 19 year-old pitching prospect Touki Toussaint for utility man Phil Gosselin. That Diamondbacks must have seen something that most people don’t in Gosselin. Or maybe they... Read More

Minor Leagues Spotlight: Top Fantasy Prospects from Week 10

Several top prospects are currently in the middle of brief stints in the Majors before returning to Triple-A. Those prospects would be Kyle Schwarber and Domingo Santana. Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein has confirmed that no matter how well Scwarber performs, he will be sent down. Santana has a chance to earn some... Read More

MLB Ready Prospects: Top 30 Rankings for Fantasy (Week 11)

Wow. What a week for prospects. To start things off, Carlos Correa got called up and performed well in his first start ever against Chris Sale. Then it was announced that Byron Buxton, surprisingly, would be called up. Then it was Francisco Lindor getting called up, just a few hours after the Buxton announcement. If you have been... Read More

John Axford (RP, COL) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 62% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: John Axford has been an incredible story for the baseball world in 2015. After three consecutive years of struggles, Axford finally found a home in Colorado and has run away with the closers’ role. Axford has 11 saves already on the year, matching his total... Read More

Leonys Martin (OF, TEX) - Waiver Wire Analysis

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 52% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: After back to back solid years of fantasy production, Leonys Martin has struggled to get things going in 2015. The Rangers center-fielder has hit a measly slash line of .243/.281/.343 with only 20 runs scored and 10 stolen bases. As expected, Martin... Read More

Minor League Spotlight: Top Fantasy Prospects from Week 9

This season has seen a lot of baseball’s top prospects get the call to the majors. Names like Carlos Rodon, Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, and now Carlos Correa. Who knows which prospects will be next? Byron Buxton, Corey Seager, Steve Matz. Who knows. The following are minor league hitters who have been very productive this... Read More

MLB Ready Prospects: Top 30 Rankings for Fantasy (Week 10)

One of the highest touted prospects in baseball was called up a few days ago. The prospect was Joey Gallo, and he was called up in the wake of Adrian Beltre’s injury. He had a 33.6% strikeout rate at Double-A this season, and a 39.5% rate the year prior, to go along with all the... Read More

Minor League Spotlight: Top Fantasy Prospects from Week 8

Balbino Fuenmayor (1B/3B, KC, Double-A) Stats: .365/.402/.602, 10 HR, 1 SB, 4.6% BB rate, 17.5% K rate Balbino Fuenmayor has the unfortunate distinction of being able to play two positions, and also being blocked by two potential All-Stars at both positions. He couldn’t even play DH for the Royals because of the great play of... Read More

MLB Ready Prospects: Top 30 Rankings for Fantasy (Week Nine)

In case anyone had any questions about Eduardo Rodriguez’s value in the majors, allow me to help answer them. The Red Sox are currently using a six-man rotation to help them decide which starter will become the odd man out, and odds are it will be Steven Wright. Masterson is out due to an injury,... Read More