Adam Mernit's 10 Bold Predictions for 2016

Bold (adj.) ˈbōld Definition: fearless before danger Prediction (noun) pri-ˈdik-shən Definition: a statement about what will happen or might happen in the future Together, these words form the perfect recipe for making me look like an idiot at the conclusion of the 2016 MLB season. Our beloved Kyle Bishop asked the RotoBaller crew if we […]

Pedro Strop (RP, CHC) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Target ~320 CURRENT ADP: 358 ANALYSIS: Over the last four seasons, Pedro Strop has improved drastically. His batting average against has dropped from .215 in 2012 to .165 in 2015, and his WHIP has gone from 1.34 to 1.00 over that same span. Additionally, his strikeout rate has jumped from 20.5% to 30.0%, […]

Will Smith (RP, MIL) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Target ~250 CURRENT ADP: 269 ANALYSIS: For the most part, the Milwaukee Brewers represent a fantasy baseball dead zone in 2016, but closer Will Smith gives owners something to get excited about. Last year, 64.7% of Smith’s pitches were strikes. This split aided him in holding batters to a .218 average, and earned […]

Kelvin Herrera (RP, KC) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Target ~300 CURRENT ADP: 332 ANALYSIS: Kelvin Herrera’s average fastball velocity has stabilized between 96 and 98 mph for his entire career. This serious heat has led to a career average 23.9 K%, making him seemingly unhittable at times. The main storyline regarding the Royals’ bullpen has been the downfall of Greg Holland […]

Danny Valencia (3B/OF, OAK) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Target ~250 CURRENT ADP: 284.7 ANALYSIS: Danny Valencia played on six different teams over the last four seasons, and finally landed with the Athletics late in 2015. He is projected to be the starting third baseman for the A's in 2016. It is difficult to form any expectations for such an inconsistent player, […]

Adam Wainwright (SP, STL) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Target ~70 CURRENT ADP: 71 ANALYSIS: Even after Tommy John surgery in 2011, Adam Wainwright was one of the most heralded fantasy selections, through 2015. However, he ruptured his Achilles tendon in April-- he actually returned to the mound in a relief role in late September. His durability is often in question, but […]

Joe Ross (SP, WAS) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Target ~210 CURRENT ADP: 228.5 ANALYSIS: Joe Ross will be tabbed as the Nationals' fifth starter  in 2016 after going back and forth between the bullpen and the starting rotation for some time. In 13 starts and 76.2 IP last year, Ross accounted for 69 punchouts, giving him a 22% strikeout rate. Batters […]

Luis Severino (SP, NYY) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Target ~145 CURRENT ADP: 156.3 ANALYSIS: In 11 starts following his mid-season call-up in 2015, Luis Severino lived up to the hype that made him the Yankees’ most highly-regarded prospect. Over that span, he compiled a 2.89 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Batters made contact on 78.7% of Severino’s pitches, but were only […]

Trevor Bauer (SP, CLE) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Target ~250 CURRENT ADP: 269 ANALYSIS: Trevor Bauer earned wins in two of his first three starts of the 2015 season, allowing just two earned runs and registering 26 strikeouts in 19 innings pitched over that span. Unfortunately, he would reach double digits strikeouts in only two more starts, due to a lack […]

Kevin Pillar (OF, TOR) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Target ~180 CURRENT ADP: 195.7 ANALYSIS: Between the blazing speed and the sensational grabs, Kevin Pillar has begun to make a name for himself with the Blue Jays. After Michael Saunders went down with a torn meniscus before the 2015 season even started, Pillar found himself with a lot more responsibility. In 159 […]

2016 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values: 5 Busts Due for a Rebound

t’s really hard to admit when we have made a mistake. But sometimes, we look back on our fantasy season and we slap ourselves around for drafting a player who just didn’t cut it. The preseason hype was there, we were so excited to see the player tear it up, and he completely failed us. […]

Jonathan Schoop (2B, BAL) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Target ~180 CURRENT ADP: 204 ANALYSIS: In 2014, Jonathan Schoop was  thrown into the fire as the Orioles made a deep postseason run, getting swept by the Kansas City Royals in the ALCS. His first near-full regular season yielded 16 home runs and 45 RBI in 137 games, but also a .209 batting […]

Ian Desmond (SS, TEX) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Target ~100 CURRENT ADP: 113.3 ANALYSIS: The erratic play of Ian Desmond, the long-standing shortstop for the Washington Nationals, has brought up some uncertainty about his draft stock. Fantasy owners can view Desmond as an aging player in a physically demanding position who is starting to decline, or as a player who still […]

Eduardo Rodriguez (SP, BOS) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Target ~250 CURRENT ADP: 273 ANALYSIS: In 121.2 IP in 2015, Eduardo Rodriguez arrived at a 3.85 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP and a good-looking 18.8 K%. Other than four major bumps in the road, Rodriguez held teams to fewer than three earned runs in 16 of his 17 remaining starts. After his worst […]

Five Deep First Base Options: 2016 Draft Values

Every year, there are a handful of players that make a significant impact but garnered no recognition or any sort of hype whatsoever in the offseason. Whether it be for power, average, stolen bases, or anything else that brings a smile to fantasy owners’ faces, there are always deep sleepers lurking at the 1B position. […]

2016 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values: 5 RP Sleepers

Non-closing relievers, with some exceptions, have limited value in most fantasy formats. As a result, they are often overlooked by many owners. However, a quality set-up man can help your ratios, boost your strikeout totals, and even vulture a few wins or saves. If your league counts holds, all the better. That's without acknowledging the […]

2016 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values: Four RBI Sleepers

RBI total is often overlooked in fantasy baseball. We assume that because we are drafting the big names in the first few rounds, we think the star power will carry our lineups throughout the season. This is not always the case and we may find it hard to compete with other teams that are slugging […]

2016 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values: Four Strikeouts Sleepers

Strikeouts are more prevalent in today's game than they've ever been. Real baseball teams are catching on to what fantasy owners have known for some time - a pitcher who can rack up the whiffs is almost always more valuable than one who can't. Well, they probably knew that before, but as baseball has evolved […]

2016 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values: Danny Valencia

Few players have been around the block to the extent that Danny Valencia has by the age of 31 years old. In 2006, the Minnesota Twins took Valencia in the 19th round of the MLB Draft. Things were good for the Twins back then. Joe Mauer was coming into his own, and a veteran outfield […]

2016 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values: Adam Wainwright

In sports, both real world and fantasy, injuries can really muddle a player’s overall value. Just like a Major League ball club may be bullish on signing a big name player who is returning from a significant injury to a big contract, a fantasy owner may hesitate to commit to drafting a big name player […]

Jed Lowrie Carries Value if he Stays Healthy

Jed Lowrie’s injuries have caused headaches for front offices and after four seasons with the Boston Red Sox where he never played more that 88 games in a season, Lowrie began getting thrown back and forth between the Houston Astros and the Oakland Athletics. After his best season yet in 2012 with the Astros, Lowrie […]

Contact Pitching and Subpar Defense Raise Questions for Kendall Graveman's 2016 Outlook

Kendall Graveman came to Oakland in the blockbuster deal that the Athletics and the Blue Jays organized for Josh Donaldson. The 2015 season was our first chance to see what Graveman could do on the mound. After being thrown to the wolves in the powerful American League West, Graveman held his own to compile a […]

Can Henderson Alvarez's New Shoulder Be Trusted?

In May of 2015, Henderson Alvarez was placed on the disabled list with shoulder problems and never returned. At the time, the Miami Marlins were upset about this development. “Here is the disciplined middle-rotation starter that we need,” the front office thought after landing him in the blockbuster Jose Reyes trade. After just 51 starts […]

Veteran Rich Hill is An Intriguing SP Option

At the age of 35 and having played for five different teams, we can file Rich Hill under the “Grizzled Veteran” category. In the early days of Hill’s career, we got a good look at what he could do on the bump while making 57 starts with the Chicago Cubs. He dazzled fans with an […]

Steer Clear of Devin Mesoraco in 2016

Devin Mesroraco has been all over the place in recent years. Even in a career year (2014) in which Mesoraco hit .273 with 25 home runs, 80 RBI, and an All Star Game appearance, he was only able to play in 114 games. Granted, capable backup Brayan Pena was on-hand to give him rest, but injuries […]

Oakland Athletics and Fantasy Owners Alike Hope Jed Lowrie Can Stay Healthy

Jed Lowrie’s injuries have caused headaches for front offices and after four seasons with the Boston Red Sox where he never played more that 88 games in a season, Lowrie began getting thrown back and forth between the Houston Astros and the Oakland Athletics. After his best season yet in 2012 with the Astros, Lowrie […]

Danny Valencia Hoping to Stick in Oakland

Don’t be like the Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays who have all passed on Danny Valencia’s abilities. The 3B was drafted in 2006 and it has been hard for him to find a true home since then. We can bet that he is hoping to find […]

Contact Pitching and Subpar Defense Raise Questions for Kendall Graveman's 2016 Outlook

Kendall Graveman came to Oakland in the blockbuster deal that the Athletics and the Blue Jays organized for Josh Donaldson. The 2015 season was our first chance to see what Graveman could do on the mound. After being thrown to the wolves in the powerful American League West, Graveman held his own to compile a […]

2016 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values: Kevin Pillar

It’s not every day that you find as gifted of an athlete as Kevin Pillar. Between the blazing speed and the sensational grabs, the 2015 Defensive Player of the Year for CF and Gold Glove finalist is beginning to make a name for himself in Toronto. There was a lot of uncertainty surrounding Pillar’s playing […]

2016 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values: Jonathan Schoop

In recent years, the Baltimore Orioles have done a great job of balancing their lineup out with a mix of young talent and veteran presence. The veterans, namely Adam Jones, Chris Davis, and now Mark Trumbo, are spread throughout the outfield. The youth is mainly concentrated in the infield. The rise of Manny Machado has […]