Edwin Diaz Preparing For Closer Role

On Tuesday, New York Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz stated that his preparation and mindset for the 2021 season is to be the team's closer. After a shaky 2019, Diaz put together an incredible 2020 campaign. While his overall 2020 save total of six was low, and he did lose the role for a brief […]

J.D. Martinez's 2020 Season An Aberration?

Boston Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez had an uncharacteristic .389 slugging percentage in 2020 after posting a .619 mark from 2017-19. He hit 79 home runs in his first two years in Boston but only produced seven round-trippers in last year's shortened season. Martinez's hard-hit rate was down last year, but his 11.0 percent […]

Rhys Hoskins Medically Cleared For All Spring Training Activity

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins (elbow) has been medically cleared for all baseball activity following offseason elbow surgery. Hoskins was expected to be back for Opening Day, but it's good news he was able to participate in the team's first full-squad workout. Hoskins was one of the hottest hitters in baseball when the injury […]

Gleyber Torres Still Has A Bright Future

New York Yankees shortstop Gleyber Torres hit 38 home runs in 144 games in 2019, but he finished last season with just three long balls in 42 games and his barrel rate dropped 6.4 percentage points, the sixth-largest drop in baseball. His hard-hit rate increased from 36.5 percent to 38.0 percent, but almost half of […]

Matt Olson Could Rebound In 2021

Oakland Athletics first baseman Matt Olson hit 14 home runs while playing in all 60 games in 2020, but his wOBA fell to .311 while his batting average sat at .195. Olson struck out a career-high 31.4 percent of the time last year, compared to a career rate closer to 25.0 percent in his first […]

Trevor Story Hasn't Discussed Contract Extension

Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story has yet to discuss a contract extension with the team as he enters the final year of his deal. "Yeah, it's a contract year, but to me, every year is pretty much that way," Story told reporters on Tuesday. A midseason trade to a contender is a possibility with the […]

Phillies Are Still Hopeful For Scott Kingery

Philadelphia Phillies utility man Scott Kingery has had anything but a normal start to his big-league career. The former top prospect signed a six-year, $28 million contract before playing an MLB game and has been largely disappointing in three years since making the Phillies. Last season, Kingery was to abandon his super-utility role and settle […]

Shin-Soo Choo To Play In KBO In 2021

Free-agent outfielder Shin-Soo Choo is expected to join the SK Wyverns of the Korean Baseball Organization in 2021, according to Tae Woo Kim of SPOTV. The 38-year-old left-handed hitter spent the last seven years with the Texas Rangers, and he hit .236/.323/.400 over 33 games in the shortened 2020 season. Choo was an All-Star in […]

Gerrit Cole Will Start On Opening Day

New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole was confirmed as the team's Opening Day starter by manager Aaron Boone on Monday. The unquestioned ace in the Yankees rotation, it should come as no surprise that Cole will start for the team's first game of the 2021 season. Despite struggling to limit home runs last season, […]

Anibal Sanchez Not Rushing To Sign

Free-agent starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez turned down multiple MLB offers after he impressed during his showcase, and he plans to wait and see how the league's COVID-19 protocols go during spring training and hope that a contender calls while he's waiting. If things are under control with the virus, Sanchez will pitch in 2021. The […]

Gio Urshela On Pace To Be Game-Ready In One Week

New York Yankees third baseman Gio Urshela (elbow) is expected to be healthy enough for game action as soon as Feb. 28, according to manager Aaron Boone. Urshela underwent surgery to remove a bone spur in his elbow in December, but he's recovered well and is likely to be in the team's Opening Day lineup […]

Digging Into BB% Leaders - Cavan Biggio

When looking at a player’s stats, what we really want to know is how skilled he is, not necessarily just how a particular year happened to pan out. An output stat like walks can give us some meaningful information, but there is a lot more going on that might help us better understand how and […]

RotoBaller Mock Draft Review - Biggest Draft Value Picks

Welcome back RotoBallers! Today we're looking at some of the best value picks from our recent RotoBaller staff mock draft. You can also read about everyone's biggest draft reaches and regrets. As we steamroll into fantasy baseball draft season, the team here at RotoBaller continues to practice what we preach by partaking in mock drafts. […]

Bo Bichette Motivated To Be Better In 2021

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette watched the offseason news, which saw the club finish as a runner-up in the Francisco Lindor sweepstakes. And while he understood the interest in the veteran shortstop, he sees himself as a full-time shortstop and spent the winter working out and rededicating himself to that end. Both the players […]

Joey Votto Expects To Have A Better Season In 2021

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto told reporters that he expects to be better this year than he was in 2020. The veteran first baseman stated, "I refined last year. I'll be better than the back little bit of the season just because I've worked on it and I'll dedicate myself to it. I can't […]

MLB Spring Training Notebook - February 23rd

Welcome to the 2021 edition of RotoBaller's Spring Training Notebook. I began this column a year ago, and made it about four or five articles in when Major League Baseball decided to shut things down, just like everything else around the globe, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We've at least made it through the first […]

Roster Construction Strategies from the Middle

Drafting a great roster is the vital base for a successful fantasy baseball season. In order to do that, you'll need to find an optimal draft position. All draft spots are not created equal. Finding the right spot for you is your first task. Everyone has their own preference on the best spot to start […]

Carlos Correa Open To Long-Term Extension

Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa said he's open to a long-term contract extension if it's completed before Opening Day. Correa avoided salary arbitration by signing a one-year, $11.7 million deal, but he can become a free agent after the 2021 season. He's spent his whole career with Houston after he was the first overall pick […]

Diamondbacks Finalize Deal With Asdrubal Cabrera

The Arizona Diamondbacks confirmed a one-year, $1.75 million deal with infielder Asdrubal Cabrera on Monday. The 35-year-old was in spring camp on Monday when the team went through their first full-squad workout. Cabrera made $925,926 in prorated pay from a $2.5 million salary last season in 52 games for the Washington Nationals during the shortened […]

Tyler Clippard Agrees With Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks signed free-agent relief pitcher Tyler Clippard to a one-year, $2.25 million deal on Monday night, according to multiple reports. The deal includes $1.75 million this year and a $3.5 million mutual option for the 2022 season with a $500,000 buyout. The 36-year-old right-hander is a two-time All-Star and has made 777 appearances […]

Franmil Reyes Dealing With Sprained Ankle

Cleveland Indians designated hitter Franmil Reyes said Monday that he suffered a sprained right ankle a few weeks ago, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports. Reyes didn't indicate whether he expects the injury to affect his status for spring training, though it wouldn't be surprising if Cleveland elected to limit his activity in the […]

Franklin Perez Throwing In Camp

Detroit Tigers right-hander Franklin Perez (shoulder), the team's No. 14 prospect, threw his first formal bullpen session of spring training on Monday. Perez took things easy, but it was a good step for an injury-plagued youngster that has pitched in just nine minor league games since joining the team as part of the Justin Verlander […]

Spencer Torkelson Impresses In Batting Practice

Detroit Tigers first baseman/third baseman Spencer Torkelson, the team's top prospect per MLB Pipeline, put on a show in batting practice at spring training on Monday during the team's first full-squad workout. Torkelson will get his first look at live pitching on Tuesday, and he could see quite a few at-bats when spring training games […]

Albert Pujols Unsure Of Plans Past 2021

Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols is undecided on whether he'll continue his career beyond the 2021 season, according to a source. The 41-year-old is entering the final year of his $10-year, $240 million deal with the Angels. The future Hall of Famer could open this season backing up Jared Walsh at first base […]

Yoenis Cespedes To Hold Showcase March 2

Free-agent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes wants to play in 2021 and will hold a showcase for major league teams on March 2 in Fort Pierce, Florida. The 35-year-old opted out of the 2020 season after just eight games for COVID-19-related reasons. Cespedes has been bothered by multiple injuries and has played in just 127 games since […]

Cleveland Hasn't Talked Extension With Shane Bieber

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Shane Bieber said the team hasn't approached him about a long-term contract extension, but he said he's willing to listen and sounded excited about the idea. Cleveland typically starts extension talks in spring training, so the two sides could come together soon on discussions. The 25-year-old right-hander is under team control […]

Carlos Carrasco, Dominic Smith Absent Monday

New York Mets starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco and first baseman/outfielder Dominic Smith were among four players that were absent from the team's first full-squad spring training workout due to a "non-injury-related issue," according to manager Luis Rojas. However, all four players should be at camp by the end of the week. This should be a […]

Trey Mancini Without Restrictions This Spring

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Trey Mancini went through his first full-squad spring workout on Monday for the first time since he was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer last March. Mancini has been in Florida since Feb. 1 and started taking live batting practice on the field after a week. The 29-year-old has been cleared to […]

Freddie Freeman Won't Report Tuesday

Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman will not report with the rest of the team's position players to spring training on Tuesday following the birth of his twin sons. Manager Brian Snitker said he expects the 2020 National League MVP to arrive later in the week. Freeman will have to spend "a couple days" away […]

Matt Shoemaker Viewed As Twins Fifth Starter

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Matt Shoemaker is already being viewed as a member of the pitching rotation. Manager Rocco Baldelli said the team is ready to pencil him in as their fifth starter after signing him to a one-year $2 million deal just a week ago. He hasn't tossed more than 30 innings in a […]