Nick Mariano's Early 2021 Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Rankings

The 2021 MLB season isn't guaranteed to be normal but I have hope that next spring will be much healthier. As such, I will approach ranks as if a traditional 162-game season is coming. Join me for my position-by-position ranking series for the 2021 fantasy baseball season. How much weight do we give 2020? How […]

Mitch Haniger Avoids Arbitration

The Seattle Mariners and outfielder Mitch Haniger avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, non-guaranteed $3.01 million deal on Saturday, according to sources. Haniger slashed just .220/.314/.463 in 63 games while adding 15 home runs and 32 RBI in 2019 and hasn't played since June of that same season. The 29-year-old had a breakout […]

Gio Urshela Out Three Months After Elbow Surgery

New York Yankees third baseman Gio Urshela (elbow) underwent surgery on Friday to remove a bone chip from his right elbow and is expected to be out for three months. He'll likely miss around half of spring training, which is set to begin in mid-February. Urshela was placed on the 10-day injured list with a […]

Starting Pitcher K-BB% Fallers: Who to Worry About

In part one of this mini-series, Sam Chinitz covered K-BB% risers from 2021. You can check that post out here. This article will take a look at the pitchers that went in the wrong direction. Strikeout to walk rate is so important to be mindful of when evaluating pitchers. No matter how you slice it, […]

Nick Mariano's Early 2021 Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitcher Rankings

The upcoming 2021 season may not be normal -- going from 2020 to 2021 doesn't wave a magic wand -- but there's still comfort in baseball. As such, I will approach ranks as if a traditional 162-game season is coming. Join me for my position-by-position ranking series for the 2021 fantasy baseball season. How much […]

Rangers Hire Former Pitcher Chris Young As GM

The Texas Rangers hired Chris Young as executive vice president and general manager on Friday, and he'll work under president of baseball operations Jon Daniels, who has been the team's GM since 2005. The 6-foot-10 Young pitched 13 seasons in the majors and has been the senior vice president in charge of on-field operations and […]

Jake Odorizzi Makes Sense For The Mets

With the New York Mets still looking to upgrade their starting rotation, free-agent starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi makes perfect sense. Odorizzi will turn 31 in March and went 15-7 with a 3.51 ERA on his way to his first All-Star selection. However, he struggled during the shortened 2020 season by going 0-1 with a 6.59 […]

Bubba and Bat Flip 60: 2021 Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Preview - Benched with Bubba (Episode 324)

Bubba (@bdentrek) is joined by Bat Flip Crazy (@BatFlipCrazy) to continue their positional previews with the wonderful shortstop position. They will go over the Top 10 in NFBC ADP, go over some later round targets, and then a ton of awesome listener questions to get you ready for the catcher position. Be sure to subscribe […]

Taylor Rogers Agrees To $6 Million Deal

The Minnesota Twins and closer Taylor Rogers agreed to a one-year, $6 million deal on Thursday, according to multiple reports. Rogers had a 4.05 ERA with nine saves and two blown chances in 21 relief outings during the shortened 2020 season. The southpaw was the team's last arbitration-eligible player. In 2019, the left-hander had 30 […]

Year-In-Review: Indians Pitching Staff

What a wild and wacky MLB season that was. Between the rule changes, schedule adjustments, and constant fear the whole thing could come crashing down, 2020 certainly presented a unique set of challenges to our national past time. One of the biggest challenges within the game, however, was hitting the Cleveland Indians pitching staff. The […]

Michael Brantley Could Be Backup Plan For Yankees

The New York Yankees are in need of more left-handed hitting, and they've had contact with four-time All-Star outfielder Michael Brantley. However, Brantley seems like a Plan B in case the team cannot re-sign second baseman DJ LeMahieu. Brantley will turn 34 in May and could be limited to a short-term deal because of his […]

Red Sox Showing Interest In Eddie Rosario

The Boston Red Sox have some interest in free-agent outfielder Eddie Rosario after he was non-tendered by the Twins on Wednesday, according to sources. Rosario would likely have to play right field in Fenway Park, but manager Alex Cora selected Rosario to play for Team Puerto Rico during the 2017 World Baseball Classic. Andrew Benintendi […]

Red Sox Acquire Minor-Leaguer Christian Koss

The Boston Red Sox acquired minor league infielder Christian Koss from the Colorado Rockies on Thursday in exchange for minor league left-handed pitcher Yoan Aybar. The 22-year-old Koss was a 12th-round pick in 2019 and was an All-Star in the Rookie-level Pioneer League in 2019. He hit .332 (63-for-190) with 11 home runs, 51 RBI, […]

Blue Jays Non-Tender Travis Shaw

The Toronto Blue Jays non-tendered third baseman Travis Shaw and reliever A.J. Cole on Wednesday, making them both free agents. Shaw signed a one-year deal for $4 million last December, and he hit .239 with six home runs and a .717 OPS in 50 games after an extremely disappointing 2019 season in Milwaukee in which […]

Royals Non-Tender Maikel Franco

The Kansas City Royals non-tendered third baseman Maikel Franco, infielder Jeison Guzman, infielder/outfielder Erick Mejia and outfielder Bubba Starling on Wednesday. They also agreed to one-year deals with outfielder Jorge Soler, first baseman/outfielder Hunter Dozier, right-handers Jesse Hahn and Jakob Junis and outfielder Franchy Cordero. Franco was in line for a big raise -- projected […]

Archie Bradley, Brian Goodwin Non-Tendered

The Cincinnati Reds declined to tender contracts to relief pitcher Archie Bradley, outfielder Brian Goodwin, infielder/outfielder Kyle Farmer, catcher Curt Casali and reliever R.J. Alaniz on Wednesday. Farmer was quickly re-signed to a one-year deal. Bradley, 28, was acquired from the Diamondbacks in 2020 and had a 1.17 ERA in six games as a setup […]

Rockies Non-Tender David Dahl

The Colorado Rockies non-tendered center fielder David Dahl on Wednesday, making him a free agent. The team also declined to offer 2021 contracts to catcher Tony Wolters and right-hander Chic Chi Gonzalez. Dahl was an All-Star in 2019 but has dealt with plenty of injuries and was set to make $2.55-$2.6 million via the arbitration […]

Nomar Mazara, Carlos Rodon Non-Tendered

The Chicago White Sox declined to tender 2021 contracts to outfielder Nomar Mazara and left-handed pitcher Carlos Rodon on Wednesday. They also signed left-hander Jace Fry to a one-year, $862,500 contract to avoid arbitration. Mazara, 25, slashed just .228/.295/.294 with one homer and six doubles in 149 plate appearances in 42 games last year after […]

Adam Duvall Non-Tendered By Braves

The Atlanta Braves declined to tender a contract to outfielder Adam Duvall on Wednesday, making him a free agent. Duvall was the team's only arbitration-eligible player not tendered a contract. The 32-year-old was second on the team with 16 homers during the shortened 2020 season. The power hitter is projected to receive between $4.4-$7.1 million […]

No Structural Damage For Wander Franco

Tests revealed that Tampa Bay Rays shortstop prospect Wander Franco (biceps, shoulder), the top prospect in baseball heading into 2021, doesn't have structural damage in his shoulder and biceps area. Franco experienced biceps soreness and shoulder inflammation while playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic and flew back to the U.S. earlier this week to […]

Mets Making Serious Push For James McCann

The New York Mets are in active talks with free-agent catcher James McCann and are making a serious push for him, according to league sources. A deal isn't close yet, but it's looking likely that he'll receive a four-year deal. If New York lands McCann, it could signal that they are going after other top […]

Blue Jays, Giants Interested In Marcell Ozuna

The Toronto Blue Jays and San Francisco Giants have both shown interest in free-agent outfielder Marcell Ozuna, according to sources. The Blue Jays appear to have George Springer ahead of Ozuna on their preference list. The Giants interest is contingent on whether the National League has the designated hitter in 2021, as the 30-year-old Ozuna […]

Red Sox Showing Interest In Corey Kluber

The Boston Red Sox are showing interest in free-agent starting pitcher Corey Kluber, who makes his home in the greater Boston, according to a source. The 34-year-old right-hander is progressing nicely from the teres major muscle strain that cut his 2020 season short (just one inning pitched), and he is expected to resume throwing bullpen […]

Blue Jays Discussing Jean Segura

Philadelphia Phillies infielder Jean Segura is drawing trade interest, and the Toronto Blue Jays are among the teams discussing him, according to sources. Segura played third and second base in 2020 after the team signed Didi Gregorius to play the 6. He has hit .276/.329/.421 with 19 home runs in 198 games the last two […]

Angels Trade For Jose Iglesias

The Los Angeles Angels acquired shortstop Jose Iglesias from the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday in exchange for minor league right-handers Garrett Stallings and Jean Pinto. Iglesias is a replacement for Andrelton Simmons, who is a free agent and wasn't given a qualifying offer. David Fletcher could also play shortstop, but he is expected to take […]

Eddie Rosario Non-Tendered

The Minnesota Twins non-tendered outfielder Eddie Rosario on Wednesday after he had been their regular left fielder for the last six years. The team reached one-year deals with five of their arbitration-eligible players: right-hander Jose Berrios ($5.6 million salary), center fielder Byron Buxton ($5.125 million), reliever Tyler Duffey ($2.2 million), catcher Mitch Garver ($1.875 million) […]

Year-in-Review: Dylan Bundy

“Just when I thought I was out, he pulls me back in!” –That’s what fantasy managers found themselves saying about Dylan Bundy this year, as the longtime sleeper finally woke up with career-best numbers across the board, highlighted by a 3.29 ERA, 2.95 FIP, and 4.24 K/BB ratio. Going into 2020 Bundy’s NFBC ADP was […]

Dodgers Acquire Reliever Corey Knebel

The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired relief pitcher Corey Knebel from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for a player to be named later on Wednesday, moments before the non-tender deadline. The 29-year-old former All-Star struggled in his return from Tommy John surgery (6.08 ER, 15 strikeouts, eight walks), but he had a 1.78 ERA and 126 […]

Cubs Non-Tender Kyle Schwarber

The Chicago Cubs non-tendered 2016 World Series hero Kyle Schwarber on Wednesday, making him a free agent after six seasons with the team. On the flip side, Chicago tendered contracts to 2016 National League MVP Kris Bryant, shortstop Javier Baez and catcher Willson Contreras. The 27-year-old Schwarber was in his last year of arbitration, but […]