Corey Kluber's Option Declined By Rangers

The Texas Rangers declined to pick up starting pitcher Corey Kluber's $18 million option for the 2021 season on Friday, making him a free agent. They'll give him a $1 million buyout instead. However, the Rangers are willing to re-sign the veteran right-hander to a contract of lesser value, mostly likely a one-year, incentive-laden deal. […]

Brewers Decline Options On Jedd Gyorko, Eric Sogard, Ben Gamel

The Milwaukee Brewers declined the 2021 options on infielders Jedd Gyorko and Eric Sogard and outfielder Ben Gamel on Friday. Gyorko and Sogard both had $4.5 million options, while Gamel remains under team control after the team declined his $2.55 million option. Gyorko hit .248 with nine home runs and 17 RBI in 43 games […]

Mets Claim Nick Tropeano Off Waivers From Pirates

The New York Mets claimed right-handed reliever Nick Tropeano off of waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday. In 2020, Tropeano posted a 1.15 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, and struck out 19 in 15 2/3 innings pitched for the Pirates. Despite the solid performance in 2020, albeit in a limited number of innings, Tropeano owns […]

Jacob Barnes Claimed Off Waivers By Mets

Right-handed reliever Jacob Barnes was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets on Friday. In 2020, with the Los Angeles Angels, the 30-year old posted an unimpressive 5.50 ERA, and 1.28 WHIP in 18 innings pitched. Notably, however, Barnes throws in the mid-to-upper 90s and posted a 2.25 FIP with 24 strikeouts in 2020. […]

Twins Negotiating With Nelson Cruz

The Minnesota Twins entered contract negotiations with designated hitter Nelson Cruz this week. Cruz is a free agent after hitting 57 home runs and slashing .308/.394/.626 over the last two seasons in Minnesota, but they are entertaining bringing him back for another season. The power hitter is now 40 years old, but he remains one […]

Steve Cohen's Purchase Of Mets Approved By Owners, NYC

The New York Mets ownership bid by Steven Cohen, the billionaire hedge-fund manager of Point72 Asset Management, was approved by Major League Baseball owners on Friday. Additionally, the New York City Law Department and NYC Mayor's Office signed off on the sale on Friday despite recent reports they would raise objections. As a result, the […]

Tigers Officially Hire A.J. Hinch

The Detroit Tigers officially hired former Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch as their new manager on Friday. Hinch was a backup catcher for the 2003 Tigers. The hiring comes one year after he was fired by Houston for his part in the sign-stealing scandal, and he was suspended for all of the 2020 season. Hinch […]

Charlie Morton Wants To Keep Pitching?

Tampa Bay Rays right-handed starter Charlie Morton, who became a free agent on Friday when the team didn't pick up his 2021 option, is believed to want to continue his career. Last time he was a free agent he preferred to remain on the East Coast. Morton's 7.0 FanGraphs Wins Above Replacement over the last […]

Trevor Bauer Open To Playing In Japan

Cincinnati Reds impending free-agent starting pitcher Trevor Bauer said on Twitter that he will consider any offers from an MLB or Japanese team this offseason. Bauer was dominant during the regular season for the Reds, leading the National League with a 1.73 ERA with 100 strikeouts and just 17 walks in 73 innings (11 starts) […]

Rays Decline Options On Charlie Morton, Mike Zunino

The Tampa Bay Rays declined their options on starting pitcher Charlie Morton and catcher Mike Zunino on Friday, according to general manager Erik Neander. Both players will become free agents, but Neander said the team will keep the door open for them to return. Morton went 2-2 with a 4.74 ERA in nine regular season […]

Yankees Decline Options On Brett Gardner, J.A. Happ

The New York Yankees declined their 2021 options on outfielder Brett Gardner and left-handed pitcher J.A. Happ on Friday, making them both free agents. Gardner will receive a $2.5 million buyout instead of a $10 million salary, while Happ's deal didn't come with a buyout. The 37-year-old Gardner is the team's last player from the […]

Brewers Decline Ryan Braun's Option

The Milwaukee Brewers declined to pick up veteran outfielder Ryan Braun's $15 million mutual option for the 2021 season on Friday, making him a free agent. The team's career home run leader will now ponder his future and is due a $4 million buyout. the 37-year-old has spent his entire career in Milwaukee and pondered […]

Tigers Finalizing Deal To Make A.J. Hinch Their Manager

The Detroit Tigers have made progress in finalizing a deal to make former Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch their next manager, according to sources. Hinch lost his job with Houston before the start of the 2020 season for his role in the team's sign-stealing scandal. Former Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire retired on Sept. 19 with […]

Fantasy Baseball Applications of zxwOBAcon Analysis

In part one of this series, I established that zxwOBAcon is the primary driver of season-to-season changes in xwOBAcon and that the biggest risers in zxwOBAcon each season tend to be rebound candidates. Furthermore, rebound candidates recover all of their zxwOBAcon losses more often than not and frequently outperform their season x zxwOBAcon in season […]

Randy Arozarena's 2021 Fantasy Value: WPC+ Videocast

Pierre Camus and Nicklaus Gaut look back at the amazing rookie season and postseason run by Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena in order to project his fantasy baseball value and ADP for 2021. Like and subscribe to the RotoBaller channel on Youtube to get all our latest podcasts and catch us on iTunes and […]

Yankees Pick Up Option For Zach Britton

New York Yankees relief pitcher Zach Britton had his $14 million option picked up by the team on Thursday, keeping him with the Yankees through the 2022 season. Britton was characteristically excellent in 2020 with a 1.89 ERA over 19 innings, and the 32-year-old collected eight saves in closer Aroldis Chapman's early-season absence. Chapman's contract […]

White Sox Name Tony La Russa Their New Manager

The Chicago White Sox named Tony La Russa, a three-time World Series champion, as their new manager on Thursday. The 76-year-old hasn't served as a big league manager since ending his 16-year run with the Cardinals in 2011, a season that ended in his third championship. La Russa has a 2,728-2,365 managerial record and began […]

Brad Hand Placed On Outright Waivers

The Cleveland Indians placed left-handed reliever Brad Hand on outright waivers on Thursday, according to a source. Hand has a $10 million team option for the 2021 season that the Indians plan on declining if he goes unclaimed. If another team claims the southpaw, Cleveland would be off the hook for the $1 million buyout […]

Astros Put Roberto Osuna On Outright Waivers

The Houston Astros placed relief pitcher Roberto Osuna (elbow) on outright waivers on Thursday. Osuna pitched in only four games for the team in 2020 before he was shut down with elbow soreness at the start of August. The right-hander's initial diagnoses recommended Tommy John surgery, but it was later changed to a forearm strain […]

White Sox Close To Hiring Tony La Russa?

The Chicago White Sox could officially name Tony La Russa as their new manager as early as Thursday. La Russa got his start in the big leagues in 1979 with the White Sox, and rumors have been swirling for more than a week that he'd land there. The 76-year-old won three straight American League pennants […]

Bubba and Bat Flip 55: 2 Early Mocks APD Starting Pitcher Player Debates - Benched with Bubba (Episode 318)

Bubba (@bdentrek) is joined by Bat Flip Crazy (@BatFlipCrazy) to take a deeper look at the 2 Early Mocks ADP. They go over some of the starting pitchers and look at some with similar ADPs and debate. Going around on some players people are high on and some they are down on with a twist […]

Mets Decline Options On Wilson Ramos, Others

On Wednesday, the New York Mets declined club options for the 2021 season on catcher Wilson Ramos, third baseman Todd Frazier, and catcher Robinson Chirinos, making them free agents. Ramos' option was worth $10 million. Frazier's was worth $6.5 million. Chirinos' option was worth $5.75 million. The Mets will, instead, pay those three players a […]

Sergio Romo's 2021 Option Not Picked Up

The Minnesota Twins declined relief pitcher Sergio Romo's $5 million 2021 option on Wednesday, making him a free agent, according to sources. The Twins will give Romo a $250,000 buyout. The 37-year-old veteran was a key late-inning contributor for Minnesota for a Twins bullpen that was among the best in the American League in 2019 […]

Paul Goldschmidt Has Surgery On Right Elbow

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (elbow) had a bone spur removed from his right elbow, and general manager John Mozeliak said that Goldschmidt is progressing well. The right-handed power bat played 58 of a possible 60 games during the 2020 regular season and batted .304 with an .883 OPS, so his elbow clearly […]

Cardinals Decline Kolten Wong's 2021 Option

The St. Louis Cardinals declined second baseman Kolten Wong's $12.5 million option on Wednesday, making him a free agent. The 30-year-old will receive a $1 million buyout. The first-round pick in 2011 made his major league debut in 2013 and has been with the Cardinals for eight seasons. The left-handed hitter batted .265 with a […]

Rockies Buy Out Daniel Murphy

The Colorado Rockies declined infielder Daniel Murphy's $12 million option on Wednesday, ending his two-year stint with the organization and making him a free agent. The 35-year-old will receive a $6 million buyout. Murphy hit a disappointing .269 with 16 home runs and 94 RBI in 172 games with the Rockies the last two seasons […]

Nats Decline Options On Adam Eaton, Anibal Sanchez, Others

The Washington Nationals declined club options for the 2021 season on outfielder Adam Eaton and right-hander Anibal Sanchez, making them free agents. The Nats also declined their portion of mutual options on infielders Howie Kendrick and Eric Thames. Eaton's option was worth $10.5 million, but they'll instead pay him a $1.5 million buyout. Sanchez's option […]

Marlins Exercise Starling Marte's Option

The Miami Marlins exercised the club option for outfielder Starling Marte on Wednesday, and he'll make $12.5 million next year. The Marlins would've been on the hook for $1 million if they had decided not to pick up Marte's option. Miami acquired the center fielder from Arizona on Aug. 31 for pitchers Caleb Smith and […]

Yankees Unlikely To Reunite With Didi Gregorius

Philadelphia Phillies impending free-agent shortstop Didi Gregorius said that he doesn't foresee the Yankees wanting to sign him this offseason. Current Yankees shortstop Gleyber Torres battling injuries and defensive issues in 2020, hitting only .243 with three home runs and nine errors in 42 games. Gregorius hit .284 with 10 home runs and 40 RBI […]

George Springer Doesn't Want To Return To Astros

Houston Astros outfielder George Springer, who is set to become a free agent, doesn't want to return to the team. It would be a big loss for an Astros team that will already be without starting pitcher Justin Verlander (elbow) in 2021 as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. Fellow outfielders Michael Brantley and Josh […]