Clayton Kershaw Won't Pitch In World Baseball Classic

Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw announced on Friday that he will not be participating for Team USA in this year's World Baseball Classic. Kershaw declined to give a specific reason, but he said it is "super disappointing." The most likely reason is a complication with insurance for Kershaw after he missed time due to […]

Aaron Nola, Phillies In Extension Talks

The Philadelphia Phillies and starting pitcher Aaron Nola have begun discussions on a long-term contract extension, according to multiple major-league sources. He's currently scheduled to become a free agent after the 2023 season. There appears to be momentum to reach an agreement sometime this spring, and Nola has expressed his interest in remaining in Philadelphia. […]

Bryce Harper Won't Be In Camp Until March

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper (elbow) will not arrive at spring training with the team until early March, according to manager Rob Thomson. It's not much of a surprise after Harper had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in late November. The 30-year-old former MVP is expected to be out for most of the […]

Julio Rodriguez Could Run More This Year

Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez only had four of his 25 stolen bases in the second half of last season, but part of that was due to health, and part of it was pitchers paying more attention to him on the bases. But Rodriguez could be running even more in 2023. "It's a big part […]

Dustin May Will Face Restrictions In 2023

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said right-hander Dustin May will be under some limitations in his first full season back from Tommy John surgery this year, but the Dodgers haven't exactly decided what that entails. "But I'm excited for him to start the season healthy and not being in that rehab mode," Roberts added. […]

Cionel Perez, Bryan Baker Could Be Closing Options

Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that relievers Cionel Perez and Bryan Baker could get opportunities to close out games if closer Felix Bautista (knee, shoulder) isn't ready for the start of the 2023 season. In addition to Bautista, late-inning reliever Dillon Tate (elbow) is slated to miss the first month of the season. Fantasy […]

Jameson Taillon Tweaking His Slider

Chicago Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon has been working on tweaking his slider grip in spring training. Taillon agreed to a four-year, $68 million deal with the Cubs in free agency after spending the last two years with the New York Yankees, where he went 22-11 with a 4.08 ERA (4.16 FIP), 1.16 WHIP, 76 walks […]

Four MLB Rookies Who Surged in September - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

In 2022, we saw the MLB debuts of several up-and-coming top fantasy baseball prospects: Julio Rodríguez, Michael Harris II, Adley Rutschman, and Spencer Strider...to name a few. However there were many more "under-the-radar" prospects who produced quality rookie campaigns, and surged in September as a potential preview of what is to come in 2023. These […]

Nestor Cortes Throws Bullpen Session Friday

New York Yankees starting pitcher Nestor Cortes (hamstring), who had to pull out of this year's World Baseball Classic due to a right hamstring injury, threw a bullpen session on Friday. Cortes' injury appears to be very minor, but the Yankees aren't taking any chances this early in spring training, and it was a no-brainer […]

Kodai Senga Struggles In First Throwing Session

New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga didn't have the best throwing session in spring training on Thursday, but the Mets are confident he'll make the necessary adjustments to a steeper mound than in his hometown of Japan. Senga called the 52-pitch bullpen session "so-so." The right-hander topped out at 96 mph during the workout. […]

Jose Alvarado Signs Three-Year Extension

The Philadelphia Phillies signed relief pitcher Jose Alvarado to a three-year contract extension on Friday that includes a team option for the 2026 season. The deal will be worth $21.5 million, and the option is worth $9 million. The 27-year-old left-hander had already avoided arbitration with a one-year, $3.45 million deal last week, but now […]

Manny Machado Plans To Opt Out Of Contract

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado publicly confirmed that he's told the team that he plans to opt out of his contract. He declined to get into negotiations on a potential long-term extension with the team, but he did say that he'd still like to play for the organization as long as new teammate […]

Analyzing the MLB Rookies - 2023 Fantasy Baseball Prospects

One great way to win your fantasy league is to get your hands on the MLB rookie of the year. Julio Rodriguez and Michael Harris II were two of the biggest keys to success last year, as they went on to return first-round value after being very cheap to acquire on your fantasy team. There […]

Hitter Busts at Every Position - Comparing ATC Projections vs. ADP for Fantasy Baseball

With the big football game officially behind us, the official "official" start of fantasy baseball season has nearly dawned. It's easy to start obsessing over finding this year's biggest hidden jewels, dreaming at night that your fantasy groundhog will see its shadow and bring you six more weeks of sleepers. But don't forget about their […]

Five Closers To Target for Saves in 2023 Fantasy Baseball Drafts

The most tricky part of building your fantasy baseball roster is the relief pitchers. Having a superstar closer on your fantasy baseball team can be the key to a winning season. The problem is superstar relievers don’t just grow on trees. Among the select group of elite closers, it’s hard to find the one that’ll […]

Indefensible: Bad MLB Defenders Who Could Lose Playing Time And Fantasy Baseball Value In 2023

The Super Bowl is over and it's time for everybody to turn their attention over to the joys of fantasy baseball. At this point in the preseason, fantasy baseball managers should be working through their projections, whether it's making their own or going through the projections given by their favorite system, like the ATC projections […]

Yoan Moncada Taking Better Care Of His Body

Chicago White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada has impressed new manager Pedro Grifol so far. Moncada is scheduled to play for Team Cuba in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, which is a risk for a player that has had his fair share of injuries over the years. He hit just .212/.273/.353 with 12 home runs […]

Anthony DeSclafani Says He's 100 Percent

San Francisco Giants right-hander Anthony DeSclafani (ankle) said he is fully healthy in spring training and intends to bounce back this year after being limited to five starts in 2022 after having season-ending ankle surgery. DeSclafani had an ERA over 6.00 in his 19 innings pitched last year, too, so it was all bad. The […]

Fernando Tatis Jr. Says His Shoulder Is 100%

San Diego Padres shortstop/outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (shoulder, wrist) said his shoulder is 100 percent healthy. "It's just locked in. I feel like it's not going to come out anymore and it feels really secure. It just feels right," Tatis said. In addition to having surgery on his left shoulder, the 24-year-old phenom also had […]

Clayton Kershaw May Not Pitch In World Baseball Classic

Team USA general manager Tony Reagins said that "there are some challenges in getting Clayton Kershaw cleared" for the 2023 World Baseball Classic. The exact reason for Kershaw's uncertain status is not known. The most common hold-up for players to play in the WBC is the need to secure insurance coverage, particularly those with a […]

Andrew Painter Has A New Pitch

Philadelphia Phillies pitching prospect Andrew Painter, who stands at 6-foot-7 at 19 years old, has added a cutter to his repertoire this year. Catcher J.T. Realmuto thought Painter's cutter reminded him of Zack Wheeler's. Painter has ascended quickly and could become the first teenager to pitch for the team since 1980. He's in camp this […]

Shintaro Fujinami Impresses At A's Camp

Oakland Athletics right-hander Shintaro Fujinami was impressive in his first side session at spring training on Thursday. The 28-year-old Japanese sensation drew rave reviews and threw all six of his pitches -- four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball, cutter, slider, splitter and curveball -- during a bullpen session of around 40 pitches. "The big splitter was nasty," […]

Diamondbacks Closing Situation Will Be Fluid This Year

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said the team's closing situation this year will be "fluid in that area." "What I've done for the past six years is, I've always had a closer. That's just how my mind works. But I've got to evolve a little bit in that area. So if I feel the need […]

Jacob deGrom To Be Evaluated Friday

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (side) will be evaluated on Friday. If that goes well, manager Bruce Bochy said that deGrom could throw again as early as Saturday. The Rangers pushed deGrom's throwing session back on Wednesday after he reported tightness in his left side during a bullpen session earlier this week. The Rangers […]

Ryan Helsley Loses Arbitration Case Against Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley lost his salary arbitration case on Thursday, according to a source. He will make $2.15 million in 2023 instead of the $3 million that he filed for. Helsley will still be St. Louis' primary closer in 2023 after the All-Star had a career-best 1.25 ERA (2.34 FIP), 0.74 WHIP, […]

Michael Kopech On Track To Be Ready

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Michael Kopech (knee) doesn't seem to have any issues after undergoing right knee surgery late last season. "He's on pace. He's in a good spot," manager Pedro Grifol said. Kopech has already thrown a couple of bullpen sessions in spring training and has been looking good. The 26-year-old also dealt […]

Rays Move Andrew Kittredge To 60-Day Injured List

The Tampa Bay Rays moved relief pitcher Andrew Kittredge (elbow) to the 60-day injured list on Thursday and added right-hander Trevor Kelley to the 40-man roster in a corresponding move. Kelley was already with the team on a minor-league deal. Kittredge had Tommy John surgery last June and is expected to miss at least the […]

Cole Hamels Agrees With Padres On Minor-League Deal

Free-agent left-hander Cole Hamels and the San Diego Padres agreed to a minor-league deal on Thursday, according to a source familiar with the deal. Hamels is likely to receive an invitation to major-league spring training and can make as much as $2 million if he's in the majors in 2023. The San Diego native is […]

Luis Rengifo Wins Arbitration Case Thursday

Los Angeles Angels infielder Luis Rengifo won his salary arbitration case against the team on Thursday, according to a source. Rengifo will earn $2.3 million in 2023 instead of the $2 million that the Angels filed for. The Angels failed to upgrade at the shortstop position in the offseason, so Rengifo is expected to enter […]

Diamondbacks Win Arbitration Case Over Josh Rojas

The Arizona Diamondbacks won their salary arbitration case against infielder Josh Rojas on Thursday, according to a source. Rojas will earn $2.575 million in 2023 instead of the $2.9 million that he filed for. In his fourth MLB season with the D-backs in 2022, Rojas hit .269/.349/.391 with a .739 OPS, nine home runs, 56 […]