Dustin Pedroia Won't Report On Monday

Boston Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said that second baseman Dustin Pedroia (knee) won't report with the rest of the position players on Monday. It is now unlikely that Pedroia will be in spring training this year because of the significant setback he had with his left knee last month. The four-time All-Star and former […]

No Timetable For Mitch Haniger's Return

Seattle Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger (hernia) has yet to arrive to spring training, and manager Scott Servais said there remains no timetable for Haniger's return following his sports hernia surgery. Haniger broke out in 2018 as an All-Star, but he fell back to Earth in 2019, mainly because of multiple injuries. He played in just […]

Tommy Pham Played Through Torn UCL

San Diego Padres outfielder Tommy Pham (elbow) said that he was able to play through a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow last season. Pham received stem-cell injections and platelet-rich plasma therapy throughout the offseason. San Diego acquired Pham from the Rays in the offseason, and he's expected to help set the table […]

D.J. Stewart Making Progress In Rehab

Baltimore Orioles outfielder D.J. Stewart (ankle) did some light running at Orioles camp on Wednesday after having surgery on his ankle in October. The former first-round pick had microfracture surgery on his right ankle, and he's expected to return to baseball activities toward the end of spring training. Stewart hit .238 with a .698 OPS […]

Mariners Bringing Taijuan Walker Along Slowly

Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais said that the team will bring starting pitcher Taijuan Walker along slowly this spring to build his endurance and stamina, but the right-hander is healthy. Originally a first-round pick of the Mariners in 2010, Walker has thrown only 14 innings the last two seasons due to issues from Tommy John […]

Brendan Rodgers Slightly Ahead In Rehab

Colorado Rockies second baseman Brendan Rodgers (shoulder) is slightly ahead of schedule in his rehab from surgery to fix a torn labrum in his right shoulder and has moved to throwing from 120 feet. It's good news, but Rodgers won't be ready for the start of the regular season and likely won't be a factor […]

Luis Urias Aiming For Opening Day

Milwaukee Brewers infielder Luis Urias (wrist) said he wants "to be ready for Opening Day" and wasn't sporting a cast or brace on his surgically repaired left wrist at the team's spring clubhouse on Wednesday. The 22-year-old had surgery on Jan. 28 to fix a broken hamate bone in his left hand/wrist. The Brewers envisioned […]

James Paxton Thinks He Can Return In May

New York Yankees starting pitcher James Paxton (back) said that he was told he can resume throwing in four to six weeks, and the Yankees think the left-hander could return in May or June. Paxton said he thinks that a May return is possible. Fantasy owners would be wise not to get their hopes up […]

2020 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers – Victor Reyes

With a 457 ADP in 2020 NFBC leagues, Detroit Tigers outfielder Victor Reyes is an afterthought in all but the deepest leagues.  Perhaps the 25-year-old shouldn't be, though, as Reyes was quietly solid in 2019, slashing .304/.336/.431 in 292 plate-appearances, with three home runs and nine stolen bases. Having made stops in Arizona and the […]

2020 Keeper Value Rankings - First Base

Many years ago, I noticed the managers in my long-time keeper league were consistently making terrible keeper decisions year after year. I thought I would help them out instead of taking their money every year and find a good set of Keeper League Rankings to share with them. What I found was quite disturbing. There […]

2020 Third Base Rankings - H2H Points Leagues

Points leagues may seem like a slight variation from traditional 5x5 category scoring leagues but you must approach draft day with a different strategy if you wish to truly compete. Rankings themselves are a different beast altogether, as category specialists like Mallex Smith and Dee Gordon (stolen bases), Kyle Schwarber and Franmil Reyes (home runs), […]

2020 Early Bullpen Outlooks - N.L. West

We've made it out west, folks! After covering every American League team and all of the National League East and Central, it's time for our final division of the winter: the National League West. The NL West has the bullpen that is likely to be the best in the National League. It also has one […]

Tommy Edman To Serve As Super-Utility Player

St. Louis Cardinals infielder Tommy Edman, who led the team with an .850 OPS in his first season in 2019, arrived to spring training this week prepared to move around the diamond. Edman is expected to get work at as many as six positions this spring. He'll see time at shortstop, center field, left field […]

Rich Hill Ramping Up Throwing Program

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Rich Hill (elbow) said he's on his second week of throwing and will slowly ramp up to long toss in a few weeks. The team has mapped out a rough plan and if all goes well, Hill expects a month-long rehab assignment in May and a return sometime in early June. […]

Jonathan Villar Will See Time In Center Field

Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly said that infielder Jonathan Villar will play the middle of the field in his first year in Miami, noting center field, second base and shortstop. Third base was mentioned more in passing. Villar was extremely valuable to fantasy owners in 2019 despite playing for the last-place Orioles, as he hit […]

Salvador Perez Close To 100 Percent

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (elbow) caught a bullpen session during the team's first spring training workout on Wednesday and said his surgically repaired right elbow is at "90 percent." Perez hurt his elbow in spring training last year and required Tommy John surgery, missing the entire 2019 season. He is hitting and throwing […]

Fernando Tatis Jr. Won't Be Limited In Spring Training

San Diego Padres manager Jayce Tingler said that all the medical reports on shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. (back) were positive and he won't have physical limitations during spring training. "He's been out here early, he's swung the bat, he's running, he's playing defense, so we do not expect any limitations," the manager said. Tatis reported […]

Cardinals Sign Brad Miller

The St. Louis Cardinals signed infielder Brad Miller to a one-year major league deal on Wednesday. Relief pitcher Jordan Hicks (shoulder) was placed on the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move. Miller, 30, hit .260/.329/.565 with 13 home runs and 25 RBI in 79 games for the Indians and Phillies as a utility infielder […]

Hunter Harvey To Begin Year As Reliever

Baltimore Orioles pitcher Hunter Harvey, a former first-round pick, will be a relief pitcher in 2020. A former top pitching prospect in Baltimore's system, Harvey never lived up to expectations because of injuries. But he made his big league debut in 2019 out of the bullpen and excelled, posting a 1.42 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and […]

Martin Prado Announces Retirement

Free-agent third baseman Martin Prado announced his retirement on Wednesday. Prado finished the 2019 season with the Marlins, hitting .233/.265/.294 with two home runs and only 15 RBI in 104 games. The 36-year-old spent 14 years in the majors and was an All-Star back in 2010 with the Braves. He started his career with Atlanta […]

Ben Zobrist Has No Plans To Play

Free-agent infielder/outfielder Ben Zobrist hasn't announced his retirement yet, but he is currently at home and has no plans to play. The Cubs just signed Jason Kipnis to help at second base on Tuesday, so it's unlikely Zobrist is even in Chicago's plans if they were considering bringing him back. If this is the end […]

No Plan To Limit Jesus Luzardo, A.J. Puk

Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin said there's no plan for a specific innings limit for starting pitchers Jesus Luzardo and A.J. Puk. Both Luzardo and Puk are top left-handed pitching prospects and have extremely high fantasy ceilings in the long term, but the A's are expected to limit their innings in 2020 eventually. Per MLB […]

Gio Gonzalez Slowed With Shoulder Discomfort

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez (shoulder) is dealing with discomfort in his shoulder and has been slowed down by the team in camp. Gonzalez's injury is minor and he should be ready for Opening Day, but he'll be slowed in early Cactus League action as a precaution. The 34-year-old left-hander was solid for […]

Yasmani Grandal Has Calf Strain

Chicago White Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal (calf) was diagnosed with a minor calf strain in his left leg after undergoing an MRI exam. Grandal will be held out of the first week of Cactus League action, but he's expected to be fine for Opening Day. The White Sox will play it safe with their big […]

Lucas Giolito Dealing With Minor Injuries

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (rib cage) is dealing with soreness in his rib cage and has a strain in his chest muscle. Giolito will miss the first week of Cactus League games, but the injury isn't serious and he's expected to be ready for Opening Day. The 25-year-old broke out last year […]

Reds Re-Sign Derek Dietrich

The Cincinnati Reds re-signed infielder/outfielder Derek Dietrich to a minor league deal with an invitation to major league spring training on Wednesday. Dietrich had a career-high 19 home runs and drove in 43 runs in 113 games for Cincinnati in 2019, but he hit just .187/.328/.462 and struck out 74 times. He's useful to the […]

Mike Leake Dealing With Wrist Soreness

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Mike Leake (wrist) has left wrist soreness and is undergoing a precautionary MRI exam on Wednesday. It's to his non-pitching arm, so Leake should be fine as long as it's not a serious injury. The veteran 32-year-old had a 4.29 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 127 strikeouts and 27 walks in 32 starts […]

Madison Bumgarner Expected To Start On Opening Day

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo all but said that starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner will start on Opening Day. Bumgarner will make his debut with the D-Backs against the Braves at home on March 26. It's not a great matchup for his first start with Arizona, as the Braves have one of the most imposing lineups […]

Mariners Agree With Taijuan Walker

The Seattle Mariners agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal with starting pitcher Taijuan Walker on Wednesday, according to sources. Walker can earn up to $3 million in incentives. The 27-year-old was drafted in the first round by the Mariners in 2010, so this is a homecoming for him. He hasn't been able to stay […]

Cameron Maybin Returns To Tigers

The Detroit Tigers agreed to a one-year major league deal with outfielder Cameron Maybin on Wednesday. The deal is for $1.5 million with the chance to make extra in incentives. Maybin played for Detroit in 2007 and 2016 and was the team's first-round pick in 2005. He'll turn 33 in April and hit .285 with […]