Wilmer Flores Heading To San Francisco

The San Francisco Giants agreed to a multi-year deal with infielder Wilmer Flores on Tuesday, according to sources familiar with the deal. Flores hit .317/.361/.487 with the Diamondbacks in 2019 and could play either second base or a utility role for the Giants in 2020. He'll be competing with the likes of Mauricio Dubon, Donovan […]

Rangers Sign Greg Bird

The Texas Rangers signed first baseman Greg Bird to a minor league deal on Tuesday. The deal will include an invite to spring training. If Bird can manage to stay healthy -- he's played in only 92 games the last two seasons with the Yankees combined due to multiple injuries -- he should have a […]

Astros Make Offer To Hunter Pence

The Houston Astros have made an offer to outfielder Hunter Pence, according to MLB sources. Pence was drafted by Houston and played for them from 2007 to 2011. He's a four-time All-Star, including in 2019 with the Rangers when he hit .297 with 18 home runs and 59 RBI in a resurgent season. The 36-year-old […]

Sean Rodriguez Signs With Marlins

The Miami Marlins agreed to a minor league deal with infielder Sean Rodriguez on Tuesday, according to a source. The 34-year-old played every position in 2019 for the Phillies except catcher, and he even threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings on the mound. That's about where the good ended for S-Rod, though, as he hit only […]

Should We Buy Back Into Blake Snell?

Author note: Blake Snell dealt with an elbow issue ad received a cortisone shot. That lead to his ADP falling, and for good reason, but he returned to the mound since and now with the start of the season delayed, he should be ready for the start of the season.  Early in 2018, I was […]

Sophomore Players Due for Regression in 2020

The 2019 season saw a significant number of rookie hitters debut with great success. But Major League Baseball’s history is littered with strong freshman debuts followed by disappointing sophomore campaigns. In other words, successful rookie seasons do not guarantee all-star careers or even another good performance. We can look back at 2016 for some examples […]

Using Sabermetrics for Fantasy Baseball: Lineup Spot

You may be wondering why there aren't any advanced stats aimed at predicting a player's counting stats like runs and RBI. The answer is simple: modern sabermetrics reject the idea of a "clutch RBI guy" and therefore do not bother inventing predictive metrics for it. Runs and RBI are team-dependent stats and are unhelpful in ascertaining […]

Diamondbacks Sign Jon Jay, Edwin Jackson

The Arizona Diamondbacks signed outfielder Jon Jay and pitcher Edwin Jackson to minor league deals on Monday. Jay will make $1.5 million if he's on the major league roster with another $1.75 million in incentives, according to USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale. The 34-year-old (35 in March) played in just 47 games for the White Sox […]

Mariners Sign Marco Gonzales To Extension

The Seattle Mariners agreed to a four-year, $30 million contract extension with starting pitcher Marco Gonzales on Monday. The extension will begin in 2021 and contains a team option for the 2025 season. He'll make $1 million this year in the final year of his two-year deal. The left-hander was tied for the American League […]

Luke Voit Fully Recovered From Core Surgery

New York Yankees first baseman Luke Voit is reportedly in the best shape of his life after recovering from core surgery this offseason. Plenty of players report being in unusually great shape coming into spring training, but it's significant that Voit feels good. Core injuries pushed Voit’s hard-hit rate down to a career-worst 89.7 mph […]

Twins Could Be Interested In Taijuan Walker

The Minnesota Twins could be interested in signing starting pitcher Taijuan Walker to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. The Mariners are also known to be interested in a reunion with the former first-round pick. Walker, 27, has made just four starts over the last two seasons because of Tommy John […]

Twins Add Jhoulys Chacin

The Minnesota Twins signed starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training on Sunday. Chacin was 3-12 with a rough 6.01 ERA with the Brewers and Red Sox in 2019, but the 32-year-old has been in the league for 11 years and should provide a nice veteran presence […]

Mookie Betts Expected To Be Traded

Trade talks involving Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts continue to progress, and it's now expected that he's traded either Monday or Tuesday. There seems to be good momentum for the Dodgers landing the superstar outfielder, but the Padres are still in the mix and were still talking to Boston as of Sunday. If he […]

Bases Loaded Podcast - All Things Fantasy Baseball w/ BatFlip Crazy (@batflipcrazy)

Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) is joined by Toby of the BatFlip Crazy Podcast to discuss all things fantasy baseball Subscribe to the Bases Loaded podcast, part of RotoBaller Radio's Podcast Network. Like and Subscribe to the RotoBaller channel on Youtube to get all our latest podcasts and catch us on iTunes and BlogTalkRadio as well! Be sure to also […]

Analyzing Fly Ball Metrics: 2020 Positive Regression Candidates

A once intermittent and revered event, the home run ball has now engulfed baseball to extraordinary levels, which has theorists convinced that the ball is tampered with or "juiced." For a good reason, as last year we saw four teams shatter the single-season home run record previously held by the 2018 Yankees, with the Minnesota […]

Using Sabermetrics for Fantasy Baseball: Pull%

We have previously determined that fantasy owners generally prefer batters to hit the ball into the air in order to have a chance at a home run. Yet, all fly balls are not equal for this purpose. A player can maximize his power production by pulling the ball in the air. One way to illustrate […]

Early Mock Draft Analysis and Reaction: Fantasy Baseball

Pierre Camus and Nicklaus Gaut review the draft board from an early 2020 mock draft for fantasy baseball mixed leagues. Like and subscribe to the RotoBaller channel on Youtube to get all our latest podcasts and catch us on iTunes and BlogTalkRadio as well! Be sure to also tune into RotoBaller Radio on SiriusXM (channel Sirius 210, […]

Cavan Biggio: 2020 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

Now that the calendar has flipped to February, it's time to begin mapping out strategy in earnest for your 2020 fantasy baseball drafts. That includes identifying potentially undervalued targets, often referred to in the popular parlance as "sleepers." Anyone who has read my work in the past knows my feelings toward that term. It's too […]

Biggest Risers and Fallers of 2019 - Relief Pitchers

Welcome back, RotoBallers. I have to admit, I just wrote 3000 words on relief pitchers so forgive me if I get a little brief with the intro and just allow you to jump into the meat. In this article, I look at 10 relievers whose value skyrocketed or plummeted in the 2019 fantasy season, spend […]

Mets Not Discussing Trades For Dominic Smith

The New York Mets currently don't have any active trade talks involving first baseman/outfielder Dominic Smith, according to sources. The assumption is that Smith would be a likely trade candidate now that the Mets signed first baseman Matt Adams on Friday. They also have All-Star Peter Alonso entrenched as the everyday starter at the position. […]

Melky Cabrera Wants To Play Another Couple Years

Free-agent outfielder Melky Cabrera is interested in playing for another couple of years. Cabrera played in 133 games for the Pirates last season and was productive, hitting .280/.313/.399 with seven home runs and 47 RBI in 378 at-bats. The 35-year-old switch-hitter typically hits for a high average with his high-contact profile -- he's a career […]

Cubs, Rockies Have Discussed Kris Bryant, Nolan Arenado Swap

The Chicago Cubs and Colorado Rockies have discussed a one-for-one trade that would send third baseman Kris Bryant to Colorado in exchange for Nolan Arenado. The Rockies would pay at least some of Arenado's salary ($234 million over the next seven years) in the proposed deal. Apparently Arenado would also love to play for the […]

Dodgers Won't Deal Gavin Lux To Land Mookie Betts

The Los Angeles Dodgers will not trade shortstop prospect Gavin Lux (baseball's No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline) in order to land Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts, but they are willing to deal outfielder Alex Verdugo. The depth that the Dodgers have in their minor league system is why they are a serious contender […]

Mets Sign Matt Adams to Minor League Contract

The Mets signed first baseman Matt Adams to a minor league contract on Friday, also extending him an invite to 2020 spring training. In 2019, Adams hit .226 with 20 home runs and 56 RBI with the Nationals. If he makes the MLB roster, Adams would serve as first base insurance for the Mets and […]

Derek Holland Signs With Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed pitcher Derek Holland to a minor league deal on Friday, according to an industry source. He'll receive an invite to spring training and can opt out of his deal if he's not on the Opening Day roster. Holland made 51 relief appearances for the Cubs and Giants in 2019, posting an […]

Curtis Granderson Hangs Up His Cleats

Former New York Yankees and New York Mets outfielder Curtis Granderson announced his retirement on Friday after a successful 16-year career. The 38-year-old was a lifetime .249 hitter with 344 home runs and 937 RBI. He began his career with the Tigers and also played for the Blue Jays, Brewers and Marlins. Grandy hit just […]

When Should You Draft Your First Starting Pitcher?

Pierre Camus and Nicklaus Gaut decide when you should pull the trigger on your ace in fantasy baseball drafts this year. How early is too early and can you wait to take your first SP? Like and subscribe to the RotoBaller channel on Youtube to get all our latest podcasts and catch us on iTunes and […]

Fall Flashes: Arizona Fall League Top Prospect Risers

Every year, some of the best minor league prospects head to Arizona to take part in the Arizona Fall League. It features six teams of prospects, sent by their organizations to get extra game reps against top-flight competition, sometimes including players at higher levels in the minor league system. Given the high level of competition, […]

Alex Cobb Looking, Feeling Good

Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that starting pitcher Alex Cobb (back, hip, knee) looked good while watching him throw a side session during minicamp earlier this month. "He looked great, he felt great, so that's huge news for us," Hyde said. Cobb made just three starts for the O's last season due to multiple […]

Mariners Sign Yoshihisa Hirano

The Seattle Mariners signed relief pitcher Yoshihisa Hirano to an undisclosed one-year deal on Thursday, according to general manager Jerry Dipoto. To make room on the roster, left-handed pitcher Ricardo Sanchez was designated for assignment. Hirano, 35, had a 4.75 ERA with 61 strikeouts, 22 walks and one save in 53 innings over 62 relief […]