Justus Sheffield Will Be Delayed Due To Blister

Seattle Mariners top pitching prospect Justus Sheffield, who was acquired in the trade that sent James Paxton to the Yankees, will have his Cactus League debut delayed a day or two due to a small blister on his finger. He's scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Friday. The left-hander is MLB Pipeline's No. 43 […]

Ervin Santana Heading To White Sox

The Chicago White Sox signed free-agent starting pitcher Ervin Santana to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training on Friday. The veteran right-hander made just five starts in 2018 with the Twins due to finger issues and was terrible when he was on the mound. However, he went 16-8 with a 3.28 […]

Sonny Gray Scratched Due To Elbow Stiffness

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Sonny Gray has been scratched from his spring training outing on Saturday due to right elbow stiffness. Tanner Roark will make the start in his place against the Indians. It's a bad start to Gray's tenure with the Reds after being traded over from the Yankees this offseason. The 29-year-old right-hander […]

Nationals Moving On From Bryce Harper

The Washington Nationals are officially moving on from free-agent outfielder Bryce Harper. "Nothing's certainly changed on our end," owner Mark Lerner told NBC Sports Washington's Todd Dybas Friday. "We've moved on. As I said back then and we had to. There was no way we could wait around. Bryce, I'm sure will make his decision […]

Setup Men You Need to Know - 2019 Bullpen Outlooks

Now that the closers in each division have been covered, it's time to talk about those often-forgotten-but-possibly-even-more-important relievers: the setup men. A lot of times, closers can be pigeonholed into the ninth inning, especially by "old-school" or "traditional" managers, leaving the actual most critical late-game situations to another relief pitcher. In steps the setup man. […]

NFBC Draft and Hold Strategy - Pitching Category Boosters (Premium Content)

All other Premium Tools can be accessed on the premium dashboard. There is no such thing as a can't-miss pitching prospect. Pitchers never stay healthy. Relievers are volatile. All of these are sayings that diehard fantasy baseball players are familiar with, and to some extent, live by during the fantasy season. Developing a pitching strategy […]

ADP Champ or Chump - Trey Mancini and Ryan Zimmerman

This week we are taking a trip to the DMV. Don't panic, not the Department of Motor Vehicles! We are going to compare two first basemen in very different parts of their career from the Baltimore/Washington area. With the loss of Manny Machado and the expected loss of Bryce Harper, the star power in the region […]

Phillies Waiting For Price To Drop On Craig Kimbrel, Dallas Keuchel

The Philadelphia Phillies are unlikely to engage free-agent closer Craig Kimbrel or starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel unless either pitcher's current asking price drops, according to those close to the situation. Keuchel is believed to be seeking a five-year deal, while Kimbrel is looking for something similar. The Phillies see themselves as favorites to land outfielder […]

Jonathan Villar Likely To Stay At Second Base

Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jonathan Villar is likely to spend most of his time at second base in 2019, with former All-Star Alcides Escobar the favorite to play shortstop. Escobar, 32, was signed to a minor league deal but will most likely make the team if he stays healthy. Villar played 36 games at second […]

Jed Lowrie's MRI Shows No Structural Damage

The MRI exam on New York Mets third baseman Jed Lowrie's sore left knee showed no structural damage on Thursday, according to general manager Brodie Van Wagenen. The GM said the Mets will be cautious with Lowrie and "bring him along slowly." Lowrie first felt soreness while running and it bothered him while doing "high-explosive" […]

Mets, Jacob deGrom's Agents To Meet About Extension

New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom's agents, Jeff Berry and Matt Ricatto, and general manager Brodie Van Wagenen will meet in Florida, according to a source. deGrom set a deadline of Opening Day for the team to agree to a long-term contract extension with him. As of last week, deGrom said the Mets had […]

Ross Stripling Going Back To Windup

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Ross Stripling will go back to a windup in his delivery full time in 2019 after abandoning it after the spring of 2017. "I think the reason you bring it back, it gives you a little more rhythm and it gives hitters a different timing. Out of the stretch, it’s easy […]

Clayton Kershaw Frustrated After Bullpen Session

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw was given the day off on Thursday by manager Dave Roberts after he was discouraged with the way he was feeling during a bullpen on Wednesday. The ace lefty also wasn't happy with his live batting practice on Monday. Roberts said Kershaw didn't mention a specific injury and […]

White Sox Not Bidding On Bryce Harper

The Chicago White Sox will not bid on free-agent outfielder Bryce Harper, according to a source. The White Sox also lost out on their primary target on Tuesday when Manny Machado agreed to a 10-year, $300 million contract with the Padres. Harper, a six-time All-Star and 2015 National League MVP, is expected to command a […]

Jorge Soler Says He's Fully Healthy

Kansas City Royals outfielder Jorge Soler (foot) showed up healthy and ready to go in camp this week. He was hitting .265 with 18 doubles, nine home runs and 28 RBI in mid-June last year when he fractured the first metatarsal bone in his left foot and missed the rest of the season. Soler (27 […]

Mike Soroka Won't Pitch In Early Spring Games

Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker said that starting pitcher Mike Soroka (shoulder) will not pitch in early spring training games. The young hurler finished last year on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation and will be brought along slowly. The good news is the 21-year-old doesn't have any limitations, but the team is just being […]

Sean Manaea Ahead Of Schedule

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Sean Manaea (shoulder) continues to play catch as he begins his throwing program and is well ahead of schedule of where he was initially projected after his shoulder injury was diagnosed last year. There's still no guarantee that Manaea will even pitch in 2019, but it's looking more likely that he'll […]

Cardinals Easing Andrew Miller Into Spring Action

St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said he doesn't think relief pitcher Andrew Miller will pitch in the first couple of Grapefruit League games this weekend. Given the knee issues the left-hander dealt with last year, the Cardinals are also being careful with him in fielding drills in camp. So far Miller's knee and arm […]

Kyle Gibson Being Eased Into Spring Action

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Kyle Gibson (illness) may not appear in a spring training game for another week or so as the team brings him along slowly after his bout with E. coli last month. Gibson should be just fine for Opening Day. The 31-year-old right-hander had his best season in the majors in 2018, […]

Miguel Sano Cleared For Light Activity

Minnesota Twins third baseman Miguel Sano (foot) has been cleared for "light activity" in camp. Sano is dealing with a minor laceration on his foot, but he'll be fine for Opening Day. The 25-year-old dealt with an injury last year and was also demoted to the minors, hitting just .199/.281/.398 with 13 home runs and […]

Keon Broxton (OF,NYM) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 400 CURRENT ADP: ~510 overall ANALYSIS: A fantasy darling for a few seasons, Keon Broxton owners are still waiting for that breakout campaign. A move to New York might be the key to playing time, and the right opportunity to flaunt his stuff in the Bigs. No longer is he blocked […]

Jed Lowrie Undergoing MRI

New York Mets third baseman Jed Lowrie (knee) is not at camp on Thursday and is in New York getting an MRI exam on his sore left knee. The team is awaiting the results. It could be nothing serious but it could also be something that would put him in danger of missing the start […]

Odubel Herrera Looks To Be Fine

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Odubel Herrera (hamstring) took batting practice and threw long toss on Thursday, and manager Gabe Kapler said Herrera is penciled in to play in the third or fourth Grapefruit League game next week. Herrera tweaked his leg running the bases this week, but it doesn't seem to be very serious. Barring any […]

Twins Discussing Deal With Marwin Gonzalez

The Minnesota Twins are discussing parameters of a three-year deal with free-agent infielder Marwin Gonzalez on Thursday, according to multiple baseball sources. The soon-to-be 30-year-old can play pretty much all over the infield and anywhere in the outfield, which makes him extremely valuable to a lot of clubs looking to make a late addition before […]

Phillies Confident They'll Land Bryce Harper

The Philadelphia Phillies are confident that they will eventually sign free-agent outfielder Bryce Harper and have ramped up negotiations after being motivated after losing out on shortstop Manny Machado, according to a source. The Phillies weren't prepared to give $300 million to Machado, but Harper and his agent, Scott Boras, are likely to want to […]

Ryan Brasier Returns To Camp

Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Ryan Brasier, who is dealing with an infected right little toe, has returned to camp and is hoping to resume workouts soon. It's not exactly clear what is wrong with his toe, but it doesn't appear to be too serious. Brasier, along with Matt Barnes, are the favorites for closing […]

Chris Archer, Joe Musgrove Expected To Be Ready

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitchers Chris Archer and Joe Musgrove are "on target to begin the season healthy" after they both underwent core/abdominal surgery early in the offseason, according to director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk. Archer threw live batting practice on Wednesday, while Musgrove threw a bullpen. Musgrove is scheduled to pitch in the team's […]

Gregory Polanco Looking Strong And Healthy

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco (shoulder) is looking strong and healthy while working in the batting cages at camp and is hitting the ball with authority during batting practice. He's currently swinging the bat "without any reservations and restrictions," according to director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk. However, Polanco is still working through a throwing […]

Noah Syndergaard Not Worried About Extension

New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard, who signed a one-year, $6 million deal in January to cover his second year or arbitration eligibility, said he's not in any rush to sign a long-term contract extension. "I trust my ability and the talent that I have. So I feel like I'm going to bet (on) […]

Anthony Rendon Not Putting Deadline On Extension Talks

Washington Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon, who is in the final year of his current deal in 2019, isn't putting a firm deadline on contract-extension talks. The Nationals expect talks to resume this spring once Bryce Harper's free agency is resolved. "We can talk as much you want, I’m all ears," Rendon said. "I’m a […]