Twins Avoid Arbitration With Jake Odorizzi

The Minnesota Twins avoided salary arbitration with starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi on Friday by signing him to a one-year, $9.5 million deal. Odorizzi had a forgettable first season in the Twin Cities by going 7-10 with a 4.49 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 8.9 K/9 in 32 starts (164 1/3 innings). There is bounce-back potential in […]

Noah Syndergaard Receives A Raise

New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $6 million deal. Thor is a risk/reward high-end fantasy ace because of his injury history, but when he's healthy he's usually lights-out on the mound. The hard-throwing right-hander went 13-4 with a 3.03 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 155 […]

Trea Turner Avoids Arbitration

Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $3.725 million deal, according to sources. Turner is mainly useful for his speed (89 steals the last two years), but he also hit .271/.344/.416 with a career-high 19 homers and 73 RBI in 2019. His 20-homer, 40-steal upside firmly puts […]

Will Smith Earns $4.225 Million For 2019

San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Will Smith avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $4.225 million deal. Smith was one of the team's most reliable late-inning relievers last season, posting a shiny 2.55 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 71 strikeouts in 53 innings and 14 saves. The southpaw is likely to enter the 2019 […]

Michael Wacha Receives $6.35 Million From Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael Wacha avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $6.35 million deal. Injuries ruined Wacha's 2018 season, as he made just 15 starts (84 1/3 innings). He was pretty good before his injury, though, going 8-2 with a 3.20 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 7.6 K/9, but his […]

Scooter Gennett Avoids Arbitration

Cincinnati Reds second baseman Scooter Gennett avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $9.775 million deal. Gennett proved his 2017 breakout was no fluke by slashing .310/.357/.490 with 23 home runs, 92 RBI, 86 runs scored and four stolen bases in 2018. He may never reach the 30-homer mark, but Gennett is […]

Ken Giles Gets $6.3 Million From Toronto

Toronto Blue Jays closer Ken Giles avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $6.3 million deal. Giles had a rough 2018 season. He posted a 4.65 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with Houston before being traded to the Blue Jays midseason. He was slightly better in Toronto and saved 26 games total between […]

Angels Settle With Tyler Skaggs

The Los Angeles Angels avoided salary arbitration with starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs by signing him to a one-year, $3.7 million deal. Skaggs went 8-10 in 2018 with a 4.02 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 9.3 K/9 over 24 starts (125 1/3 innings). His innings total was his highest in his six-league career, and the left-hander remains […]

Aaron Hicks Avoids Salary Arbitration

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $6 million deal. Hicks has a nice combination of power and speed -- he hit 27 dingers and stole 11 bases in 2018 -- but injuries are a concern for the 29-year-old and the fact that New York has […]

Diamondbacks Settle With Robbie Ray

The Arizona Diamondbacks avoided salary arbitration with starting pitcher Robbie Ray on Friday by signing him to a one-year, $6.05 million deal. Rumored to be on the trade block this offseason, the D-backs ultimately would like to hang onto the talented southpaw. Ray went 6-2 in 2018 with a 3.93 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 165 […]

Dan Winkler Gets A Raise

Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Dan Winkler avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $1.61 million deal, according to a source. Winkler was a huge high-leverage asset for Atlanta last year, posting a 3.43 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 69 K's in 60 1/3 innings with two saves. While he won't be drafted in […]

Dan Straily Avoids Arbitration

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Dan Straily avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $5.0 million deal. Straily missed some time in 2018 with an injury and made just 23 starts (122 1/3 innings), posting a 4.12 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 99 strikeouts (7.3 K/9). There's not much upside left in the 30-year-old […]

Jose Urena Settles With Marlins

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Urena avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $3.2 million deal, according to a source. Urena had a 3.98 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 6.7 K/9 across 31 starts (174 innings) for the Fish in 2018. His career 6.1 K/9 in four seasons in Miami leaves a lot […]

Cubs Avoid Arbitration With Kyle Schwarber

The Chicago Cubs avoided salary arbitration with outfielder Kyle Schwarber on Friday by signing him to a one-year, $3.39 million deal. Schwarber played in a career-high 137 games last season and hit .238/.356/.467 with an .823 OPS, 26 home runs, 61 RBI and 64 runs scored. Injury concerns and a high strikeout rate keep Schwarber […]

Yankees Closing In On DJ LeMahieu

The New York Yankees are closing in on a two-year deal with free-agent second baseman DJ LeMahieu. This could signal the end of the Yankees pursuit of free-agent shortstop Manny Machado, as Gleyber Torres would presumably move to the 6 until Didi Gregorius is recovered from Tommy John surgery. LeMahieu, 31 in July, hit .276/.321/.428 […]

Mookie Betts Avoids Arbitration

Boston Red Sox outfielder and 2018 American League Most Valuable Player Mookie Betts avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $20 million deal, according to sources. It's a new high mark for a second-year arbitration-eligible player. Betts is in consideration for the top overall fantasy pick in 2019 after leading all of baseball in […]

Adam Duvall Settles With Braves

Atlanta Braves outfielder Adam Duvall avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $2.875 million deal, according to a source. Duvall hit an ugly .195/.274/.365 with 15 home runs and 61 RBI in 138 games with the Reds and Braves last season. However, he could see consistent playing time in left field in […]

Jose Peraza Avoids Arbitration

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Jose Peraza avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $2.775 million deal, according to a source. Peraza put himself on the fantasy map in 2018 by hitting .288/.326/.416 with 14 home runs, 58 RBI, 85 runs scored and 23 stolen bases in 157 games as the team's everyday shortstop. […]

Alex Bregman Undergoes Elbow Surgery

Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman (elbow) underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow on Friday to remove loose bodies, according to the team. He will be limited in spring training but is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season. It's not a serious surgery, but it's something to keep an […]

Corey Knebel Avoids Arbitration

Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Corey Knebel avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $5.125 million deal, according to sources. Knebel's 2018 season wasn't as fruitful as 2017, as he dealt with an injury and even spent time in the minors. But he bounced back late in the year and looked like his […]

Jake Bauers - 2019 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

Jake Bauers exploded onto the fantasy landscape last summer only to fall off late in the season. It ultimately became a disappointing freshman campaign. And yet, Bauers was back in the news this offseason with a trade to Cleveland and a chance to demonstrate again what made him a top fantasy prospect coming into 2018. […]

Angels Settle With Andrew Heaney

The Los Angeles Angels avoided salary arbitration with starting pitcher Andrew Heaney by signing him to a one-year, $3.4 million deal on Friday. Heaney had his best year in the big leagues in 2018, going 9-10 with a 4.15 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 9.0 K/9 in 30 starts, but the left-hander has yet to surpass […]

Arodys Vizcaino Avoids Arbitration

Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Arodys Vizcaino avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $4.8 million deal, according to sources. Injuries limited Vizcaino to just 38 1/3 innings last season, but he was solid when on the field, posting a 2.11 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, career-high 16 saves and a 9.4 K/9. The right-hander […]

Braves Settle With Mike Foltynewicz

The Atlanta Braves avoided salary arbitration with starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz on Friday by signing him to a one-year, $5.475 million deal, according to sources. The 27-year-old had a breakout in 2018 by going 13-10 with a 2.85 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 202 strikeouts in 183 innings over 31 starts for Atlanta. His fantasy owners […]

Kyle Hendricks Avoids Salary Arbitration

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $7.405 million deal, according to a source. Hendricks went 14-11 with a 3.44 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 7.3 K/9 over 33 starts in 2018. He doesn't strike out many batters (career 7.6 K/9), but he's never had an ERA […]

2019 Bullpen Outlooks - National League East

Last year's Bullpen Outlook got started with the American League, so let's take the National League on first this time around. Some signings and trades have made a splash in the bullpens of the NL East, and there may still be more to come. With some top free agent closers and setup men still looking […]

2019 Catchers - Early Fantasy Baseball Tiered Rankings

Catcher is a tough position to evaluate, as many teams utilize multiple catchers and it is rare for one to play 140 or more games in a season. Wear and tear as a backstop limits offensive value for sure, but there are still a group of solid catchers that can contribute in multiple categories. Beyond […]

Red Sox Settle With Steven Wright

The Boston Red Sox avoided salary arbitration with pitcher Steven Wright by signing him to a one-year, $1.375 million deal. Knee issues limited the knuckleballer to only 53 2/3 innings (four starts) for the BoSox in 2018, but he was great when on the mound (2.68 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 7.0 K/9). He doesn't strike many […]

Shane Greene Avoids Salary Arbitration

Detroit Tigers closer Shane Greene avoided salary arbitration on Thursday by agreeing to a one-year, $4 million deal, according to sources. Although Greene managed to close out 32 games for the rebuilding Tigers in 2018, he was one of the worst fantasy closers due to his bloated 5.12 ERA and 1.37 WHIP despite his 65 […]

Angels Avoid Arbitration With Nick Tropeano

The Los Angeles Angels avoided salary arbitration with starting pitcher Nick Tropeano on Thursday by signing him to a one-year, $1.075 million deal, according to sources. Tropeano ended the year on the disabled list and went 5-6 with a 4.74 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 7.6 K/9 in 14 starts (76 innings) for the Halos. He […]