Blue Jays, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Headed For Arbitration Hearing Tuesday

The Toronto Blue Jays and All-Star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have a salary arbitration case set for Tuesday, and it's believed there have been no negotiations since the Jan. 11 filing deadline, when the team offered $18.05 million and Guerrero asked for $19.9 million. Toronto has been a "file-and-trial" team, meaning they'll only do […]

Matt Mervis Expected To Open Season On Bench

Chicago Cubs first baseman Matt Mervis will likely open the regular season on the bench, according to Jared Wyllys of CHGO Sports. This decision is a product of an offseason trade in which Chicago acquired first baseman Michael Busch from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Given that the Cubs are expected to play Busch on a […]

Jo Adell Has Uncertain Future With The Angels

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell has an uncertain future after the team signed veteran Aaron Hicks to help shore up their outfield. Hicks is primed to open the year in the outfield mix along with Mike Trout, Taylor Ward, and Mickey Moniak. Adell would appear to be on the outside looking in at the […]

2024 Fantasy Baseball Hitter Sleepers Based On September Speed Surges

We have entered an era in baseball where speed and stolen bases are more valuable than ever. With the rule changes in 2023, teams took advantage of running more, leading to greater fantasy value on expected and unexpected players who surged in stolen bases. Last year in MLB, players recorded 3,503 stolen bases. This was […]

Carlos Santana Signs With Twins

Free-agent first baseman Carlos Santana has agreed to a one-year deal with the Minnesota Twins worth roughly $5.25 million, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network. The veteran split 2023 with the Pirates and Brewers, slashing .240/.318/.429 while slugging 23 homers. He maintained respectable levels of discipline at the plate with his 10.5 walk rate […]

Giants Won't Be Re-Signing Brandon Belt

The San Francisco Giants officials tossed the idea around of re-signing first baseman/designated hitter Brandon Belt, but signing the lefty-hitting DH would mean shifting lefty hitting Michael Conforto to the outfield and potentially sending Luis Matos back to Triple-A, reducing the team's overall range and athleticism. Belt hit 19 home runs in 339 at-bats in […]

Is Rhys Hoskins Injured or Healthy? Fantasy Baseball Injury Update

First baseman Rhys Hoskins (knee) missed the entire 2023 season with the Philadelphia Phillies after tearing his ACL in a spring training game on March 23. Hoskins, who was set to be a free agent in 2024, couldn't boost his value in a prove-it year.  However, Hoskins still got paid this offseason and signed a […]

Top 250 Dynasty Fantasy Baseball Prospects Rankings (January 2024 Update)

Welcome back RotoBallers to the January update of our MLB team's dynasty fantasy baseball prospects rankings for the 2024 season. We're now into 2024 with an eye on the upcoming year, and moves by MLB teams have begun to shape how we look at prospects. Comments about potential playing time, big contracts offered to players […]

Jose Miranda Feels "Pretty Good"

Minnesota Twins corner infielder Jose Miranda (shoulder) had scar tissue removed from his labrum and rotator cuff on Oct. 4 and was given a timeline of three to four months and feels "pretty good." He's currently hitting off a machine and started throwing two weeks ago. "There are some days it feels good, some days […]

Alex Kirilloff Hopes To Be Ready For Spring Training

Minnesota Twins first baseman/outfielder Alex Kirilloff (shoulder) said he's starting to ramp up after beginning to hit earlier in January, and his goal is to be ready for live at-bats next month and to play when spring training games kick off on Feb. 23. The labrum surgery he had in October to his right shoulder […]

Astros Acquire Trey Cabbage From Angels

The Houston Astros acquired infielder/outfielder Trey Cabbage from the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday in exchange for right-hander Carlos Espinosa. The move comes after the Angels designated Cabbage for assignment last week. The 26-year-old left-handed hitter had a great year at Triple-A Salt Lake in 2023, hitting 30 home runs and stealing 32 bases, but […]

Early Fantasy Baseball Draft Busts For 2024 Redraft Leagues

Spring training is still a couple of months away but preparation for fantasy baseball in 2024 is already underway in some circles. The most committed managers are already drafting for the season ahead, giving the rest of us a preview of what to expect once fantasy drafts are in full swing come spring.  Studying early […]

Batting Order: Using Sabermetrics for 2024 Fantasy Baseball

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 […]

Five Hitters Who Changed Scenes: Fantasy Baseball Impact

The MLB offseason got off to an extremely slow start but has begun to pick up speed in recent weeks. We've seen many former All-Stars and power hitters alike sign with or get traded to different teams. So, it begs the question: What are the implications of these moves for the player, their new club, […]

David Rubenstein, Mike Arougheti To Purchase Orioles For $1.725 Billion

David Rubenstein of the Carlyle Group and Mike Arougheti of Ares Management Corporation will reportedly purchase the Baltimore Orioles franchise from the Angelos family for $1.725 billion, per the Athletic's Brittany Ghiroli. There is no timetable for when the deal will be made official, although owners' meetings will take place next week in Orlando. Should […]

Justin Turner Inks One-Year Deal With Blue Jays

Free-agent infielder/designated hitter Justin Turner signed a one-year deal with a $13 million base salary on Tuesday with the Toronto Blue Jays, according to a source. The deal includes $1.5 million in roster and performance bonuses for the 2024 season. While Turner can play both third and first base, he's primarily expected to serve as […]

Plenty Of Concerns About Justin Turner

Free-agent infielder/designated hitter Justin Turner slashed a strong .276/.345/.455 with the Boston Red Sox in 2023 and is widely regarded as a great clubhouse presence. However, evaluators think most of Turner's playing time needs to be at DH, which is how he was used in Boston. He had 98 games at DH, 41 at first […]

Rangers Have Discussed Brandon Belt

The Texas Rangers have had internal discussions about signing free-agent first baseman/designated hitter Brandon Belt, who played for manager Bruce Bochy in San Francisco. On paper, Belt is a perfect fit for the Rangers, as he'd effectively replace Mitch Garver in their lineup. However, the question all offseason has been how much cash general manager […]

Rhys Hoskins Says He'll Be Full-Go In Spring Training

Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Rhys Hoskins (knee) said he will be full-go in spring training. "I'm pretty bored as a competitor," Hoskins said. The 30-year-old tore his left ACL in spring training with the Philadelphia Phillies last year and missed the entire 2023 campaign. Had the Phillies advanced further in the postseason last fall, Hoskins […]

Alfonso Rivas Claimed By Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals have claimed first baseman/outfielder Alfonso Rivas off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels. The 27-year-old was designated for assignment last week after the club's signing of reliever Robert Stephenson became official. Rivas appeared in 48 big-league contests between the Padres and Pirates in 2023 and hit .229 with three home runs, […]

Justin Turner Decision Likely To Be Made This Week

Free-agent infielder/designated hitter Justin Turner is expected to make a decision on free agency this week regarding where he will be playing in 2024. The 39-year-old slashed .276/.345/.455 with 23 home runs in 146 games played, posting a 114 wRC+ last year with the Boston Red Sox. Turner has maintained a wRC+ of at least […]

Pull%: Using Sabermetrics for 2024 Fantasy Baseball

We have previously determined that fantasy managers generally prefer batters to hit the ball into the air 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 this is […]

Kris Bryant Says He's Healthy, Set To Play First Base

Colorado Rockies outfielder Kris Bryant's first two seasons with the team have been marred by injuries, but the veteran slugger and former MVP said he's healthy and ready to turn things around in 2024. He signed a seven-year, $182 million deal in the spring of 2022 and still thinks he can be the player the […]

Fantasy Baseball Outlooks For Rhys Hoskins, Robert Stephenson, Aroldis Chapman, James Paxton - MLB Signings Analysis

There has been a host of significant free-agent signings over the last few days with the MLB offseason nearing its end before pitchers and catchers report to spring training. Rhys Hoskins, Robert Stephenson, Aroldis Chapman, and James Paxton all found new homes for the 2024 season of late. Each club certainly improves with their respective […]

Five Fantasy Baseball Hitters To Target In Mid-to-Late Rounds of 2024 Drafts

We are still a ways away from the thick of fantasy baseball draft season, but enough drafts have been completed to start getting an idea as to when players are being drafted. It is never too early to start strategizing for your drafts. While there are many different draft strategies and tactics, it is generally […]

Top Fantasy Baseball Hitter Prospects - 2024 Draft Targets and Sleepers

If you’re playing in a non-dynasty/keeper fantasy baseball league, it’s imperative to draft players who will make an immediate impact on your squad. Everybody in your league will have a win-now mindset; in order to dominate draft day, you must prepare a list of breakout candidates at each position. Sometimes, these gems aren’t new to […]

Rangers Sign Jared Walsh, Matt Duffy To Minor-League Deals

The Texas Rangers signed free-agent first baseman Jared Walsh, infielder Matt Duffy and left-hander Blake Taylor to minor-league deals with invitations to major-league spring training on Thursday. Walsh was a first-time All-Star with the Los Angeles Angels in 2021, when he hit .277 (147-for-530) with a career-high 29 home runs in 144 games. However, he […]

Blue Jays High On Spencer Horwitz

While Toronto Blue Jays first base prospect Spencer Horwitz lacks high-end power and could be limited to first base in the big leagues, but his on-base ability is rare and is something that should translate well to the majors after he had a .450 on-base percentage at Triple-A Buffalo in 2023. He has also beat […]

Damiano Palmegiani Has Path To Big Leagues In 2024

Toronto Blue Jays infield prospect Damiano Palmegiani, who is ranked as the team's No. 18 prospect on MLB Pipeline, offers a positional fit at third base, power potential and the ability to crush left-handed pitching. At some point in 2024, the Blue Jays will need all three of those things, making Palmegiani a candidate to […]

Jeimer Candelario To Be Everyday Player For Reds

Cincinnati Reds corner infielder Jeimer Candelario was signed this offseason to be a steady presence in a very young lineup, despite an already crowded infield picture in Cincinnati. He has played in 746 major-league games, and no other Reds position player has appeared in more than 380 games. "Adding a guy like Jeimer takes some […]