Short-Season Draft Risers and Fallers: RotoBaller Staff Picks

Recently, the RotoBaller MLB staff provided their thoughts on the best draft strategies for a shortened season. You can read that article right here. The fantasy baseball season is ready to kick up (finally) but things won't be the same as usual. Some players may be more appealing now that they've had time to work […]

Washington Nationals: Top 10 Dynasty Prospects

The Washington Nationals will be our next stop on the farm to evaluate the best prospects on each MLB team. Once the 2020 MLB season begins, it may turn out that Minor League systems will be more important than usual. Franchises are losing money during the pandemic layoff, so many teams will be looking for […]

30 Burning Questions (and Answers) for 2020 Fantasy Baseball

Upon hearing that Major League Baseball was finally set to return to action and the fantasy season was back, a million questions popped in my head. Sadly, I forgot most of them by the next day so I'm left with just 30, coincidentally a nice even number. Actually, my initial plan was to do 60 […]

Top DH Options for National League Teams

There is finally a plan for Major League Baseball in 2020! After months of negotiations and discussions, baseball is tentatively scheduled to open up in late July, and with it, a couple of new rules. The most notable new rule for 2020 is the implementation of the designated hitter in the National League, which certainly […]

Josh Bell To DH For Pirates?

Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Josh Bell is a prototypical slugging designated hitter, and the Pirates could use Jose Osuna at first base if they decide to use Bell as the primary designated hitter in 2020. Another option in the DH role would be outfielder Gregory Polanco, with Guillermo Heredia, who is an excellent defender, in […]

Boston Red Sox: Top 10 Dynasty Prospects

The Boston Red Sox will be our next stop on the farm to evaluate the best prospects on each MLB team. Once the 2020 MLB season begins, it may turn out that Minor League systems will be more important than usual. Franchises are losing money during the pandemic layoff, so many teams will be looking […]

MLB Can't Identify Players That Test Positive For COVID-19

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and Chicago Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer both said that because of the HIPAA Act, teams are not allowed to divulge the names of any player who tests positive for COVID-19 during the season. "The information I've been given is [the media] will be left to try to […]

Minor League Season Officially Canceled

Baseball's minor leagues officially canceled their 2020 season on Tuesday after MLB decided not to provide any players to its affiliated teams during the coronavirus pandemic. An agreement between the majors and minors expires after this season, and MLB has proposed reducing the minimum affiliates from 160 to 120. MLB clubs will retain expanded 60-player […]

Spencer Torkelson Signs Contract, Joins Roster

Detroit Tigers third baseman Spencer Torkelson has officially signed his contract with the Detroit Tigers. It is reportedly worth $8,416,300, which is a new MLB draft bonus record. In addition, Torkelson is the first No. 1 overall pick to top his slot value. He has been added to the 60-man roster for the upcoming MLB […]

Yoshitomo Tsutsugo Back In U.S.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder/first baseman Yoshitomo Tsutsugo, who traveled back home to his native Japan during the MLB shutdown, has arrived back in the United States ahead of the July 1 reporting date for spring training 2.0, according to general manager Erik Neander. The 28-year-old left-handed hitter will bring some power and versatility to the […]

Cardinals Have One Positive COVID-19 Test

The St. Louis Cardinals have had one positive COVID-19 test so far during entry screening ahead of summer camps that will begin later this week. They are following the procedures of re-testing and self-quarantining the individual that tested positive. The Cardinals haven't had any players opt out of the shortened 2020 season as of now. […]

Padres Have Less Than A Handful Of Positive COVID-19 Tests

San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller said that the team has had "less than a handful" of positive COVID-19 tests in the last three weeks. All of the positive tests are on the minor league side of things, and none of them are in the 60-man player pool. The players/staffers that tested positive are […]

Andrew Vaughn, Nick Madrigal Part Of White Sox Player Pool

Chicago White Sox first base prospect Andrew Vaughn and second base prospect Nick Madrigal are among the 44 players the White Sox have chosen for their 60-man player pool so far. Madrigal was expected to be with the big league club at some point this year and would be worth a look in all formats. […]

Anthony Rizzo Plans To Play

Jon Heyman of the MLB Network is reporting that Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo is planning to play this season. Rizzo is a cancer survivor and falls under the high-risk category for COVID-19. Rizzo could still opt to sit out this season and earn his full paycheck. One of the most consistent bats in […]

Ryan Zimmerman, Joe Ross To Skip 2020

Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and pitcher Joe Ross have decided not to play in 2020. Zimmerman, 35, had written recently that he was considering this course of action, but has also made a point of saying he may play in 2021 and is not retiring. This news changes little for either player from […]

Padres Player Pool Packed With Young Talent

The San Diego Padres player pool announcement Sunday was loaded with hyped youngsters. Of the 52 confirmed players, the Padres selected all 13 of their top prospects along with their first-round pick in the 2020 draft. The usual suspects were top-tier starters MacKenzie Gore and Luis Patiño who both had outside shots to crack the […]

Corbin Martin Among D-Backs Prospects In Player Pool

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher prospect Corbin Martin, the team's No. 7 prospect per MLB Pipeline, has been included on the team's 60-man roster for spring training 2.0. Along with Martin, top prospects Alek Thomas (No. 2), Daulton Varsho (No. 3), shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (No. 4), Corbin Carroll (No. 5), Luis Frias (No. 8), Levi Kelly […]

Drew Rasmussen Makes 60-Man List

The Milwaukee Brewers have invited 45 men to join the team's workouts at Miller Park to ramp up for the upcoming 2020 season. Thirty players will make the Opening Day Roster, while the others will join the team's taxi squad'. A few notable players include outfielder/first baseman Ryan Braun, who will likely take advantage of the […]

Pablo Sandoval, Billy Hamilton Part Of 60-Player Pool

The San Francisco Giants will carry second baseman Yolmer Sanchez, corner infielder Pablo Sandoval, starting pitcher Trevor Cahill and outfielder Billy Hamilton in their 60-player pool for the shortened 2020 season, according to a source. The Giants released all four players on Sunday and then re-signed them to minor league deals in a clerical move. […]

Rangers Employees Fear For Health Amid Positive COVID-19 Tests

Texas Rangers employees told ESPN on Friday that they fear for their health and hope the team will allow them to work from home after feeling pressure to come into the office after the revelation that multiple co-workers have tested positive for COVID-19. Multiple employees said that their managers said working from home was not […]

New Draft Strategies for 2020 MLB: RotoBaller Staff Picks

Baseball is coming back and it's about time! The announcement of a 60-game season comes as a blessing and a curse. It's barely over one-third of a normal MLB season and will come with several modifications to the rule book. Then again, at this point we are just happy to have baseball (or any live […]

Zach Putnam, Matt Skole Among Five Released By White Sox

The Chicago White Sox released relief pitchers Zach Putnam and Caleb Frare, starting pitcher Matt Tomshaw, first baseman Matt Skole and infielder Ramon Torres on Friday. The White Sox are starting to trim their roster to get down to a list of 60 players by Sunday. Putnam missed all of the 2018 and 2019 seasons […]

Indians Have Handful Of Positive COVID-19 Cases

The Cleveland Indians have had a handful of positive COVID-19 cases from players at home, in the Dominican Republic and in Arizona. "All of those cases have been isolated. There has not been any spread within our environment," according to president Chris Antonetti. The affected players are either recovered or are showing only mild symptoms. […]

Jake Lamb Should Have Inside Track At DH

Arizona Diamondbacks corner infielder Jake Lamb should have the inside track as the primary designated hitter this year with the universal DH in play in both leagues. However, injuries and inconsistency (75 OPS+) the last two years have left him with plenty to prove. Lamb has a weak .594 OPS against lefties, too. But if […]

Daniel Murphy Likely To Be Primary Rockies DH

Colorado Rockies youngsters Garrett Hampson, Sam Hilliard and Brendan Rodgers could be options for the designated hitter with the universal DH in play this year, but the Rockies will likely use first baseman/second baseman Daniel Murphy for much of the time. With Murphy at DH, Ryan McMahon could play first, with Hampson or Rodgers at […]

Ryan Zimmerman May Not Play In 2020

Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman is still debating whether to play this season. Among several other issues, he cited the risk the novel coronavirus would pose to his mother, who has multiple sclerosis, and a three-week-old child. From a fantasy perspective, Zimmerman was already a fringe player due to his age, an 89 wRC+ […]

Small Number Of Brewers Test Positive For COVID-19

Milwaukee Brewers general manager David Stearns said "we have had a small number of individuals'' in the organization test positive for COVID-19. "They are asymptomatic and are doing well.'' Stearns did not differentiate players from staff, Tom Haudricourt reports. Multiple teams have now reported similar scenarios within their organizations, and it certainly raises concerns about […]

San Francisco Giants: Top 10 Dynasty Prospects

The San Francisco Giants will be our next stop on the farm to evaluate the best prospects on each MLB team. Once the 2020 MLB season begins, it may turn out that Minor League systems will be more important than usual. Franchises are losing money during the pandemic layoff, so many teams will be looking […]

Dominic Smith Could Be An Option At DH

If New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is healthy, he figures to be the team's primary designated hitter this year, given his recent injury history. But if he's not ready for the start of the season in late July, first baseman/outfielder Dominic Smith and third baseman/outfielder J.D. Davis are both good options. Neither player is […]

Dodgers Have Positive COVID-19 Tests

Los Angeles Dodgers president Andrew Friedman said that members of the organization have tested positive for COVID-19, but Friedman didn't say how many and whether they were players or coaches. None of those that tested positive had "problematic" symptoms. The Dodgers are not alone, as a handful of other teams around the league have reported […]