Several D-Backs Players Test Positive For COVID-19

One player on the Arizona Diamondbacks 40-man roster, "several" minor leaguers and one minor league coach have tested positive for COVID-19 over the last week, according to a team official. No identities have been released, but a source says that more than 70 of the 80-plus tests came back negative. All of the positive tests […]

Miguel Sano Cleared Of All Charges

Minnesota Twins first baseman Miguel Sano was cleared of all charges in the Dominican Republic on Thursday after a brief hearing. Sano told a Dominican Republic newspaper last week that he was being blackmailed and accused of kidnapping and assault. There was not sufficient evidence to back up these accusations. Sano, who hit 34 home […]

Several Twins Players Test Positive For COVID-19

The Minnesota Twins were notified Thursday morning of several positive COVID-19 tests among their players. The players who tested positive were not working out at Target Field or Fort Meyers, the Twins' spring training site. This news comes just days after the MLB and the Player's Association announced plans for a 60-game season. It certainly […]

Seattle Mariners: Top 10 Dynasty Prospects

The Seattle Mariners 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 […]

Ryan Braun's Career Could Be Extended With New DH Rule

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder/first baseman Ryan Braun's career could be extended with a universal designated hitter in the National League for the shortened 2020 season and possibly in 2021 and beyond. Braun is 36 years old and is entering the final guaranteed year of his contract, leading to questions in March about this potentially being his […]

Red Sox Player Tests Positive For COVID-19

Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said that "one player who was exposed in his hometown, got tested, was positive but he's been asymptomatic and that's resolving. We've been fortunate that's the only other positive test we've had." The identity of the player hasn't been revealed, but Bloom said he is on the […]

Diamondbacks Player Tests Positive For COVID-19

The Arizona Diamondbacks had a player test positive for COVID-19 in the last month in Arizona, according to general manager Mike Hazen. However, the player that tested positive wasn't using the team's spring training facilities, so it sounds as though no other players or staff members that were using the team's spring training facilities were […]

Multiple Mariners Test Positive For COVID-19

Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto said that "more than one" player on the team has tested positive for COVID-19. Dipto also said that a "few" of them, not all, are showing symptoms of the virus. With spring training 2.0 set to begin next week in Seattle for the Mariners, all of their players will […]

Garrett Cooper, Matt Joyce Candidates For DH Role

With the designated hitter being used in both leagues this season, Miami Marlins first baseman/outfielder Garrett Cooper and outfielder Matt Joyce are two candidates to be used in the role a lot. Cooper is the much more attractive fantasy commodity in deeper leagues for his ability to hit for average and modest power for the […]

Spencer Torkelson Will Sign Contract Soon

Detroit Tigers third baseman/first baseman Spencer Torkelson, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, is expected to officially sign his contract on Sunday or Monday. His deal is expected to be slightly over his slot value of $8.416 million. Torkelson is an exceptional hitter for both power and average. At Arizona State, he hit […]

Yoshitomo Tsutsugo Plans To Head Back To The States

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Yoshitomo Tsutsugo is planning to head back to the U.S. after going back to Japan during the coronavirus pandemic, according to general manager Erik Neander. Players that spent their down time overseas during the shutdown will now need to make their way back to the States with players expected to report […]

Los Angeles Dodgers: Top 10 Dynasty Prospects

The Los Angeles Dodgers 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 […]

Twins Sign First-Rounder Aaron Sabato

The Minnesota Twins signed first baseman Aaron Sabato, their first-round pick (27th overall), on Tuesday to a $2.75 million signing bonus, slightly above the $2.57 million slot value for the 27th pick. Sabato hit .343 in his freshman year at North Carolina with a .453 on-base percentage and a .696 slugging percentage. He also had […]

Baseball Officially Back; 60-Game Season To Start July 23 Or 24

The Major League Baseball Players Association and the league ironed out the final details on Tuesday, allowing players to report to camps by July 1 and play a 60-game season starting on either July 23 or 24. An agreement on healthy and safety protocols, which was the final hurdle, was ironed out on Tuesday night. […]

MLB Teams To Open With 30-Man Rosters

Major League Baseball teams can have 30-man rosters for Opening Day in late July. Rosters will be reduced to 28 on Day 15 of the season and reduced to 26 for the rest of the year on Day 29 of the season. Teams must submit a list of up to 60 players -- entire 40-man […]

Players Agree To Report By July 1

The Major League Baseball Players Association has agreed to report to training camps by July 1 and play a 60-game season, according to sources. However, a deal is not yet finalized, as there is one last health-and-safety hurdle to get over amid the coronavirus pandemic. USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale reports that there aren't any major […]

Off-The-Radar MLB Prospects and Dynasty Assets

Dynasty leagues are always a lot of foresight and mental math. Are you competing this year or in the future? Are you trying to stockpile pitching assets to balance against their heightened risk or take a lot of hitters because of their relative safety? What skills project the best for you? All of these questions […]

Pablo Sandoval Cleared To Play Infield

San Francisco Giants first/third baseman Pablo Sandoval (elbow) will be cleared to play first base and third base this season, per TheAthletic.com's Andrew Baggarly. Sandoval underwent Tommy John surgery this offseason but should be ready to field as well as hit. The veteran compiled a .268/.313/.507 slash line with 14 home runs and 41 RBI […]

Players Expected To Vote Yes On Proposals

There is a strong expectation that the Major League Baseball Players Association will vote yes on Tuesday on the league's proposed July 1 report date for spring training and codify the health-and-safety protocol to lock in a 60-game season that will start around July 24, according to sources. However, the health-and-safety issues could cause a […]

Owners Vote To Proceed With 2020 Season

MLB owners unanimously voted on Monday night to proceed with the 2020 season under the terms of their March 26 agreement with the Players Association after the union's executive board voted down the league's latest offer of a 60-game season with expanded playoffs. Commissioner Rob Manfred has the power to implement a schedule of his […]

MLB Commissioner To Implement 60-Game Season

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred is scheduled to implement a 60-game season that will start on July 29, although no official announcement has been made. This comes as the Players Association rejected MLB's latest proposal of a 60-game schedule with expanded playoffs. By rejecting the league's latest offer, the players union retains the right […]

Players Reject MLB's Latest Offer Of 60 Games

The Major League Baseball Players Association voted (33-5 against) on Monday to reject the league's 60-game proposal with expanded playoffs, putting commissioner Rob Manfred in position to implement a schedule of his choosing -- likely between 50 and 60 games. "While we had hoped to reach a revised back-to-work agreement with the league, the players […]

Four Yankees Employees Test Positive For Coronavirus

Four New York Yankees employees have reportedly tested positive for coronavirus. None of the positive tests appear to be players, but additional MLB-related coronavirus cases put the season even more at risk than it already was. The Yankees are moving their spring training back to New York with rising cases in Florida, but even the […]

Two Angels Players Test Positive For COVID-19

The Los Angeles Angels learned that two players in their organization have tested positive for COVID-19, according to general manager Billy Eppler. Eppler would not specify if the players were major leaguers or minor leaguers, but they hadn't been working out either in Anaheim or at the team's spring training complex in Tempe, Arizona. The […]

WPC+ Videocast: Hitter Values for a Shortened Season

Pierre Camus and Nicklaus Gaut review stats from the first 50 games of the 2019 MLB season to find notable differences from final season totals for top fantasy players. How much will a small sample size of a shortened season affect fantasy value? Like and subscribe to the RotoBaller channel on Youtube to get all […]

Three Hitters Set To Break Out Earlier Than Expected

MLB hitters often tend to experience their best seasons between ages 26 and 29 years old. Even so, many players have breakout seasons before that peak. The cheapest path to talent acquisition is by successfully targeting players before they have their first big year and this article will take a look at three players who […]

MLB Closing All Spring Training Sites

Major League Baseball will close all of their spring training sites in Arizona and Florida for deep cleaning and will not allow players or staff members back in until they pass a COVID-19 test. This comes after the Phillies, Blue Jays, Giants and Rangers shut down their spring training facilities earlier in the day due […]

MLB Won't Counter Players' Latest Proposal

Major League Baseball won't counter the Players Association's latest proposal to play 70 games this year, instead sticking with their most recent offer of 60 games at full prorated salaries. The players can either accept the 60-game offer with expanded playoffs and promise not to file a grievance, or reject it and force commissioner Rob […]

Giants Shut Down Scottsdale Stadium Facility

The San Francisco Giants closed their Scottsdale Stadium facility on Friday "after one person who had been in the facility and one family member exhibited mild symptoms and were tested," per president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi. The organization is awaiting test results. The Giants recommended that others who had been at the facility should […]

Blue Jays Close Facilities After COVID-19 Scare

The Toronto Blue Jays shut down their spring training facilities in Dunedin, Florida, on Thursday after a player showed coronavirus symptoms, according to sources. The Phillies, located in Clearwater, Florida, are also closing their facility after five players and a staff member tested positive. The Blue Jays player is a pitcher on the 40-man roster […]