Greg Bird Rankings Debate - Comparing RotoBaller's Rankers

As we move closer and closer to the start of the regular season, our writers are still vigorously debating each other's preseason rankings. In this space, we'll hear from rankers with the biggest differences of opinion on a well-known player and have them defend their position against each other. Today, the subject of discussion is […]

2018 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values - First Base

Whether or not you share my trepidation regarding the term "sleeper," we can all agree that what we're after in our fantasy drafts is value. Beyond the ultimate result of victory or not, nothing in this game is more satisfying that getting a great player for way less than you should have had to pay. […]

Ryon Healy Expected To Play This Weekend

Seattle Mariners first baseman Ryon Healy (hand) is making good progress and is expected to return to game action this weekend. That's great news for Healy, and barring a setback, he might actually be fine for Opening Day. Healy makes a lot of hard contact and hits a lot of balls in the air, but […]

Daniel Vogelbach Playing His Way Into Early Season At-Bats

Seattle Mariners first baseman Daniel Vogelbach is hitting .407 over his last 10 spring games and is playing his way onto the Opening Day roster. With Ryon Healy still rehabbing a hand injury and the uncertain severity of Nelson Cruz's quad injury, Vogelbach could be in line for at-bats to begin the season. So far […]

Yuli Gurriel To Begin Defensive Drills

Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel (hand) will be cleared to begin defensive drills in his rehab process, according to manager A.J. Hinch. Hinch told reporters, "He's starting to do a little bit more...He's not close to hitting, but he'll put a glove on his hand and start to do some defensive stuff." Gurriel is still […]

Brad Miller To Play Thursday

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Brad Miller (toe) will play in a minor league game Thursday, and he is fully confident that he will be ready for Opening Day. Miller dealt with injuries last year as well, playing in just 110 games and disappointing with a .201 average and nine home runs. That's after he surprisingly […]

Albert Pujols Blasts Two Doubles

Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols hit two doubles on Monday, his first two extra-base hits of spring training. He drove in a run on each. Pujols is now 6-for-27 (.222) in the spring. However, he has only struck out once, an encouraging sign after he tied a career high with 93 strikeouts last […]

Yuli Gurriel (1B, HOU) - 2018 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers & Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target ~160 CURRENT ADP: 208 ANALYSIS: Houston Astros first basemen Yuli Gurriel really came into his own in his second year in the major leagues, hitting .299 with 18 home runs and 75 runs batted in. The 32-year old became an integral cog in last year's dangerous Houston lineup but can he take his game […]

Ryan McMahon's Spot On Rockies Could Depend On Next Two Weeks

Colorado Rockies first baseman Ryan McMahon's spot on the Rockies "could depend on the next two weeks." McMahon has had a very solid spring training so far with a .354 batting average, .367 on-base percentage and .542 slugging percentage and has impressed the Rockies organization at first base. However, the signing of outfielder Carlos Gonzalez means […]

Brad Miller Out Another 4-5 Days

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Brad Miller (toe) will miss another four to five days before he's able to play in a game, but his availability for Opening Day shouldn't be impacted, according to manager Kevin Cash. The left-handed hitter slugged a whopping 30 home runs in 2016 but fell back to earth dramatically in 2017, […]

Adam Lind Released By Yankees

After signing a minor league contract with the New York Yankees in an attempt to win the backup first baseman job, Adam Lind has been released with two weeks left in Spring Training. The 34-year-old took part in five games with the Yanks this spring, hitting .200 with just three hits in 15 plate appearances. […]

Matt Carpenter Makes His 2018 Debut

St. Louis Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter (back, shoulder) made his 2018 Grapefruit League debut on Tuesday, walking twice and scoring two runs. Carpenter has been recovering from a back injury and is still dealing with a shoulder issue that plagued him last season. Still, it seems like everything went OK on Tuesday, and unless something changes, […]

Chris Davis Still Hopes to Play This Weekend But Team Not So Sure

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis (forearm) said his injury is feeling better. He hopes to take the field this upcoming weekend. The team is not entirely ruling out a stint on the disabled list, though. Davis seems to be unable to completely shake this injury, no matter what. Perhaps forced rest will do something. […]

ADP Busts - 2017 Infield Breakouts to Avoid in 2018

Earlier this week, I took a look at four outfielders whose disappointing 2017 performances made them potential draft bargains for the 2018 fantasy baseball season. Today, we’re taking the opposite tack. Overpaying for last year’s breakout is one of the easiest – and costliest – mistakes a fantasy owner can make, and we’ve all fallen […]

Deeper First Base Sleepers - Undervalued ADPs

We are gathered here today to discuss everyone’s favorite fantasy buzzword, the “sleepers”. Not only that, but we’re tabbing these guys as deeper sleepers with a focus on the first base position. That means no Jose Martinez cop-out blurbs because that dude has already woken up and then some! With draft season officially underway, it's […]

Bud Black Isn't Concerned About Ian Desmond's Wretched Spring Training

Colorado Rockies outfielder and first baseman Ian Desmond struck out three times in three plate appearances in the 8-7 win against the Seattle Mariners. Concerns are beginning to become legitimate with Desmond's awful spring training, as he's now currently at a .071 batting average (2-for-28) and also has 14 strikeouts. However, Rockies manager Bud Black […]

Freddie Freeman Has Perfect Day At Plate In Loss To Blue Jays

Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman is just going about his business and having a great spring training and then undoubtedly another stellar regular season. On Tuesday, all he did was go 3-for-3 with a homer, his first, to raise his average to .321. It wasn't anywhere near enough, since Toronto bludgeoned Atlanta, 13-6. Freeman […]

Dominic Smith Unsure Of Return Date

New York Mets first baseman Dominic Smith has been out of action with a strained quadriceps, and as of Tuesday afternoon, there doesn’t seem to be any update on that. Smith told the media he doesn’t know when he will get in a game, but also stated his last remaining step is running bases without […]

Chris Davis Taking Two-Handed Swings

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis (forearm) is taking more steps towards resuming regular playing. He's taking two-handed swings Tuesday to see how his tight forearm feels. If all goes well, he'll be back on the field over the weekend. It'll be likely that he's rusty in any game action for a couple of days, so don't […]

Ronald Guzman Optioned to Triple-A

The Texas Rangers sent first baseman Ronald Guzman down to Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday. The 23-year old had a poor showing in spring training, hitting just .125/.258/.208 with a 2/3 BB/K rate. Guzman was a long shot to make the roster to start the year, but his poor performance definitely is cause for concern […]

Champ or Chump - Robbie Ray and Rhys Hoskins

This column usually places a strong emphasis on regression, or why you shouldn't expect last year's production from a given player. Sometimes a player breaks out in a sustainable manner, however, making them a good investment even if you need to pay a premium based on the previous year's performance. Robbie Ray provides an excellent […]

Post Hype First Basemen Set to Breakout in 2018

A true breakout isn’t hard to predict. Luckily for us, the breakout formula is rather simple: opportunity + talent + efficiency = breakout. The first basemen listed below are players who I think will have top-100 draft stock in 2019 drafts, or, at the very least, will be drafted higher next year because they check […]

Phillies Designate Tommy Joseph For Assignment

Following the signing of former Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta, the Philadelphia Phillies designated first baseman Tommy Joseph for assignment to make room on the roster. The 26-year-old former starter has been on a steady decline following an abysmal 2017 season. The club’s acquisition of Carlos Santana meant Joseph had lost his job as a […]

Danny Espinosa Released By Yankees

Signed during the offseason to battle for one of the New York Yankees voided infield spots, second baseman Danny Espinosa has been released by the club. The 30-year-old’s chances of earning one of those spots gradually slimmed with the rises of Miguel Andujar and Tyler Wade, alongside the acquisitions of Brandon Drury and Neil Walker. In […]

Ian Desmond's Abysmal Spring Training Could Lead To Less At-Bats

Colorado Rockies first baseman and outfielder Ian Desmond has had an abysmal spring training, as he collected only his second hit in 25 at-bats with a double against the Diamondbacks. Not only is Desmond's on-base percentage exactly the same as his batting average at .080, but he has also racked up 11 strikeouts. One of […]

Christian Villanueva Fine After Cutting Arm

San Diego Padres third baseman Christian Villanueva (arm) is fine after cutting his non-throwing arm. He missed Sunday's game but is expected back on Monday. Villanueva has hit well this spring, going 10-for-26 (.385) with three home runs and 11 RBI. If he makes the team, Villanueva will back up third baseman Chase Headley but […]

Matt Carpenter's Back Feels "Perfect"

St. Louis Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter said his injured back felt "perfect" after playing an intrasquad game on Sunday. He'll make his 2018 Grapefruit League debut on Tuesday as a designated hitter. At this point, unless he suffers some other setback, it looks like Carpenter should be ready for Opening Day. Aside from his back, […]

Steve Pearce Could Play By Thursday

Toronto Blue Jays utilityman Steve Pearce has been on the shelf with a calf sprain this spring but it sounds as if his return could be right around the corner. Pearce started running on Sunday and will continue to do so on Monday. If that goes well, he could be playing by Thursday. After looking […]

Lucas Duda Starts Getting Some Looks

New Kansas City Royals first baseman Lucas Duda is in camp and has started getting some chances at the plate this week. Coming off a 30-homer campaign in 2017, Duda will be expected to provide the pop in lieu of recently-departed Eric Hosmer. Duda's batting average will never be mistaken for Hosmer's, but he has […]

Ian Desmond Continues To Struggle

Colorado Rockies outfielder/first baseman Ian Desmond continues to have an abysmal spring after he went 0-for-3 against the Dodgers on Sunday. Colorado's coup of the 2017 free-agent class is now 1-for-17 this spring. Desmond's terrible opening frame likely won't cost him playing time, but it's certainly not an encouraging sign to fantasy owners after he […]