Howie Kendrick On Schedule In Rehab

Washington Nationals second baseman Howie Kendrick (Achilles) said he has started running and is on schedule in his rehab from a ruptured Achilles last season. He expects to be ready for the start of spring training but knows he still has several hurdles to clear before then. The 35-year-old is a nice utility guy to […]

Carter Kieboom To Focus On Second Base

Washington Nationals shortstop prospect Carter Kieboom said he will focus more on second base work in the offseason, given that he has more experience at shortstop. The last time he played the keystone regularly was when he was a small kid. Kieboom is the team's No. 2 prospect and could see his major league debut […]

Giants Settle With Joe Panik, Sam Dyson

The San Francisco Giants avoided salary arbitration with second baseman Joe Panik and relief pitcher Sam Dyson on Friday. Panik reached an agreement on a one-year, $3.85 million deal, while Dyson agreed for one year and $5 million. Panik hit .254 with four home runs and 24 RBI in 2018 in 102 games while dealing […]

Diamondbacks Non-Tender Brad Boxberger, Others

The Arizona Diamondbacks non-tendered relief pitcher Brad Boxberger, starting pitcher Shelby Miller and infielder Chris Owings on Friday, making them all free agents. Boxberger started the year as Arizona's closer but was booted from the role and finished 3-7 with a 4.39 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 32 saves and 71 K's in 53 1/3 innings. At […]

Brewers Non-Tender Jonathan Schoop, Xavier Cedeno

The Milwaukee Brewers non-tendered second baseman Jonathan Schoop and relief pitchers Xavier Cedeno and Dan Jennings on Friday, making them free agents. Schoop was an All-Star in 2017 when he hit a career-high 32 home runs with the Orioles, but he fell flat after his trade to Milwaukee and hit just .233 with 21 homers […]

Tyler Saladino Avoids Arbitration

Milwaukee Brewers infielder Tyler Saladino avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $887,500 deal on Friday. Saladino is merely a utility infielder for the Brew Crew after hitting .246/.299/.397 with five home runs and 16 RBI in 126 at-bats in 2018. He's not much of a fantasy option, even in NL-only leagues.

Hernan Perez Avoids Arbitration

The Milwaukee Brewers and infielder Hernan Perez avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.5 million deal. Perez hit .253/.290/.386 with nine home runs, 29 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 316 at-bats with the Brew Crew in 2018. He could have a bigger role in 2019 as the starting second baseman if the […]

Wilmer Flores Will Be Non-Tendered

The New York Mets will non-tender infielder Wilmer Flores on Friday, making him a free agent. The Mets are going in a new direction after Flores hit .267/.319/.417 with 11 home runs and 51 RBI in 126 games in 2018. He has the ability to play shortstop, third base and first base and has some […]

Mariners To Eat $60 Million In Robinson Cano Deal

The Seattle Mariners will eat roughly $60 million of the $120 million owed to second baseman Robinson Cano over the next five years if the blockbuster deal with the New York Mets goes down. Cano and closer Edwin Diaz are expected to be dealt to the Mets in exchange for outfielder Jay Bruce, reliever Anthony […]

Jeff McNeil Not Involved In Deal With Seattle

The New York Mets aren't including second baseman Jeff McNeil in a potential blockbuster trade that would involve Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano and closer Edwin Diaz. The two teams are closing in on a deal on Thursday night. As of now, the M's would send Cano and Diaz to the Mets in exchange […]

Mets Close To Landing Robinson Cano, Edwin Diaz

A trade that would send Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano and closer Edwin Diaz to the New York Mets is close, according to sources. No announcement is expected to come on Thursday night, but it could be finalized on Friday. Cano must waive his full no-trade clause in order for the trade to go […]

Cubs Send Tommy La Stella To Angels

The Chicago Cubs have dealt infielder Tommy La Stella to the Los Angeles Angels for a player to be named later or cash considerations. La Stella has made a career as a bench player and pinch-hitter. His versatility can help strengthen the Angels bench, but La Stella can be avoided in most formats as he […]

Jonathan Schoop Could Hit Open Market

There is a strong possibility that the Milwaukee Brewers non-tender second baseman Jonathan Schoop on Friday, which would make him a free agent, according to sources. Schoop was an All-Star in 2017 with the Orioles, but he struggled mightily after being traded to the Brewers in the second half of the 2018 season. He is […]

Jeff McNeil Being Discussed In Mets-Mariners Potential Swap

New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil is being discussed in the potential trade between the Mets and Seattle Mariners that would involve second baseman Robinson Cano and closer Edwin Diaz, according to a source. Several first-round picks, including 2018's Jarred Kelenic, are also being discussed. McNeil came out of nowhere this year to hit […]

Mets Making Progress In Deal For Robinson Cano, Edwin Diaz

There is significant momentum toward a deal that would send Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano and All-Star closer Edwin Diaz to the New York Mets, according to league sources. A deal is not done yet, but the expectation is that the trade will get finished. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic is reporting that two […]

Cubs Acquire Ronald Torreyes

The Chicago Cubs acquired infielder Ronald Torreyes from the Yankees on Wednesday in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. The 26-year-old Torreyes spent the last three years with New York and hit .280 in 41 games in 2018, but he was designated for assignment earlier this week. He can play […]

RotoBaller Early Mock Draft Analysis (Rounds 3-10)

A group of 10 RotoBaller fantasy baseball experts recently came together to conduct a slow mock draft for the 2019 season. Was it way too early? That all depends on who is asking. But with it complete, we can start to look at where players ended up on the board. This is the first staff […]

RotoBaller Early Mock Draft Analysis (Rounds 1-2)

I know what you are probably thinking as you click this link, who is doing fantasy baseball drafts in October and November?! Well, the answer to that is 10 Rotoballer Fantasy Baseball enthusiasts who are already longing for the long hot days of summer and the return of everyday baseball. This is the first of […]

Mets Aggressive On Robinson Cano

The New York Mets are being "aggressive" in their pursuit of Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano and are hoping the M's sweeten their offer, according to a rival executive in touch with the team. New York is trying to capitalize on Seattle's wish to unload Cano and the remaining $120 million owed to him […]

Orioles Monitoring Ian Kinsler

The Baltimore Orioles are monitoring the market for free-agent second baseman Ian Kinsler, according to sources. However, the front office has more pressing needs at the moment, including hiring a manager. Kinsler is still a fine defensive second baseman, but his offensive prowess is clearly on the decline. The 36-year-old hit .240/.301/.380 with 14 home […]

Three Teams Eyeing DJ LeMahieu

The Dodgers, Nationals and Twins have had preliminary talks with free-agent second baseman DJ LeMahieu. The Nats have also been monitoring Jed Lowrie, Josh Harrison and Marwin Gonzalez on the free-agent market, according to sources. If the Nats don't sign a second baseman, they have the option of using veteran Howie Kendrick at the keystone […]

Robinson Cano A Candidate To Return To New York?

The Seattle Mariners are willing to trade second baseman Robinson Cano this offseason, and the Mariners have reached out to the Yankees and Mets. However, dealing the 36-year-old who is owed $120 million over the next five seasons will be extremely difficult, especially after he served an 80-game suspension for violating the league's drug policy […]

Shawn Wooten Hired as Angels Hitting Coach

The Los Angeles Angels have hired former infielder Shawn Wooten to be their hitting coach. Wooten was previously coaching in their minor league system. The career .272 hitter will look to help an offense that is lead by Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, Justin Upton and Albert Pujols.

Cory Spangenberg Designated For Assignment

The San Diego Padres designated infielder Cory Spangenberg for assignment on Tuesday. Spangenberg was one of seven players removed from the Friars 40-man roster along with third baseman Christian Villanueva. The move closes the books on Spangenberg’s five-year run with the Padres where he struggled with health and consistency. The 27-year-old former 10th overall pick […]

Statcast Review - 2018 Hitting Leaders (Exit Velocity)

After a full fantasy season of using Statcast measures to predicting risers and fallers each week, it’s time to take a step back and view the big picture. One of the most straightforward Statcast measurements we relied on was exit velocity or the speed the ball comes off the bat immediately after being hit. It […]

Brian Dozier: Fantasy Baseball Year-in-Review

Brian Dozier entered the 2018 season bolted in as a top-five 2B in fantasy baseball after posting four consecutive seasons with 100 or more runs scored, 20 or more homers, and at least 12 stolen bases. While there was a bit of a step back in the power department for Dozier in 2017, dropping from […]

Alex Cora Receives One-Year Extension

The Boston Red Sox signed manager Alex Cora to a one-year contract extension through the 2021 season. The deal includes a team option for the 2022 season. Cora more than deserved it after leading the team to 108 wins in the regular season and a World Series title in his first year at the helm. […]

Pirates Trade For Erik Gonzalez

The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired infielder Erik Gonzalez and minor league pitchers Tahnaj Thomas and Dante Mendoza from the Indians on Wednesday in exchange for outfielder Jordan Luplow and infielder Max Moroff. With both Jordy Mercer and Josh Harrison likely to depart in free agency this winter, the Bucs need some added middle infield depth and […]

Indians Acquire Jordan Luplow, Max Moroff

The Cleveland Indians acquired outfielder Jordan Luplow and infielder Max Moroff from the Pirates on Wednesday in exchange for infielder Erik Gonzalez and minor league pitchers Tahnaj Thomas and Dante Mendoza. This trade doesn't move the needle all that much for fantasy or real life, but it gives the Tribe some more options for depth […]

Brian Snitker Awarded NL Manager Of The Year

Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker was named the 2018 National League Manager Of the Year on Tuesday. Snitker led the Braves to the NL East title and received 17 first-place votes to finish ahead of Brewers manager Craig Counsell and Rockies skipper Bud Black. The Braves spent 115 days in first place in 2018 and […]