2016 Second Basemen Keeper Values: The Other Guys

The Keeper Valuation Formula uses the players’ age, draft round, number of teams in the league, current stats, projected stats, games played percentage, positional value, and some secret squirrel statistical math. The product is a TRUE Keeper Value for each player. These players did not make it into my Top Five Second Basemen Keeper Values, but […]

2016 Top Five Second Basemen Keeper Values

These rankings are derived from my 15 step formula. The Keeper Valuation Formula uses the players’ age, draft round, number of teams in the league, current stats, projected stats, games played percentage, positional value, and some secret squirrel statistical math. The product is a TRUE Keeper Value for each player. Consider the derived Values the […]

MLB Ready Prospects: Top 30 Rankings for 2016 Fantasy Drafts

The Winter Meetings and all the action before it has been so fun to follow. How stacked is Arizona?! A rotation of Zack Greinke, Shelby Miller, Patrick Corbin, and Archie Bradley! That sounds lethal. I will say though that two trades stuck out in my mind as extreme overkill to get a solid player and that […]

Analyzing the Todd Frazier Deal

It was first reported early Wednesday morning by Jeff Passan that the Dodgers and White Sox were planning on making a major trade. Much speculation was made over Twitter as to whether the headline piece going from LA to Chicago was Joc Pederson or Yasiel Puig. Seemingly minutes after it was announced that a trade […]

2016 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Second Base

We at RotoBaller like rankings. In preparation for the 2016 fantasy baseball draft season, we will deliver four rounds of composite rankings. This is the third position of the first round - second base. Rest assured, more exciting positions and ever more detailed analysis lie ahead as we progress closer to draft season. Please note, value is somewhat […]

Mets Acquire Walker From Pirates For Niese

The New York Mets acquired Neil Walker from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Jon Niese, according to The New York Post. The deal is reported as a player-for-player swap with no picks or cash involved. This was the Mets quick response after losing out on free agent Ben Zobrist Tuesday to the Chicago Cubs. […]

Utley Signs 1-Year Deal With Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers singed Chase Utley to a one-year contract for $7 million. The second baseman will turn 37 prior to the start of the 2016 season. Utley struggled all season between the Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies. The six-time All-Star had a meager .212/.286/.343 with 8 HR and 39 RBI. Howie Kendrick is currently […]

Mets Unlikely To Give 4th Year To Zobrist

The New York Mets’ top free agent target this off-season is Ben Zobrist, according to FOX Sports. The only problem is that the defending National League champions will unlikely give him a four-year contract, according to ESPN.com. Zobrist will turn 35 early next season. If the Mets decide to give the utility player four years, […]

A's Looking To Trade Lawrie After Lowrie Acquisition

The Oakland A’s are likely go trade Brett Lawrie after the acquisition of Jed Lowrie, according to The San Francisco Chronicle. The A’s dealt for Lowrie last week in a trade with the Houston Astros. It marks the second time that the 31-year-old will be with the A’s. He played three seasons in Oakland before […]

Who Ya Got: Rendon or Longoria?

Going by ESPN's average draft position, Anthony Rendon and Evan Longoria were seen as roughly equivalent assets in 2015. Rendon went 38th overall on average in ESPN leagues, while Longoria's ADP was 40. Granted, their aggregate ADPs on the major platforms, per FantasyPros, saw a much wider gap (29 for Rendon and 57 for Longoria). […]

Top 10 Dynasty Second Basemen For 2016

To put it simply, second base is in for a major shakeup in 2016. With the potential arrivals of big name prospects: Yoan Moncada, Javier Baez, Rob Refsnyder and Jose Peraza along with young exciting bats like Jonathan Schoop, Devon Travis and Joe Panik, the position is becoming deeper than ever. For the 2016 season, keeping any […]

Bust Players at 2B, SS, and C and What It Means for 2016

Welcome back friends. I hope you enjoyed the pilot article of this segment detailing the breakouts at 2B, SS, and C in 2015. This edition is more of a buzzkill - the busts at each of these positions. My selections will be influenced by their respective ADP (Average Draft Position) coming into 2015. That means while Jedd […]

Why Tigers Traded For K-Rod And Not Chapman

The Detroit Tigers acquired Francisco Rodriguez from the Milwaukee Brewers for infielder Javier Betancourt and a player to be named later, according to The Detroit Free Press. The Tigers have decided not to attempt to acquire Aroldis Chapman or any other top closer this off-season. Instead, Detroit was able to acquire one of the better […]

Mets 'Very Interested' In Zobrist: Conference Call Wednesday

The New York Mets are “very interested” in Ben Zobrist and the reigning National League champions are trying to make it happen, according to The New York Times. It appears as if this isn’t just a rumor because the Mets met with Zobrist’s representatives at the GM meetings and then held a conference call with […]

Who Are The 4 Prospects Heading To SD For Kimbrel?

The Boston Red Sox made the first big splash of the off-season when they acquired closer Craig Kimbrel from the San Diego Padres in exchange for four prospects. Fans are going to look at the move more in Boston setting up a deeper bullpen, but the prospects could make the deal a steal for San […]

Cardinals Pursuing Zobrist

The St. Louis Cardinals are one of the teams interested in signing free agent Ben Zobrist to a multiyear deal, according to ESPN.com. The utility infielder is going to make some money on the market and the defending National League Central champions want to be the ones to provide it. After another solid regular season […]

Reds and D-Backs Discussing Trade Involving Phillips For Hill

The Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks have discussed a trade involving Brandon Phillips and Aaron Hill, according to Fox Sports. Phillips has to sign off on any trade, which will make it difficult to move the second baseman. The 34-year-old is owed $27 million through 2017, which means the Reds would likely have to eat […]

Breakout Players at 2B, SS, and C and What It Means For 2016

Having some baseball withdrawal yet? Welcome to the club. That's why I'm starting a weekly series running through November looking at players at each position who experienced breakout campaigns. I'll also run another segment detailing the busts at each position. This edition will focus on middle infielders and backstops. My selections will be influenced by their […]

Reds May Move Chapman, Phillips, Frazier And Bruce

The Cincinnati Reds are looking to move both Aroldis Chapman, Brandon Phillips, Todd Frazier and Jay Bruce before the start of the 2016 season, according to BaseballEssential.com. The shutdown closer and second baseman are more likely to go than the others but there's a chance that all four players are gone before Spring Training. The […]

Dodgers Extend Qualifying Offer To Greinke, Anderson, Kendrick

The Los Angeles Dodgers have announced that they have extended a $15.8 million qualifying offer to starting pitchers Zack Greinke, Brett Anderson and second baseman Howie Kendrick. #Dodgers extend qualifying offers to Zack Greinke, Brett Anderson and Howie Kendrick. https://t.co/EJhc9bMz4P — Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) November 6, 2015 After Greinke announced that he would opt out […]

Mets Extend Murphy Qualifying Offer

National League Division and Championship Series star second baseman Daniel Murphy received a $15.8 million qualifying offer from the New York Mets, according to ESPN's Adam Rubin. The New York Mets have made a one-year, $15.8 million qualifying offer to free-agent infielder Daniel Murphy.... https://t.co/45uxE2Jaoy — Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinESPN) November 6, 2015 Over seven years, the […]

Future Tense: Arizona Fall League Surprises (November 7th Edition)

We’ve looked at some successes and some not-so-successful (we want to be positive here, so no negative thoughts coming from Future Tense today…) over the last two installments. This time around, we are going to look at some truly surprising performances, starting with a Brewer shortstop that has gone from mediocrity in the PCL to superstar […]

2016 Free Agents and Potential Qualifying Offer Fates

Now that we've entered the MLB offseason, it's time to talk qualifying offers. Teams will spend the next few days deciding whether or not to extend a qualifying offer to their impending free agents. The qualifying offer system was designed to replace the old arbitration-based system that used Type A, B, and C free agents. […]

2015 In Review: Chase Utley

In the first five full seasons of his career, Chase Utley was one of the best players in baseball. Though he was criminally underappreciated in MVP voting, the Phillies second baseman was second only to Albert Pujols in WAR over that span (2005 – 09). Utley did everything well; he hit for average and power, […]

Utley Plans To Return For 2016 Season

Chase Utley is planning to return for the 2016 MLB season. The second baseman will likely not return with the Los Angeles Dodgers because the team is expected to decline Utley’s $15-million option for 2016 since he did not have 500 at-bats in 2015. The 36-year-old has played for 13 years and hasn’t been healthy […]

Rangers To Discuss Extension With Odor

The Texas Rangers are expected to discuss a long-term contract extension with second baseman Rougned Odor. The 21-year-old is under team control through 2019 but the Rangers want to lock up Odor now. Texas will have to wait until after the World Series to start the works of a new contract. After a slow start […]

Royals Add Raul Mondesi To Roster, Leave Off Gore

The Kansas City Royals added infielder Raul Mondesi to their World Series roster on Tuesday. Rosters were due on Tuesday, and in somewhat of a shocker, the Royals have called up a player that has never played in the majors. Mondesi was playing his fourth minor league season with Double-A Northwest Arkansas all season. Prior […]

MLB Ready Prospects: Top 30 Rankings for 2016 Fantasy Drafts

As many of you all may remember, during the regular season I discussed which Top 30 prospects would have the biggest impact for fantasy owners during the regular season. This series will continue into the offseason, but will come out once a month as opposed to once a week. The only requirement to be on this […]

Future Tense: The Arizona Fall League, Part VII: Surprise Saguaros

And we have finally made it to the last team in the Arizona Fall League, the Saguaros, brought to you by the Kansas City Royals, the Milwaukee Brewers, the New York Yankees, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Texas Rangers, the letter M, and the number 6. So, with this being the last team on the […]

FanDuel DFS - MLB Lineup Picks, Sleepers, & Advice for 10/20/2015

If tonight's contests look like the ALCS Game 3 (19 runs), things are going to be fun. If we get what we've seen from the NLDS to this point (nine runs in two games), we're going to die from boredom. Let's hope for the former! Today we get to analyze the Cubs trying to fight […]