Hunter Pence Makes Roster, Willie Calhoun Optioned

Texas Rangers outfielder Hunter Pence will be on the team's Opening Day roster as the fourth outfielder, while Willie Calhoun has been optioned to Triple-A Nashville. Calhoun still has a lot of upside, but as a left-handed hitter he was blocked by Joey Gallo, Nomar Mazara and Shin-Soo Choo. Calhoun will attempt to increase his […]

Hunter Pence Could Earn Roster Spot

Texas Rangers veteran outfielder Hunter Pence is finally healthy and is on his way to earning an Opening Day roster spot for the rebuilding Rangers. The 35-year-old is hitting .356 (16-for-45) with three home runs, seven RBI and six stolen bases in 16 spring games as he tries to make the team. Pence rebuilt his […]

Kole Calhoun Has Bounced Back This Spring

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun has bounced back this spring after a terrible 2018 campaign. As a result, he figures to be the team's leadoff hitter heading into the regular season. The 31-year-old hit a miserable .208/.283/.369 with 19 home runs and 57 RBI in 137 games for the Halos in 2018. Calhoun managed […]

Mark Trumbo Has Been Pleasant Surprise This Spring

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Mark Trumbo's surgically-repaired right knee has held up and he's been one of the team's most pleasant spring surprises. The Orioles are now re-evaluating their plan to have him start the season on the injured list. Trumbo has hit just .200 (2-for-10), but the results aren't as important for him. The slugging […]

Blue Jays Impressed With Teoscar Hernandez

Toronto Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo has raved about outfielder Teoscar Hernandez's power and defense all spring. The 26-year-old has breakout potential and 30-homer power with everyday playing time after hitting .239/.302/.468 with 22 home runs and 57 RBI in 476 at-bats last season. In 15 spring training games, Hernandez is batting .410 (16-for-39) with […]

Ichiro Suzuki Retires Thursday In Japan

Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki announced on Thursday that he's retiring from baseball after a 5-4, 12-inning win against the A's in Japan. The 45-year-old went 0-for-4 in his final game and was pulled in the eighth inning to a standing ovation. Suzuki finished with 4,367 hits across Japan's professional league and MLB, and he […]

Mitch Haniger Punishes First Home Run

Seattle Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger took Marco Estrada deep in the third inning of Thursday's game in Tokyo. He also added a double and a walk as he finished the day going 2-for-4. Haniger appears to be picking up where he left off in 2018 after he polished off a breakout year batting .285 with […]

Ellis Canady's 10 Bold Predictions for 2019

Bold predictions. The time where we come up with ideas that should happen because in our minds they make sense. Statistical analysis, prognostication, voodoo, card reader, etc. None of these are completely certain methods to achieve the forecast that we have in mind. So, we put our idea to text, bury them in the digital […]

Ian Happ Has Impressed At Second Base

Chicago Cubs infielder/outfielder Ian Happ has impressed manager Joe Maddon with more chances at second base in spring training. Happ will still get more at-bats over the course of the season in the outfield, but he has reminded the team that he's a reasonable option at the keystone. After hitting 24 homers in his rookie […]

Tyler O'Neill Moving Up Depth Chart

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Tyler O'Neill may have leapfrogged Jose Martinez on the outfield depth chart with his high-energy style of play this spring. O'Neill can also play all three outfield spots, so he figures to have a key role in 2019. The 23-year-old is hitting .309 (9-for-47) with five home runs and seven RBI […]

Joey Gallo Doing Full Baseball Activities

Texas Rangers outfielder Joey Gallo is still sidelined with a strained right groin muscle, but he's doing full baseball activities, including batting practice, and remains confident he'll be ready for Opening Day. Gallo has only 29 spring at-bats, but he will be able to get extra work on the minor league side on the back […]

Eloy Jimenez Agrees To Record Deal With White Sox

The Chicago White Sox agreed to a six-year, $43 million contract with outfield prospect Eloy Jimenez on Wednesday, sources familiar with the deal told ESPN. Baseball's top outfield prospect has yet to even play a day in the big leagues as a 22-year-old. He's now almost certain to start the year in the middle of […]

Eloy Jimenez Close To Long-Term Deal

The Chicago White Sox are closing in on a long-term deal with outfield prospect Eloy Jimenez on Wednesday. Jimenez is the team's top prospect and No. 3 overall by MLB Pipeline after hitting .337/.384/.577 with 22 home runs and 75 RBI in 108 games with Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte last year. The upside is […]

Mookie Betts Not Rushing To Sign Extension

Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts seems intent on testing the free-agent waters when his contract is up. "That’s exactly what I expect. I don’t expect anything to happen until I’m a free agent," Betts said when asked if he expects to enter the 2019 season without signing a long-term extension. The 2018 American League […]

Andrew McCutchen To Hit Leadoff For Phils

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Andrew McCutchen will hit leadoff for the team this year instead of second baseman Cesar Hernandez. McCutchen has a career .378 on-base percentage and .481 slugging percentage and can still run a bit. In 49 games hitting leadoff last year, Cutch had a .414 OBP. Hernandez has a .366 OBP the last […]

Rhys Hoskins Battling Sore Shoulder

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman/outfielder Rhys Hoskins is battling "mild" left shoulder soreness, but manager Gabe Kapler said there is no reason to worry. An MRI exam showed no structural damage and Hoskins is expected to play on Opening Day on March 28. In the even Hoskins ever needs rest or is injured, Kapler said third […]

Gregory Polanco Close To Returning

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco (shoulder) could play in minor league games as early as next week, according to Todd Tomczyk, the team's director of sports medicine. The 27-year-old had his 2018 season cut short due to surgery on his throwing shoulder. Despite playing in just 130 games, he set career highs of 23 HR, […]

Domingo Santana Blasts Grand Slam

Seattle Mariners outfielder Domingo Santana went 1-for-5 against the Oakland Athletics in the season's first game in Tokyo. Santana took Mike Fiers deep to the opposite field in the third inning for his first career grand slam. Santana struck out in two of his other at-bats as the M's defeated the A's 9-7 in this […]

Stephen Piscotty Opens With A Home Run

Oakland Athletics outfielder Stephen Piscotty became a trivia answer in the first inning when he cracked a solo homer off of Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Marco Gonzales in Wednesday's Opening Day battle in Tokyo. Piscotty had a tremendous season in his first year in the American League, hitting .267 with 41 doubles, 27 homers and […]

Ramon Laureano Has Forgettable Opening Day

Oakland Athletics outfielder Ramon Laureano was at the top of manager Bob Melvin's lineup for Wednesday's Opening Day battle against the Seattle Mariners in Tokyo. He struggled, going hitless in five at-bats with three strikeouts. It wouldn't be surprising to see veteran Robbie Grossman get a chance to see what he can do in the […]

ADP Champ or Chump - Jackie Bradley Jr. and Juan Soto

You've probably heard people say that position scarcity is dead, as there is plenty of talent available at every offensive position save catcher and all catchers are about the same level of blech. This is true in standard 12-team leagues and some deeper formats, but it's not the case in the deepest leagues (20+ teams) […]

Harris Yudin's 10 Bold Predictions for 2019

Despite whiffing on more than half, my 2018 predictions were highlighted by the claim that Christian Yelich would return first-round value. I was also justifiably optimistic about Matt Chapman’s breakout and Khris Davis’ impending title of Home Run King. So, I figured, the best plan of attack for 2019 was to use the same template […]

Brandon Lowe and Rays Agree To Contract Extension

Tampa Bay Rays utilityman Brandon Lowe agreed to a six-year, $24 million contract extension with the club on Tuesday. He was ranked as the 93rd-best prospect by Baseball America after the 2018 season, in which he slashed .233/.324/.450 with six home runs (148 at-bats). The contract extension comes in the midst of an outstanding spring […]

Aaron Hicks Eyeing April 4 Return

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks said his lower back is feeling "much better" after he received two cortisone shots in six days. He has been diagnosed with chronic back pain, which has kept him out of spring action since March 1. Hicks said he isn't feeling any pain, but the real test will come […]

After Hours With RotoBaller Radio: Starting Pitcher Preview Part 3

Host Anthony Aniano of RotoBaller Radio discuss the 2019 fantasy baseball season and gets you warmed up for the MLB preseason. This radio show is sponsored by our good friends over at RT Sports. Be sure to check out their Best Ball leagues, drafting every day, and their awesome contest the RealTime Fantasy Sports Baseball Championship with a […]

Willie Calhoun Likely To Open Season in Triple-A

Texas Rangers outfielder Willie Calhoun looks likely to open the season in Triple-A. The Rangers would ideally like to keep both Calhoun and fellow outfielder Hunter Pence around. However, to do that one will need to go to Triple-A, and Calhoun is the only one with options available. Calhoun has not helped himself by hitting […]

Joey Gallo Confident of Making Opening Day

Texas Rangers first baseman/outfielder Joey Gallo (groin) is confident of being on the field on Opening Day. Gallo suffered a mild groin strain over the weekend, but has stated on numerous occasions since that if this was the regular season he would be out on the field for the Rangers. This spring Gallo has been […]

Franmil Reyes Could Bat Cleanup

San Diego Padres outfielder Franmil Reyes is in pole position as the team’s cleanup hitter come Opening Day. Reyes emerged from relative anonymity to be the Padres best hitter in the second half of 2018, highlighted by 10 homers and a .920 OPS. Despite his early struggles, Reyes adapted, lowering his strikeouts to a respectable […]

Mike Trout Agrees To Record Deal With Angels

The Los Angeles Angels and superstar outfielder Mike Trout agreed on a record-setting 12-year deal worth more than $430 million on Tuesday, a source told MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi. The 27-year-old was eligible to become a free agent after the 2020 season after his six-year, $144.5 million contract expired. The new deal would add 10 […]

The King's Insider Report - National League East

All other Premium Tools can be accessed on the premium dashboard. The King’s Award-Winning Fantasy Baseball Insider Series continues on RotoBaller with a look at the National League East. Last time, we focused on the New York Mets, and now here’s an insider outlook from a former pitcher in the division who now works as a broadcaster. […]