Yoenis Cespedes Rankings Debate - Comparing RotoBaller's Rankers

Today's article is one in a series of debates regarding the overall ranking of some of the most fantasy-relevant players of the 2018 baseball season. RotoBaller's expert writers have come up with our consensus rankings for mixed leagues, but that doesn't mean we agreed on everything. In this space, we'll hear from rankers with the […]

Austin Hays Goes Hitless In First Spring Training Action In Loss To Boston

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Austin Hays finally stepped into the batter's box after missing the past couple of games due to a sore lat. He went hitless with a walk as the designated hitter. He's considered a top prospect, so he'll get every chance to play his way onto the team. Hold off and see how […]

Ryan Raburn Scratched With Side Tightness

Washington Nationals outfielder Ryan Raburn (side) was scratched from the spring lineup for the second straight day Saturday with "left side tightness." Raburn said he hurt himself swinging in batting practice a few days ago, but he's not worried that it's a long-term injury. Raburn hit .261 with two home runs and six RBI in […]

Mitch Haniger To Be Held Out A Few Days

Seattle Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger (hand) will be held out of spring games for a few days due to a sore hand. The Mariners are just being extra cautious early in camp. Haniger only played in 96 games in 2017 due to various injuries, but when he was on the field, he played well, hitting […]

Hunter Pence Takes Batting Practice Saturday

San Francisco Giants outfielder Hunter Pence (neck) took batting practice Saturday. Pence had been scratched from Friday’s game with a stiff neck but it appears he is better for now. Pence will play right field for the Giants this year but has seen his stock fall over the past few seasons due to injuries. Aside from […]

Ben Zobrist Feeling Better

Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports that Chicago Cubs infielder/outfielder Ben Zobrist (back) is feeling better. It’s good news for Zobrist, who was also seen hitting in the batting cages. The Cubs are taking it easy with the veteran and he should be good to go for Opening Day. However, Zobrist's fantasy stock has taken a hit, […]

Matt Kemp Homers In First Game Back For Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp, who was acquired in a contract swap with Atlanta in the offseason, gave die-hard Dodgers fans a case of deja vu on Friday by homering in his first game back since the 2014 playoffs. Kemp went 2-for-2 on the day after getting a single in his first at-bat. The Dodgers […]

J.D. Martinez Press Conference Still On Hold

Sean McAdam of the Boston Sports Journal has reported that there is still no news on the physical nor impending press conference of Boston Red Sox outfielder J.D. Martinez. "I'm not concerned. My concern is with the guys here," said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. Until we hear more about the exact holdup, we will just […]

Kris Bryant Not An Option To Bat First

Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports that Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon said “four players (are) under consideration for leadoff spot. Kris Bryant is not in that group.” It should be no surprise that the former National League MVP won’t be atop the Cubs lineup, as he should remain in the two-hole. First baseman Anthony […]

Ryder Jones To Undergo MRI

San Francisco Giants infielder/outfielder Ryder Jones (hamstring) will undergo an MRI on his right hamstring. Jones tweaked his hamstring on Thursday. Jones got some run last year before landing on the disabled list with a wrist injury. Jones will play some outfield this spring, as he is blocked at both first base and third base by […]

Manuel Margot Balancing Fun And Persistence

San Diego Padres manager Andy Green is challenging outfielder Manuel Margot to improve his on-base percentage, score 100 runs and win a Gold Glove in 2018. A warm and fuzzy piece by Bryce Miller highlights Margot's simple upbringing and positive clubhouse energy. Green's benchmark is ambitious but fitting for the unquestioned leadoff man and center […]

Billy Hamilton Expected To Open Season As Leadoff Hitter

The Cincinnati Reds will open the 2018 season with speedy outfielder Billy Hamilton batting leadoff. Hamilton held down the spot for most of the 2017 season as well, although his low batting average of .247 and on-base percentage of .299 does not make him an ideal candidate for the top of the lineup. Despite those […]

Jose Pirela Seeing Reps At Second Base

San Diego Padres outfielder Jose Pirela is taking repetitions at second base in camp, and he's likely to see a lot of time there in spring training. Unless the Friars trade outfielder Hunter Renfroe before the season starts, Pirela's fantasy upside may be limited if he shares time with Renfroe in left field. However, if […]

Carlos Gonzalez Could Be An Option For White Sox

FanRag Sports reports that free-agent outfielder Carlos Gonzalez could be an option for the Chicago White Sox. General manager Rick Hahn has said he doesn’t believe the club will sign anymore free agents, but Gonzalez makes for a nice buy-low candidate who the rebuilding White Sox could flip if he has a strong first half. […]

Ben Zobrist Returns To Field Friday

Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports that Chicago Cubs infielder/outfielder Ben Zobrist (back) was on the field Friday. Zobrist has been absent from workouts all week with a back injury. Manager Joe Maddon has stated that there is nothing to worry about and they didn’t want to push anything with Zobrist. The veteran will be competing with […]

Hunter Pence Scratched With Stiff Neck

San Francisco Giants outfielder Hunter Pence was scratched from Friday’s contest with a stiff neck. Manager Bruce Bochy mentioned earlier in the week how he’d like to rest veterans this weekend and only outfielder Andrew McCutchen will be in the lineup. Pence should be considered day-to-day. Pence no longer holds much fantasy value as age […]

The Big Winner Of Tampa Bay's Flurry Of Moves Is Mallex Smith

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Mallex Smith has not been mentioned as much as other names that departed the team this week. However, he emerges as a big winner due to the number of his competitions leaving the roster. The signing of Carlos Gomez creates a possible concern, as there are now four outfielders for three […]

Nick Williams Smashing Them Out Of The Park

Entering his sophomore season in the majors, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Williams is already making a splash in spring training. The 24-year-old recently smashed a home run out of the club’s Clearwater, Florida, spring training stadium, hitting manager Gabe Kapler’s car. Williams almost did it two days in a row, barely missing the car the […]

Steven Duggar Could Start Opening Day

Despite the San Francisco Giants signing outfielder Austin Jackson in the offseason, outfielder Steven Duggar has a chance to earn the nod on Opening Day for the Giants. Outfielders Andrew McCutchen and Hunter Pence will hold down the corners, but Duggar’s defense is above average and he has put up good numbers in the minor leagues. […]

Rangers in the Lead to Land Julio Pablo Martinez

The Texas Rangers have emerged as the favorites over the Marlins and Yankees to sign 21-year-old Cuban outfielder Julio Pablo Martinez. The recent defector will be free to sign with a team on March 6, and his bonus is expected to be in the neighborhood of $2.7 million. The Rangers traded pitcher Miguel Medrano for […]

Byron Buxton Feeling Faster This Spring

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton told reporters that he feels faster this season. The speedy outfielder reported to camp at 192 pounds a year after checking in at 210 pounds ahead of the 2017 season. Already one of the top defensive center fielders in the league, if Buxton is in fact faster this season, he […]

J.D. Martinez Deal Waiting On Physical

According to Christopher Smith of masslive.com, there will not be a press conference Thursday to officially announce the signing of outfielder J.D. Martinez by the Boston Red Sox. The reason is the physical has yet to be completed. There is no additional word regarding any specifics that the physical is causing the holdup. Smith also reported that […]

Yasmany Tomas Might Not Make Roster

According to Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic, Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Yasmany Tomas looks to have a hard time securing a roster spot, let alone a spot in the starting lineup. The acquisitions of outfielders Steven Souza Jr. and Jarrod Dyson secured the most likely spots Tomas could play in the outfield. Among 12 other […]

Not Much Concern About Jason Kipnis' Sore Back

Updating a previous report, Cleveland Indians second baseman/outfielder Jason Kipnis (back) is sitting out the first few spring training games due to a sore back. Kipnis himself said his back pain is caused by pushing himself too hard too early on in the spring. He said his body told him to take a break after taking […]

Pirates Acquire Corey Dickerson From Rays

After being curiously designated for assignment by the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend, outfielder Corey Dickerson has found a new home. The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired Dickerson on Tuesday in exchange for reliever Daniel Hudson and infield prospect Tristan Gray. What was supposed to be an interesting position battle for the Pirates is no more, […]

Brandon Guyer Will Be Shut Down for a Couple of Days

Cleveland Indians outfielder Brandon Guyer (wrist) will be shut down for a couple of days to let the inflammation in his left wrist calm down. He will reportedly increase workouts next week. Guyer injured his wrist in the outfield earlier this week, and while there was a lot of concern at first, it seems Guyer […]

Jason Kipnis To Be Kept Out of Early Spring Training Games

Cleveland Indians second baseman/outfielder Jason Kipnis (back) will be held out of early spring training games due to a sore lower back. There doesn't seem to be a ton of concern regarding the soreness, but the oft-injured Kipnis is always someone to keep an eye on no matter how minor the injury may seem. Kipnis spent […]

Pirates Hope Daniel Nava Will Return Soon

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Daniel Nava (back) has not participated in the team's last two workouts and is "rehab-only," according to director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk. General manager Neal Huntington said the team is hopeful Nava will return quickly, but outfielders Bryce Brentz and Michael Saunders are backup plans in case Nava isn't ready. Nava […]

Alex Cora Not Concerned About Lineups

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora is not concerned with the particulars of lineup construction based on splits, according to Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe. Cora is not concerned with splitting up righties and lefties and doesn’t plan to get carried away with batter/pitcher matchups if it’s a small sample. With this news, there […]

Andrew Benintendi Success Stems From Summer Break

Boston Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi has already accomplished in his rookie year what many players fail to reach in their entire career; he joined the 20 homers and 20 steals club. Benintendi attributes his sudden rise to stardom to an offseason before his sophomore season at the University of Arkansas. "I didn't play summer […]