Michael Conforto, Noah Syndergaard Receive Qualifying Offers

The New York Mets extended qualifying offers to both outfielder Michael Conforto and starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard on Saturday for one year and $18.4 million. Syndergaard has missed the majority of the last two seasons after having Tommy John surgery in 2020 and experiencing a setback due to elbow inflammation. But before his injury, he... Read More

Phillies Outright Odubel Herrera And Others

The Philadelphia Phillies have outrighted six players off their roster, all of whom have elected free agency. Outfielders Odubel Herrera and Travis Jankowski, infielder Ronald Torreyes, catcher Andrew Knapp, and pitchers J.D. Hammer and Ramon Rosso will all test the market. Of those names, Herrera is the most relevant to fantasy managers, as he slashed... Read More

Reds Make Nick Castellanos A Qualifying Offer

The Cincinnati Reds have extended outfielder Nick Castellanos a qualifying offer, as expected. Castellanos is all but certain to reject the one-year, $18.4 million dollar contract so he can test the free agent market. With the Reds cutting payroll, Castellanos will most likely play for another team in 2022. After slashing .309/.362/.576 with 34 homers... Read More

Dusty Baker Returning To Astros In 2022

The Houston Astros announced on Friday that they signed manager Dusty Baker to a one-year contract extension for the 2022 season after he came just two wins shy of winning the World Series this year. Next season will mark the 72-year-old's 25th season as a manager in professional baseball and his third with the Astros... Read More

Seiya Suzuki To Be Posted This Offseason

Japanese star right fielder Seiya Suzuki will be posted this offseason by the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball and made available to major league clubs, according to a source. The 27-year-old will compete with Starling Marte as one of this winter's top available free-agent outfielders after he's been a five-time All-Star in Japan.... Read More

Padres Exercise Options on Pierce Johnson, Craig Stammen

The San Diego Padres announced several roster decisions on Friday, exercising their contract options on relief pitchers Pierce Johnson and Craig Stammen and declining their contract options on outfielder Jake Marisnick and relief pitcher Keone Kela. Johnson and Stammen return to an excellent bullpen in 2022, one that may not feature Mark Melancon after the... Read More

Joc Pederson Declines Option, Opts For Free Agency

Atlanta Braves outfielder Joc Pederson has elected free agency, turning down his end of a $10 million dollar mutual contract option for 2022. He will instead receive a $2.5 million dollar buyout. The back-to-back world champion slashed .238/.310/.422 for both the Cubs and Braves this season, totaling 40 extra-base hits, including 18 home runs in... Read More

White Sox Outright Brian Goodwin And Three Others

The Chicago White Sox outrighted four players off the 40-man roster Friday. Outfielder Brian Goodwin and pitchers Evan Marshall, Jimmy Cordero, and Jace Fry all cleared waivers and are now free agents. Pitcher Anderson Severino was added to the 40-man roster in a corresponding move. Among those players, only Goodwin was fantasy-relevant at any point... Read More

Kyle Schwarber Declines Option, Hits Free Agency

Boston Red Sox first baseman/outfielder Kyle Schwarber declined his mutual option Friday, making him a free agent. The deal would have paid him $11.5 million dollars in 2022, but instead he will opt for a $3 million dollar buyout and a chance to hit the open market. Schwarber appeared in 113 games in 2021, slashing... Read More

Brett Gardner Becomes A Free Agent

New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner declined his $2.3 million player option on Thursday, and the Yankees declined his team option for $7.5 million, which makes him a free agent this winter. Gardner will receive a $1.15 million buyout after making $1.85 million this year. The 38-year-old outfielder hit just .222/.327/.362 with 10 home runs... Read More

Charlie Blackmon Exercises His Player Option

Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon exercised his $21 million-plus player option on Thursday and will return to the team for the 2022 season. Blackmon has another player option coming in 2023 and has been with the team for the last 11 seasons after being drafted in 2008. The veteran outfielder started off last season slow,... Read More

Kevin Pillar Set For Free Agency

New York Mets outfielder Kevin Pillar will not return to the team as both he and the club declined their sides of his mutual option Thursday. Pillar, who produced a .692 OPS with 15 homers, four steals, 40 runs, and 47 RBI in 325 at-bats this season, was perhaps most notable for being hit in... Read More

Adam Duvall Turns Down Option, To Remain With Atlanta

Atlanta Braves outfielder Adam Duvall has declined his end of a $7 million dollar mutual option, instead opting to be a paid a $3 million dollar buyout. He does not become a free agent however, and he is now eligible for arbitration, where he figures to land a salary in the area of $9 million... Read More

Avisail Garcia Opts Out Of Deal With Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Avisail Garcia opted out of his deal with the team on Thursday and will become a free agent after a strong 2021 season. Garcia had a mutual $12 million option for 2022, but instead he'll receive a $2 million buyout and hit the free-agent market this winter. The 30-year-old from Venezuela had... Read More

Ian Desmond Becomes A Free Agent

The Colorado Rockies are declining a $15 million option on outfielder Ian Desmond for the 2022 season and will instead buy him out for $2 million. Desmond opted out of the last two seasons due to concerns over COVID-19. Desmond ended up being a big bust for Colorado after signing a five-year, $70 million deal... Read More

Nick Castellanos Opts Out Of Contract, Becomes Free Agent

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Nick Castellanos opted out of his contract, as expected, and will become a free agent after slashing .309/.362/.576 with a career-high 34 home runs, 38 doubles and 100 RBI in 2021 to become a first-time All-Star. He had $34 million and two years left on his deal with Cincinnati. The 29-year-old had... Read More

Phillies Decline Options On Andrew McCutchen, Odubel Herrera

The Philadelphia Phillies declined 2022 club options on outfielders Andrew McCutchen ($15 million) and Odubel Herrera ($11.5 million) on Wednesday. McCutchen becomes a free agent, while the Phils retain the rights to Herrera, who is eligible for salary arbitration. They bought the two outfielders out for $3 million and $2.5 million, respectively. McCutchen hit just... Read More

Jackie Bradley Jr. Staying In Milwaukee

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. will pick up his $9.5 million player option for the 2022 season. Bradley and the Brewers have a $12 million mutual option for the 2023 season with an $8 million buyout. He is a Gold Glove finalist, but Bradley endured a terrible year at the plate, slashing .163/.236/.261 with... Read More

Kevin Kiermaier Undergoes Knee Surgery

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (knee) underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to address a slight meniscus tear. He will be able to resume baseball activities within the next 4-to-6 weeks. The 31-year-old is expected to be fully healthy by the time Spring Training begins. He slashed .259/.328/.388 with four home runs, 37... Read More

Joc Pederson Starting In Right Field For Game 6

Atlanta Braves outfielder Joc Pederson is in the starting lineup for Game 6 of the World Series on Tuesday night. Pederson is hitting sixth and starting in right field against Houston Astros right-hander Luis Garcia. He started Atlanta's Game 5 loss on the bench, fouling out to third base as a pinch hitter in his... Read More

Jose Siri Starting In Center Field For Game 6

Houston Astros outfielder Jose Siri is getting the start in center field on Tuesday for Game 6 of the World Series. The outfielder is batting .167 with a stolen base in 12 plate appearances this postseason. He's made three appearances so far in Houston's series with the Atlanta Braves, including one start in center field... Read More

Jorge Soler Starting At Designated Hitter For Game 6

Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler is getting the start at designated hitter on Tuesday. Soler started Game 3 and Game 5 in right field in Atlanta but will move to a designated hitter on Tuesday with the series shifting back to Houston. He's hitting second against Astros right-hander Luis Garica. In 34 plate appearances this... Read More

Jorge Soler On The Bench For Game 4

Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler isn't starting on Saturday. Atlanta will take on the Houston Astros and right-hander Zack Greinke in Game 4 of the World Series but will do so with Soler on the bench. The outfielder is hitting .208 with a .321 on-base percentage and a home run in 28 plate appearances this... Read More

Joc Pederson Starting In Right Field For Game 4

Atlanta Braves outfielder Joc Pederson is batting fifth and starting in right field on Saturday for Game 4 of the World Series against the Houston Astros and right-hander Zack Greinke. Pederson started Atlanta's Game 3 win on the bench but returns to the lineup for a matchup with Greinke. In 31 career plate appearances against... Read More

FanDuel MLB Lineup Picks (10/30/21): Daily Fantasy Baseball Advice

Game 3 was very much a throwback affair as you don't see many MLB games ending 2-0 these days. The Braves had a combined no-hitter going into the eighth inning and wound up giving up just two hits in the ballgame, while the Astros allowed just two runs on six hits in the loss. Travis... Read More

FanDuel MLB DFS Lineup Picks (10/29/21): Daily Fantasy Baseball Advice

We have a FanDuel single-game slate for Game 3 of the Astros-Braves World Series clash Friday night, meaning that normal roster positions are replaced by one MVP slot (accrues points at 2x rate), one STAR slot (accrues points at 1.5x rate) and three Utility spots (accrue points at normal rate). There are no pitchers in... Read More

DraftKings Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks (10/29/21): MLB DFS Lineups

Happy Friday, Rotoballers! Houston came out with an early-inning blitz to stun Atlanta and even the World Series at one game apiece. Now, the Fall Classic heads to Atlanta for Games 3, 4, and 5 on three consecutive days. It's possible the series doesn't make it back to Texas, but it would be surprising if one... Read More

2021 MLB Strength of Schedule - In Depth Analysis

Strength of schedule analysis is a common thing you'll see in fantasy football analysis. With just 16 (17 now, I guess) games on the schedule every year, the list of teams on your schedule can make a big difference in your final year metrics. If you get to face the league's worst offense twice while... Read More

Padres Hire Bob Melvin As New Skipper

The San Diego Padres agreed to a three-year deal on Thursday for Bob Melvin to be their next skipper after they let Jayce Tingler go after a disappointing 2021 season in which the team finished 79-83 despite entering the season with World Series aspirations, according to sources. The Oakland Athletics had picked up Melvin's 2022... Read More

Mariners Outright Jake Bauers

The Seattle Mariners announced on Wednesday that the team outrighted first baseman and outfielder Jake Bauers after the 26-year-old cleared waivers. Bauers hit .209 with a .290 on-base percentage, a 63 wRC+, four home runs, and six stolen bases in 315 plate appearances split between Cleveland and Seattle this past season. Seattle currently has Evan... Read More