Heston Kjerstad Gets Reassigned

The Baltimore Orioles have reassigned outfield prospect Heston Kjerstad to minor-league camp. Kjerstad, 24, put together an impressive spring with a .381 batting average to go along with four homers and nine RBI in 48 at-bats. The teams first-round pick in 2020 has shown power with his left-handed swing, but has also been aggressive early […]

Chris Taylor (2B/OF, LAD) - 2023 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 275 CURRENT ADP: ~295 overall ANALYSIS: Chris Taylor is coming off his worst campaign since he was a Seattle Mariner. His average was down to .221, he hit just 10 home runs, and he collected 45 runs and 43 RBI across 118 games. Taylor also dealt with numerous ailments and […]

Whit Merrifield (2B/OF, TOR) - 2023 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 175 CURRENT ADP: ~190 overall ANALYSIS: I think a lot of drafters just view Merrifield as a guy at the end of his rope. He's 34 now and had his first bad fantasy season in 2022 when he played 139 games, hit 11 homers, stole 16 bases, and hit just […]

Christopher Morel (2B/OF, CHC) - 2023 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 245 CURRENT ADP: ~260 overall ANALYSIS: Chicago Cubs utilityman Christopher Morel exceeded expectations during his rookie campaign in 2022. Signed by Chicago as an international free agent in 2015, the 23-year-old made his debut with the club in May. Brought on as a pinch-hitter for Patrick Wisdom in the eighth inning, Morel hit a […]

Ben Rosener's Fantasy Baseball Beat: Orlando Arcia And Nolan Jones News Updates

The offseason is officially no more, but Spring training is here, and with it comes the daily influx of baseball news that fantasy managers have missed in the last few months. Lineup news, actual games happening, constant waiver wire moves, pitching assignments, and bullpen usage. Baseball is back, and so too is fantasy baseball, with drafts […]

Juan Soto's Oblique Strain Deemed "Minimal"

San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin said that the results of outfielder Juan Soto's (oblique) MRI suggest that his oblique strain is "minimal". The 24-year-old suffered a strained left oblique while playing in a minor-league game on Sunday. The team expects him to resume swinging in the coming days and is optimistic that he could […]

Byron Buxton To Serve Primarily As DH

Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said Tuesday that he would like to have outfielder Byron Buxton (knee) in the lineup as much as possible this season, which means he could serve primarily as Minnesota’s designated hitter rather than play center field. The 29-year-old made his spring debut in Tuesday's Grapefruit League 5-2 win over the […]

Brandon Nimmo Tests His Ankle/Knee

New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo (ankle, knee) tested his sprained ankle/knee on Tuesday at camp. Team officials liked what they saw from him and said that Nimmo is progressing, although it's unclear what that means for his availability on Opening Day on March 30. The 29-year-old is dealing with low-grade sprains in both his […]

Rockies Reassign Zac Veen To Minor-League Camp

The Colorado Rockies announced on Tuesday that they reassigned outfielder Zac Veen and catcher Drew Romo to minor-league camp. The Rockies have 44 players remaining in major-league spring training, including 10 non-roster players and one player on the 60-day injured list. The 21-year-old Veen, the team's No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was never expected […]

Juan Soto Getting An MRI On Tuesday

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto (oblique) is getting an MRI exam on Tuesday, according to manager Bob Melvin. "We're thinking it's fairly mild, which hopefully is the case." Soto suffered a strained left oblique while playing in a minor-league game on Sunday, but the team is still hoping that he'll be ready to go […]

Kyle Schwarber A Mixed Bag In WBC

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber has been hit or miss in the World Baseball Classic thus far. Schwarber is 2-for-11 but has four walks. One of his hits was a home run and he has three RBI and three runs in the tournament. He has played in four games heading into Tuesday's finals matchup against […]

Randy Arozarena Has Blistering WBC

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena had a great World Baseball Classic for Team Mexico. Arozarena had nine hits, seven of which went for extra bases, six doubles and a home run. He had a .450/.607/.900 slash line in six games for Mexico. Before heading out for the WBC, he hit two home runs for […]

Brandon Crawford, Mitch Haniger Improving

San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford (knee) will return to the Cactus League lineup this week. Meanwhile, outfielder Mitch Haniger (oblique) has started throwing and hitting in camp. Outfielder Austin Slater (hamstring) isn't doing any baseball activities with nine days until Opening Day. Crawford received a cortisone injection in his left knee last week and […]

Eloy Jimenez Scheduled To Play Wednesday

Chicago White Sox outfielder Eloy Jimenez (calf) is fine and did some running on Tuesday. He's scheduled to play in one of the team's split-squad Cactus League games on Wednesday. Jimenez was pulled from Monday's game due to a right calf injury, but it just cramping and nothing serious. The 26-year-old Dominican outfielder hit a […]

Tyler O'Neill Hopes To Play Wednesday

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Tyler O'Neill (illness) was back with his teammates on Tuesday after getting over a stomach virus, and he was able to take batting practice and shag fly balls. O'Neill hasn't playing since returning from the World Baseball Classic but hopes to play in a Grapefruit League game on Wednesday, according to […]

Byron Buxton Making Spring Debut Tuesday

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (knee) is making his Grapefruit League debut on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Rays and left-hander Josh Fleming. Buxton is serving as the designated hitter and is batting leadoff for the Twins. While this will be Buxton's first Grapefruit League game, he has already picked up a good amount of […]

J.D. Martinez (UT, LAD) - 2023 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 190 CURRENT ADP: ~215 overall ANALYSIS: Martinez was still a good hitter in 2022, with a barrel rate of 12.2% and a wOBA of .342, but he did seem to take a step back. Martinez had a three-mph decrease in average exit velocity in 2022 with only 16 HRs as […]

Bryce Harper Won't Open Season On 60-Day Injured List

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper (elbow) will not open the 2023 regular season on the 60-day injured list, according to president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. The Phillies can put Harper on the 60-day IL at any time, if needed, retroactive to Opening Day. It doesn't mean that he'll be back earlier than anticipated around […]

Michael Brantley Not Expected To Be Ready For Opening Day

Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker all but confirmed on Tuesday that outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) will start the 2023 season on the injured list. Brantley had surgery on his right shoulder last August and has been taking it slow during spring training. He also missed some valuable time in camp while he was away from […]

Yordan Alvarez To Make Spring Debut On Thursday

Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut on Thursday, according to manager Dusty Baker. Alvarez has yet to play in a spring game while battling through left hand soreness in camp, but he's ready to go now and should be ready for Opening Day, barring a setback […]

NL-Only Sleepers for 2023 Fantasy Baseball Drafts

The “Only” league is one of the more challenging fantasy baseball formats. The format forces players to reach into the depths of NL rosters to create the best team possible. The only problem with the “Only” league format? It is extremely difficult. With such a limited player pool, the drafts are critical. If you make […]

Nolan Jones Optioned To Triple-A Albuquerque Monday

The Colorado Rockies optioned third baseman Nolan Jones to Triple-A Albuquerque on Monday, per the Communications Department's Twitter account. The 24-year-old, who was acquired from the Guardians in November had batted just .186 in 43 spring at-bats. However, he has intriguing power potential and can play first base and outfield. Jones will not start the […]

Masataka Yoshida Has Big Game To Help Japan Advance

Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida played a huge part in Team Japan's come-from-behind 6-5 victory over Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic semifinal on Monday evening. Yoshida went 3-for-4 with a game-tying, three-run home run, a run scored and a walk to help Japan advance to the championship game on Tuesday against Team […]

Jarred Kelenic Pulled From Monday's Game

Seattle Mariners outfielder Jarred Kelenic (quad) was removed early during Monday's Cactus League game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Manager Scott Servais mentioned that Kelenic was pulled as a precaution. It sounds like the left-handed slugger is dealing with a minor quad issue. The team is considering him day-to-day, so hopefully he won't land on the […]

Eloy Jimenez Leaves Game Early With Calf Cramp

Chicago White Sox outfielder Eloy Jimenez (calf) left the team's Cactus League game against the Arizona Diamondbacks early on Monday with a cramp in his right calf, according to the team. Fantasy managers should consider Jimenez day-to-day for now, and he shouldn't be in any danger of missing Opening Day at the end of this […]

Byron Buxton Looking Good For Opening Day

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (knee) is looking good and is nearing 50 at-bats in live batting practice and minor-league games this spring. He went 0-for-2 with two walks in a minor-league game on Sunday, the third contest he's played in four days. Buxton has yet to play center field, but president of baseball operations […]

Jorge Polanco, Alex Kirilloff Could Miss Opening Day

Opening Day is in doubt for Minnesota Twins infielder Jorge Polanco (knee) and outfielder Alex Kirilloff (wrist). Polanco hasn't graduated from batting practice to exhibition games in camp after missing the final 58 games in 2022 with a bone bruise in his left knee. Kirilloff took two at-bats in a minor-league game over the weekend, […]

Garrett Mitchell Back In Cactus League Lineup

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Garrett Mitchell (hamstring) is back in the team's Cactus League lineup on Monday against the Seattle Mariners and right-hander Logan Gilbert. Mitchell is starting in center field and is hitting leadoff for the Brew Crew. The 24-year-old will return to action after missing a week and a half due to right hamstring […]

Matt Vierling Playing Monday Against Blue Jays

Detroit Tigers outfielder Matt Vierling (knee) is back in the Grapefruit League lineup on Monday against the Toronto Blue Jays and right-hander Kevin Gausman. Vierling is starting in left field and is batting leadoff in his return. A knee strain costed Vierling the last 10 days in spring training, but he is back and ready […]

Jake Fraley Should Be Fine After Fouling Ball Off Leg

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jake Fraley (leg) is expected to be fine after fouling a ball off the middle of his leg Sunday's spring game against the Brewers. According to Reds manager Dave Bell, Fraley should be fine. The 27-year-old exited Sunday's game early after fouling a pitch off his leg, but the ball missed his […]