Batter BABIP: Using Sabermetrics for 2024 Fantasy Baseball
The most accessible of the fantasy-relevant advanced stats is BABIP, or Batting Average on Balls In Play. It simply measures a player's batting average on balls in play, with outcomes such as strikeouts and home runs removed from consideration. In general, the league average hovers around .300, a nice round number to remember. However, it... Read More
Three Front-Runners For Teoscar Hernandez
The Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox appear to be the front-runners to sign free-agent outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, a two-time Silver Slugger winner. Some are speculating that Hernandez will wait for Cody Bellinger to sign before inking his own deal, but the Angels, Dodgers and Red Sox aren't in on Bellinger,... Read More
Jorge Soler Drawing Interest From Handful Of Teams
Free-agent outfielder Jorge Soler is drawing interest from the Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox, according to sources. He had some trouble staying healthy early in his career, playing more than 100 games just once from 2015-18. But since 2019, he's played at least 137 games in three of four... Read More
Rays Land Richie Palacios In Trade With Cardinals
The Tampa Bay Rays acquired left-handed-hitting outfielder Richie Palacios from the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday in exchange for right-handed reliever Andrew Kittredge, according to a source. Palacios made his debut for the Cardinals in 2023 when he was promoted on Aug. 18, and he posted an impressive .823 OPS with six home runs and... Read More
Mariners Set To Acquire Luke Raley From Rays
The Seattle Mariners are reportedly set to acquire outfielder/first baseman Luke Raley from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for infielder Jose Caballero. The potential deal follows up on a blockbuster trade in which Seattle sent former Cy Young winner Robbie Ray to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for outfielder Mitch Haniger and right-hander... Read More
Mitch Haniger Returns To Mariners In Trade With Giants
Outfielder Mitch Haniger is headed back to the Seattle Mariners in a trade with the San Francisco Giants that sends former Cy Young winner Robbie Ray to San Francisco while right-hander Anthony DeSclafani joins Haniger in heading to the Mariners. The veteran spent five seasons in Seattle before joining the Giants in free agency prior... Read More
Mariners Ship Robbie Ray To Giants In Friday Blockbuster
The Seattle Mariners and San Francisco Giants connected for a blockbuster trade on Friday as Seattle will send former Cy Young winner Robbie Ray to the Giants in exchange for former Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger and right-hander Anthony DeSclafani. Ray, the 2021 AL Cy Young winner with the Toronto Blue Jays, went on to sign... Read More
Michael Brantley Calls It A Career
Long-time big-league outfielder Michael Brantley has announced his retirement from baseball. The veteran spent 15 seasons in the majors, 10 with the then-Cleveland Indians followed by another five with the Houston Astros. Injuries plagued the 36-year-old throughout his career as he appeared in 120 games or more in just seven of his 15 campaigns. He... Read More
Padres Sign Oscar Mercado To Minor-League Deal
The San Diego Padres signed free-agent outfielder Oscar Mercado to a minor-league deal. Mercado will report to spring training in 2024 hoping to impress the coaching staff and earn a reserve outfield role on the Opening Day roster. The 29-year-old Colombian played in only 20 games at the major-league level in 2023 with the St.... Read More
Bubba Thompson Claimed Off Waivers By Yankees
The New York Yankees have claimed outfielder Bubba Thompson off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds. It's the second time he's been claimed this offseason as the Reds claimed him from the Texas Rangers but recently designated him for assignment after they re-signed reliever Buck Farmer. The former first-round pick has appeared in the big leagues... Read More
Brett Phillips Inks Minors Deal With White Sox
The Chicago White Sox have signed outfielder Brett Phillips to a minor-league deal. The deal will pay the veteran $1.2 million if he makes the big-league team. The 29-year-old had his best season at the plate in the 2021 season with the Rays but is coming off a pair of dismal campaigns with the Orioles... Read More
Tommy Edman Hopeful For Start Of Spring Following Wrist Surgery
St. Louis Cardinals utility player Tommy Edman (wrist) is hopeful that he will be ready to go for the start of spring training following October surgery on his wrist. Edman's wrist issues cost him some time in the 2023 season as he was limited to 137 games after appearing in at least 153 contests in... Read More
Mets Sign Harrison Bader
The New York Mets signed free-agent outfielder Harrison Bader to a one-year deal for approximately $10 million, according to a source. The Mets have been looking for help in the outfield this offseason, and Bader should immediately slot in as their primary center fielder in 2024, which will allow Brandon Nimmo to slide over to... Read More
Chris Sale Traded to the Braves: Fantasy Baseball Outlook
Over the weekend, Chris Sale was traded to the Atlanta Braves, and infielder Vaughn Grissom was shipped off to the Boston Red Sox. The Braves, as with every major league team, needed some pitching help after a dominant 2023 came to a quick halt in the playoffs. The team is built to win now and... Read More
Starling Marte Begins Winter League Play
New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte (groin) is hitting second and playing right field on Wednesday in his first winter ball game for the Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Republic. It was another injury-filled year for Marte in 2023, but it's a good sign that he's already playing in games this offseason. The 35-year-old... Read More
Starling Marte Likely To Play Winter Ball
After missing significant time in 2023, New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte (groin) is likely to play winter ball in the Dominican Republic after New Year's Day, according to people briefed on the matter. However, nothing has been firmly established regarding Marte's offseason plans, and it's unclear how much action he'll see if he actually... Read More
Padres Prefer To Keep Fernando Tatis Jr. In Right Field
The San Diego Padres would like to keep outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr.'s Platinum Glove in right field in 2024, but they haven't ruled out the possibility of moving him over to center field after trading both Juan Soto and Trent Grisham to the New York Yankees this offseason. Most of the potential outfield trade candidates... Read More
Derek Hill Signs Minors Pact With Rangers
Free-agent outfielder Derek Hill has signed a minor-league deal with the Texas Rangers. The former first-round pick of the Detroit Tigers hasn't been able to maintain a job at the MLB level, as he has just 108 big-league games under his belt. In that time, he has hit .229 with four home runs and 10... Read More
Giants Still Looking To Add Big Names In Free Agency
The San Francisco Giants missed out on Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in free agency, both of whom ended up with the rival Dodgers, but they remain interested in some of the biggest names available such as Blake Snell, Cody Bellinger, and Matt Chapman. The club did ink Korean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee this winter... Read More
Way Too Early 2024 MLB Rookie of the Year Favorites
The temperature outside is near freezing here in the Northeast, there's a warm glow in the fireplace, and the ball that draws 2023 to a close has yet to drop in Times Square. So, you know what that means... it's the perfect time to speculate who will take home MLB Rookie of the Year in... Read More
Rangers Sign Diego Castillo, Andrew Knapp, Others
The Texas Rangers signed free-agent right-handers Diego Castillo, Jesus Tinoco and Gerardo Carrillo, outfielders Sandro Fabian, Elier Hernandez and Derek Hill, and catcher Andrew Knapp to minor-league deals with invitations to major-league spring training on Wednesday. Castillo, 29, allowed six earned runs in just 8 2/3 relief innings for the Seattle Mariners this year, but... Read More
Reds Sign Conner Capel To Minor-League Deal
The Cincinnati Reds signed free-agent outfielder Conner Capel to a minor-league deal on Tuesday that includes an invitation to major-league camp in spring training. Capel will give the Reds some minor-league depth heading into the 2024 season. The 26-year-old played in 32 games for the Oakland Athletics last season, going 19-for-73 (.260) with no home... Read More
Blue Jays Grab Isiah Kiner-Falefa On Two-Year Deal
The Toronto Blue Jays have signed utility player Isiah Kiner-Falefa to a two-year, $15 million contract with $1 million of performance bonuses included. The veteran spent parts of four seasons with the Texas Rangers to begin his career before spending the last two seasons with the New York Yankees. Most recently, the 28-year-old hit .242... Read More
Dodgers, Angels, Red Sox Interested In Teoscar Hernandez
The Los Angeles Dodgers have shown renewed interest in free-agent outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, while the Los Angeles Angels and Boston Red Sox have recently shown interest. The 31-year-old slugger took a step back in the power department in 2023 with the Mariners but still slashed a respectable .258/.305/.435 with 26 home runs, 93 RBI, and... Read More
Estevan Florial Headed To Cleveland In Trade With Yankees
Outfielder Estevan Florial has been traded by the New York Yankees to the Cleveland Guardians for pitcher Cody Morris. Florial was once a top prospect for the Yankees and has been a conundrum for dynasty managers for a few years now. He is 26, however, and his star has faded. With that being said, he... Read More
Kevin Kiermaier Returning To Toronto
Outfielder Kevin Kiermaier has agreed to a contract to head back to the Toronto Blue Jays, pending a physical. The 33-year-old doesn't offer much in fantasy outside of AL-only or the deepest of leagues, as he has a history of injuries and provides little in the run-scoring categories. He swiped 14 bases last season, however,... Read More
Teoscar Hernandez Gaining Interest From Boston
Free agent outfielder Teoscar Hernandez is garnering interest from the Boston Red Sox, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The 31-year-old slugger put up a subpar .258/.305/.435 batting line to go along with 26 home runs, 93 RBI, and seven stolen bases over 625 at-bats in his lone season with the Seattle Mariners in... Read More
Reds Ink Hernan Perez To Minors Deal
The Cincinnati Reds have signed utility player Hernan Perez to a minor-league deal. The 32-year-old hasn't appeared in the big leagues since the 2021 season with the Washington Nationals but has rather spent the last two seasons playing in Korea and Mexico. Originally signed out of Venezuela by the Tigers, Perez received significant playing time... Read More
Twins Bring In Niko Goodrum On Minor-League Pact
The Minnesota Twins have signed utility player Niko Goodrum to a minor-league deal. The signing is of the full-circle variety as the Twins drafted Goodrum in the second round of the 2010 draft while he debuted in the big leagues with the club for 11 games in the 2017 season. However, the bulk of Goodrum's... Read More
Jasson Dominguez Should Be Back "Sooner Rather Than Later"
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that outfielder Jasson Dominguez (elbow) is doing "really well" and that he should look "a lot like a regular player" in spring training. There hasn't been anything new on a timeline for Dominguez's return, but Boone is optimistic he will be back "sooner rather than later." The team's... Read More