AL Outfielders Ready to Break Out in 2021

In previous seasons, outfielder has been one of the deepest positions to find top-end talent as well as deeper talent. In 2021, this does not appear to be the case as there are so many question marks and risks in the current top 50 based on ADP and throughout the entirety of drafts. It becomes […]

Power Sleepers - Noteworthy 2020 Barrel Leaders

As we've continued to progress in the MLB offseason, I've been looking at barrel rates from 2020 in the hopes of finding players whose breakouts during the shortened season were real or those who may still have breakouts looming. As I've mentioned previously, I'm a firm believer that finding the barrel regularly is an incredibly […]

Second-Year Hitters Ready to Break Out

Every season there are hitters entering their second year in the big-leagues that have a solid break-out campaign. In 2020, these were players like Eloy Jimenez, Cavan Biggio, and arguably, Fernando Tatis Jr. Some will say Tatis Jr. broke out in 2019, but he really burst on the scene in 2020 and became a household […]

Hitter Targets Under $10 - Salary Cap League Values

Snake drafts are the more common method, but salary cap leagues offer a more complex flavor to your draft day. That's not for everyone, and that's fine; part of the beauty of fantasy baseball lies in its high degree of customizability. Salary cap drafts take longer, and they're much less straightforward than snakes, but for […]

Alex Dickerson (OF, SF) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 295 CURRENT ADP: ~319 overall ANALYSIS: 2020 was the second season now for Dickerson in which he impressed, albeit in limited opportunities. His .298/.371/576 triple slash last year was the product of hitting the ball harder. He set new career-highs in average exit velocity, barrel rate, and hard-hit rate, all […]

Mark Canha (OF, OAK) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 240 CURRENT ADP: ~255 overall ANALYSIS: In 2020, Oakland A’s outfielder/designated hitter Mark Canha posted a .246/.387/.408 slash line to go with five home runs and a very impressive 33 RBI in 243 plate appearances. While his RBI total, fifteenth in all of MLB, and OBP were among the league’s best […]

Ryan Mountcastle (1B/OF, BAL) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 130 CURRENT ADP: ~146 overall ANALYSIS: The frontrunner for 2021 AL Rookie of the Year may be a poor fielder but a full season at Camden Yards should yield profits. The 2020 small sample brought us a .333/.386/.492 slash with five homers over 140 PAs, but much of that was […]

Mike Trout Collects Two Walks And A Hit On Thursday

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout had a solid day at the plate in Thursday's win, drawing two walks and collecting a base hit against the Brewers. Trout is having a bit of a slow start to the spring, as he has just five hits in 27 plate appearances. However, worrying about Trout because of […]

Cody Bellinger Slugs First Spring Home Run On Thursday

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in his second Cactus League game on Thursday. Bellinger ripped a fly-ball 101.3 MPH on an out, then later registered an exit velocity of 107.3 MPH on his dinger. Manager Dave Roberts noted after the game that the 25-year-old had a […]

Adam Eaton Projects To Hit Second In 2021

Chicago White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton has spent the vast majority of his career batting near the top of the lineup, and that isn't looking as if it'll change in 2021. Manager Tony La Russa all but confirmed that Eaton would bat second with a high frequency during the regular season, utilizing him as both […]

Dylan Carlson (OF, STL) - 2021 Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

Pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in a couple of weeks, which means fantasy baseball draft season is ramping up. We do not know if there is a universal DH or a full 162-game season. What we do know is we will draft teams regardless and we will need some fantasy sleepers. Some sleepers […]

Best-Ball Late-Round Targets - Outfield

With best-ball drafts gaining steam, we are pumping out more best-ball content at RotoBaller. I wrote the Best-Ball Targets and Best-Ball Fades for the premium draft guide and will now produce a three-part series on late-round targets. Part one focused on late-round infield targets, and now we head to the outfield for some late-round targets.  […]

MLB Spring Training Notebook (3/18) - Montgomery, Alcantara Surging

Welcome to the 2021 edition of RotoBaller's Spring Training Notebook. Thankfully, we have real, live baseball being played every day again, and while it doesn't count for anything, these exhibition games gives us the smallest glimmer into players and teams heading into the new season. We're into our third week of spring training games and […]

Using Sabermetrics for Fantasy Baseball: Ballpark Factors

If you have ever selected a streamable pitcher based on home park or benched an otherwise must-start arm at Coors Field, you already know how much a stadium can impact a player's bottom line. Ballpark Factors quantify the influence each stadium has, allowing you to make the most of your fantasy team's real-life schedule. However, […]

Manuel Margot (OF, TB) - 2021 Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

When you get to the middle to late rounds of drafts, it becomes increasingly difficult to find stolen bases. Many of the options that are available will end up hurting fantasy owners in at least a couple of other categories. Therefore, it's important to either have a plan in place to attack steals early, or […]

Leody Taveras (OF, TEX) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 180 CURRENT ADP: ~199 overall ANALYSIS: Leody Tavares is a less-heralded prospect who could start the season up in the big leagues. The 22-year-old switch hitter had a brief stint with the Rangers in 2020, hitting .227 with four HR in just 33 games. While the power is nice, it's […]

Adam Haseley Eyes Opening Day Return From Groin Injury

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Adam Haseley (groin) is aiming to be back by Opening Day. Haseley suffered a groin injury in a Spring Training game running from first to third, this is the second time in his young career Haseley has sustained this injury. The Phillies estimated the 24-year-old would miss four weeks which would put […]

Roman Quinn Making His Case For Center Field Job

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Roman Quinn has had a productive spring as he makes his case in the team's four-way battle for a starting role. Quinn is competing with Scott Kingery, Odubel Herrera, and Mickey Moniak for the vacancy in center field for the Phillies. Quinn is slashing .318/400/.409 through 25 plate appearances with one stolen […]

Alek Manoah Among Players Sent To Minors By Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays sent 25 players to the minor league camp on Thursday, including starting pitcher and former first-round pick Alek Manoah. The hard-throwing righty made a huge impression this spring by dominating the Yankees in two appearances. Although he won't break camp with the Jays, he could possibly help the club late in […]

Mark Canha Flashing On-Base Ability This Spring

Oakland Athletics outfielder Mark Canha hasn't hit much so far in Cactus League play, but the veteran is making his push to bat leadoff thanks to a .440 on-base percentage this spring. Canha, who went 1-for-3 from the one-hole on Wednesday, has been batting leadoff in spring training and seems to have the inside track […]

Dominic Smith Remains Sidelined Thursday

New York Mets outfielder Dominic Smith (wrist) remains out of the Mets' Grapefruit League lineup on Thursday for their game against the Washington Nationals. Smith was removed from Wednesday's starting lineup in Grapefruit League play due to "general wrist soreness." This wrist issue does not appear serious, despite sidelining Smith for the past two days. […]

David Dahl Raises Spring Average To .350

Texas Rangers outfielder David Dahl continued his hot hitting on Wednesday with a single in two at-bats. Once considered a top prospect with the Colorado Rockies, Dahl fell on hard times due to injuries and signed a one-year deal with the Rangers in the offseason in an effort to rebuild his value. Still just 26, […]

Austin Hays Continues Strong Performance Wednesday

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Austin Hays had another great day at the plate in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Braves. Hays went 3-for-3 with a single, two doubles, and two RBI. The 25-year-old is now hitting .370 this spring with two doubles, two home runs, six RBI, and a 1.100 OPS. While the O's have a […]

Alex Dickerson Has Three-Hit Game Wednesday

San Francisco Giants outfielder Alex Dickerson continued his strong spring performance in Wednesday's 11-8 win over the Rockies, going 3-for-5 with two singles, a solo home run, and two RBI. Dickerson's first HR of the spring was a blast to straightaway center off of Chad Smith. The 30-year-old is now hitting .300 this spring with […]

Austin Meadows Homers, Snaps 0-For-8 Skid Wednesday

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Austin Meadows snapped an 0-for-8 streak on Wednesday afternoon, going 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs, two RBI and a stolen base against the Pirates. His two-run blast in the third inning was Meadows' first home run since March 7, and his fourth of Spring Training. Meadows had a down […]

Bryan Reynolds Homers In Loss Wednesday

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds launched his second home run in his last three games on Wednesday, finishing 1-for-3 with two RBI in the loss to the Rays. Reynolds is riding a six-game hitting streak now, as he has raised his triple-slash line to .304/.407/.609 this spring. Those numbers look much more in line with […]

Ramon Laureano Should Return Early Next Week

Oakland Athletics outfielder Ramon Laureano (side) was scratched from Wednesday's Cactus League game with left side soreness. After the game, manager Bob Melvin said Laureano should be back in games early next week, according to MLB.com's Martin Gallegos. The good news is Laureano will be back for the regular season. The bad news, for his […]

Triston Casas, Jarren Duran Reassigned To Minors

The Boston Red Sox have made several roster moves on Wednesday. The team is sending its top prospect, first baseman Triston Casas, to the minor leagues. Outfielder Jarren Duran, the team's No. 4 prospect, has been reassigned as well. Duran had a strong spring with the club, slashing .318/.375/.773 with two home runs and two […]

Angels Reassign Jordyn Adams, Others To Minor League Camp

The Los Angeles Angels have reassigned two of the team's top-five prospects -- outfielder Jordyn Adams and shortstop Jeremiah Jackson -- to minor league camp. Also headed to minor league camp are Davis Daniel, Denny Brady, Jack Kruger, Keinner Pina, Harrison Wenson, Brennan Lund and Livan Soto. The 21-year-old Adams is the team's No. 3 prospect. […]

Jay Bruce Starts At First Base Again On Wednesday

New York Yankees outfielder Jay Bruce started at first base on Wednesday, making it the sixth time in nine spring starts that he's started at first base. Bruce has played some first base over his career, but it's generally come in spurts as he only played the position in 17 of his 130 games from […]