George Springer to Blue Jays - Fantasy Impact

Throughout this year's offseason, we've repeatedly heard about how the Blue Jays were interested in several marquee free agents, but weeks passed with no action. Fans grew frustrated as they watched Francisco Lindor get traded to the Mets and DJ LeMahieu re-sign with the Yankees. Doubt crept into the minds of many observers - perhaps […]

Astros Bring Back Michael Brantley On Two-Year Deal

The Houston Astros reached an agreement on Wednesday to re-sign outfielder Michael Brantley to a two-year deal worth $32 million, according to a source. It was falsely reported hours earlier that the Blue Jays had agreed to a three-year deal to pair Brantley with George Springer. Brantley is likely to start in left field again […]

Blue Jays Don't Have Deal With Michael Brantley

Updating a previous report, the Toronto Blue Jays remain among the teams interested in free-agent outfielder Michael Brantley, but they have not reached an agreement on a contract, according to a source familiar with the situation. It was reported earlier on Wednesday that Toronto and Brantley had agreed on a three-year deal. The 33-year-old left-handed […]

Michael Brantley Agrees To Join Blue Jays

Free-agent outfielder Michael Brantley is in agreement on a three-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday, according to a source. Financial terms of the contract were not immediately known. This comes after Toronto landed the top free-agent position player in outfielder George Springer for six years and $150 million on Tuesday night. The […]

George Springer Agrees To Six-Year Deal With Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays agreed to a six-year, $150 million deal with star outfielder George Springer on Tuesday night, pending a physical. Springer slashed .265/.359/.540 with 14 homers and 32 RBI across 220 plate appearances in 2020 with Houston. The three-time All-Star joins a promising group of young talent in Toronto, which boosts the fantasy […]

Twins Interested In Bringing Marwin Gonzalez Back

The Minnesota Twins have shown interest in reuniting with utility man Marwin Gonzalez, according to sources. Gonzalez spent the last two years in Minnesota, and the Twins could still use some utility help, especially around the infield. The 31-year-old switch-hitter fell off with the bat during the shortened 2020 season, but he still provided mostly […]

Mets Have Been Interested In Kike Hernandez

The New York Mets were very interested in free-agent utility man Kike Hernandez before they fired general manager Jared Porter, but it's hard to say where things stand now. The Boston Red Sox were also among the teams with interest, and Hernandez's versatility makes him attractive to many teams. The 29-year-old has often struggled against […]

Padres Trying To Re-Sign Jurickson Profar

The San Diego Padres are still trying to re-sign infielder/outfielder Jurickson Profar, according to sources. Profar is a versatile defender coming off a career-best season with the Friars in 2020. The former top prospect with the Rangers had a career-high 113 OPS+ and started games at the keystone, first base and all three outfield spots […]

George Springer Could Find A Team This Week

Free-agent outfielder George Springer could make his decision on a team this week, according to multiple industry sources. The Toronto Blue Jays and New York Mets remain the two front-runners, with both teams offering nine figures. The only things stopping the Mets pursuit of Springer may be their desire not to exceed the competitive balance […]

Pirates Adding Prospects Hudson Head, Endy Rodriguez

The Pittsburgh Pirates are acquiring center fielder Hudson Head and catching prospect Endy Rodriguez on Monday in a three-team deal also involving the San Diego Padres and New York Mets. Head, a 19-year-old center fielder in the Padres organization, was San Diego's No. 7 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. The left-handed hitter still has plenty of […]

Top 680: Early Fantasy Baseball Tiered Rankings (January)

Welcome back RotoBallers, and Happy New Year! Below you will find our staff's early 2021 fantasy baseball tiered rankings (top 680) for 5x5 mixed leagues. In case you missed it, you can also see our tiered positional rankings as well. Three our lead fantasy baseball analysts - Nick Mariano, Pierre Camus and JB Branson - have analyzed the MLB offseason moves and are ready to […]

Outfielders Ready to Break Out Late

Finding value is crucial on draft day and finding just one or two players in the mid to late rounds in drafts that provide better numbers than projected can give you a significant edge on the competition as you bid for fantasy glory. All too often, we look for the new shiny object in drafts […]

Three Rookie Sleepers that Debuted in Late 2020

For a wide variety of reasons, 2020 was an unusual season for baseball. But out of these unusual situations came some opportunities for top-tier prospects to get a shot at the big leagues. Now prospects that made a splash in their debuts like Ke'Bryan Hayes or Tanner Houck will be garnering the interest of many […]

Stat-Based Tips To Build a Strong Fantasy Baseball Roster

As we lead up to the 2021 season, fantasy baseball enthusiasts are sure to read thousands of words about players themselves: who overperformed last year and who is primed for a breakout. All of that is good stuff, and it's very helpful in starting your journey towards winning your league, but it's only half the […]

You Paid What?! Overvalued Players in Auctions

Assuming the 2021 MLB season starts on time, we are on the precipice of fantasy baseball draft season. Spring Training will get underway next month, at which point, drafts roll out in full force. We aren't there quite yet, which makes sense. Many of the biggest free agents remain unsigned; the league is unsure of […]

Orioles Avoid Arbitration With Trey Mancini

The Baltimore Orioles agreed to a one-year deal with outfielder Trey Mancini on Friday to avoid salary arbitration. Outfielder Anthony Santander hasn't come to terms, with the Orioles offering $2.1 million and Santander asking for $2.475 million. Mancini missed all of 2020 while recovering from Stage 3 colon cancer. He was voted team MVP and […]

Dylan Carlson Ready To Break Out In 2021?

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson, the team's top prospect, struggled in his first big-league action in 2020, but the 22-year-old switch-hitter earned a spot as the cleanup hitter in the playoffs and could break out in 2021. Carlson's hard-hit rate and sweet-spot rate last year were both over 40 percent, both above league average. […]

Blue Jays Still In Play For Top Free Agents

The Toronto Blue Jays remain in contact with free-agent starting pitcher Trevor Bauer, catcher J.T. Realmuto and outfielder George Springer after failing to lure second baseman DJ LeMahieu away from the division-rival Yankees, according to sources. The Blue Jays were reportedly the runner-up for shortstop Francisco Lindor, who was traded to the Mets last week. […]

Francisco Lindor, Michael Conforto Avoid Arbitration

The New York Mets reached one-year deals with seven players on Friday to avoid salary arbitration, including shortstop Francisco Lindor ($22.3 million), outfielder Michael Conforto ($12.25 million) and first baseman/outfielder Dominic Smith ($2.55 million). Lindor, a four-time All-Star, said he's not opposed to a long-term contract after being acquired from Cleveland in a blockbuster trade. […]

Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager, Julio Urias Avoid Arbitration

Los Angeles Dodgers star outfielder Cody Bellinger ($16.1 million), shortstop Corey Seager ($13.75 million) and left-handed pitcher Julio Urias ($3.6 million) all reached one-year deals to avoid salary arbitration on Friday. Bellinger was the 2019 National League MVP and 2017 NL Rookie of the Year but hit a career-low .239 with 12 home runs and […]

Yankees Avoid Arbitration With Aaron Judge

The New York Yankees and outfielder Aaron Judge avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $10.175 million deal. Judge won the 2017 American League Rookie of the Year in 2017, but suffered through his third injury plagued season in 2020, hitting .257 with nine home runs and 22 RBI in 101 at-bats […]

Astros Add Cuban Outfielder Pedro Leon

The Houston Astros agreed to a $4 million deal with Cuban outfielder Pedro Leon, the seventh-ranked international prospect per MLB Pipeline, on Friday, according to industry sources. Leon has a short and compact swing, doesn't swing and miss often and displays power potential to all fields. He's also a plus runner with base-stealing potential. Leon […]

Yoelqui Cespedes, Norge Vera Agree With White Sox

Free-agent outfielder Yoelqui Cespedes, MLB.com's top-ranked international prospect, has agreed to a $2.05 million deal with the Chicago White Sox on Friday, according to industry sources. Chicago also agreed with right-hander Norge Vera of Cuba, who is ranked No. 15 on the list, for $1.5 million. Cespedes is 23 years old and is considered a […]

Mets Sign Jose Martinez To Split Contract

The New York Mets signed veteran Jose Martinez to a split contract on Thursday to give them more right-handed bench depth. Martinez will make $1 million, with another $500,00 in incentives if he makes the major league roster or $225,000 in incentives if he's in the minors, according to a source. He hit .298 with […]

DH Decision Slowing Mets Pursuit Of George Springer?

A decision on whether the National League will have the designated hitter again in 2021 would allow the New York Mets to maximize their current roster and make further improvements, mainly with the decision whether to add free-agent outfielder George Springer. If the Mets add Springer or Jackie Bradley Jr. to play center field, Brandon […]

Marcell Ozuna's Market Taking Shape

The market for free-agent outfielder/designated hitter Marcell Ozuna has begun to take shape in recent days, with a source saying that both American League and National League teams are involved despite the uncertainty over designated hitter rules across baseball in 2021. Some teams are comfortable with him as their everyday left fielder, but it remains to […]

Brewers Re-Sign Jace Peterson

The Milwaukee Brewers re-signed utility man Jace Peterson to a minor league contract on Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training. The 30-year-old made starts at first base, third base, left field and right field in 26 games last year, also seeing action at the keystone. He hit just .200/.393/.356 in his 61 plate […]

Mark Shapiro Receives Five-Year Extension

Toronto Blue Jays president and chief executive officer Mark Shapiro was given a five-year contract extension on Wednesday. Shapiro worked for the Cleveland Indians before joining the Blue Jays as their president on Oct. 31, 2015. His leadership and commitment over the last five years have been critical to Toronto's growth and development. The Blue […]

Andrew Benintendi Deal Could Happen Soon

The Boston Red Sox could trade outfielder Andrew Benintendi soon, but it won't be to the Miami Marlins, according to an industry source. Other teams that have checked in on Benintendi include the Texas Rangers, Houston Astros and Oakland Athletics. The Pittsburgh Pirates could also be a fit. He's entering the back half of a […]

Marlins Interested In Willson Contreras, Andrew Benintendi

The Miami Marlins have interest in trading for Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras. With the team currently projected to start the 2021 season with a platoon of Jorge Alfaro and Chad Wallach behind the plate, catcher is one of Miami's biggest needs. Miami is also one of several teams engaged with the Boston Red Sox […]