New Draft Strategies for 2020 MLB: RotoBaller Staff Picks

Baseball is coming back and it's about time! The announcement of a 60-game season comes as a blessing and a curse. It's barely over one-third of a normal MLB season and will come with several modifications to the rule book. Then again, at this point we are just happy to have baseball (or any live […]

The King's Insider Guide To the 60-Game MLB Season

Since the spring, I have been conducting interviews with many notable and well-informed MLB sources on the 2020 season. On the condition of anonymity, current and former players, scouts, executives, media members and others have shared their unfiltered insights, and I have supplied my in-depth fantasy baseball takes on the information they have shared. As […]

Andrew Toles Jailed For Sleeping Behind Airport

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andrew Toles was jailed this week after police said they found him sleeping behind the Key West airport in Florida. Toles was arrested on June 22 on a misdemeanor charge of trespassing after he refused to leave the area. Police gave him several chances to leave the area, but he wouldn't […]

Indians Have Handful Of Positive COVID-19 Cases

The Cleveland Indians have had a handful of positive COVID-19 cases from players at home, in the Dominican Republic and in Arizona. "All of those cases have been isolated. There has not been any spread within our environment," according to president Chris Antonetti. The affected players are either recovered or are showing only mild symptoms. […]

Reds Sign First-Rounder Austin Hendrick

The Cincinnati Reds signed 2020 first-round draft pick Austin Hendrick to a $4 million contract on Friday. Hendrick was widely regarded as one of the top high school outfielders in the draft, prompting the Reds to use the No. 12 overall pick on the Mississippi State recruit. The lefty has plenty of power and is […]

Andrew McCutchen, Jay Bruce Could Split DH Role

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Andrew McCutchen (knee) could be used frequently in the designated hitter spot early in the season so that he can ease his way into a tight schedule while coming off a torn ACL. But when he's ready for the outfield full time, veteran outfielder Jay Bruce could be the primary option at […]

Kyle Schwarber Profiles Better As DH

Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Schwarber has never been much to look at defensively, which is why he figures to be the team's primary designated hitter with the universal DH in play in 2020. Steven Souza Jr. missed all of last year with a left knee injury, but if he's healthy, left field should be his […]

Small Number Of Brewers Test Positive For COVID-19

Milwaukee Brewers general manager David Stearns said "we have had a small number of individuals'' in the organization test positive for COVID-19. "They are asymptomatic and are doing well.'' Stearns did not differentiate players from staff, Tom Haudricourt reports. Multiple teams have now reported similar scenarios within their organizations, and it certainly raises concerns about […]

San Francisco Giants: Top 10 Dynasty Prospects

The San Francisco Giants will be our next stop on the farm to evaluate the best prospects on each MLB team. Once the 2020 MLB season begins, it may turn out that Minor League systems will be more important than usual. Franchises are losing money during the pandemic layoff, so many teams will be looking […]

Tommy Pham Could Benefit From DH Rule

San Diego Padres outfielder Tommy Pham (elbow) could benefit from the universal designated hitter in 2020. Supposedly recovered from a partially torn UCL, the 32-year-old wasn’t playing much in the outfield prior to spring training being shut down. Fangraphs currently has Pham penciled in as the Friars DH, which would also lift playing time for […]

Dominic Smith Could Be An Option At DH

If New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is healthy, he figures to be the team's primary designated hitter this year, given his recent injury history. But if he's not ready for the start of the season in late July, first baseman/outfielder Dominic Smith and third baseman/outfielder J.D. Davis are both good options. Neither player is […]

Jesse Winker Could Be Beneficiary Of DH

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Nick Castellanos and infielder Mike Moustakas could both see time at designated hitter this year if the team wants to improve defensively, but outfielder Jesse Winker might be the biggest beneficiary of the new rule this year in the National League. Winker has a career .909 OPS against right-handers but hasn't impressed […]

Indians To Put George Valera On Taxi Squad

Cleveland Indians outfield prospect George Valera, the team's No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline, is expected to be on the team's taxi squad when rosters are officially announced. Valera will turn 20 years old in November, so he's a long shot to see a major league call-up during the shortened 60-game regular season. The native […]

Corbin Carroll, Geraldo Perdomo Will Be On Taxi Squad

Arizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect Corbin Carroll and shortstop prospect Geraldo Perdomo will be on the team's taxi squad when rosters are announced, according to a source. Carroll hasn't played above short-season A-ball but is one of the team's best young players and is rated as Arizona's No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. Perdomo comes in […]

Aaron Judge May Be Ready For Opening Day

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (rib) recently began hitting off of a tee as he continues to rehab from a stress fracture in his rib. The extra rest provided by a delayed season has given fantasy owners hope that Judge may be healthy for Opening Day in late July, but fantasy owners should remain […]

Kike Hernandez The Primary Option At DH For Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers infielder/outfielder Kike Hernandez is the primary projected designated hitter for the team during the shortened 2020 season, but Matt Beaty, Gavin Lux, Joc Pederson, A.J. Pollock, Edwin Rios, Chris Taylor and Will Smith could also be options. The Dodgers have an extremely deep roster with plenty of options to rotate at DH […]

Dodgers Have Positive COVID-19 Tests

Los Angeles Dodgers president Andrew Friedman said that members of the organization have tested positive for COVID-19, but Friedman didn't say how many and whether they were players or coaches. None of those that tested positive had "problematic" symptoms. The Dodgers are not alone, as a handful of other teams around the league have reported […]

Pete Crow-Armstrong Signs For Full Slot Value

The New York Mets signed rookie outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong for $3.359 million on Thursday at full slot value for the No. 19 overall pick of the draft. Crow-Armstrong, a Vanderbilt commit, is an excellent defender in center field because of his plus speed. He can also hit and should add additional power as his body […]

Several D-Backs Players Test Positive For COVID-19

One player on the Arizona Diamondbacks 40-man roster, "several" minor leaguers and one minor league coach have tested positive for COVID-19 over the last week, according to a team official. No identities have been released, but a source says that more than 70 of the 80-plus tests came back negative. All of the positive tests […]

Isaiah Greene Signs With Mets

The New York Mets have agreed to terms with 18-year-old outfielder Isaiah Greene, the Mets' second-round compensatory selection in the 2020 MLB draft. Greene was the 69th overall pick and was ranked 49th by Baseball America among this year's draft prospects. The athletic prep outfielder from California will likely slot into the Mets' top-10 prospects […]

Several Twins Players Test Positive For COVID-19

The Minnesota Twins were notified Thursday morning of several positive COVID-19 tests among their players. The players who tested positive were not working out at Target Field or Fort Meyers, the Twins' spring training site. This news comes just days after the MLB and the Player's Association announced plans for a 60-game season. It certainly […]

Marcell Ozuna, Austin Riley DH Options For Braves

Atlanta Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna's range has declined in recent years, and his arm strength hasn't really returned since he had right shoulder surgery after the 2018 season. The presence of the designated hitter for National League teams this year will allow the Braves to put Ozuna's power bat in the middle of the lineup […]

Three NL Outfielders Set To Bust in 2020?

A good portion of busts each year are the result of freak injuries, but some players are particularly risky. Spotting those bust candidates and avoiding them early in drafts can be a difference-maker for fantasy teams.  Although a delayed and shortened season has helped some players recover from injuries and boost their fantasy values, it’s […]

Stephen Piscotty Should Be Ready For Season Opener

Oakland Athletics outfielder Stephen Piscotty (oblique), who was shut down from baseball activities earlier this spring, told NBC Sports Bay Area in April that he was pain-free and taking swings. Piscotty said that he was "fully confident" that he will be ready for the 2020 season opener. Fantasy owners will probably want the 29-year-old to […]

Seattle Mariners: Top 10 Dynasty Prospects

The Seattle Mariners will be our next stop on the farm to evaluate the best prospects on each MLB team. Once the 2020 MLB season begins, it may turn out that Minor League systems will be more important than usual. Franchises are losing money during the pandemic layoff, so many teams will be looking for […]

Ryan Braun's Career Could Be Extended With New DH Rule

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder/first baseman Ryan Braun's career could be extended with a universal designated hitter in the National League for the shortened 2020 season and possibly in 2021 and beyond. Braun is 36 years old and is entering the final guaranteed year of his contract, leading to questions in March about this potentially being his […]

Marlins Player, Staff Member Test Positive For COVID-19

A Miami Marlins player and a staff member at the team's Jupiter, Florida, complex have both tested positive for COVID-19. Both are asymptomatic and will certainly be isolated for the next couple of weeks. With the MLB season getting started in late July and spring training 2.0 kicking off on July 1, this is almost […]

Red Sox Player Tests Positive For COVID-19

Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said that "one player who was exposed in his hometown, got tested, was positive but he's been asymptomatic and that's resolving. We've been fortunate that's the only other positive test we've had." The identity of the player hasn't been revealed, but Bloom said he is on the […]

Alex Verdugo Should Be Ready To Go

Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said that outfielder Alex Verdugo (back) should be "all systems go" for spring training 2.0 and the start of the 2020 regular season in late July. Verdugo was the centerpiece of the trade that sent Mookie Betts and David Price to the Dodgers, and he said that […]

Diamondbacks Player Tests Positive For COVID-19

The Arizona Diamondbacks had a player test positive for COVID-19 in the last month in Arizona, according to general manager Mike Hazen. However, the player that tested positive wasn't using the team's spring training facilities, so it sounds as though no other players or staff members that were using the team's spring training facilities were […]