Astros Make Offer To Hunter Pence

The Houston Astros have made an offer to outfielder Hunter Pence, according to MLB sources. Pence was drafted by Houston and played for them from 2007 to 2011. He's a four-time All-Star, including in 2019 with the Rangers when he hit .297 with 18 home runs and 59 RBI in a resurgent season. The 36-year-old […]

Sophomore Players Due for Regression in 2020

The 2019 season saw a significant number of rookie hitters debut with great success. But Major League Baseball’s history is littered with strong freshman debuts followed by disappointing sophomore campaigns. In other words, successful rookie seasons do not guarantee all-star careers or even another good performance. We can look back at 2016 for some examples […]

Using Sabermetrics for Fantasy Baseball: Lineup Spot

You may be wondering why there aren't any advanced stats aimed at predicting a player's counting stats like runs and RBI. The answer is simple: modern sabermetrics reject the idea of a "clutch RBI guy" and therefore do not bother inventing predictive metrics for it. Runs and RBI are team-dependent stats and are unhelpful in ascertaining […]

Diamondbacks Sign Jon Jay, Edwin Jackson

The Arizona Diamondbacks signed outfielder Jon Jay and pitcher Edwin Jackson to minor league deals on Monday. Jay will make $1.5 million if he's on the major league roster with another $1.75 million in incentives, according to USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale. The 34-year-old (35 in March) played in just 47 games for the White Sox […]

Mookie Betts Expected To Be Traded

Trade talks involving Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts continue to progress, and it's now expected that he's traded either Monday or Tuesday. There seems to be good momentum for the Dodgers landing the superstar outfielder, but the Padres are still in the mix and were still talking to Boston as of Sunday. If he […]

Early Mock Draft Analysis and Reaction: Fantasy Baseball

Pierre Camus and Nicklaus Gaut review the draft board from an early 2020 mock draft for fantasy baseball mixed leagues. Like and subscribe to the RotoBaller channel on Youtube to get all our latest podcasts and catch us on iTunes and BlogTalkRadio as well! Be sure to also tune into RotoBaller Radio on SiriusXM (channel Sirius 210, […]

Cavan Biggio: 2020 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

Now that the calendar has flipped to February, it's time to begin mapping out strategy in earnest for your 2020 fantasy baseball drafts. That includes identifying potentially undervalued targets, often referred to in the popular parlance as "sleepers." Anyone who has read my work in the past knows my feelings toward that term. It's too […]

Mets Not Discussing Trades For Dominic Smith

The New York Mets currently don't have any active trade talks involving first baseman/outfielder Dominic Smith, according to sources. The assumption is that Smith would be a likely trade candidate now that the Mets signed first baseman Matt Adams on Friday. They also have All-Star Peter Alonso entrenched as the everyday starter at the position. […]

Melky Cabrera Wants To Play Another Couple Years

Free-agent outfielder Melky Cabrera is interested in playing for another couple of years. Cabrera played in 133 games for the Pirates last season and was productive, hitting .280/.313/.399 with seven home runs and 47 RBI in 378 at-bats. The 35-year-old switch-hitter typically hits for a high average with his high-contact profile -- he's a career […]

Curtis Granderson Hangs Up His Cleats

Former New York Yankees and New York Mets outfielder Curtis Granderson announced his retirement on Friday after a successful 16-year career. The 38-year-old was a lifetime .249 hitter with 344 home runs and 937 RBI. He began his career with the Tigers and also played for the Blue Jays, Brewers and Marlins. Grandy hit just […]

Fall Flashes: Arizona Fall League Top Prospect Risers

Every year, some of the best minor league prospects head to Arizona to take part in the Arizona Fall League. It features six teams of prospects, sent by their organizations to get extra game reps against top-flight competition, sometimes including players at higher levels in the minor league system. Given the high level of competition, […]

Nick Castellanos to Reds - Fantasy Impact

The winter of the Cincinnati Reds keeps rolling on. They already added some pitching in Wade Miley, a journeyman to play shortstop in Freddy Galvis, a power-hitting monster in Mike Moustakas, and a Japanese leadoff man in Shogo Akiyama. Now, they have secured one of the top outfield targets on the market in Nick Castellanos. […]

Pirates Considering Kevin Pillar, Billy Hamilton, Cameron Maybin

The Pittsburgh Pirates are considering outfielders Kevin Pillar, Billy Hamilton and Cameron Maybin as center field candidates now that they've traded Starling Marte to the Diamondbacks. Of the three, Pillar would likely be the most expensive free agent, but general manager Ben Cherington is familiar with Pillar from their time in Toronto. Pillar, 31, is […]

Giants Showing Interest In Hunter Pence

The San Francisco Giants are among the teams showing interest in outfielder Hunter Pence, according to sources. Pence played with the Giants from 2012 to 2018 before becoming an unlikely All-Star with the Rangers in 2019 when he hit .297/.358/.552 with 18 home runs, 59 RBI and six stolen bases in 83 games. The 36-year-old […]

Using Sabermetrics for Fantasy Baseball: Plate Discipline

No matter how high a particular player's BABIP may be, his average will be mediocre at best if he strikes out too much. This is why fantasy owners have known for years that players like Chris Davis are potential drains on a fantasy team's batting average. Furthermore, players that whiff a lot tend to continue […]

Nick Senzel Not Expected To Be Traded

Cincinnati Reds president of baseball operations Dick Williams said that he expects outfielder Nick Senzel to remain with the team for the 2020 season. "I like what he brings to our club. He’s one of our own. He’s an impact, young offensive player. They don’t come along very often. The flexibility he brings to the […]

Undervalued Starting Pitcher Targets: Fantasy Baseball 2020 Analysis

Host Anthony Aniano of RotoBaller Radio discuss the 2020 fantasy baseball season and keeps you updated with all the latest news and analysis Be sure to tune into RotoBaller Radio on SiriusXM (channel Sirius 210, XM 87) - every weekday morning between 6-7 AM ET, every weekday afternoon from 1-2 PM ET, Saturday nights from 9-11 PM ET […]

Top 50 Fantasy Baseball Prospects for 2020 Redraft Leagues

Freshmen players played a huge role in Major League Baseball in 2019 and rookies are poised to once again have a strong presence on your fantasy baseball teams in 2020. Rotoballer is here to help you decide which players are deserving of a roster spot as you open up the season with a list of […]

Using Sabermetrics for Fantasy Baseball: Batted Ball Distribution (Hitters)

Fly balls can turn into home runs. Ground balls never do. It would seem as though fantasy owners want their batters to hit nothing but flies, yet this is not always the case. Why would this be? The answer, of course, comes down to batted ball distribution and the manner in which batters make contact. […]

Red Sox Serious About Moving Mookie Betts

There is a sense that the Boston Red Sox are more serious than ever about trading outfielder Mookie Betts, and rival teams are starting to think that it might actually happen. The Dodgers and Padres are the two teams most publicly linked to Betts, although there's no sense that one team is the favorite. Boston […]

Astros Choose Dusty Baker As Next Manager

The Houston Astros are expected to choose Dusty Baker as their next manager following the fallout from the sign-stealing scandal, according to a person familiar with the hiring. Baker's contract isn't officially finalized, but the 70-year-old three-time National League Manager of the Year is lined up to receive the job. He has guided four teams […]

Carlos Gonzalez Intends To Play In 2020

Free-agent outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, who is 34 years old, intends to play in 2020. Gonzalez, a three-time All-Star with the Rockies, spent his first season away from Colorado last year with the Indians and Cubs and struggled in his 45 games. Car-Go hit just .200/.289/.283 with three home runs and 10 RBI in 145 at-bats. […]

Diamondbacks Acquiring Starling Marte

The Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to acquire outfielder Starling Marte from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday, according to sources. It's unknown which players the Pirates are receiving in return, so stay tuned for more details on the swap. The rebuilding Bucs have been in the market to trade Marte all offseason, and they have finally […]

Jeff McNeil - 2019 Season in Review

Jeff McNeil had quite the 2019 season for the Mets and, more importantly, for fantasy baseball owners. Never a major prospect in the Mets system, McNeil quietly joined the big club in 2018 and then blew up in 2019. Now, he is a major fantasy baseball draft riser in 2020 drafts, and there are a […]

Padres Discussing Names In Potential Mookie Betts Trade

The San Diego Padres are willing to send two young major leaguers and at least one prospect to Boston along with outfielder Wil Myers in exchange for Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts, according to multiple sources speaking on condition of anonymity. But in order for the Padres to take on Betts' $27 million salary […]

Nick Senzel On The Trade Block?

The Cincinnati Reds are considering trading outfielder Nick Senzel. It makes sense now that the Reds signed outfielder Nicholas Castellanos to add to the team's crowded outfield picture that now includes the likes of Senzel, Castellanos, Jesse Winker, Shogo Akiyama, Aristides Aquino and Phillip Ervin. Senzel, 24, was the team's top prospect coming up through […]

Reds Agree With Nicholas Castellanos

The Cincinnati Reds agreed to a four-year, $64 million deal with outfielder Nicholas Castellanos on Monday, according to sources. The opt-out clause in the contract will be after the first season. This is a great landing spot for Castellanos from a fantasy perspective at hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark. The 27-year-old (28 in March) hit .289/.337/.525 […]

J.D. Davis - 2020 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

It's that time of year again to start touting this year's fantasy baseball draft sleepers for the upcoming 2020 season. While the term "sleeper" is generally overused, it's the simplest way for us analysts to tell you which players are a sneaky option to return value at their current draft-day price tags. With that said, […]

Christian Yelich Ready To Go

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich (knee), who missed the final three weeks of the 2019 season with a fractured right kneecap, said that he is ready for the start of spring training. “It’s good,” Yelich said. “Finally, fully healthy, ready to go. Shouldn’t be any limitations this spring. It’s nice to be healthy again.” The […]

Reds The Front-Runners For Nicholas Castellanos

The Cincinnati Reds have emerged as the front-runners to sign outfielder Nicholas Castellanos, according to one source. There are indications that the two sides have made progress on a deal in the last couple of days. The Giants have also negotiated with Castellanos in recent weeks. The 27-year-old would likely continue playing outfield if he […]