RotoSurgeon's Bold Predictions for 2021

For more than one reason, 2020 sucked. Obvious reasons come to mind but specifically, for the fantasy sports world, there were dozens of random occurrences that could not have been predicted whatsoever due to COVID being so fresh and protocols so flimsy. Guys like Austin Meadows and Eduardo Rodriguez lost a potentially very good season... Read More

Joel Payamps Added To Opening Day Roster

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Joel Payamps earned the final spot on the club's 26-man roster. The rookie hurler had been bounced around on waivers — with both the Jays and the Boston Red Sox claiming him twice since late November — but he threw 5.1 shutout innings in the spring. Still, the right-hander struggled with... Read More

Julian Merryweather Earns Roster Spot

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Julian Merryweather will open the 2021 season with the major league club. The hard-throwing right-hander missed a good portion of the spring due to a back injury and he appeared in just two games. He did not allow a run during that stretch of two innings but had a K-BB of... Read More

Zack Britton Placed On 60-Day Injured List

New York Yankees relief pitcher Zack Britton (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list on Wednesday night. Britton hasn't been able to pitch since early March due to a bone chip in his left elbow- with the Yankees forced to look elsewhere for their bridge to the ninth inning until at least late May.... Read More

Gregory Soto Looking Like Team's Closer

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Gregory Soto earned the praise of manager AJ Hinch on Wednesday, who spoke about his pitcher's "closer stuff." Soto would seem to have the best arsenal of any hurler in the Tigers' bullpen, considering his blazing fastball, which he can touch 100 MPH with, and filthy slider, a pitch that registered... Read More

Andrew Miller To Bring Veteran Stability To Bullpen

St. Louis Cardinals reliever Andrew Miller doesn't throw as hard as some of the other arms in the club's bullpen but he has extensive experience in high-leverage situations which should come in handy this season. The southpaw had a rough introduction to the spring by allowing three runs in his first two games but he... Read More

Joe Smith A Name To Remember For Holds

Houston Astros pitcher Joe Smith has a chance to be a sneaky-good option for holds and the odd save this coming fantasy season. The veteran right-hander had a respectable spring by allowing two runs in 4.2 innings with a K-BB of 5-1. The 37-year-old might be a bit of a forgotten arm after he sat... Read More

Jhoulys Chacin Expected To Sign With Rockies

Free agent pitcher Jhoulys Chacin, who was seen playing catch in front of Rockies coaches earlier on Wednesday, is expected to sign with the club per beat writer Thomas Harding. Chacin was released by the Yankees just two days ago and said that the team should sign him to a Major League contract, which would... Read More

Matt Barnes Returns To The Red Sox

Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Matt Barnes returned to the team facility on Monday after landing on the Covid IL following a positive test on Thursday. Barnes, who threw 5.1 scoreless innings this spring, was shocked to learn that he tested positive, but now is expected to be ready for the regular season. Barnes will... Read More

Nationals Call Up Two After Positive COVID-19 Test

Washington Nationals shortstop Luis García and relief pitcher Sam Clay have been called up to the Opening Day roster, according to Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post. The Nationals made the moves as they deal with one positive COVID-19 test on Wednesday, with four others in quarantine due to contact tracing. Until it is disclosed... Read More

Drew Steckenrider Has Made The Mariners

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Drew Steckenrider has made the big league team, and will be in the bullpen mix to start the year. While not expected to handle saves, or even be a primary set-up man, Steckenrider has a history of strong strikeout numbers with a career rate of 11.24 strikeouts per nine innings. He... Read More

Chris Stratton A Sleeper Option For Holds, Saves

Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Chris Stratton doesn't have a defined role entering 2021 but he's a favorite to pitch high-leverage innings for the club. Richard Rodriguez is expected to see a healthy number of the save opportunities but Stratton has been a reliable arm for the Pirates. He threw 30 innings for the club in 2020... Read More

Buck Farmer To Perform Multiple Roles

Detroit Tigers pitcher Buck Farmer could be a useful man this year for manager A.J. Hinch. The 30-year-old pitcher will see time in various roles this year and could be a source of wins, saves, and holds if the plan stays true. Last season, Farmer provided a 3.80 ERA in 23 games. Over the past... Read More

Mike Mayers Could Settle Into Setup Role

Los Angeles Angels reliever Mike Mayers had a bit of a rough spring but he'll open the year with a chance to settle into a high-leverage role behind closer Raisel Iglesias and rack up some holds with the odd save. The 29-year-old allowed five runs on nine hits over 8.1 spring innings but his K-BB... Read More

Later-Round Relief Pitchers and Closers - Targets and Avoids

Once you reach the middle-to-late rounds of drafts, everyone wants to draft some upside fliers that can provide a great return on value. You can take a risk or two on a variety of different players, including a prospect, forgotten veterans, players returning from injuries, or even players with skills but have playing time concerns.... Read More

Aroldis Chapman To Serve Suspension For First Two Games

New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman will serve a suspension for the first two games of the season, according to manager Aaron Boone. Chapman was originally handed a three-game suspension for throwing at the head of Rays infielder Mike Brosseau last September, but Chapman appealed the suspension and had it reduced to two games. Chapman... Read More

Hector Neris Named Phillies Closer

Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Hector Neris was named the team's closer by manager Joe Girardi. Neris is the longest-tenured reliever in the Philly bullpen and has had success in the role before racking up 26 saves in 2017 and 28 saves in 2019. Neris - along with the entire Phillies bullpen - struggled mightily in... Read More

Diego Castillo A Favorite For Saves But Whiffs Are Down

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Diego Castillo is set to see an increase in high-leverage opportunities with the injury to Nick Anderson (elbow). The right-hander will now be one of the favorites to acquire saves on a regular basis, although Pete Fairbanks, Ryan Thompson, and Chaz Roe could also see time in the later innings. Castillo... Read More

Tyler Beede, John Brebbia Recovering From Tommy John Surgery

San Francisco Giants pitchers Tyler Beede (elbow) and John Brebbia (elbow) have leaned on each other's experiences during their recoveries from Tommy John surgery. Beede had his surgery in March of 2020 and Brebbia had his in June of 2020. Both pitchers will likely be unavailable to pitch for the Giants until June, as both... Read More

Updated Top 250 Dynasty Prospects Rankings

In just a few short days, the 2021 Major League Baseball season will get underway. Fans of Minor League Baseball will have to wait a little longer with clubs operating their alternate training sites for at least the first month of the 2021 season. As we saw in 2020, prospects can develop and thrive at... Read More

William Smith In Line For Save Opportunities

Atlanta Braves pitcher William Smith could see a healthy number of save opportunities for the club in 2021 — if he can solve his long-ball issues. The veteran left-hander had an encouraging spring with a K-BB of 12-2 in 5.2 innings but he also did not allow a home run. Last season in 18 games,... Read More

Blake Treinen A Reliable Relief Option In 2021

Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen will be a viable bullpen piece for fantasy managers again in 2021. Treinen recorded nine holds, a save, and a 22/8 K/BB rate in 2020. The 32-year-old will serve as the primary set-up man for Kenley Jansen, and would see a massive increase in value if he ever took... Read More

Michel Baez Undergoing Tommy John Surgery

San Diego Padres reliever Michel Baez (elbow) will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the 2021 season. The surprise announcement came as the Friars revealed relievers Ryan Weathers and Nabil Crismatt will crack the Opening Day roster. A former prospect, Baez made a strong debut in 2019 with a 3.03 ERA over 24 appearances, but... Read More

Tyler Duffey Makes Opening Day Roster Despite Spring Struggles

Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Tyler Duffey has made the team's Opening Day roster. Duffey struggled this spring, allowing 15 hits, nine earned runs, and four homers across 6.1 innings pitched, though he did have a nice 10-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The 30-year-old saw a slight dip in fastball velocity in mid-March- but attributed it to his... Read More

Andre Scrubb Could Return By Mid-April

Houston Astros relief pitcher Andre Scrubb (shoulder) could return to the team by mid-April, according to Jake Kaplan of The Athletic. Scrubb has been out since mid-March after developing shoulder soreness, but he appears to have avoided major injury. Scrubb has shown high strikeout potential throughout his minor league career and posted a 23.5 percent... Read More

Tyler Rogers Mentioned As Closer Candidate

San Francisco Giants President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi said Tuesday that, in addition to Jake McGee, relief pitcher Tyler Rogers is a good candidate to fill the closer's role for the team this season. The submarine pitcher had a strong 2019 season but a pedestrian 2020 season, posting a 4.50 ERA and 1.32 WHIP.... Read More

Reyes Moronta Likely To Start Season On Giants Roster

San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Reyes Moronta should likely be on the team's 26-man roster to start the season, per NBC Sports' Alex Pavlovic. There were 27 players left in Giants camp as of Tuesday, and Alex Wood (back) is likely to start the season on the injured list, which would leave 26 players. Moronta,... Read More

Cesar Valdez To Provide Multiple Innings As Reliever

Baltimore Orioles pitcher Cesar Valdez ended last year saving games for the club but he's been moved to a multi-inning relief role this year. The veteran of numerous Mexican League seasons appeared in nine games for the Orioles last season and saved three games while racking up a K-BB of 12-3 in 14.1 innings. The... Read More

Tanner Scott Could Rack Up Saves, Strikeouts

The Baltimore Orioles won't name an official closer for 2021 but pitcher Tanner Scott could see his fair share of opportunities. The hard-throwing lefty will need to find the strike zone more consistently than he did in the spring (five walks in 6.1 innings) but he's averaged a strikeout rate near 30% averaged out over... Read More

Anthony Bass To See Early Save Opportunities

Miami Marlins pitcher Anthony Bass will get the ball with the game on the line — at least early on in 2021. The veteran journeyman hurler had a strong spring with a K-BB of 8-3 in 8.1 innings and he allowed just two runs (2.16 ERA). Bass spent last season with the Toronto Blue Jays... Read More