2021 MLB Season To Start On Time

Major League Baseball plans to start on time in 2021, with spring training camps scheduled to open on Feb. 17 and Opening Day scheduled for April 1. The MLB Players Association rejected MLB's proposal to delay a 154-game regular season until April. The MLBPA was concerned with playing doubleheaders, accepting expanded playoffs and the expansion […]

Derek Holland Joins Tigers On Minor League Contract

Left-handed pitcher Derek Holland has been inked to a Minor League deal with the Detroit Tigers that carries an invitation to Major League Spring Training. Holland, a 12-year veteran, last appeared with Pittsburgh in 2020 and posted a 6.86 ERA over 12 appearances (five starts). After spending eight years with the Rangers to open his […]

MLB Proposes Slightly Shortened 2021 Season

The Major League Baseball Players Association is mulling over a proposal by MLB to delay the start of the 2021 season, and if the Union doesn't provide a counteroffer early next week, spring training is likely to start in mid-February as scheduled, according to sources. The league's proposal would push spring training back to late […]

Rockies Set To Acquire Austin Gomber

The Colorado Rockies are finalizing a blockbuster deal that would send All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for left-hander Austin Gomber and low-level prospects. The 27-year-old was excellent in a swing role for the Cardinals in 2020, posting a 1.86 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 27 strikeouts and 15 […]

A's Acquire Cole Irvin From Phillies

The Oakland Athletics acquired left-handed relief pitcher Cole Irvin from the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday in exchange for cash considerations. Turning 27 years old on Sunday, Irvin has 19 career major league appearances (three starts) over the last two years with Philly. He's posted a 6.75 ERA with a poor 17.2 percent strikeout rate over […]

Carl Edwards Jr. Agrees With Braves

The Atlanta Braves agreed to a minor league deal with free-agent relief pitcher Carl Edwards Jr. on Friday night. The 29-year-old right-hander helped the Chicago Cubs win the World Series in 2016 and had a nice 3.03 ERA and 34 percent strikeout rate with the team from 2016-18. However, he started struggling in 2019 when […]

Kohl Stewart Signs With Cubs

The Chicago Cubs signed free-agent right-hander Kohl Stewart to a one-year, $700,000 deal on Thursday. Stewart will offer depth for Chicago's starting rotation but can also serve a multi-inning relief role if needed. He has pitched in parts of only two major league seasons and comes with five years of club control. The 26-year-old will […]

Trevor Rosenthal's Stock On The Rise

Free-agent relief pitcher Trevor Rosenthal was a top-tier reliever in 2020 with the Royals and Padres and is one of the top available relief arms on the open market. Rosenthal was one of MLB's best relievers from 2012-17 with the Cardinals, but Tommy John surgery caused him to miss all of 2018 and he was […]

Mets Agree With Aaron Loup Wednesday

The New York Mets agreed with free-agent relief pitcher Aaron Loup on an undisclosed deal on Wednesday, according to a source. The 33-year-old had a 2.52 ERA while striking out 22 hitters and holding left-handed batters to a .212/.278/.303 slash line in 25 innings in 2020. After losing out on southpaw reliever Brad Hand, Loup […]

Mets Name Zack Scott As General Manager

The New York Mets announced that Zack Scott will serve as their acting general manager, beginning immediately. Scott joined the Mets as their senior vice president/assistant general manager on Dec. 23, 2020. The 43-year-old has spent the last 17 years in the Red Sox organization and spent the last two seasons as assistant general managers, […]

Yankees Agree With Reliever Darren O'Day

The New York Yankees agreed to a deal with free-agent relief pitcher Darren O'Day on Wednesday, according to sources. O'Day is guaranteed to make $2.5 million for one season, and the contract includes a dual option, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman. The Braves and Phillies were the runners-up for O'Day. The 38-year-old sidearmer was […]

Brewers Still Listening On Josh Hader

The Milwaukee Brewers continue to listen to trade inquiries on relief pitcher Josh Hader, according to league sources. However, the asking price is "overwhelming" for Hader, who the Brewers believe is the best left-handed reliever in baseball. The two-time All-Star wasn't quite as dominant in 2020 during the COVID-19 shortened season due to a spike […]

Red Sox Acquire Adam Ottavino From Yankees

The Boston Red Sox acquired right-handed reliever Adam Ottavino and right-hander Frank German from the New York Yankees on Monday, according to a source. The Red Sox will pick up all of the $11 million owed to Ottavino. The 10-year veteran has a 3.53 career ERA but posted a 5.89 mark in 18 1/3 innings […]

Brad Hand Agrees With Nationals

The Washington Nationals agreed with free-agent closer Brad Hand on a one-year, $10.5 million deal on Sunday, according to sources familiar with the deal. The 30-year-old figures to become the team's ninth-inning arm in his 11th big-league season in 2021, joining the back end of a Washington bullpen that includes Will Harris, Daniel Hudson and […]

Kirby Yates to the Blue Jays - Fantasy Impact

The Toronto Blue Jays made a trio of free-agent signings over the last week. The big news of course was outfielder George Springer signing a six-year deal with Toronto (for more on that check out Frank Ammirante's analysis of Springer's fantasy impact in 2021). But the other big acquisition for the Blue Jays was landing […]

Top 440: Early H2H Points League Rankings

Welcome back RotoBallers. Below you will find our early 2021 fantasy baseball H2H points league rankings (top 440). As you may know, head-to-head points formats are typically underserved by fantasy baseball outlets - but this is an area that we at RotoBaller take pride in and specialize in. Throughout the preseason and regular season, we will […]

Anthony Bass Agrees With Marlins

Free-agent right-hander Anthony Bass agreed to an undisclosed deal with the Miami Marlins on Friday and is expected to compete for the closer role in 2021. The reliever led the Toronto Blue Jays with seven saves in the shortened 2020 season when closer Ken Giles was injured, going 2-3 with a 3.51 ERA in 26 […]

David Robertson On The Comeback Trail

Free-agent relief pitcher David Robertson (elbow) threw his first bullpen session on Thursday and is planning a showcase for interested teams in early February after having Tommy John surgery in August of 2019. The veteran right-hander has a 2.90 career ERA and 137 saves in 661 relief outings over 12 big-league seasons. But Robertson made […]

Angels Emerge As Suitors For Brad Hand

The Los Angeles Angels have emerged as suitors for free-agent relief pitcher Brad Hand, according to sources. The New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays are among the other teams involved. To a lesser degree, the Astros and Dodgers have some interest. Cleveland cut Hand in a cost-cutting move after the 2020 season in which […]

Wade Davis Lands Minors Deal With Royals

The Kansas City Royals signed right-handed reliever Wade Davis to a minor league deal on Wednesday. A three-time All-Star, the 35-year-old Davis pitched with the Rockies for the last three years and made just five appearances in the shortened 2020 season. He led the National League in saves (43) and games finished (63) in 2018, […]

Blue Jays Add Kirby Yates On One-Year Deal

The Toronto Blue Jays agreed to a one-year, $5.5 million deal with right-hander Kirby Yates on Tuesday, according to a source. The deal includes $4.5 million in performance bonuses for appearances and awards. The Blue Jays also added right-hander Tyler Chatwood on a one-year deal on Monday, and he's expected to work out of the […]

Blue Jays Targeting Kirby Yates

The Toronto Blue Jays are targeting free-agent relief pitcher Kirby Yates, according to a source. Yates is in Florida on Tuesday to meet with the team, and it comes a day after Toronto added right-hander Tyler Chatwood to their bullpen on a one-year deal. Yates had an excellent 1.19 ERA with 41 saves while striking […]

Jeremy Jeffress Generating A Lot Of Interest

Free-agent relief pitcher Jeremy Jeffress is generating a ton of interest despite a reliever market that remains crowded, according to sources. At least 10 teams have some level of interest in the right-hander, including the Blue Jays, Red Sox, Cubs, Astros, Dodgers, Mets, Phillies and Nationals. Jeffress has a sub-2.00 ERA and a sub-1.00 WHIP […]

Astros, Blue Jays Interested In Alex Colome

Free-agent relief pitcher Alex Colome is drawing interest from the Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays, among other teams, according to sources. The 32-year-old right-hander had a nice 2.27 ERA -- the third-lowest in baseball among relievers who saved 30-plus games in the last two seasons -- after signing in 2019 as the White Sox's […]

Blue Jays Reach Agreement With Tyler Chatwood

The Toronto Blue Jays reached an agreement with right-hander Tyler Chatwood on a one-year, $3 million contract on Monday, according to a source. Chatwood will have the opportunity to earn another $2.5 million in incentives, according to Sportsnet's Shi Davidi. The 31-year-old is entering his 10th big league season and has played with the Angels, […]

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 […]

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 […]

Mets In Talks With Brad Hand

The New York Mets are in talks with free-agent relief pitcher Brad Hand, but the two sides are "not close" to completing a deal, according to a source. The three-time All-Star has a very nice 2.70 ERA in the last five seasons with the Padres and Cleveland. The left-handed reliever had a sparkling 2.05 ERA […]

Padres Out Of The Mix For Kirby Yates?

The San Diego Padres were one of a dozen teams interested in free-agent relief pitcher Kirby Yates, but he's now in the final stages of considering offers from five teams, and a source says that the Padres are not one of them. San Diego would have to substantially increase their offer for him to reconsider, […]

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 […]