Ceddanne Rafaela Returning On Saturday

Boston Red Sox outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela (hamstring) is in Saturday's lineup. He will cover center field and bat in the cleanup. Rafaela has dealt with hamstring tightness throughout the week but has been cleared for action. Seeing him return to the lineup suggests he will not face any restrictions by Opening Day. Last season, the […]

Jackson Holliday To Get Some Reps At Shortstop

With Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (intercostal) up in the air to be ready for Opening Day in late March, manager Brandon Hyde said that second baseman Jackson Holliday will be getting some repetitions at shortstop in camp. Jordan Westburg could also get some looks at the 6 as the O's start to think about […]

Ezequiel Tovar Back In Friday's Spring Lineup

Colorado Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar (triceps) is back in the Cactus League lineup on Friday to face the Texas Rangers and right-hander Jacob deGrom. Tovar is starting at shortstop and batting second in the lineup after he was removed early on Wednesday as a precaution after being hit by a pitch on his left triceps. […]

Hitters Under $5 - Fantasy Baseball Auction Draft Values (2025)

Welcome RotoBallers to the next article in our fantasy baseball auction draft series targeting hitters with an average auction value (AAV) of under $5. In the auction draft format, fantasy baseball managers are no longer bound to the inane order of the snake draft. But with freedom comes choice. You may have blown too much […]

Fantasy Baseball All-Value Team: Favorite Value Picks at Every Position

The fantasy baseball draft is the most anticipated event on the fantasy baseball calendar. At this time of year, an offseason of speculation, research, and rankings come to a head as managers finally get to assemble a team and see how their best-laid plans play out. Experienced fantasy managers come to drafts with a plan. […]

Alex Freeland Sent To Minor-League Camp

The Los Angeles Dodgers have assigned infield prospect Alex Freeland to minor-league camp. The 23-year-old was competing for a depth role in the Dodger infield but will begin the 2025 season in the minor leagues instead. Last season, Freeland performed very well in the minors as he opened the season at the High-A level and […]

Padres Reassign Ethan Salas, Leodalis De Vries To Minor League Camp

The San Diego Padres reassigned two of their top prospects, catcher Ethan Salas and shortstop Leodalis De Vries, to minor-league camp. Both were invited to spring training, but neither was expected to make the team at 18 years of age. It was surely valuable experience for both players for whom the Padres have high hopes. […]

Braves Reassign Jose Devers To Minor-League Camp

The Atlanta Braves have reassigned infielder Jose Devers to minor-league camp. The 25-year-old tallied 10 at-bats in Grapefruit League play, collecting one hit and a walk while striking out three times. The left-handed hitter will likely start out at Triple-A, which is where he spent nearly all of 2024, but in the Marlins organization. The […]

Jeremy Pena Working On Plate Discipline

The Houston Chronicle's Matt Kawahara writes that Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena has been working on his plate discipline leading into the 2025 season and lowering his chase rate. In 1,842 regular-season plate appearances in his three years in the big leagues with Houston, Pena has only walked 90 times compared to 375 strikeouts in […]

Bo Bichette Could Hit Leadoff Or Cleanup

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider is undecided on where shortstop Bo Bichette will hit in the lineup this year, but the skipper mentioned both the leadoff and cleanup spots as possibilities. "2,3 Vlad and Tony (Santander), and then from there could be Bo (Bichette).. could be Bo 1, could be Bo 4, depending on […]

Marcelo Mayer To Play On Friday

Boston Red Sox shortstop prospect Marcelo Mayer (illness) has recovered from a stomach illness this week and plans to play in a Grapefruit League game on Friday against the Miami Marlins, according to manager Alex Cora. Mayer is feeling better and will be back in action in spring training this weekend. Per MLB Pipeline, the […]

Shortstop (SS) Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers: Later-Round Values (2025)

Today we identify some hidden value at the shortstop position with our MLB team's fantasy baseball shortstop draft sleepers and later-round value picks for 2025 fantasy baseball drafts. Finding late-round value and drafting a player that can outperform their ADP can be the x-factor of winning that coveted fantasy baseball championship. Below are some late-round […]

10 Fantasy Baseball Bold Predictions - Rick Lucks' 2025 Picks

Welcome back RotoBallers to another edition from our yearly Bold Predictions series from the MLB team. It's one of the most exciting times of the fantasy baseball calendar: bold prediction season! As a reminder, bold predictions aren't supposed to be likely outcomes but long shots with a purpose. These predictions, in particular, all do one […]

Ceddanne Rafaela Could Return This Weekend

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela (hamstring) is doing better and will do some running in camp on Thursday. If that goes well, Rafaela will be cleared to return to Grapefruit League action this weekend. Rafaela has been held out of spring training games this week after experiencing hamstring tightness […]

Eddys Leonard Shifted To Minor-League Camp

The Detroit Tigers have assigned shortstop Eddys Leonard to minor-league camp. Leonard was competing for a depth role on the major-league roster during camp but instead, the team will opt for him to continue his development in the minor leagues. Last season, the 24-year-old received his first extended look at Triple-A and posted a .263/.326/.455 […]

Ballpark Factors: Sabermetrics Glossary for Fantasy Baseball (2025)

Welcome RotoBallers to our overview of ballpark factors. This article is a deeper dive into ballpark factors and is part of our ongoing series "Using Sabermetrics for Fantasy Baseball." In this article, we'll explore how unique MLB parks influence a player's performance for fantasy purposes. Most people associate ballpark factors with home runs, but we'll […]

Tim Anderson Debuts In Outfield On Wednesday

Los Angeles Angels shortstop Tim Anderson saw his first outfield action of the spring on Wednesday after he started at center field for the Halos in their 5-3 Cactus League loss to the Dodgers. Manager Ron Washington indicated earlier this spring that Anderson would see some time in the outfield despite not having logged any […]

Tigers Sign Jack Dunn To Minor-League Deal

The Detroit Tigers have signed shortstop prospect Jack Dunn to a minor-league deal a day after he was released by the Washington Nationals. The 28-year-old spent all of 2024 at Triple-A, and while the .236 batting average doesn't jump off the page, he posted a 14.4 percent walk rate in 443 plate appearances, leading to […]

Adam Frazier Battling Back Soreness

Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Adam Frazier (back) is battling a sore back. Frazier has not been in a spring training contest since February 26. Manager Derek Shelton noted that the plan is for Frazier to appear in games "later in the week." Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his stats but seeing the team express […]

Ezequiel Tovar Leaves After Getting Hit By Pitch

Colorado Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar (triceps) left Wednesday's Cactus League game versus the division-rival San Diego Padres with a left-triceps contusion after being hit by a pitch, according to The Denver Post's Patrick Saunders. The hit-by-pitch happened in the first inning, and Tovar was replaced by Owen Miller in the third inning. It doesn't sound […]

Gunnar Henderson Has Intercostal Strain; O's Hopeful He'll Be Ready For Opening Day

Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (intercostal) is dealing with an intercostal strain in camp but is improving, according to manager Brandon Hyde. The skipper remains hopeful that Henderson will be ready for Opening Day later this month. The 23-year-old's availability for the start of the 2025 regular season is up in the air, but the […]

Edwin Arroyo, Cam Collier Assigned To Minor-League Camp

The Cincinnati Reds reassigned shortstop Edwin Arroyo and third baseman Cam Collier to minor-league camp on Wednesday. Additionally, the Reds sent right-hander Jose Acuna, catcher Michael Trautwein, outfielder Hector Rodriguez (No. 11) and infielder Ivan Johnson to minor-league camp. Arroyo (No. 5) and Collier (No. 4) are two of the team's top prospects and are […]

Jose Iglesias, Padres Agree To A Deal

Free-agent veteran infielder Jose Iglesias and the San Diego Padres agreed to an undisclosed deal on Wednesday, according to sources familiar with the deal. The New York Post's Jon Heyman reports it's a minor-league deal with an invitation to camp. The 35-year-old will make $3 million if he's in the big leagues and will have […]

Aidan Miller Reassigned To Minor-League Camp

The Philadelphia Phillies have reassigned infield prospect Aidan Miller to minor-league camp. Miller was invited to the major-league camp as a non-roster invite. The former 27th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft has spent most of his career in the lower levels of the minor leagues. Last season, Miller received his first extended look […]

Marcelo Mayer Has Stomach Bug

Boston Red Sox shortstop prospect Marcelo Mayer (illness) is battling the stomach bug. His teammate Roman Anthony had it as well. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status but should expect him to be sidelined for a few days. The 22-year-old is considered one of the top prospects in Boston and the entire sport. […]

Taylor Ward, Luis Rengifo Expect To Return Soon

The Athletic's Sam Blum reports that both Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward (knee) and infielder Luis Rengifo (hamstring) said they are fine and expect to return to the Cactus League lineup in a day or so. Ward and Rengifo were both recently scratched from spring training action due to minor injuries -- Ward is […]

George Lombard Jr. Swinging A Hot Bat

New York Yankees shortstop prospect George Lombard Jr. has been swinging a hot bat during the start of spring training. The infielder has gone 3-for-11 with two home runs and three RBI. He has held a 1:3 BB:K ratio and has been caught stealing once. The Yankees drafted Lombard with the 26th overall pick in […]

Colson Montgomery Remains Sidelined

Chicago White Sox shortstop prospect Colson Montgomery (back) remains sidelined and is expected to be re-evaluated following their off day on Tuesday. The 23-year-old is battling back spasms. The former first round pick has not participated in any baseball activities since the injury popped up last week. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring his status during […]

Caleb Durbin Hits Second Home Run, Nabs First Steal Of Spring

Milwaukee Brewers infield prospect Caleb Durbin smacked a leadoff home run, his second home run of the spring, in Monday's 5-4 Cactus League loss to the Reds. The 25-year-old also swiped his first bag of the spring after stealing 29 in just 82 games at Triple-A last season and running wild for 29 steals in […]

Yankees Reassign Roderick Arias To Minor-League Camp

The New York Yankees have reassigned shortstop prospect Roderick Arias to minor league camp. The 20-year-old was a non-roster invitee this spring and had gone 3-for-7 over his first five Grapefruit League games, but will head back to the minors where he finished last season at Single-A. The switch-hitter compiled a .233-13-74-78-37 line over the […]