Nick Mariano's 2018 Early-Round Overvalued List (Premium Content)

All other Premium Tools can be accessed on the premium dashboard. Fantasy baseball drafts (and their articles) are almost all about finding the next superstar and unearthing talent late, but we can't forget that surrendering value by over-drafting can be just as crucial. In order to evaluate overvalued players here, we're going to utilize Average […]

Jake Odorizzi Traded To Minnesota For Minor Leaguer

The Tampa Bay Rays traded starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi to Minnesota for a Single-A shortstop by the name of Jermaine Palacios. Odorizzi was the Rays No. 2 starter who went 10-8 with a 4.14 ERA in 28 starts with the Rays last year. He punched out 127 batters in 143 1/3 innings. Minnesota also represents a […]

Corey Seager's Elbow Issues A Thing Of The Past

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager (elbow) said his elbow held up well during offseason throwing exercises, but he has yet to throw past 100 feet. His nagging injuries didn't really slow him in 2017, as Seager hit .295 with 22 home runs, 77 RBI and a .375 on-base percentage in 145 games. He's become […]

Xander Bogaerts Expects Power To Re-Emerge

Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts expects a significant uptick in his performance, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com. When asked if he expects to regain his power, Bogaerts stated, "Yeah, I definitely do think so. I can definitely go out there and put up the same numbers as '16." In 2016, Bogaerts hit 21 […]

Xander Bogaerts (SS, BOS) - 2018 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers & Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target ~65 CURRENT ADP: 82 ANALYSIS: Boston Red Sox infielder Xander Bogaerts has been a troubling fantasy shortstop to own. Annually, there is a concern whether he will provide power or stolen bases. In 2014, he provided power, but little speed and even lower batting average. In 2015, Bogaerts provided more speed and much higher […]

Cliff Pennington Signs With Reds

The Cincinnati Reds signed free-agent infielder Cliff Pennington to a split contract. He'll receive $1.5 million if he makes the major league roster. The 33-year-old switch-hitter can play all over the infield, but mainly profiles as middle infield depth for the Reds in what could be a utility role. He hit just .253 with three […]

Three Up, Three Down - 2018 Shortstop Prospects

Much like the wave of third basemen to sweep the league, we’ve had an equally impressive push of young shortstops. Trea Turner, Carlos Correa, Francisco Lindor, and Corey Seager are all 24-years-old, or younger, and are in the Top 30 in fantasy baseball rankings. Who will be part of the next breath of fresh air […]

Nick Senzel Working At Second Base And Shortstop

Cincinnati Reds third base prospect Nick Senzel arrived to the team's spring complex about a month early, and their No. 1 ranked prospect and No. 7 prospect in all of baseball has been working diligently at second base and shortstop. The 22-year-old has worked exclusively at third base since he was selected second overall in […]

Zack Cozart (SS/3B, LAA) - 2018 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers & Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target ~135 CURRENT ADP: 188 ANALYSIS: Zack Cozart made himself a rich man thanks to a 2017 campaign in which he posted 24 HR, 80 runs, a .297 average, and .385 OBP while striking out on just 15.4% of his at-bats. After producing the 17th-best wRC+ in all of baseball, the infielder signed a three-year, $38 […]

Troy Tulowitzki Dealing With Bone Spur

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (heel) is dealing with a bone spur in his heal, but Gibbons doesn't think it'll be an issue in spring training. However, Tulo may have a delayed start in camp. This is the last thing Toronto wants to see after Tulowitzki played in just 66 […]

Manny Machado Rankings Debate: Comparing RotoBaller's Rankers

We continue our long-running series of articles debating fantasy rankings with a player that is sure to be a first-round pick in all formats. Or is he? RotoBaller's expert writers have come up with our consensus rankings for mixed leagues, but that doesn't mean we agreed on everything. In this space, we'll hear from rankers […]

Toronto Blue Jays Top MLB Prospects for 2018 Dynasty Leagues

Today we are wrapping up the American League East with one of the most interesting farm systems in baseball in the Toronto Blue Jays. There might not be a farm system in baseball with a better top pairing than this one, especially for fantasy purposes. Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. are two of the […]

Tampa Bay Rays - Top MLB Prospects for 2018 Dynasty Leagues

When people think top farm systems in baseball, the Tampa Bay Rays do not often come up. Or at least, not as much as they should. For a team that has consistently developed players well and drafted well, the Rays have not received as much love as they deserve. That might be starting to change. […]

Top 600: Dynasty League Fantasy Baseball Rankings

What's up RotoBallers. Today we are bringing you our top 600 fantasy baseball dynasty rankings for the 2018 MLB season. Dynasty leagues, or keeper formats, are becoming more and more popular in the fantasy sports landscape. For those of you who are playing in dynasty formats, or are interested in long-term valuations of fantasy players, this is […]

Francisco Lindor and the Indians Have Not Had Contract Extension Talks Lately

Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor and the team have not had any contract extension talks lately, according to a source familiar with the situation. The two sides were discussing a long-term deal last offseason, but it seems like those talks have been tabled for now. Rumors say Lindor turned down something along the lines of […]

Using Sabermetrics for Fantasy Baseball Part 3 - Statcast for Batters

If you've watched a baseball broadcast in the so-called Statcast Era, you have undoubtedly noticed the broadcasters commenting on a batted ball's exit velocity, or EV. Many have taken to using stats like Hard% and Soft% to forecast how a player should be performing, expecting larger Hard% rates to produce larger BABIP and HR/FB figures. […]

Champ or Chump - Alcides Escobar and Alex Avila

Fantasy owners hope that every selection they make turns into a stud, but this isn't that realistic. In more practical terms, you want as many strong performers as possible while avoiding roster slots with zero (or less) value. Some positions are easier to find "non-zero" production in than others, giving birth to the concept of […]

Rangers Have Discussed Deal With Elvis Andrus

Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus, who can opt out of his eight-year contract either of the next two years, said there haven't been any formal conversations with the team about a contract extension. However, a source said general manager Jon Daniels has briefly talked with Andrus' agent, Scott Boras, about a new deal that would […]

Brad Miller Expected To Play First Base

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said the plan for now is for infielder Brad Miller to play first base, with Micah Johnson, Daniel Robertson, Ryan Schimpf and Joey Wendle battling for the second base duties. Miller is also a candidate to start at the keystone if the Rays add a first baseman before the […]

Phillies Sign Adam Rosales

The Philadelphia Phillies signed free-agent infielder Adam Rosales to a minor league deal that will pay him $1.75 million if he makes the big league roster. Rosales will be invited to spring training. The veteran utility player will attempt to serve in a utility role on the infield for the rebuilding Phillies. In 105 games […]

Freddy Galvis (SS, SD) - 2018 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers & Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target ~345 CURRENT ADP: 353 ANALYSIS: Freddy Galvis was boring roster glue at best last season, slashing .255/.309/.382 with 12 HR and 14 SB (five CS). The 28-year old is probably younger than you think he is, and the pedestrian numbers above mask the best plate discipline metrics of the shortstop's career (6.8% BB%, 16.7% K%). […]

Yangervis Solarte (2B/SS/3B, TOR) - 2018 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers & Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target ~260 CURRENT ADP: 271 ANALYSIS: Yangervis Solarte personified mediocrity in 2017, slashing .255/.314/.416 with 18 long balls and a trio of steals. With eligibility at all three positions listed above plus seven games at first base, a competent batting line is really all Solarte needed to have fantasy value as a reserve. Yet there […]

Christian Arroyo (SS/3B, TB) - 2018 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers & Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target ~400 CURRENT ADP: 527 ANALYSIS: Christian Arroyo was dreadful in 135 MLB PAs last season, slashing .192/.244/.304 with three dingers. He was too good at Triple-A before his debut, slashing .396/.461/.604 with four big flies over 102 PAs on the back of a .427 BABIP. His full season Double-A statistics in 2016 (.274/.316/.373, three […]

Zack Cozart (SS/3B, LAA) - 2018 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers & Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target ~200 CURRENT ADP: 225 ANALYSIS: Zack Cozart had an unimpressive track record going into 2017 and move to a pitcher-friendly park, from Cincinnati to Los Angeles are reason enough to ignore his impressive 2017 numbers (.297/.385/.548 with 24 HR). This view seems to have become common perception, allowing owners willing to look past […]

2018 Shortstop - Early Points League Rankings and Tiers

If you play in a head-t0-head points league, or season long format, you already know how difficult it can be to find fantasy analysis tailored to the format. Not only are the traditional rotisserie and head-to-head arrangements more popular, but the very nature of points leagues makes them difficult to cover in a general sense […]

Baltimore Orioles Top MLB Prospects for 2018 Dynasty Leagues

Howdy fellow RotoBallers! Fresh off the release of the final dynasty positional rankings list, I am publishing my rankings for each individual team in baseball, starting with the American League East. Instead of giving full briefs of each prospect, I will just give the prospects' superlatives and then issue smaller descriptions for each player in the […]

2018 Dynasty Baseball Strategy - Basic Asset Valuation

Dynasty baseball is a beautiful thing. In a redraft league, everybody is trying to win now. You all have the same goal. Dynasty formats allow for long-term planning. If your team is competitive, you'll value players differently than a rebuilding owner. This discrepancy makes it much easier to find mutually beneficial trades. Unfortunately, this same […]

Tigers Sign Alexi Amarista

The Detroit Tigers signed free-agent infielder Alexi Amarista to a minor league deal Tuesday, according to a source. The Little Ninja is mainly useful for his positional versatility, and he figures to perform as a super-utility player for the rebuilding Tigers. Amarista hit just .238 with the Rockies in 2017 in 96 games, and he […]

2018 Batting Average Risers and Fallers - What We Learned

The great thing about batting average is that it’s a great starting metric for building a strong fantasy team. It’s one of those rare stats that, when correctly targeted and prioritized, sets the foundation for a season of nearly guaranteed success. In fantasy football, it’s a good idea to acquire players who get red zone […]

Champ or Chump - Freddy Galvis and Jay Bruce

Baseball's hot stove is finally starting to heat up a bit, with names like Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole headed to new addresses in 2018. It's late in coming, but now is the time some fantasy owners begin overlooking the smaller moves to concentrate on the biggest names. Don't make that mistake. This doesn't mean that […]