Top 250 Dynasty Prospects for 2021

The 2020 baseball season was unlike any year we’ve ever seen with its shortened season and schedule that can perhaps be best described as organized chaos. The absence of a minor league season played havoc with prospect prognosticators. The 2021 season — and perhaps beyond — will continue to present unique challenges as the pandemic […]

Top 50 Fantasy Baseball Redraft Prospects for 2021

The abbreviated, wild-ride known as the 2020 MLB season has come to an end and the playoffs are in full swing. Sadly, that means fantasy baseball seasons are finished. And prospects watchers have turned their attention towards the 2021 season. The 2020 season saw a significant number of key contributions from rookies and, had you […]

Nick Mariano's Early 2021 Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Rankings

The 2021 MLB season isn't guaranteed to be normal but I have hope that next spring will be much healthier. As such, I will approach ranks as if a traditional 162-game season is coming. Join me for my position-by-position ranking series for the 2021 fantasy baseball season. How much weight do we give 2020? How […]

Nick Mariano's Early 2021 Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitcher Rankings

The upcoming 2021 season may not be normal -- going from 2020 to 2021 doesn't wave a magic wand -- but there's still comfort in baseball. As such, I will approach ranks as if a traditional 162-game season is coming. Join me for my position-by-position ranking series for the 2021 fantasy baseball season. How much […]

Red Sox Showing Interest In Eddie Rosario

The Boston Red Sox have some interest in free-agent outfielder Eddie Rosario after he was non-tendered by the Twins on Wednesday, according to sources. Rosario would likely have to play right field in Fenway Park, but manager Alex Cora selected Rosario to play for Team Puerto Rico during the 2017 World Baseball Classic. Andrew Benintendi […]

Red Sox Acquire Minor-Leaguer Christian Koss

The Boston Red Sox acquired minor league infielder Christian Koss from the Colorado Rockies on Thursday in exchange for minor league left-handed pitcher Yoan Aybar. The 22-year-old Koss was a 12th-round pick in 2019 and was an All-Star in the Rookie-level Pioneer League in 2019. He hit .332 (63-for-190) with 11 home runs, 51 RBI, […]

Red Sox Showing Interest In Corey Kluber

The Boston Red Sox are showing interest in free-agent starting pitcher Corey Kluber, who makes his home in the greater Boston, according to a source. The 34-year-old right-hander is progressing nicely from the teres major muscle strain that cut his 2020 season short (just one inning pitched), and he is expected to resume throwing bullpen […]

Year-In-Review: Jesse Winker

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jesse Winker had a 2020 season that, in many ways, reflected the arc of his career. His excellent approach allows him to get on base while also hitting for average and power. However, he also experiences stretches of unproductivity and has battled injuries and inconsistent playing time. This makes him a difficult player […]

Red Sox Agree With Eduardo Rodriguez

The Boston Red Sox agreed to an $8.3 million deal with left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez for the 2021 season on Tuesday, according to a source. Rodriguez would've been in the fourth and final year of arbitration eligibility before becoming a free agent next offseason. The 27-year-old southpaw was set to be the team's Opening Day starter […]

Projecting Power in 2021: Elite Levels of Air% Exit Velocity

Everyone wants more power, even more so when it comes relatively cheap. But even when pricey, you're going to need to draft a bomber or two. One of the best ways to see how a player's power is trending is to sift through their exit-velocities to see what they're saying. Most know by now that […]

Nick Mariano's Early 2021 Fantasy Baseball Outfield Rankings

I think most of us would agree that looking forward to 2021 is a good idea. For me, that means immersing myself in the upcoming baseball season. While there's no guarantee COVID-19 won't affect the '21 season, I will approach ranks as if a traditional 162-game season is coming. Join me for my position-by-position ranking […]

Early 2021 Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft - ADP Surprises

Of course, there are many changes to be made throughout the offseason. It feels as if the dust is still settling on the 2020 World Series yet baseball fans are more ready for the upcoming season than ever. We have no idea whether a full schedule can be played, what games will look like, and […]

Nick Mariano's Early 2021 Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Rankings

As we begin to look towards the 2021 baseball season, we can only hope that COVID-19 will be handled well enough to let the season run as normal. Since this is a mere early ranking exercise and we have so much ahead of us, let's just close our eyes and chat as if a 162-game […]

Nick Mariano's Early 2021 Fantasy Baseball Third Base Rankings

Hope springs eternal for the 2021 baseball season, but it's hard to imagine we'll be completely past COVID-19 by then. Plus, we could see opening salvos for the CBA debates to come. But for now, let's just close our eyes and dream of a perfect world and chat as if a 162-game season will come […]

Nick Mariano's Early 2021 Fantasy Baseball Second Base Rankings

As usual, I'll start by saying the 2021 baseball season may still be affected by COVID-19. Maybe even more labor disputes just for a curveball. But for now, let's just close our eyes and dream of a perfect world and chat as if a 162-game season will come next spring. Join me for my position-by-position […]

Starting Pitcher K-BB% Risers: Who to Believe In

The 2020 MLB season may have left starting pitchers with shorter starts and fewer total innings than usual, but arsenal adjustments and pitch improvements were still prevalent. As a result (and sometimes as a result of other factors), several pitchers saw significant changes in their strikeout and walk rates. K-BB% is one way to measure […]

2021 First Look Fantasy Values: Third Base

The baseball offseason may officially begin with the end of the World Series but the projections offseason began last Thursday night with the release of the first Steamer projections for 2021. Created and maintained by mathematics teacher Jared Cross and his former students, Steamer remains the industry standard for non-aggregated projection systems, as well as […]

Nick Mariano's Early 2021 Fantasy Baseball Catcher Rankings

Let's cut right to it: the 2021 baseball season is not guaranteed to be a normal one. But for now, let's just close our eyes and dream of a world unencumbered by COVID-19 and talk about our silly little game as if a 162-game season will come next spring. It is time to decide how […]

2021 First Look Fantasy Values: Outfielders

The baseball offseason may officially begin with the end of the World Series but the projections offseason began last Thursday night with the release of the first Steamer projections for 2021. Created and maintained by mathematics teacher Jared Cross and his former students, Steamer remains the industry standard for non-aggregated projection systems, as well as […]

2021 Fantasy Value First Looks: Shortstop

The baseball offseason may officially begin with the end of the World Series but the projections offseason began last Thursday night with the release of the first Steamer projections for 2021. Created and maintained by mathematics teacher Jared Cross and his former students, Steamer remains the industry standard for non-aggregated projection systems, as well as […]

Red Sox Bring Back Alex Cora As Manager

The Boston Red Sox rehired former manager Alex Cora on Friday, according to a source. Cora helped lead the team to a World Series title in 2018 but mutually agreed to part ways before the 2020 season due to his involvement in the Astros' sign-stealing scandal. He was suspended for one season for his role […]

2021 First Look Fantasy Values: First Base and Second Base

The baseball offseason may officially begin with the end of the World Series but the projections offseason began last Thursday night with the release of the first Steamer projections for 2021. Created and maintained by mathematics teacher Jared Cross and his former students, Steamer remains the industry standard for non-aggregated projection systems, as well as […]

George Springer To Land In Boston?

Former Boston Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. is a free agent. MLB Network insider Jon Heyman speculates that the Red Sox will go after free-agent outfielder George Springer to replace Bradley in center field. Springer, who played his college ball at the University of Connecticut, is the highest-profile free-agent hitter on the market […]

Red Sox Meet With Alex Cora

The Boston Red Sox met with former manager Alex Cora in Puerto Rico last week as they continue to search for their next manager, according to a source. Chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom and general manager Brian O'Halloran met with Cora, who mutually parted ways with Boston in January due to his involvement in the […]

Red Sox Decline Option On Martin Perez

The Boston Red Sox declined their $6.85 million 2021 option on left-handed pitcher Martin Perez on Sunday, making him a free agent. Perez will instead receive a $500,000 buyout. The 29-year-old southpaw went 3-5 with a 4.50 ERA in his 12 starts during the shortened season, striking out 46 and walking 28 in 68 innings […]

J.D. Martinez Opts In

Boston Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez will keep his contract that will pay $19.375 million in each of the next two seasons rather than opting out and becoming a free agent. Martinez hit a career-low .213 during the shortened 2020 season with seven home runs and 27 RBI. The 33-year-old's deal also gives him […]

Red Sox Talking With Alex Cora

The Boston Red Sox are expected to interview former manager Alex Cora in the coming days, according to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman. Boston parted ways with Cora last January due to his part in the Astros' sign-stealing scandal during 2017, and Cora was suspended for all of 2020. According to The Boston Globe's Alex […]

2021 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values Based On Contact Quality

In part one of this series, I established that zxwOBAcon is the primary driver of season-to-season changes in xwOBAcon and that the biggest risers in zxwOBAcon each season tend to be rebound candidates. Furthermore, rebound candidates recover all of their zxwOBAcon losses more often than not and frequently outperform their season x zxwOBAcon in season […]

Warning Signals in Shift Increases: Part One

Shifts work. Not all the time and not against everyone but eventually there is a sufficient amount of data on a player to be able to draw some pretty strong conclusions about what advantages can be gained by shifting. There are good reasons that Joey Gallo was shifted against 98.5% of the time in 2020. Not everyone […]

How I Won Tout Wars

I am extremely fortunate to be able to write an article entitled, “How I Won Tout Wars.” It is truly a humbling experience, and I am both excited and proud to pen today’s words. Including all of the draft preparation that I describe in my aforementioned articles, here a few of the reasons that (I […]