Fantasy Baseball Top 100 Prospects for 2024 First-Year Player Drafts (January 2024 Update)
A number of the top international players that are being posted this offseason have signed, with a few more yet to come. Rankings for players have adjusted, some due to their destination, and a few MLB draft prospects are moving due to some additional viewing of tape and underlying metrics on those players. Otherwise, there... Read More
FIP/xFIP: Using Sabermetrics for 2024 Fantasy Baseball
While we've only examined how to evaluate hitters using advanced stats thus far, sabermetrics are just as useful for pitchers. The first advanced pitching stat most fantasy managers encounter is Fielding Independent Pitching or FIP. FIP measures a pitcher's actual skill instead of the effects of luck or his supporting cast. According to DIPS (Defense... Read More
Rangers Acquire Daniel Duarte From Reds
The Texas Rangers acquired right-hander Daniel Duarte from the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations. The Rangers now have 40 players on the major-league roster. Duarte's season ended early last year due to a shoulder injury, and it's unclear if he's going to be ready for spring training. The 27-year-old Mexican pitcher... Read More
Reds Ink Outfielder Adolfo Sanchez
The Cincinnati Reds agreed to terms with outfielder Adolfo Sanchez (MLB.com's No. 5 international prospect) and shortstop Naibel Mariano (No. 42) to open the 2024 international signing period on Monday, according to an industry source. Sanchez's deal is for $2.7 million, while Mariano will receive $1.65 million. Sanchez is one of the best overall hitters... Read More
Joey Votto Says He's Made "Major Improvements"
Free-agent first baseman Joey Votto said he's feeling better physically than he has in years after two months of rehab and strength training since the end of the 2023 season and believes that will be seen on the field, saying he's made "major improvements." Votto hasn't really gotten any bites in his first foray into... Read More
Closers and Relief Pitchers - 2024 Fantasy Baseball ADP Analysis, Draft Targets, Avoids
As we get into the middle of January, fantasy baseball draft season is gaining speed and momentum. By now, most of you have either already participated in a draft of some sort or are at least beginning your prep work and/or consuming more fantasy baseball content. This relief pitcher position is annually one of the... Read More
Brent Suter Agrees With Reds On One-Year Deal
Free-agent left-hander Brent Suter and the Cincinnati Reds agreed to a one-year deal on Thursday, pending a physical, according to sources familiar with the deal. The contract pays him $2.5 million in 2024 with a $3.5 million club option or $500,000 buyout for the 2025 season. The 34-year-old southpaw comes to Cincy after posting a... Read More
HR/FB: Using Sabermetrics for 2024 Fantasy Baseball
Using BABIP to predict a player's batting average is great. Batting average is a category in many league formats, and every hit is an opportunity to steal a base or score a run. Most fantasy managers find the long ball sexier, though. Every HR comes with a guaranteed run scored and at least one RBI.... Read More
Matt McLain Fully Healthy Heading Into 2024 Season
A right-oblique strain ended Cincinnati Reds middle infielder Matt McLain's impressive rookie season early. Had he not missed the final month of the season, he might have finished higher than fifth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. The 24-year-old slashed .290/.357/.507 with 16 home runs and 50 RBI in only 89 games... Read More
2024 Fantasy Baseball Catcher Rankings, Tiers, Analysis - Roto League Drafts
Last season saw multiple catchers across Major League Baseball emerge as potential future stars, the most obvious being Baltimore's Adley Rutschman. But Seattle's Cal Raleigh, Arizona's Gabriel Moreno, Atlanta's Sean Murphy, and New York's Francisco Alvarez also raised their stock and were difference-makers offensively for their respective teams at points during the MLB season. Proven... Read More
Mets Sign Harrison Bader
The New York Mets signed free-agent outfielder Harrison Bader to a one-year deal for approximately $10 million, according to a source. The Mets have been looking for help in the outfield this offseason, and Bader should immediately slot in as their primary center fielder in 2024, which will allow Brandon Nimmo to slide over to... Read More
Reds Sign Justin Bruihl To Minor-League Deal
The Cincinnati Reds signed free-agent left-hander Justin Bruihl to a minor-league deal with an invitation to major-league spring training on Wednesday. Bruihl will provide the Reds with some bullpen depth in 2024 and will be competing for a roster spot in spring training. The 26-year-old southpaw has three years of big-league experience, posting a 4.22... Read More
Austin Wynns Designated For Assignment
To make room on the 40-man roster for recent free-agent signing Frankie Montas, the Cincinnati Reds designated catcher Austin Wynns for assignment on Tuesday. Wynns signed a one-year, $950,000 with the Reds in December as catching depth. If the 33-year-old backstop clears waivers, he'll likely return to the Giants and try to earn a roster... Read More
Frankie Montas Signs With The Reds
Free-agent starting pitcher Frankie Montas has signed a deal with the Cincinnati Reds, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network. The terms of the deal have not been released yet, but it's likely to be a short-term deal, considering Montas' recent injury history. The 30-year-old hurler went from the Athletics to the Yankees at the... Read More
Reds Re-Sign Buck Farmer
The Cincinnati Reds re-signed relief pitcher Buck Farmer to a one-year deal worth $2.25 million on Thursday and designated outfielder Bubba Thompson for assignment in a corresponding move. The 32-year-old right-hander has been a middle reliever for the Reds each of the past two seasons and has posted a combined 4.06 ERA (4.00 FIP) and... Read More
Way Too Early 2024 MLB Rookie of the Year Favorites
The temperature outside is near freezing here in the Northeast, there's a warm glow in the fireplace, and the ball that draws 2023 to a close has yet to drop in Times Square. So, you know what that means... it's the perfect time to speculate who will take home MLB Rookie of the Year in... Read More
Brett Kennedy Re-Signs With Reds
The Cincinnati Reds re-signed right-hander Brett Kennedy to a minor-league deal. Kennedy pitched for his second different team in the majors in 2023 when he made five appearances (two starts) for the Reds this past season. In 18 innings, he had a 6.50 ERA (4.64 FIP) and 1.44 WHIP while walking seven and striking out... Read More
Reds Sign Conner Capel To Minor-League Deal
The Cincinnati Reds signed free-agent outfielder Conner Capel to a minor-league deal on Tuesday that includes an invitation to major-league camp in spring training. Capel will give the Reds some minor-league depth heading into the 2024 season. The 26-year-old played in 32 games for the Oakland Athletics last season, going 19-for-73 (.260) with no home... Read More
Giants Acquire T.J. Hopkins From Reds
The San Francisco Giants acquired outfielder T.J. Hopkins from the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. The move comes after the Reds designated Hopkins for assignment last week. The 26-year-old will now head to the Giants organization, where he'll serve as minor-league outfield depth to... Read More
Tayron Guerrero Signs Minors Deal With Angels
The Los Angeles Angels have signed pitcher Tayron Guerrero to a minor-league deal. The right-hander hasn't appeared in the big leagues since the 2019 season, when he worked to a 6.26 ERA across 52 appearances with the Marlins. Most recently, he struggled to a bloated 11.51 ERA across 20 appearances with Triple-A Louisville in the... Read More
Jonathan India Being Eyed By Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are targeting Reds second baseman Jonathan India on the trade market. The Blue Jays are rather thin in the infield as third baseman Matt Chapman and second baseman Whit Merrifield both hit the open market this offseason. As it stands, shortstop Bo Bichette and first baseman Vladimir Guerrero are the lone... Read More
Top 250 Dynasty Fantasy Baseball Prospects Rankings (2024 Update)
Welcome back RotoBallers to the 2024 update of our MLB team's dynasty fantasy baseball prospects rankings for the 2024 season. This update includes a few changes/additions. First, while they may not be considered "prospects" in many leagues, foreign signees from Japanese or Korean professional leagues will be eligible in first-year player drafts, so they are... Read More
Third Base and Shortstop - Early 2024 Fantasy Baseball ADP Analysis
It might only be the second week of December, but 2024 draft season is already beginning to heat up. Sites like NFBC and Fantrax make it easy to scratch that early draft itch and I've already completed one draft for 2024, a 50-round draft champions draft on NFBC. I've been working through my early 2024... Read More
Nick Senzel To Be Nationals' Starting Third Baseman
Washington Nationals infielder/outfielder Nick Senzel signed a $2 million deal with the team during the winter meetings after being non-tendered by the Cincinnati Reds following a 2023 season in which he hit .236/.297/.399 with a career-high 13 home runs, 42 RBI and six stolen bases while playing third base, second and all three outfield spots.... Read More
Reds Sign Austin Wynns To One-Year Deal
The Cincinnati Reds signed free-agent catcher Austin Wynns to a one-year, $950,000 major-league deal on Thursday and designated outfielder T.J. Hopkins for assignment in a corresponding move. Wynns will head to Cincinnati to provide catching depth behind Tyler Stephenson and Luke Maile at the big-league level in 2024. The 33-year-old veteran bounced around the National... Read More
Guardians Sign Ben Lively
The Cleveland Guardians signed free-agent right-hander Ben Lively to a one-year, $750,000 on Tuesday. Lively probably isn't going to be a starting rotation option to open the 2024 season in Cleveland, but he could be if the Guardians trade right-hander Shane Bieber this winter. The 31-year-old Lively returned to the big leagues in 2023 with... Read More
Spencer Steer Could Be Headed For Full-Time Outfield Role
Cincinnati Reds third baseman Spencer Steer could be set up to play the outfield regularly moving forward following the team's acquisition of corner infielder Jeimer Candelario this week. When the Reds traded for Steer in 2022, he brought up the idea of learning the outfield to the team's player development staff because he recognized that... Read More
Giants, Padres Interested In Harrison Bader
The San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres have been active on center fielders this offseason, including Harrison Bader. Korean outfielder Jung-Hoo Lee is also of interest to both the Giants and the Padres, as well as plenty of other teams. The Padres just dealt outfielders Juan Soto and Trent Grisham in a blockbuster deal... Read More
Nick Senzel Heads To Nationals
Free-agent outfielder Nick Senzel signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night. The deal includes $1 million in performance bonuses. Senzel became a free agent when the Cincinnati Reds non-tendered him in November. The 28-year-old second overall pick in 2016 struggled through injuries in his five years with the Reds... Read More
Reds Agree With Jeimer Candelario
The Cincinnati Reds agreed to an undisclosed deal with free-agent infielder Jeimer Candelario on Wednesday night, according to a source. The deal is pending a physical. The Reds were not one of the teams expected to land Candelario, as they already have plenty of third base options at the big-league level in Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Noelvi... Read More