Mariners Close To Acquiring Edwin Encarnacion

The Seattle Mariners are close to acquiring designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion from the Cleveland Indians on Thursday, according to sources. The deal could be a three-team swap also involving the Rays, with first baseman Carlos Santana moving to the Indians. There could be a lot more moving parts to this deal, so stay tuned for […]

Twins Interested In Cody Allen

The Minnesota Twins are interested in free-agent relief pitcher Cody Allen. Allen had 27 saves in his final season with Cleveland, but that was about the end of the good news for his 2018 season. The right-hander had an ugly 4.70 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 10.7 K/9 in 70 outings (67 innings) for the Tribe. […]

Astros Interested In Michael Brantley

The Houston Astros are interested in free-agent outfielder Michael Brantley, according to sources. The team wants to add a left-handed bat, but they are wary of blocking outfield prospect Kyle Tucker in the long term. Tucker doesn't have much left to prove down on the farm, but Brantley will surely land a multi-year deal in […]

Rays Interested In Edwin Encarnacion, Yandy Diaz

The Cleveland Indians are willing to listen to trade offers for designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion and infielder Yandy Diaz. It would be somewhat of a backup plan if they are unwilling to find the right return for either starting pitchers Corey Kluber or Trevor Bauer this winter. The Tampa Bay Rays have asked about both […]

Indians Interested In Alex Verdugo

The Cleveland Indians are interested in Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect Alex Verdugo as part of a trade that would involve starting pitcher Corey Kluber, according to a source. Verdugo is the top prospect and the Indians are in need of outfield bats, which makes these two clubs a pretty good match, as the Dodgers […]

Mike Napoli Retires Saturday

Free-agent first baseman/designated hitter Mike Napoli announced on Twitter on Saturday that he is retiring from baseball. His best season in the big leagues came with the Red Sox in 2011 when he hit .320 with a .631 slugging percentage, 30 home runs and 75 RBI. He'll finish his 12-year career with a .246/.346/.475 slash […]

Michael Brantley Willing To Play 1B

The representatives for free-agent outfielder Michael Brantley are telling teams that he is willing and able to play first base for the first time in his big league career. Teams aren't looking at Brantley as a full-time first baseman, but those that are interested are aware of his versatility. He played 53 games at first […]

Indians Reach Extension With Carlos Carrasco

The Cleveland Indians exercised starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco's $10.25 million option for the 2020 season and signed him to a two-year extension for 2021 and 2022 with a vesting option for the 2023 season, according to sources. Between Carrasco, Corey Kluber and Trevor Bauer, Carrasco has the best chance of sticking with the Tribe this […]

Yan Gomes to Washington - Fantasy Impact

Last week the Cleveland Indians traded All-Star catcher Yan Gomes to the Washington Nationals for a package of prospects. For Cleveland fans, this move was expected, and hopefully not the last deal this offseason for a team in flux. The fantasy implications are clear, with one of the better catchers moving, and toolsy prospects coming […]

Reds Interested In Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer

The Cincinnati Reds are interested in trading for Cleveland Indians ace Corey Kluber or Trevor Bauer, according to sources. However, there hasn't been recent progress on a deal. Cincinnati wants a top pitcher to add this offseason. It's hard to lure top pitchers into a park as hitter-friendly as Great American Ballpark is. Kluber is […]

Mariners on the Rebuild - Fantasy Impact

Over the weekend, the New York Mets and the Seattle Mariners closed a long-gestating agreement to exchange money, pro talent, and young assets. The M’s continued their descent into “Tank City” by unloading slugger Robinson Cano and his $120 million contract along with cheap All-Star closer Edwin Diaz in exchange for less expensive but less […]

2018 Pitching Leaders - ERA

It was an impressive year for ERA in 2018, as MLB's combined 4.14 ERA was the lowest since league pitching recorded a 3.95 ERA in 2015. Just to give you an idea of how much pitching improved this year, all four of the pitchers that will be mentioned in this list finished in the top-10 […]

Mets Discussing Corey Kluber

The New York Mets have spoken to the Cleveland Indians about trading for starting pitcher Corey Kluber, according to sources. Kluber is a perennial Cy Young candidate and has a history with Mets manager Mickey Callaway when Callaway was the pitching coach in Cleveland. While Kluber will be 33 next April, he managed to go […]

Indians Avoid Arbitration With Danny Salazar

The Cleveland Indians avoided salary arbitration with pitcher Danny Salazar on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $4.5 million deal. Salazar was limited to 23 games (19 starts) in 2018 due to injuries and ineffectiveness and had a 4.28 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and career-high 12.7 K/9. With better health, he's expected to be a full-time […]

Nationals Acquire Yan Gomes Friday

The Washington Nationals acquired catcher Yan Gomes from the Indians on Friday in exchange for pitcher Jefry Rodriguez, outfield prospect Daniel Johnson and a player to be named. Gomes, who hit 16 home runs in 2018, will form a duo behind the plate with the recently signed Kurt Suzuki. Even though Gomes will be splitting […]

Nationals In Discussions For Yan Gomes

The Washington Nationals are in serious discussions about a trade for Cleveland Indians catcher Yan Gomes, according to sources. The Nats signed Kurt Suzuki already this offseason, but they'd like to pair another backstop with him in 2019. Gomes is coming off a 2018 season in which he batted .266/.313/.449 with 16 home runs and […]

Indians In Extension Talks With Carlos Carrasco

The Cleveland Indians are in contract extension talks with starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco, according to sources. He is signed at $9.75 million in 2019 with a $10.25 million team option for 2020. Carrasco, along with Corey Kluber and Trevor Bauer, is on the trade market this winter, but he seems to be the likeliest of […]

Mets Likely To Pursue Trade For Yan Gomes

The New York Mets are optimistic that they have the prospect depth and payroll flexibility to pursue a trade for Cleveland Indians catcher Yan Gomes even if their proposed deal for Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano and closer Edwin Diaz is completed, according to a source. The Mets are expected to non-tender catcher Travis D'Arnaud, […]

Dodgers Discussing Trade For Corey Kluber

The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to discuss a trade for Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber, according to sources. One possibility involves the Dodgers sending outfielder Yasiel Puig to Cleveland in addition to at least one other significant player. LA would likely be willing to move left-hander Alex Wood and right-handed prospect Yadier Alvarez. The […]

What To Do With Bryce Harper in Dynasty?

At some point in the last year, Bryce Harper went from perennial first-rounder to being described as an “overvalued” and “losing player.” He was recently voted as “the most overrated player in the game.” The perception is a predictable outcome for a player who was hailed as baseball’s new phenom when he was still in […]

RotoBaller Early Mock Draft Analysis (Rounds 1-2)

I know what you are probably thinking as you click this link, who is doing fantasy baseball drafts in October and November?! Well, the answer to that is 10 Rotoballer Fantasy Baseball enthusiasts who are already longing for the long hot days of summer and the return of everyday baseball. This is the first of […]

Phillies Interested In Andrew Miller

The Philadelphia Phillies are interested in free-agent relief pitcher Andrew Miller, according to two sources. The Phillies are basically connected with any attractive free agent this offseason and have plenty of money to spend. Miller had a down year due to injuries in 2018, but he is one of the most dominant lefty relievers in […]

Indians More Likely To Trade Trevor Bauer?

Teams talking to the Cleveland Indians say that they are much more inclined to trade starting pitcher Trevor Bauer than Corey Kluber or Carlos Carrasco. Bauer has two years of club control left but is the only one of the three with cost uncertainty moving forward. Bauer has two arbitration years left before he's a […]

Braves Officially Agree With Josh Donaldson

The Atlanta Braves agreed to a one-year, $23 million deal with free-agent third baseman Josh Donaldson on Monday, according to sources. The deal is pending a physical. Donaldson will hope to bounce back in 2019 after missing most of the 2018 season due to lingering calf issues. Before this year, Donaldson had at least 33 […]

Pirates Sign Lonnie Chisenhall

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed free-agent outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall to a one-year, $2.75 million deal on Monday, according to a source. Chisenhall played just 29 games in 2018 and 82 games in 2017 for the Tribe due to injuries, but he's been solid for fantasy owners when healthy. He hit .321/.394/.452 with a homer and nine […]

Braves Close To Signing Josh Donaldson

The Atlanta Braves are showing strong interest in free-agent third baseman Josh Donaldson and are close to finalizing a one-year deal with him, according to a source. The young and rising Braves team is going for it and hoping that Donaldson can stay healthy in 2019. If they do indeed sign him, it'd be bad […]

Eugenio Suarez: Fantasy Baseball Year-in-Review

In life, it’s important to take your victories where you can find them. Though 2018 wound up being a largely forgettable season for yours truly, the ascension of Eugenio Suarez is a feather in the ol’ cap. Suarez entered 2018 coming off the best performance of his career, having set career highs in home runs […]

James Paxton to The Yankees - Fantasy Impact

The first major move of the 2018 MLB offseason was made on Monday night, as the Seattle Mariners sent James Paxton to the New York Yankees for Justus Sheffield, Erik Swanson, and Dom Thompson-Williams. By trading Paxton, the Mariners got a top-50 prospect in the lefty Sheffield, a controllable arm in the righty Swanson, and an […]

2018 Pitching Leaders: Hard Hit Rate

What's up all you fellow sad Fantasy Baseball fans? Now that the 2018 MLB season is behind us, and we were blessed to witness the greatest baseball team to ever play on a diamond (yes I am a Sox, fight me), we are left to reflect on an incredible season with some incredible players. For […]

Passing the Buc - Former Pirates Prospects to Watch

The offseason hot stove is well underway, and major deals are already happening. Now, take “major” with a grain of salt, because if this is the best that baseball fans get, it will be a long winter. And yet, under the hood, the first few moves have fantasy implications that can affect early drafts, or […]