Max Petrie's 10 Bold Predictions for 2016

Welcome to round two of our Bold Predictions segment. If anyone asks, Kyle bullied me into doing this. But in all seriousness, the best hitter on a team bats second, so I'm honored to be included. In this edition I'll be highlighting the hitters and pitchers I believe have the best chance to make crazy... Read More

2016 Fantasy Baseball Tiered First Base Rankings (March)

Many fantasy baseball drafts have already been held, and there are more on the way. I finally have a drafted team to look over every single day and check for injuries (so far, so good), so all is right in the world. But for those of you who have yet to draft, we've got the rankings and... Read More

2016 Fantasy Baseball Tiered Catcher Rankings (March)

Welcome to our final round of rankings. We've been guiding you throughout the offseason and it's all culminated to this. These rankings will be your guide in fantasy drafts, and while they shouldn't be seen as an end-all, be-all assessment, it's wise to have an understanding of where the market values the players you seek.... Read More

Industry Mock Draft Reactions: Reaches of the Draft

Now we find ourselves with the final question to be answered regarding the industry mock draft that we hosted last Thursday. Now we’re looking at those go-go-gadget picks, asking everyone who they thought the reach of the draft was. As is tradition, I’ll be following everyone’s thoughts with a brief commentary of my own because... Read More

2016 Outfield Prospects and Dynasty Rankings

This is an outfield prospects omnibus, a one stop clearinghouse for all of the profiles I created in the last month. With this post finished, I'll have just enough time to whip through starting pitching before we're too deep into dynasty draft season. You can also read about catchers, first base, second base, shortstop, and third base. Mostly,... Read More

Industry Mock Draft Reactions: Most Regrettable Pick?

Back again with more insight into the industry mock draft that took place last Thursday. This time we’re looking at the picks that each of us wished we could give the ol’ Men in Black memory wipe to everyone else. Again, I’ll be following everyone’s thoughts with a brief commentary of my own because it’s... Read More

RotoBaller Rankings vs. ADP: Undervalued Second Basemen

If you’re a regular reader of RotoBaller (and how could someone as smart, funny, and handsome as you not be?), you’ve doubtless already checked out our staff rankings. We'll be releasing our final update on those next week. With draft season ramping up now, though, it seems like a good time to check our expert opinions... Read More

Saves & Holds: AL Central Bullpen Depth Chart

With the 2016 fantasy baseball season approaching, bullpen depth charts can be tricky to decipher when entering your fantasy drafts. Projections of who will be vital to their respective team and to your fantasy team will be analyzed over the course of the next two months. Below I've identified the projected AL Central closers, setup men, and... Read More

2016 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values: 5 RP Sleepers

Non-closing relievers, with some exceptions, have limited value in most fantasy formats. As a result, they are often overlooked by many owners. However, a quality set-up man can help your ratios, boost your strikeout totals, and even vulture a few wins or saves. If your league counts holds, all the better. That's without acknowledging the... Read More

Net Steals Leagues: Five Fantasy Baseball Busts and Avoids

I played in a net steals league a couple years back. It did not go well. In preparation for the auction draft, I foolishly assumed I could rely on standard steals projections. My plan for this particular auction was to sport a balanced attack, targeting guys with cross-category upside instead of chasing players with one major... Read More

Five Hitters to Target in OBP Leagues

Not all leagues are created equal. What I mean is not all leagues abide by the same standards. Some owners have stuck by the traditional 5X5 roto leagues, while others have transitioned to 6X6 leagues with such exotic categories as OBP, K/9 and SLG. I’m not here to say which format is best, (though I... Read More

2016 Outfield Prospects and Dynasty Rankings - AL Central Edition

Our division-by-division run down of outfield prospects continues. We've already hit the NL East  and AL East (also catchers, first base, second base, shortstop, and third base). Let's move inland to the AL Central. I've tabbed 29 players to roster or track. If you're looking to load up on future talent, this is a good place to start. Beyond... Read More

Early Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft: The Fourth Round Pitching Run

The lineup (in draft order): Jacob Bogardus, Brad Johnson, Alex Brock, Harris Yudin, Max Petrie, Josh Leonard, Ross Williamson, Andrew Miller (from The Fantasy Fix), Nick Mariano (myself), Tom Bellucco, Brian Dunshee (also from The Fantasy Fix), and Edward Suletan. We put together a traditional 5x5 redraft 23 round mock with 2 catchers, a corner... Read More

Cleveland Indians Top MLB Prospects for 2016 Dynasty Leagues

If the Cleveland Indians were playing in any other division, you could consider it a lock for them to win. They have a great, young rotation that possesses a lot of elite strikeout stuff. They also have youngsters like Francisco Lindor and Michael Brantley helping to carry their lineup with other veterans like Jason Kipnis... Read More

Mike Napoli (1B, CLE) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

TARGET: ~260 CURRENT ADP: 442 ANALYSIS: Location, location, location. The old real estate adage absolutely applies to sports, and one of the main beneficiaries of a change of scenery will be Mike Napoli. Napoli signed a one-year deal with the Cleveland Indians and was told he will spend the majority of his time as the everyday first basemen, per... Read More

2016 Second Basemen Keeper Values: The Other Guys

The Keeper Valuation Formula uses the players’ age, draft round, number of teams in the league, current stats, projected stats, games played percentage, positional value, and some secret squirrel statistical math. The product is a TRUE Keeper Value for each player. These players did not make it into my Top Five Second Basemen Keeper Values, but... Read More

Frazier Could Be Traded To Indians, White Sox, Royals Or Dodgers

The Indians, White Sox, Royals, and Dodgers are all interested in a possible trade for Cincinnati Reds third baseman Todd Frazier, according to USA Today. It seems very likely that Frazier will likely be gone before the 2016 season begins. The two-time All-Star third baseman is quietly becoming one of the biggest trade pieces this... Read More

Frazier Could Be Going To Cleveland

Todd Frazier may very well not be with the Cincinnati Reds by the end of the Winter Meetings, according to USA Today. All of the bigger names in Cincy have been rumored to be traded away at some point this off-season. The All-Star third baseman’s name has come up multiple times. The Cleveland Indians might... Read More

Breakout Starting Pitchers and What It Means for 2016: Arrieta, Martinez, and Thor

Welcome to our last segment of Breakout/Busts. We've covered the field, now we head to the pitching mound. Pitching is where most fantasy seasons are won and lost. The problem is players read that and assume "OK, let's draft some aces in the first six rounds". But it doesn't work like that. Unless you're grabbing Clayton... Read More

Indians, Tigers, Padres Want Reliever Tommy Hunter

Despite a bad season, Tommy Hunter is being sought after by the Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, San Diego Padres and possibly a few other teams, according to CSNMidAtlantic.com. There’s always a shortage of pitching in MLB and these franchises are showing interest in the right-hander after his bad season. Hunter posted a 4.18 ERA in... Read More

2015 In Review: Super Shortstops

The results of the Rookie of the Year ballot were announced this week and in the American League, it was a predictably tight race between a pair of precocious shortstops. The Astros’ Carlos Correa took home the hardware by a narrow margin over the Indians’ Francisco Lindor. Apart from their position and tender ages, Correa... Read More

Three Third-Year Starting Pitcher Breakouts

As much attention as has been heaped upon the stellar rookie class of 2015 (something I’m guilty of myself), there were plenty of breakout seasons from other young players. Today, we’ll take a look at a trio of third-year starting pitchers who made the leap: Chris Archer, Gerrit Cole, and Danny Salazar. The first overall... Read More

Brantley Undergoes Shoulder Surgery: Out Till May

Michael Brantley will be sidelined between five and six months after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder Monday morning. The Cleveland Indians outfielder will likely miss all of Spring Training and potentially the first month of the 2016 season after he suffered a slight labrum tear when diving for a ball in September. This isn’t... Read More

Indians 'Have Some Interest' In Ozuna

The Cleveland Indians “have some interest” in Marcell Ozuna. The Tribe need some help at centerfielder, and Ozuna could be the help they’re looking for, according to CBS Sports. Marlins general manager Michael Hill has said the club intends to keep Ozuna, but the outfielder might not want to be in Miami for the 2016,... Read More

Future Tense: The Arizona Fall League, Part VI: Scottsdale Scorpions

The Boston Red Sox. The Cleveland Indians. The Detroit Tigers. The Minnesota Twins. The San Francisco Giants. What do they have in common? Two things: one, they all missed out on the playoffs this year, and they are the teams that seed the Scottsdale Scorpions. The roster has some interesting names to check out, and this... Read More

Brantley (Shoulder) Likely Done For The Season

The Cleveland Indians could shut Michael Brantley down for the rest of season as he continues to deal with a nagging shoulder issue. The outfielder’s absence for the final handful of games is bad news for fantasy owners competing in their championship matchup without the former All-Star in the lineup. The Indians are now mathematically... Read More

Champ or Chump: Lindor, David Wright and Scherzer

By now, most 2015 fantasy leagues have already been decided. In an all season roto league, someone probably has a big enough lead in enough categories that the last week doesn't matter. H2H formats are winding down their playoffs, if they haven't already finished. You've set your last lineup in any weekly format, and any... Read More

Week 26 Start/Sit: MLB Starting Pitcher (SP) Matchups

What’s up RotoBallers. Welcome to the final week of this column, as we approach the home stretch of the fantasy baseball season. Thank you all for RotoBalling with us all season long, and I hope that this column (along with the rest of our MLB content) has helped you win some leagues. Now let's get... Read More

Brantley (Shoulder) Sits Wednesday: Could Return By Thursday

Michael Brantley is day-to-day as he tries to recover from an ailing right shoulder that has bothered him for quite some time. The shoulder injury flared when the Cleveland Indians outfielder was removed from Tuesday’s game after he dove for a fly ball. Brantley missed Wednesday’s game against the Minnesota Twins but the injury didn’t... Read More

Cut List: Players to Consider Cutting in Fantasy Baseball (Week 25)

It's the fantasy baseball playoffs, baby, and the RotoBaller Cutlist is here to help guide you through the season's toughest decisions. It's time to make gut wrenching roster moves and seize the championship. Unfortunately, luck is incredibly necessary to win your league. For example, multiple home runs from Khris Davis could be useful. Smart moves... Read More