Can Yoshinobu Yamamoto Continue His Dominance in the MLB?

In a normal offseason, signing a player to a 12-year $325 million deal would be a team's biggest acquisition, but with Shohei Ohtani signing with the Dodgers for $700 million, it has been anything but a normal offseason. With the addition of Ohtani, the Dodgers fortified their lineup but were still in need of some […]

Robert Suarez The Projected Closer In 2024

San Diego Padres right-handed reliever Robert Suarez is the team's projected closer in 2024 with Josh Hader and Nick Martinez leaving via free agency. Suarez will automatically have more fantasy appeal in a closing role, but he didn't help his stock much during a 2023 campaign that saw him deal with injury and ineffectiveness while […]

Padres Prefer To Keep Fernando Tatis Jr. In Right Field

The San Diego Padres would like to keep outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr.'s Platinum Glove in right field in 2024, but they haven't ruled out the possibility of moving him over to center field after trading both Juan Soto and Trent Grisham to the New York Yankees this offseason. Most of the potential outfield trade candidates […]

Manny Machado May Not Play Defense Until Late March

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (elbow) is recovering from right-elbow extensor tendon repair surgery in early October and might not be ready to play defense by late March. It means that Machado might have to serve as the team's primary designated hitter to open the 2024 regular season. If that's the case, Gold […]

Luis Campusano To Take Over As Primary Catcher

San Diego Padres catcher Luis Campusano is poised to take over as the team's primary catcher in 2024. However, the 25-year-old backstop needs to stay healthy after being limited to 49 games in 2023. Campusano had an .847 OPS in his 49 games. No other Padres catcher has had an .800 OPS over at least […]

Rangers, Yankees, Dodgers Interested In Josh Hader

The Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Yankees are among the clubs interested in free agent reliever Josh Hader. However, it was reported that all three clubs prefer to ink a starting pitcher prior to signing a reliever. Hader is looking to exceed the five-year, $102 million contract fellow reliever Edwin Diaz signed […]

Unclear If Mets Going After Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery

After missing out on Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, it's uncertain if the New York Mets will pursue top remaining free-agent starters Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery, who are also drawing interest from the Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox and others. The Mets have been linked more to the next […]

Tim Hill, White Sox Agree On One-Year Deal

Free-agent left-handed reliever Tim Hill and the Chicago White Sox agreed to a one-year, $1.8 million deal on Thursday, according to sources. Hill, 33, became a free agent when he was non-tendered by the San Diego Padres this winter. He'll join a White Sox bullpen where he should see plenty of innings and high-leverage opportunities, […]

Yuki Matsui, Padres Agree On Four-Year Deal

Japanese free-agent left-handed reliever Yuki Matsui and the San Diego Padres agreed in principle on a four-year, $21 million deal on Wednesday. With All-Star left-handed closer Josh Hader set to leave the Padres in free agency this winter, Matsui could be tabbed as San Diego's primary closer in 2024 in his very first year in […]

Angels "Have Had Recent Dialogue" With Blake Snell

The Los Angeles Angeles "have had recent dialogue" with free-agent starting pitcher Blake Snell, per MLB Network's Jon Morosi. It is expected that the 2022 National League Cy Young winner will wait for Yoshinobu Yamamoto to sign before making his own free-agent decision. However, the Angels are not expected to be involved in the Yamamoto […]

Yuki Matsui Close To Signing With Padres

Free-agent left-handed reliever Yuki Matsui is close to signing a deal with the San Diego Padres on Tuesday, according to a source. The 28-year-old Japanese hurler became available to MLB clubs this offseason when he exercised his international free-agent rights. Matsui has been a standout closer for the Rakuten Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball for […]

MLB Rumors: Landing Spots for Blake Snell and 2024 Fantasy Baseball Outlook

Blake Snell posted an MLB-best 2.25 ERA, .181 OBA, and H/9 of 5.8 in 2023 on the way to his second Cy Young award and an All-MLB Team selection. He also ranked sixth in K with 234 and second in K/9 at 11.7. All of this makes him one of the most coveted offseason free […]

Tommy Nance Signs Minors Deal With Padres

The San Diego Padres have signed right-handed pitcher Tommy Nance to a minor-league deal that includes an invite to big-league spring training. The 32-year-old didn't appear in the big leagues in the 2023 season due to a shoulder injury and last appeared with the Marlins in the 2022 season, working to a 4.33 ERA across […]

Braves Release Matt Carpenter

The Atlanta Braves have released designated hitter Matt Carpenter. The veteran was acquired last week in a trade with the San Diego Padres but his inclusion in the deal was attached to his $5.5 million contract for the 2024 season that the Padres wanted to get off their books while the Braves were able to […]

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 […]

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 […]

Matt Carpenter, Ryan Kerr Headed To Braves

Designated hitter Matt Carpenter is going from the San Diego Padres to the Atlanta Braves in a three-player swap. The Braves also acquired relief pitcher Ray Kerr. Carpenter, 38, resurrected his career in 2022 with the New York Yankees, though he couldn't replicate that success for the Padres last season. Atlanta will hope to get […]

Michael Wacha Joins Royals On Two-Year Deal

Free-agent right-hander Michael Wacha and the Kansas City Royals agreed to a two-year, $32 million deal on Friday. The deal includes an opt-out clause after the first year. Wacha landed on the open market when he declined a $6.5 million player option for 2024 with the San Diego Padres after a bounce-back year in 2023 […]

Will Juan Soto's New Scenery Boost Power Numbers? Fantasy Baseball Outlook

Last season, the Yankees struggled to get on base (.304 OBP, 27th out of 30) and score runs (4.15 runs/game, 25th out of 30), but with some new additions and healthy veterans, the Yankees already look like a much better offensive team than the 2023 iteration. A look at a potential 2024 Yankees lineup featuring […]

Dodgers Reportedly Targeting Josh Hader

Despite recently making a massive signing of two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (elbow), the Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly targeting top free-agent closer Josh Hader, per Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci. The salary deferrals in Ohtani's contract may allow the Dodgers to bring in one or several top-tier additional players. Hader had an excellent bounce-back 2023 season […]

Mets To Pursue Blake Snell If Yoshinobu Yamamoto Signs Elsewhere

The New York Mets will reportedly target free-agent starting pitcher Blake Snell if they do not end up signing Yoshinobu Yamamoto this offseason. While Yamamoto is the team's top pitching target, his high intrigue and potentially hefty deal could result in the Mets not landing him. Snell is the reigning National League Cy Young winner […]

Seth Lugo Goes To Royals On Three-Year Deal

Free-agent right-hander Seth Lugo agreed with the Kansas City Royals on a three-year deal worth $45 million on Tuesday. The third year of Lugo's deal with Kansas City will be a $15 million player option. The 34-year-old veteran cashed in on what will likely be the final big free-agent deal of his career after excelling […]

Shohei Ohtani Signs with the Los Angeles Dodgers: Fantasy Baseball Reaction

As we entered the offseason, Mike Trout held the record for the biggest contract in MLB history at $426 million. Not anymore. After announcing the signing on his Instagram following a media circus the prior few days with rampart rumors and report, Shohei Ohtani is heading to the Los Angeles Angels, signing a 10-year contract […]

Michael Wacha, Jack Flaherty Being Eyed By Royals

The Kansas City Royals are casting a wide net in search of starting pitching this offseason and have shown interest in right-handers Michael Wacha and Jack Flaherty. The two veterans aren't the only starters linked to the club as Marcus Stroman, Lucas Giolito, and Seth Lugo have also reportedly been on the club's radar. Wacha […]

Winter Meetings Recap - Fantasy Baseball Fallout

The MLB Winter Meetings are an exciting time. Fans can dream of their teams making a move that will see them becoming contenders. Some teams just use it to begin a phase of rebuilding. Regardless of each team's needs, there's usually no shortage of transactions that will impact players' fantasy outlook for the following season. […]

Fantasy Baseball Trade Impacts for Jarred Kelenic, Alex Verdugo, Michael King, and Tyler O'Neill

Since the MLB's Winter Meetings kicked off this past Monday, we've seen a handful of deals take place. To this point, the biggest blockbuster saw Juan Soto headed to the Bronx, with more deals yet to come. While maybe not as splashy as the Soto deal, a few other notable players have moved to new […]

Juan Soto Traded To Yankees - Fantasy Baseball Impacts for All Players Involved

On Tuesday, the New York Yankees threw some kindling into the proverbial "hot stove" by trading for Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo. On Wednesday, they threw a giant log doused in lighter fluid into that stove when they traded for San Diego Padres star outfielder, Juan Soto. Soto was one of a few big names […]

Red Sox Interested In Ha-Seong Kim?

Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said the team is currently engaged in conversations for a second baseman in free agency and the trade market, but it seems "more likely that would be a trade pursuit." Boston prefers a strong defensive second baseman, which makes Ha-Seong Kim, Whit Merrifield and Brandon Drury more […]

Yankees Haven't Had Extension Talks With Juan Soto

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that the team hasn't had any conversations with recently acquired outfielder Juan Soto about a long-term contract extension. Cashman and the Yankees understand that Soto could only be a short-term acquisition, but even so, the left-handed slugger will make the Bombers much better offensively in 2024. The […]

Jung Hoo Lee High On Padres' Wish List

Korean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee is said to be high on the San Diego Padres' offseason wish list, according to a source that says a deal could come together quickly now that Juan Soto's $30 million-plus contract is off the books. The Padres traded Soto to the New York Yankees on Wednesday night in a […]