Traditionally, fantasy talent is evenly distributed between the keystone and shortstop positions, but shortstop looks considerably stronger heading into 2019. As such, you should probably plan to draft at least two SS-eligible players to cover your SS and MI slots.That said, you still need at least one second baseman to fill out your roster. Rougned Odor's power/speed combo may make him look like a strong option, but his peripherals suggest that he'll be average or worse in every 5X5 category. Y[...]

Somewhere Dallas Keuchel is looking at Nathan Eovaldis four-year contract for $67.5 million and is wondering how he remains unsigned. He might be having similar thoughts about Patrick Corbins six-year, $140 million contract, but at least Corbin will be 29 to start the season and is coming off a Cy Young-caliber season. By contrast, Keuchel has four times as many innings as Eovaldi in the last three seasons and a [...]

[...]

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray allowed just one hit with two walks and two strikeouts over 1 1/3 innings in his Cactus League spring debut against the Cleveland Indians on Sunday. Ray saw a decline in velocity and effectiveness last season, and he struggled to go very deep into games. He missed a good chunk of the season due to a strained oblique, and it took time for him to get back up to speed. Ray is penciled in as the No. 2 starter for the Snakes, and therefore he shouldn'[...]

Fantasy experts are placing a bigger emphasis on drafting elite starters early this year. It is apparent this strategy is making its way across the fantasy community, as the high-end starters are being valued higher than before. In points leagues, this is a wise methodology, as an ace can serve as the backbone of a fantasy team. Seven different SPs tallied over 600 points in standard formats, whereas only six hitters reached that mark. Even Mike Trout failed to reach that level of production tha[...]

[...]

We continue our fantasy baseball tiered rankings analysis with the second base position. The sun is still rising on 2019, but RotoBaller writers JB Branson, Pierre Camus, Chris Zolli and myself are here with our initial pre-draft rankings to give you a sense of player values as early as possible. As the offseason progresses, these rankings are sure to change quite a bit over the coming weeks. [...]

The Arizona Diamondbacks avoided salary arbitration with starting pitcher Robbie Ray on Friday by signing him to a one-year, $6.05 million deal. Rumored to be on the trade block this offseason, the D-backs ultimately would like to hang onto the talented southpaw. Ray went 6-2 in 2018 with a 3.93 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 165 strikeouts in 123 2/3 frames over 24 starts. He had back-to-back 200-plus K seasons in 2016 and 2017 and is a top-35 fantasy starter going into 2019.

[...]

Teams that have checked in on Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray say that he is not available for a trade. The assumption was that Ray would be easier to deal than Zack Greinke, who has almost $100 million left over three years and a partial no-trade clause, but Ray is a dominant left with several more years of club control. They'll also need him even more after losing Patrick Corbin in free agency. Ray wasn't as good in 2018 as he was in 2017, but he remains a left-hander on the r[...]