These fantasy baseball news/notes will keep you informed in the rapidly changing world of Major League Baseball. Your draft day could be approaching quickly and these news and notes will help guide you to the best decisions possible in order to win your league. Join with me as we run down the very latest in the world of baseball, won’t you?

Fantasy Baseball News One: Mike Trout May Miss All of the 2020 Season

I have long held the position that the Angel’s Mike Trout has been the safest of the number one overall picks in ALL of the fantasy sports. He has played eight major league seasons and his place as the best player in baseball is secure. In those years he has won the A.L. MVP three times, finished second four times, and finished fourth once. Do you know how many other players in history can claim that? I will make it easy as the answer is none. His career is off to a start that no one else can match. And he is the defending MVP winner coming off a .295-45-104 season in which he lead the league in OBP, slugging and OPS.

That is all well and good, but this season looks to be different as multiple outlets are reporting that Trout may not play in 2020. His wife, Jessica, is pregnant and expecting in August. It is a very real possibility that at the very least, Trout will miss games when the baby is born. That is wonderful news for the Trouts, but terrible news for fantasy. I know of what I’m talking about as I have already taken Trout first overall in a draft. Until this is resolved one way or another, Trout is officially no longer even a first-round draft pick.

Fantasy Baseball News Two: Shohei Ohtani is Ready to Pitch

Staying in Anaheim, the news for the Angels isn’t all bad. Pitcher/DH Shohei Ohtani is reportedly ready to take the mound when the season opens. With that announcement, Ohtani should be shooting up draft boards. He can take up a single roster spot and hit for your team (.286-18-62 last season) and pitch (3.31 ERA in 2018). He truly is a unique player that can help a team in more ways than anyone else. This is definitely a fantasy baseball news/notes you can use. Trust me grasshopper, I know of what I speak. Go get him!

Fantasy Baseball News Three: David Price will not Pitch in 2020

Just up the freeway from the Angels, the news isn’t quite as good for the Los Angeles Dodgers. News broke over the weekend that pitcher David Price has opted not to play this season. Price was expected to be the Dodgers’ number three starter in the deal made with Boston that included Mookie Betts. True, he didn’t turn in a good season for the Red Sox, but he was expected to be fully healthy and back to pitching like the Price of old. Slam on the brakes on that idea and completely jettison him if you are unfortunate even to have already drafted him.

Fantasy Baseball News Four: Freddie Freeman has the Virus

One of the unfortunate fantasy baseball news/notes from the weekend was the announcement that Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman was among four Braves players to have a positive coronavirus test. There is no question that Freeman is the biggest named baseball player to have a confirmed positive test. He is coming off a huge season in which he hit .295-38-121 with 113 runs scored. He hits in the middle of what looks to be a formidable Braves lineup. Now, he must be monitored closely to confirm his health before his place in a fantasy draft can be accurately determined.

Fantasy Baseball News Five: Masahiro Tanaka Hit in the Head During Batting Practice

Live batting practice is usually a place of having fun while also preparing for the baseball season. That was certainly shattered in the very first New York Yankees summer workout. Pitcher Masahiro Tanaka was hit in the head by a line drive off the bat of teammate Giancarlo Stanton on Saturday. He lay motionless on the mound until he was helped off the field. He was taken to a hospital for further tests. Until those tests are known and he shows no ill effects on the field, it is best to avoid Tanaka in a draft. At this point, we just hope that he is all right.

Thanks for joining me for this look into fantasy baseball news/notes. We will be updating information on fantasy sports as we become aware of it. Follow me on twitter @kevin62wilsea, and make sure to turn to Belly Up Sports and Belly Up Fantasy Sports and Picks for all the latest baseball and sports news!