Opinion

The Atlanta Braves have made it clear they are rebuilding this season, and they have also made it clear that during that rebuild, Julio Teheran will need to be the team’s ace.

FORT MYERS, Fla. — It's Yoan Moncada's turn.

After 90 minutes of fielding drills, the prospect one major league scout labeled "the closest thing to [Mike] Trout I've seen," per Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan, finally gets to take batting practice.

A player can turn out to be a bust for a number of different reasons when it comes to fantasy baseball, and it's all about trying to identify and avoid those busts on draft day.

Regression is the most obvious reason for a player to bust, as banking on a player matching the previous year's production is not always a sound strategy.

Stats like batting average on balls in play (BABIP) and fielder independent pitching (FIP) serve as useful tools in predicting regression in batting average and ERA, while a player's track record also has to be taken into account.

One of the most exciting parts of spring training is that fans get a chance to see some of their favorite team's top prospects.

Reading about a player's impressive tools and big-time potential is great, but seeing them in action alongside established big leaguers gives an entirely difference perspective.

For contending teams, these prospects could provide reinforcement down the stretch as a team looks to make a playoff push. For rebuilding clubs, they represent hope for the future.

TAMPA, Fla. — Pass the sunscreen, it's getting hot here amid the palm trees...

1. The "Rebuild" Begins in New York

Not only is it the most mind-warping number of the winter, but guaranteed you will not find a statistic this summer that trumps it (sorry, meant that apolitically), either.

The Yankees spent zero dollars in free agency.

Nada. Nothing.

There’s a debate that’s raging in my head when it comes to the Blue Jays' otherworldly offensive output in 2015.

I can’t decide which was more shocking: that the Blue Jays dominated baseball in nearly every offensive category, or that, after being traded to Toronto, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki had nothing to do with it.

If all the prospect reports and estimated times of arrival had been right, we wouldn't be asking whether Taijuan Walker can step up to be a legitimate "2" to Felix Hernandez's "1" atop the Seattle Mariners starting rotation.

In 2016, baseball fans can still think about Giancarlo Stanton the way basketball fans thought about Stephen Curry circa 2012: With talent like that, just imagine what he might do with good health.

Basketball fans have certainly gotten their answer. But as for us baseball folk, Stanton's if-healthy potential is still a topic for the imagination.

The entire National League Central has a vested rooting interest in the Cardinals' misfortune.

It’s hard to blame it.

What has four legs, six rings and the undying affection of the City by the Bay?

That'd be the San Francisco Giants' Madison Bumgarner and Buster Posey, hands down the best battery in baseball and, in fact, the best pitcher/catcher pairing the sport has seen in decades.