2024 Season Officially Opens January 15th

The official start of the 2024 Roger Dorn Baseball Season will start on January 15th, the 11th Season in League History.

The 2024 Season will mark the first for the San Mateo Oppo Tacos, the newest Franchise in the Roger Dorn Baseball League. The Oppo Tacos take over for the Idaho Taters following the retirement of Mike Friedrich at the conclusion of the 2023 Season.

The Lake Merced Goutfish, fresh off their second RDBL Championship in three seasons, will enter 2024 trying to become the first back to back Champion while also looking to become the first Franchise to win three League Titles.

Plenty of star power looks set to join RDBL Active Rosters on Opening Day with the likes of Jackson Holliday, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Grayson Rodriguez, Elly De La Cruz, Bobby Miller, Jordan Walker, Evan Carter and Noelvi Marte as just some of the names in line for activations.

All of the 2024 Draft coverage can be found in the Draft Room with links to State of the Franchise, Mock Drafts, position by position Prospect Rankings and much more.

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2024 Draft Day: The 11th RDBL Draft is set for Tuesday, March 26th at 11:00am with the option to join us in-person in Concord.

Keeper Deadline: The 2024 Keeper Deadline will be Tuesday, 3/19 at 9pm PST. The official start of the MLB Season will be on March 20th as the Dodgers and Padres face off in South Korea. Players added in the Auction Draft will receive the statistics from those two games.

Rule Changes: After careful consideration, the RDBL will not be making any rule changes for the 2024 Season.

Trading Window: While trades can be discussed now, all transactions will not be announced until January 15th. Trading will remain open until one week prior to the Draft on March 19th.

2024 Reserve Draft: The Meinert Hops own the top overall pick for the first time in Franchise History with Tigers third baseman Colt Keith currently projected as the #1 selection.

State of the Franchise: Maltese Falcons

The Maltese Falcons embark on their first season without Assistant GM Erik Nielsen since 2017 as President of Baseball Operations Gary Falzon takes back the full reign of the club. The Falcons are coming off their worst season in Franchise History, finishing in 13th Place while missing the Playoffs/Cash Finish for just the third time in ten seasons.

The club released new branding this off-season which will be coupled by a talented young roster that should have the Falcons right back in the mix in 2024.

Franchise History Page

President of Baseball Operations: Gary Falzon

Headquarters: Belmont, CA

Seasons: 10

Cash Finishes: 7 (Tied for RDBL Record)

Division Titles: 4

Lifetime Earnings: $2,215

Top Hitter: Paul Goldschmidt, (2017)

Top Pitcher: Max Scherzer, 633.0 Points (2018)

2023 Season

Usually risk averse, the Falcons committed a combined $72 to oft-injured assets Carlos Rodon and Starling Marte which sunk an otherwise talented group while also getting little production from hitters Jose Miranda, Michael Massey and Joey Bart. Nestor Cortes turning back into a pumpkin was the final straw for Falzon and Nielsen to turn the page to next season.

With the writing on the wall, the Falcons Front Office became sellers for the first time in Franchise History. The overhaul looks promising as the Falcons have as many as nine players on 1R or 2R deals with one of the biggest cap space situations in the RDBL entering 2024.

Lost to 2024 Free Agency

LHP Robbie Ray

Current Projected Keeper Roster Ranked by Value

1. RHP Eury Perez (1R/$1)

2. 1B Triston Casas (1R/$1)

3. 2B Ozzie Albies (2/$27)

4. OF Ian Happ (3/$13)

5. IF Isaac Paredes (2/$1)

6. OF Riley Greene (2R/$3)

7. IF Royce Lewis (1R/$1)

8. 2B Edouard Julien (1R/$1)

9. 1B Vinnie Pasquantino (2R/$3)

10. RHP Seth Lugo (2FA/$5)

11. OF Sal Frelick (1R/$1)

12. OF Luis Matos (1R/$1)

13. C Austin Wells (1R/$1)

With nine players on 1R or 2R deals, six selections in the first first two rounds of the Reserve Draft and boat loads of cap space, Falzon has a bevy of options to improve his club before Opening Day. The rotation is off to a solid start with elite activation Eury Perez ready to grab the top spot while Seth Lugo, awarded a $45M deal from the Royals, a good bet to return on his 2FA/$5 deal.

There's plenty to like on offense as well with the trio of Edouard Julien, Royce Lewis and Riley Greene each possessing 400+ point upside for 2024.

Farm System

1. RHP Eury Perez (Marlins)

2. 1B Triston Casas (Red Sox)

3. IF Royce Lewis (Twins)

4. OF James Wood (Nationals)

5. 2B Edouard Julien (Twins)

6. 3B Coby Mayo (Orioles)

7. OF Sal Frelick (Brewers)

8. OF Druw Jones (D'Backs)

9. OF Luis Matos (Giants)

10. C Austin Wells (Yankees)

Next Best: OF Josue De Paula (LAD), OF Zac Veen (COL), RHP Daniel Espino (CLE)

The Falcons have one of the most balanced Farm Systems in the RDBL, with elite activations for 2024 hardly set to cripple the group with James Wood and Coby Mayo right behind them and on track for 2025. The foursome of Eury Perez, Triston Casas, Royce Lewis and Edouard Julien represent a potential 1,600 point addition to the Falcons roster for just $4 combined next season.

Dodgers slugger Josue De Paula is a name to watch as he continues to rise as one of baseball's best outfield prospects.

The Falcons have six of the first 28 picks in the RDBL Reserve Draft, giving Falzon plenty of ammo to replenish their depth with as seven prospects set for Opening Day jobs.

Off-Season Questions

Trust in their Farm System?

The Falcons have seven prospects who have made a case for an Opening Day activation. Just how many GM Gary Falzon trusts to occupy a coveted spot in the Active Roster is another story with the club potentially open to parting with an activation-ready talent to bring in some more proven talent for 2024.

$200 in Cap Space - where does it go?

The Falcons have spent over $51 on a player just once in Franchise History (Max Scherzer, $54 in 2018) but enter 2024 with one of the highest cap space numbers in the league. Falzon could elect to use some of that wiggle room to add a high priced talent through trade before Draft Day, given the Draft selections they hold and the available spots they have on their Keeper Roster.

Fit with the Goutfish?

The Lake Merced Goutfish are staring at eight viable starting pitcher options entering 2024, likely looking to trim at least two off that group in trades over the next 10 weeks. That could line up for a potential deal between the Falcons and Goutfish with Dylan Cease (3R/$5) or Framber Valdez (2/$48) standing out as potential candidates to be moved.

3 Up, 3 Down: Grissom Receives Big Boost Following Deal

With the turn of the calendar to 2024, the countdown to the new season is on with just 84 days remaining until Draft Day. Some activity across Major League Baseball led by a big Red Sox and Braves trade as well as some injury news has spurned the latest 3 Up, 3 Down.

The 11th Annual Roger Dorn Baseball League Draft is set for Tuesday, 3/26.

IF Vaughn Grissom (2D/$5), Mission Viejo Maulers

Grissom struggled to carve out a permanent role in Atlanta over the last two seasons, but will get a fresh start in Boston as a potential long-term building block, most likely at second base. The 22-year-old former top prospect still needs to find a long-term defensive home, but he’s shown some serious promise at the dish, posting a .746 OPS with five homers and five steals in 236 plate appearances in the majors since 2022. He tore the cover off the ball this past season for Triple-A Gwinnett, compiling a stratospheric .330/.419/.501 triple-slash line with eight homers and 13 steals in 468 plate appearances. It’s a fantastic landing spot for fantasy purposes as Grissom should benefit tremendously from Fenway Park’s hitter-friendly dimensions.

Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Saturday that the team views Grissom as its everyday second baseman, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports, a further boost to his value following the deal.

Grissom is part of a crowded Maulers Roster that could make him a potential trade candidate before Draft Day. With control through 2025, he should have a healthy market across the RDBL if GM Chris Ferraro decides to go that route.

LHP Chris Sale (3/$1), Honolulu Hammerheads

Chris Sale departs the Red Sox, who are paying the majority ($17 million, per Alex Speier of the Boston Globe) of the $27.5 million left on the final year of his contract, to fortify Atlanta’s formidable starting rotation. The 34-year-old southpaw has been plagued by injuries the last few years, but has been an effective starter, when healthy. He was limited to just 20 starts this past season in Boston, finishing with a 4.30 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 125/29 K/BB ratio across 102 2/3 innings of work, and has made just 31 starts total since 2019. Despite his durability concerns, it's hard to pass on a $1 pitcher with the upside of Sale which makes him a solid bet to return to the Hammerheads in 2024.

RHP Max Meyer (Minors), Las Vegas Aristocrats

Earlier this month during the Winter Meetings, Marlins manager Skip Schumaker namedropped a player he is looking forward to seeing in 2024: Max Meyer. 

As Schumaker put it, Miami’s path to success lies in its rotation -- and in the starters on the way. Meyer, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the organization’s No. 3 prospect, was just six innings into his Major League career when he tore the UCL in his right elbow on July 23, 2022. He hasn’t pitched in a game since then while he’s been recovering from Tommy John surgery. 

While Meyer might not open the season in the Marlins rotation, he figures to make an impact quickly in 2024 and could emerge as a mid-season option for a talented 'Crats roster.

Max Scherzer (2/$50), Spokane Fightin' Fish

Scherzer will be sidelined until June or July after undergoing surgery Thursday to repair a herniated disc in his back, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports. Scherzer was limited to 152.2 innings during the regular season and just 9.2 frames in the postseason in 2023 while dealing with a shoulder/back problem. He and the Rangers attempted several conservative treatments earlier this offseason, but the pain persisted so the decision to have surgery was made. As a 39-year-old who will miss at least a couple months following a back operation, Scherzer might slip all the way to the Reserve Draft.

C Endy Rodriguez (Minors), St. Joseph Jokers

Jokers catcher and top prospect Endy Rodríguez underwent reconstructive surgery on his ulnar collateral ligament and flexor tendon Tuesday, the team announced. The Pirates added he is expected to return to baseball activity in 10-12 months and will thus miss the entire 2024 season.

Rodríguez suffered the injury taking a swing in winter ball on Nov. 13, the Pirates said. He appeared in only seven games in the Dominican Winter League before being shut down with the injury.

The 23-year-old Rodríguez made his MLB debut this past season, authoring a .220/.284/.328 batting line with three home runs in 57 games, including 52 at catcher. He took over as Pittsburgh's No. 1 catcher after being called up in mid July. Rodríguez entered 2023 as one of the 50 best prospects in baseball and was expected to be the team's starting catcher in 2024. While ready for activation, Rodriguez was a potential trade candidate in the RDBL this off-season with MJ Melendez and Gabriel Moreno already holding down the catcher spot for GM Rick Steen.

SS Wander Franco (3R/$5), Mt. Diablo Devils

Jose Dicen of the Listin Diario reports that authorities in the Dominican Republic raided two homes on Tuesday in an effort to find Wander Franco. The news sparked further outrage from Devils fans who have called for GM Jason Watson to release the shortstop.

Franco was not found during the raids. Dicen notes that the Office of the Attorney for Children and Adolescents in Santo Domingo is looking for the 22-year-old infielder for allegedly having a relationship with an underage woman in Puerto Plata. There had been some speculation that Franco may avoid charges altogether after he opted to return to the Dominican Republic in early December — as it’s unlikely he would’ve returned there if there was threat of arrest or other legal entanglement. Franco remains on administrative leave and is still under investigation by Major League Baseball.

Franco also failed to show for questioning Thursday after being summoned by the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Children and Adolescent in Santo Domingo.