2 weeks agoThe Houston Astros have emerged as a serious suitor for St. Louis Cardinals third baseman
Nolan Arenado, according to multiple league sources. No deal is believed to be imminent, but talks between the two clubs have increased since this week's winter meetings started. The Cardinals have already acknowledged they are trying to trade Arenado, and the Astros' interest in the clearest sign that they aren't planning to re-sign
Alex Bregman this offseason. Arenado has a no-trade clause, though, and it's unclear if he'd waive it to join Houston. The veteran third baseman is owed $74 million across the next three years. The 33-year-old is a 10-time Gold Glove winner and an eight-time All-Star. While his defense is still top notch, he continues to dip offensively, as he had a 101 OPS+ with only 16 homers in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
2 weeks agoThe Tampa Bay Rays acquired right-handers
Joe Boyle and
Jacob Watters, outfielder
Will Simpson and a compensation Round A draft pick from the Athletics on Saturday in exchange for left-hander
Jeffrey Springs, according to sources. Boyle is the biggest piece headed back to Tampa. The 25-year-old had a 1.69 ERA in three starts in Oakland in his debut in 2023, but he wasn't as effective in 13 outings (10 starts) this past season, going 3-6 with a bloated 6.42 ERA (4.68 FIP), 1.72 WHIP and 56:40 K:BB in his 47 2/3 innings pitched in the big leagues. It didn't help he missed a month with a lower-back injury. Given the Rays' history with pitchers, Boyle could still be something special, but he won't be guaranteed to make the club's Opening Day roster out of spring training.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
2 weeks agoThe Athletics are acquiring left-hander
Jeffrey Springs from the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday in exchange for right-handers
Joe Boyle and
Jacob Watters, outfielder
Will Simpson and a compensation Round A draft pick, according to sources. It's the second big addition to the A's starting rotation this offseason after they signed right-hander
Luis Severino to the largest guaranteed deal in franchise history. The 32-year-old Springs didn't pitch in the first half in 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery and finished with a 3.27 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 33 innings over seven starts down the stretch for Tampa. Springs will be pitching in a minor-league park for home games and has never exceeded 50 innings at the big-league level, so the A's will surely limit his workload, limiting his fantasy upside in 2025. The southpaw has a 3.39 career ERA, 1.25 WHIP and a 27.2% strikeout rate in his seven MLB seasons.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
2 weeks agoAccording to Peter Gammons of the MLB Network, the Seattle Mariners would "love" to acquire free-agent first baseman
Christian Walker. However, Gammons noted that the first baseman is currently out of their price range, but trading starting pitcher
Luis Castillo could open enough space on the books for the infielder. Castillo's name has been circling around trade discussions all offseason, and it could make sense given Seattle's depth at that position. Last summer, Walker held a solid .251/.335/.468 slash line with 26 home runs. Under the hood, the 33-year-old generated a .351 xwOBA, a 13.3% barrel rate, and a 48.0% hard-hit rate. Walker would provide some nice, consistent power to the Seattle lineup. The Yankees have also been a team that has expressed interest in the 33-year-old.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Peter Gammons
2 weeks agoAccording to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Chicago Cubs and free-agent catcher
Carson Kelly have agreed to a two-year contract worth $11.5 million. Kelly opened the 2024 campaign catching for the Tigers before finishing his season with the Rangers. Across 91 games in the majors, the veteran backstop carried a .238/.318/.374 slash line with nine doubles, nine home runs, and a 25:55 BB:K. The 30-year-old spent most of his professional career playing with the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2019 through 2023. Overall, Kelly holds a career .224/.307/.373 slash line. Kelly will now likely slot in as the No. 2 option behind
Miguel Amaya behind the dish. Last season, Amaya took a nice step forward in his second major-league season, posting an impressive .271/.316/.444 line after the All-Star break. Fantasy managers should still expect Amaya to see most of the starts to open the 2025 season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Passan
2 weeks agoAccording to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, free agent outfielder
Anthony Santander is seeking a five-year contract during free agency. It was reported earlier this offseason that the former Oriole was gaining interest from other AL East ball clubs, including the Blue Jays and Yankees. Last summer in Baltimore, Santander hit a career-high 44 home runs and held a .235/.308/.506 slash line. He also added 25 doubles and tallied over 100 RBI for the first time in his career. This was a nice improvement compared to the 28 long balls he hit in 2023. The switch-hitter generated a strong 11.7% barrel rate and held an above-average 19.4% K rate. Fantasy managers should closely monitor where Santander signs in the offseason as he could be in line to enjoy another successful season, especially if he remains with a competing team.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman
2 weeks agoAccording to Shi Davidi of SportsNet, the Toronto Blue Jays are releasing catcher
Nick Raposo to open a roster spot for relief pitcher
Yimi Garcia. The Blue Jays agreed to a two-year contract with Garcia earlier this offseason. Raposo opened the 2024 campaign playing in the St. Louis organization before joining Toronto in August. Across 78 games at the Triple-A level last summer, the 26-year-old held an underwhelming .206/.280/.340 line with eight home runs, ten doubles, and a 25:59 BB:K ratio. In 2023, Raposo held a slightly higher .232/.334/.368 line across 27 games at Triple-A. Fantasy managers should not have Raposo on their radar heading into the 2025 campaign, as he has yet to turn the corner at the top level of the minor leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Shi Davidi
2
weeks
agoAccording
to
Chandler
Rome
of
The
Athletic,
the
Houston
Astros
are
acquiring
Chicago
Cubs
third
base
prospect
Cam
Smith
in
exchange
for
outfielder
Kyle
Tucker.
Smith
was
drafted
by
the
Chicago
Cubs
with
the
14th
overall
pick
in
last
year's
draft
out
of
Florida
read more...
2 weeks agoAccording to Chandler Rome of The Athletic, the Chicago Cubs are sending right-handed pitcher
Hayden Wesneski to the Houston Astros in a package to acquire star outfielder
Kyle Tucker. Wesneski was initially drafted by the New York Yankees but has spent his entire big-league career with the Chicago Cubs. Across his first three seasons in the majors (190 innings), the right-hander posted a 3.93 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. Wesneski saw time as both a starter and a reliever and logged 22 starts over his 68 total games. Last summer, the 27-year-old generated a modest 4.17 xERA and .234 xBA. In addition, he posted a 23.7% K rate and 7.4% walk rate, which were both just above the average marks among qualified pitchers. Fantasy managers should monitor his status during Spring Training as he may earn a spot in the Opening Day rotation.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Chandler Rome
2 weeks agoThe Houston Astros acquired infielder
Isaac Paredes, right-hander
Hayden Wesneski and third base prospect Cam Smith from the Chicago Cubs on Friday in exchange for All-Star outfielder
Kyle Tucker, according to sources. This trade certainly gives the Astros a couple fallback options in case they cannot re-sign
Alex Bregman this offseason. The 25-year-old Paredes could play either third or first base next year in his first with the Astros. The Mexican infielder took a step back with 19 homers and 80 RBI with the Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays in 2024 after setting career-highs in homers (31) and RBI (98) in 2023 with Tampa to make his first All-Star team. Paredes probably is never going to be a batting-average asset for fantasy mangers, but he's a good bet to bounce back in the power department at Minute Maid Park, especially with his pull-heavy offensive approach from the right side of the plate.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
2 weeks agoThe Chicago Cubs have acquired star outfielder
Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros on Friday in exchange for infielder
Isaac Paredes, right-hander
Hayden Wesneski and third base prospect Cam Smith, according to sources. The Cubs and New York Yankees were the most aggressive suitors for Tucker, who is eligible for free agency after the 2025 campaign. With Tucker now in tow, the Cubs will move to trying to offload
Cody Bellinger's bloated contract. In addition, Chicago could quickly look to get Tucker signed to a long-term contract extension if they want to keep the three-time All-Star around for more than just one season. The 27-year-old Tucker was limited to only 78 games in 2024 due to a fractured shin, but he still managed 23 homers and 11 stolen bases. From a power/speed perspective alone, Tucker is a first-round fantasy talent, and his move to Chicago shouldn't do anything to change that.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
2 weeks agoThe Chicago White Sox announced on Thursday that they signed free-agent right-hander
Dan Altavilla to a minor-league deal that includes a non-roster invitation to big-league spring training camp. Altavilla will stay in the American League Central heading into the 2025 campaign after making five appearances (one start) for the Kansas City Royals in 2024 in his first action in the big leagues since appearing in only two games with the San Diego Padres in 2021. In his five outings for the Royals this past season, Altavilla gave up six earned runs on five hits while walking three and striking out five in just 3 2/3 innings of work. The 32-year-old veteran hurler had a 3.51 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 41 innings in the minors at Triple-A Omaha. Altavilla will compete for a bullpen spot with the White Sox in spring training but will most likely start at Triple-A Charlotte.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chicago White Sox
2 weeks agoThe Chicago Cubs are close to acquiring All-Star outfielder
Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros on Friday for a package led by infielder
Isaac Paredes, right-hander
Hayden Wesneski and third base prospect Cam Smith, according to sources. The Astros have also been looking closely at prospect
Matt Shaw, but it's unclear if he'll be included if this trade goes down. If Chicago is able to land Tucker, one of the best all-around players in the game, they will most likely look to sign him to a long-term contract extension as well, as he's set to become a free agent after the 2025 campaign. Despite missing half of the 2024 season due to a fractured shin, Tucker still managed 23 home runs and 11 stolen bases and walked more than he struck out. The three-time All-Star has an incredibly high fantasy floor and should remain a first-round fantasy asset if he's moved to the Windy City. Stay tuned.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
2
weeks
agoThe
Chicago
Cubs
continue
to
work
hard
on
acquiring
All-Star
outfielder
Kyle
Tucker
from
the
Houston
Astros,
and
corner
infielder
Isaac
Paredes
and
third
baseman
Cam
Smith
are
the
primary
names
being
discussed.
In
addition
to
the
Cubs,
the
New
read more...
2 weeks agoThe Milwaukee Brewers acquired second base prospect
Caleb Durbin and left-hander
Nestor Cortes from the New York Yankees on Friday in exchange for right-handed reliever
Devin Williams, according to sources. Durbin was not among the Yankees' top-25 prospects per MLB Pipeline, but his prospect stock has risen dramatically since the end of the 2024 season, mainly because of his impressive production in the Arizona Fall League. The 24-year-old infielder was expected to have a big role for the Yankees in 2025, but now he'll head to the National League Central, where he could also have a big role in the middle infield for the Brew Crew after they just lost
Willy Adames to free agency. Durbin doesn't have a ton of power, but his high contract rate makes him a good bet to hit for average in the big leagues. He slashed .287/.396/.471 with 10 homers and 29 steals in 82 games at Triple-A in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
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