1 week agoFree-agent starting pitcher
Charlie Morton signed a one-year, $15 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles on Friday evening. The 41-year-old spent the past four seasons with the Atlanta Braves. Last season, the right-hander held a 4.19 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP across 165 1/3 innings. Morton made at least 30 starts in each season during his four-year tenure with the Braves. Under the hood, Morton generated a modest 23.8% strikeout rate with a below-average 4.49 xERA last season. This was a decline from the 25.6% K rate he held during the 2023 campaign. After losing
Corbin Burnes to the Arizona Diamondbacks, Morton should have a permanent role in the Baltimore rotation throughout the 2025 season. However, given his declining metrics, he should only be targeted in deeper 15-plus team formats or AL-only leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Baltimore Orioles
1 week agoThe Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to an undisclosed deal on Friday with Korean infielder Hye-seong Kim, whose posting window from the Kiwoom Heroes of the Korean Baseball Organization closes on Friday, according to a source. According to MBC Sports' Daniel Kim, the deal is for three years with club options for 2028 and 2029. The 25-year-old will turn 26 years old in late January and will head to the United States after slashing .326/.383/.458 with 11 home runs and 30 steals for the Heroes in 2024. He has hit a cool .304/.364/.403 in his eight seasons in Korea. Kim is a very similar player to free-agent infielder
Ha-Seong Kim, but without the power. In LA, Kim is unlikely to see regular playing time given their stacked roster, but the keystone is probably his best path to at-bats. Speed and contact are Kim's calling cards, which won't give him much upside in fantasy in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
1 week agoThe Milwaukee Brewers designated left-hander
Tyler Jay for assignment on Thursday to make room on the 40-man roster for the recently required right-hander
Grant Anderson. Jay made his major-league debut in 2024 but only appeared in relief in five games for the New York Mets and Brewers, allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits while walking six and striking out six in 7 2/3 innings pitched. The 30-year-old southpaw went 5-1 with a 3.02 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, three saves, 49 strikeouts and 12 walks in 56 2/3 innings combined at Triple-A Syracuse and Triple-A Nashville on the farm. Jay was originally drafted sixth overall by the Minnesota Twins in 2015 out of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. If Jay clears waivers, he could return to the Brewers in a minor-league role to begin the 2025 season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Curt Hogg
1 week agoThe Texas Rangers announce that they acquired left-hander Mason Molina from the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday in exchange for right-hander
Grant Anderson. The Brewers selected Molina in the seventh round of the 2024 MLB draft from the University of Arkansas, and he made his professional debut last year with Low-A Carolina. The 21-year-old southpaw threw five shutout innings across two starts for the Mudcats and had a 3.97 ERA with an 11.74 K/9 in three collegiate seasons with Texas Tech and Arkansas. Molina is obviously at least several years away from a potential major-league debut, and he'll likely start the 2025 campaign at Single-A Hickory.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Texas Rangers PR
1 week agoBoston Red Sox chief baseball officer
Craig Breslow said that the plan is to keep infielder/outfielder
Ceddanne Rafaela in center field in 2025 "as much as possible." Rafaela really stepped up for the Red Sox in 2024 and provided plenty of defensive versatility, mainly in center field and shortstop. The 24-year-old started 72 games in center field, 71 at shortstop and four at second base in his first full season in the big leagues. His elite athleticism allows him to play pretty much anywhere on the diamond, but the BoSox would like to keep him focused on center field this year to hopefully make him more productive offensively. There was a need for Rafaela at the 6 in 2024 when
Trevor Story was injured earlier in the year. Rafaela must improve his hard-hit metrics and plate discipline to take the next step as a hitter, but his elite athleticism should give hope to fantasy managers.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MassLive.com - Sean McAdam
1 week agoMassLive.com's Sean McAdam writes that Boston Red Sox infielder
Vaughn Grissom is the "nominal favorite" to open next season as the team's starting second baseman. Grissom's first year with Boston in 2024 was highly disappointing, as he entered spring training with a shot to see most of the playing time at the keystone before multiple injuries set him back. The 23-year-old former Atlanta Braves middle infielder eventually lost the job to
David Hamilton and hit just .190/.246/.219 in just 31 games at the big-league level. However, Grissom looked good to end the year at Triple-A Worcester and appears to be fully healthy with spring training just around the corner. Grissom has looked great in the minor leagues but has yet to put it together at the major-league level in small stints. If he's healthy in 2025, though, and secures the 2B job, he has potential for double-digit homers and steals for fantasy managers.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MassLive.com - Sean McAdam
1 week agoThe Texas Rangers have traded relief pitcher
Grant Anderson to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Mason Molina. The 27-year-old was designated for assignment by the Rangers earlier in the week. It didn't take the Rangers long to find Anderson a new home. Anderson made it to the MLB last season, but struggled to the tune of a 8.10 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, and 29/10 K/BB ratio. He figures to get a chance to prove himself during spring training. As for Molina, he's a 21-year-old former seventh-round pick that made his professional debut last season. He only pitched in two games in Single-A ball, so it'll be a few years before the Rangers see the results of this trade.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 week agoFree-agent third baseman
Alex Bregman remains unsigned mid-way through the winter, but that might change soon. The Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays were reportedly the frontrunners to land Bregman this offseason. Both teams are also viewed as the frontrunners to land outfielder
Anthony Santander. The Tigers already have a decent core and added
Gleyber Torres. The Blue Jays might take one more shot at competing before possibly heading towards a rebuild if things go south. That being said, both teams seem to make sense on paper for Bregman. The superstar slugger is reportedly seeking $200 million after turning down $156 million from the Houston Astros earlier this offseason.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman
1 week agoFree-agent starting pitcher
Jack Flaherty is reportedly unlikely to sign with the Baltimore Orioles. There were reports that the O's were interested in a reunion, but it seems that Flaherty might feel differently. Flaherty struggled during his stint with the O's during the 2023 season. He posted a 6.75 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, and 42/12 K/BB across nine games with the O's. He pitched much better once he left Baltimore. It sounds like the Toronto Blue Jays, Detroit Tigers, and Los Angeles Dodgers are all in the mix for Flaherty. The right-hander might not find a new home until Roki Sasaki signs with an organization.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Rich Dubroff
1 week agoFree-agent pitcher
Jeff Hoffman is reportedly seeking a deal in the range that fellow reliever
Clay Holmes signed earlier this offseason. Holmes signed with the New York Mets on a three-year deal worth $38 million. Hoffman is hopeful to get a similar deal after posting back-to-back solid seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies. Holmes signed with the Mets in hopes of transitioning to the starting rotation. It's possibly that Hoffman wants to make a similar move considering he began his career as a starting pitcher with the Colorado Rockies. There doesn't seem to be a ton of interest in Hoffman right now, but they'll likely change once Roki Sasaki signs somewhere.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Matt Gelb
1 week agoAccording to Will Sammon of The Athletic, the New York Mets are unlikely to pursue free-agent third baseman
Alex Bregman. Sammon said that the Mets do not view Bregman as a long-term option, and he is currently looking for a long-term contract on the open market. While he did not rule out a potential signing, he views it as very unlikely. Throughout the offseason, the Detroit Tigers have been viewed as "favorites" to land Bregman, in addition to the Boston Red Sox, among other clubs. As a result, this suggests that the Mets view
Mark Vientos as their starting third baseman heading into the 2025 campaign. Last summer, the 25-year-old enjoyed a breakout campaign by hitting 27 home runs with a .266/.322/.516 slash line. Vientos was very effective in the postseason as well, posting a stellar .327/.367/.636 line.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Will Sammon
1 week agoAccording to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic, the San Francisco Giants could be losing interest on free-agent first baseman
Pete Alonso. While Alonso was initially linked to the Giants earlier in free agency, it seems the Giants may opt to go in a different direction. Baggarly notes that since the Giants already sacrificed two draft picks after acquiring shortstop
Willy Adames earlier this offseason, they will likely not entertain a contract with Alonso due to the fact they would have to sacrifice additional picks to acquire him. Instead, the Giants would rather target an infielder to create a more "athletic, and dynamic scoring environment." While Alonso lacks speed, he would bring an elite power bat to their starting nine, as he's hit at least 34 home runs in each full season of his career. This would leave
LaMonte Wade Jr. as their current first baseman. Last summer, Wade posted a solid .260/.380/.381 slash line with an excellent 15.5% walk rate.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Andrew Baggarly
1 week agoAccording to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Los Angeles Angels are "looking at" free-agent first baseman
Pete Alonso. Heyman noted that he does believe owner Arte Moreno is trying to get another impact bat in the lineup. If Alonso were to sign with the Halos, first baseman
Nolan Schanuel would move to the outfield. However, Heyman said that free-agent outfielder
Anthony Santander "is probably more likely" to sign in Los Angeles than Alonso. Alonso would provide some much-needed power to the Angels lineup that also brought in designated hitter
Jorge Soler earlier this offseason. Last summer in Queens, Alonso held a .240/.329/.459 slash line with 34 home runs. Under the hood, he generated a strong .343 xwOBA, 13.2% barrel rate, and a 46.4% hard-hit rate. Alonso has also been in contract discussions with the New York Mets throughout the offseason.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman
1 week agoAccording to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, the Philadelphia Phillies could seek a trade partner for infielder
Kody Clemens. According to Gelb, the Phillies have several infield left-handed bats which could make it difficult for Clemens to make the roster. Gelb further noted that if Clemens has a successful camp he could be put on the trade block. This means that
Weston Wilson and
Buddy Kennedy would have a more favorable chance to break the Opening Day roster. Last summer, Clemens held a .219/.258/.447 line with five home runs and nine doubles across 44 games. The 28-year-old holds a career .200/.246/.373 line across three major league seasons. Even if Clemens does make the Opening Day roster, he should not be on your fantasy radar given his lack of stable success in the majors.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Matt Gelb
1 week agoThe Cleveland Guardians signed free-agent right-hander
Luis Frias to a minor-league deal on Thursday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training camp. Frias will join Cleveland this year after spending time with both the Arizona Diamondbacks and Toronto Blue Jays in 2024. In only 9 2/3 innings pitched in 11 appearances in relief, Frias allowed a whopping 16 runs (15 earned) on 19 hits (two homers) while walking seven and striking out 12. However, the 26-year-old Dominican did post a 1.35 ERA during the Diamondbacks' run to the World Series in the fall of 2023. Most of his struggles in 2024 could be attributed to a right-shoulder injury that he dealt with. Frias could bounce back with Cleveland in 2025 if he stays healthy and could be a decent source of strikeouts in deep holds leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: GuardsInsider
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