2 weeks agoContract negotiations between the Houston Astros and free-agent third baseman
Alex Bregman recently "stalled," prompting general manager Dana Brown to pivot and add first baseman
Christian Walker in free agency. The signing of Walker all but eliminated a reunion between the Astros and Bregman this offseason after the team took him second overall in the 2015 draft. Houston's offer to Bregman was reportedly for six years and around $156 million. Owner Jim Crane has never guaranteed a player more than $151 million or given out a contract longer than six years. Before acquiring
Isaac Paredes from the Chicago Cubs in the deal that sent outfielder
Kyle Tucker to Chicago, St. Louis Cardinals third baseman
Nolan Arenado apparently nixed a potential trade to the Astros. Now that Walker is in Houston, Paredes figures to open the 2025 season as Houston's starting third baseman.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
2 weeks agoThe Philadelphia Phillies are planning to save most of right-handed pitching prospect
Andrew Painter's (elbow) limited innings for "July-ish" as he makes his way back from Tommy John surgery, according to president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. Painter will throw during spring training but will not pitch in games. Before making his big-league debut in 2025, the Phillies will build him up in the minor leagues. The team's No. 2 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, didn't pitch at all in 2023 and threw only 15 2/3 innings in the Arizona Fall League this year, so the 21-year-old will certainly have a strict innings cap in 2025, which will limit his fantasy appeal in single-year leagues. The recent additions of left-hander
Jesus Luzardo and right-hander
Joe Ross also give the Phils more rotation insurance, so it remains to be see how big of a need they'll have for Painter around midseason.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia Inquirer - Scott Lauber
2 weeks agoThe Philadelphia Phillies agreed to a one-year deal worth $4 million with free-agent right-hander
Joe Ross on Monday, according to sources. Ross is expected to serve in a swing role for the Phillies as both a starter and reliever in 2025 after he went 3-6 with a 3.77 ERA (3.83 FIP), a 1.36 WHIP and a 66:29 K:BB in 74 innings over 25 appearances (10 starts) with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024. The 31-year-old veteran hurler essentially takes the place of
Spencer Turnbull, who remains on the open market. Ross will only be worth considering as a fantasy streamer in deeper fantasy leagues and DFS contests if he's starting, but it will be more likely that most of his appearances in Philly will come in a relief role. He was better as a reliever last year with a 1.98 WHIP and 24.1% strikeout rate compared to an ERA just south of 5.00 with an 18.7% K rate as a starter.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Matt Gelb
2 weeks agoFree-agent right-hander
Noah Davis announced on his Instagram account that he signed a minor-league deal with the Boston Red Sox over the weekend. Davis debuted in the big leagues in 2022 for the Colorado Rockies but has appeared in only 18 games (six starts) since then, posting a 7.71 ERA (5.65 FIP) and a 1.95 WHIP with 43 strikeouts and 23 walks in 51 1/3 innings pitched. The 27-year-old was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 11th round out of the University of California at Santa Barbara in 2018. In 19 outings (eight starts) at Triple-A Albuquerque in the minors this past season, he went 2-3 with a 5.77 ERA, a 1.65 WHIP and 72:31 K:BB in 68 2/3 frames. Davis will give the Red Sox some pitching depth as both a starter and reliever heading into spring training in February, but he'll likely open the year at Triple-A Worcester.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Noah Davis On Instagram
2 weeks agoFree-agent outfielder/first baseman
Wil Myers said last week that his professional playing career is over, even though he doesn't plan on officially retiring. Myers was most notably acquired by the San Diego Padres from the Tampa Bay Rays 10 years ago in a three-team trade that also sent shortstop
Trea Turner to the Washington Nationals. The right-handed-hitting outfielder never lived up to the hype, though, after he won American League Rookie of the Year in 2013 with the Rays. He did hit 134 home runs and started an All-Star game while in San Diego. "I had a great career," Myers said. "I loved what I did. I made a lot of great friends. I have no regrets. If you had told me the day I was drafted that this would be your career, I would've taken it in a heartbeat. I loved what I did, and now it's just kind of onto the next chapter of life."
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - AJ Cassavell
2 weeks agoFree-agent outfielder/designated hitter
Andrew McCutchen re-signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday on a one-year deal worth $5 million, according to a source. Although McCutchen is clearly past his prime and is basically a full-time DH at this point in his career, the 38-year-old was highly coveted by the Pirates for his leadership skills in the clubhouse. In 448 at-bats over 120 games for Pittsburgh in 2024 in his 16th year in the big leagues, the five-time All-Star and former National League MVP hit .232/.328/.411 with a .739 OPS, 20 home runs, 50 RBI, three steals and 66 runs scored. McCutchen should once again be expected to serve as the team's full-time DH in 2025, and while he still has decent pop for his age, fantasy managers would be foolish to expect another season of 20 homers.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Alex Stumpf
2 weeks agoFree-agent designated hitter
Eloy Jimenez and the Tampa Bay Rays agreed to a minor-league deal on Monday, according to sources. The 28-year-old played for the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles this past season and is now hoping to rebuild his career with the Rays. The 28-year-old right-handed hitter slashed only .238/.289/.336 with six home runs in 98 total games in 2024 with the White Sox and Orioles and is no lock to make it back to the major-league level, let alone find a significant role in Tampa in 2025. The Dominican outfielder was once a prized prospect in the White Sox system, but injuries have mostly derailed his career -- Jimenez has played in over 100 games at the MLB level just twice, with one of them being his rookie year in 2019, when he hit a career-high 31 homers and drove in 79 runs. He did hit the ball hard last year, but he also was on the injured list twice.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN Chicago - Jesse Rogers
2 weeks agoFree-agent right-hander
Walker Buehler and the Boston Red Sox agreed to a one-year, $21.05 million deal on Monday, according to sources. The two-time All-Star will head to the American League East after helping the Los Angeles Dodgers win the World Series in October. Buehler can make more money in incentives in 2025 as he looks to bounce back from a frustrating 2024 season in which he had a bloated 5.38 ERA over 16 starts for the Dodgers in the regular season in his return from Tommy John surgery. The 30-year-old veteran was a high-end fantasy arm before undergoing elbow surgery. Although he looked much better in the playoffs with the Dodgers, Buehler has thrown only 140 1/3 innings in the last three seasons due to injury. If Buehler can stay healthy and regain some of his fastball velocity, he could be a fantasy bargain in a rebuilt Red Sox rotation.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
2 weeks agoStarting pitcher
Sean Manaea signed a three-year contract worth $75 million to return to the New York Mets. Manaea spent the entirety of the 2024 campaign in Queens. Across 181 2/3 innings, the left-handed pitcher held a 3.47 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. During the second-half of the summer, he held a stellar 0.94 WHIP. Under the hood, he generated a 3.75 xERA and .227 xBA which were both slightly above the average marks of qualified hitters. He also generated strikeouts at a solid 24.9% rate and allowed hard contact at a 37.8% hard-hit rate. However, he did hold a high 8.5% walk rate which placed him in the 41st percentile. Fantasy managers should expect Manaea to operate towards the front half of the Mets starting rotation during the 2025 campaign. The 32-year-old should be viewed as a high-floor investment for fantasy purposes as he should provide a reliable innings count with a solid ERA and a strong WHIP.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Passan
2 weeks agoAccording to Jeff Passan of ESPN, outfielder/designated hitter
Joc Pederson and the Texas Rangers have agreed on a contract, pending a physical. Despite only playing in a strict platoon role in Arizona last summer, Pederson was very effective, posting a strong .275/.393/.515 slash line with 17 doubles, 23 home runs, 64 RBI, and four stolen bases. He hit for a .291 average across 41 plate appearances when facing southpaws. The 32-year-old hit the ball very hard at an impressive 46.2% hard-hit rate and 12.8% barrel rate, which placed him in the 79th and 87th percentiles, respectively. He also generated a .480 xSLG and a .378 xwOBA, which were among the top marks of qualified hitters. Fantasy managers should expect Pederson to have a similar role with Texas, as he will likely operate as the starting designated hitter against right-handed pitching.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Passan
2 weeks agoThe Chicago Cubs have signed catcher
Carlos Perez to a minor league deal. This move occurred to add more positional depth within their system as they traded
Matt Thaiss to the Chicago White Sox earlier this offseason. Perez last appeared in the major leagues in the 2023 campaign as he spent all of last summer in the minor leagues. Across 112 games with the Las Vegas Aviators, the veteran backstop held a .260/.344/.544 line with 27 doubles, 27 home runs and 77 RBI. He held a 49:80 BB:K ratio. Through five seasons in the major leagues, Perez posted an overall .218/.265/.327 line with 17 home runs. Fantasy managers should expect Perez to open the season with Triple-A Iowa and would only get the call to the big leagues if
Miguel Amaya or
Carson Kelly were to go on the injured list.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Chicago Cubs
2 weeks agoAccording to Ari Alexander of KPRC2, right-handed pitcher
Austin Adams and the Boston Red Sox have agreed to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training. Last summer, the 33-year-old held a 3.92 ERA and a 1.48 ERA across 41 1/3 innings of work. Adams had his season cut short due to right forearm tendinitis but shout be expected to be ready for Spring Training. Under the hood, Adams generated a strong .208 xBA with a 4.9% barrel rate and a 31.4% hard-hit rate. He struck out batters at a solid 27.7% rate but struggled with his command as he held a 12.0% walk rate. Adams could earn a spot at the back-end of the Boston bullpen if he has a successful Spring Training but will likely not see many save opportunities.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Ari Alexander
2 weeks agoAccording to Baseball America, the Miami Marlins are acquiring shortstop prospect Starlyn Caba from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for left-handed pitcher
Jesus Luzardo. The Marlins have also acquired outfield prospect
Emaarion Boyd. Caba was considered the No.4 prospect in the Phillies system and No. 81 overall according to MLB Pipeline before the trade while Boyd was considered the No.23 in the Philadelphia system. Caba made his debut in the Rookie League during the 2023 campaign. Across a 38-game stint, the young infielder posted a .301/.423/.346 line with 16 swiped bags and an impressive 28:16 BB:K ratio. Last summer, Caba made 52 starts in the Rookie League and posted a .254/.427/.335 line with 37 swiped bags and an impressive 51:34 BB:K ratio. He then got a brief look at Single-A where he held a .179/.304/.189 across 26 games. Caba remains several seasons away from his big league debut but has shown a strong eye at the plate in the lower levels.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Baseball America
2 weeks agoAccording to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Texas Rangers have acquired left-handed relief pitcher
Robert Garcia from the Washington Nationals in exchange for first baseman
Nathaniel Lowe. Garcia made his major league debut with the Miami Marlins in 2023 but was eventually shipped to Washington later that summer. In 32 innings in 2023, the southpaw posted a 3.66 ERA and a 1.19. In 2024, Garcia posted a 4.22 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP across a 59 2/3 inning sample size. However, the 28-year-old generated an impressive 2.53 xERA which suggests he should be due for some significant positive regression with his new ball club. Garcia also generated a stellar 3.1% barrel rate and 30.2% hard-hit rate which placed him in the 98th percentile in both statistics. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on Garcia's usage during Spring Training as he may be in the mix for save opportunities.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
2 weeks agoAccording to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Washington Nationals have acquired first baseman
Nathaniel Lowe from the Texas Rangers in exchange for left-handed pitcher
Robert Garcia. Lowe has spent the past four seasons of his major league career playing in Texas. Last summer across 140 games, the 29-year-old posted a .265/.361/.401 line with 16 home runs, 16 doubles, 69 RBI, and two stolen bases. He held a stellar 12.6% walk rate which placed him the 97th percentile among qualified hitters. Lowe has hit at least 15+ home runs in each of the past four seasons while having an OBP of at least .357. Fantasy managers should expect Lowe to operate as the everyday first baseman in D.C. This transaction will also open the door for
Jake Burger to be the everyday first baseman in Texas, who the Rangers acquired earlier this offseason.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Passan
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