2 weeks agoHouston Astros general manager Dana Brown said he's had "productive" talks with Scott Boras, the agent representing free-agent third baseman
Alex Bregman. It's unclear if the Astros have made a formal offer to Bregman to try and re-sign him, but Brown added it's "our biggest priority at third base, without a doubt. We'd love to have Alex Bregman back. It's our biggest priority." The Astros extended a $21.05 million qualifying offer to Bregman on Monday, which he's fully expected to decline. It means that Houston will receive draft-pick compensation if Bregman signs with another team in free agency. The 30-year-old two-time All-Star remained productive in 2024, hitting .260/.315/.453 with a .768 OPS, 26 homers, 75 RBI, three steals and 79 runs scored in 145 regular-season games. Leaving Houston for another team could ultimately hurt Bregman's fantasy upside in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
2 weeks agoThe Pittsburgh Pirates have claimed outfielder
Trey Cabbage off waivers, according to Ari Alexander of KPRC2. The 27-year-old appeared in only 47 games at the major league level in the Space City last season and held an underwhelming .209/.253/.337 slash line with just one home run and one stolen base. However, in Triple-A, he posted a solid .243/.351/.474 line with 13 home runs, 43 RBI, and 22 stolen bases. Fantasy managers should expect Cabbage to compete for the spot on the Opening Day Roster. However, he will face an uphill battle as he has not enjoyed consistent success in the big leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Ari Alexander
2 weeks agoThe Texas Rangers have declined their 2025 club option on left-handed pitcher
Andrew Chafin. The 34-year-old opened the 2024 campaign in Detroit but was eventually shipped to Texas before the trade deadline. Across 56 1/3 innings of work, Chafin held a 3.51 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and a 31:70 BB:K ratio. The southpaw generated whiffs at an elite 34.5% mark, which was evident in his excellent 28.5% K rate. However, he struggled to control his pitches as he carried a hefty 12.6% walk rate. Given his ability to generate swings and misses, fantasy managers should expect Chafin to have a high-leverage role in 2025. He could eventually become a target in leagues that score holds if he is pitching on a competing club.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Texas Rangers
2 weeks agoSan Francisco Giants relief pitcher
Camilo Doval is generating interest in the trade market, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Slusser said, "The talent remains undeniable, and a few teams would consider him for a closer role." Doval entered the 2024 campaign as the bona fide ninth-inning option in the Bay Area but eventually ceded those duties to
Ryan Walker later in the season after blowing five saves and holding a 4.70 ERA through the start of August. This past summer, Walker posted a stellar 1.91 ERA and 0.85 WHIP. In 2023, Doval held a strong 2.93 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP with 39 saves across 67 2/3 innings of work. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor this situation during the offseason, as Walker may open the campaign as the top option for saves.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Susan Slusser
2 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers designated hitter
Shohei Ohtani (shoulder) underwent successful arthroscopic surgery to repair a labrum tear, according to the team. Ohtani is expected to be ready in time for Spring Training. The superstar suffered this injury due to a dislocated shoulder during the World Series. However, he was able to play through it en route to winning his first championship. Fantasy managers should monitor his progression leading up to Spring Training in case he faces a setback. Operating as a pure hitter in 2024, Ohtani established the 50-50 club with an impressive .310/.390/.646 slash line. The 30-year-old will likely be a consensus top selection this year in drafts as he is expected to return to the mound, providing elite fantasy production both as a pitcher and a hitter.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Dodgers
2
weeks
agoAccording
to
David
O'Brien
of
The
Athletic,
Atlanta
Braves
outfielder
Ronald
Acuna
Jr.
(knee)
and
starting
pitcher
Spencer
Strider
(elbow)
are
not
expected
to
be
ready
by
Opening
Day.
General
manager
Alex
Anthopoulos
said,
"We're
planning
on
read more...
2 weeks agoAccording to Jon Morosi of the MLB Network, Toronto Blue Jays shortstop
Bo Bichette is not on the trade block. General manager Ross Atkins said it is an "easy no" when discussing potential trade inquiries surrounding the 26-year-old. Bichette had a disappointing 2024 season as he posted a career-worst .225/.277/.322 slash line with just four home runs, 31 RBI, and five stolen bases. The former second-round selection played in just 81 games this season due to numerous injuries. His metrics were not encouraging as he held a poor 4.4% barrel rate and .378 xSLG. However, given his past production, fantasy managers should expect Bichette to be in a good position to bounce back in the 2025 campaign.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jon Morosi
2 weeks agoThe Athletics plan to keep outfielder
Brent Rooker this offseason despite speculation that he might be moved. "We're going to keep Rooker," general manager David Forst said. Rooker is one of the team's best bargaining chips, but they are going to hang onto him after posting a second straight strong season in 2024 with a .293/.365/.562 slash line and .927 OPS to go along with career-highs in home runs (39), RBI (112), stolen bases (11) and runs scored (82) in 614 plate appearances and 145 games played. The 30-year-old underwent surgery on his right forearm in early October for an injury he had played through for much of the year. The good news is that Rooker is expected to be fully healthy for spring training in 2025 and will be a popular outfield target in fantasy despite playing for the lowly A's.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
2 weeks agoThe Arizona Diamondbacks declined the $4 million option for the 2025 season on right-handed reliever
Scott McGough over the weekend. McGough hits the open market this winter after receiving a $750,000 buyout. McGough took a step back for the D-backs in 2024 in his second year with the team and went 1-3 with a 7.44 ERA (6.04 FIP), a 1.68 WHIP and 25:21 K:BB in 32 2/3 innings pitched in 26 appearances (two starts) for the Snakes. The 35-year-old was constantly being shipped back and forth between the minors and majors this year after spending all of the 2023 campaign in Arizona. He'll now look to latch on as relief depth with another club this offseason. In his two years in the desert, McGough posted a 5.59 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with nine saves, 111 strikeouts and 51 walks in 103 innings over 89 appearances (three starts).
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Arizona Republic - Nick Piecoro
2 weeks agoSan Francisco Giants president of baseball operations
Buster Posey said that the team is looking for a shortstop this offseason.
Tyler Fitzgerald impressed at the 6 in his rookie season, but he can also play multiple positions. Meanwhile, the Giants hope that moving infielder
Marco Luciano to the outfield will help him unlock his true potential offensively. If Fitzgerald continues to hit like he did this year, the Giants will find a place for him in their everyday lineup. In 96 games after debuting in 10 games in 2023, Fitzgerald hit a strong .280/.334/.497 with an .831 OPS, 15 home runs, 34 RBI, 17 steals and 53 runs scored. Over a full season, that kind of production will be very attractive in all fantasy leagues. Luciano has struggled defensively up the middle and also hit just .211/.259/.303 with no homers and 28 K's in 76 at-bats in 27 games in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: San Francisco Chronicle - Shayna Rubin
2 weeks agoNew York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns isn't ruling out the possibility that third baseman
Brett Baty will see action in the outfield moving forward. The Mets were impressed with how quickly Baty picked up second base in 2024 and could further add to his versatility by playing him in the outfield in 2025. The 24-year-old lost out on the starting gig at the hot corner this year to
Mark Vientos, so he'll need to move around more next season if he wants to stick around in the big leagues. Baty did see some time in left field in the minors in 2024, so the outfield won't be completely foreign to him. The former 12th overall pick in 2019 made his MLB debut in 2022 and has so far disappointed in 169 games, slashing .215/.282/.325 with a .607 OPS, 15 homers and 55 RBI. He's likely heading for a platoon role with the Mets in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Mike Puma
2 weeks agoAccording to an industry source, the Atlanta Braves are interested in free-agent right-hander
Nathan Eovaldi after he declined his $20 million 2025 option to stay with the Texas Rangers. Eovaldi is now looking for a multi-year contract on the open market that will likely exceed an average annual value of at least $20 million. In 29 starts for Texas in 2024, he had a 3.80 ERA in 170 2/3 innings, and his 23.9 percent strikeout rate was his highest mark since 2021. Eovaldi's postseason ledger -- 9-1 with a 2.85 ERA in 12 starts -- stands out with the Braves potentially looking to replace lefty
Max Fried, who is also a free agent.
Chris Sale,
Reynaldo Lopez and
Spencer Schwellenbach are all locked into rotation spots in 2025, with
Spencer Strider returning from right-elbow surgery. In addition to Fried, the Braves are likely to lose veteran
Charlie Morton.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
2 weeks agoTexas Rangers right-handed reliever
Josh Sborz (shoulder) has visited with several shoulder expects since the season ended and both he and the team have yet to decide on a path forward, according to president of baseball operations
Chris Young. Sborz appeared only 17 times out of Texas' bullpen in 2024 due to his right-shoulder troubles, ultimately culminating with him finishing the year on the injured list. The 30-year-old is likely deciding on whether to go under the knife, which would almost assuredly mean that he won't be ready for the start of the 2025 regular season. The Rangers' bullpen could look quite different next year, with
Kirby Yates,
David Robertson and
Jose Leclerc all being free agents. Sborz had a 3.86 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 17 K's and only four walks in his 16 1/3 relief innings in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Dallas Morning News - Evan Grant
2 weeks agoFree-agent first baseman/designated hitter
Carlos Santana, who is 38 years old, said he wants to play another three or four seasons in the big leagues, according to his agent, Ulises Cabrera. The veteran Dominican switch-hitter won his first career Gold Glove at first base with the Minnesota Twins in 2024 and is coming off his best OPS (.749) since 2019 with the Cleveland Guardians. In addition to his .749 OPS, he hit .238/.328/.420 with 23 home runs, 71 RBI, four stolen bases and 63 runs scored in 594 trips to the plate and 150 games for Minnesota in 2024 in his 15th major-league season. Santana has had a long and successful career as a patient hitter, with high on-base percentages being his calling card in fantasy. He's had a little resurgence the last two years, but fantasy managers can't count on that moving forward, and there's almost zero upside.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB Network - Jon Morosi
2 weeks agoFree-agent infielder
Jorge Polanco (knee) is on track to be cleared for full baseball activities by January and is currently recovering on schedule after having surgery to fix the patellar tendon in his left knee, according to his agent, Ulises Cabrera. Polanco dealt with the knee issue for much of his first season with the Seattle Mariners in 2024 and was limited to 118 games, slashing a weak .213/.296/.355 with a career-worst .651 OPS, 16 home runs, 45 RBI, four stolen bases and 43 runs scored in 469 plate appearances. As a result of the disappointing season and his injury, the Mariners wisely declined Polanco's $12 million club option for the 2025 season. With better health, Polanco could have a bounce-back season elsewhere, but the Dominican infielder is known to be injury-prone, only playing in over 150 games twice in his 11 big-league seasons.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB Network - Jon Morosi
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