1 week agoFormer All-Star shortstop
Tim Anderson signed a minor-league deal with the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. Anderson will look to return to the big leagues alongside manager and infield guru Ron Washington in Anaheim in 2025. The 31-year-old made the All-Star team in back-to-back seasons with the Chicago White So in 2021 and 2022 and also won an American League batting title back in 2019, but he's tanked the last two years offensively and ended up being released by the Miami Marlins in 2024 after hitting just .214/.237/.226 with no homers in 65 games. Anderson will have a better shot at making the Angels' Opening Day roster out of spring training since starting shortstop
Zach Neto (shoulder) may not be ready to go, but until further notice, Anderson won't be anywhere near the fantasy radar for those in mixed leagues in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: USA TODAY Sports - Bob Nightengale
1 week agoAccording to Ian Browne of MLB.com, Boston Red Sox prospect
Kristian Campbell will be in the mix to compete for the starting second base job at spring training. Browne noted that
Vaughn Grissom will likely be the other option. Grissom was given the starting job last summer but battled numerous injuries and logged only 31 games all season. He posted a disappointing .190/.246/.219 line. Campbell was recently tabbed as MLB Pipeline's top second base prospect entering the 2025 season. Last summer, Campbell spent most of his time at Double-A, where he held an impressive .362/.463/.582 line with eight home runs and 17 stole bases across 56 games. He was given a brief look at Triple-A and continued to perform as he posted a .286/.412/.486 line through 19 games. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor their progress during spring training, but Campbell is worth a look as a late flier in early drafts, as he could run away with the starting job, given his development last summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Ian Browne
1 week agoAccording to Roch Kubatko of MASNSports, free-agent pitcher
John Means (elbow) is not expected to sign a contract for the 2025 season anytime soon. The left-hander underwent his second Tommy John surgery last June, and according to Kubatko, the industry perception is that Means will not find a suitor until much later in the offseason. Kubatko noted that the Orioles have not closed the door on a potential reunion. Last summer, the southpaw logged just 20 2/3 innings before being shut down. However, he was quite productive, posting a 2.61 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP. He struck out 16 batters but showed elite command with a near-perfect 2.6% walk rate. In 2023, Means also logged just 23 frames and held a similar 2.66 ERA and a 0.72 WHIP. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring his progress, but he will likely not return to the mound until late in the 2025 season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Roch Kubatko
1 week agoAccording to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit Tigers and free-agent third baseman
Alex Bregman remain at a standstill in contract negotiations. The Tigers have been viewed as one of the favorites to land the Gold Glover throughout most of the offseason but have been unable to reach a final agreement. Bregman is reportedly still eyeing a long-term deal. However, seeing that both sides still have "mutual interest" suggests they could eventually work out a deal. Bregman has also been targeted by the Houston Astros, Boston Red Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays, among others. Last summer in Houston, Bregman posted a .260/.315/.453 slash line with 26 home runs. He has always shown an elite eye at the plate, boasting a career 13.6% strikeout rate. Bregman would provide a much-needed veteran presence to a young Detroit infield.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Evan Petzold
1 week agoAccording to Mark Feinsand of the MLB Network, the Toronto Blue Jays are still targeting top bats on the market, including first baseman
Pete Alonso and outfielder
Jurickson Profar. Earlier this week, the Blue Jays signed outfielder
Anthony Santander to a hefty five-year $92 million contract. However, given that the team was willing to spend on
Juan Soto, Feinsand believes the team remains at the top of free-agent discussions. Pete Alonso has been linked to Toronto throughout most of the winter, and given that the Mets have begun to pivot in another direction, Toronto may be the favorite. Profar has had several suitors, including the Braves, but Toronto is reportedly looking to improve their outfield further. Alonso would bring another high-upside power bat to their lineup, while Profar will bring 20+ HR upside with elite on-base skills.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Mark Feinsand
1 week agoAccording to Roch Kubatko of MASNSports, the Baltimore Orioles are not considering a trade for their top-catching prospect,
Samuel Basallo. Basallo was recently tabbed as the sport's top-catching prospect on MLB Pipeline and is one of the budding stars in the Baltimore system. However, the Orioles already have a franchise backstop in
Adley Rutschman but still view Basallo as untouchable. Last summer, the 20-year-old spent most of the season with Double-A Bowie and held a .289/.355/.465 line with 22 doubles and 16 home runs. He then earned a late-season promotion to Triple-A, where he took a slight step back with a .222/.267/.370 line. Across these 21 games, he hit just three home runs. However, Basallo has begun to see starts at first base and will likely spend most of his time there when he reaches the major leagues. He should have a good opportunity to debut later this summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Roch Kubatko
1 week agoSeattle Mariners infielder/outfielder
Samad Taylor cleared waivers and was outrighted off the 40-man roster to Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday. Taylor was recently designated for assignment but will remain in Seattle's organization for now. The 26-year-old former 10th-round draft pick by the Cleveland Guardians in 2016 only played in three games with the M's in 2024 and went 2-for-5 with a strikeout and two runs scored. He debut in the majors in 2023 with the Kansas City Royals and saw action in 31 games. In his time with Tacoma last year, Taylor slashed .262/.352/.380 with a .732 OPS, 11 home runs, 75 RBI, a career-high 50 stolen bases and 93 runs scored in 599 trips to the plate over 136 games played. Speed is what stands out with Taylor, but if he makes it back to the big leagues in Seattle in 2025, it will be as a utility man off the bench.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Mariners PR
1 week agoCincinnati Reds pitching prospect Chase Burns has been invited to major-league spring training camp in 2025. Per MLB Pipeline, Burns is Cincy's No. 1 prospect. The 22-year-old hard-throwing right-hander was the second overall pick in last year's draft out of the Wake Forest. He did not see any time in the minors for the Reds after being drafted last year, so he will almost certainly begin the 2025 campaign on the farm, even if he impresses at camp this spring. In addition to Burns, the Reds will take a look at some of their other top prospects in third baseman
Cam Collier (No. 5), second baseman/third baseman
Sal Stewart (No. 4) and shortstop
Edwin Arroyo (No. 3). Burns was able to hit 100 mph with his fastball in college, so his upside is through the roof at the next level. In addition to blowing gas with his heater, Burns has a wipeout slider that draws tons of swings and misses.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Cincinnati Reds
1 week agoAccording to the team, the Seattle Mariners have acquired right-handed pitcher
Will Klein from the Athletics in exchange for international slot money. Klein was designated for assignment on Friday but will now take his talents to Seattle. Before the trade, Klein was ranked as the No.16 best prospect in the A's system. He logged only seven 1/3 innings at the major league level and allowed nine earned runs. Across 78 innings at Triple-A, the former fifth-round selection has posted a 4.62 ERA and a .164 WHIP. He struck out an impressive 92 batters but allowed a hefty 57 walks. Klein will likely compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster but should be expected to spend most of the 2025 at Triple-A to continue his development.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Seattle Mariners
1 week agoAccording to Daryl Van Schouwen of the Sun-Times, the Chicago White Sox have designated right-handed pitcher
Ron Marinaccio for assignment. This transaction opened a roster spot for left-handed pitcher
Martin Perez, who agreed to a one-year $5 million contract. Marinaccio was claimed by the White Sox last season but never pitched for them. During the 2022 season, Marinaccio was very productive as he posted a career-best 2.05 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP across 44 innings of work. However, during the 2024 campaign, the reliever held a much-higher 3.86 ERA and 1.20 WHIP across 23 1/3 innings. The Delaware product will likely find a suitor before spring training and compete for a bullpen role.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Daryl Van Schouwen
1 week agoAccording to the team, left-handed pitcher
Jose Quijada and the Los Angeles Angels have agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.75 million to avoid arbitration. This deal also includes a $3.75 million club option for the 2026 season. Quijada missed most of the 2024 campaign recovering from Tommy John surgery he underwent in 2023. However, the southpaw returned late in the season and posted a 3.26 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP across 19 1/3 innings of relief. Throughout this short stint, he generated an impressive 28.6% K rate and .214 xBA, which were both significantly above the average marks. He logged a career-high 40 2/3 innings during the 2022 campaign and posted a 3.98 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. Fantasy managers should expect Quijada to have a high-leverage role in the Los Angeles bullpen in 2025.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Angels PR
1 week agoAccording to Daniel Kramer of MLB.com, Seattle Mariners infielder
Donovan Solano is expected to spend most of the 2025 season at first base. Solano signed a one-year contract with the Mariners earlier this offseason. Throughout his career, he has been deployed at several positions in the infield, but it appears the Mariners view him primarily as a first baseman. As a result, fantasy managers should expect him to be on the short side of a platoon with
Luke Raley throughout most of the season. Last summer with San Diego, the 37-year-old posted a .282/.343/.417 line with 13 doubles and eight home runs. However, he generated poor metrics, which suggest he could be due for some regression during the 2025 season. Solano should only be targeted in deeper AL-only formats, given his lack of power and potential for a limited role.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Daniel Kramer
1 week agoAccording to Ryan Herrera of JustBaseball.com, Chicago Cubs starting pitching prospect
Cade Horton (shoulder) is expected to have a normal spring training. The top arm in the Chicago system was on track to make his major-league debut last summer but was eventually shut down with a shoulder injury in May. Before the injury, Horton held a 1.10 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP at Double-A and got a brief taste of Triple-A. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during spring training, as he may just need a short stint at Triple-A before reaching the major leagues. The former seventh-overall pick has held a career 3.22 ERA and 1.07 WHIP across 122 2/3 innings in the minor leagues. He has struck out 157 batters and served up 40 free passes. He should be viewed as one of the sport's top pitching prospects and will carry value in redraft leagues when promoted.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Ryan Herrera
1 week agoOutfielder Ichiro Suzuki, left-handed starter CC Sabathia, and left-handed reliever Billy Wagner were elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame class of 2025 by the Baseball Writers' Association of America on Tuesday. Suzuki is a Seattle Mariners legend who becomes the first Japanese-born player voted into the HOF. He received 99.7% of the vote in his first year on the ballot after recording 3,089 hits in MLB and another 1,278 in Japan. Like Suzuki, Sabathia gets in as a first-time eligible player, while Wagner makes it in on his last chance. Sabathia becomes the first pitcher named to the HOF on his first ballot since
Mariano Rivera and Roy Halladay in 2019. He was a true workhorse of his generation with 251 wins in 3,577 1/3 innings. Wagner is the ninth closer elected to the HOF. He holds the highest strikeout rate (33.2%) of any pitcher in history with at least 900 innings thrown.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Anthony Castrovince
1 week agoThe San Diego Padres re-signed left-hander
Austin Davis to a minor-league deal on Monday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, according to a source. Davis also signed a minor-league deal with the Padres last February and ended up making seven appearances in relief for the Friars in 2024, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on six hits while walking five and striking out six in seven innings pitched. In 47 relief appearances at Triple-A El Paso, Davis had a 3.40 ERA and 1.28 WHIP with 14 saves, 61 strikeouts and 26 walks in 47 2/3 frames. He will most likely start the 2025 campaign back at El Paso as left-handed relief depth for the Padres. The former 12th-round pick of the Philadelphia Phillies in 2014 out of California State Bakersfield has a career 5.77 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 151 1/3 innings in parts of six major-league seasons.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: FanSided - Robert Murray
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