1 week agoThe Baltimore Orioles extended a $21.05 million qualifying offer to free-agent outfielder
Anthony Santander on Monday, according to sources. If Santander rejects the offer and leaves the O's in free agency this offseason, Baltimore will receive draft-pick compensation. He is unlikely to accept the offer as he searches for a lucrative contract on the open market. The switch-hitting Venezuelan outfielder made his first All-Star appearance in 2024, his eighth year in the big leagues, by hitting .235/.308/.506 with an .814 OPS, career-high 44 home runs, career-high 102 RBI, two stolen bases and a career-high 91 runs scored in 655 trips to the plate over 155 games played. Santander has been an offensive force for the Orioles the last three seasons, combining for 105 home runs and 286 RBI in 460 games played. He has only 10 steals in eight seasons and a career average of .246.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
1 week agoThe Baltimore Orioles extended a $21.05 million qualifying offer to free-agent right-hander
Corbin Burnes on Monday, according to sources. Burnes is fully expected to decline the qualifying offer as he searches for a lucrative long-term offer on the open market. If the 30-year-old veteran ends up signing with another team this winter, the Orioles will receive draft-pick compensation. Baltimore acquired him in February from the Milwaukee Brewers, and he went 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA (3.55 FIP), a 1.09 WHIP and 181:48 K:BB in 194 1/3 innings over 32 starts in 2024 for his fourth straight All-Star selection. Regardless of where Burnes is pitching in 2025, he should be viewed as a fantasy ace. 2024 broke a string of three straight seasons of 200-plus strikeouts for Burnes.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
2 weeks agoAs expected, the New York Mets gave free-agent first baseman
Pete Alonso a one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer on Monday. This was a no-brainer move for the Mets with Alonso headed towards being one of the most sought-after free-agent bats on the market this winter. If Alonso declines the offer, which he's expected to do, the Mets will receive draft-pick compensation if he signs elsewhere. Although the 29-year-old they call the Polar Bear isn't a big asset defensively at first base, there will be plenty of interest around the league in one of the most powerful right-handed bats. His offensive numbers were slightly down in 2024 with a .240/.329/.459 slash line, career-low .788 OPS, 34 home runs, 88 RBI, three steals and 91 runs scored in a league-high 162 regular-season games. Still, the four-time All-Star and former Rookie of the Year's power will play in any ballpark.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
2 weeks agoLos Angles Dodgers left-hander
Clayton Kershaw (toe) declined his $5 million option for the 2025 season on Monday to officially become a free agent. However, Kershaw said he will be pitching for the World Series-champion Dodgers again next year no matter what. Especially after getting his second ring, the future Hall of Fame southpaw will return to LA in 2025 for what is likely to be his last year in the big leagues before hanging up his cleats. The three-time Cy Young winner and former MVP hasn't been healthy much in recent years but has still been serviceable for fantasy managers in the limited amount of time he's been on the mound. The 36-year-old made only seven starts for the Dodgers in 2024 and went 2-2 with a career-worst 4.50 ERA and 1.50 WHIP with 24 strikeouts and nine walks in 30 innings. Bone spurs in his left big toe prevented him from pitching at all in the run to the World Series title.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
2 weeks agoThe Houston Astros have extended a qualifying offer to third baseman
Alex Bregman. Bregman now has until November 19 to either accept this offer or test free agency. The 30-year-old will likely test free agency as he should receive a much higher salary on the open market. In 2024, Bregman hit at least 20 home runs for the third straight campaign while holding a solid .260/.315/.453 slash line with 75 RBI and three stolen bases. He held a stellar 12.8% whiff rate and 13.6% K rate, significantly boosting his value in points leagues. Fantasy managers should view the two-time World Series champion as a reliable option for power and batting average at the hot corner for the 2025 campaign.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Houston Astros
2 weeks agoOutfielder
Juan Soto has received a qualifying offer from the New York Yankees. However, the superstar outfielder is expected to decline this offer and test free agency, as he should be in line to receive a massive contract from the highest bidder. This transactional move simply allows the Yankees to receive a compensatory draft pick if the 26-year-old does not return to the Bronx in 2025. In his debut season in the Big Apple, Soto posted a stellar .288/.419/.569 slash line with 41 home runs, 109 RBI, and seven stolen bases. His .319 xBA and .658 xSLG placed him in the 99th percentile among qualified hitters. In addition, his incredible 18.1% walk rate was the highest mark among qualified hitters. Fantasy managers should view Soto as one of the safest first-round selections and top outfielders heading into next season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: New York Yankees
2 weeks agoAccording to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, the Boston Red Sox did not give outfielder
Tyler O'Neill a qualifying offer, making him a free agent. O'Neill enjoyed a nice bounce-back campaign in last summer in Boston as he posted a solid .241/.336/.511 slash line with 31 home runs, 61 RBI, and four stolen bases. In the previous two campaigns, O'Neill hit just 23 long balls with a .229 AVG. Even though the 29-year-old missed time with numerous injuries this season, he was an elite fantasy contributor from a power perspective. Under the hood, his 17.3% barrel rate and 48.8% hard-hit rate suggest his power numbers should remain elite in 2025 if he can stay on the field. The former third-round pick remains a safe bet for power upside but will always be a risky asset, given his lengthy injury history.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Chris Cotillo
2 weeks agoBoston Red Sox right-handed pitcher
Nick Pivetta received a qualifying offer, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. Pivetta will now have until November 19 to accept the offer or choose to test free agency. This past summer, the 31-year-old posted a 4.14 ERA and 1.13 WHIP, with a solid 36:172 BB:K ratio across 145 2/3 innings of work. Pivetta generated strikeouts at an elite 28.9% mark thanks to his sweeper, then generated an impressive 35.0% whiff rate. In addition, he also showed solid command with a 6.1% walk rate but struggled with allowing hard contact as he held a 10.1% barrel rate. Fantasy managers should view the 31-year-old as a safe bet for strikeouts with risk, given his hard contact rates heading into the 2025 season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Chris Cotillo
2 weeks agoThe New York Mets extended a one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer to free-agent left-hander
Sean Manaea on Monday. If Manaea rejects the offer and signs with another team on the open market this offseason, the Mets will receive draft-pick compensation. New York's starting rotation could look quite different next year, with
Luis Severino also being a free agent. The 32-year-old Manaea had one of his better seasons in his first year with the Mets in 2024, going 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA (3.83 FIP), 1.08 WHIP and a 184:63 K:BB over 181 2/3 innings and 32 starts. Tweaked mechanics helped Manaea post a career-high-tying 25.7% strikeout rate in 2023 with the San Francisco Giants, and he wasn't far behind at 24.9% in 2024, although it came with a career-high 8.5% walk rate. The veteran southpaw's fantasy value will be the highest if he stays in the Big Apple.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
2 weeks agoThe Milwaukee Brewers are declining their 2025 club option on right-handed pitcher
Colin Rea, which sends him to free agency, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Rea started a career-high 27 games in 2024 and logged a career-high 167 2/3 innings in the process. He posted a 4.29 ERA and 1.26 WHIP, with a 43:115 BB:K ratio. The Indiana State product showed excellent command with a solid 6.0% walk rate, placing him in the 81st percentile among qualified hitters. However, he generated whiffs at a poor 19.3% rate and allowed hard contact at a hefty 42.0% rate. Fantasy managers should expect Rea to find a new home in 2025 serving as a back-end starting pitcher.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Adam McCalvy
2 weeks agoThe Detroit Tigers declined right-handed pitcher
Casey Mize's 2025 club option, according to Cody Stavenhagen. However, the 27-year-old remains under team control and is eligible for arbitration. Mize posted a modest 4.49 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in his first full campaign post-Tommy John surgery in 2024. This was a decline compared to his 3.71 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP, which he held in the 2022 campaign, his other full season. Under the hood, the former first-overall pick generated ground balls at an elite 49.6% mark. However, he allowed hard contact at a poor 44.6% hard-hit rate and could not generate strikeouts at an underwhelming 17.3% K rate. Mize remains a low-end starter for deeper formats heading into the 2025 season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Cody Stavenhagen
2 weeks agoThe New York Mets are extending a one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer to free-agent right-hander
Luis Severino. If Severino rejects the team's qualifying offer and signs with another team on the open market, the Mets will receive draft-pick compensation. In his first year in Queens, Severino went 11-7 for the Mets with a 3.91 ERA (4.21 FIP), a 1.24 WHIP and a 161:60 K:BB in 182 innings over his 31 starts. The 30-year-old veteran from Dominican Republic allowed nine runs (six earned) on 17 hits while walking six and striking out 13 in his three playoff starts in October. It was a serviceable season for Severino, but his strikeout rate was still at only 21.2 percent, and injury questions aren't going to go away. Severino's fantasy value will probably be the highest if he remains with the Mets for a second go-round.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
2 weeks agoThe Atlanta Braves exercised designated hitter
Marcell Ozuna's $16 million club option for the 2025 season on Monday. It was a no-brainer decision for the Braves after Ozuna was once again one of the best all-around hitters in the game in 2024. The 33-year-old veteran Dominican slugger helped carry Atlanta's offense this year with
Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) suffering a season-ending torn ACL. Ozuna made the All-Star team for the third time in his career and finished his fifth year with the Braves with an impressive .302/.378/.546 slash line, .925 OPS, 39 home runs, 104 RBI, one steal and career-high 96 runs scored in a league-high 162 games played. He's recorded a whopping 79 home runs and 204 RBI the last two seasons, but his loss of outfield eligibility makes him a bit more volatile for fantasy managers heading into 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand
2 weeks agoThe Atlanta Braves declined their $8 million club option on catcher
Travis d'Arnaud for the 2025 season, according to sources. d'Arnaud will now hit the open market. In addition, the Braves also declined the option on right-handed reliever
Luke Jackson. The Braves were expected to pick up d'Arnaud's option after they were eliminated in the wild-card series against the San Diego Padres, but Atlanta evidently decided to go in another direction with catching prospect
Drake Baldwin being a realistic option to make his big-league debut in 2025. The Braves also have
Sean Murphy at the position. d'Arnaud, 35, hit .238/.302/.436 with an above-average .739 OPS, 15 homers and 48 RBI in 99 games in 2024, but his fantasy value was capped while sharing playing time with Murphy. He could have more fantasy upside next year, depending on whether he can land a starting role elsewhere.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
2 weeks agoCleveland Guardians catcher/outfielder/designated hitter
David Fry (elbow) is expected to miss six to eight months after undergoing surgery to fix the UCL in his right elbow. Fry is expected to initially return as a full-time DH, as it's going to take him a full year to return to playing the field. It was an injury that he suffered way back in June, but Fry played through it the rest of the way and was a first-time All-Star in 2024 in his first full MLB campaign, slashing .263/.356/.448 with an .804 OPS, 14 home runs, 51 RBI, four stolen bases and 44 runs scored in 122 games played for Cleveland. The 28-year-old right-handed hitter was mostly the Guardians' DH in the second half of the season after his injury. However, it remains to be seen if Fry will have similar success in 2025 after coming off a pretty serious procedure. It should at least have fantasy managers hesitant to invest at his elevated cost.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mandy Bell
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