1 week agoFree-agent left-hander
Chasen Shreve signed a minor-league deal with the Atlanta Braves on Monday that includes in invitation to major-league spring training. Shreve will make $1.3 million if he's in the big leagues in 2025. Shreve signed a minor-league deal with the Texas Rangers last February but ended up pitching just one inning in the big leagues last year with the Colorado Rockies. At the Triple-A level with three different organizations (Rockies, Rangers and Yankees), Shreve held a 2.62 ERA and 0.85 WHIP with a save, 35 strikeouts and 12 walks in 34 1/3 innings over 31 appearances out of the bullpen. The 34-year-old veteran southpaw will just be trying to win an Opening Day roster spot this spring as bullpen depth in Atlanta. After debuting in the majors in 2014 with Atlanta, Shreve has a career 3.96 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 357 innings with only two saves.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
1 week agoUSA TODAY's Bob Nightengale reports that the Los Angeles Dodgers have added more bullpen depth with left-hander
Tanner Scott and right-hander
Kirby Yates in recent days with right-hander
Michael Kopech (undisclosed) expected to possibly miss the first month of the regular season. At this time, it's unknown what type of ailment Kopech is dealing with, but the hard-throwing 28-year-old probably won't pitch in spring training. Stay tuned for more details on his injury. If he's not ready for Opening Day, expect Scott to serve as LA's primary closer, with Yates and
Evan Phillips working in high-leverage setup roles for the defending World Series champions. Kopech leaned more on his elite fastball in 2024 to excellent results, posting a league-best 34% whiff rate on his four-seamer. He had 15 saves, 10 holds and six wins with LA and the White Sox, but his injury will drop his fantasy appeal heading into the 2025 season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: USA TODAY Sports - Bob Nightengale
1 week agoThe Los Angeles Dodgers reached a tentative agreement with free-agent closer
Kirby Yates on Tuesday, pending a physical. It comes after the Dodgers just signed left-handed closer
Tanner Scott to a four-year, $72 million deal over the weekend. The Dodgers have fortified their bullpen with two big arms in a matter of days, which makes sense after a report that right-handed reliever
Michael Kopech (undisclosed) could miss the first month of the regular season due to an undisclosed injury. Yates, 37, was excellent for the Texas Rangers last season with a 1.17 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 33 saves, 85 strikeouts and only 28 walks in 61 2/3 relief innings. However, he will be hard-pressed to improve on those elite numbers in 2025, especially since he's unlikely to see many save opportunities while residing in the same bullpen as Scott and Kopech. Still, Yates will be highly coveted in holds leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: USA TODAY Sports - Bob Nightengale
1 week agoAccording to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, the Boston Red Sox are not expected to re-sign free-agent relief pitcher
Kenley Jansen. The team remains linked to several of the top relief pitchers, but Jansen will likely not return to Boston. The 37-year-old spent the past two seasons with the Red Sox and held a 3.44 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP across 99 1/3 innings of work. He tallied 56 saves with 114 strikeouts. Cotillo noted that given how his time in Boston ended last season, the door is likely closed on a reunion. During the final weeks, Jansen was placed on the injured list and did not travel with the team. In addition, before the team's final three games, the reliever cleaned out his locker and went home. Jansen spent most of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2010 through 2021. Throughout the offseason, the right-hander has been linked to several teams, including the Toronto Blue Jays.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Chris Cotillo
1 week agoAccording to Alex Stumpf of MLB.com, the Pittsburgh Pirates have designated infielder
Tristan Gray for assignment. This transaction opened a roster spot for
Andrew McCutchen, who was added to the Pittsburgh roster on a one-year contract. Over the past two seasons, Gray has appeared in just 15 games at the major league level. Across this small stint, the Rice product held a .152/.222/.273 line and hit just one extra-base hit. Through 112 games at the Triple-A level last summer, Gray posted a solid .251/.322/.467 line with 25 doubles, 19 home runs, and a 41:121 BB:K ratio. This was very similar to the .235/.312/.485 line he held during the 2023 campaign at the top level of the minor leagues. Gray is expected to spend most of the 2025 season in the minor leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Alex Stumpf
1 week agoAccording to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Cincinnati Reds have signed left-handed pitcher
Alex Young to a minor-league contract that includes an invite to spring training. Young logged just 15 2/3 innings of major league play last season and performed well with a 2.87 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. Through 32 innings at the Triple-A level, Young posted a strong 2.81 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. During the 2023 campaign, Young held a 3.86 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP across 53 2/3 innings of work. While Young has begun to turn the corner in the major leagues, he has battled numerous injuries, which has limited his production. Fantasy managers should expect the southpaw to compete for a spot in the Cincinnati bullpen during spring training.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman
1 week agoAccording to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Pittsburgh Pirates have signed right-handed pitcher
Ryder Ryan to a minor-league deal that includes an invite to spring training. Ryder logged 20 2/3 innings with the Pirates last season and posted a 5.66 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. He struck out 17 batters and posted a high 9.7% walk rate. Through 41 innings with Triple-A Indianapolis, Ryan posted a 4.61 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP with a 15:34 BB:K ratio. Across 200 1/3 career frames at the Triple-A level, the North Carolina product holds a 4.31 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Fantasy managers should expect Ryan to compete for a spot in the bullpen during spring training but will likely open the campaign at Triple-A given his lack of big league experience and success.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman
1 week agoAccording to Ari Alexander of KPRC2, right-handed pitcher
Nick Anderson is drawing interest from multiple clubs. Alexander noted that Alexander will likely sign a one-year deal. The 34-year-old went to the Baseball Performance Center over the offseason and added a split-change to his arsenal. Last season, Anderson logged 35 2/3 innings with the Kansas Royals. He posted a 4.04 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP with 29 strikeouts before being released in July. During the 2023 season, the right-hander posted a strong 3.06 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP across 35 1/3 innings with the Atlanta Braves. If Anderson were to find a suitor, he would likely have a role as a middle-relief option out of the bullpen and could eventually return to a high-leverage role.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Ari Alexander
1 week agoAccording to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the San Francisco Giants have signed left-handed pitcher
Joey Lucchesi to a minor-league deal that includes an invite to spring training. The 31-year-old logged just 10 innings in the major leagues last season and spent most of the season with Triple-A Syracuse. Across his small stint with the Mets, the veteran southpaw posted a 5.23 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. Through 115 innings at the Triple-A level, Lucchesi held a 4.70 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. He struck out 86 batters but struggled with his command, as he served up 56 walks. While he struggled in 2024, Lucchesi posted a solid 2.89 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP across 46 2/3 innings in the majors in 2023. Fantasy managers should expect him to compete for a long-relief role in the San Francisco bullpen during spring training.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman
1 week agoAccording to Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Dodgers had interest in free-agent relief pitcher
Kirby Yates before signing left-hander
Tanner Scott. Harris noted that throughout the offseason, the Dodgers evaluated several of the top relief pitchers, including Yates. However, the team always viewed Scott as the top option. Last season, Scott posted a strong 1.75 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP with 84 strikeouts across 72 innings of work last season. Fantasy managers should expect Scott to be deployed as the top ninth-inning option in Los Angeles, given the four-year $72 million contract he received. Yates enjoyed an impressive campaign in 2024 as he posted a stellar 1.17 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP across 61 innings. He tallied 33 saves and 85 punchouts for the Texas Rangers. Yates now sits as one of, if not the top relief pitcher on the market and will likely be deployed as a closer with his new club.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jack Harris
1 week agoAccording to Aram Leighton of Just BB Media, the Chicago Cubs have signed right-handed pitcher
Trevor Richards to a minor-league deal. Richards logged 65 1/3 innings at the major league level across stints with the Toronto Blue Jays and the Minnesota Twins. He posted a 4.55 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP and was deployed primarily out of the bullpen. He struck out batters at a low 22.4% K rate and struggled with his command as he held a hefty 12.6% walk rate. However, he generated a 3.62 xERA and a 2.05 xBA, both above the average marks. During the 2023 season, Richards posted a similar 4.95 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP through 72 2/3 innings. However, that season, he struck out batters at an impressive 33.3% rate. Richards will likely compete for a spot in the bullpen during spring training.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Aram Leighton
1
week
agoAccording
to
Scott
Mitchell
of
TSN
Sports,
free-agent
first
baseman
Pete
Alonso
is
still
"in
play"
for
the
Toronto
Blue
Jays.
Earlier
on
Monday,
the
Blue
Jays
signed
outfielder
Anthony
Santander
to
a
five-year
deal
worth
$92.5
million,
but
the
read more...
1 week agoAccording to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com, the Toronto Blue Jays have designated left-handed pitcher
Brandon Eisert for assignment. This transaction opened a roster spot for outfielder
Anthony Santander, who the team signed to a five-year contract earlier on Monday. Eisert made his major league debut last summer. Across a small six 2/3 inning stint, the southpaw allowed three earned runs with a 4:2 BB:K ratio. Through 53 2/3 innings at Triple-A Buffalo, Eisert posted a 3.86 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. He struck out 66 batters. This was a slight improvement compared to the 4.17 ERA and the 1.32 WHIP he posted with Triple-A Buffalo during the 2023 season. Given his lack of major league experience and success, Eisert will likely spend most of the 2025 season in the minor leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Keegan Matheson
1 week agoSt. Louis Cardinals left-hander
Matthew Liberatore, who served as a dependable reliever for the team in 2024, said that he's preparing to be a starter in spring training and for the 2025 regular season. "It's easier to go from five innings to one than one to five," Liberatore said. MLB's John Denton writes that the key for Liberatore will be getting better against right-handed hitters, and that could ultimately determine if the Cardinals are comfortable giving him a starting-rotation spot to begin the regular season. The 25-year-old southpaw and former first-rounder by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018 held a 4.40 ERA and 1.23 WHIP overall with a career-high 76 strikeouts and 28 walks in 86 innings over 60 outings (six starts) for St. Louis last year, but he had an ERA under 4.00 in relief. In his career as a starter, Liberatore holds an ERA just south of 6.00.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - John Denton
1 week agoDerrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that St. Louis Cardinals outfielder
Jordan Walker has been working with new hitting coach Brant Brown to retool and rediscover his swing this offseason for what he hopes will be a bounce-back season in 2025. Brown discovered that Walker's hands were separating from his body too soon in his swing last year, and his balance was also inconsistent with the wider stance he used. The 22-year-old will now try to be more of a gap-to-gap hitter instead of trying to mostly loft balls over the fences. The former first-round pick struggled to a .201/.253/.366 slash line with a weak .619 OPS in 51 big-league games in 2024, leading to a minor-league demotion. Walker looked better down the stretch, but his strikeout and walk rates regressed. The good news going into 2025 is that the former top prospect should get a longer leash in St. Louis with the Cards prioritizing giving their young players more playing time.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
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