2 weeks agoFree-agent pitcher
Jeff Hoffman is reportedly seeking a deal in the range that fellow reliever
Clay Holmes signed earlier this offseason. Holmes signed with the New York Mets on a three-year deal worth $38 million. Hoffman is hopeful to get a similar deal after posting back-to-back solid seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies. Holmes signed with the Mets in hopes of transitioning to the starting rotation. It's possibly that Hoffman wants to make a similar move considering he began his career as a starting pitcher with the Colorado Rockies. There doesn't seem to be a ton of interest in Hoffman right now, but they'll likely change once Roki Sasaki signs somewhere.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Matt Gelb
2 weeks agoAccording to Will Sammon of The Athletic, the New York Mets are unlikely to pursue free-agent third baseman
Alex Bregman. Sammon said that the Mets do not view Bregman as a long-term option, and he is currently looking for a long-term contract on the open market. While he did not rule out a potential signing, he views it as very unlikely. Throughout the offseason, the Detroit Tigers have been viewed as "favorites" to land Bregman, in addition to the Boston Red Sox, among other clubs. As a result, this suggests that the Mets view
Mark Vientos as their starting third baseman heading into the 2025 campaign. Last summer, the 25-year-old enjoyed a breakout campaign by hitting 27 home runs with a .266/.322/.516 slash line. Vientos was very effective in the postseason as well, posting a stellar .327/.367/.636 line.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Will Sammon
2 weeks agoAccording to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic, the San Francisco Giants could be losing interest on free-agent first baseman
Pete Alonso. While Alonso was initially linked to the Giants earlier in free agency, it seems the Giants may opt to go in a different direction. Baggarly notes that since the Giants already sacrificed two draft picks after acquiring shortstop
Willy Adames earlier this offseason, they will likely not entertain a contract with Alonso due to the fact they would have to sacrifice additional picks to acquire him. Instead, the Giants would rather target an infielder to create a more "athletic, and dynamic scoring environment." While Alonso lacks speed, he would bring an elite power bat to their starting nine, as he's hit at least 34 home runs in each full season of his career. This would leave
LaMonte Wade Jr. as their current first baseman. Last summer, Wade posted a solid .260/.380/.381 slash line with an excellent 15.5% walk rate.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Andrew Baggarly
2 weeks agoAccording to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Los Angeles Angels are "looking at" free-agent first baseman
Pete Alonso. Heyman noted that he does believe owner Arte Moreno is trying to get another impact bat in the lineup. If Alonso were to sign with the Halos, first baseman
Nolan Schanuel would move to the outfield. However, Heyman said that free-agent outfielder
Anthony Santander "is probably more likely" to sign in Los Angeles than Alonso. Alonso would provide some much-needed power to the Angels lineup that also brought in designated hitter
Jorge Soler earlier this offseason. Last summer in Queens, Alonso held a .240/.329/.459 slash line with 34 home runs. Under the hood, he generated a strong .343 xwOBA, 13.2% barrel rate, and a 46.4% hard-hit rate. Alonso has also been in contract discussions with the New York Mets throughout the offseason.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman
2 weeks agoAccording to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, the Philadelphia Phillies could seek a trade partner for infielder
Kody Clemens. According to Gelb, the Phillies have several infield left-handed bats which could make it difficult for Clemens to make the roster. Gelb further noted that if Clemens has a successful camp he could be put on the trade block. This means that
Weston Wilson and
Buddy Kennedy would have a more favorable chance to break the Opening Day roster. Last summer, Clemens held a .219/.258/.447 line with five home runs and nine doubles across 44 games. The 28-year-old holds a career .200/.246/.373 line across three major league seasons. Even if Clemens does make the Opening Day roster, he should not be on your fantasy radar given his lack of stable success in the majors.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Matt Gelb
2 weeks agoThe Cleveland Guardians signed free-agent right-hander
Luis Frias to a minor-league deal on Thursday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training camp. Frias will join Cleveland this year after spending time with both the Arizona Diamondbacks and Toronto Blue Jays in 2024. In only 9 2/3 innings pitched in 11 appearances in relief, Frias allowed a whopping 16 runs (15 earned) on 19 hits (two homers) while walking seven and striking out 12. However, the 26-year-old Dominican did post a 1.35 ERA during the Diamondbacks' run to the World Series in the fall of 2023. Most of his struggles in 2024 could be attributed to a right-shoulder injury that he dealt with. Frias could bounce back with Cleveland in 2025 if he stays healthy and could be a decent source of strikeouts in deep holds leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: GuardsInsider
2 weeks agoFree-agent designated hitter/first baseman
Mike Ford signed a minor-league deal with the Minnesota Twins on Thursday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, according to a source. Ford will try to win a roster spot with the Twins out of spring training in 2025 after hitting .150 (9-for-60) with a homer, four RBI and two runs scored in only 17 games played for the Cincinnati Reds this past season. The 32-year-old veteran left-handed hitter finished last year in Japan while playing for the Yokohama DeNA Baystars. Ford made his major-league debut with the New York Yankees back in 2019 and has a career .205/.298/.402 slash line with a .700 OPS, 37 home runs and 89 RBI in 781 plate appearances over 251 games in six seasons. The Twins have an opening at first base for 2025, but at best, Ford will likely be a bench bat for Minnesota.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB Network - Jon Morosi
2 weeks agoThe Kansas City Royals announced on Thursday that they re-signed left-hander
Austin Cox to a minor-league deal. Cox will return to the Royals after he went 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 65 strikeouts and 40 walks in 60 2/3 innings over 42 appearances (five starts) for Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha in the minors in 2024. The 27-year-old southpaw was drafted by the Royals in the fifth round back in 2018 out of Mercer University. He made his major-league debut with Kansas City in 2023 and made 24 appearances (three starts), finishing with a 4.54 ERA (3.73 FIP), a 1.26 WHIP, his first career save and a 33:17 K:BB in 35 2/3 innings pitched. Cox is most likely to open the 2025 campaign back at Omaha while giving the Royals some left-handed pitching depth out of the bullpen.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Kansas City Royals
2 weeks agoAccording to the transaction log on MLB.com, former power-hitting prospect
Moises Gomez has agreed to a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres. Gomez was released by the Cardinals at the end of July after a rough season in Triple-A. He hit only .194 with three home runs in 45 minor league games in 2024, but he has shown signs of turning things around in winter ball. In Venezuela, he is hitting .273/.396/.613 with 15 home runs in 48 games this winter. Earlier in his career, the right-handed hitter had 39 minor league homers in 2022 and 30 homers in 2023. In his previous work at Triple-A, he has shown plenty of power but also posted a very high strikeout rate. It's unclear if his new deal will include an invite to Spring Training, but if he can rediscover his power stroke, he could be a prospect to monitor since he's still just 26 years old.
--Zach Thompson - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2
weeks
agoAccording
to
MLB
Network's
Jon
Heyman,
the
market
for
veteran
starting
pitcher
Max
Scherzer
is
starting
to
heat
up
a
bit
as
we
head
into
2025.
Heyman
reports
there
are
four
teams
involved
in
the
market
but
did
not
identify
exactly
who
is
read more...
2
weeks
agoOutfielder
Anthony
Santander
is
one
of
the
biggest
bats
remaining
on
the
free
agent
market,
and
the
top
two
suitors
for
the
30-year-old
at
this
point
are
the
Toronto
Blue
Jays
and
the
Detroit
Tigers,
according
to
MLB
Network's
Jon
Morosi.
Both
teams
read more...
2
weeks
agoAccording
to
Scott
Merkin
of
MLB.com,
infielder
Josh
Rojas
has
agreed
to
a
one-year
deal
with
the
Chicago
White
Sox.
Before
being
non-tendered
earlier
this
offseason
by
the
Mariners,
Rojas
hit
.225
with
a
.286
wOBA
and
91
wRC+.
He
hit
eight
home
runs
read more...
2 weeks agoAccording to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the New York Mets and free-agent first baseman
Pete Alonso remain apart on the potential length of his new contract. Heyman noted that, "I do think the years are the hang-up right now," when discussing the current state of their negotiations. While they may be on the same page in terms of money, both sides remain apart on the length of a new contract. Alonso is one of the top bats remaining on the free-agent market and is the clear top first baseman available. He has spent his entire six-year MLB career in Queens. Last summer, Alonso hit 34 home runs with a .240/.329/.459 slash line. Alonso has gone deep at least 30 times in each of his full seasons, excluding the 2020 season. If Alonso were to return to the Mets, he would continue to bat in the top half of a lineup that is welcoming
Juan Soto.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Dan Bartels
2 weeks agoAccording to Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the San Diego Padres held a meeting with free agent Roki Sasaki. According to sources, almost "20" teams are vying for the overseas superstar. Earlier this offseason, it was reported that the Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers were viewed as the "frontrunners" for the right-hander. In the 2024 season, the hard-throwing right-hander struck out 129 batters across 111 innings of work in the NPB. He posted a strong 2.35 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. The 23-year-old is viewed as one of the top pitchers on the current free-agent market despite him not having pitched in an MLB setting. His agent Joel Wolfe has told teams that Sasaki may prefer to pitch in a smaller market which could continue to add teams to the bidding war. With
Joe Musgrove (elbow) recovering from Tommy John surgery, Sasaki would have a definitive rotation spot in San Diego if he were to sign there.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Sanders
2 weeks agoAccording to James Fegan of Baseball America, the Chicago White Sox designated shortstop
Braden Shewmake for assignment to make room for left-handed pitcher
Tyler Gilbert. The White Sox acquired Gilbert from the Philadelphia Phillies earlier on Wednesday. Shewmake appeared in 29 games with the White Sox last summer and held a poor .125/.134/.203 slash line with two doubles, one home run and five stolen bases. Across 209 career games at the Triple-A level, the infielder has posted a career .239/.299/.395 line with 23 home runs and 36 stolen bases. If Shewmake finds a new club, he will likely spend most of the 2025 campaign in the minor leagues given his struggles in the big leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: James Fegan
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