3 weeks agoFree-agent outfielder/designated hitter
Andrew McCutchen re-signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday on a one-year deal worth $5 million, according to a source. Although McCutchen is clearly past his prime and is basically a full-time DH at this point in his career, the 38-year-old was highly coveted by the Pirates for his leadership skills in the clubhouse. In 448 at-bats over 120 games for Pittsburgh in 2024 in his 16th year in the big leagues, the five-time All-Star and former National League MVP hit .232/.328/.411 with a .739 OPS, 20 home runs, 50 RBI, three steals and 66 runs scored. McCutchen should once again be expected to serve as the team's full-time DH in 2025, and while he still has decent pop for his age, fantasy managers would be foolish to expect another season of 20 homers.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Alex Stumpf
3 weeks agoFree-agent designated hitter
Eloy Jimenez and the Tampa Bay Rays agreed to a minor-league deal on Monday, according to sources. The 28-year-old played for the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles this past season and is now hoping to rebuild his career with the Rays. The 28-year-old right-handed hitter slashed only .238/.289/.336 with six home runs in 98 total games in 2024 with the White Sox and Orioles and is no lock to make it back to the major-league level, let alone find a significant role in Tampa in 2025. The Dominican outfielder was once a prized prospect in the White Sox system, but injuries have mostly derailed his career -- Jimenez has played in over 100 games at the MLB level just twice, with one of them being his rookie year in 2019, when he hit a career-high 31 homers and drove in 79 runs. He did hit the ball hard last year, but he also was on the injured list twice.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN Chicago - Jesse Rogers
3 weeks agoFree-agent right-hander
Walker Buehler and the Boston Red Sox agreed to a one-year, $21.05 million deal on Monday, according to sources. The two-time All-Star will head to the American League East after helping the Los Angeles Dodgers win the World Series in October. Buehler can make more money in incentives in 2025 as he looks to bounce back from a frustrating 2024 season in which he had a bloated 5.38 ERA over 16 starts for the Dodgers in the regular season in his return from Tommy John surgery. The 30-year-old veteran was a high-end fantasy arm before undergoing elbow surgery. Although he looked much better in the playoffs with the Dodgers, Buehler has thrown only 140 1/3 innings in the last three seasons due to injury. If Buehler can stay healthy and regain some of his fastball velocity, he could be a fantasy bargain in a rebuilt Red Sox rotation.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
3 weeks agoStarting pitcher
Sean Manaea signed a three-year contract worth $75 million to return to the New York Mets. Manaea spent the entirety of the 2024 campaign in Queens. Across 181 2/3 innings, the left-handed pitcher held a 3.47 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. During the second-half of the summer, he held a stellar 0.94 WHIP. Under the hood, he generated a 3.75 xERA and .227 xBA which were both slightly above the average marks of qualified hitters. He also generated strikeouts at a solid 24.9% rate and allowed hard contact at a 37.8% hard-hit rate. However, he did hold a high 8.5% walk rate which placed him in the 41st percentile. Fantasy managers should expect Manaea to operate towards the front half of the Mets starting rotation during the 2025 campaign. The 32-year-old should be viewed as a high-floor investment for fantasy purposes as he should provide a reliable innings count with a solid ERA and a strong WHIP.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Passan
3 weeks agoAccording to Jeff Passan of ESPN, outfielder/designated hitter
Joc Pederson and the Texas Rangers have agreed on a contract, pending a physical. Despite only playing in a strict platoon role in Arizona last summer, Pederson was very effective, posting a strong .275/.393/.515 slash line with 17 doubles, 23 home runs, 64 RBI, and four stolen bases. He hit for a .291 average across 41 plate appearances when facing southpaws. The 32-year-old hit the ball very hard at an impressive 46.2% hard-hit rate and 12.8% barrel rate, which placed him in the 79th and 87th percentiles, respectively. He also generated a .480 xSLG and a .378 xwOBA, which were among the top marks of qualified hitters. Fantasy managers should expect Pederson to have a similar role with Texas, as he will likely operate as the starting designated hitter against right-handed pitching.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Passan
3 weeks agoThe Chicago Cubs have signed catcher
Carlos Perez to a minor league deal. This move occurred to add more positional depth within their system as they traded
Matt Thaiss to the Chicago White Sox earlier this offseason. Perez last appeared in the major leagues in the 2023 campaign as he spent all of last summer in the minor leagues. Across 112 games with the Las Vegas Aviators, the veteran backstop held a .260/.344/.544 line with 27 doubles, 27 home runs and 77 RBI. He held a 49:80 BB:K ratio. Through five seasons in the major leagues, Perez posted an overall .218/.265/.327 line with 17 home runs. Fantasy managers should expect Perez to open the season with Triple-A Iowa and would only get the call to the big leagues if
Miguel Amaya or
Carson Kelly were to go on the injured list.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Chicago Cubs
3 weeks agoAccording to Ari Alexander of KPRC2, right-handed pitcher
Austin Adams and the Boston Red Sox have agreed to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training. Last summer, the 33-year-old held a 3.92 ERA and a 1.48 ERA across 41 1/3 innings of work. Adams had his season cut short due to right forearm tendinitis but shout be expected to be ready for Spring Training. Under the hood, Adams generated a strong .208 xBA with a 4.9% barrel rate and a 31.4% hard-hit rate. He struck out batters at a solid 27.7% rate but struggled with his command as he held a 12.0% walk rate. Adams could earn a spot at the back-end of the Boston bullpen if he has a successful Spring Training but will likely not see many save opportunities.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Ari Alexander
3 weeks agoAccording to Baseball America, the Miami Marlins are acquiring shortstop prospect Starlyn Caba from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for left-handed pitcher
Jesus Luzardo. The Marlins have also acquired outfield prospect
Emaarion Boyd. Caba was considered the No.4 prospect in the Phillies system and No. 81 overall according to MLB Pipeline before the trade while Boyd was considered the No.23 in the Philadelphia system. Caba made his debut in the Rookie League during the 2023 campaign. Across a 38-game stint, the young infielder posted a .301/.423/.346 line with 16 swiped bags and an impressive 28:16 BB:K ratio. Last summer, Caba made 52 starts in the Rookie League and posted a .254/.427/.335 line with 37 swiped bags and an impressive 51:34 BB:K ratio. He then got a brief look at Single-A where he held a .179/.304/.189 across 26 games. Caba remains several seasons away from his big league debut but has shown a strong eye at the plate in the lower levels.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Baseball America
3 weeks agoAccording to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Texas Rangers have acquired left-handed relief pitcher
Robert Garcia from the Washington Nationals in exchange for first baseman
Nathaniel Lowe. Garcia made his major league debut with the Miami Marlins in 2023 but was eventually shipped to Washington later that summer. In 32 innings in 2023, the southpaw posted a 3.66 ERA and a 1.19. In 2024, Garcia posted a 4.22 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP across a 59 2/3 inning sample size. However, the 28-year-old generated an impressive 2.53 xERA which suggests he should be due for some significant positive regression with his new ball club. Garcia also generated a stellar 3.1% barrel rate and 30.2% hard-hit rate which placed him in the 98th percentile in both statistics. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on Garcia's usage during Spring Training as he may be in the mix for save opportunities.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
3 weeks agoAccording to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Washington Nationals have acquired first baseman
Nathaniel Lowe from the Texas Rangers in exchange for left-handed pitcher
Robert Garcia. Lowe has spent the past four seasons of his major league career playing in Texas. Last summer across 140 games, the 29-year-old posted a .265/.361/.401 line with 16 home runs, 16 doubles, 69 RBI, and two stolen bases. He held a stellar 12.6% walk rate which placed him the 97th percentile among qualified hitters. Lowe has hit at least 15+ home runs in each of the past four seasons while having an OBP of at least .357. Fantasy managers should expect Lowe to operate as the everyday first baseman in D.C. This transaction will also open the door for
Jake Burger to be the everyday first baseman in Texas, who the Rangers acquired earlier this offseason.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Passan
3
weeks
agoAccording
to
Robert
Murray
of
FanSided,
the
Philadelphia
Phillies
are
acquiring
starting
pitcher
Jesus
Luzardo
from
the
Miami
Marlins
in
exchange
for
infield
prospect
Starlyn
Caba
and
outfield
prospect
Emaarion
Boyd.
The
southpaw
battled
numerous
back
and
elbow
injuries
last
read more...
3 weeks agoRight-handed pitcher
Codi Heuer and the Texas Rangers have agreed on a minor league contract that has an invite to Spring Training. Heuer was sidelined throughout the entire 2024 campaign due to an elbow fracture. Heuer began his professional career with the Chicago White Sox but was eventually traded to the Chicago Cubs during the 2021 campaign. Across 91 career innings in the major leagues, the right-hander posted a 3.56 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. He tallied three saves and struck out 81 batters. When in the majors, Heuer posted an impressive 4.5% barrel rate and a solid 36.5% hard-hit rate. While he has battled numerous injuries over the past two seasons, he flashed decent upside when in the majors. Fantasy managers in deeper formats should keep an eye on his progression during Spring Training as he may contend for a spot on the Opening Day Roster.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Texas Rangers
3 weeks agoAccording to Robert Murray of FanSided, the Cincinnati Reds have signed right-handed pitcher
Bryan Shaw to a minor-league contract that has an invite to Spring Training. The 37-year-old has spent 14 seasons in the major leagues and has posted a 3.96 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. He has struck out 681 batters across 764 1/3 career innings. Last summer, he spent most of his time in Triple-A, and held a 4.14 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. Shaw was a productive relief pitcher under manager Terry Francona during his time in Cleveland and will now reunite with his former skipper in Cincinnati. If Shaw has a successful Spring Training, he may earn a permanent low-leverage role in the Cincinnati bullpen.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Robert Murray
3 weeks agoThe Toronto Blue Jays have signed left-handed pitcher
Eric Lauer to a minor league contract that contains an invite to Spring Training. Lauer spent the 2024 campaign with Houston and Pittsburgh. Lauer spent the entire summer at the Triple-A level and held a 5.26 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP across 75 1/3 innings. However, from 2018 through 2023, Lauer spent the majority of his time in the major leagues. The southpaw made his big league debut in San Diego in 2018 and then went on to spent four seasons in Milwaukee. He posted a career-best 3.19 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP with a 7-5 record across 118 2/3 innings during the 2021 season. Fantasy managers in deeper AL-only formats should keep an eye on his status during Spring Training as he may contend for a spot in the back-half of the Toronto rotation.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Toronto Blue Jays
3 weeks agoThe Toronto Blue Jays have signed right-handed pitcher
Eric Pardinho to a minor league contract that has an invite to Spring Training. Pardinho spent the 2024 campaign in the Toronto system splitting time between Double and Triple-A. Across 26 2/3 innings of relief at the Double-A level, the 23-year-old held a stellar 1.01 ERA and 0.90 WHIP. He tallied one save and struck out an impressive 37 batters across this stint. He then moved up to Triple-A Buffalo where he held a much higher 5.34 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP across a 28 1/3 innings of work. He struck out only 29 batters and served up 18 free passes. Pardinho will likely compete for a spot on the Opening Day Roster but should be expected to open the 2025 campaign at Triple-A given that he struggled at that level last summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Toronto Blue Jays
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