2 weeks agoAccording to MLB.com, the Athletics have invited first base prospect Nick Kurtz to spring training. Kurtz was selected with the fourth-overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Wake Forest. Entering the draft, Kurt was viewed as one of the top prospects and was widely considered to be the top available prospect, especially after posting a stellar .344/.498/.695 line with 39 home runs during his first two college seasons. However, Kurtz battled a shoulder injury during the 2024 collegiate season, which slightly lowered his draft stock. The 21-year-old was given a brief taste of Single-A ball last summer as he posted a .400/.571/.960 line across seven games. He then moved up to Double-A Midland, where he tallied four hits across five games. Fantasy managers in redraft formats should not be targeting him in drafts, but he could push for a late-season big league debut if he continues this trajectory in the upper levels of the minor leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 weeks agoAccording to the team, the Athletics have designated right-handed pitcher
Will Klein for assignment. This transaction opened the roster spot for right-handed pitcher
Jose Leclerc, who the team signed earlier on Friday. Klein was considered the No.16 best prospect on the team before being designated for assignment. The 25-year-old made his big league debut last summer but struggled as he allowed nine earned runs across his first seven 1/3 frames of work. However, he did strike out seven batters. Across 43 innings at the Triple-A level last summer, Klein posted a 3.77 ERA and a 1.43 WHI. He struck out 43 batters but struggled with his command as he served up 32 walks. If Klein finds a suitor, he will likely open the campaign at the Triple-A level.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: A' Communications
2
weeks
agoAccording
to
Jeff
Passan
of
ESPN,
the
Los
Angeles
Dodgers
have
signed
Japanese
starting
pitcher
Roki
Sasaki.
Sasaki
was
one
of
the
top
pitchers
on
the
free
agent
market
this
offseason.
Several
teams
held
meetings
with
Sasaki
throughout
the
offseason,
including
the
San
Diego
Padres,
Toronto
Blue
Jays,
read more...
2 weeks agoFree-agent right-hander reliever
Jose Leclerc and the Athletics agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal on Friday, according to sources. Leclerc will stay in the American League West after playing the first eight years of his MLB career with the Texas Rangers. The 31-year-old struggled to a 4.32 ERA (3.48 FIP) in 66 2/3 relief innings and only had one save with Texas in 2024, but he did have a strikeout rate over 30 percent, and his 3.48 FIP shows he was a bit unlucky. In addition to generating plenty of swings and misses, Leclerc can be wild on the mound, which makes him a volatile fantasy option as a high-leverage arm. He began last year as the Rangers closer but was quickly demoted after giving up runs in four of his first five appearances. The A's already have
Mason Miller locked into their closer role, but Leclerc should be the eighth-inning setup man and could be quite useful in leagues that reward holds.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
2 weeks agoThe New York Mets agreed with free-agent left-handed reliever
A.J. Minter (hip) on a two-year deal worth $22 million on Friday, pending a physical. Minter was moved to the 60-day injured list in August of last year and missed the rest of the 2024 season due to a hip injury. The 31-year-old southpaw was a former second-round selection by the Atlanta Braves in 2015 out of Texas A&M and made his big-league debut with the Braves back in 2017. All eight of his major-league campaigns came in Atlanta and he's posted a 3.28 career ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 36 saves, 422 strikeouts and 123 walks in his 348 2/3 innings pitched. In New York, he'll boost the Mets' bullpen as an experienced left-handed setup arm in high-leverage positions, but he's not going to see many, if any at all, save chances as long as closer
Edwin Diaz stays healthy.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Joel Sherman
2 weeks agoHouston Astros infield prospect Cam Smith, who was acquired from the Chicago Cubs this offseason in the trade that sent outfielder
Kyle Tucker to Chicago, will be at major-league spring training as a non-roster invitee, according to the team. In addition to Smith, who is listed as Houston's No. 1 prospect per MLB Pipeline, shortstop/third base prospect
Brice Matthews (No. 4) will be in camp with the Astros. At Single-A Myrtle Beach, High-A South Bend and Double-A Tennessee last year, Smith hit an impressive .313/.396/.609 with a 1.004 OPS, seven home runs, 24 RBI and 20 runs scored, albeit in just 32 games played after he was the 14th overall pick in June out of Florida State. Smith will most likely begin the 2025 season at Double-A Corpus Christi, but he's now in line to be the team's third baseman of the future with the Astros moving on from
Alex Bregman this offseason.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
2
weeks
agoNow
that
the
New
York
Mets
aren't
expecting
to
re-sign
first
baseman
Pete
Alonso,
their
current
plan
is
to
shift
Mark
Vientos
across
the
diamond
from
third
base
to
first
and
have
young
infielders
read more...
2 weeks agoAtlanta Braves outfielder
Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) looked good taking batting practice in his home country of Venezuela earlier this week in a video that was posted by a professional baseball academy in Venezuela on Instagram. Acuna suffered a second ACL tear, this time to his left knee, at the end of May of last season and missed the rest of the year. It's good to see the 2023 National League MVP, four-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger and 2018 NL Rookie of the Year swinging the bat before this offseason, but there's still a good chance he won't be ready to go for Opening Day in 2025. In 2023, Acuna was the first player in MLB history to hit 40 homers and steal 70 bases. The 27-year-old is an elite ballplayer, but ACL tears to both of his knees in a three-year span brings along plenty of risk for long-term sustainability.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: SI.com - Harrison Smajovits
2 weeks agoThe Toronto Blue Jays announced on Friday that they have acquired outfielder
Myles Straw, cash and international bonus signing-pool space for the 2025 period from the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Straw doesn't really move the needle all that much offensively, but he did win a Gold Glove in 2022. Cleveland will cover $3.75 million of the $15.5 million that the 30-year-old is still owed and will send a total of $2 million in bonus-pool money to the Jays. Straw fell on hard times in the big leagues in 2024 and only ended up playing in seven games with the Guardians before being sent to the minors, where he slashed .240/.321/.330 with three homers, 47 RBI and 30 steals in 123 games for Triple-A Columbus. Speed is his main draw (89 thefts in seven big-league seasons), and he'll open the 2025 campaign as outfield depth for Toronto.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Toronto Blue Jays
2 weeks agoOutfielder
Jarren Duran and the Boston Red Sox agreed to a one-year, $3.85 million deal on Friday to avoid salary arbitration, according to sources. The deal also includes a team option for $8 million for the 2026 season. The Red Sox initially filed at $3.5 million in arbitration, with Duran asking for $4 million, but the two sides will now avoid going to trial. Depending on where the 28-year-old rising star finishes in the American League MVP voting this year, his club option in 2026 could rise to $12 million. Duran was in the first of four arbitration years and has an extra year of eligibility due to Super 2 status. The former seventh-round pick in 2018 out of Cal State Long Beach built on an impressive 2023 campaign to hit .285/.342/.492 with 21 homers, 75 RBI and 34 steals in 160 games. He led the league in doubles (48) and triples (14) and is RotoBaller's No. 22 overall fantasy player heading into spring training.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
2 weeks agoMLB.com's Francys Romero reports that according to multiple sources, the San Diego Padres are out of the sweepstakes for Japanese free-agent right-hander Roki Sasaki. Instead, the Padres will begin their international signings of Jhoan De La Cruz and Carlos Alvarez ($1 million) on Friday. A report earlier this week suggested that the Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays were the three finalists for Sasaki's services. The Dodgers have been considered the favorites to land the Japanese phenom all offseason, and they also had the privilege of the last in-person meeting with Sasaki. MLB Network's Jon Morosi reports that Sasaki has been very impressed with the Dodgers and is very connected with right-hander
Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The 23-year-old Sasaki comes with durability concerns but has a high ceiling as a fantasy asset heading into his rookie year thanks to a 100-plus mph fastball and a four-pitch mix.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Francys Romero
2 weeks agoAccording to MLB.com, the Tampa Bay Rays have signed right-handed pitcher
Andrew Wantz to a minor-league deal. The 29-year-old spent most of the season with Triple-A before suffering a season-ending elbow injury. Through 23 1/3 innings with Triple-A Salt Lake, Wants posted a 6.17 ERA and 1.63 WHIP. Through 118 1/3 career innings in the major leagues, Wantz has posted a 3.88 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. He struck out 126 batters over this stretch while operating primarily out of the bullpen. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during spring training as he could contend for a spot on the Opening Day roster. If he were to make the Rays roster, he would likely be deployed as a middle-relief option out of the bullpen.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 weeks agoMLB Pipeline named Kansas City Royals prospect
Jac Caglianone as the top first base prospect in the sport. The Royals drafted Caglianone with the sixth-overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Florida. With the Gators, the 21-year-old launched a school record 35 home runs during his final season and led the nation with 33 as a sophomore. Caglianone has also succeeded as a pitcher but is not expected to take the mound in 2025. He earned a brief look at High-A ball last summer. Through his first 29 games, the 21-year-old held a .241/.302/.388 line with nine doubles, two home runs, and two stolen bases. MLB Pipeline notes that Caglianone carries 40+ home run upside with elite contact. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his development, but he is not expected to have value in redraft formats this season. However, Caglianone could see his value in dynasty formats increase significantly if his power production from college begins to transfer to the minor leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
2 weeks agoAccording to Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, right-handed pitcher
Hunter Stratton (knee) is expected to be ready for spring training. Stratton underwent a season-ending knee operation to repair a ruptured patella tendon but recently posted a video of himself throwing off a mound on his personal social media. Stratton inked a minor-league deal earlier this offseason with the Pirates, but seeing his current status, he will likely contribute in the major league bullpen through most of the 2025 season. Last summer, the 28-year-old logged 37 2/3 innings to the tune of a 3.58 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. He showed strong command with a 4.4% walk rate and generated a solid 3.29 xERA, which suggests he could be in store for some positive regression in 2025. He will likely return to a high-leverage role this upcoming season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Noah Hiles
2 weeks agoAccording to the team, St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect
Quinn Mathews is being invited to spring training. Mathews enjoyed a fantastic campaign last summer and is a budding ace in the Cardinals system. The former fourth-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft made his professional debut with Single-A last season. However, the southpaw progressed through the entire pipeline and finished the season by getting a brief taste of Triple-A. The left-handed pitcher looked sharp at Double-A as he held a 2.41 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP with 70 strikeouts across 52 2/3 innings. He struggled in Triple-A, as he allowed 12 runs through 16 frames. However, seeing the 24-year-old progress at that pace in his first professional season is impressive. Earlier this offseason, it was reported that the Cardinals had already begun trade discussions with starting pitchers
Erick Fedde and
Steven Matz. This could open the door for an early 2025 debut, especially if he can turn the corner at Triple-A.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: St. Louis Cardinals
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