2 weeks agoNew York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said on Monday at the MLB winter meetings that it "makes sense" to move outfielder
Aaron Judge back to right field in 2025 after failing to re-sign superstar outfielder
Juan Soto in free agency. And with Judge likely going back to right field, outfield prospect
Jasson Dominguez is a leading candidate for starting center-field duties. The 32-year-old Judge's outfield positioning likely won't matter to most fantasy managers. A toe injury in 2023 limited the power-hitter to only 37 long balls and 75 RBI in 106 games, but the six-time All-Star bounced back in a big way in 2024 to win his second MVP award by leading the league in homers (58), RBI (144), walks (133), on-base percentage (.458), slugging (.701), OPS (1.159) and total bases (392). RBI opportunities might not be as plentiful with Soto now in Queens, but otherwise Judge is an elite class of power.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
2 weeks agoSan Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt said on Monday at the MLB winter meetings that the club expects to be in the running to sign Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki this offseason. "We fully expect to be right there in the mix and at the end of the day have Sasaki a Padre," Shildt said. No matter what, the Friars skipper expects the club to make a big addition to their starting rotation for the 2025 campaign. The 23-year-old was officially posted on Monday by the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball, which opens Sasaki's 45-day posting window to sign with an MLB club. He'll be an incredible value for clubs pursuing him. In addition to the Padres and Dodgers, the Giants, Cubs, Rangers and Mets are expected to be involved. Sasaki has the potential to be a front-line starter for years to come, but he's also young and inexperienced and has had durability issues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM
2
weeks
agoNew
York
Yankees
general
manager
Brian
Cashman
said
that
it
"makes
sense"
to
move
outfielder
Aaron
Judge
back
to
right
field
in
2025
after
the
team
failed
to
re-sign
superstar
outfielder
Juan
Soto.
Manager
Aaron
Boone
mentioned
outfield
read more...
2
weeks
agoBoston
Red
Sox
manager
Alex
Cora
said
he
can
"guarantee"
he
hasn't
had
any
talks
with
third
baseman
Rafael
Devers
this
offseason
about
moving
him
off
the
hot
corner.
There
have
been
talks
around
the
league
that
the
Red
Sox
could
look
to
read more...
2
weeks
agoThe
New
York
Yankees
and
New
York
Mets
are
now
both
vying
for
Chicago
White
Sox
left-hander
Garrett
Crochet
via
trade
after
just
competing
in
a
bidding
war
for
superstar
outfielder
Juan
Soto,
according
to
sources.
read more...
2 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he expects two-way superstar
Shohei Ohtani (shoulder) to be ready to hit in the season-opening series in Tokyo, Japan, against the Chicago Cubs, but he's unlikely to pitch in the series. Ohtani had Tommy John surgery in 2023 and did not pitch at all during the 2024 campaign, but it didn't stop him from winning his third MVP award in the last four seasons by making history with 54 home runs, 130 RBI and 59 RBI while also leading the league in runs (134), on-base percentage (.390), slugging percentage (.646), OPS (1.036) and total bases (411). The Japanese superstar will be more attractive as a hitter in fantasy in 2025, but he still has ace potential on the mound in his first year back from TJ surgery. Ohtani is a unicorn on the baseball field and became the only player in MLB history with 50-plus homers and 50-plus steals in a single season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: FOX Sports - Rowan Kavner
2
weeks
agoLos
Angeles
Dodgers
general
manager
Brandon
Gomes
said
on
Monday
that
outfielder
Mookie
Betts
is
preparing
to
play
shortstop
in
2025.
It
means
that
Tommy
Edman
would
be
the
club's
regular
center
fielder,
while
read more...
2
weeks
agoSan
Francisco
Giants
president
of
baseball
operations
Buster
Posey
said
on
Monday
that
he
views
infielder
Tyler
Fitzgerald
as
the
team's
starting
second
baseman
going
into
the
2025
season
and
has
already
discussed
it
with
the
young
infielder.
read more...
2 weeks agoSan Francisco Giants president of baseball operations
Buster Posey said on Monday at the winter meetings that right-hander
Jordan Hicks will remain in the starting rotation in 2025. In his first full season as a starter in the big leagues in his first year with the Giants in 2024, the hard-throwing Hicks did very well but broke down in the second half and was then shifted to the bullpen to monitor his workload. He finished 4-7 with a 4.10 ERA (4.37 FIP), a 1.45 WHIP, one save, a career-high 96 strikeouts and 47 walks in a career-high 109 2/3 innings over 29 outings (20 starts). The 28-year-old should be better positioned to handle the elevated workload next year, but he'll fantasy managers shouldn't forget about his shoulder injuries from this past season. In his first 12 starts in 2024, Hicks had a 2.70 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 52:19 K:BB before falling apart in his final eight starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NBC Sports Bay Area - Alex Pavlovic
2 weeks agoThe Houston Astros are receiving trade inquiries on outfielder
Kyle Tucker this offseason, according to multiple people familiar with the talks. It could cause a bidding war for one of the best overall players in the game. Sources think that general manager Dana Brown is open to trading one of Tucker or left-hander
Framber Valdez, both of whom are set to make more than $15 million during their final year of arbitration eligibility. Houston is already shopping reliever
Ryan Pressly as they look for ways to clear payroll. No trade discussions are currently serious for Tucker. A trade of Tucker or Valdez would bring the kind of prospect talent that would help the Astros replenish their floundering farm system. Although Tucker missed considerable time in 2024 with a shin injury, he'll still be a highly coveted fantasy bat next year. The three-time All-Star has 20.9 wins above replacement since becoming a regular in 2020, which is fourth-best among MLB outfielders.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
2 weeks agoFree-agent veteran right-hander
Alex Cobb agreed with the Detroit Tigers on an undisclosed one-year deal on Monday, according to sources. The contract is pending a physical. The Tigers had been looking for a cheap one-year deal for a starting pitcher this offseason, and they'll land on the 37-year-old Cobb, who has familiarity with president of baseball operations Scott Harris from their time together with the San Francisco Giants. Cobb began 2024 with San Fran but then joined the Cleveland Guardians in the second half, but he appeared in just 16 1/3 regular-season innings due to multiple injuries. He was good when healthy, though, with a 2.76 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in his three starts. Cobb has the track record to be a solid midrange starter for Detroit, but he's injury-prone late in his career and doesn't strike out many batters, limiting his fantasy upside.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
2 weeks agoFree-agent catcher
Carson Kelly and the Chicago Cubs are making progress toward a deal, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman. The Cubs currently have
Miguel Amaya as their primary catcher while being backed up by former Angels backstop Matt Thais. If Chicago were to add Kelly, he'd be Amaya's primary backup in 2025. The 30-year-old was a former second-rounder by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2012 and has nine years of MLB experience with four different teams. He's bounced around a lot the last two years and spent 2024 with the Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers, slashing a combined .238/.313/.374 with nine home runs and 37 RBI in 91 games. Most of his production came back in Arizona, particularly in 2019, when he hit .245 with a career-high 18 homers. Kelly has decent pop and is a decent defender but won't have much fantasy appeal in a backup role to Amaya.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
2
weeks
agoThe
Detroit
Tigers
have
kicked
the
tires
on
free-agent
first
baseman
Christian
Walker
this
offseason
as
they
search
for
a
right-handed
bat.
However,
the
Tigers
may
not
be
willing
to
get
aggressive
enough
for
Walker
if
big-market
teams
get
involved
in
the
bidding.
Walker
read more...
2 weeks agoThe Detroit Tigers are interested in signing free-agent infielder
Ha-Seong Kim (shoulder) as they look to add a right-handed bat this offseason. Kim hits from the right side and has the ability to play shortstop, third base or second base, although he's also recovering from surgery on his right shoulder to fix a torn labrum. Because of the surgery, the 29-year-old Korean infielder won't be ready for the start of the 2025 season, although he should make his season debut in the first half. Kim could opt to settle for a one-year deal this offseason and then look to reset his market and re-enter free agency at age 30. In his last three seasons with the San Diego Padres, Kim hit .250 with a .336 on-base percentage, 11% walk rate and 17.9% strikeout rate. Kim's best asset is his speed, but his middling power and injury will drive hi price down in fantasy drafts this upcoming spring.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Detroit Free Press - Evan Petzold
2 weeks agoThe Detroit Tigers would love to add a right-handed bat this offseason, but they don't want to pay $200 million for free-agent third baseman
Alex Bregman. However, if Bregman's market crashes this winter, the Tigers would be enticed to swoop in and sign him before spring training in mid-February. The Houston Astros' offer to re-sign Bregman has been reported to be for six years and around $156 million, but Bregman is looking for at least $200 million on the open market. It's unlikely that Detroit will get into a bidding war with Houston or any other team for Bregman's services, especially since they already have concerns about his long-term productivity. The 30-year-old also rejected a qualifying offer from Houston, so if Detroit wanted to sign him, they'd have to give up draft picks. Bregman missed some time late in 2024 due to a bone spur in his right elbow but should be ready for 2025 after having surgery.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Detroit Free Press - Evan Petzold
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