2 weeks agoJapanese pitcher Roki Sasaki has officially been posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan, opening a 45-day window that will allow teams on Tuesday to begin negotiations for the right-hander's services. The 23-year-old, who is considered one of the most talented young pitchers in the world, will have many suitors, although the Dodgers and Padres appear to be the most likely landing spots. Sasaki is coming off a season in which he recorded a 10-5 record with a 2.35 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 129 strikeouts in 111 innings pitched. His talent will make him very fantasy-relevant in 2025, although it will surely drive up his ADP as well. Teams have until January 23, 2025 to court him.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman
2 weeks agoAccording to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the New York Mets have signed free-agent outfielder
Juan Soto to a massive 15-year contract worth $765 million. This is the largest deal in professional sports history and will likely keep Soto as a New York Met for the remainder of his professional career. Last season with the New York Yankees, Soto posted a stellar .285/.419/.569 slash line with 41 home runs. He boasted a .462 xwOBA, 19.7% barrel rate, and .646 xSLG, which were among the highest marks in the sport. Throughout his seven-year MLB career, Soto carries a .285/.421/.532 line. Given his incredible hitting skills, he should be viewed as a consensus first-round selection next season and a top pick in points leagues given his incredible eye at the plate.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman
2 weeks agoAccording to Mark Feinsand of the MLB Network, the Los Angeles Dodgers have signed free-agent outfielder
Michael Conforto to a one-year, $17 million contract. The veteran outfielder enjoyed a solid campaign with the Giants last season from a power perspective, holding a .237/.309/.450 slash line with 20 home runs. This was his highest home run total since the 2019 season. Under the hood, the 31-year-old generated a strong .479 xSLG, 11.8% barrel rate, and 46.0% hard-hit rate, all well above the average marks. However, Conforto did carry a hefty 24.2% strikeout rate and a modest 8.6% walk rate. Moving to the Dodgers, fantasy managers should expect Conforto to see an uptick in his counting stats, especially in RBI. Fantasy managers should monitor his status during spring training, as he could be given an everyday role in the starting nine.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Mark Feinsand
2 weeks agoAccording to Jon Morosi of the MLB Network, the New York Mets have signed right-handed pitcher
Oliver Ortega to a minor-league contract. Ortega missed the entire 2024 campaign due to an elbow operation. Before this, Ortega spent the 2023 campaign with the Twins and the 2021 and 2022 campaigns with the Angels. In Minnesota, the 28-year-old logged only 14 2/3 innings at the big league level and held a 4.30 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. During the 2022 campaign, Ortega posted a career-high 34 innings and held a 3.71 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. Through 72 1/3 career innings at Triple-A, Ortega carried a 3.61 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. Fantasy managers should expect Ortega to operate as a low-leverage relief option if he can make the Opening Day Roster.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jon Morosi
2 weeks agoAccording to Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, the Pirates have signed relief pitcher
Hunter Stratton to a minor-league contract. Stratton spent all of last summer in Steele City but underwent surgery in his left knee in August. Stratton was facing a seven-to-ten-month recovery window at the time of the operation. Through 37 2/3 innings of relief, Stratton held a 3.58 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. He tallied one save while showing great command with a stellar 4.4% walk rate. He also generated a solid 3.29 xERA and a 31.3% hard-hit rate. He was typically deployed in the eighth inning as and tallied five holds. Fantasy managers should monitor his progression during Spring Training as he could face an uphill battle to be ready for Opening Day, given his tight recovery window.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Andrew Destin
2 weeks agoAccording to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Detroit Tigers have expressed interest in reuniting with free-agent starting pitcher
Jack Flaherty. Flaherty opened the 2024 season with the Tigers but was eventually traded at the deadline to the Los Angeles Dodgers and played a crucial role in helping them win the World Series. However, the Tigers made an incredible run down the stretch and reached the postseason after selling at the trade deadline. Given their late-season success, the Tigers are interested in improving their roster to compete again in 2025. The 29-year-old enjoyed a nice bounce-back campaign last season, holding a 3.17 ERA and 1.07 WHIP across 162 frames. These were his best numbers since the 2021 season. Even though the Tigers have one of the best starting pitchers in baseball leading their rotation in
Tarik Skubal, Flaherty would be a strong No. 2 and put them in a good position to compete in the AL Central.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Ken Rosenthal
2
weeks
agoAccording
to
Phil
Rogers
of
Forbes.com,
Chicago
White
Sox
starting
pitcher
Garrett
Crochet
could
be
a
potential
trade
target
for
the
Baltimore
Orioles
with
them
signing
outfielder
Tyler
O'Neill.
With
O'Neill
added
to
the
roster,
the
Orioles
may
decide
to
read more...
2 weeks agoAccording to Mark Feinsand of the MLB Network, free-agent catcher
Austin Nola and the Colorado Rockies have agreed to a non-roster invite to spring training. Nola spent last season in the Kansas City Royals organization but did not appear in a major league game. He spent most of his summer with Triple-A and held a .174/.260/.298 line and hit just five home runs. In 2023, he logged 52 games in San Diego and held an underwhelming .146/.260/.192 line with just three doubles and one home run. That season, he generated a poor .262 xSLG and .266 xwOBA. Fantasy managers should monitor his progress during Spring Training as he may be able to capture the No.2 catching role. However, Nola should remain off all fantasy radars for now given his struggles in Triple-A last season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Mark Feinsand
2 weeks agoAccording to Mark Feinsand of the MLB Network, the Boston Red Sox intend to pursue free-agent outfielder
Teoscar Hernandez if they do not sign
Juan Soto. Feinsand noted that Boston is believed to have more interest in Hernandez than in another free-agent outfielder,
Anthony Santander. In addition, Feinsand also stated the Blue Jays are in the mix for Hernandez but may prefer Santander. While Hernandez has hinted he prefers to stay with the Los Angeles Dodgers, a sizeable contract offer from Boston may change his mind. Last season in Los Angeles, Hernandez posted a solid .272/.339/.501 slash line with 33 home runs and 12 stolen bases. Under the hood, he generated a stellar 14.9% barrel rate and has continued to establish himself as one of baseball's best pure power hitters. The 32-year-old will be a popular pick in drafts this season simply off his power but may see a drop in RBI opportunities if he leaves the Dodgers.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Mark Feinsand
2 weeks agoThe Tampa Bay Rays have sent minor-league pitcher Sean Harney to the New York Mets in exchange for international signing pool money. The right-handed pitcher was drafted by the Rays in the eighth round of the 2022 draft and has yet to make his major league debut. The 26-year-old spent the bulk of 2024 at High-A but finished the season at Double-A, which was the second time he reached that level. For his minor league career, the righty owns a 3.90 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and has 124 strikeouts in 124 2/3 IP. There isn't an expectation that he'll see the majors this season, but if he did it would most likely be as a middle reliever, so there isn't any immediate fantasy impact here.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Rays
2 weeks agoThe New York Mets have signed free-agent outfielder
Edward Olivares to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring camp. The 28-year-old played the first half of last season for the Pirates before being optioned to Triple-A in July. He hit .263 with 12 home runs in 2023 for the Royals over 107 games, and while he hit .344 with three home runs over the first nine games in 2024, the right-handed hitter was unable to maintain that momentum over the course of the season. For his career, the Venezuelan has shown some better pop against left-handed pitching, with a .440 SLG and .199 ISO against them compared to a .389 SLG and .128 ISO versus righties, so he could fit into a platoon role were he able to make it back to the majors.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: New York Mets
2 weeks agoThe Baltimore Orioles have signed free-agent catcher
Gary Sanchez to a one-year, $8.5 million deal. Sanchez will back up frontline catcher
Adley Rutschman, but could also DH if need be. The 32-year-old played for Milwaukee last season, slashing .220/.307/.392, including 11 home runs, with a .307 wOBA and 96 wRC+ in 280 plate appearances. The veteran backstop still has plenty of pop in his bat, registering a 10.5% barrel rate last season and a 15.4% rate with 19 home runs in 240 at-bats just two seasons ago in 2023. Coming to Baltimore brings him back to the AL East, the division in which he played in for his first several seasons up through 2021 as a member of the New York Yankees. Unless the Dominican gets regular at-bats, however, he won't be all that relevant for fantasy purposes.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman
2 weeks agoAccording to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News the Texas Rangers remain in contact with free-agent starting pitcher
Nathan Eovaldi. Earlier this offseason, the Rangers expressed interest in bringing back Eovaldi, and this report suggests that this possibility is still in play. The 34-year-old has been with the Rangers for the past two seasons and was a crucial part of their rotation during the 2023 World Series run. This past summer, the right-hander posted a 3.80 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP across 170 2/3 innings of work. Eovaldi generated an excellent 48.9% ground-ball rate and 32.2% chase rate, both well above the average marks. In addition, he also showcased great command with a 6.0% walk rate. With the Rangers lacking depth in their rotation, Eovaldi would be a welcome return for the 2025 season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Evan Grant
2 weeks agoAccording to Alex D'Agostino of Sports Illustrated, free-agent relief pitcher
Andrew Kittredge could be a good fit for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 34-year-old operated as the go-to setup man for
Ryan Helsley in St. Louis last season. Across 70 2/3 innings of work, the veteran right-hander posted a 2.80 ERA and 1.13 WHIP and tallied 37 holds. He held a modest 23.3% strikeout rate and showed great command with a 7.0% walk rate. In addition, he generated a 45.5% ground-ball rate and a 27.8% whiff rate, which was also slightly above the average marks. With Arizona lacking a proven ninth-inning option, Kittredge could provide a veteran presence in the bullpen and may eventually find himself in a ninth-inning role. Fantasy managers in deeper formats should monitor where he signs in free agency, as he could be a solid target for saves if he becomes a true closer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Alex D'Agostino
2 weeks agoAccording to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher
Devin Williams is still in trade conversations. With Williams projected to earn $7.7 million in his final year of arbitration before becoming a free agent, the Brewers may opt to move off the superstar closer due to their minimal payroll flexibility. With
Clay Holmes agreeing to a $38 million contract with the New York Mets, Williams could be in store for a massive payday, given his elite production throughout his career. The 30-year-old missed the first half of the season due to back fractures but returned to his typical ninth-inning role in the second half and posted a 1.25 ERA and 0.97 WHIP with 14 saves. Under the hood, he generated a near-perfect .143 xBA with a 43.2% K rate. Even with the possibility of a trade, fantasy managers should view Williams as a top relief pitcher in all formats heading into the 2025 campaign.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Ken Rosenthal
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