3 weeks agoThe Chicago Cubs' rumored trade talks with the Miami Marlins involving left-hander
Jesus Luzardo (back) are "dead," according to 670 The Score's Bruce Levine. Talks were hot between the two clubs on Luzardo, but a deal "doesn't appear to be happening" now. The 27-year-old southpaw was shut down from throwing and placed on the injured list in late June due to back and shoulder issues, and he never returned to pitch for the Fish in 2024, so the Cubs could very well have been scared off by his medicals. He was limited to only 12 starts this past season (66 2/3 innings), and when he was healthy, he took a big step back with a 5.00 ERA and 21.2 percent strikeout rate, which was down from 28.1 percent. Luzardo's numbers likely took a hit due to his injuries, which offers hope he could bounce back in 2025. There remains upside, but keep in mind Luzardo has made 20 starts in a season only once in his career.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: 670 The Score - Bruce Levine
3 weeks agoCleveland Guardians first baseman
Josh Naylor has been mentioned in trade talks between the Guardians and Seattle Mariners this offseason, according to sources. Naylor is one of multiple names under consideration by the Mariners as they look for an offensive upgrade at first base. Free-agent first baseman
Christian Walker is another name that the Mariners could consider as they look for another bat this winter. The 27-year-old Naylor was a first-time All-Star in 2024 and finished with career-highs in home runs (31), RBI (108) and runs scored (84) while stealing six bases and slashing .243/.320/.456 with a .776 OPS in a career-high 152 regular-season games. His drop in average can be attributed to him facing more left-handers over the course of a full season. Repeating his 30-homer season will be difficult, especially if he heads to T-Mobile Park with less protection in the lineup.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB Network - Jon Morosi
3 weeks agoFree-agent right-hander
Griffin Canning and the New York Mets agreed to a one-year, $4.25 million deal on Wednesday, pending a physical, according to sources. The deal includes $1 million in potential bonuses. Canning spent the 2024 season with the Los Angeles Angels before being traded to the Atlanta Braves in the deal involving outfielder
Jorge Soler in October. Canning became a free agent when the Braves non-tendered him. The 28-year-old was once again underwhelming for the Halos this past season, going 6-13 with a 5.19 ERA (5.26 FIP) and 1.39 WHIP with 130 strikeouts and 66 walks in 171 2/3 innings over 32 outings (31 starts). His 99 earned runs allowed were the most in the league. In Queens, he'll likely compete for the final starting rotation spot with
Tylor Megill. But even if he wins a spot, Canning won't draw much fantasy intrigue after posting a 17% strikeout rate with 31 homers allowed.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
3 weeks agoDetroit Tigers outfielder
Akil Baddoo has cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday. The 26-year-old was designated for assignment last week, but will stick with the organization. Baddoo has struggled in each of the last three seasons after entering the MLB with a bang in 2021. Baddoo hit .259/.330/.436 with 13 home runs and 55 RBI with 18 stolen bases during his rookie season in 2021 with the Tigers. Last season, Baddoo posted his worst stats of his career with a .159 batting average with two home runs and five RBI in 31 games. He figures to start the season in the minors and could get another chance if he can prove himself in Toledo.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb transctions
3 weeks agoThe Detroit Tigers have signed relief pitcher
Ryan Miller to a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training. The 28-year-old made his MLB debut with the Los Angeles Angels last season. He finished with a 4.15 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, and a 11/8 K/BB ratio across 13 innings with the Halos. He looked better in the minors with a 2.45 ERA and 61/14 K/BB ratio in 34 appearances in Triple-A last season. At worst, Miller is decent bullpen depth for the Tigers, but he should get a chance to win a bullpen spot in spring training.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Evan Petzold
3 weeks agoThe Tampa Bay Rays have signed relief pitcher
Joey Gerber to a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training. Many baseball fans might not know who Gerber is, which is fair considering he hasn't pitched in the MLB since 2020. The 27-year-old posted a 4.02 ERA, 1.15 WHIP across 15 innings in 17 appearances with the Seattle Mariners in shortened 2020 season. Since then, Gerber has dealt with a handful of injuries and really hasn't pitched too much. He posted a 2.43 ERA, 1.35 WHIP in 26 appearances in the New York Yankees minor league system last season. He figures to compete for a spot in the bullpen during spring training.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Marc Topkin
3 weeks agoThe Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals were in talks on a potential trade involving third baseman
Nolan Arenado, but Arenado informed the Cardinals that he will not waive his no-trade clause to go to the Astros. The Cardinals were set to sent $15-20 million to the Astros in the deal to pay down Arenado's salary, as the eight-time All-Star will earn $74 million in the next three years. "It's definitely not close," a source said. As Arenado's offensive prowess continues to decline, the Cardinals have already acknowledged its "intention to try" to trade the defensive whiz as they look to get younger going into 2025. It's unclear exactly which teams Arenado would approve a trade to, but his agent, Joel Wolfe, said last week that his client would waive his no-trade clause to play for a team he thinks is ready to win now. The Phillies, Yankees, Mets and Red Sox could be in play.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand, John Denton and Brian McTaggart
3 weeks agoThe Los Angeles Angels acquired catcher
Chuckie Robinson from the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations. In a corresponding move, right-hander
Davis Daniel was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster. In Anaheim, Robinson will serve as catching depth behind
Logan O'Hoppe and
Travis d'Arnaud heading into the 2025 season. The White Sox had no more room for him after acquiring prospect
Kyle Teel and
Matt Thaiss this offseason. The 30-year-old backstop is off the fantasy radar in all formats and will likely open next season at Triple-A Salt Lake. Robinson played in 26 games for the White Sox in 2024 in his second big-league season and hit a weak .129 (9-for-70) with no homers, no RBI, two runs scored, five walks and 20 strikeouts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Angels PR
3 weeks agoThe Washington Nationals signed free-agent outfielder
Carlos De La Cruz to a minor-league deal on Wednesday that doesn't include an invitation to major-league spring training, according to a source. De La Cruz is a 6-foot-8 outfielder who spent the last six seasons in the minors with the Philadelphia Phillies. He has plenty of power potential but also swings and miss a lot. The 25-year-old swings from the right side of the plate. In 113 games with Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2024, De La Cruz hit .234/.302/.367 with a .669 OPS, 11 home runs, 53 RBI, six stolen bases and 47 runs scored in 454 plate appearances. He is going to need to cut down on his swings and misses if he wants to make his major-league debut in 2025 for a Nationals team that has a lot of up-and-coming young talent in the outfield. De La Cruz will likely start at Triple-A Rochester.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Washington Post - Andrew Golden
3 weeks agoThe New York Yankees signed free-agent pitcher
Colten Brewer to a minor-league deal on Tuesday, according to a source. Brewer, who throws from the right side, spent the 2024 campaign with the Chicago Cubs and had a 5.66 ERA (3.12 FIP) and a 1.59 WHIP with 22 strikeouts, nine walks and his first career save in 20 2/3 relief appearances over 16 outings. The 32-year-old will now provide right-handed depth out of the bullpen for the Yankees going into the 2025 season. Brewer's season was cut short last year after he fractured his left hand while punching a dugout wall in frustration in early July. He started throwing to hitters in August and should be fully ready to go for spring training in February. Brewer is off the fantasy radar and has a career 5.10 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP with 114 strikeouts and 70 walks in 120 innings over his six MLB seasons.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: FanSided - Robert Murray
3 weeks agoNew York Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake said the hope is that right-hander
Jonathan Loaisiga (elbow) will be ready to pitch for the team in late April or early May. Loaisiga avoided Tommy John surgery and instead had a UCL repair of his right elbow in April of this year. The 30-year-old veteran still has some rehab to do, but as long as he doesn't suffer a setback, his 2025 debut won't be delayed for too long. Despite not being fully healthy, the Yankees re-signed the Nicaraguan hurler. Loaisiga made his MLB debut in 2018 with the Yankees and has a 3.44 career ERA (3.59 FIP), a 1.23 WHIP, seven saves and a 207:72 K:BB in 219 2/3 innings over 163 appearances (11 starts). Because of his injury, Loaisiga is most likely to be a bullpen option for the Yankees when he returns, giving him little fantasy appeal.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Chris Kirschner
3 weeks agoUnsurprisingly, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that right-handed reliever
Devin Williams will serve as the team's closer next season. This was fully expected when the Yankees acquired Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers this offseason. The 30-year-old two-time All-Star will have an even higher fantasy ceiling as an elite closer heading into 2025 now that he's in the Bronx. The former second-round pick by the Brewers in 2013 had a pristine 1.73 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with 51 saves in 119 1/3 innings pitched for the Brewers in 2022 and 2023. He got a late start to the 2024 season after having back surgery and threw only 21 2/3 frames in the regular season, but he was lights-out again with a 1.25 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 14 saves and 38 strikeouts. Williams will be highly coveted as a top fantasy close. His arrival in the Bronx will push
Luke Weaver into the eighth-inning setup role.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Chris Kirschner
3 weeks agoFree-agent right-hander
Bryse Wilson agreed to a one-year, $1.05 million deal, pending a physical, with the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, according to a source. The deal includes a potential $250,000 in performance bonuses. The 26-year-old will compete for a start in the starting rotation for the rebuilding White Sox. Wilson chose to head to free agency after being removed from the Milwaukee Brewers' 40-man roster this offseason. He threw 104 2/3 innings in the regular season for the Brew Crew in 2024 and had a 4.04 ERA with 82 strikeouts and 31 walks in 34 appearances (nine starts). As exclusively a reliever for Milwaukee the year prior, Wilson was better with a 2.58 ERA in 53 outings, although he was a bit fortunate. If Wilson does make Chicago's rotation, he'll most likely be more of an innings-eater than anything else and will be a low-upside streamer in deeper fantasy formats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
3 weeks agoThe New York Mets have signed free-agent catcher
Chris Williams to a minor-league contract. The 28-year-old has spent his entire minor-league career in the Twins' organization, the team that drafted him back in 2018. The former eighth-round draft pick blasted 38 home runs in 589 at-bats at Triple-A over the past two seasons and has shown a keen eye at the plate with a career 14.5% walk rate in the minors. The right-handed-hitting backstop will likely begin the 2025 season at Triple-A Syracuse and serve as depth in the event one of their current big-leaguers goes down. There's no immediate or significant fantasy impact here, however.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Ken Rosenthal
3 weeks agoNew York Yankees' recent trade acquisition
Cody Bellinger could play first base, left field, or center field for the Bombers, according to manager Aaron Boone, who said on Wednesday that a report that Bellinger was told he would play center field was "fake news." This means that top prospect
Jasson Dominguez is still in play for the center-field job and leaves open the possibility of signing a first baseman, which could put Bellinger in left field. Nevertheless, it sounds like
Aaron Judge will transition back to right field, regardless of what transpires. Bellinger himself has said he'll play wherever he's needed and to let the offseason play out. The lefty slugger is ranked right around 124 in early 2025 fantasy drafts, so we'll see how his new surroundings affect his ADP in the coming months.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Bryan Hoch
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