2 weeks agoPhiladelphia Phillies shortstop
Aidan Miller, right-hander
Andrew Painter and outfielder
Justin Crawford, who are the team's top three prospects per MLB Pipeline, have all received non-roster invites to big-league spring training. Miller, 20, was the 27th overall pick in 2023 started at Single-A in 2024 and finished with Double-A Reading. The right-handed hitter has the potential to hit for average and power while being a 20-steal threat in the majors, although he's likely to move off shortstop in the long run. Painter, 21, won't pitch in spring training while coming off Tommy John surgery in 2023. While he has front-of-the-rotation stuff, Painter isn't expected to be an option for the Phils until around midseason. Crawford, 21, is also a former first-rounder and appeared in last year's Futures Game after hitting a combined .313/.360/.444 with nine homers, 61 RBI and 42 steals at two minor-league stops in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia Inquirer - Scott Lauber
2 weeks agoCleveland Guardians outfield prospect
Chase DeLauter is among the team's non-roster invites to major-league spring training this year. Per MLB Pipeline, DeLauter is Cleveland's No. 2 prospect. The 23-year-old is one of the best up-and-coming outfield prospects in the game from a pure athletic standpoint, but he's going to need to stay healthy to have a shot at panning out at the next level. He was limited to only 39 games in the minors in 2024 due to foot and hamstring ailments and slashed a combined .261/.342/.500 with an .842 OPS, eight home runs, 24 RBI and 25 runs scored in 164 plate appearances at three different stops. If DeLauter stays healthy this spring and impresses, he could break camp with the big-league squad. He missed his entire first pro season in 2022 with a broken foot. The former first-rounder has little left to prove in the minors but is an injury risk for those in keeper leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: GuardsInsider
2 weeks agoAccording to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, free agent outfielder/designated hitter
Anthony Santander is open to signing a short-term deal with a high annual value. Santander has been one of the top bats on the market all offseason but has been unable to seal a longer-term extension. Rosenthal noted that Santander might opt to take a short-term deal like many Scott Boras clients have done and would seek a larger contract before the 2026 season. For example,
Matt Chapman and
Blake Snell have taken shorter deals, which have allowed them to sign a larger contract in the future. The 30-year-old slugger launched at least 28 home runs for the third straight season and even hit a career-best 44 in 2024. He generated an impressive .506 SLG and an 11.7% barrel rate. Earlier this offseason, it was reported that the Toronto Blue Jays are among the clubs interested in Santander.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Ken Rosenthal
2
weeks
agoAccording
to
Ken
Rosenthal
and
Will
Sammon
of
The
Athletic,
free
agent
right-handed
pitcher
Jack
Flaherty
may
opt
to
sign
a
short-term
contract
this
offseason.
Flaherty
has
been
viewed
as
one
of
the
top
starting
pitchers
on
the
market
all
offseason
but
has
read more...
2 weeks agoAccording to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, several clubs have checked in on free agent left-handed pitcher
Brooks Raley. According to Rosenthal, the New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs are among the clubs that have expressed interest in Raley. The southpaw underwent Tommy John surgery last May but is on track to return sometime in the second half of the 2025 campaign. The 36-year-old tossed seven shutout innings last summer before being sidelined. During the 2023 campaign, Raley held a strong 2.80 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP across 54 1/3 innings. He struck out 61 batters, generating a strong 29.2% hard-hit rate and a .321 xSLG. Raley would likely earn a high-leverage role once he returns to the big league mound in 2025.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Ken Rosenthal
2 weeks agoAccording to Dennis Lin of The Athletic, the San Diego Padres would prefer to hold infielder
Luis Arraez. Arraez has had his name circling around several trade discussions throughout the offseason. However, the Padres and Arraez settled on a $14 million to avoid arbitration last week. Lin noted that even though the team remains focused on winning a championship, they remain open to moving a few of their higher contracts to create some roster flexibility. Starting pitcher
Dylan Cease and right-handed relief pitcher
Robert Suarez have also had their names around trade talks. Last season, Arraez posted at least a .300 AVG for the third-straight campaign. Last summer, he held a .314 AVG across time with Miami and San Diego. Under the hood, he posted a stellar 4.3% K rate but lacked in power production. The 27-year-old remains one of the top targets for batting average but carries very low power upside.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Dennis Lin
2 weeks agoAccording to Mark Bowman of MLB.com, second baseman
Whit Merrifield is considering retirement. Bowman noted that Merrifield was a good fit in Atlanta last season and could be in contention to earn a spot on their Opening Day roster but is currently considering retirement. The veteran opened the 2024 season with the Phillies and ended the campaign in Atlanta. Across 42 games with the Braves, Merrifield held a .248/.348/.336 line with a 20:33 BB:K ratio and six stolen bases. He swiped 17 total bags last summer. He showed a strong eye at the plate with a 10.4% walk rate and a 15.5% K rate. In addition, he placed in the 90th percentile in sprint speed. If Merrifield were to end his career, he would finish with a strong career .280/.328/.413 line, 218 stolen bases, and three All-Star Game appearances across nine MLB seasons.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 weeks agoAccording to Thomas Harding of MLB.com, the Colorado Rockies have signed right-handed pitcher
Jake Woodford to a minor-league deal that includes an invite to spring training. The 28-year-old spent time with the White Sox and Pirates during the 2024 season and held a 7.97 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP across 35 innings of work. In 2023, he held a similar 6.23 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP through 47 2/3 innings of work with St. Louis. This was a sharp decline from the career-best 2.23 ERA and 1.12 WHIP he posted during the 2022 season. Through 407 2/3 career innings at the Triple-A level, he has held a 4.00 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. With the Rockies inviting several top pitching prospects to spring training, such as
Chase Dollander and
Sean Sullivan, Woodford will likely compete for a spot in the back end of the starting rotation if the young arms struggle in their first taste of the majors.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Thomas Harding
2 weeks agoAccording to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the New York Yankees have signed first baseman/outfielder
Dominic Smith to a minor-league contract. Smith opened the 2024 season with the Boston Red Sox but was eventually shipped to Cincinnati. Across 93 major league games last summer, Smith held a .233/.313/.378 line with six home runs. In 21 games with Triple-A Durham, Smith posted a .263./337/.375 line. The former 11th-overall selection has been unable to get his major league career back on track since posting a strong .299/.366/.571 line across the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Fantasy managers should expect Smith to open the campaign with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre but would likely be given another opportunity in the majors as an injury replacement for
Ben Rice or
Paul Goldschmidt at first base.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Mark Feinsand
2 weeks agoAccording to Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times, the Seattle Mariners designated left-handed pitcher
Austin Kitchen for assignment. This transaction opened a roster spot for infielder
Donovan Solano, who signed a one-year deal with Seattle earlier on Monday. Kitchen made his major league debut in Miami last summer. The 27-year-old logged seven innings and allowed 11 runs and 16 hits while striking out four batters. He was later claimed by Seattle during the second half of the season but did not make a major league appearance for them. Across 45 career innings at the Triple-A level, the southpaw held a 5.40 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. He struck out 27 batters while serving up 14 free passes. Kitchen will likely spend most of the 2025 season at the Triple-A level, given his struggles in the major leagues last season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Ryan Divish
2
weeks
agoAccording
to
Ken
Rosenthal
of
The
Athletic,
the
Los
Angeles
Dodgers,
San
Diego
Padres,
and
Toronto
Blue
Jays
are
the
finalists
for
Japanese
free-agent
starting
pitcher
Roki
Sasaki.
The
overseas
superstar
is
viewed
as
one
of
the
top
pitchers
of
the
offseason
and
received
offers
from
several
clubs.
read more...
2 weeks agoAccording to the team, the Seattle Mariners have signed free agent infielder
Donovan Solano to a one-year contract worth $3.5 million. The 37-year-old spent the entire 2024 campaign with the San Diego Padres and posted a solid .286/.343/.417 line. He hit eight home runs, 13 doubles, swiped two bags, and held a 22:65 BB:K ratio. Under the hood, he generated a .307 xwOBA and 37.4% hard-hit rate, suggesting he could be due for some regression in 2025. Solano performed very well against southpaws last season, posting a .302 AVG and .443 SLG, which was much higher than the .277 AVG and .403 SLG he posted against right-handed pitching. During the 2023 season, the 11-year MLB veteran posted a similar .282/.369/.391 line with five long balls. Fantasy managers should expect Solano to compete for an everyday role in the Seattle infield.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Seattle Mariners
3 weeks agoSan Francisco Giants right-hander
Justin Verlander (back, shoulder) said on a video call with the media that he started throwing earlier this offseason and is up to 92 mph and is feeling good. Verlander was limited to 17 starts with the Houston Astros last season in his 19th year in the big leagues due to back and shoulder ailments, but he said he's addressed the physical issues that cut his season short in 2024. The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer signed a one-year, $15 million deal with the Gigantes last week and will hope to stay healthier in his 20th MLB campaign. The three-time Cy Young winner and former MVP will be hoping to rebound in his new digs in a good pitcher's park in the Bay Area in 2025, but with his strikeout rate continuing to fall and with injuries now a big issue, fantasy managers may want to temper expectations.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: San Francisco Chronicle - Susan Slusser
3 weeks agoBoston Red Sox designated hitter
Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) could play some outfield if he remains with the team in 2025, according to manager Alex Cora. However, the left-handed hitter is a potential trade candidate this offseason as the BoSox look for more right-handed bats for their lineup, so there's no guarantee Yoshida will even be in Boston by Opening Day. But the Red Sox could have trouble finding a team willing to take Yoshida, who is due $55.8 million over the next three years and is coming off surgery to fix a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder in October. He was limited to designated-hitter duties in 2024 but made 84 starts in left field as a rookie in 2023. Yoshida never went on the injured list in 2024, but his lingering shoulder issue limited him to just one inning in left field. He's been mediocre for fantasy managers in his first two years with a .280 average, 25 homers and a .775 OPS in 248 games.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo
3 weeks agoBoston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said over the weekend that infield prospect
Kristian Campbell and
Vaughn Grissom will focus on second base in spring training, with shortstop prospect
Marcelo Mayer playing multiple positions. Campbell, the team's No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline, played at High-A Greenville, Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester in 2024 and slashed a combined .330/.439/.558 with an impressive .997 OPS, 20 home runs, 77 RBI, 24 stolen bases and 94 runs scored in 115 total games. The 22-year-old finished the year on the injured list due to a lat injury, but he should be fully healthy for spring training as he competes for a job at the keystone with Grissom. Boston also has
David Hamilton as an option at second, but Campbell has the highest ceiling of any of the BoSox's options for the position. Campbell's fantasy stock will continue to rise if he looks good this spring.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Boston Globe - Pete Abraham
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