4 weeks agoThe San Diego Padres would love to land Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki this offseason, but if they don't, general manager A.J. Preller mentions left-hander
Adrian Morejon as a candidate to move from the bullpen to the starting rotation in 2025. Preller also said that right-handed relievers
Bryan Hoeing and
Stephen Kolek could be options to join the rotation. It will all depend on what the Padres do in free agency and on the trade market before the start of spring training. Morejon is coming off the best year of his career and pitched his way into a high-leverage bullpen role. He had a 2.83 ERA (2.79 FIP) and a 10.0 K/9 in 60 appearances. Staying healthy has been an issue for the southpaw in his career, though, so a move to a starting role wouldn't help his chances at staying on the field. Hoeing was a part-time starter with the Marlins before he was acquired at last summer's trade deadline.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - AJ Cassavell
4 weeks agoThe trail of Tampa Bay Rays shortstop
Wander Franco for charges of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation against a minor and human trafficking was postponed on Thursday until June 2 of next year after a judge in the Dominican Republic ruled that key witnesses were not located in time to meet the original trial date of Dec. 12. If convicted, Franco could face a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Of the 36 witnesses scheduled to testify in the case, only three were present on Thursday. Although the legal process still has to play out, there remains a pretty good chance that the 23-year-old won't play in major-league baseball ever again. He was placed on indefinite administrative leave on Aug. 22 of 2023 in the midst of his third MLB season, and he was added to the restricted list in July of 2024. In addition to his trial, Franco is under investigation until the case is resolved.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: espn.com - Juan Recio
4 weeks agoNew York Mets shortstop
Francisco Lindor (back) said that the back issue that caused him to miss some games in September hasn't been a problem during offseason workouts. Lindor will continue to monitor his back, but he looks set for a fully healthy offseason. The 31-year-old was forced to miss over a week due to his nagging back injury in the middle of a postseason run late in September. The Mets eventually clinched a wild-card spot and advanced to the National League Championship Series, where they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Lindor didn't look hampered by his back in the playoffs, hitting .275 in 13 games played. He should be fully healthy for spring training and the start of the 2025 campaign. Lindor could lose
Pete Alonso as lineup protection, but he's already gained
Juan Soto, who should drive him in plenty. He was one steal shy of a 30-30 season in 2024 and remains an elite fantasy shortstop.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
4 weeks agoAfter previous reports suggested the Boston Red Sox were considering moving
Rafael Devers off third base going into next season, president of baseball operations
Craig Breslow feels differently. "Rafael Devers is our third baseman and we are really excited about that," Breslow said this week at the MLB winter meetings. Manager Alex Cora has also confirmed that he hasn't had any talks with Devers about changing positions this offseason. The 28-year-old graded out poor defensively at the hot corner in 2024 and also played through nagging injuries to both of his shoulders. Boston would almost certainly move Devers in 2025 if they were to sign free-agent third baseman
Alex Bregman, but until that happens, it looks like Devers is staying put. Defensive issues aside, the Dominican third baseman is a three-time All-Star and remained one of the most productive third baseman offensively last year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: WEEI
4
weeks
agoThe
New
York
Post's
Jon
Heyman
writes
that
the
New
York
Yankees
are
targeting
Chicago
Cubs
outfielder/first
baseman
Cody
Bellinger
in
a
trade
this
offseason
after
failing
to
re-sign
superstar
outfielder
Juan
Soto.
In
addition
to
Bellinger,
the
Yankees
could
read more...
4 weeks agoA day after landing left-hander
Garrett Crochet, the Boston Red Sox are apparently still looking for pitching. They've been linked to the Mariners with intentions of acquiring one of their rotation pieces, presumably right-hander
Luis Castillo, but have also reportedly been in talks with former Orioles left-hander
John Means (elbow). The 31-year-old was an All-Star in 2019 and was second in the American League Rookie of the Year voting that season. However, it has been a challenge for him to stay healthy in recent years. From 2022 through 2024, the lefty has pitched a total of 52 1/3 innings after two Tommy John surgeries derailed those campaigns. Means had the second surgery in June 2024, so the southpaw likely won't be available until the second half of the 2025 season. Whenever he does make it back, with a career K/9 of just 7.5, he'd likely only help in other areas like ERA and WHIP for fantasy managers.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Chris Cotillo
4 weeks agoThe San Diego Padres took pitcher
Juan Nunez from the Orioles' organization with the 12th pick in Wednesday's Rule 5 Draft. Nunez ranked as Baltimore's eighth-ranked prospect, now slotting in as San Diego's No. 11. Players taken in the major league phase of the draft have to put on the team's 40-man roster, paving the way to playing time in the big leagues and the hope is that they'll remain on the 40-man at the end of the season. Six of the 10 players selected in last year's Rule 5 Draft stayed with the team for the entirety of the season. Nunez is a 5-foot-11 righty who has been used as both a starter and a reliever. The Dominican has a mid-90s fastball with a curve, slider, and changeup. In 2024 at High-A, the 24-year-old pitched to a 2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and had 38 strikeouts in 29 1/3 IP. While he may make his major league debut at some point in 2025, he is not on the fantasy radar at this point.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4
weeks
agoEven
after
landing
the
crown
jewel
of
the
free-agent
market
in
outfielder
Juan
Soto,
the
New
York
Mets
are
still
trying
to
bring
back
fan
favorite
first
baseman
Pete
Alonso.
Even
after
a
few
other
big
names
have
made
the
read more...
4 weeks agoThe San Francisco Giants are said to be the "heavy favorites" for landing free-agent pitcher
Corbin Burnes. After seeing two-time Cy Young winner
Blake Snell head to their divisional foe the Dodgers, the Giants are looking for some help behind their current ace
Logan Webb. Burnes would certainly be an upgrade over any of their current rotation options as a former Cy Young winner himself (acknowledging that current projected No. 2 starter
Robbie Ray has also won the award). The 30-year-old is a four-time All-Star coming off a 15-9 season with a 2.92 ERA (3.55 xFIP), 1.10 WHIP, and a solid 17.0% K-BB%. While it was the first time since his rookie season in which the veteran averaged less than a strikeout per inning, a move to pitcher-friendly Oracle Park should allay any concerns over diminishing rates, especially since his career (and 2024) walk rate is better than average at 7.0%.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Bob Nightengale
4
weeks
agoOn
Wednesday,
the
Boston
Red
Sox
acquired
starting
pitcher
Garrett
Crochet
from
the
White
Sox.
Despite
that
move,
the
team
is
reportedly
still
interested
in
stockpiling
more
pitching
help,
more
precisely,
one
of
the
Mariners'
starters.
Seattle
has
a
plethora
of
young
talent
in
read more...
4 weeks agoColorado Rockies manager Bud Black said on Wednesday that he plans to bat outfielder
Brenton Doyle in the leadoff spot in 2025. Doyle saw most of his plate appearances from the three-hole in 2024. In fact, he only had 14 games out of the leadoff spot and hit a lowly .120 (6-for-50) with a homer, seven RBI and three runs scored. The 26-year-old will see more trips to the plate batting regularly out of the leadoff spot and should score more runs, but it will also limit his RBI opportunities. The former fourth-rounder had a breakout campaign in just his second season in the big leagues, slashing .260/.317/.446 with a .764 OPS, 23 home runs, 72 RBI, 30 stolen bases and 82 runs scored in 149 games. Doyle was one of the biggest surprise performers in 2024 and will now look to follow it up with another solid performance. His power/speed combo at hitter-friendly Coors Field after his 2024 breakout will make him expensive.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: DNVR Rockies
4 weeks agoAccording to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Angels have expressed interest in free-agent second baseman
Gleyber Torres. However, if he were to sign in Washington, Torres would have to move to another spot in the infield with
Luis Garcia Jr. expected to operate as the starting second baseman. Last season, the Angels lacked consistent offensive production at the keystone. With the Yankees, Torres held a .257/.330/.378 slash line with 15 home runs and four stolen bases last season. Under the hood, he generated a weak 35.4% hard-hit rate and 6.3% barrel rate, both of which were a sharp decline from his 2023 production. Torres has been a reliable second baseman from a fantasy perspective throughout his career and has been able to contribute to all five standard categories and could be worth a look at a low ADP investment this offseason.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Joel Sherman
4 weeks agoAccording to Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pittsburgh Pirates have made starting pitchers
Jared Jones and
Mitch Keller available for trade at the Winter Meetings. Destin noted Jones is "very available." The Pirates have expressed interest in acquiring some offensive pieces, and moving one of these starting pitchers would put them in a good position to acquire a potent bat. Keller has typically operated as the workhorse in the Pittsburgh rotation, logging over 175 innings in each of the past two seasons. Last summer, Keller posted a 4.25 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. Jared Jones made his major league debut last summer and showed great potential. In his first 121 2/3 big league innings, the young right-hander held a 4.14 ERA and 1.19 WHIP while generating a strong 26.2% K rate. With
Paul Skenes looking like a clear ace and
Bubba Chandler nearing his major league debut, moving one of these starters could provide Pittsburgh a much-needed spark to their lineup.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Andrew Destin
4 weeks agoAccording to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Cincinnati Reds have checked in on free-agent starting pitcher
Nick Pivetta. Sherman also noted that the Reds tried to acquire lefty
Garrett Crochet, who was eventually traded to the Boston Red Sox earlier on Wednesday. Last season, Pivetta posted a 4.14 ERA and 1.13 WHIP across 145 2/3 innings of work. He generated an excellent 28.9% strikeout rate and showed great command with a 6.1% walk rate. However, he generated ground balls at a weak 33.4% rate and allowed hard contact at a high 38.9% mark. The Reds have already been active this offseason, acquiring starting pitching, as they've traded for
Brady Singer and re-signed
Nick Martinez, and adding a high-upside strikeout option in Pivetta would further strengthen this relatively weak rotation.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Joel Sherman
4 weeks agoThe Tampa Bay Rays have acquired pitching prospect
Mike Vasil from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for cash considerations. Vasil was selected by the Phillies earlier on Wednesday during the Rule 5 draft from the New York Mets but will now take his talents to Tampa Bay. Vasil has spent his entire professional career with the New York Mets. He spent the past two summers pitching at the Triple-A level. Last season, the right-hander posted a 6.04 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP across 134 innings of work. The previous season, he held a slightly better 5.30 ERA and 1.48 WHIP at Triple-A. Before moving to a new club, Vasil was considered the No.18 prospect in the Mets system on MLB Pipeline. Fantasy managers should expect the 24-year-old to open the season at the Triple-A level once again.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Rays Communications
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