3 weeks agoAccording to sources around the league, they expect free-agent outfielder
Teoscar Hernandez to re-sign with the team. "Many people around the league expect Teoscar Hernández and the Dodgers to find their way back to each other, and my understanding is the Dodgers and Teoscar are very much engaged and trying to nail the final details of a contract. Things are looking good for Teoscar Hernández and the Dodgers to be back together," 570 LA Sports' David Vassegh said. The 32-year-old Dominican veteran had one of the best years of his career and the Dodgers won a World Series championship in his first year in LA in 2024, so a reunion makes tons of sense. He hit a career-high 33 home runs and drove in 99 runs in 589 regular-season at-bats. Hernandez makes up for a high strikeout rate with plenty of hard contact and over-the-fence power and has hit 25-plus homers in five straight seasons.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: 570 LA Sports - David Vassegh
3
weeks
agoWhile
the
Yankees
are
still
considered
one
of
the
four
serious
contenders
to
sign
Juan
Soto,
they
have
been
making
alternative
plans
in
the
event
they
are
unable
to
bring
back
the
superstar
outfielder.
New
York
has
been
said
to
be
interested
in
shortstop
read more...
3
weeks
agoFree-agent
shortstop
Willy
Adames
is
drawing
interest
from
the
New
York
Yankees,
who
are
expected
to
pursue
him
in
the
event
they
lose
out
on
Juan
Soto.
While
the
Yankees
are
technically
set
at
shortstop
with
read more...
3 weeks agoFree-agent veteran right-hander
Lance Lynn said that he has lost 20 pounds already since the end of last season, dropping from 280 to 260 pounds. Lynn battled knee issues in 2024 and was limited to 117 1/3 innings, his lowest total over a full season since missing all of 2016 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The 37-year-old became a free agent when the St. Louis Cardinals declined his $12 million club option for 2025. He's nearing the end of his career, but Lynn ranks sixth in the majors with 2,006 1/3 innings pitched since debuting in 2011. The last time Lynn reached 30 starts and 200 innings was back in 2019, so fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting a sudden breakout for the veteran hurler. Knee issues dating back to 2021 and a lack of strikeout stuff will make Lynn an easy pitcher to avoid in shallow mixed fantasy leagues, regardless of where he's pitching.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon
3 weeks agoThe Kansas City Royals signed free-agent infielder
Jordan Groshans to a minor-league deal on Tuesday, according to sources. Groshans, once a top prospect with the Toronto Blue Jays after they took him 12th overall in 2018 made his big-league debut with the Miami Marlins in 2022 and went 16-for-61 (.262) with a homer, two RBI and nine runs scored in just 17 games played. He spent all of 2024 toiling in the minors with the New York Yankees and Athletics, combining for a .235/.311/.318 slash line with a weak .628 OPS, four home runs, 34 RBI and 46 runs scored in 101 games with Double-A Midland, Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. At this point in his career, it's going to be an uphill battle for Groshans to return to the major-league level and have any kind of significant impact for the Royals.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: FanSided - Robert Murray
3 weeks agoThe San Diego Padres are in a strong position to land Japanese ace Roki Sasaki on the open market this offseason, according to several industry sources. The division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers and reigning World Series champions have also been mentioned as favorites for Sasaki, but he may prefer to go to a smaller market in San Diego and stay out of the shadow of both Japanese stars
Shohei Ohtani and
Yoshinobu Yamamoto in LA. The Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan are expected to post the 23-year-old Sasaki this offseason, and he has the ability to develop into a high-end starter at the big-league level in time. In addition to the Padres and Dodgers, the Cubs, Rangers, Blue Jays, Rays, Yankees and Mets are potential landing spots for Sasaki. In four pro seasons in Japan, Sasaki has posted a sharp 2.02 ERA.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Francys Romero
3 weeks agoBaltimore Orioles left-hander
Trevor Rogers, who as acquired in a trade from the Miami Marlins last year, was sent to Triple-A Norfolk after four mostly ineffective starts with his new club. It was a big fall for Rogers, who had a 3.17 ERA in his final nine starts with the Marlins. He had a 7.11 ERA in his four starts for the O's. Rogers was an All-Star as a rookie in 2021 but admits he was overwhelmed in his move to Baltimore in 2024. The veteran lefty did have a 2.96 ERA with 28 K's and six walks in 24 1/3 innings in his final four starts for Norfolk, though, and he is going to a player performance data-driven center this offseason for further evaluation to try and regain some velocity. Rogers averaged 94.5 mph on his fastball in 2021, but it was down to 91.9 mph in 2024. The 27-year-old is focusing on getting his lower half stronger as he looks to bounce back in 2025 with the O's.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MASN Sports - Steve Melewski
3 weeks agoKorean infielder Hyeseong Kim has officially been posted the Kiwoom Heroes of the Korean Baseball Organization on Wednesday. Starting on Thursday, any major-league team willing to pay the Heroes' release fee and any supplemental fees can negotiate a contract with Kim. The deadline to sign him to an MLB deal will be 5 pm ET on Jan. 3 of 2025. The soon-to-be 26-year-old middle infielder isn't going to break the bank like right-hander
Yoshinobu Yamamoto did with the Los Angeles Dodgers last offseason, but he should receive plenty of interest for teams looking for middle-infield help. He is a slick defender on the infield and makes plenty of contact at the plate, although his power is lacking. In 127 games in the KBO with the Heroes in 2024, Kim slashed a strong .326/.383/.458 with 11 home runs and 30 stolen bases.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand
3 weeks agoArizona Diamondbacks infield prospect
Jordan Lawlar missed most of the 2024 regular season due to injury, collecting only 67 plate appearances between Double-A and Triple-A. In order to make up for lost time and hopefully make a push for a 2025 roster spot, the club's top prospect (MLB No. 9) is spending time in the Dominican Winter League, getting much-needed at-bats to knock off the rust. While the 22-year-old started off hot, slashing .407/.481/.773 in his first 27 plate appearances, that line now stands at .237/.315/.355 in 108 PA. Importantly, however, he's still shown the pop and speed combination we've been accustomed to seeing from the healthy version of him, with three home runs and eight stolen bases thus far. It's not clear where exactly he would play on the infield at this point, but if he can make the roster next spring, the former sixth-overall draft pick could be an overlooked multi-category fantasy contributor after an unremarkable 2023 debut and lost 2024 season.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 weeks agoThe Toronto Blue Jays have signed infielder
Michael Stefanic and pitcher
Kevin Gowdy to minor-league deals with invitations to spring training. Stefanic has played his entire professional career in the Angels' organization, having a successful minor league career that has yet to translate to the big league level. The 28-year-old has a career .331/.416/.445 slashline in the minors (1749 ABs), however, that line drops to .232/.317/.275 in the majors (233 ABs). Gowdy has yet to make his major league debut despite being drafted in 2016 after Tommy John surgery and the COVID season delayed his advancement. Over his minor league career, the righty owns a 5.18 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, and 270 strikeouts over 305 2/3 IP. Stefanic and Gowdy both figure to provide the Jays organizational depth for now.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 weeks agoOn Tuesday, the St. Louis Cardinals signed outfielder
Ryan Vilade to a minor league contract that also includes a non-roster invitation to spring training. The former second-round pick was drafted by the Rockies back in 2017, briefly debuting with the club in 2021. Since then, the 25-year-old spent time at Triple-A in Pittsburgh and Detroit's farm systems, while making 17 major league appearances for the Tigers in 2024. In 442 Triple-A plate appearances last season, the right-handed hitter slashed .278/.346/.449 with 13 home runs and 20 stolen bases. Without a starting role for the Cardinals though, Vilade is off the fantasy radar for now.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 weeks agoThe Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds are said to be possible trade partners that are interested in acquiring the services of White Sox left-hander
Garrett Crochet. Talks of the lefty leaving Chicago swirled around the trade deadline last season, but nothing ever came to fruition. The 25-year-old was an All-Star in 2024, posting a 3.02 ERA and 0.95 WHIP prior to the break (107 1/3 IP), but slowed considerably and had his innings limited in the second half, posting a 5.12 ERA and 1.40 WHIP after the break (38 2/3 IP). The strikeout rate remained elite throughout the season, finishing with a 29.6% K-BB% in 32 starts. Both teams have already made attempts to bolster their rotation this offseason, with the Cubs landing LHP
Matthew Boyd from the Guardians and the Reds acquiring RHP
Brady Singer from the Royals. Provided he can stay healthy and somewhat dependent on his landing spot, Crochet should be one of the top pitchers for fantasy in 2025.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Jon Morosi
3 weeks agoKorean infielder Hyeseong Kim is expected to be posted by the Kiwoom Heroes of the Korean Baseball Organization around noon ET on Wednesday. After Kim is posted, it will begin a 30-day window for the infielder to work out a contract with a major-league team this offseason. He will turn 26 years old in January. If he's unable to reach a deal with an MLB team in 30 days, he'll return to the Heroes for the 2025 season. Kim is not expected to sign a deal like
Yoshinobu Yamamoto signed with the Dodgers last offseason, but he should attract interest and is already being connected to the Seattle Mariners. His profile is similar to fellow countryman
Ha-Seong Kim as an excellent defender that can play multiple spots in the infield. Hyeseong doesn't have as much power, but he did slash .304/.364/.403 in his eight seasons in Korea.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB Network - Jon Morosi
3
weeks
agoMost
teams
interested
in
free-agent
right-hander
Michael
Soroka
prefer
him
as
a
back-end
starting
pitcher
with
front-line
potential
and
not
as
a
reliever
despite
his
better
numbers
in
a
relief
role
with
the
Chicago
White
Sox
in
2024,
according
to
league
sources.
The
read more...
3 weeks agoThe Chicago White Sox have a very high price tag on outfielder
Luis Robert Jr. in trade discussions this offseason and don't think they are overreaching, according to a source briefed on their thinking. "I don't think they understand what his value is," an MLB executive said. Chicago isn't asking for multiple prospects but do want a "meaningful piece" in return. The 27-year-old is no doubt physically gifted, but he's played in over 100 games just once in the past four seasons back in 2023, when he clubbed 38 long balls, had an .857 OPS and finished 12th in the American League in MVP voting. But outside of that season, he has struggled to stay healthy and was out from April 6 to June 4 with a hip-flexor strain in 2024. He's guaranteed $15 million in 2025 and has $20 million club options for 2025 and 2026. The shortage of center field options and quality bats has kept interest in Robert high.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Will Sammon, Katie Woo and Ken Rosenthal
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