4 weeks agoThe Baltimore Orioles agreed to terms with catcher
David Banuelos on a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training next year, according to a source. Banuelos spent most of the 2024 season on the team's taxi squad. The 28-year-old backstop did make his major-league debut in 2024 but had just one at-bat. Down on the farm in 22 games with Triple-A Norfolk, he hit .225/.361/.352 with a .713 OPS, two home runs, 11 RBI and 11 runs scored in 86 trips to the plate. The former fifth-round pick by the Seattle Mariners in 2017 out of Cal State Long Beach will most likely return to Norfolk in 2025 after re-signing with the organization and will continue to serve as catching depth down on the farm.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MASN Sports - Roch Kubatko
4 weeks agoNew York Mets designated hitter
J.D. Martinez is likely to be in the starting lineup for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday at Citi Field against the Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander
Walker Buehler, according to manager
Carlos Mendoza. In the first two games of the NLCS, the left-handed-hitting
Jesse Winker has gotten the nod for the Mets at DH, but Martinez will make his first start of the series on Wednesday after going 4-for-14 (.286) with three RBI, two walks and a run scored in six games (three starts) in this year's postseason. The 37-year-old has faced Buehler just three times before in his career and has struck out twice. The six-time All-Star hit just .235 (102-for-434) in 120 games for the Mets during the regular season but did provide 16 homers and 69 RBI.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: USA TODAY Sports - Bob Nightengale
4 weeks agoKansas City Royals relief pitchers
Hunter Harvey (back),
James McArthur (elbow) and
Chris Stratton (forearm) are all expected to be healthy entering spring training next February after ending 2024 on the injured list. Stratton holds a $4.5 million player option for next season. Harvey began the year with the Nationals and had a rough 6.35 ERA and 2.12 WHIP with one save in only 5 2/3 innings for the Royals before being shut down in late September. McArthur began the year as KC's primary closer but eventually lost the job and was diagnosed with a Grade 1 UCL sprain in his right elbow in mid-September. He had a career-high 18 saves but also an ERA just under 5.00. Stratton, who has a right flexor strain, also underwhelmed in 2024 with a 5.55 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and four saves in 58 1/3 innings in his first year with the Royals.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Anne Rogers
4 weeks agoKansas City Royals infielder/outfielder
Adam Frazier (thumb), who has an $8.5 million mutual option for the 2025 season (with a $2.5 million buyout), is having surgery on his right thumb this week, according to general manager J.J. Picollo. Frazier strained his thumb in June and received an injection to speed up the recovery process, but he didn't miss any time the rest of the year. Barring a setback over the winter, the 32-year-old veteran should be ready to go for the start of spring training next February. The nine-year MLB veteran will be a utility player for the Royals again in 2025 if he decides to exercise his option and return for a second season in KC. Fantasy-wise, Frazier isn't relevant in mixed leagues at this point in his career after slashing a weak .202/.282/.294 with a career-low .576 OPS in 104 games in 2024. He added only four home runs, 22 RBI and 35 runs scored.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 weeks agoThe Cleveland Guardians removed right-hander
Alex Cobb (back) from the American League Championship Series roster on Tuesday due to an acute left lower-back strain and replaced him on the roster with right-hander
Ben Lively. Cobb made the start for Cleveland in the 5-2 loss on Monday in Game 1 of the ALCS in the Bronx and he gave up three runs on five hits while walking three in just 2 2/3 innings. If the Guardians advance to the World Series, the 37-year-old veteran won't be eligible to rejoin the roster. Cobb had a 2.76 ERA and 1.04 WHIP during the regular season, but he made only three total starts due to multiple injuries and will now be shut down until 2025. Lively went 13-10 with a 3.81 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP, a career-high 118 K's and 49 walks over his 29 starts. He could make a start for the Guardians later in this series against the New York Yankees.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: GuardsInsider
4
weeks
agoNew
York
Yankees
first
baseman
Anthony
Rizzo
is
making
a
second
straight
start
at
first
base
and
will
hit
eighth
for
Game
2
of
the
American
League
Championship
Series
on
Tuesday
at
Yankee
Stadium
against
the
Cleveland
Guardians
and
right-hander
read more...
4 weeks agoNew York Yankees closer
Luke Weaver earned his fourth save of the 2024 postseason after a five-out appearance in Monday's 5-2 victory over the Guardians. The 31-year-old came on with one out in the eighth inning after three straight singles from Cleveland hitters, getting the next two batters out to end the rally. He then walked the first batter in the ninth, but struck out the next three, recording four strikeouts total and earning the save. Weaver has been excellent in the postseason, having yet to allow a run while posting a 0.50 WHIP and a 1:9 BB:K over six innings pitched. When you have designs on making a World Series run, this is just the type of dominance you need out of your closer. The Yankees lead the ALCS series 1-0 with the next game to be played Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
4 weeks agoNew York Yankees designated hitter
Giancarlo Stanton hit a 439-foot solo home run in Monday's series-opening 5-2 win over the Guardians, his second of this postseason. The 34-year-old finished the game 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI, and two runs scored. After going 0-for-4 in Game 1 versus the Royals in the ALDS, the 5x All-Star has collected at least one hit in each of the last four games, going 7-for-19 (.368) overall in the postseason including two doubles, two home runs, five RBI, three runs scored, a stolen base, and a 3:2 BB:K. The veteran will look to keep rolling in Tuesday's matchup versus
Tanner Bibee, who Stanton has yet to face in his career to this point.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 month agoNew York Yankees outfielder
Juan Soto got the scoring started on Monday versus the Guardians, putting the team up 1-0 with his first home run of the postseason on the way to a 5-2 series-opening win. The 25-year-old went 2-for-3 in the contest with a walk, an RBI, and one run scored. Through five playoff games, the superstar is 6-for-17 (.353) with three RBI, two runs scored, and a 4:5 BB:K. Soto has been a constant offensive force in pinstripes this season and he'll look to keep rolling on Tuesday when the 4x All-Star squares off with Cleveland's
Tanner Bibee, a righty who he is 1-for-2 off of with a walk in his career.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 month agoNew York Mets closer
Edwin Diaz earned a four-out save in Monday's 7-3 victory over the Dodgers, his second save of this postseason. The 30-year-old squashed a potential Dodgers rally in the eighth, coming on with two outs and two baserunners on, getting a flyout to end the threat. The ninth inning had its usual uneasiness for Diaz though, with the first two hitters reaching base, one via hit and one via walk, but Diaz settled down and struck out the next three hitters to close the door on Los Angeles. The veteran closer will want to clean up the 1.93 WHIP through four 2024 postseason appearances to better the Mets' chances of moving on, but 10 strikeouts in four-and-two-thirds IP certainly helps limit potential damage.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 month agoNew York Mets shortstop
Francisco Lindor set the tone in Monday's 7-3 victory over the Dodgers with a leadoff home run. The 30-year-old fought through an eight-pitch at-bat, fouling off three straight two-strike pitches before sending a
Ryan Brasier cutter over the fence. The switch hitter finished 1-for-4 with a walk, an RBI, and two runs scored in the contest, which has been much of the same over the course of this postseason. The 4x All-Star has just a .235 average (8-for-34), but with an 8:8 BB:K he's sporting a strong .372 OBP with seven RBI and eight runs scored. He'll look to continue his clutch hitting Wednesday in New York versus
Walker Buehler, who he is 1-for-2 off of in his career with the one hit coming via a home run.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 month agoNew York Mets starting pitcher
Sean Manaea improved to 2-0 this postseason across three starts after Monday's 7-3 Game 2 victory over the Dodgers, evening the series 1-1. The southpaw went five innings and although only two hits were allowed, he yielded four walks in the outing while striking seven batters. Three runs were charged to Manaea but only two were earned runs. The 32-year-old concluded the regular season having arguably the best campaign of his career and has parlayed that success into the postseason. Through his three 2024 playoff starts, the veteran is 2-0 with a 2.65 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and a 15.9% K-BB%. If the series goes at least six games or the Mets head to the World Series, the lefty should receive another start. Either way, his fine regular season that ended with a 1.08 WHIP, 3.97 SIERA, and 9.12 K/9 proved he was still a quality fantasy asset which should carry over to next year.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 month agoNew York Yankees left-hander
Carlos Rodon was on his game in the team's Game 1 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Monday night at Yankee Stadium in the American League Championship Series by a score of 5-2. Rodon was on point, going six innings while allowing only one earned run on a solo home run by
Brayan Rocchio and striking out nine. He didn't walk a single batter. The 31-year-old southpaw was missing bats with regularity in the Bronx and picked up his first career postseason victory with the outstanding effort. Rodon was much sharper than in his start in Game 2 of the AL Division Series against the Kansas City Royals, when he allowed four runs on seven hits with no walks and seven strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings in a loss. Don't look now, but Rodon now has zero walks and 16 strikeouts in his two playoff appearances this fall. Rodon pitched one of his best games in pinstripes at a very opportune time.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 month agoDetroit Tigers shortstop
Javier Baez (hip) is expected to be part of workouts in spring training in February after having surgery on his hip, according to president of baseball operations Scott Harris. Despite Baez's massive decline since joining the Tigers, the team still sees a role for him, particularly if his surgery helps him move more like he did when he was younger. The 31-year-old's 2024 season ended early in early September when he had surgery on his right hip. Perhaps his hip injury was part of the reason why he was atrocious again this year with a .184/.221/.294 slash line, six home runs, 37 RBI and eight stolen bases in just 80 games played. Since joining the Tigers in 2022, Baez has hit .221/.263/.347 with a .610 OPS, 32 homers, 163 RBI and 29 stolen bases in 360 games. He still has three years and $73 million left on his deal, but regular playing time won't be guaranteed to Baez in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Jason Beck
1
month
agoNew
York
Yankees
left-hander
Nestor
Cortes
(elbow)
was
left
off
the
roster
for
the
American
League
Championship
Series
against
the
Cleveland
Guardians,
but
manager
Aaron
Boone
said
on
Monday
that
he's
"really
excited"
about
where
Cortes
is
at
in
his
rehab
from
read more...
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