4 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said that right-handed reliever
Evan Phillips (shoulder) is "fine" and should be good to go for spring training in February. Phillips missed the World Series in October due to a right-shoulder injury but didn't require surgery. He has yet to start a throwing program, but as a reliever, he still has plenty of time to do so and still be ready for the start of spring training. The 30-year-old was officially shut down in the postseason with arm fatigue. Phillips wasn't quite as good in his third year in LA in 2024, posting a 3.62 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, 18 saves and 63:17 K:BB in 54 2/3 regular-season innings out of the bullpen. Despite the disappointing numbers, Evans saved a career-high 24 games for the Blue in 2023 and should have a high-leverage bullpen role yet again in 2025 for the best team in baseball.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Times - Mike DiGiovanna
4 weeks agoToronto Blue Jays outfielder
Daulton Varsho (shoulder) sounds unlikely to be ready for Opening Day in 2025, according to general manager Ross Atkins. "I don't want to limit him, but based on history, that could be unrealistic," said Atkins. Nothing is guaranteed at this time in the offseason, but it sounds like the Blue Jays aren't going to rush the 28-year-old in his recovery from surgery that he had on his right shoulder in late September. We'll have a better idea of his recovery timeline when the calendars flip to 2025, but Varsho's fantasy value will obviously take a hit if he's not ready for Opening Day. The former second-rounder had another below-average offensive season in Toronto in 2024, slashing .214/.293/.407 with a .700 OPS, 18 home run, 58 RBI, 10 steals and 73 runs scored in 136 games. Varsho's declining offensive profile and recovery from shoulder surgery won't make him very attractive in fantasy drafts next year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Sportsnet.ca - Shi Davidi
4 weeks agoToronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said that free-agent reliever
Jordan Romano (elbow) should be ready for the start of the 2025 season. Atkins said that Romano "will be back physically... We have no medical concerns." However, after being non-tendered by Toronto, Romano is a free agent this winter and will explore the open market. The Blue Jays have a lot of interest in a reunion, though. The 31-year-old right-handed veteran missed four months of the 2024 season due to right-elbow issues, but if he's healthy heading into next season, he should garner plenty of attention in free agency as a late-inning, high-leverage arm. Romano's 2025 fantasy value will largely depend on where he's pitching and whether he's given closing duties. In three seasons in Toronto before 2024, Romano was one of the best closers in baseball with 95 saves, a 2.37 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 230 K's in 186 innings pitched.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Sportsnet.ca - Shi Davidi
4 weeks agoToronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said on Tuesday that shortstop
Bo Bichette (finger) is on track to be ready for Opening Day in 2025. Bichette had season-ending surgery in late September to have a pin inserted into his fractured right middle finger. The 26-year-old had an awful 2024 season between poor performance and injuries and was limited to 81 games for the Blue Jays. Barring a setback during his offseason workouts, though, Bichette should be ready to play in spring training and for Opening Day as he looks for a bounce-back campaign in what could be his final season in Toronto. He hit .225 on the year after never hitting blow .275 at any professional level of his career. Yes, he was a massive fantasy bust. Despite the terrible year, with good health, Bichette can absolutely rebound and could come at a nice value in spring drafts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Sportsnet.ca - Ben Nicholson-Smith
4 weeks agoThe New York Mets re-signed outfielder
Alex Ramirez to a minor-league deal on Monday, according to a league source. Once considered a top prospect in the organization, Ramirez's development with the bat has stalled at the Double-A level, but they will keep him around for another year. Despite his offensive struggles, Ramirez had a strong market as a free agent. The 21-year-old Dominican spent all of this past season with Double-A Binghamton, slashing .210/.291/.299 with a career-low .590 OPS, five home runs, 46 RBI, a career-high 40 stolen bases and 62 runs scored in 542 trips to the plate over 123 ballgames. Ramirez's offensive decline has been a disappointment, but the Mets will take another chance on him as he heads into his age-22 season. His speed on the basepaths certainly gives him a higher floor if his bat continues to struggle in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Will Sammon
4 weeks agoFree-agent outfielder
Cal Mitchell and the Chicago White Sox agreed to a minor-league deal on Sunday that includes an invite to major-league spring training, according to sources. The 25-year-old outfielder has a .627 career OPS in 71 career big-league games with the Pittsburgh Pirates but did hit an impressive .277/.359/.512 with an .871 OPS, a career-high 22 home runs, 70 RBI, 12 stolen bases and 69 runs scored in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League for Triple-A El Paso in the San Diego Padres organization in 122 games this past season. Mitchell went hitless in five plate appearances over two games for Pittsburgh in 2023 and batted .226 (48-for-212) with five homers and 17 RBI in 69 games in his rookie season with the Bucs back in 2022. He'll have a better chance to make an impact again at the major-league level in 2025 with the White Sox as a reserve outfielder.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Aram Leighton
4 weeks agoFree-agent infielder
Nick Maton agreed to a minor-league deal with the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training. Maton is a versatile defender and has recorded a .659 OPS in parts of five big-league seasons. The 27-year-old former seventh-round pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2017 was hitless with two strikeouts in five at-bats with the Baltimore Orioles in 2024 and slashed .258/.366/.470 with an .836 OPS, 16 home runs, 57 RBI and 44 runs scored in 91 games with High-A Aberdeen and Triple-A Norfolk in the minors. In 184 games at the big-league level since debuting with Philly in 2021, Maton has hit just .205/.303/.357 with 15 homers and 63 RBI in 514 plate appearances. His greatest asset is his infield versatility, and he could see time in the majors for the rebuilding Pale Hose in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Aram Leighton
4
weeks
agoVeteran
free-agent
outfielder
Kevin
Pillar
(thumb)
has
changed
his
mind
and
is
now
keeping
the
door
open
to
playing
in
2025.
"I've
just
had
some
time
to
reflect...I
still
enjoy
doing
it.
I'm
pretty
sure
I
still
want
to
play,"
Pillar
said.
He
read more...
4 weeks agoThe Texas Rangers are planning to give catchers
Jonah Heim and
Kyle Higashioka equal playing time in 2025, according to general manager Ross Fenstermaker. The Rangers signed Higashioka to a two-year, $13.5 million deal on Monday night and will plan to give him plenty of playing time behind the plate given Heim's struggles on offense this past season. The 29-year-old Heim was an All-Star in 2023, won a Gold Glove and a World Series ring, but he wasn't as good in 2024, slashing .220/.267/.336 with a weak .602 OPS, 13 home runs, 59 RBI and 45 runs scored in 131 games played in his fourth year in Texas. Meanwhile, Higashioka had a career year in his lone season with the San Diego Padres with 17 home runs and 45 RBI in 84 games played as the team's primary backstop. Texas will be hoping a straight split in playing time will keep them both productive, but it will surely limit their fantasy upside.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: RangersToday.com - Jeff Wilson
4
weeks
agoSan
Diego
Padres
outfield
prospect
Tirso
Ornelas
was
added
to
the
team's
40-man
roster
in
July
of
last
season,
prompting
speculation
that
there
was
a
chance
fans
could
see
him
inside
Petco
Park
before
the
conclusion
of
2024.
That
did
not
come
to
read more...
4 weeks agoFree agent reliever
Tommy Kahnle is drawing attention on the open market, with up to eight teams showing interest in adding his services. Kahnle pitched for the Yankees last season, posting a 2.11 ERA (4.01 FIP), 1.15 WHIP, and a 15.1% K-BB% while collecting 16 holds and one save over 42 2/3 IP during the regular season. The 35-year-old even pitched eight-and-two-thirds innings of scoreless ball in the postseason before allowing all three batters he faced in the eighth inning of Game 5 of the World Series to reach base, ultimately going down as the losing pitcher in the series finale. Despite that, the Yankees have been rumored as one of the teams interested in bringing him back. The veteran has a career 3.47 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and a 17.8% K-BB%, but would likely only be relevant for fantasy in leagues that reward holds unless he were to be thrust into a closing role for some reason, although the righty has just eight career saves.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman
4 weeks agoThe Boston Red Sox and relief pitcher
Aroldis Chapman have agreed to a one-year, $10.75 million deal. Boston was looking to add a left-handed bullpen arm and Chapman would fulfill that need. The 36-year-old was a reliever for the Pirates last season, taking over as closer down the stretch, and tallied a 3.79 ERA (3.04 FIP), 1.35 WHIP, 22.3% K-BB%, 22 holds, and 14 saves over 61 2/3 IP. Right now it's uncertain who will be the closer as
Kenley Jansen is a free agent and
Liam Hendriks was shut down late last season due to elbow soreness after recovering from Tommy John surgery. Chapman could be a solid source of strikeouts for fantasy managers regardless of role, but would be even more relevant were he to be named closer, so keep an eye on this situation come spring.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Passan
4 weeks agoNew York Mets infield prospect
Luisangel Acuna had a successful showing in the majors late in the season, posting a .308/.325/.641 slashline with a .406 wOBA and 166 wRC+ in 40 plate appearances. Now, the 22-year-old has continued hitting well in the Venezuelan Winter League for the Cardenales de Lara. Through 19 games, the Mets' 12th-ranked prospect is slashing .375/.455/.500 with 12 stolen bases over 67 plate appearances. While winter league competition doesn't serve as a measuring stick in determining how one would fare versus major league pitching, it is encouraging to see after the speedster was slashing just .258/.299/.355 in Triple-A prior to his MLB call-up. With a healthy
Francisco Lindor and offseason transactions yet to take place, it's no certainty that Acuna will be on the Mets opening day roster, but should he earn himself a spot, he would be an intriguing fantasy option that has both good pop and great speed.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Reference
4 weeks agoFree-agent pitcher
Kyle Hart is reportedly generating serious interest from major-league teams (up to 13) this offseason after he won the Korean Baseball Organization's Dong-won Award for the best pitcher and also the award for best defensive pitcher in 2024. The 32-year-old left-hander pitched for the NC Dinos in Korea in 2024 and went 13-3 with a 2.69 ERA and 1.03 WHIP while striking out 182 and walking just 38 in 157 innings pitched over his 26 starts overseas. Hart, who was drafted in the 19th round in 2016 out of Indiana University Bloomington, made his big-league debut with Boston in 2020 and allowed 21 runs (19 earned) with 10 walks and 13 K's in just 11 innings over four outings (three starts). Given his success in Korea this year, Hart could parlay that into a decent MLB deal this winter, although he'll be a long shot to become fantasy relevant in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Metsmerized - Mike Mayer
4 weeks agoHouston Astros outfield prospect
Jacob Melton is expected to make his major-league debut in 2025, but that won't guarantee him everyday playing time. As a result, the Astros tendered contracts to both
Chas McCormick and
Jake Meyers for the 2025 campaign. Houston would like to add a left-handed bat that could help McCormick and Meyers as options in center field, but the team remains bullish on both players despite their offensive struggles in 2024. Melton, the team's top prospect per MLB Pipeline, has the most upside after slashing .253/.310/.426 with 15 home runs and 30 steals split between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land this year. He spent time at all three outfield spots but played mostly center field. The left-handed hitter's power/speed profile stands out, and the Astros could need his bat if both McCormick and Meyers struggle to hit in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
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