4 weeks agoAccording to Buster Olney of ESPN, free agent starting pitcher
Walker Buehler is looking for a multi-year deal with opt-outs on the market. After having a rocky regular season holding a 5.38 ERA and 1.55 WHIP, Buehler played an integral role during Los Angeles' World Series run, posting a solid 3.60 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP across 15 innings of work. Earlier in his career, the right-hander showed high upside, making two All-Star games and logging a career-high 207 2/3 innings to the tune of a 2.47 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in the 2021 campaign. Olney notes that given his strong finish, the 30-year-old could enjoy a nice bounce-back campaign in 2025, which could set him up for a nice payday in 2026 if his contract includes opt-outs. Olney also stated that the Yankees expressed interest in him before signing
Max Fried and that the Red Sox, Tigers, and Giants have also kicked the tires on him.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Buster Olney
4 weeks agoAccording to Mark Feinsand of MLB Network, St. Louis Cardinals third baseman
Nolan Arenado would approve of a trade to the New York Yankees. While the Yankees were not on Arenado's six-team wish list, a source told Feinsand that the former Gold Glover would approve of a trade to New York. The Yankees have been rumored to be in the market for a third baseman this offseason, including free agent
Alex Bregman. Acquiring a new third baseman, would allow
Jazz Chisholm Jr. to shift primarily to the keystone. Arenado saw his power production drop last season, posting a career-low .394 SLG and hitting just 16 home runs. However, he did still hold a strong .272 AVG. If Arenado is traded to the Yankees, fantasy managers should expect him to have prime RBI opportunities batting in a competitive lineup.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Mark Feinsand
4 weeks agoAccording to Ari Alexander of KPRC2, the Detroit Tigers have expressed interest in free-agent relief pitcher
Kirby Yates. Yates is coming off his best professional campaign after posting a stellar 1.17 ERA and 0.83 WHIP across 61 2/3 innings with the Texas Rangers. He tallied 33 saves (second-highest total of his career) and was named to the American League All-Star team. Under the hood, the 37-year-old generated an impressive 1.86 ERA and .145 xBA, which placed him in the 100th percentile in both categories among qualified pitchers. In addition, he generated strikeouts at an elite 35.9% rate and limited hard hits at a solid 33.1% rate. While he did struggle with his command, posting an 11.8% walk rate, Yates would likely open the season as the primary ninth-inning option if he signs in Detroit with
Jason Foley moving to the setup role.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Ari Alexander
4 weeks agoThe Boston Red Sox acquired catcher
Carlos Narvaez from the New York Yankees on Wednesday in exchange for minor-league right-hander
Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz and international bonus-pool space. In a corresponding move to make room on their 40-man roster, Boston designated infielder/outfielder
Enmanuel Valdez for assignment. Narvaez, 26, made his major-league debut with the Yankees in 2024 but only saw action in six games, going 3-for-13 with two walks and six strikeouts. The Venezuelan backstop played 96 games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the minors and slashed .254/.370/.412 with a .782 OPS, 11 home runs, 58 RBI, nine stolen bases and 54 runs scored in 403 plate appearances. Barring another addition at the position by the BoSox this offseason, Narvaez should enter spring training as the favorite for backup duties to
Connor Wong in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo
4 weeks agoKansas City Royals right-hander
Kyle Wright (shoulder), who missed all of the 2024 season after having right-shoulder surgery, is hoping to be 100 percent healthy for spring training and the 2025 campaign. If he is, he could play a key role for the Royals' pitching staff. Wright touched 90 mph with his fastball in early October. Specifically, the 29-year-old hurler had surgery in October of 2023 to fix a torn capsule in his right shoulder. He won a league-high 21 games and had a 3.19 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in a career-high 30 starts for the Atlanta Braves back in 2022, so fantasy managers shouldn't completely forget about Wright. It remains to be seen if Wright can recapture his form from his breakout season in Atlanta, and he could be a work in progress next year as he works to regain more velocity. For now, Wright will merely be one to watch in KC.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Kansas City Star - Jaylon T. Thompson
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...
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