4 weeks agoThe Toronto Blue Jays non-tendered closer
Jordan Romano (elbow) on Friday, making him a free agent, according to sources. Romano, a two-time All-Star, missed most of the 2024 campaign due to a right-elbow injury that required arthroscopic surgery in July. The 31-year-old veteran reliever should land on his feet somewhere, although it remains to be seen if he'll be able to return to his All-Star form elsewhere. From 2021 to 2023, the Canadian hurler was outstanding as one of the best closers in baseball, sporting 95 saves, a 2.37 ERA (3.13 FIP), a 1.09 WHIP, 230 strikeouts and 70 walks in 186 relief innings for Toronto. He gave up 10 earned runs in his 15 outings for the Jays in 2024 before getting shut down. Romano's 2025 fantasy value will all depend on whether he's past his elbow issues and what kind of role he has for a new club.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
4 weeks agoThe Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to a one-year deal with right-hander
Dustin May (elbow, throat) worth $2.135 million on Friday to avoid salary arbitration. Since the Dodgers won the World Series in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, May has battled injuries and has made just 20 starts for the Blue. He first underwent Tommy John surgery in May of 2021 before returning in August of 2022. The 27-year-old re-injured his right elbow in May of 2023 and needed a second Tommy John procedure that summer. He was originally expected to return in the second half of 2024, but that didn't happen after he needed surgery for a tear in his esophagus. The former third-rounder in 2016 has been good in 46 career outings (34 starts) with a 3.10 ERA and 1.05 WHIP, but his strikeout rate of 22.5% has left a lot to be desired given his high velocity. Given his lengthy injury history, he may be moved to the bullpen in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Associated Press
4 weeks agoAccording to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Texas Rangers and right-handed pitcher
Dane Dunning have agreed to a $2.66 million contract to avoid salary arbitration. Dunning battled injuries this past summer and logged just 95 innings of work and held a mere 5.31 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. His 95 innings were his lowest total since his debut season in 2020. Under the hood, Dunning generated a rough 45.8% hard-hit rate, 10.9% barrel rate, and 90.4 mph average exit velocity, which were all significantly below the average marks. Given this contract agreement, fantasy managers should expect Dunning to compete for a spot in the Opening Day rotation. If he earns a spot, he could be worth a late flier in deep AL-only formats, as he held a modest 3.70 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in 2023.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman
4 weeks agoAccording to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, infielder
Tyler Wade and the San Diego Padres have agreed to a one-year, $900,000 contract to avoid arbitration. The 30-year-old posted an underwhelming .217/.285/.239 slash line with just three doubles and eight stolen bases across 90 games in 2024. Despite his underwhelming output, fantasy managers should expect Wade to likely operate as a depth option for San Diego in 2025 and to see occasional starts at multiple positions across the infield. Given his poor output last season, Wade should remain off all fantasy radars heading into 2025, as he will face an uphill battle to find consistent playing time on a stacked roster.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman
4 weeks agoFirst baseman
Gavin Sheets was non-tendered by the Chicago White Sox and will head to free agency, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Gavin Sheets showed some upside during his first two seasons on the Southside but struggled over the past two seasons. Last summer, the former second-round selection posted an underwhelming .233/.303/.357 line with ten home runs, 45 RBI, and a 43:106 BB:K ratio. During his debut campaign, he posted a strong 9.9% barrel rate and .449 xSLG, but this past season, he carried a much lower 5.7% rate.380 xSLG respectively. Fantasy managers should monitor his status in free agency, as he could be worth a late flier in deeper formats if he can find an everyday spot in the starting nine with a new club.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman
4 weeks agoAccording to Robert Murray of FanSided, the Kansas City Royals are acquiring
Joey Wiemer from the Cincinnati Reds. Wiemer is an additional asset in the trade that sent
Jonathan India to Kansas City and
Brady Singer to Cincinnati. Wiemer was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft but struggled in his brief taste of the majors. Across two seasons in the big leagues, the outfielder posted an underwhelming .201/.279/.349 line. Wiemer was then acquired by the Reds last summer but made only two appearances with them. Across the minor leagues, the 25-year-old posted a solid .259/.359/.454 line with 52 home runs across 324 games. Fantasy managers should monitor Wiemer's progression during Spring Training in deeper formats as he could have a chance to make the Opening Day Roster.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Robert Murray
4 weeks agoThe Kansas City Royals are trading right-handed pitcher
Brady Singer to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for second baseman
Jonathan India, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN. The 28-year-old spent each of his first five professional seasons with the Kansas City Royals and held an overall 4.28 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP across 685 1/3 innings of work. Last summer, the former first-round pick held a 3.71 ERA and 1.27 WHIP across 179 2/3 innings. Singer generated a solid 48.3% ground-ball rate but struggled to limit hard contact as he held a 41.7% hard-hit rate and an 8.0% barrel rate, both below the average marks. Fantasy managers should expect Singer to have a spot in the rotation to begin the season and be viewed as a depth starting pitching option in deeper formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jesse Rogers
4 weeks agoThe Cincinnati Reds are trading second baseman
Jonathan India to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for right-handed pitcher
Brady Singer, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN. India has spent the first four seasons of his major league career with the Reds and held a cumulative .253/.352/.412 slash line with 63 home runs. Last summer, India posted a .248/.357/.392 line with 15 home runs and 13 swiped bags. Under the hood, India boasted a stellar 12.6% walk rate and an above-average .352 xwOBA. Fantasy managers should expect the 27-year-old to operate as the starting second baseman in Kansas City with the upside to bat toward the top of the lineup. Batting in front of
Bobby Witt Jr.,
Vinnie Pasquantino, and
Salvador Perez should present India with solid scoring upside.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jesse Rogers
4 weeks agoNew York Mets relief pitcher
Dedniel Nunez (forearm) is progressing well from a strained right flexor tendon after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection. Nunez was once at risk of needing surgery for his injury, but he's going to work out with the Tigres del Licey of the Dominican Winter League and could even make some appearances in that league if he continues to progress. It's really good news for the 28-year-old high-leverage arm after he missed the majority of the second half in 2024 due to the injury. If Nunez is able to avoid any setbacks once he begins ramping back up this offseason, he should be ready for spring training and the start of the 2025 campaign. When healthy, he was great out of New York's bullpen with a 2.31 ERA, 48 strikeouts and only eight walks in 35 innings pitched.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
4 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar
Shohei Ohtani (shoulder), who was just named the 2024 National League MVP unanimously on Thursday night, is in the early stages of his recovery from arthroscopic surgery to fix a labrum tear in his left shoulder. "We've already removed the stitches," Ohtani said. "The current goal is to bring back my range of motion. Today we started working on core and we're slowly ramping up right now." He had surgery on Nov. 5. Ohtani didn't pitch at all in 2024 after rehabbing from right-elbow surgery in September of 2023. The 30-year-old's goal is still to be ready for Opening Day in 2025 as both a pitcher and hitter, although he's taking his time in his rehab this offseason. Ohtani became the first 50-homer, 50-steal player in MLB history in 2024 and will also be highly coveted in fantasy as a starting pitcher in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Associated Press
4 weeks agoFree-agent right-hander
Hobie Harris agreed to a minor-league deal with the New York Mets on Thursday, according to a source. Harris is mostly known for his splitter. He made his major-league debut with the Washington Nationals in 2023 and allowed 12 runs (11 earned) on 21 hits (two homers) while walking 13 and striking out nine in 19 1/3 innings out of the bullpen that year. The 31-year-old was originally a 31st-round selection by the New York Yankees in 2015 out of the University of Pittsburgh. While pitching in the Minnesota Twins' system last year, Harris went 4-6 with a 6.79 ERA and 1.84 WHIP while walking 31 and striking out 62 in 44 relief appearances covering 54 1/3 frames. Harris is most likely to open the 2025 campaign at Triple-A Syracuse as minor-league relief depth for the Mets.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
4 weeks agoThe Milwaukee Brewers avoided salary arbitration with catcher
Eric Haase on Friday, agreeing to an undisclosed one-year deal. The Brewers now have their backup catcher locked up for the 2025 season while catching prospect
Jeferson Quero starts the season in the minor leagues. All-Star
William Contreras is Milwaukee's starter behind the dish. The 31-year-old Haase will be in his second year with the Brew Crew in 2025 after hitting .273/.304/.515 with a career-best .819 OPS, five home runs, 14 RBI and 10 runs scored in only 30 games played for the Brewers in the regular season. It wasn't a bad showing in a limited sample size, but Haase obviously will be off the fantasy radar going into next season with limited playing time behind Contreras.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Curt Hogg
4 weeks agoAtlanta Braves left-hander
Chris Sale (back), who was named the 2024 National League Cy Young winner on Wednesday, won't have his offseason hampered at all by the back spasms that he dealt with at the tail end of the season. Sale was unable to take his final turn of the regular season against the division-rival New York Mets in the regular season and then also wasn't available for the Braves in the wild-card series against the San Diego Padres. However, had Atlanta advanced to the NL Division Series, he would have started Game 3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It's great news for the 35-year-old southpaw as he looks for an encore in 2025 with the Braves. He posted a 2.38 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 225 K's and only 39 walks in 177 2/3 innings in his first year in Atlanta. Sale obviously has ace upside, but there's also high bust potential because of his lengthy injury history.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Braves Today - Lindsay Crosby
4 weeks agoChicago White Sox star left-hander
Garrett Crochet is drawing big trade interest from the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies and others. The Orioles and Red Sox have plenty of ammunition from a position-player standpoint, which is what the White Sox are seeking. Now that the innings issue is out of the way for Crochet, his trade value is even higher this offseason. The 25-year-old southpaw was returning from Tommy John surgery in 2024 and was moving from a relief role to the starting rotation, but he ended up making 32 starts (146 innings) while posting a 3.58 ERA (2.69 FIP), a 1.07 WHIP and a 209:33 K:BB as a first-time All-Star. Crochet slowed down later in the year as the White Sox limited his workload, but he has ace potential and two years left of team control, which makes him very attractive to contenders.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
4 weeks agoMajor League Baseball will test robot umpires as part of a challenge system in spring training in 2025 at 13 ballparks that host 19 teams. If the league likes how things go, it could lead to use of robot umpires during the regular season as early as the following year in 2026. MLB has been testing the automated ball-strike system in the minors since 2019 but is still trying to work out the shape of the strike zone. "I would be interested in having it in '26," commissioner Rob Manfred said. "We do have a collective bargaining obligation there. That's obviously a term and condition of employment. We're going to have to work through that issue, as well." The automated ball-strike system currently calls strikes solely based on where the ball crosses the midpoint of the plate, 8.5 inches from the front and the back. The top of the zone was increased to 53.5% of batter height in 2024 from 51%.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: FOX Sports
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