1 month agoTexas Rangers outfielder
Adolis Garcia (knee) has resumed running this offseason and is expected to be ready to go for the start of spring training in mid-February, barring any setbacks. Garcia didn't require surgery on his left knee, but his 2024 campaign ended early due to a sprained patellar tendon. The 31-year-old Cuban outfielder made his second All-Star team in 2023 and then led the Rangers to their first-ever World Series title by setting career-highs in home runs (39), RBI (107) and runs scored (108) in 148 regular-season games. Garcia took a big step back in 2024, slashing .224/.284/.400 with a below-average .684 OPS, 25 homers, 85 RBI, 11 steals, 68 runs scored and 177 strikeouts in 637 plate appearances over 154 games played. It's good news that he should be fully recovered from his knee injury heading into the 2025 season as he looks to bounce back as a high-end power bat for fantasy managers.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: RangersToday.com - Jeff Wilson
1 month agoTexas Rangers shortstop
Corey Seager (hernia) is nearing full baseball activities this offseason. Seager needed surgery for a sports hernia in September but is now close to being cleared for all baseball activities. Barring a setback once he begins ramping up, the 30-year-old two-time World Series MVP should be ready to go without restrictions for the start of spring training in the middle of February. The five-time All-Star and former Rookie of the Year reached the 30-homer mark for the third straight season in Texas in 2024, and although he wasn't quite as good as he was the previous season when he guided the Rangers to their first World Series title in franchise history, he still hit a strong .278/.353/.512 with an .864 OPS, 30 homers, 74 RBI and 68 runs scored in 123 games played. When healthy, Seager is among the high-end fantasy options at short, but he's also an injury risk.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: RangersToday.com - Jeff Wilson
1 month agoUSA TODAY's Bob Nightengale reports that the Arizona Diamondbacks are shopping left-handed starter
Jordan Montgomery and are also listening to offers on outfielders
Jake McCarthy and
Alek Thomas this offseason. It was a rough season for Montgomery in 2024 after not making his debut with the Snakes until April 19 due to injury. Coming off a World Series title with the Texas Rangers the previous fall, the 31-year-old southpaw finished with an 8-7 record, bloated 6.23 ERA (4.48 FIP), 1.65 WHIP, 83 strikeouts and 44 walks in 117 innings over his 25 appearances (21 starts). Montgomery exercised his $22.5 million player option to stick around in the desert in 2025, but the D-backs are looking for ways to get out of that. McCarthy, meanwhile, hit a career-best .285 with eight homers, a career-high 56 RBI and 25 steals in a career-high 142 games in his fourth MLB season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: USA TODAY Sports - Bob Nightengale
1 month agoThe Milwaukee Brewers plan to keep closer
Devin Williams until at least the All-Star break in the summer of 2025 before re-evaluating whether to keep him or trade him. The Brewers declined Williams' $10 million club option for next season but remains with Milwaukee as he heads into his final year of arbitration eligibility. A back injury kept the 30-year-old right-handed reliever out for the entire first half of 2024, but when he returned in late July, he was one of the best ninth-inning men in the league. Williams had a 1.25 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 14 saves, 38 strikeouts and 11 walks in 21 2/3 innings pitched during the regular season. As long as he stays with the Brew Crew, he should be considered an elite closing option for fantasy managers. Whether Milwaukee trades him next summer will depend on where they stand record-wise and Williams' trade market.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: USA TODAY Sports - Bob Nightengale
1 month agoUSA TODAY's Bob Nightengale reports that the Toronto Blue Jays badly covet free-agent outfielder
Anthony Santander and could overpay to get him. Toronto has been the American League's most underachieving team in recent years and haven't won a playoff game since 2016. They are heading into a critical 2025 season with president Mark Shapiro in the final year of his contract and with
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and
Bo Bichette in their final seasons before reaching free agency. They would have to dramatically outbid the New York Mets for outfielder
Juan Soto, and the same can probably be said for free-agent pitchers
Corbin Burnes and
Max Fried. Santander, who had a career year in 2024 with the Baltimore Orioles with 44 long balls and 102 RBI, would remain highly coveted in fantasy with a move to Toronto to stay in the AL East.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: USA TODAY Sports - Bob Nightengale
1
month
agoThe
Philadelphia
Phillies
have
spoken
about
third
baseman
Alec
Bohm
and
outfield
prospect
Justin
Crawford
in
extensive
trade
talks
with
the
Chicago
White
Sox
for
left-handed
starter
Garrett
Crochet,
but
read more...
1 month agoDespite being a cash cow in one of the largest markets in baseball, the Chicago Cubs are focusing on mid-market players this offseason and are probably out on outfielder
Juan Soto and starting pitchers
Corbin Burnes,
Max Fried and
Blake Snell. However, their plans could change if they are able to unload the bloated contract of first baseman/outfielder
Cody Bellinger. They've been offering Bellinger to everyone, but so far, nobody has expressed much interest. Bellinger hit .266 with 18 home runs, 78 RBI and a .751 OPS in 2024 and is owed $27.5 million in 2025, $1.5 million more than
Bryce Harper. He's guaranteed a minimum of $32.5 million through 2025 and $52.5 million if he stays through 2026. "Come on," one general manager said, "who's going to touch that contract? The risk is just too great for the production."
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: USA TODAY Sports - Bob Nightengale
1 month agoThe Los Angeles Dodgers have been the heavy favorites to land Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki for the past year, but the division-rival San Diego Padres have quiet confidence that they'll have a shot with veteran right-hander
Yu Darvish being a mentor and close friend of Sasaki's. Agent Joel Wolfe has denied their is already a deal in place for his client to go to LA, but Sasaki could have the decision of going to San Diego to become the team's ace or chasing riches in Hollywood while being the third-most popular Japanese player with the Dodgers behind
Shohei Ohtani and
Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The 23-year-old has been compared to a peak
Jacob deGrom, giving him tons of fantasy upside right away when he makes his MLB debut in 2025. In addition to the Dodgers and Padres, the Cubs, Rangers, Blue Jays, Rays and Yankees are potential landing spots for Sasaki.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: USA TODAY Sports - Bob Nightengale
1
month
agoUSA
TODAY's
Bob
Nightengale
writes
that
the
Boston
Red
Sox
are
talking
a
big
game
this
offseason
and
plan
to
be
involved
in
the
bidding
for
all
of
the
top
free
agents.
They
have
missed
the
postseason
three
straight
years
and
have
last-place
finishes
in
the
tough
American
read more...
1 month agoMLB executives believe that the New York Mets are the clear-cut favorites to sign free-agent outfielder
Juan Soto, simply because nobody thinks anyone will outbid owner Steve Cohen, possibly before the winter meetings end in early December. The Mets, Yankees, Blue Jays and Red Sox are the only serious suitors for Soto. The Phillies haven't had a single conversation with agent Scott Boras to date. ESPN's Buster Olney reports that teams involved with Soto will start forwarding him offers this week, according to sources. The 26-year-old generational talent is expected to sign a deal for 10-plus years and potentially over $600 million after posting a career-high 41 home runs and a league-leading 128 runs scored in his first year with the Yankees in 2024 while helping them advance to the World Series. It's believed that Soto would prefer to stay on the East coast as well.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: USA TODAY Sports - Bob Nightengale
1 month agoFree-agent left-hander
Yusei Kikuchi signed a three-year, $63 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels on Monday. The Angels continue to be the most aggressive team early in free agency this offseason. Kikuchi gives the Halos a much-needed addition to their starting rotation for 2025 and beyond. The 33-year-old veteran southpaw went a combined 9-10 with a 4.05 ERA (3.46 FIP), a 1.20 WHIP and 206:44 K:BB in 175 2/3 innings over 32 starts with the Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros in 2024. He was much better down the stretch in Houston after being acquired at the trade deadline, going 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA and 0.93 WHIP in 10 starts. The Japanese hurler had a career-best 31.8% strikeout rate and career-low 5.9% walk rate to help his cause and will look to continue that success in 2025 in his new digs in southern California.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
1 month agoThe San Diego Padres have non-tendered right-handed pitcher
Luis Patino, according to the team. Patino underwent Tommy John surgery last April, which will sideline him for likely the entire first half of the 2025 campaign. In 2023, Patino logged 21 2/3 innings to the tune of a 4.57 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. Patino has bounced between both the rotation and bullpen throughout his major league career. He logged a career-high in innings (77 1/3) during the 2021 season and held a 4.31 and a 1.27 WHIP during this campaign. Fantasy managers in deeper formats should monitor Patino's progression while he recovers from Tommy John, as he could have a path to operating as a starting pitcher during the second half of the 2025 campaign with his new club.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: San Diego Padres
1 month agoThe San Diego Padres have non-tendered outfielder
Bryce Johnson and shortstop
Mason McCoy, according to the team. Johnson appeared in 47 games at the major league level last season and posted a .206/.286/.238 line and hit just two extra-base hits. With Triple-A El Paso, Johnson carried a solid .288/.407/.431 line across 74 games. McCoy appeared in only 19 games in the big leagues in 2024 and posted a .204/.278/.245 line. In Triple-A, McCoy held a .260/.329/.382 slash line. While both players have shown potential at the top level of the minors before, they have yet to earn a consistent opportunity in the major leagues. Fantasy managers should expect both players to compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster during Spring Training with their new club.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: San Diego Padres
1 month agoAccording to Maddie Lee of the Sun Times, right-hander
Keegan Thompson and the Chicago Cubs have agreed on a contract to avoid salary arbitration. Thompson battled injuries in 2024 but flashed solid potential when he was on the major-league mound. Across 30 1/3 innings on the Northside, the right-hander posted a strong 2.67 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP with two saves. Thompson generated an excellent 28.3% strikeout rate but struggled with control as he held a rough 14.2% walk rate. With Triple-A Iowa, Thompson posted a 2.96 ERA and a 0.91 ERA in 27 1/3 innings of work. Fantasy managers should monitor Thompson's development during spring training, as he could eventually become a candidate to operate as a high-leverage option given the upside he has flashed at times.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Maddie Lee
1 month agoThe Tampa Bay Rays have non-tendered left-handed pitcher
Richard Lovelady's contract, according to the team. Lovelady opened the 2024 campaign with the Chicago Cubs and eventually moved over to Tampa Bay. Across 34 1/3 cumulative innings in the big leagues, the southpaw held a 4.46 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. He carried a weak 17.7% K rate and a 46.3% hard-hit rate. However, he did generate a strong 51.9% ground ball rate which was significantly above the average marks. Through 22 innings in Triple-A, Lovelady posted a 4.09 ERA and 1.32 WHIP. Fantasy managers should expect Lovelady to continue to operate as a middle relief option out of the bullpen in 2025 if he can find a potential suitor.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Rays Communications
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