3 weeks agoAccording to Robert Murray of FanSided.com, the Pittsburgh Pirates have shown interest in free-agent outfielder
Alex Verdugo. While Murray did not indicate how strong the interest was, Verdugo would likely have an everyday role in right field if he joins the Pirates. Last season with the Yankees, the 28-year-old had a disappointing performance, as he held a .233/.291/.356 slash line, which was the lowest of his career. He hit 13 home runs and swiped two bags. While he did not hit the ball hard, he continued to show a great eye at the plate with a 15.0% strikeout rate and 15.5% whiff rate, which were both significantly above the average marks. He has also been an excellent defender throughout most of his career. Currently,
Nick Yorke is slated to be the starting right fielder in the Steel City.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Robert Murray
3 weeks agoAccording to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Reds have designated right-handed pitcher
Roansy Contreras for assignment. This transaction opened a roster spot for
Gavin Lux who was acquired via a trade on Monday evening. Contreras was claimed by the Reds earlier this offseason but will now be placed waivers once again. Contreras logged 68 1/3 innings in the majors with Pittsburgh and Los Angeles last season. In this stint, he posted a 4.35 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. Under the hood he generated a poor 9.7% barrel rate and a 43.5% hard-hit rate with an underwhelming 18.8% K rate. The 25-year-old would likely open the 2025 season at Triple-A, if he is not claimed by another club.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Gordon Wittenmyer
3 weeks agoAccording to the team, the Texas Rangers have designated right-handed pitcher
Matt Festa for assignment. This transaction opened a spot on the roster for right-handed pitcher Chris Martin, who the Rangers acquired on Monday evening. Last season, Festa spent time in both the major and minor leagues. In 23 2/3 innings in the big leagues, Festa held a 5.70 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. He struck out batters at a modest 24.0% rate and generated a solid 34.3% hard-hit rate. Across 40 innings at Triple-A, the 31-year-old posted a solid 2.70 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with 48 punchouts. If Festa can find a new club, he would likely open the season in Triple-A given his struggles in the majors last summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Texas Rangers
3 weeks agoAccording to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Athletics have signed designated hitter
Brent Rooker to a five-year contract extension worth $60 million. The contract includes a sixth-year vesting option at $22 million which could be further increased. This new extension will now pay Rooker $30 million over the next three seasons which would have been his arbitration years. Earlier this offseason, both sides were showing interest in an extension and were able to get it done. Since joining the Athletics in 2023, Rooker has turned his career around. In 2023, he launched 30 home runs with a .246/.329/.488 line. Last summer, he continued to improve as he launched a career-best 39 home runs with 11 stolen bases and a .293/.365/.562 line. Under the hood, he generated a stellar .380 xwOBA and .557 xSLG. Despite being a utility only player on most platforms, he remains a top target for power in all fantasy formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Passan
3
weeks
agoAccording
to
a
source,
the
Boston
Red
Sox
have
emerged
as
a
strong
candidate
to
land
third
baseman
Nolan
Arenado
in
a
trade
with
the
St.
Louis
Cardinals
this
offseason.
It
comes
as
Boston
could
be
close
to
abandoning
their
efforts
for
free-agent
third
read more...
3 weeks agoFree-agent right-handed reliever
Chris Martin and the Texas Rangers agreed to an undisclosed one-year major-league deal on Monday. Martin isn't a sexy signing, but the tall right-hander should be a key acquisition for high-leverage situations near the back of the bullpen in 2025. The 38-year-old veteran spent the past two years with the Boston Red Sox, posting a very strong 2.16 ERA (2.60 FIP) with five saves, a 1.08 WHIP and a 96:11 K:BB in 95 2/3 innings over 100 relief appearances. With
Robert Garcia and
Jacob Webb being Texas' current top setup arms in their bullpen, there's a realistic chance that Martin could see more save chances in his new digs, depending on what other additions Texas may make to their relief corps before spring training. With a career-best and league-best 1.7% walk rate in 2024 and an opportunity, Martin could be an asset in both saves and holds leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: FanSided - Robert Murray
3 weeks agoAccording to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com, free-agent outfielder
Anthony Santander is viewed as the "focus" for the Toronto Blue Jays. The Blue Jays have been connected to several of the top free agents this offseason but have been unable to finalize any deals. Santander would bring some much-needed power to the Toronto lineup. Last season, the 30-year-old switch-hitter launched a career-best 44 long balls. This was his third straight campaign hitting at least 28 home runs. He posted a strong .506 slugging percentage with 25 doubles and 102 RBI. Under the hood, he generated a solid 11.7% barrel rate and .445 xSLG, which were both significantly above the average marks of qualified hitters. If Santander were to sign in Toronto, fantasy managers should expect him to have solid RBI upside batting behind
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.,
Bo Bichette, and
Andres Gimenez.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Keegan Matheson
3 weeks agoAccording to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, free agent relief pitcher
Tanner Scott is seeking $20 million AAV on the open market. Cotillo noted that while the Red Sox have shown interest, Scott is expected to have multiple big-market clubs in the bidding. In addition, his new contract is expected to reset the relief pitcher market. Last season, Scott opened the campaign with the Miami Marlins and was eventually traded to the San Diego Padres. Across 72 total frames, the southpaw held a stellar 1.75 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP with a 28.6% K rate. He tallied 22 saves but only four with San Diego as he was deployed as the set-up man in front of
Robert Suarez. Under the hood, the 30-year-old generated a strong 4.7% barrel rate and a 27.5% hard-hit rate. Given the current contract he is looking for, fantasy managers should expect him to be deployed as the clear ninth-inning option on his new club.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Chris Cotillo
3
weeks
agoAccording
to
Jon
Heyman
of
the
New
York
Post,
San
Diego
Padres
infielder
Luis
Arraez
is
no
longer
viewed
as
a
fit
for
the
New
York
Yankees.
Earlier
on
Monday,
Jeff
Passan
of
ESPN
reported
that
both
sides
were
in
the
process
of
discussing
read more...
3 weeks agoAccording to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Kansas City Royals are re-signing right-handed pitcher
Michael Lorenzen to a one-year deal worth $7 million. Lorenzen spent most of the 2024 season in Texas where he posted a 3.81 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP across 101 2/3 innings of work. However, once he was acquired by Kansas City, the 33-year-old began to turn the corner. Across 28 2/3 inning, Lorenzen held a strong 1.57 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP across six starts (seven appearances). Under the hood he generated a 8.0% barrel rate, 39.4% hard-hit rate and a 41.6% ground ball rate which are all just below the average marks last season. Earlier this offseason, Lorenzen expressed interest in seeing time as a two-way player but this contract suggests the Royals primarily view him as a pitcher. Fantasy managers should expect Lorenzen to have a spot in the Opening Day rotation is worth a look in deeper formats as he does not carry much strikeout upside.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Passan
3 weeks agoAccording to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Los Angeles Dodgers are trading infielder
Gavin Lux to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for outfield prospect Mike Sirota and a competitive balance pick. According to a source, that balance pick currently sits at No. 37. After the Dodgers signed Hyeseong Kim to a three-year deal, Gavin Lux did not have a spot in the starting lineup which encouraged several teams to begin acquiring on him. Over the week several teams have expressed interest in the former first rounder but the Reds were able to get a deal complete. Fantasy managers should expect Lux to have a role at the keystone in Cincinnati which will likely move Matt McClain to the outfield. Last season, Lux held a .251/.330/.383 line with ten home runs and five stolen bases. Lux could be worth a look in deeper formats if he bats near the top of the Cincinnati lineup.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Ken Rosenthal
3 weeks agoAccording to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the San Diego Padres' biggest priority this offseason has been Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki, the 23-year-old pitcher who has yet to decide where he wants to play in MLB. Because Sasaki is an international amateur under MLB rules, his contract will max out at $10 million, which will make him the biggest bargain in baseball. The Padres aren't betting their entire offseason on Sasaki, but for a team in need of another rotation piece, losing him, especially to the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers, could be devastating. Wherever Sasaki lands, he'll come with high-end fantasy potential. However, despite possessing some of the best stuff in the game, he comes with durability concerns, having topped out at 20 starts in Japan in 2022. Still, for the low price, you can't blame the Padres for selling out on a talent like Sasaki.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
3
weeks
agoAccording
to
ESPN's
Jeff
Passan,
the
New
York
Yankees
continue
to
talk
with
the
San
Diego
Padres
about
infielder
Luis
Arraez.
The
Yankees
have
also
inquired
about
Los
Angeles
Dodgers
second
baseman
Gavin
Lux
to
fill
their
opening
at
second
read more...
3 weeks agoMiami Marlins left-hander
Ryan Weathers, who has been long-tossing for the last few weeks, is 20 pounds lighter this offseason. The 25-year-old has adopted a Keto diet due to his high-insulin resistance. Weathers missed three months in 2024 with a left index-finger strain, but before that he was looking good with a 3.55 ERA in his first 13 starts. The young southpaw returned late in the year to make three starts in September and will be full healthy heading into the 2025 campaign. Following the trade of lefty
Jesus Luzardo to the Philadelphia Phillies, Weathers will undoubtedly be counted on in the Marlins starting rotation behind right-hander
Sandy Alcantara. Pitching in Miami is not the most attractive circumstances at all, but Weathers has some late-round flier appeal in fantasy going into 2025 after setting career-best strikeout and walk rates in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
3 weeks agoThe Cincinnati Reds acquired right-hander
Owen White from the Texas Rangers on Monday in exchange for cash considerations, according to the Rangers. The move comes after the Rangers recently designated White for assignment and off their 40-man roster. The 25-year-old will now head to the National League went 2-8 with a rough 5.64 ERA and 1.57 WHIP with 87 strikeouts and 48 walks in 99 innings over 29 appearances (15 starts) at Triple-A Round Rock last year while also appearing in only three games in relief at the major-league level. In his three innings for the Rangers, he gave up eight earned runs while walking one and striking out none. White was originally a second-round pick by the Rangers in 2018, so the Reds are taking a chance hoping that he's a late bloomer. He will most likely start the 2025 campaign at Triple-A Louisville.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Texas Rangers PR
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