2 days agoPittsburgh Pirates right-hander
Paul Skenes was named the 2024 National League Rookie of the Year on Monday evening. Skenes, last year's first overall pick out of LSU, debuted less than a year after being drafted and is a generational talent at the position. The 22-year-old went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA over 23 starts in 133 innings for the Pirates this year, and his 170 strikeouts were a franchise record. His ERA was the lowest for a rookie pitcher with at least 20 starts in the live-ball era (dating to 1920) and the lowest of any pitcher in 2024 with at least 130 innings. Skenes' fWAR was 10th among big-league pitchers, and he was also named one of the finalists for the NL Cy Young, joining lefty
Chris Sale and right-hander
Zack Wheeler. Skenes is already one of the most dominant pitchers in the sport and will be a highly-coveted fantasy ace in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB
3 days agoThe Chicago Cubs are hiring
Tyler Zombro as a special assistant in their front office, according to source. The 30-year-old has become one of the sport's preeminent trainers at Tread Athletics and will now work in the Cubs' organization to help improve the performance of their pitchers. Not only will the addition of Zombro hopefully improve the effectiveness of Cubs' pitchers, but he could help lure one of the top free-agent arms, right-hander
Corbin Burnes, to the Cubbies this offseason. Manager Craig Counsell also has experience working with Burnes in Milwaukee. Despite not having many big-name arms in their starting rotation and bullpen in 2024, the Cubs had a team ERA of 3.78 under manager Craig Counsell, which ranked 10th in all of baseball.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
3
days
agoCincinnati
Reds
second
baseman
Jonathan
India
is
one
of
several
hitters
that
the
Kansas
City
Royals
are
targeting
in
a
trade,
according
to
sources
briefed
on
the
team's
talks.
On
the
flip
side,
right-hander
Brady
Singerread more...
3 days agoFree-agent left-hander
Sean Manaea is expected to reject the New York Mets' $21.05 million qualifying offer. If Manaea ends up signing elsewhere on the open market this winter, the Mets will receive draft-pick compensation. The 32-year-old veteran southpaw is looking for a more lucrative long-term deal this offseason after having a career resurgence in 2024 with the Mets. In his 32 starts, he went 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA (3.83 FIP), a 1.08 WHIP and a 184:63 K:BB in 181 2/3 innings pitched. He wasn't quite as effective in his four postseason starts in October, allowing 11 runs (10 earned) on 17 hits (three homers) while walking eight and striking out 19 in 19 innings. The key to Manaea's solid year was his ability to unlock more velocity due to mechanical tweaks. It remains to be seen if he'll be able to build on it in 2025. Fantasy managers will likely be skeptical, depending on where he lands in free agency.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Alden Gonzalez
3 days agoMLB Network's Jon Morosi likes free-agent first baseman
Christian Walker as a fit for the New York Yankees this offseason, whether or not they end up re-signing superstar outfielder
Juan Soto. The Arizona Diamondbacks extended a $21.05 million qualifying offer to Walker, so if the Yankees or any other team scoop him up, the D-backs will receive draft-pick compensation. Walker represents a nice fallback option for teams looking to add a first-base power bat this offseason that don't want to pony up to pay free-agent first baseman
Pete Alonso. The 33-year-old doesn't have the type of power upside that Alonso has, but Walker is an elite, Gold Glove-caliber defender at the cold corner and has 30-plus homers in two of the last three seasons. A move to the Bronx and the Yankees' stacked lineup would certainly give Walker more fantasy upside in 2025 and beyond.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB Network - Jon Morosi
3 days agoMLB Network's Jon Morosi reports that the Atlanta Braves have some interest in signing free-agent right-hander
Walker Buehler this winter. Left-hander
Max Fried and veteran right-hander
Charlie Morton are both free agents and may not be back in Atlanta, while right-handed ace
Spencer Strider is still recovering from right-elbow surgery that kept him sidelined for most of 2024. Buehler didn't look so great in his initial return from Tommy John surgery during the regular season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he looked much better in the postseason in October and has Kentucky roots, so a return close to home could be appealing. Morosi also mentions the Chicago Cubs as a possibility to land Buehler this offseason. The 30-year-old picked up the save in the World-Series clinching victory of the Yankees and he'll be looking to bounce back in 2025 after going 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA in 16 regular-season starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB Network - Jon Morosi
3 days agoMLB Network's Jon Morosi reports that the Houston Astros are interested in free-agent shortstop
Willy Adames, possibly to play third base if they cannot bring
Alex Bregman back. In addition to the Astros, Morosi lists the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays as potential suitors for Adames, who will have a robust market this offseason. The Astros are already set with
Jeremy Pena at the 6 and veteran
Jose Altuve at second, so Adames would likely move to the hot corner if he were to land in Houston. The 29-year-old reportedly has already received offers from the Dodgers and New York Mets, with the Mets offering seven years and over $160 million. A move to the Mets would also likely result in Adames shifting to third with
Francisco Lindor already entrenched at shortstop.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB Network - Jon Morosi
3 days agoFree-agent veteran outfielder
Austin Slater agreed to an undisclosed major-league deal with the Chicago White Sox on Monday. It's not the greatest landing spot for Slater in terms of fantasy purposes, but he should at least see a short-side platoon in Chicago against left-handed pitchers in 2025 on what will likely be a one-year deal. The 31-year-old right-handed-hitting outfielder has traditionally handled lefty pitchers well in his career, although he struggled against them in 2024 with the San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles, slashing .188/.310/.231 against them with one of his two home runs on the year and 11 RBI in 142 plate appearances. Slater will be hoping to bounce back offensively for the Pale Hose next season. With a low ceiling and low floor, Slater should only be considered in deep mixed and AL-only leagues in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
3 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies pitching prospect
Andrew Painter won Pitcher of the Year honors for his performance during the Arizona Fall League. The 21-year-old threw 15 2/3 innings (six starts) during the fall campaign, posting a 2.30 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and a 4:18 BB:K. He was one of the top pitching prospects when he was drafted 13th overall in 2021, but elbow problems and eventually Tommy John surgery caused him to miss significant time, having last pitched in 2022 prior to the fall season. It certainly looks like he's back to full health and could be a solid fantasy contributor in the not-too-distant future. Per MLB.com's top prospect list, the tall righty is expected to make his MLB debut in 2025.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 days agoThe Philadelphia Phillies have signed pitcher
Nicholas Padilla to a minor league contract. The 27-year-old was selected in the 13th round of the 2015 draft and made his big league debut in 2022. In 2024, the righty spent his time in the Chicago White Sox organization, pitching 30 2/3 innings at Triple-A with a 3.23 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. While his strikeout stuff is good, recording a 29.4% K% last season, he struggled with command, walking batters at a 12.7% rate. In four major league appearances totaling six-and-a-third innings, he's allowed four earned runs on 11 hits and a 3:7 BB:K. Padilla will provide bullpen depth, although he'll probably start 2025 at Triple-A. For now, the hurler is off the fantasy radar.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MLB Roster Moves
3 days agoKansas City Royals first base prospect
Jac Caglianone made a good final impression in the Arizona Fall League, going 3-for-4 with a walk and a run scored in the AFL championship game, although his team -- the Surprise Saguaros -- came up short on the losing end of a 3-2 final score. All in all, it was a solid showing for the 21-year-old, posting a final line of .236-5-21-14-2 in 21 AFL regular season games. The 2024 first-round draft pick played 29 games at High-A this year and could start next season at Double-A. Assuming he lives up to his draft-day profile, there's a good chance we'll see him in the big leagues by 2026.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 days agoDetroit Tigers catching prospect
Josue Briceno took home the Arizona Fall League's Joe Black MVP Award after he led the circuit in all three Triple Crown categories: batting average (.433), on-base percentage (.509), and HR (10). But it wasn't just those stats, the 20-year-old also led in hits (39), RBI (27), and OPS (1.376). The Venezuelan missed more than three months with a PCL sprain in his right knee which forced the backstop to work as a first baseman and designated hitter in the AFL. It's unclear which level of the minors he will start at next season after playing at Single-A in his limited action in 2024, but this type of performance could propel him to the bigs sooner than expected, although that is still likely a couple of years away.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 days agoCincinnati Reds pitcher
Nick Martinez accepted the team's qualifying offer of $21.05 million, returning to the team for a second season. Martinez made a handful of starts in the first month of the season in 2024, but worked almost exclusively out of the bullpen until August when he returned to the rotation. The 34-year-old had stronger numbers overall in 53 1/3 IP as a reliever (1.86 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 19.6 K-BB%) than in 89 IP as a starter (3.84 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 15.8% K-BB%), however, as a starter in September the righty went 4-1 with a 0.83 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, and a 21.8% K-BB% which led to being named MLB's N.L. Pitcher of the Month. Fantasy managers should take note in the spring as to whether or not the Reds plan to use him as a starter again as he could be a potential late-round value if he were able to take that momentum into 2025.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Francys Romero
4 days agoFree-agent starting pitcher
Luis Severino is expected to decline the qualifying offer that the New York Mets extended to him. The qualifying offer was for one year, however, Severino is seeking a multi-year deal, looking to capitalize on the relative success of his 2024 campaign. The 30-year-old made 31 starts and pitched 182 innings, both of which were the most since 2018, posting a 3.91 ERA and 1.24 WHIP. The former 2x All-Star has until Tuesday to accept the offer, but if he does not and another team signs him, then the Mets would get draft pick compensation.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Will Sammon - The Athletic
5 days agoIt appears likely that a historic deal to build a new $1.3 billion stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays at the Tropicana Field site is all but dead, according to the Tampa Bay Times' John Romano. The Pinellas County Commission has postponed one vote on bonds that would go toward financing a new ballpark, and it's likely to be delayed again this week. The delays have halted construction plans and would likely cause a significant increase in the cost of building the new stadium. In addition, there's growing concern that the planned repairs of Tropicana Field's roof will exceed an initial $56 million estimate, and the St. Petersburg City Council could balk at giving approval for a stadium slated to be demolished in three to four years. It all means that the Rays could consider the possibility of permanent relocation away from Tampa Bay as early as 2026.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Times - John Romano
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