1 day agoAccording to Pat Ragazzo of Sports Illustrated, free-agent pitcher
Tim Hill has continued to draw interest from the Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Rockies, and Angels. Ragazzo noted there is mutual interest in a potential reunion with the Yankees. Last season, Hill opened the campaign with the White Sox and posted a 5.87 ERA and a 2.22 WHIP across 23 innings of work. However, once he was shipped to the Bronx in the back half of the season, Hill held a strong 2.05 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP across 44 innings of work. In the playoffs, Hill tossed 8 2/3 innings of one-run ball. Despite only generating a poor 10.1% strikeout rate, Hill posted an elite 68.1% ground-ball rate, which helped offset his poor whiff rate. Fantasy managers should expect Hill to operate as a high-leverage option during the 2025 season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Pat Ragazzo
1
day
agoAccording
to
Matthew
Trueblood
of
NorthSideBaseball.com,
the
Chicago
Cubs
have
inquired
about
a
potential
trade
to
acquire
San
Diego
Padres
right-handed
pitcher
Michael
King.
Throughout
the
season,
the
Padres
have
looked
to
shed
payroll
as
Dylan
Cease
and
read more...
1 day agoAccording to Pat Ragazzo of Sports Illustrated, the New York Mets have shown interest in acquiring Baltimore Orioles first baseman
Ryan Mountcastle. Owner Steve Cohen has noted that negotiations with
Pete Alonso have hit a standstill, and the team has begun to pivot to other options. Earlier in the offseason, they acquired
Jesse Winker to potentially fill a spot in the lineup. In addition, the team has been linked to Detroit Tigers first baseman
Spencer Torkelson. Mountcastle is a much more proven major league bat than Torkelson. Last season, Mountcastle posted a .271/.308/.425 line with 13 home runs. However, before the modifications in left field of Camden Yards, Mountcastle had 20+ HR upside and hit a career-best 33 HRs in 2021. Mountcastle generated strong underlying metrics in 2024, which suggest he could still provide high upside power production. For now, fantasy managers should expect
Mark Vientos to be the favorite to play first base in Queens.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Pat Ragazzo
2 days agoThe Miami Marlins claimed right-hander
Connor Gillispie off waivers from the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday. In a corresponding move to make room on the 40-man roster, the Marlins designated catcher
Jhonny Pereda for assignment, according to sources. Gillispie will give the Fish some organizational pitching depth as both a starter and a reliever in his time in the minor leagues last year. The 27-year-old former ninth-round selection by the Baltimore Orioles in 2019 out of Virginia Commonwealth University made his major-league debut in 2024 with the Cleveland Guardians and allowed two earned runs while walking five and striking out eight in eight innings over three relief appearances. At Triple-A Columbus in 27 outings (15 starts), he had a 4.05 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with 119 strikeouts and 48 walks in 113 1/3 innings. Gillispie is nowhere near the fantasy radar.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ElExtraBase - Daniel Alvarez-Montes
2 days agoMiami Marlins right-hander
Eury Perez (elbow) threw light toss on flat ground on Tuesday. It marks Perez's first throwing session since he had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last April. The Fish are going to take it slow with the 21-year-old Dominican after he missed all of last season, but it's a good sign early in 2025. Even if he does not encounter any setbacks during his rehab, fantasy managers shouldn't expect Perez to contribute to Miami's starting rotation until at least the second half of the season. In his first MLB season in 2023, Perez made 19 starts (91 1/3 innings) and went 5-6 with a nice 3.15 ERA (4.11 FIP), a 1.13 WHIP and a 108:31 K:BB. When Perez does return later on in 2025, fantasy managers should also temper expectations. However, he proved in 2023 that he has the potential to be a fantasy ace.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
2
days
agoThe
Boston
Red
Sox
announced
on
Tuesday
that
prospects
Roman
Anthony,
Kristian
Campbell
and
Marcelo
Mayer
will
all
be
non-roster
invites
at
major-league
spring
training
this
year.
Anthony,
an
outfielder,
is
listed
as
read more...
2 days agoAccording to ESPN's Jeff Passan, right-handed reliever
Kirby Yates and the Los Angeles Dodgers officially agreed on a one-year, $13 million deal on Tuesday, according to sources. Yates' deal could be worth up to $14 million if he appears in 55 games in 2025. With reliever
Michael Kopech (forearm) dealing with forearm issues last fall, the Dodgers boosted their bullpen this offseason with the additions of both Yates and left-hander
Tanner Scott, who is expected to see the majority of save chances in L.A. next season. The 37-year-old Yates was outstanding for the Texas Rangers in 2024 with a 1.17 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 85 strikeouts and 33 saves in 61 2/3 relief innings. While he'll certainly be a nice option for fantasy managers in holds leagues, he will be turning 38 in March and won't see nearly as many save chances with the World Series champions as long as Scott is healthy.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
2 days agoNew York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on WFAN 660 on Tuesday that young outfielder
Everson Pereira (elbow) is healthy this offseason and could factor into the club's outfield mix in 2025. Pereira will be competing for a Opening Day roster spot this spring despite undergoing an internal-brace surgery on his right elbow last June. If the 23-year-old impresses in spring training and opens the 2025 regular season with the Yankees, he'd likely operate in a reserve role off the bench. The Venezuelan outfielder made his big-league debut in the Bronx in 2024 but only played in 27 games, going 14-for-93 (.151) with no home runs, 10 RBI, four steals, six runs scored and 40 strikeouts in 103 plate appearances. With plenty to work on still, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Pereira open the year at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for more minor-league seasoning.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
2
days
agoNew
York
Yankees
manager
Aaron
Boone
said
on
WFAN
660
on
Tuesday
that
infielder
Jazz
Chisholm
Jr.
is
expected
to
start
at
second
base
in
2025,
with
DJ
LeMahieu,
Oswaldo
Cabrera
and
read more...
2 days agoNew York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on WFAN 660 on Tuesday that he will likely use outfielder
Cody Bellinger in center field and outfield prospect
Jasson Dominguez in left field in 2025. The Yankees can move Bellinger around as needed, including to play first base, while Boone would rather keep Dominguez in one spot in what will be his first full professional season in the majors.
Paul Goldschmidt will be the Yankees' starting first baseman, but on days he's used as the designated hitter, Bellinger could slide to first. In addition to being the team's primary left fielder in 2025, Dominguez, along with infielder
Jazz Chisholm Jr., will be an option to hit leadoff for the Bombers. Both Bellinger and Dominguez will be No. 3 outfield targets in fantasy, with Bellinger having a safer floor given his experience, but Dominguez certainly has the higher long-term ceiling.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
2 days agoAccording to Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Cubs have designated infielder
Luis Vazquez for assignment. This transaction opened a roster spot for infielder
Jon Berti, who the team officially signed to a one-year contract earlier on Tuesday. Vazquez was a former 14th-round selection by the Cubs in the 2017 MLB Draft. The 25-year-old made his big league debut in the 2024 campaign. Across his brief 11-game stint in the majors, he tallied just one hit with one RBI. Across 168 contests with Triple-A Iowa, the young infielder has held a .247/.339/.406 line. Last season, he held a strong .264/.347/.432 line across 64 games with Triple-A Iowa. Vazquez will likely draw interest in waivers, given his solid play at the top level of the minor leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Meghan Montemurro
2 days agoAccording to the team, the Baltimore Orioles and infielder
Jorge Mateo have come to an agreement on a one-year deal with a club option for 2026 to avoid arbitration. The 29-year-old infielder is still recovering from a UCL surgery on his non-throwing arm and could potentially be limited during spring training. Last season, Mateo was deployed as a rotational piece and appeared in 68 games. Across this stint, Mateo posted a .229/.267/.401 line with 14 doubles, five home runs, and 13 stolen bases. In 113 games at the major league level in 2023, Mateo swiped an impressive 32 bags with a .217/.267/.340 line. Fantasy managers should expect Mateo to have a similar role in 2025. He could be worth a look in AL-only formats, given his upside for stolen base production, as he placed in the 99th percentile in sprint speed last season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Baltimore Orioles
2 days agoAccording to Daniel Alvarez-Montes, the San Diego Padres re-signed catcher
Elias Diaz to a one-year deal worth $3.5 million that contains a mutual option for the 2026 season. Diaz joined the Padres in August and will return to San Diego. Diaz opened the season with the Colorado Rockies and was eventually released after posting a .270/.325/.378 line across 84 games. Across 12 games with San Diego, Diaz posted a .190/.292/.429 line with two doubles and one home run. Fantasy managers should expect Diaz to compete for the starting role during spring training alongside
Luis Campusano,
Brett Sullivan, and
Martin Maldonado. Across 10 career major league seasons, the 34-year-old holds a cumulative .251/.304/.388 slash line. He could be worth a look in NL-only formats if he earns the starting job.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Daniel Alvarez-Montes
2
days
agoAccording
to
Joe
Noga
of
Cleveland.com,
Cleveland
Guardians
infield
prospect
Juan
Brito
could
get
a
look
to
compete
for
the
second
base
job
during
spring
training.
Manager
Stephen
Vogt
told
the
media
that
Brito
would
be
in
the
read more...
2 days agoAccording to Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Cubs have designated right-handed pitcher
Matt Festa for assignment. This transaction opened a roster spot for right-handed pitcher
Ryan Pressly, who the team officially acquired via trade earlier on Tuesday. Festa was acquired by the Cubs earlier in the offseason but will now return to waivers. Last season, Festa logged 23 2/3 innings of work with the Mets and Rangers and posted a 5.70 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. Across 40 innings at the Triple-A level last summer, the 31-year-old posted a strong 2.70 and a 1.20 WHIP while tallying 48 punchouts. Fantasy managers should expect Festa to spend most of the 2025 campaign at the minor league level, given his lack of prolonged success in the major leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Meghan Montemurro
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