3
days
agoAccording
to
Andy
Martino
of
SNY,
the
New
York
Mets
have
checked
in
on
the
availability
of
Toronto
Blue
Jays
first
baseman
Vladimir
Guerrero
Jr.
Guerrero
is
set
to
hit
the
free
agent
market
following
the
2025
season.
The
Blue
Jays
have
prioritized
extending
read more...
3 days agoAccording to the team, the New York Yankees have acquired pitching prospect
Michael Arias from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for cash considerations. Before the trade, Arias was considered the No. 18 ranked prospect in the Chicago pipeline. The 23-year-old opened the 2024 season by making his Double-A debut. Through 24 frames with the Tennessee Smokies, Arias held a 3.75 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He then earned a late-season promotion to Triple-A Iowa, where he posted a 5.45 ERA and a 2.09 WHIP across 36 1/3 innings of work. He struck out an impressive 46 batters but struggled with his command as he served up 36 free passes. The 23-year-old will likely open the campaign at the Triple-A level and could push for a 2025 debut if he progresses well.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: New York Yankees
3 days agoAccording to the team, the Boston Red Sox have designated right-handed pitcher
Chase Shugart for assignment. This transaction opened a roster spot for catcher
Blake Sabol, whom the team acquired earlier on Wednesday. Shugart made his big league debut last summer with the Red Sox. Across eight 2/3 innings of work, the right-hander posted a 4.15 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. He struck out eight batters and allowed three walks. However, in this limited stint, he generated a solid 3.31 xERA. Through 70 2/3 innings of work with Triple-A Worcester last season, Shugart posted a 4.46 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. He struck out an impressive 80 batters but allowed a hefty 32 walks. The former 12th-round pick will likely open the season at Triple-A if he is not claimed on waivers.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Boston Red Sox
3 days agoAccording to Ben Nicholson-Smith of SportsNet, the Toronto Blue Jays have traded right-handed pitcher
Brett de Geus to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for cash considerations. De Geus was designated for assignment earlier this offseason but will now take his career to Pittsburgh. Last summer, de Geus logged just 11 2/3 innings at the major league level and posted a 7.15 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. He struck out just seven batters and allowed four free passes. Through 39 innings at Triple-A last season, de Geus posted a 5.31 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. The 27-year-old will enter spring training competing for a spot in the Pittsburgh bullpen but will likely open the campaign with Triple-A Indianapolis, given his lack of proven success and experience in the major leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Ben Nicholson-Smith
3 days agoAccording to Justice De Los Santos of the Mercury News, the New York Mets have claimed right-handed pitcher
Austin Warren off waivers from the San Francisco Giants. Over the past four seasons, Warren has logged 48 2/3 innings of work in the majors and held a 3.14 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. He has struck out 38 batters and held a high 11.8% walk rate. However, he did well limiting hard contact at a strong 26.7% and generating ground balls at an elite 53.3% rate. Across 100 1/3 career frames at Triple-A, he has held a 4.70 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Fantasy managers should monitor his progress during spring training, as he will likely compete for a spot in the bullpen. However, given his limited track record in the majors, he will likely open the campaign at the Triple-A level.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Justice De Los Santos
3 days agoThe Colorado Rockies agreed to a minor-league deal with free-agent infielder
Keston Hiura on Wednesday that includes an invite to major-league spring training, according to a source. Along with Hiura, the Rockies also signed free-agent outfielder
Nick Martini to a minor-league deal. After not appearing the big leagues since 2022 with the Milwaukee Brewers, Hiura resurfaced in 2024 with the Los Angeles Angels late in the year and went 4-for-27 (.148) with no homers and one RBI while striking out 10 times in 10 games played. The landing spot in Colorado is a nice one for the 28-year-old right-handed power bat, but Hiura will face long odds to carve out regular playing time with the Rockies if he returns to the majors in 2025. He resurfaced in Anaheim last year after posting a strong .943 OPS with 26 home runs at Triple-A Salt Lake.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand
3 days agoThe Boston Red Sox acquired catcher
Blake Sabol from the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday in exchange for international bonus-pool space. In a corresponding move to make room on the 40-man roster for Sabol, the Red Sox designated right-hander
Chase Shugart for assignment. Sabol was recently DFA'd by the Giants and will now head to the American League East, where he'll serve as catching depth for the BoSox behind
Connor Wong and
Carlos Narvaez. The 27-year-old former seventh-round pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2019 out of USC also has experience in the outfield but will likely start the 2025 season at Triple-A Worcester. He made his big-league debut in San Fran in 2023, hitting .235 (73-for-310) with 13 homers and 44 RBI in 110 games but only played in 11 games for the Gigantes this past season. Sabol will be off the fantasy radar in all redraft fantasy leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Boston Red Sox
3 days agoThe San Francisco Giants recently held talks with free-agent outfielder
Randal Grichuk's representatives, according to a source. MLB.com's Mark Feinsand also recently mentioned that the Pittsburgh Pirates are another team interested in signing Grichuk, who is coming off a strong season in which he hit .291/.348/.528 with an .875 OPS, 12 home runs, 46 RBI and 40 runs scored in 279 trips to the plate over 106 games with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 33-year-old veteran is no longer an everyday player at this stage of his career, but he proved in 2024 that he can be a valuable platoon option in the outfield against left-handed pitching. He landed on the open market when he declined his $6 million mutual option for 2025. Grichuk held an impressive .914 OPS against southpaws last year and has an .833 career OPS against lefties.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: FanSided - Robert Murray
3 days agoThe San Francisco Giants signed Dominican shortstop prospect Josuar Gonzalez on Wednesday. Some scouts believe that Gonzalez was the best international prospect in this year's class, and he'll receive $3 million from the Giants. The 17-year-old infielder is an elite athlete who is most intriguing for his plus-plus speed on the basepaths, but he also has an above-average hit tool and could develop more power if he can build muscle and strength to his 5-foot-11, 175-pound frame. The young infielder will begin in the Dominican Summer League and has plenty of time to develop in the Giants' farm system before he becomes a realistic option for the big leagues. Heading into the 2025 season and beyond, the Giants upgraded at the 6 with
Willy Adames. Gonzalez immediately becomes San Fran's No. 2 prospect behind
Bryce Eldridge.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball American - Ben Badler
3 days agoFree-agent right-handed reliever
Daniel Bard (elbow) plans to start throwing off a mound in early February and signing with a team in April, with the goal of pitching not long after that. Bard did not make a single appearance in the big leagues in 2024 after having flexor-tendon surgery on his right elbow back in April. Despite the injury, the 39-year-old veteran plans on signing with a team for the 2025 campaign, although it remains to be seen where he'll land or how effective he'll be. In his last season in 2023 with the Colorado Rockies, Bard struggled with efficiency and finished with a 4.56 ERA (6.13 FIP), a 1.70 WHIP, one save, 47 strikeouts and 49 walks in 49 1/3 relief innings. Given the fact he didn't pitch at all last year, Bard will most likely have to settle for a minor-league contract. He'll be a long shot to have much fantasy value in 2025 if he makes it back.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: WEEI - Rob Bradford
3 days agoThe New York Mets signed 17-year-old Dominican shortstop Elian Pena on Wednesday to a $5 million deal, according to a source. It's a decent consolation prize for the Mets after they were unable to sign Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki. Some scouts believe that the left-handed-hitting Pena is the next-best international free agent in this signing period. Pena's bonus is the largest in Mets history, surpassing the $2.85 million that the franchise gave to Venezuelan catcher Yovanny Rodriguez in 2024. The 5-foot-10 Pena is more advanced offensively than he is with the glove, but he'll have plenty of time to develop on the farm before he becomes an option at the highest level. "He's got power, discipline at the plate and knows how to play the game," one scout said. "He's going to be a dangerous, well-rounded hitter if all goes well." Pena has drawn comparisons to Red Sox third baseman
Rafael Devers.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Dan Martin
3
days
agoMLB
Network's
Jon
Morosi
reports
that
free-agent
infielder
Ha-Seong
Kim
(shoulder)
is
unlikely
to
be
ready
for
Opening
Day
after
having
surgery
to
fix
the
labrum
in
his
right
shoulder.
However,
Kim
should
be
game-ready
at
some
point
in
the
first
half
of
read more...
4 days agoAccording to Adam Jude of the Seattle Times, the Tampa Bay Rays have expressed interest in trading for top catching prospect
Harry Ford of the Seattle Mariners. While it is unclear how interested the Rays were in acquiring him, it is worth noting that they are looking to further bolster their pipeline. If the Rays fall out of the playoff picture, they could be interested in resuming conversations, especially if
Brandon Lowe or
Yandy Diaz are involved in the deal. Last season, Harry Ford spent the entire 2024 campaign at the Double-A level. The 21-year-old posted a .249/.377/.367 line with 26 doubles, seven home runs, and 35 stolen bases. Fantasy managers should monitor Ford's production during spring training as he could push to open the 2025 season at Triple-A, which could open the door for a late-season major league debut.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Adam Jude
4 days agoAccording to Alex Speier of The Boston Globe, the Boston Red Sox are interested in extending top prospect
Roman Anthony. Speir noted that the team has also expressed interest in extending other top prospects in the system, such as
Marcelo Mayer and
Kristian Campbell. All three of these prospects are expected to be a key part of the future of the franchise. Anthony is currently ranked as the No.3 prospect in all of baseball on MLB Pipeline. Last summer, he opened the campaign by getting his first full look at Double-A and performed very well with a .269/.367/.489 with 20 doubles, 15 home runs, and 16 stolen bases. He then earned a late-season promotion to Triple-A, where he continued to perform at an elite level with a .344/.463/.519 line with 12 doubles and three home runs across 35 games. If the 20-year-old performs well at Triple-A, he could make a case to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Alex Speier
4 days agoAccording to Ben Nicholson-Smith of SportsNet, the Toronto Blue Jays and first baseman
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have established February 18 as the deadline for contract extension talks. This is the same day as the team's first full-squad workout. The Blue Jays remain focused on extending their superstar, but this deadline will ensure that contract talks are put on hold once preparation for the 2025 season is underway. Sources have suggested the Blue Jays are more focused on extending Guerrero than shortstop
Bo Bichette, who is also set to hit the open market after the 2025 season. Guerrero and the Blue Jays agreed to a $28.5 million deal to avoid arbitration last week. Last summer, the 25-year-old posted a stellar .323/.396/.544 line with 30 home runs and two stolen bases. Given his elite batting average and power production, Guerrero should be viewed as the consensus top first baseman in drafts this offseason.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Ben Nicholson-Smith
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