2 days agoAccording to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Pittsburgh Pirates have signed left-handed pitcher
Ryan Borucki to a minor-league contract that includes an invite to spring training. The 30-year-old logged just 11 frames at the major league level in 2024 and posted a hefty 7.36 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. Through 14 2/3 innings in the minor leagues, Borucki posted a poor 4.91 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. However, in 40 1/3 innings of work with Pittsburgh in 2023, Borucki held a strong 2.45 ERA and a stellar 0.74 WHIP. He struck out 33 batters and allowed just four free passes. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring his progress during spring training, as Borucki will likely be competing for a spot in the bullpen.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman
2 days agoAccording to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the San Francisco Giants have signed first baseman/outfielder
Jake Lamb to a minor-league contract that includes an invite to spring training. Lamb spent the entire 2024 campaign at the Triple-A level with Indianapolis. Across 98 contests, Lamb posted a .264/.350/.393 line with 23 doubles, seven home runs, and a 43:84 BB:K ratio. Through 10 seasons in the major leagues, the former sixth-round selection holds a career .235/.326/.427 line. His best season was in 2017 when he made the National League All-Star team with a .248/.357/.487 line with 30 home runs, 30 doubles, and 105 RBI. Lamb will look to compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster but will likely open the campaign at Triple-A given his lack of prolonged big league success.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman
2 days agoAccording to Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com, Washington Nationals right-handed pitcher
Josiah Gray (elbow) began his throwing program and is targeting a return before the end of the season. Gray underwent Tommy John surgery and an internal brace procedure last July. However, the young right-hander remains optimistic he can return in the back half of the 2025 season. Before the injury, Gray logged just eight innings of work in the majors and posted a 14.04 ERA. Across 21 innings in the minor leagues, Gray held a 6.00 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. In 2023, the 27-year-old posted a career-best 3.91 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP across 159 frames. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status throughout the season, as he could rejoin the rotation after the All-Star break.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Mark Zuckerman
2 days agoAccording to Alex Stumpf of MLB.com, the Pittsburgh Pirates have signed left-handed pitcher
Tim Mayza to a one-year contract. Mayza had a disappointing 2024 campaign as he posed a career-worst 6.33 ERA and a .162 WHIP across 42 2/3 innings with both the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees. He struck out 28 batters with a modest 7.7% walk rate. He generated a hefty 9.3% barrel rate and a mediocre 38.4% hard-hit rate. However, in 2023, the southpaw posted a stellar 1.52 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP across 53 1/3 innings of relief. He struck out 53 batters, a much higher mark than his 2024 production. The reliever will look to bounce back the Steel City operating as a middle reliever.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Alex Stumpf
3 days agoAccording to the team, Texas Rangers top prospect,
Sebastian Walcott, has been invited to spring training. The shortstop enjoyed a strong season at the High-A level last summer and will be rewarded with a look at the big-league camp. Across 116 games, the 18-year-old posted an impressive .261/.342/.443 line with 31 doubles, 10 home runs, and 26 stolen bases. He saw his play gradually improve throughout the season as he posted a stellar .291/.347/.514 line during the second half. Walcott was rewarded with a brief four-game look at Double-A in September. Across this short stint, the infielder tallied eight hits, including three doubles and a home run. Walcott is currently ranked as the top prospect in the Rangers system and the No.23 overall on MLB Pipeline. Dynasty managers should continue to keep a close eye on his progression as he is developing into one of the top prospects in the sport. He should be expected to open the season with Double-A Frisco.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Texas Rangers
3 days agoAccording to Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Dispatch, St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect
Tink Hence (back/lat) will enter spring training without any lingering injuries. Last season, the starting pitcher flashed upside at times but was limited by lingering back and lat injuries. The 22-year-old was able to throw just 79 2/3 innings at Double-A as he missed more than a month of play due to these injuries. However, the No. 2 ranked prospect in the system is expected to be a full-go for spring training. Across these innings, the right-hander posted a strong 2.71 ERA with a 1.07 WHIP. He struck out 109 batters and served up just 26 free passes. This was a significant improvement compared to the 5.47 ERA and the 1.51 WHIP he held at Double-A the previous season. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during spring training, as Hence could push for an early season debut if he can stay healthy.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Daniel Guerrero
3 days agoAccording to Roch Kubatko of MASN.com, the Baltimore Orioles have designated infielder
Jacob Amaya for assignment. This transaction opened a roster spot for outfielder
Dylan Carlson, who the team signed to a one-year contract earlier on Monday. The Orioles claimed Amaya off waivers earlier this offseason. Last summer, Amaya made 24 big league appearances with the White Sox and Houston Astros and held a .176/.222/.191 line. He hit just one extra-base hit and held a 4:28 BB:K ratio. Across 288 contests at the Triple-A level, the 26-year-old infielder has posted a .246/.342/.380 line with 28 home runs and 15 stolen bases. Fantasy managers should expect Amaya to spend most of the 2025 campaign at the Triple-A level, given his lack of success in the majors.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Roch Kubatko
3 days agoAccording to the team, the Texas Rangers have signed right-handed pitcher
Jesse Chavez to a minor-league deal that includes an invite to spring training. The 41-year-old spent the entire 2024 campaign with the Atlanta Braves and posted a solid 3.13 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP across 63 1/3 innings of relief. He struck out 55 batters and showed strong command with a 7.2% walk rate. He was able to limit hard contact at an above-average 35.4% hard-hit rate and 6.3% barrel rate, which is a promising sign for his stock heading into 2025. However, he generated whiffs at a poor 17.0% rate, which placed him in the second percentile among qualified pitchers. In 2023, Chavez posted an impressive 1.56 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP across 34 2/3 innings of work. Chavez will compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster during spring training.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Texas Rangers
3
days
agoAccording
to
Chandler
Rome
of
The
Athletic,
the
Houston
Astros
are
continuing
to
pursue
free-agent
infielder
Jorge
Polanco
as
a
contingency
plan
if
they
fail
to
re-sign
third
baseman
Alex
Bregman.
While
the
team's
priority
is
to
reunite
with
their
read more...
3 days agoThe Baltimore Orioles announced on Monday that they agreed to terms with free-agent outfielder
Dylan Carlson on a one-year, $975,000 deal for the 2025 season. Carlson can make an additional $25,000 at 200 plate appearances. The 26-year-old outfielder became a free agent this offseason when the Tampa Bay Rays non-tendered him. He struggled mightily at the plate last season and hit a combined .209/.287/.277 with a career-worst .563 OPS, three home runs, 25 RBI, 19 runs scored and 75 strikeouts in 265 plate appearance over 96 games with the Rays and St. Louis Cardinals. The switch-hitter was once a promising prospect in the Cardinals system, but it's been all downhill since a solid rookie campaign in 2021. Carlson won't be an everyday player in Baltimore, but he could carve out a platoon role in the outfield against left-handed pitching.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
3
days
agoThe
Athletic's
Ken
Rosenthal
writes
that
one
of
the
reasons
the
free-agent
market
remains
clogged
in
late
January
is
that
names
like
San
Diego
Padres
right-handers
Dylan
Cease
and
Michael
King
are
among
the
starting
pitchers
available
on
read more...
3 days agoPittsburgh Pirates right-hander
Paul Skenes, who won the National League Rookie of the Year award in 2024 after posting a 1.96 ERA in 133 innings pitched, said he wants to attack the strike zone more in his sophomore season. Skenes was significantly below Braves lefty
Chris Sale and Tigers lefty
Tarik Skubal, the NL and AL Cy Young winners, respectively, in first-strike percentage at 62.1%. He ranked 71st in overall strike percentage (66.1%) among pitchers with more than 1,000 pitches thrown. Despite not having pitched in a full season at the major-league level yet, the former LSU star is already one of the best pitchers in baseball and is currently ranked as the No. 3 overall fantasy hurler, behind only
Shohei Ohtani and Skubal. Pounding the zone more often will only make Skenes more tough, as no hitter in baseball wants to get behind in the count early to a pitcher with his nasty arsenal.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
3 days agoAn MLB executive thinks the only weakness of the 2025 Los Angeles Dodgers could be on defense. Outfielders
Teoscar Hernandez and
Michael Conforto lack range in the corner-outfield spots, while center fielder
Tommy Edman is better as an infielder. Also, their defense at the most important position, shortstop, will hinge on how much
Mookie Betts improves. Betts is 32, first baseman
Freddie Freeman is 35, and third baseman
Max Muncy is 34. L.A. ranked third in defensive runs save and 10th in outs above average in 2024. The executive argues that additional strikeouts from Dodgers pitching might be necessary if their defense proves to be less than stellar. The Dodgers ranked 12th in strikeout rate in MLB last year, but they also added lefties
Blake Snell and
Tanner Scott and Japanese right-hander
Roki Sasaki this offseason.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
3
days
agoAccording
to
his
agent
Scott
Boras,
free-agent
third
baseman
Alex
Bregman,
who
won
his
first
Gold
Glove
in
2024
at
third
base,
is
willing
to
move
to
second
base,
the
position
that
he'd
play
if
he
signed
with
the
Boston
Red
Sox.
If
read more...
3 days agoAccording to MiLB.com, right-handed pitcher
Tommy Doyle has signed a minor-league contract with the Colorado Rockies that includes an invite to spring training. In 2023, Doyle logged 23 1/3 innings with the Rockies and posted a hefty 6.85 ERA and 1.52 WHIP. He struck out 18 batters and allowed 13 walks. That same season, he held a 3.41 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP across 37 innings at Triple-A. This past season, Doyle posted a similar 3.57 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP across 40 1/3 innings at the Triple-A level. He struck out 43 batters but struggled with his control as he served up 17 free passes. Fantasy managers should expect Doyle to open the season at the Triple-A level, given his lack of success and experience at the major league level.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
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