4
days
agoOn
Monday,
the
Atlanta
Braves
sent
minor-league
pitching
prospect
Jared
Johnson
to
the
Athletics
in
exchange
for
shortstop
Nick
Allen.
Allen
made
his
major
league
debut
in
2022
but
has
failed
to
stick
at
the
major
league
level
due
to
his
underperformance
at
the
read more...
5 days agoTampa Bay Rays left-hander
Shane McClanahan (elbow) is expected to have a normal, healthy offseason after completing his rehab program from Tommy John Surgery on Sept. 25 by throwing 15 to 16 pitches in a live batting practice session at Tropicana Field. McClanahan looked good during that session and was hitting 94 to 95 mph. He had his second TJ surgery back on Aug. 21 of 2023 and missed the entire 2024 season for the Rays. The 27-year-old southpaw has been an All-Star twice and is expected to be fully ready for the start of spring training in February. As long as he doesn't have any setbacks during the spring, McClanahan will open the start of the 2025 regular season atop Tampa's starting rotation. Although McClanahan has high-end fantasy upside when healthy, he'll also probably be on a strict pitch count early on.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoChicago Cubs third base prospect
Jonathon Long has been swinging a hot bat throughout the Arizona Fall League. Through 16 games, the 22-year-old has posted a stellar .348/.443/.667 slash line with three doubles, six home runs, 19 RBI, and an 11:17 BB:K ratio. This is a great sign for the No.30 ranked prospect in Chicago as he took significant steps in his development last season. Long opened the 2024 campaign with High-A and carried a .247/.346/.417 line through 68 games. Then, with Double-A Tennessee, the former ninth-round pick held an impressive .340/.455/.528 line with nine doubles and seven home run across a 46-game stint. If Long continues to perform at this elite level, he could have a great opportunity to open the 2025 season with Triple-A Iowa.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoTexas Rangers outfield prospect
Alejandro Osuna has continued to progress in the Arizona Fall League. Through 22 games, the No. 16 ranked prospect in the Texas system has posted a stellar .314/.449/.477 slash line and has hit eight doubles, two home runs with 16 RBI and two stolen bases. He has also shown a great eye at the plate with a 20:23 BB:K ratio. Last summer, the 22-year-old opened the campaign with High-A and posted a solid .272/.339/.486 line which earned him a late-season promotion to Double-A Frisco. At this level, Osuna continued to take a step forward as he posted an impressive .306/.379/.523 line with 18 doubles, nine home runs, and seven stolen bases in a 57-game stint. If Osuna can continue to develop during Spring Training, he could open the 2025 campaign at Triple-A.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoMiami Marlins outfield prospect
Kemp Alderman has been performing exceptionally well in the Arizona Fall League. Through a nine-game stint, the Ole Miss product has gone deep six times and posted a strong .306/.375/.833 slash line. Last summer, the former second-round selection from the 2023 draft class opened the campaign with Single-A and was able to end the season spending time with Double-A. Through 77 games in the Miami system last season, Alderman carried a solid .242/.306/.391 line and hit 15 doubles, two triples, eight long balls, and swiped five bags. Fantasy managers should expect the No. 12 ranked prospect in Miami to spend most of the 2025 campaign in the upper levels of the minor leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoNew York Mets outfield prospect
Drew Gilbert has been showcasing his power throughout the Arizona Fall League. Through 19 games, the No.3 ranked prospect in Queens has gone deep four times, which is tied for the second-most among outfielders. However, he has struggled to find consistency at the plate as he has posted an underwhelming .209/.361/.418 line but has shown a strong eye at the plate with a 13:12 BB:K ratio. Last summer, Gilbert battled injuries and was only able to appear in 56 games at the Triple-A level. Through this stint, the former first-round pick carried a .215/.313/.393 line with ten home runs and eight doubles. Given his struggles in Triple-A last summer, the Mets will likely opt to let him develop more at that level before promoting him to the majors.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoThe San Diego Padres have signed relief pitcher Eduarniel Nunez to a minor-league contract with an invite to spring training, according to Ari Alexander of KPRC2. Nunez spent the 2024 campaign pitching in the Chicago Cubs organization in both the Double-A and Triple-A levels. With Double-A Tennessee, the hard-throwing right-hander logged a stellar 0.98 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, and a 12:42 BB:K across 36 2/3 innings of work. However, in Triple-A, Nunez struggled and carried a hefty 6.85 ERA and a 2.07 WHIP through 23 2/3 innings of work. Fantasy managers should monitor his progress throughout the offseason, as he could contend for a spot on the Opening Day Roster while flashing high upside at times.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Ari Alexander
5 days agoChicago Cubs second base prospect
Matt Shaw went 4-for-5 with seven RBI to power the United States to a victory over the Netherlands in the WBSC Premier12. Shaw did it all as he tallied an RBI single in the third frame, a three-run double in the seventh, and a three-run shot in the eighth inning. Last summer, Shaw opened the campaign by getting his first extended look at Double-A ball and eventually earned a taste of Triple-A later in the summer. Through his first 35 games with Triple-A Iowa, the former 13th-overall selection posted a stellar .298/.395/.534 line with eight doubles, seven home runs, 21 RBI, and six stolen bases. Given his incredible progression, Shaw could have a strong chance to make the Opening Day Roster. For now, the top prospect in the North Side remains a high-end prospect to stash in all keeper formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: WBSC Premier12
5 days agoThe Baltimore Orioles signed free-agent veteran infielder
Vimael Machin to a minor-league deal on Monday that includes an invite to major-league spring training, according to a source. Machin played ball in Mexico this past season but was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 10th round in 2015 out of Virginia Commonwealth and played parts of three seasons with the Athletics from 2020-22. In his 112 games (361 plate appearances), he slashed a weak .208/.290/.261 with a homer, 14 RBI, one steal and 38 runs scored. The 31-year-old Puerto Rican infielder went off in Mexico, though, batting .401/.495/.579 with seven home runs in 85 games played. The left-handed hitter is a long shot to be anywhere that good in spring training in 2025 as he looks to try and win a spot on Baltimore's big-league roster as a utility infielder.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jorge Castillo
5 days agoFree-agent reliever
Clay Helvey agreed to a minor-league deal with the Washington Nationals over the weekend that includes an invitation to major-league spring training. Helvey spent the last seven seasons in the San Francisco Giants' minor-league system, where he struck out 102 hitters in 74 1/3 relief innings with Double-A Richmond and Triple-A Sacramento in 2024. However, the 27-year-old former 22nd-round pick by the San Francisco Giants in 2018 out of the University of Tampa also had a 5.17 ERA and 1.43 WHIP with 97 K's and 35 walks in 71 1/3 innings at Sacramento in his 41 relief appearances. Helvey isn't anywhere near the fantasy radar and has a career minor-league ERA just south of 5.00. But the Nationals will take a chance on him as a high-strikeout relief arm. Expect Helvey to compete for a spot in Washington's bullpen in spring training.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: USA TODAY Sports - Bob Nightengale
5 days agoFree-agent first baseman/outfielder
Bligh Madris re-signed a minor-league deal to return to the Detroit Tigers organization over the weekend. Madris initially became a free agent after rejecting an outright assignment but will now return to Detroit. The 28-year-old left-handed hitter was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the ninth round in 2017 out of Colorado Mesa University and has appeared in three MLB seasons with the Pirates, Houston Astros and Tigers since debuting with Pittsburgh in 2022. Madris went 18-for-67 (.269) with a homer and five RBI in 21 games for Detroit in 2024 and has hit just .204/.273/.286 with two homers and 12 RBI in his 72 games played in the major leagues. He will represent outfield depth for Detroit yet again next year heading into spring training in February.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoFree-agent catcher
Alex Jackson signed a minor-league deal with the Cincinnati Reds over the weekend. Jackson played in a career-high 58 games with the Tampa Bay Rays this past season but continued to struggle offensively, slashing .122/.201/.27 with a career-high-tying three home runs, 12 RBI, one stolen base and 17 runs scored in 155 plate appearances in his fifth big-league season. The 28-year-old backstop hit .238/.322/.533 with eight home runs and 20 RBI in 28 games with Triple-A Durham. As a career .132/.224/.232 hitter in his five major-league seasons, Jackson merely represents catching depth for the Reds and will likely be sent to Triple-A Louisville to start the 2025 season if he's still on the roster following spring training.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoAfter another disappointing and injury-riddled 2024 campaign for Los Angeles Angels third baseman
Anthony Rendon, he will need to prove himself in order to earn playing time next season. "He's gonna have to come in and show us he can still play and earn the right to play every day," general manager Perry Minasian said when asked what type of conversations the team has had with Rendon. Given the Halos' lack of other options at the position, it's likely that Rendon will see plenty of playing time if he's healthy. However, it's far from a guarantee that the 34-year-old veteran will be able to stay on the field. He played in only 57 games in 2024 and hit .218 (45-for-206) with no homers, 14 RBI and six steals in 238 plate appearances while going on the injured list three separate times. Unbelievably, Rendon still has two years left on his $245 million, seven-year deal.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Foul Territory
5 days agoSan Francisco Giants right-handed reliever
Cole Waites (elbow) missed most of the last two seasons due to injuries -- he strained his late just before spring training in 2023 and had Tommy John surgery that September -- but he's now finished with his rehab from Tommy John surgery and is ready for spring training in February. Waites has now had more than a full year to rehab and build strength in his body and arm. The 26-year-old showed promising signs on the mound before his injuries and was sitting at 97-99 mph with his fastball. The former 18th-round pick in 2019 out of West Alabama has allowed seven runs (six earned) while walking six and fanning six in eight relief innings for the Giants in 2022 and 2023 and will merely be a reliever to watch heading into next season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NBC Sports Bay Area - Alex Pavlovic
5 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies right-handed pitching prospect
Andrew Painter (elbow), the No. 32 overall prospect in baseball per MLB Pipeline, has been dominant with his four-pitch mix so far in the Arizona Fall League, posting a 2.08 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 12 strikeouts and only two walks in his 13 innings pitched. It's excellent news for the Phillies after Painter missed the last two seasons while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The 21-year-old has been able to get strikeouts with three different pitches in the AFL, and his four-seam fastball has gotten up to the high-90s on the radar gun. His changeup has been a work in progress. Perhaps the greatest sign for Painter is that his control has been spot on, which is what made him such a high-end prospect in the first place. The Phillies could take things slow with the 6-foot-7 hurler in 2025, but he should already be stashed in dynasty/keeper leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Jonathan Mayo
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