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
3 days agoAccording to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com, Los Angeles Angels right-handed pitcher
Ben Joyce is expected to be the "favorite" to be the team's closer to open the 2025 season. However, Bollinger noted that Joyce has yet to prove he can stay healthy for an entire season, which could open the door for other relievers to earn save opportunities. Bollinger mentioned that
Robert Stephenson (elbow) will likely get a few looks when he recovers from his UCL surgery. Joyce pitched 34 2/3 innings of work in the major last summer. After allowing five runs over his first three outings, he held a near-perfect 0.83 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP over his final 32 2/3 innings of work. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Joyce's status during spring training but should expect him to open the season as the team's top closer. However, fantasy managers should draft him with caution, given his injury history and the possibility that the Angels continue to ease his workload.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Rhett Bollinger
3 days agoAccording to Chandler Rome of The Athletic, Houston Astros outfield prospect
Zach Dezenzo is expected to get "a lot of run at left field" during spring training. Dezenzo was given a brief 19-game MLB debut last summer and posted a .242/.277/.371 line with two doubles and two home runs. However, the team is opening the door for him to not only make the Opening Day roster but have a spot in the starting lineup. Dezenzo was very productive in his first taste of Triple-A earlier last summer as he posted an impressive .333/.425/.573 with eight doubles, five home runs, and a 15:25 BB:K rate. He brought in 20 RBI and swiped three bags. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progress during spring training as he could have value in deeper redraft formats. If he were to win the starting role,
Mauricio Dubon would likely shift to a bench role.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Chandler Rome
3 days agoAccording to Dan Hayes of The Athletic, Minnesota Twins right-handed pitcher
Louie Varland will likely open the season in a relief role. Hayes noted that Varland could be built up for a long relief role, but if everything goes to plan with the health of their other starters, Varland will be deployed out of the bullpen for the majority of the season. The 27-year-old opened the 2024 campaign in the rotation but struggled as he posted a hefty 9.18 ERA and a 2.16 WHIP across his first four starts of the season. Varland transitioned to a bullpen role over the final month of the regular season and held a 7.59 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP across 10 2/3 innings. His underlying metrics were not favorable. However, during his first two MLB seasons, the 27-year-old held a 4.40 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Fantasy managers should expect him to open the season with a low-leverage role and will likely not carry much fantasy value.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Dan Hayes
3 days agoAccording to Phil Miller of the Star Tribune, Minnesota Twins relief pitcher
Brock Stewart (shoulder) is expected to be ready for Opening Day. Stewart underwent shoulder surgery in August. He has been building up slower than the other members of the pitching staff but remains on track to be ready for Opening Day. The 33-year-old has thrown three bullpen sessions this month and has yet to face a setback from them. Last season, Stewart held a 5.17 ERA and 1.47 WHIP across 15 2/3 innings of work last summer. He struck out 20 batters but struggled with his command as he held a high 11.9% walk rate. However, in 2023, he was dominant out of the bullpen as he posted a near-perfect 0.65 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP across 27 2/3 innings. Stewart will likely return to a high-leverage role in 2025.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Phil Miller
4 days agoAccording to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, free-agent infielder
Ha-Seong Kim remains a target for the Detroit Tigers. Petzold noted that the team continues to view him as a possible "fallback" option if the team fails to sign
Alex Bregman. However, Bregman remains Detroit's top priority. Kim is not expected to be ready for Opening Day as he is still recovering from shoulder surgery. The Houston Astros have re-emerged as potential favorites to plan Bregman as contract talks have resumed, and the team recently traded relief pitcher
Ryan Pressly to open salary. Last season, Kim posted a .233/.330/.370 line with 11 home runs and 22 stolen bases. He showed an elite eye at the plate with a 16.4% K rate and a 12.3% walk rate.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Evan Petzold
4
days
agoAccording
to
Laura
Albanese
of
Newsday,
the
New
York
Mets
and
free
agent
first
baseman
Pete
Alonso
remain
at
a
standstill
in
current
negotiations.
At
a
recent
fan
event,
owner
Steve
Cohen
expressed
he
does
not
like
the
current
structure
of
the
offer
read more...
4
days
agoAccording
to
Chandler
Rome
of
The
Athletic,
Houston
Astros
second
baseman
Jose
Altuve
is
willing
to
move
to
the
outfield
for
the
team
to
re-sign
third
baseman
Alex
Bregman.
Rome
noted
that
Altuve
expressed
he
is
willing
to
do
what
read more...
4 days agoAccording to Ari Alexander of KPRC2, the Houston Astros are acquiring right-handed pitcher Juan Bello from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for right-handed pitcher
Ryan Pressly. The Astros will also be covering some of Pressly's salary. This transaction opens the door for
Alex Bregman to return to Houston. Bello has spent his entire professional career with the Chicago Cubs. He made his debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2022 and held a 4.02 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP across 31 1/3 innings. This past season, Bello made his Single-A debut and posted a solid 3.21 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP across a career-high 89 2/3 innings. He struck out 91 batters and served up 28 walks. Dynasty managers should expect Bello to spend most of the summer at the High-A level.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Ari Alexander
4 days agoAccording to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Chicago Cubs have acquired Houston Astros relief pitcher
Ryan Pressly in exchange for right-handed pitcher Juan Bello. The Astros will also be covering some of Pressly's salary. Earlier this week, several teams attempted to acquire the former closer, but Pressly did not waive his no-trade clause. However, Pressly agreed to the deal to send him to the Northside. Seeing that Pressly waived his no-trade clause suggests the Cubs will likely give him ninth-inning duties to open the campaign. In addition, this transaction does open the door for
Alex Bregman to return to Houston. Last season, Pressly operated primarily as a setup man for
Josh Hader. Across 56 1/3 innings of work, the 36-year-old posted a 3.49 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. He struck out 58 batters and tallied 25 holds. Fantasy managers should expect Pressly to see most of the save opportunities with
Porter Hodge reverting to the setup role.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Passan
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