6 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
6 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
7 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
7 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
7 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
7 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
7 days agoThe New York Yankees have high hopes for rookie infielder
Caleb Durbin next year. "I think he's going to play a big, big role for us this upcoming season," manager Aaron Boone said. Durbin isn't listed by MLB Pipeline as one of the Yankees' top-25 prospects, but the 24-year-old could play an integral role in his MLB debut next year after hitting .287/.396/.471 with 10 home runs and 29 stolen bases for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last season. Not only did Durbin impress there, but he's tearing it up in the Arizona Fall League as well with a .934 OPS, four long balls and 23 stolen bases in 21 games played. Durbin can play pretty much anywhere on the infield, but second base figures to be his primary position at the next level, especially with
Gleyber Torres potentially leaving in free agency this winter. The 24-year-old could start at the keystone on Opening Day if he impresses next spring.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Chris Kirschner
7 days agoNew York Yankees outfield prospect
Jasson Dominguez is expected to have a big role at the major-league level in 2025. "I fully expect him to be a big part of what we do this coming year," manager Aaron Boone said. Dominguez dealt with injuries in the minors and ended up playing in only 18 regular-season games at the major-league level with the Yankees in 2024, going 10-for-56 (.179) with two home runs, four RBI and five stolen bases in 67 plate appearances. The 21-year-old Dominican switch-hitter was mostly blocked in left field by
Alex Verdugo, but he's a free agent this offseason and most likely won't be re-signed, opening the door for the Yankees' top prospect, per MLB Pipeline, to be on the big-league roster for the entire 2025 campaign. Even if the Yankees re-sign superstar
Juan Soto, Dominguez figures to be an everyday player and has massive upside given his elite power/speed combination.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Chris Kirschner
7 days agoMinnesota Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said the plantar fasciitis in shortstop
Carlos Correa's right foot is progressing ahead of where he was with his left foot a year ago. If Correa is able to stay healthy, the Twins plan to keep him as their starter at the 6 and not move him to third base. "He's still young," Falvey said. "He's a tremendous shortstop. I see no reason why he wouldn't be as long he manages the plantar issues in a positive direction. He's tracking in a positive direction. He's got good plans for how he's going to handle it therapeutically and I think he's in a good place." The 30-year-old ended up missing most of the second half of the season due to ongoing foot issues but still finished with a .310/.388/.517 slash line with a .905 OPS, 14 home runs and 54 RBI in 86 games played. At a premium position, Correa's foot issues make him an extremely risky fantasy SS heading into 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Dan Hayes
7 days agoToronto Blue Jays second base prospect
Adrian Pinto played the entire game at second base for the A.L. in the Arizona Fall League (AFL) Fall Stars game, logging four at-bats. The 22-year-old only collected one hit, but it was a huge three-run home run in the second inning of the game and would prove consequential in the outcome of the 6-5 win for the A.L. team. The diminutive second baseman is having a solid AFL showing otherwise, hitting .286 with five stolen bases while walking more than he is striking out (12:8 BB:K). Playing 17 of his 26 games at High-A in 2024 after missing most of the season with a rib injury, Pinto is a ways away from a major league debut but getting additional reps in the AFL. He currently sits outside the Jays' Top 30 prospects list, but should he perform well next season after a successful fall league campaign, it would not be a surprise to see him move up the ranks.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoDetroit Tigers catching prospect
Thayron Liranzo was not a starter in the Arizona Fall League (AFL) Fall Stars game, in fact, he received just one at-bat, but he made the most of it by hitting a go-ahead solo home run in the top of the ninth inning, putting the AL squad ahead 6-5. It would prove to be the game-winner as the game ended 6-5, and the home run would earn Liranzo MVP honors. The switch-hitter came over to the Tigers earlier this year in the trade that would send
Jack Flaherty to the Dodgers. Since then, the 21-year-old has hit well, slashing .315/.470/.562 in 26 games at High-A West Michigan, parlaying that success to the AFL by slashing .326/.463/.581 in 14 games for the Scottsdale Scorpions. He's a few years away from the bigs but dynasty managers should begin to take notice.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoNew York Yankees infield prospect
Caleb Durbin went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, two RBI, a run scored, and a stolen base in the Arizona Fall League's (AFL) Fall Stars game. The 24-year-old had a fine season at Triple-A, posting a .287-10-60-57-29 line in 82 games along with a higher walk rate (12.5%) than strikeout rate (9.9%). He's continued that success in the AFL, slashing .296/.416/.519 with four home runs and more stolen bases (23) than games played (21). All of this came off of a strong 2023 AFL showing in which he slashed .353/.456/.588 and led the circuit in stolen bases (21). Somehow, the product out of Washington University has yet to crack MLB.com's Top 100 prospects list or even the Yankees' Top 30, but at this rate the youngster should see the big leagues in 2025.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoThe Arizona Diamondbacks extended a qualifying offer to first baseman
Christian Walker this past week and he has two weeks to decide on whether or not to accept it. Should he not, it is reported that there are at least six teams that will "aggressively pursue" the would-be free agent, although most major league clubs would be interested in his services. The Yankees and Mets appear to be the most likely landing spots if he doesn't return to Arizona, as the Yankees will likely need to replace
Anthony Rizzo and the Mets will likely need to replace
Pete Alonso. With Walker entering the 2025 season at age 34, he's not expected to cost as much as Alonso would, but can bring some good pop with his bat and just earned his third consecutive Gold Glove award.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Bob Nightengale
7 days agoThe Los Angeles Dodgers are considered the front runners and heavy favorites to sign young Japanese pitching phenom Roki Sasaki. However, it seems the San Diego Padres also have a shot to sign the 23-year-old, not only because of their location and recent success, but also because of the Japanese connection to pitcher
Yu Darvish, who is signed with the team through 2028. Sasaki will be posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines and assuming he signs with a team this offseason, the righty is expected to pitch in the majors in 2025. He is widely regarded as one of the most talented pitchers in the world and as such he'll likely carry a hefty price tag in fantasy drafts for the upcoming season, especially if he were to sign with the Dodgers.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman
7 days agoTampa Bay Rays shortstop
Wander Franco, who remains on the team's restricted list, was arrested on Monday in the Dominican Republic. This time, the arrest was related to an incident that happened on Sunday in which an altercation occurred and "guns were drawn." Franco is currently out on bail based on a deal related to his other charges connected to his relationship with a minor. According to the story, the 23-year-old is permitted to carry a gun so long as he has a license for it and it is registered, but it is not currently known whether or not the one in Sunday's incident was either licensed or registered. Franco is still awaiting trial in the other case and has not played in the majors since August of 2023.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Passan
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