1 week agoThe Pittsburgh Pirates have hired Brent Strom as an assistant pitching coach ahead of the 2025 season. This was a nice pickup for the Pirates as Strom played a big part with the Houston Astros from 2014-2021. He was the pitching coach in Houston when they won the World Series in 2017. Since then, Strom was part of the Arizona Diamondbacks staff over the last few seasons. Now, Strom will join a Pirates staff with two of brightest young pitchers in the league in
Paul Skenes and
Jared Jones.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Alex Stumpf
1 week agoFree-agent infielder
Yoan Moncada is reportedly drawing interest from around the league. The former top prospect is a free agent after the Chicago White Sox declined his $25 million option for next season. The oft-injured infielder has been decent with the bat, but Moncada has struggled to stay on the field. Last season, Moncada only managed to play in 12 games with the White Sox. Despite that, Moncada is reportedly drawing interest from the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, and Seattle Mariners. The 29-year-old is able to play both second and third base, which is always nice to have. He'll likely need to take a short prove-it type of deal after struggling to stay on the field over the last few seasons.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Francys Romero
1 week agoThe Cleveland Guardians promoted Craig Albernaz to associate manager on Wednesday after he served as the team's bench coach in 2024 under manager
Stephen Vogt, who is a finalist for American League Manager of the Year after leading Cleveland to 92 wins and the AL Central title in 2024. The Guardians also promoted Grant Fink to hitting coach to replace Chris Valaika, who joined new Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona's staff. Fink was previously Cleveland's minor-league hitting coordinator each of the last three seasons. First base coach Sandy Alomar Jr. will return for his 16th year with the club, while pitching coach Carl Willis will return for his 15th campaign. Lastly, Kai Correa was promoted to major-league field coordinator/director of defense, baserunning and game strategy.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Associated Press
1 week agoAthletics first base prospect Nick Kurtz went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk for the Mesa Solar Sox on Tuesday in the Arizona Fall League (AFL). The No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft began his professional career at Single-A and played just seven games before the team deemed he was ready for stiffer competition, promoting him two levels to Double-A, where he continued to hit for five games before his season was ended by a hamstring injury. Now healthy, the 21-year-old is performing well in the AFL where he's slashing .364/.462/.636 with two doubles, two triples, and two home runs in 11 games. The Wake Forest product ranks as the Athletics' No. 2 prospect with an ETA of 2026 per MLB.com's Top Prospects list, but already has an invite to big league camp in the spring, so don't be surprised if he debuts at some point in 2025.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 week agoThe Minnesota Twins have re-signed right-handed reliever
Daniel Duarte (elbow) to a minor-league deal. The Twins re-signed the 27-year-old reliever after removing him from the 40-man roster this offseason. Duarte is currently recovering from revision surgery on his right UCL and is expected to miss most, if not all of the 2025 season. The Mexican hurler only threw four innings of relief in 2024 with Minnesota before being shut down with his elbow injury, and he allowed one earned run while walking one and striking out three. Duarte made his major-league debut in 2022 with the Cincinnati Reds and had a 4.19 ERA (6.16 FIP), a 1.46 WHIP and a 25:23 K:BB in 34 1/3 relief innings in his two seasons with the club. Obviously, Duarte isn't anywhere near the fantasy radar heading into next year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 week agoThe Houston Astros have signed free-agent left-hander
Steven Okert to a minor-league deal. Okert wasn't very good in 2024 with the Minnesota Twins, but he'll get another opportunity in spring training in 2025 with the Astros. In his 44 appearances (one start) over 35 1/3 innings with the Twins this past season, Okert posted a bloated 5.09 ERA (5.12 FIP), a career-worst 1.50 WHIP, 33 strikeouts and 16 walks while going 3-2. The 33-year-old southpaw will most likely open the campaign at Triple-A Sugar Land but should eventually see some time in the big leagues in Houston. He was originally drafted in the fourth round in 2012 out of Oklahoma by the San Francisco Giants. Okert has a career 4.34 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with only one save, which came last year with the Twins. He's not at all on the fantasy radar heading into 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 week agoThe Texas Rangers signed right-hander
Luis Curvelo to an undisclosed major-league contract on Wednesday. It's a bit of a surprise that Curvelo landed a big-league deal since he has not played beyond Double-A in the minors. The 24-year-old Venezuelan hurler pitched in the Seattle Mariners' system in 2024 and went 4-0 with a 2.57 ERA, a 0.85 WHIP, 78 strikeouts and only 18 walks in 66 2/3 relief innings over 49 appearances out of the bullpen for Double-A Arkansas. Curvelo will be competing for a spot in the Opening Day bullpen at spring training in 2025, and he could end up being a high-leverage arm for Texas if he can keep the momentum going that he established on the farm last season. In his six seasons in the minor leagues, Curvelo has a 3.51 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 334:92 K:BB in 294 2/3 innings pitched.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Texas Rangers PR
1 week agoMinnesota Twins bench coach Jayce Tingler said that the team is leaving open the possibility of moving right-handed reliever
Griffin Jax into the starting rotation next season. The Twins already have a pretty deep rotation, but Jax could join that list next year. The 29-year-old former third-round pick in 2016 out of Air Force was outstanding in his 72 appearances out of the Twins' bullpen in 2024 in his fourth year in the big leagues. Jax had a career-best 2.03 ERA (1.94 FIP), a career-high 10 saves, a 0.87 WHIP, a career-high 95 strikeouts and only 15 walks in 71 innings pitched. He's been a workhorse for Minnesota the last three years, combining for a 3.06 ERA and 1.03 WHIP with 15 saves and a 241:54 K:BB in 208 2/3 frames. Jax was an excellent source of holds and ratios as a reliever, and while he'd have plenty of value as a starter, too, his innings would also certainly be capped.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Mike Ferrin
1 week agoA day after hitting his AFL-leading ninth home run, Detroit Tigers first base/catching prospect
Josue Briceno stayed hot, going 5-for-5 with a pair of doubles, four RBI, and three runs scored for the Scottsdale Scorpions. You might be looking at the eventual Arizona Fall League MVP as the 20-year-old now leads the circuit -- by a wide margin in some cases -- in hits (36), home runs (9), RBI (26), AVG (.439), SLG (.866), and OPS (1.371). Winning AFL MVP honors could put him in some pretty good company, including the likes of
Nolan Arenado (2011),
Kris Bryant (2013),
Ronald Acuna Jr. (2017),
Royce Lewis (2019), and
Heston Kjerstad (2022). He's just 20 years old and likely a couple of years away from the majors, but his AFL performance could put him on the fast track.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1
week
agoChicago
Cubs
catching
prospect
Moises
Ballesteros
kept
hitting
on
Tuesday,
going
2-for-3
with
a
walk
for
the
Mesa
Solar
Sox.
The
performance
raised
his
average
to
.320
in
the
fall
season
with
a
.946
OPS.
The
successful
fall
campaign
comes
on
the
heels
read more...
1
week
agoNew
York
Yankees
infield
prospect
Caleb
Durbin
is
scorching
hot
right
now,
at
the
plate
and
on
the
basepaths,
going
3-for-4
with
a
home
run,
a
walk,
four
RBI,
three
runs
scored,
and
two
more
stolen
bases
in
his
latest
Arizona
Fall
League
read more...
1 week agoFresh off winning the Arizona Fall League (AFL) Fall Stars game MVP, Detroit Tigers catching prospect
Thayron Liranzo continued that momentum in his first game back with the Scottsdale Scorpions on Tuesday, going 4-for-5 with a solo home run, three RBI, and a run scored. The Tigers acquired Liranzo earlier this season in the
Jack Flaherty trade and has impressed with his new club. After a strong showing at High-A West Michigan, the young backstop now owns a .375/.492/.667 slashline over 15 games in the AFL and has shown a patient eye, walking more than he is striking out (11:9 BB:K). With just a couple of games left in the AFL regular season, it appears the 21-year-old has made a strong case to begin next season at Double-A and perhaps make a push toward Triple-A with some continued success. He likely won't be in a Tigers uniform until 2026 or beyond, but a switch-hitting offensive catcher is something dynasty managers would be wise to keep an eye on.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 week agoPhiladelphia Phillies pitching prospect
Andrew Painter had another strong start in the Arizona Fall League (AFL) on Tuesday, striking out six batters in 2 2/3 innings while allowing just one earned run on two hits and two walks. It brings his AFL ERA to 2.30 with a 0.89 WHIP, .189 average against, and a 4:18 BB:K over 15 2/3 innings. The 21-year-old is the Phillies' top pitching prospect but hasn't pitched during the regular season since finishing the 2022 season at Double-A, missing all of 2023 and 2024 while recovering from elbow problems and ultimately Tommy John surgery. The former first-round draft pick looks good so far and will likely have a shot to make the big-league rotation come spring. However, there would almost certainly be some type of innings limit implemented, which of course would be unfortunate for fantasy. MLB.com's top-prospects list ranks the 6-foot-7 righty as No. 32 overall, offering strong strikeout potential combined with excellent command. He should already be stashed in dynasty formats despite missing so much time.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1
week
agoMajor
League
Baseball
announced
the
2024
National
League
Silver
Slugger
winners
on
Tuesday
on
MLB
Network.
The
winners
in
the
NL
were
Phillies
1B
Bryce
Harper,
Diamondbacks
2B
Ketel
Marte,
Mets
SS
Franciscoread more...
1
week
agoMajor
League
Baseball
announced
the
2024
American
League
Silver
Slugger
winners
on
Tuesday
on
MLB
Network.
The
winners
in
the
AL
were
Blue
Jays
1B
Vladimir
Guerrero
Jr.,
Astros
2B
Jose
Altuve,
Royals
SS
Bobby
Wittread more...
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