4 days agoAccording to Kiley McDaniel of ESPN, catcher Mark Kolozsvary signed a minor-league deal to return to the Boston Red Sox for the 2025 season. Kolozsvary will also be invited to spring training. The Florida product spent his entire 2024 campaign with Triple-A Worcester. Across 27 contests, the 29-year-old posted a .183/.349/.354 line with two doubles and three home runs. He held an 11:26 BB:K ratio. Across 114 career games at the Triple-A level, Kolozsvary has posted a .176/.297/.312 slash line. Kolozsvary was given a brief 10-game stint in the major leagues in 2022 with the Cincinnati Reds and tallied just four hits. Fantasy managers should expect Kolozsvary to spend most of the 2025 campaign with Triple-A Worcester and serve as a depth option in the organization.Source: Kiley McDaniel
4 days agoAccording to Matthew Leach of MLB.com, Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan (shoulder) has been having a typical offseason despite the shoulder injury that cut his 2024 season short. Ryan was placed on the injured list in early August with a Grade 2 right teres major strain. However, Leach reported that Ryan is having a "typical offseason" and throwing like he "normally would." This is an excellent sign for the 28-year-old as he should be a full-go during spring training. Ryan enjoyed a career season in 2024 as he posted a 3.60 ERA and a stellar 0.99 WHIP across 135 innings of work. He struck out 147 batters and showed elite command with a near-perfect 4.3% walk rate. He also generated an excellent 2.87 xERA, which suggests that he should be in store for some positive regression in 2025. Ryan carries solid upside in drafts this offseason as he should be poised to take another step forward this summer.Source: Matthew Leach
4 days agoAccording to Matthew Leach of MLB.com, Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa (foot) has "no issues" entering spring training. Correa missed more than two months of play last season due to plantar fasciitis. However, when on the field, the shortstop was very productive, posting a .310/.388/.517 slash line with 14 home runs. He added 58 RBI and 54 runs. Under the hood, he generated a strong .358 xwOBA and showed a great eye at the plate with a 16.6% strikeout rate and a 10.9% walk rate. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring his status during spring training in case he faces a setback. The 30-year-old should be expected to operate as the everyday shortstop in Minnesota and should be poised for a successful 2025 campaign with this injury behind him.Source: MLB.com
4
days
agoAccording
to
Ari
Alexander
of
KPRC2,
Houston
Astros
starting
pitcher
Cristian
Javier
(elbow)
is
targeting
a
return
to
the
mound
following
the
All-Star
Break.
Javier
underwent
Tommy
John
surgery
in
June.
Across
34
2/3
innings
last
season,
Javier
posted
a
3.89
ERA
and
aread more...
4 days agoAccording to Mark Bowman of MLB.com, the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs are showing interest in relief pitcher Ryne Stanek. Last season, Stanek opened the campaign with the Seattle Mariners and finished the season with the New York Mets. Across 55 1/3 innings, Stanek posted a 4.88 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. He tallied 67 punchouts and generated an impressive 33.2% whiff rate. However, he struggled with his command as he held a hefty 10.4% walk rate. He also generated a solid 3.44 xERA and a .205 xBA, which suggests that the 34-year-old could be in store for some positive regression during the 2025 campaign. If Stanek were to sign with either team, he would likely see time as a high-leverage option out of the bullpen. He could contend for save opportunities with the Cubs but not with Atlanta, as Raisel Iglesias is the clear ninth-inning option.Source: Mark Bowman
5 days agoAccording to Ari Alexander of KPRC2, Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown believes it is a "long shot" for free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman to return to Houston for the 2025 season. Bregman is viewed as the top bat on the free agent market and has been linked to several teams throughout the offseason, including the Chicago Cubs. However, earlier this offseason, the Houston Astros acquired Isaac Paredes to cover the hot corner. However, if Bregman were to work out a contract with Houston, Paredes would shift to the keystone, which would move Jose Altuve to the outfield. Last season, Bregman posted a .260/.315/.453 line with 26 home runs and three stolen bases. He showed an elite eye at the plate with a 13.6% K rate, making him more valuable in points leagues. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Bregman's status throughout the offseason, as his fantasy stock could rise if he were to join a competitive lineup.Source: Ari Alexander
5 days agoAccording to Roch Kubatko, several teams are very interested in signing right-handed pitcher Nick Anderson. Anderson threw for several teams on Thursday and is drawing interest for a one-year contract. Kubatko noted that Anderson spent the offseason with a pitching analyst, refining his mechanics to hone in on fastball metrics and split change. Last summer, Anderson posted a 4.04 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP across 35 2/3 innings in the major leagues. He struck out 29 batters and held a hefty 9.8% walk rate. In 2023, Anderson was productive with the Braves, posting a strong 3.06 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP across 35 1/3 innings of work. Fantasy managers should expect Anderson to compete for a spot on an Opening Day roster during spring training.Source: Roch Kubatko
5 days agoAccording to Bill Ladson of MLB.com, New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo (foot) is still dealing with plantar fasciitis but is hoping to be ready for Opening Day. Ladson noted that the outfielder received an injection in his foot and has done physical therapy. While this injury has not prevented Nimmo from stepping into the batting cage, he is not running at full speed. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during spring training, as any setback could put him in danger of missing Opening Day. The 31-year-old battled this injury throughout most of the 2024 season and limited his production, as he held a .224/.327/.399 slash line with 23 home runs and 15 stolen bases. His .224 average was a sharp drop from the .274 mark he posted during the 2023 campaign. If Nimmo were to miss time, Jose Siri would likely see time in center field.Source: Bill Ladson
5 days agoAccording to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, Houston Astros starting pitchers Luis Garcia (elbow) and Lance McCullers Jr. (forearm) will not be ready for Opening Day. McTaggart noted that both pitchers are throwing but will need additional time before they are cleared for major league action. Garcia was sidelined during the entire 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2023. McCullers underwent surgery to repair his right flexor tendon in June 2023. Garcia posted a 3.72 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP across 157 2/3 innings during the 2022 season. McCullers held a 3.16 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP through 162 innings during the same season. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor their status during spring training as they will both likely contend for a spot in the rotation when they are cleared to return. While they are sidelined, newly acquired Hayden Wesneski will likely have a spot in the rotation during the start of the season.Source: Brian McTaggart
5 days agoAccording to the team, the Chicago White Sox have signed right-handed pitcher James Karinchak to a minor-league deal. The 29-year-old battled a shoulder injury throughout the season and was limited to just six 2/3 innings of work in the minor leagues. Karinchak posted a 2.70 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP with 12 punchouts in this limited stint. In 2023, Karinchak posted a 3.23 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP with 52 punchouts across 39 innings of work. The Bryant University product has flashed high-upside strikeout potential throughout his major league career and could earn a high-leverage role in the White Sox bullpen if he can perform well in spring training. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progression, as he could have value in deeper redraft formats if he makes the Opening Day roster.Source: Chicago White Sox
5 days agoAccording to the team, Chicago White Sox starting pitching prospect Noah Schultz is being invited to spring training. The left-handed pitcher is viewed as the top prospect in the White Sox system on MLB Pipeline and the No.16 overall in the sport. The 21-year-old made his professional debut in the 2023 season at the Single-A level and held a strong 1.33 ERA and a 0.85 WHIP across 27 innings of work. Last summer, the southpaw opened the campaign at High-A, where he logged 27 1/3 innings with a 3.95 ERA and 0.91 WHIP. He struck out an impressive 42 batters and allowed just nine free passes. He then earned a promotion to Double-A Birmingham, where he held a stellar 1.48 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP across 61 innings. He continued to flash strikeout upside as he tallied 73 across this stint. Schultz is a name to keep a close eye on, as he could make his major debut in 2025 if he continues this pace.Source: Chicago White Sox
5 days agoAccording to MLB.com, catcher Chris Okey is returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers on a minor-league contract. The 30-year-old had two brief stints in the major leagues during the 2022 and 2023 seasons and held a .143/.200/.143 across nine games. Okey spent the entire 2024 season with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Through 45 contests, Okey posted a .236/.282/.327 line with five doubles, two home runs, and a 10:33 BB:K ratio. Across 229 career contests at the Triple-A level, the Clemson product has posted a .242/.306/.363 slash line. Fantasy managers should expect Okey to remain in the minor leagues throughout most of the 2025 season, given his lack of big league experience and production.Source: MLB.com
5 days agoAccording to Pat Ragazzo of Sports Illustrated, the New York Mets are interested in a reunion with free-agent starting pitcher Max Scherzer. Earlier this week, the three-time Cy Young winner threw for interested teams, with the Mets being one of them. Scherzer spent the entire 2022 and most of the 2023 season with the New York Mets before being traded to the Texas Rangers. In 2022, the right-hander logged 145 1/3 innings of work with a 2.29 ERA and 0.91 WHIP. He struck 173 batters and served up just 23 free passes. In 2023, he tossed 107 2/3 innings with a 4.01 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP before being traded to Texas. Scherzer was limited to just 43 innings last season due to numerous injuries but has expressed he has felt healthy all offseason and will see a normal workload during spring training.Source: Pat Ragazzo
5
days
agoAccording
to
Pat
Ragazzo
of
Sports
Illustrated,
the
New
York
Mets
have
shown
interest
in
trading
for
Detroit
Tigers
first
baseman
Spencer
Torkelson.
The
former
No.1
pick
in
the
2020
MLB
Draft
had
a
disappointing
campaign
last
summer
and
could
be
without
aread more...
5 days agoAccording to Pat Ragazzo of Sports Illustrated, free agent first baseman Pete Alonso met with the Los Angeles Angels earlier this week. Alonso has been linked to several teams during free agency, including the Toronto Blue Jays and even a potential reunion with the Mets. Ragazzo noted that negotiations between Alonso and the Blue Jays are "not close." If Alonso were to sign with Los Angeles, the team would have move to Nolan Schanuel to another position as Jorge Soler will likely be the team's designated hitter throughout most of the season. Last summer, Alonso saw his power production drop as he hit just 34 home runs with a .240/.329/.459 line. In 2023 and 2022, Alonso launched 46 and 40 long balls, respectively. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring this situation, as Alonso would bring a much-needed power bat to his new club.Source: Pat Ragazzo