5
days
agoAccording
to
Jon
Heyman
of
the
New
York
Post,
San
Diego
Padres
infielder
Luis
Arraez
is
no
longer
viewed
as
a
fit
for
the
New
York
Yankees.
Earlier
on
Monday,
Jeff
Passan
of
ESPN
reported
that
both
sides
were
in
the
process
of
discussing
read more...
5 days agoAccording to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Kansas City Royals are re-signing right-handed pitcher
Michael Lorenzen to a one-year deal worth $7 million. Lorenzen spent most of the 2024 season in Texas where he posted a 3.81 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP across 101 2/3 innings of work. However, once he was acquired by Kansas City, the 33-year-old began to turn the corner. Across 28 2/3 inning, Lorenzen held a strong 1.57 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP across six starts (seven appearances). Under the hood he generated a 8.0% barrel rate, 39.4% hard-hit rate and a 41.6% ground ball rate which are all just below the average marks last season. Earlier this offseason, Lorenzen expressed interest in seeing time as a two-way player but this contract suggests the Royals primarily view him as a pitcher. Fantasy managers should expect Lorenzen to have a spot in the Opening Day rotation is worth a look in deeper formats as he does not carry much strikeout upside.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Passan
5 days agoAccording to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Los Angeles Dodgers are trading infielder
Gavin Lux to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for outfield prospect Mike Sirota and a competitive balance pick. According to a source, that balance pick currently sits at No. 37. After the Dodgers signed Hyeseong Kim to a three-year deal, Gavin Lux did not have a spot in the starting lineup which encouraged several teams to begin acquiring on him. Over the week several teams have expressed interest in the former first rounder but the Reds were able to get a deal complete. Fantasy managers should expect Lux to have a role at the keystone in Cincinnati which will likely move Matt McClain to the outfield. Last season, Lux held a .251/.330/.383 line with ten home runs and five stolen bases. Lux could be worth a look in deeper formats if he bats near the top of the Cincinnati lineup.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Ken Rosenthal
5 days agoAccording to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the San Diego Padres' biggest priority this offseason has been Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki, the 23-year-old pitcher who has yet to decide where he wants to play in MLB. Because Sasaki is an international amateur under MLB rules, his contract will max out at $10 million, which will make him the biggest bargain in baseball. The Padres aren't betting their entire offseason on Sasaki, but for a team in need of another rotation piece, losing him, especially to the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers, could be devastating. Wherever Sasaki lands, he'll come with high-end fantasy potential. However, despite possessing some of the best stuff in the game, he comes with durability concerns, having topped out at 20 starts in Japan in 2022. Still, for the low price, you can't blame the Padres for selling out on a talent like Sasaki.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
5
days
agoAccording
to
ESPN's
Jeff
Passan,
the
New
York
Yankees
continue
to
talk
with
the
San
Diego
Padres
about
infielder
Luis
Arraez.
The
Yankees
have
also
inquired
about
Los
Angeles
Dodgers
second
baseman
Gavin
Lux
to
fill
their
opening
at
second
read more...
5 days agoMiami Marlins left-hander
Ryan Weathers, who has been long-tossing for the last few weeks, is 20 pounds lighter this offseason. The 25-year-old has adopted a Keto diet due to his high-insulin resistance. Weathers missed three months in 2024 with a left index-finger strain, but before that he was looking good with a 3.55 ERA in his first 13 starts. The young southpaw returned late in the year to make three starts in September and will be full healthy heading into the 2025 campaign. Following the trade of lefty
Jesus Luzardo to the Philadelphia Phillies, Weathers will undoubtedly be counted on in the Marlins starting rotation behind right-hander
Sandy Alcantara. Pitching in Miami is not the most attractive circumstances at all, but Weathers has some late-round flier appeal in fantasy going into 2025 after setting career-best strikeout and walk rates in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
5 days agoThe Cincinnati Reds acquired right-hander
Owen White from the Texas Rangers on Monday in exchange for cash considerations, according to the Rangers. The move comes after the Rangers recently designated White for assignment and off their 40-man roster. The 25-year-old will now head to the National League went 2-8 with a rough 5.64 ERA and 1.57 WHIP with 87 strikeouts and 48 walks in 99 innings over 29 appearances (15 starts) at Triple-A Round Rock last year while also appearing in only three games in relief at the major-league level. In his three innings for the Rangers, he gave up eight earned runs while walking one and striking out none. White was originally a second-round pick by the Rangers in 2018, so the Reds are taking a chance hoping that he's a late bloomer. He will most likely start the 2025 campaign at Triple-A Louisville.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Texas Rangers PR
5
days
agoDespite
Boston
Red
Sox
chief
baseball
officer
Craig
Breslow
denying
that
the
team
was
shopping
first
baseman
Triston
Casas
in
trades,
there
remains
a
belief
in
the
industry
that
the
Red
Sox
remain
open
to
trading
Casas,
potentially
read more...
5
days
agoAccording
to
Jon
Morosi
of
the
MLB
Network,
the
Seattle
Mariners
and
Baltimore
Orioles
have
had
trade
discussions
around
starting
pitcher
Luis
Castillo.
Morosi
noted
that
both
teams
have
had
discussions
over
the
recent
days
and
a
potential
trade
would
work
since
the
Orioles
read more...
5
days
agoAccording
to
Katie
Woo
of
The
Athletic,
the
St.
Louis
Cardinals
are
continuing
to
explore
a
potential
trade
for
left-handed
pitcher
Steven
Matz.
Earlier
this
offseason,
it
was
reported
that
the
southpaw,
along
with
Eric
Fedde
were
drawing
interest
on
the
trade
read more...
5 days agoAccording to Katie Woo of The Athletic, the St. Louis Cardinals are no longer actively shopping closer
Ryan Helsley. President of baseball operations John Mozeliak said that, "It's something we will always remain open-minded to, but our plan is to have (Helsley) be part of our organization." While Helsley was drawing interest from the Arizona Diamondbacks and Toronto Blue Jays earlier this offseason, it appears the Cardinals would prefer to hold onto their closer for the time being. However, if they fall out of the playoff race early on, they may entertain conversations closer to the trade deadline. Last season, the 30-year-old tallied a career-high 49 saves with a 2.04 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. Under the hood, he generated a stellar 29.7% K rate and 3.7% barrel rate. Fantasy managers should view Helsley as a high-end closer heading into the 2025 season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Katie Woo
5 days agoAccording to Katie Woo of The Athletic, the St. Louis Cardinals have not had "concrete conversations" regarding shortstop
Masyn Winn's potential contract extension. Woo noted that since the team's current plan is trying to bolster a youth movement, locking up Winn for the long-term would be a great way to build upon that idea. Earlier this offseason, the Cardinals opted to let first baseman
Paul Goldschmidt walk in free agency and the team has had several trade discussions around third baseman
Nolan Arenado. After having an underwhelming major league debut in 2023, Winn took a significant step forward in 2024 holding a strong .267/.314/.416 line with 15 home runs and a 11 stolen bases. He showed a strong eye at the plate by only striking out 17.1% of the time. Winn will likely be penciled in as the leadoff hitter in St. Louis and carries a solid power and speed combination and is worth a look later in drafts this offseason.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Katie Woo
5
days
agoAccording
to
Chris
Cotillo
of
Masslive.com,
the
Boston
Red
Sox
are
viewed
as
the
"preferred"
destination
for
St.
Louis
Cardinals
third
baseman
Nolan
Arenado.
While
the
Red
Sox
may
not
be
as
interested
in
acquiring
the
third
baseman,
he
has
made
it
clear
he
read more...
5 days agoAccording to the team, the Kansas City Royals have signed infielder
Cavan Biggio to a minor league deal. Last season, Biggio spent the 2024 campaign with three clubs and logged 78 total games in the majors. Across this stint, he held a .197/.314/.303 line with five doubles, five home runs, and a 24:72 BB:K ratio. Under the hood, Biggio generated a poor .256 xwOBA with a hefty 32.1% K rate. Biggo performed very well during his first two major league seasons (2019 and 2020) where he held an overall .240/.368/.430 line but has fallen below this mark in each season after. Fantasy managers should monitor Biggio's progress during Spring Training but given his struggles in the major leagues, the 29-year-old will likely spend most of the 2025 season in Triple-A.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Kansas City Royals
6
days
agoAccording
to
Pat
Ragazzo
of
Sports
Illustrated,
the
New
York
Yankees
and
Seattle
Mariners
have
shown
interest
in
acquiring
infielder
Gavin
Lux.
The
Yankees
will
have
a
hole
in
their
infield
at
either
second
or
third
base,
depending
where
read more...
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