1 week agoTampa Bay Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander has identified catcher as a position of need for the team this offseason as they look to improve defensively. "The catching position, the production we got last year was nowhere near where it needed to be to be a playoff-contributing position," Neander said. "We need to find a way to score more runs. I think there's a few different ways we can go about doing that. But upgrading the catcher situation, without question." Tampa's backstops had just a 67 wRC+ last year, which was third-worst in baseball behind the Miami Marlins and Chicago White Sox.
Ben Rortvedt played solid defense for the Rays, but he also hit .228/.317/.303 with just three home runs. With Rotvedt hitting from the left side, expect Tampa to look for a right-handed complement with better offensive skills at catcher.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Will Sammon and Katie Woo
1 week agoFree-agent shortstop
Willy Adames reportedly wants to stay at shortstop but would be willing to move elsewhere if he gets a strong offer on the open market this winter from a contending team, according to league sources. Adames is the top available shortstop in free agency this offseason and one of the top available position players after setting career-highs in home runs (32), RBI (112), stolen bases (21) and runs scored (93) in 161 games in 2024 with the Milwaukee Brewers. ESPN's Kiley McDaniel projects him to find a seven-year deal worth around $189 million in free agency this winter as both a stalwart defensively and offensively at a premier position. If a contending team lands Adames and already has a stud at the 6, he could be moved to either third or second base, which would make him even more attractive in fantasy next year with added positional eligibility.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Will Sammon and Katie Woo
1 week agoAmong non-leadoff hitters in 2024, Kansas City Royals shortstop
Bobby Witt Jr., who hit second for the team, had the most plate appearances (433) with the bases empty. Witt still impressed with 109 RBI, 211 hits, 32 home runs and a .332 batting average, but the Royals are looking to prioritize quality contact and on-base percentage as they look for a new leadoff hitter this offseason. Royals hitters struck out at just a 19.4% clip (third-lowest in baseball) but also had a .306 on-base percentage (19th). Among players that KC might be looking at include Reds infielders
Jonathan India and
Spencer Steer and free agent
Jurickson Profar. If the Royals explore the trade market, league sources suggest they would listen to offers for left-hander
Kris Bubic and right-hander
Alec Marsh.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Will Sammon and Katie Woo
1 week agoSt. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak stated Wednesday that catcher
Willson Contreras will be transitioned to a first base/designated hitter role in 2025. The hope is that the move will keep the 32-year-old healthy and allow him to extend the life of his career. The veteran backstop had a solid season for the time he was on the field in 2024, posting a .262-15-36-48-4 line with a .370 wOBA and 140 wRC+, but played in just 84 games due to varying injuries. He's expected to be ready to go for 2025, and the added positional flexibility should give him some additional value in fantasy leagues.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Katie Woo - The Athletic
1 week agoChicago Cubs pitcher
Ben Brown (neck) is expected to have a scan on his neck in the coming weeks, and if he gets the all-clear, then the 25-year-old could resume throwing without restriction. If the youngster is cleared then the expectation is that he'll be ready to compete for a rotation spot in spring training. The former 33rd-round draft pick showed well in his MLB debut last season, posting a 3.58 ERA (3.11 FIP), 1.08 WHIP, and a 64:19 K:BB in 55 1/3 innings over his first 15 big-league appearances (eight starts), including a seven-inning outing on May 28 in which he allowed no hits, two walks, and struck out 10. With his 28.8% strikeout rate, the righty is worth keeping an eye on, as he'd at least have value in NL-Only leagues were he to win a rotation spot.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Chicago Tribune - Meghan Montemurro
1 week agoThe Cleveland Guardians have re-signed veteran backup catcher
Austin Hedges to a one-year contract. Hedges played 66 games for Cleveland last season, posting a .152-2-15-12-2 line in 146 PA. While the offensive statistics don't jump off the page, the 32-year-old is said to be a clubhouse leader and mentor to young starting catcher
Bo Naylor. That's certainly a good thing for the Guardians, however, it doesn't move the needle for fantasy. Even if something were to happen to Naylor, as a career .186 hitter over 12 major league seasons, the former second-round draft pick would likely be best left on the waiver wire.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Passan
1
week
agoLos
Angeles
Dodgers
general
manager
Brandon
Gomes
stated
on
Wednesday
that
the
team
will
likely
go
with
a
six-man
rotation
next
season.
It
would
include
RHPs
Yoshinobu
Yamamoto,
Tyler
Glasnow,
Tony
Gonsolin,
and
read more...
1 week agoThe Houston Astros have had internal discussions related to potentially trading reliever
Ryan Pressly. The 35-year-old was moved to a setup role in 2024 once the Astros acquired closer
Josh Hader. Pressly had saved 90 games for Houston from 2021-23, posting a 2.94 ERA. 0.98 WHIP, and 25.4% K-BB%. In the setup role in 2024, however, the righty posted a 3.49 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, and 16.4% K-BB%. With Hader and other capable arms at the back end of the bullpen, the team could let Pressly go and get prospects in return, although with the veteran's full no-trade clause, the pitcher would have to be on board with any proposed destination. It's worth monitoring for fantasy in the event he lands in a good spot with the opportunity to close.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Chandler Rome - The Athletic
1 week agoLos Angeles Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes stated Wednesday that the team will play
Mookie Betts on the infield in 2025. The 32-year-old played mostly outfield for the Dodgers in 2021 and 2022, but started on the infield in almost half of his games played in 2023. In 2024, the veteran started on the infield in 73 of the 116 (63%) games he played, split between shortstop (61) and second base (12). It is important to note, but he'll be a top tier fantasy producer regardless of position, however, it could come to the detriment of
Gavin Lux and others who played the middle infield for the reigning World Series champs in the second half of the season.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MLB
1 week agoESPN's Kiley McDaniel is projecting free-agent shortstop
Willy Adames to secure a seven-year deal worth around $189 million (27 million average annual value) in free agency this offseason. Adames helped his cause in a walk year in 2024 with the Milwaukee Brewers by slashing .251/.331/.462 with a .794 OPS and career-highs in home runs (32), RBI (112), stolen bases (21) and runs scored (93) in 688 plate appearances and 161 games during the regular season. He's a year and a half younger than fellow free agent
Alex Bregman and is also better defensively and as a power hitter. Helping Adames' cause to land a lucrative long-term deal this winter is the fact that there wasn't a real everyday shortstop available on the open market last offseason. Plenty of teams will be interested in Adames, especially since he's flexible and could be moved to third base.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Kiley McDaniel
1 week agoESPN's Kiley McDaniel projects free-agent right-hander
Corbin Burnes to land a seven-year, $225 million deal ($32.1 million average annual value) on the open market this winter. The 30-year-old veteran is easily the top free-agent pitcher in this year's class with plenty of MLB experience. Interested teams will have to guarantee him at least five years. Burnes has been durable (28 to 33 starts in each of the last four seasons), is an elite strike-thrower, and has a strong strikeout rate with improving velocity. He is widely expected to top $200 million, with
Stephen Strasburg's $245 million deal before the 2020 season likely as agent Scott Boras' goal. If Burnes doesn't re-sign with the Baltimore Orioles, they'll receive draft-pick compensation after extending him the $21.05 million qualifying offer on Monday. He's been an All-Star each of the last four seasons.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Kiley McDaniel
1 week agoESPN's Kiley McDaniel reports that indications are pointing to Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki being posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines to join this year's MLB free-agent class. McDaniel projects the 23-year-old to receive a contract around $5 million (signing bonus in a minor-league deal), and the Los Angeles Dodgers are believed to be the favorites to land him after signing Japanese stars
Shohei Ohtani and
Yoshinobu Yamamoto last offseason. The Dodgers have the most international bonus-pool money at roughly $2.5 million. However, some scouts think Sasaki might prefer a smaller market. There's also the concern that he might have been pitching injured this past season in Japan due to a drop in velocity. But because he's much younger than most players coming from overseas, Sasaki will represent a massive discount.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Kiley McDaniel
1 week agoESPN's Kiley McDaniels projects free-agent outfielder
Juan Soto to sign a 13-year, $611 million ($47 million average annual value) this winter as a generational free agent at the top of this year's free-agent class. Soto's contract will be the biggest that agent Scott Boras has ever negotiated. McDaniel writes that he wouldn't be surprised if Soto gets a heavily deferred contract that totals more than $700 million in nominal value. Obviously, not many teams will be able to afford the left-handed slugger, and it will likely come down to how aggressive the New York Yankees and New York Mets want to get this offseason. The 26-year-old Dominican had a fantastic first year in pinstripes with the Yankees, slashing .288/.419/.569 with a .989 OPS, career-high 41 home runs, 109 RBI and a league-high 128 runs during the regular season, so the Yankees would surely love to bring him back.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Kiley McDaniel
1 week agoMinnesota Twins third baseman
Royce Lewis could see more time at the keystone next year. Lewis started one game at second in 2024, but more playing time there in 2025 could allow infielder
Jose Miranda to spend more time at the hot corner if the Twins add a regular first baseman to replace free agent
Carlos Santana. "Some of that will depend on the personnel we acquire, don't acquire and how that all shakes out," president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said of Lewis at second base. "We want him to stay open-minded to that and we'll have that conversation." The former first overall pick in 2017 probably makes more sense from a defensive standpoint at second because of his poor throwing accuracy. Offensively, Lewis is one of the better young power bats in the game, although he's been extremely injury-prone in his first three MLB seasons.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Minnesota Star Tribune - Bobby Nightengale
1 week agoAgent Scott Boras said free-agent third baseman
Alex Bregman (elbow) had a bone chip removed from his right elbow recently and should resume swinging a bat in a few weeks. Bregman is expected to be fine for the start of spring training in February. The 30-year-old veteran missed time later in the regular season due to elbow issues but played through it before the club was eliminated by the Detroit Tigers in the wild-card round of the playoffs. The injury shouldn't negatively affect Bregman's free-agent market this offseason. While the Astros have had talks with him about a return, nothing is guaranteed. The two-time All-Star hit .260/.315/.453 with a career-worst .768 OPS, 26 home runs, 75 RBI, three stolen bases and 79 runs scored in 145 games in his nine season in Houston in 2024. Leaving the Astros' powerful lineup would likely be a negative for Bregman's fantasy value in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
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