1 week agoNew York Mets shortstop prospect
Jett Williams (ankle) left Thursday's regular-season Arizona Fall League contest after crashing into the outfield fence and is dealing with a right-ankle sprain. Although there is no word on severe it is, team officials are optimistic it won't be a big issue for Williams the rest of the offseason. The club's No. 2 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, hit .225 (18-for-80) with two homers, nine RBI, seven steals and 15 runs scored in the AFL for Scottsdale and should be ready to go for the start of next season in the minors. The 21-year-old had right-wrist surgery in early June and played in only 33 games across three minor-league levels, ultimately reaching Triple-A Syracuse, in 2024. The 5-foot-6 infielder is currently blocked at SS by
Francisco Lindor at the MLB level, but the Mets could move him to the outfield in order to make his big-league debut late next season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
1 week agoLos Angles Angels catcher
Matt Thaiss was designated for assignment after the club added veteran catcher
Travis d'Arnaud on a one-year deal in free agency earlier this week. If Thaiss isn't picked up off waivers by another club, he'll have the option of returning to the Angels or choosing free agency. The 29-year-old was the 16th overall pick in 2016 out of the University of Virginia, but he never lived up to his draft stock. Thaiss hit only .204/.323/.299 with two home runs, 16 RBI and three stolen bases in 57 games played in 2024 while serving in a backup role behind
Logan O'Hoppe. In his six seasons with the Halos, O'Hoppe had a .208/.313/.342 slash line with a weak .655 OPS, 22 homers, 79 RBI and six stolen bases. He'll likely latch on with another team, potentially on a minor-league deal, but Thaiss' ceiling these days is probably as a second-string catcher.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Times - Bill Shaikin
1 week agoInfielder
Scott Kingery agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, avoiding salary arbitration, according to a source. Kingery was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies on Nov. 1 and will head to spring training in February with the Angels hoping to win an Opening Day roster spot as infield depth with
Zach Neto (shoulder) questionable to be ready for the start of the year after undergoing shoulder surgery. The 30-year-old former second-round pick of the Phillies in 2015 out of the University of Arizona will be a long shot to return any fantasy value in 2025, especially with the Angels. He didn't play at all in the big leagues in 2024 and was active for only 16 combined games in Philly in 2021 and 2022.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB Network - Jon Morosi
1 week agoThe Chicago White Sox announced that infield prospect
Alexander Albertus (leg) recently had surgery to reset a fracture in his left tibia. It was announced back in late July that Albertus wouldn't play again after suffering a stress reaction in his left tibia. The injury wasn't considered all that serious, though, and the White Sox are still expecting him to be ready for spring training in February. The 20-year-was acquired in a three-team trade earlier this year that involved the Dodgers and Cardinals. MLB Pipeline has Albertus listed as Chicago's No. 14 prospect. In 51 games with the Dodgers in the Arizona Complex League and at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga before his injury, Albertus hit .298/.420/.409 with an .828 OPS, three homers, 42 RBI and six steals. Because of his injury setback this year, Albertus is unlikely to make his MBL debut in Chicago until 2027.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - James Fegan
1 week agoThe Atlanta Braves signed free-agent catcher
Yohel Pozo to a minor-league deal on Wednesday. Pozo will give the Braves additional catching depth entering the 2025 season after they saw
Travis d'Arnaud leave for the Los Angeles Angels in free agency earlier this week. Pozo made his major-league debut back in 2021 with the Texas Rangers and hasn't resurfaced in the Show since. In his 21 games played in the big leagues, he's gone 21-for-74 (.284) with a homer, nine RBI and eight runs scored. The 27-year-old Venezuelan backstop has been swinging a hot bat in the minor leagues ever since, including a .324/.335/.538 slash line with an .873 OPS, 15 home runs and 54 RBI at Las Vegas, the Triple-A affiliate for the A's, in 2024.
Sean Murphy will be Atlanta's primary catcher in 2025 with
Chadwick Tromp likely backing him up.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 week agoThe Atlanta Braves signed free-agent third baseman
Charles Leblanc to a minor-league deal on Wednesday. Leblanc will give the Braves additional infield depth entering spring training in February. The 28-year-old Canadian infielder has experience at second base, third base and first base. The former fourth-round selection by the Texas Rangers in 2016 out of the University of Pittsburgh made his major-league debut in 2022 with the Miami Marlins and also saw action in 11 games with the Los Angeles Angels this past season. In his 59 career games at the MLB level, he has hit .254/.330/.412 with a .742 OPS, six home runs, 17 RBI, four stolen bases and 24 runs scored in 197 trips to the plate. Leblanc hit .254 (86-for-339) with 12 long balls, 52 RBI, four steals and 56 runs scored in 98 games with Triple-A Salt Lake in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 week agoFree-agent left-handed reliever
Justin Wilson agreed to an undisclosed deal one-year deal with the Boston Red Sox on Thursday, according to sources familiar with the deal. Wilson missed all of 2023 while recovering from Tommy John surgery and returned this past season to make 60 relief appearances for the Cincinnati Reds, posting a career-worst 5.59 ERA (4.73 FIP), two saves, a 1.46 WHIP, 51 strikeouts and 13 walks in 46 2/3 innings pitched. The 37-year-old veteran southpaw will be hoping for better results in 2025 with Boston as another left-handed option out of the bullpen for the BoSox alongside
Brennan Bernardino. In Wilson's last full season with the Reds and New York Yankees, he held a 5.29 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in 34 relief innings. He will not be on the fantasy radar at all next spring.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: FanSided - Robert Murray
1 week agoThe Tampa Bay Rays are planning to play their home games during the 2025 season at Tampa's Steinbrenner Field, where the New York Yankees play their spring training games. The move comes after Hurricane Milton tore the roof of Tropicana Field on Oct. 9. Steinbrenner Field seats 11,000 as also serves as the home of the Yankees' Single-A team, the Tampa Tarpons. Tampa will remain in Port Charlotte, Florida, for spring training. Tropicana Field is expected to cost $55.7 million to repair in time for the 2026 season. Steinbrenner Field is not as deep in the gaps as Tropicana Field and is shorter down the line in right field, which may give hitters an advantage in 2025 compared to Tropicana Field. Tropicana Field has been a bit more pitcher-friendly over the years, but Tampa's temporary location next season might not be as favorable for pitchers.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
1 week agoThe Los Angeles Angels stayed busy early this offseason and agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal with free-agent infielder
Kevin Newman on Thursday. The deal includes a club option for the 2026 season.
Zach Neto is the Angels' starting shortstop, but Newman will provide insurance for the team at the position for the start of next season after Neto underwent offseason shoulder surgery. The 31-year-old veteran won't have much fantasy appeal outside of AL-only leagues, though, even if he's the team's starter at the 6 on Opening Day. In 111 games with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2024, Newman hit .278/.311/.375 with a below-average .686 OPS, only three home runs, 28 RBI, eight stolen bases and 41 runs scored in 311 plate appearances. He has only had double-digit home runs once in his seven MLB seasons, and that came way back in 2019 with the Pirates in his second year in the league.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
1 week agoFree-agent pitcher
Adam Oller has signed a deal with the KIA Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organization. The details on the contract are unknown, but Oller figures to move straight into the starting rotation for next season. The right-hander has struggled with a 6.54 ERA across 36 games (23 starts) between the Oakland Athletics and Miami Marlins in three MLB seasons. He most recently pitched with the Marlins, but was crushed to the tune of a 5.31 ERA in eight starts. The 30-year-old will get a chance to rebuild his value in Korea.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Ari Alexander
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
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