1 week agoAccording to Chris Cotillo of MassLive, the Boston Red Sox could stretch out right-handed pitcher
Michael Fulmer and deploy him as a starting pitcher during the 2025 season. Red Sox chief baseball officer
Craig Breslow said that the team is exploring ways to stretch out Fulmer, and it's a decision the team feels "confident in." Fulmer missed the entire 2023 campaign due to a UCL revision surgery but is expected to be a full-go for Spring Training. The former 2017 American League Rookie of the Year has not started a game since the 2021 campaign. During the 2022 and 2023 seasons, the right-hander held a 3.88 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP out of the bullpen. If Fulmer performs well during Spring Training, he could be worth a look in AL-only formats, especially if given a spot in the rotation.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Chris Cotillo
1 week agoAccording to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Tampa Bay Rays are acquiring first base prospect
Will Simpson, among others, from the Athletics in exchange for
Jeffrey Springs. Simpson was drafted by the Athletics in the 15th Round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Washington. Simpson got a brief look at the Single-A level that same summer and held his own, posting a .322/.373/.522 slash line with 11 doubles, four home runs, and three stolen bases. In 2024, the infielder logged 109 games at the High-A level and carried a .270/.373/.480 line with 27 doubles, 16 home runs, and four stolen bases. He then earned a small 18-game stint at Double-A and continued to perform well, boasting a .348/.408/.493 line. While he may still be at least a season away from his big league debut, given his rather fast progression through the minor leagues, dynasty managers should closely monitor his progression within the Tampa Bay system in 2025.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Passan
1
week
agoAccording
to
Jeff
Passan
of
ESPN,
right-handed
pitcher
Jacob
Watters
was
included
in
the
package
that
sent
Jeffrey
Springs
to
the
Athletics
from
the
Tampa
Bay
Rays.
Watters
was
drafted
in
the
fourth
round
of
the
2022
MLB
read more...
1
week
agoWith
the
Chicago
Cubs
sending
infielder
Isaac
Paredes
to
the
Houston
Astros
in
the
trade
for
All-Star
outfielder
Kyle
Tucker,
it
could
give
top
prospect
Matt
Shaw
a
clear
path
to
make
the
read more...
1 week agoMilwaukee Brewers left-hander
Nestor Cortes (elbow) was out from late September until the World Series with the New York Yankees this year, but he's had a "fully healthy offseason," according to general manager Matt Arnold. The Brewers did extensive work on Cortes' medicals before acquiring him from the Yankees this week as part of the deal that sent All-Star closer
Devin Williams to the Bronx. Cortes had an MRI exam a couple weeks ago that cleared him to begin his offseason throwing program on schedule last week. The 30-year-old veteran dealt with a flexor strain in his left elbow, but he appears to be healthy now and should be ready for the start of the 2025 season, barring a setback. He threw a career-high 174 1/3 innings in 2024 and had an ERA under 2.00 in his last seven outings before getting hurt. In Milwaukee, he'll be a back-end rotation arm in fantasy that comes with injury concerns.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
1 week agoThe Houston Astros have emerged as a serious suitor for St. Louis Cardinals third baseman
Nolan Arenado, according to multiple league sources. No deal is believed to be imminent, but talks between the two clubs have increased since this week's winter meetings started. The Cardinals have already acknowledged they are trying to trade Arenado, and the Astros' interest in the clearest sign that they aren't planning to re-sign
Alex Bregman this offseason. Arenado has a no-trade clause, though, and it's unclear if he'd waive it to join Houston. The veteran third baseman is owed $74 million across the next three years. The 33-year-old is a 10-time Gold Glove winner and an eight-time All-Star. While his defense is still top notch, he continues to dip offensively, as he had a 101 OPS+ with only 16 homers in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
1 week agoThe Tampa Bay Rays acquired right-handers
Joe Boyle and
Jacob Watters, outfielder
Will Simpson and a compensation Round A draft pick from the Athletics on Saturday in exchange for left-hander
Jeffrey Springs, according to sources. Boyle is the biggest piece headed back to Tampa. The 25-year-old had a 1.69 ERA in three starts in Oakland in his debut in 2023, but he wasn't as effective in 13 outings (10 starts) this past season, going 3-6 with a bloated 6.42 ERA (4.68 FIP), 1.72 WHIP and 56:40 K:BB in his 47 2/3 innings pitched in the big leagues. It didn't help he missed a month with a lower-back injury. Given the Rays' history with pitchers, Boyle could still be something special, but he won't be guaranteed to make the club's Opening Day roster out of spring training.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
1 week agoThe Athletics are acquiring left-hander
Jeffrey Springs from the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday in exchange for right-handers
Joe Boyle and
Jacob Watters, outfielder
Will Simpson and a compensation Round A draft pick, according to sources. It's the second big addition to the A's starting rotation this offseason after they signed right-hander
Luis Severino to the largest guaranteed deal in franchise history. The 32-year-old Springs didn't pitch in the first half in 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery and finished with a 3.27 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 33 innings over seven starts down the stretch for Tampa. Springs will be pitching in a minor-league park for home games and has never exceeded 50 innings at the big-league level, so the A's will surely limit his workload, limiting his fantasy upside in 2025. The southpaw has a 3.39 career ERA, 1.25 WHIP and a 27.2% strikeout rate in his seven MLB seasons.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
2 weeks agoAccording to Peter Gammons of the MLB Network, the Seattle Mariners would "love" to acquire free-agent first baseman
Christian Walker. However, Gammons noted that the first baseman is currently out of their price range, but trading starting pitcher
Luis Castillo could open enough space on the books for the infielder. Castillo's name has been circling around trade discussions all offseason, and it could make sense given Seattle's depth at that position. Last summer, Walker held a solid .251/.335/.468 slash line with 26 home runs. Under the hood, the 33-year-old generated a .351 xwOBA, a 13.3% barrel rate, and a 48.0% hard-hit rate. Walker would provide some nice, consistent power to the Seattle lineup. The Yankees have also been a team that has expressed interest in the 33-year-old.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Peter Gammons
2 weeks agoAccording to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Chicago Cubs and free-agent catcher
Carson Kelly have agreed to a two-year contract worth $11.5 million. Kelly opened the 2024 campaign catching for the Tigers before finishing his season with the Rangers. Across 91 games in the majors, the veteran backstop carried a .238/.318/.374 slash line with nine doubles, nine home runs, and a 25:55 BB:K. The 30-year-old spent most of his professional career playing with the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2019 through 2023. Overall, Kelly holds a career .224/.307/.373 slash line. Kelly will now likely slot in as the No. 2 option behind
Miguel Amaya behind the dish. Last season, Amaya took a nice step forward in his second major-league season, posting an impressive .271/.316/.444 line after the All-Star break. Fantasy managers should still expect Amaya to see most of the starts to open the 2025 season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Passan
2 weeks agoAccording to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, free agent outfielder
Anthony Santander is seeking a five-year contract during free agency. It was reported earlier this offseason that the former Oriole was gaining interest from other AL East ball clubs, including the Blue Jays and Yankees. Last summer in Baltimore, Santander hit a career-high 44 home runs and held a .235/.308/.506 slash line. He also added 25 doubles and tallied over 100 RBI for the first time in his career. This was a nice improvement compared to the 28 long balls he hit in 2023. The switch-hitter generated a strong 11.7% barrel rate and held an above-average 19.4% K rate. Fantasy managers should closely monitor where Santander signs in the offseason as he could be in line to enjoy another successful season, especially if he remains with a competing team.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman
2 weeks agoAccording to Shi Davidi of SportsNet, the Toronto Blue Jays are releasing catcher
Nick Raposo to open a roster spot for relief pitcher
Yimi Garcia. The Blue Jays agreed to a two-year contract with Garcia earlier this offseason. Raposo opened the 2024 campaign playing in the St. Louis organization before joining Toronto in August. Across 78 games at the Triple-A level last summer, the 26-year-old held an underwhelming .206/.280/.340 line with eight home runs, ten doubles, and a 25:59 BB:K ratio. In 2023, Raposo held a slightly higher .232/.334/.368 line across 27 games at Triple-A. Fantasy managers should not have Raposo on their radar heading into the 2025 campaign, as he has yet to turn the corner at the top level of the minor leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Shi Davidi
2
weeks
agoAccording
to
Chandler
Rome
of
The
Athletic,
the
Houston
Astros
are
acquiring
Chicago
Cubs
third
base
prospect
Cam
Smith
in
exchange
for
outfielder
Kyle
Tucker.
Smith
was
drafted
by
the
Chicago
Cubs
with
the
14th
overall
pick
in
last
year's
draft
out
of
Florida
read more...
2 weeks agoAccording to Chandler Rome of The Athletic, the Chicago Cubs are sending right-handed pitcher
Hayden Wesneski to the Houston Astros in a package to acquire star outfielder
Kyle Tucker. Wesneski was initially drafted by the New York Yankees but has spent his entire big-league career with the Chicago Cubs. Across his first three seasons in the majors (190 innings), the right-hander posted a 3.93 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. Wesneski saw time as both a starter and a reliever and logged 22 starts over his 68 total games. Last summer, the 27-year-old generated a modest 4.17 xERA and .234 xBA. In addition, he posted a 23.7% K rate and 7.4% walk rate, which were both just above the average marks among qualified pitchers. Fantasy managers should monitor his status during Spring Training as he may earn a spot in the Opening Day rotation.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Chandler Rome
2 weeks agoThe Houston Astros acquired infielder
Isaac Paredes, right-hander
Hayden Wesneski and third base prospect Cam Smith from the Chicago Cubs on Friday in exchange for All-Star outfielder
Kyle Tucker, according to sources. This trade certainly gives the Astros a couple fallback options in case they cannot re-sign
Alex Bregman this offseason. The 25-year-old Paredes could play either third or first base next year in his first with the Astros. The Mexican infielder took a step back with 19 homers and 80 RBI with the Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays in 2024 after setting career-highs in homers (31) and RBI (98) in 2023 with Tampa to make his first All-Star team. Paredes probably is never going to be a batting-average asset for fantasy mangers, but he's a good bet to bounce back in the power department at Minute Maid Park, especially with his pull-heavy offensive approach from the right side of the plate.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
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