2
weeks
agoAccording
to
Ken
Rosenthal
of
The
Athletic,
the
Chicago
Cubs
are
less
likely
to
seek
a
trade
partner
for
second
baseman
Nico
Hoerner.
Rosenthal
noted
that
the
Cubs
needed
to
move
an
infielder
to
create
a
path
for
their
top
prospect,
read more...
2 weeks agoAccording to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, The Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and New York Mets are among the teams inquiring about Seattle Mariners starting pitcher
Luis Castillo. Rosenthal noted that while the Mariners are not actively searching for a trade partner, they would be eager to do business to improve other aspects of their roster. With their rotation being their strong suit, moving Castillo could bring an impact bat into the Seattle lineup. In addition, Rosenthal noted that if Castillo were to be traded, this could open up some salary for the Mariners to target free agent first baseman
Christian Walker, who has been connected to Seattle throughout the offseason. While Castillo's ratios took a slight step down last season, the 32-year-old remains a high-volume starting pitcher who has logged at least 150 innings over the past three seasons and over 175 in the past two.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Ken Rosenthal
2 weeks agoAccording to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, both
Trevor Megill and
Abner Uribe have a viable path to operate as the closer during the 2025 season. With
Devin Williams being traded to the New York Yankees, the ninth-inning role in Milwaukee is currently vacated. When Williams missed time during the first half of last summer with a back injury, Megill and Uribe both saw ample opportunities. Megill converted 20 saves, while Uribe only tallied three. However, Uribe was given the first save opportunity of the season but struggled to hold the job. Megill generated a solid 2.83 xERA, while Uribe posted a high 4.78 xERA. In addition, southpaw
Aaron Ashby could also be a sleeper candidate for the role as he posted a stellar 1.37 ERA and 0.76 WHIP across his final 19 2/3 innings of relief last summer. For now, Megill should be viewed as the frontrunner and the name to target in early drafts.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 weeks agoAccording to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, the Philadelphia Phillies remain open to a reunion with free-agent right-handed pitcher
Jeff Hoffman. Even after the Phillies acquired
Jordan Romano to operate as a high-leverage option out of the bullpen, the Phillies have continued to express interest in Hoffman. Last season, Hoffman held a strong 2.17 ERA and 0.96 WHIP across 66 1/3 frames of relief. He struck out an impressive 89 batters and tallied 10 saves. Earlier this offseason, sources reported that a few clubs viewed Hoffman as a potential starting pitcher, which could increase his value on the open market. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on where the 32-year-old signs, as he could have a wide range of outcomes for the 2025 season as a starter or a reliever. If he returns to Philadelphia, he will likely operate as the setup man and could be in line to earn a high tally of holds.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Matt Gelb
2
weeks
agoChicago
Cubs
outfield
prospect
Alexander
Canario
is
hitting
well
in
the
Dominican
Winter
League,
with
his
slashline
now
up
to
.321/.413/.604
with
four
home
runs
in
63
plate
appearances.
Canario
finished
2023
as
the
Cubs
11th-ranked
prospect,
but
has
since
fallen
outside
the
read more...
2 weeks agoThe Pirates have acquired infielder/outfielder
Enmanuel Valdez in a trade with the Red Sox. Minor league pitcher Joe Vogatsky was shipped to Boston in exchange for Valdez. The 25-year-old debuted for Boston in 2023, playing 125 games and posting a .235-12-47-40-6 line in 372 career plate appearances. It's unclear how the Pirates plan to use the left-handed hitter as they already have
Nick Gonzales,
Jared Triolo, and
Nick Yorke who can play his primary position of second base. Vogatsky was the Pirates' 19th-round pick in the 2024 Draft but has yet to make his minor league debut. Neither player figures to have a significant fantasy impact in 2025.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 weeks agoThe Chunichi Dragons have signed free agent pitcher
Kyle Muller. The 27-year-old played the last two seasons for the Athletics after the first two seasons of his career were for the Braves. The southpaw saw more success as a reliever than as a starter during his time in the majors, posting a 4.68 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, and a 10.1% K-BB% in 67 1/3 IP relief innings compared to a 6.67 ERA, 1.69 WHIP, and a 7.0% K-BB% over 108 IP as a starter. The former second-round draft pick will join former Mariner infielder
Jason Vosler who also recently signed with the Dragons.
Erick Fedde showed last season that pitchers can retool abroad and have success upon their return to the majors, so we'll see if that can be the case for Muller as well.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Yakyu Cosmopolitan
2
weeks
agoThe
Atlanta
Braves
have
signed
outfielder
Bryan
De
La
Cruz
to
a
one-year,
non-guaranteed
contract
on
Sunday.
The
Braves
are
in
need
of
some
outfield
depth
with
star
Ronald
Acuna
Jr.
(knee)
expected
to
miss
the
first
couple
months
of
read more...
2 weeks agoAccording to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Chicago Cubs are expressing interest in Miami Marlins left-handed pitcher
Jesus Luzardo. Nightengale also noted that Cubs are actively searching for a suitor for
Cody Bellinger and looking for a third baseman. Even after the Cubs acquired superstar
Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros, they remain active on the trade front. Luzardo has dealt with numerous injuries throughout his major league career. Last summer, he was able to only log 66 2/3 innings before suffering a lumbar stress reaction. In fact, the southpaw has only pitched over 100 innings once during his six-year major league career. Before the injury, Luzardo held a 5.00 ERA and 1.25 WHIP but was much more effective in 2023, where he posted a 3.58 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP with a 55:208 BB:K ratio across 170 frames. Earlier this offseason, the Cubs signed
Matthew Boyd, and if acquired, Luzardo would slot in at the No.5 spot.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Bob Nightengale
2 weeks agoAccording to Bobby Nightengale of the Minnesota Star Tribute, right-handed pitcher
Matt Canterino is expected to operate out of the bullpen during the 2025 season. Canterino sat out during the entire 2023 season due to Tommy John surgery and then suffered a strain on his rotator cuff, which kept him out for all of 2024. However, before these two injuries, the former second-round selection was showcasing a high upside in the minor leagues and was approaching his major league debut. During the 2021 season, across 21 frames at High-A, Canterino posted a stellar 0.86 ERA and 0.67 WHIP with a 4:43 BB:K ratio. Then, across 34 1/3 frames at Double-A the following summer, the Rice product struck out 50 batters and held a 1.83 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. For now, he is a name to monitor in deeper formats, given his high-upside strikeout potential.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Bobby Nightengale
2 weeks 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
2 weeks 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
2
weeks
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...
2
weeks
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...
2 weeks 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
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