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
1 week agoThe Seattle Mariners are known to be in the market for a second baseman this offseason and are among the teams that have closely monitored infielder Hye-seong Kim, whom the Kiwoom Heroes will post this winter. The left-handed hitter had an .841 OPS and 30 stolen bases at 25 years old in the Korean Baseball Organization in 2024. Kim has played fewer than nine seasons in Korea, meaning he's subject to the league's posting system and requires permission from the Heroes to join MLB. In addition to his .841 OPS this past season, Kim hit a career-high .335 in 2023 and also hit seven home runs and drove in 57 runs. Since he debuted in the KBO, he has hit .300 with a .753 OPS. He was a member of the South Korean team in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Previous second baseman
Jorge Polanco (knee) underwent offseason surgery and won't return as a free agent.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB Network - Jon Morosi
1 week agoThe Los Angeles Angels signed free-agent veteran right-hander
Kyle Hendricks to a one-year deal worth around $3 million on Wednesday. The pitching-hungry Angels scoop up an aging pitcher near the end of his career and hope he can eat up some innings for them in 2025. The 34-year-old soft-tossing righty really struggled in his 11th and final season with the Chicago Cubs this past season, going 4-12 with a career-worst 5.92 ERA (4.98 FIP) with a 1.45 WHIP and 87:43 K:BB in 130 2/3 innings pitched over 29 appearances (24 starts). Because Hendricks pitches to contact and rarely misses bats, he's not going to be on many fantasy managers' radars outside of deep AL-only leagues. The Angels will be hoping he can bounce back to more of his 2023 numbers, when he posted a 3.74 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 24 starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
1 week agoThe San Diego Padres and manager Mike Shildt are finalizing a two-year contract extension on Tuesday, with the deal expected to be officially announced on Wednesday. The move comes after Shildt's first season with the club in which he led the team to a 93-win season while also advancing to the National League Division Series, where they would eventually fall to the division-rival and eventual World Series-winning Los Angeles Dodgers. The 56-year-old was given a two-year contract when he was hired last November, but his new deal will run through the 2027 season. Pitching coach Ruben Niebla is also expected to receive a contract extension in the coming days. San Diego's 93 wins in 2024 was second-highest in franchise history behind their 98 wins in 1998.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The San Diego Union-Tribune - Kevin Acee
1 week agoNew York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman mentioned prospect
Caleb Durbin and the possibility that the team will add a third baseman and move infielder/outfielder
Jazz Chisholm Jr. back to second base next season. Current second baseman
Gleyber Torres is a free agent this winter, and although the Yankees aren't opposed to bringing him back, he could very well leave the Bronx, opening up a glaring hole at the keystone. After being acquired from the Miami Marlins at the trade deadline at the end of July, Chisholm hit .273 (48-for-176) with 11 home runs, 23 RBI and 18 stolen bases for the Bombers while playing a solid third base defensively. The 26-year-old power/speed threat already has eligibility at outfield and third base, so adding second base eligibility in 2025 would be even nicer for fantasy managers.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
1 week agoHouston Astros general manager Dana Brown said he's had "productive" talks with Scott Boras, the agent representing free-agent third baseman
Alex Bregman. It's unclear if the Astros have made a formal offer to Bregman to try and re-sign him, but Brown added it's "our biggest priority at third base, without a doubt. We'd love to have Alex Bregman back. It's our biggest priority." The Astros extended a $21.05 million qualifying offer to Bregman on Monday, which he's fully expected to decline. It means that Houston will receive draft-pick compensation if Bregman signs with another team in free agency. The 30-year-old two-time All-Star remained productive in 2024, hitting .260/.315/.453 with a .768 OPS, 26 homers, 75 RBI, three steals and 79 runs scored in 145 regular-season games. Leaving Houston for another team could ultimately hurt Bregman's fantasy upside in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
1 week agoThe Pittsburgh Pirates have claimed outfielder
Trey Cabbage off waivers, according to Ari Alexander of KPRC2. The 27-year-old appeared in only 47 games at the major league level in the Space City last season and held an underwhelming .209/.253/.337 slash line with just one home run and one stolen base. However, in Triple-A, he posted a solid .243/.351/.474 line with 13 home runs, 43 RBI, and 22 stolen bases. Fantasy managers should expect Cabbage to compete for the spot on the Opening Day Roster. However, he will face an uphill battle as he has not enjoyed consistent success in the big leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Ari Alexander
1 week agoThe Texas Rangers have declined their 2025 club option on left-handed pitcher
Andrew Chafin. The 34-year-old opened the 2024 campaign in Detroit but was eventually shipped to Texas before the trade deadline. Across 56 1/3 innings of work, Chafin held a 3.51 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and a 31:70 BB:K ratio. The southpaw generated whiffs at an elite 34.5% mark, which was evident in his excellent 28.5% K rate. However, he struggled to control his pitches as he carried a hefty 12.6% walk rate. Given his ability to generate swings and misses, fantasy managers should expect Chafin to have a high-leverage role in 2025. He could eventually become a target in leagues that score holds if he is pitching on a competing club.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Texas Rangers
1 week agoSan Francisco Giants relief pitcher
Camilo Doval is generating interest in the trade market, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Slusser said, "The talent remains undeniable, and a few teams would consider him for a closer role." Doval entered the 2024 campaign as the bona fide ninth-inning option in the Bay Area but eventually ceded those duties to
Ryan Walker later in the season after blowing five saves and holding a 4.70 ERA through the start of August. This past summer, Walker posted a stellar 1.91 ERA and 0.85 WHIP. In 2023, Doval held a strong 2.93 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP with 39 saves across 67 2/3 innings of work. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor this situation during the offseason, as Walker may open the campaign as the top option for saves.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Susan Slusser
1 week agoLos Angeles Dodgers designated hitter
Shohei Ohtani (shoulder) underwent successful arthroscopic surgery to repair a labrum tear, according to the team. Ohtani is expected to be ready in time for Spring Training. The superstar suffered this injury due to a dislocated shoulder during the World Series. However, he was able to play through it en route to winning his first championship. Fantasy managers should monitor his progression leading up to Spring Training in case he faces a setback. Operating as a pure hitter in 2024, Ohtani established the 50-50 club with an impressive .310/.390/.646 slash line. The 30-year-old will likely be a consensus top selection this year in drafts as he is expected to return to the mound, providing elite fantasy production both as a pitcher and a hitter.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Dodgers
1
week
agoAccording
to
David
O'Brien
of
The
Athletic,
Atlanta
Braves
outfielder
Ronald
Acuna
Jr.
(knee)
and
starting
pitcher
Spencer
Strider
(elbow)
are
not
expected
to
be
ready
by
Opening
Day.
General
manager
Alex
Anthopoulos
said,
"We're
planning
on
read more...
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