1 day agoAccording to Jake Oliver of Sports Illustrated, right-handed pitcher
David Robertson could be a potential target for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks have expressed interest in adding a reliable high-leverage option and given Robertson's experience, he could fit that bill. Last summer across 72 innings with the Texas Rangers, the 39-year-old held a strong 3.00 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. He struck 99 batters with a 9.4% walk rate. Robertson was deployed as the set-up man behind
Kirby Yates. Under the hood, he generated a strong 3.19 xERA and 5.5% barrel rate which were both above the average marks of qualified pitchers. If the Diamondbacks do not pursue Robertson, they could look internally for their ninth-inning arm such as
Justin Martinez or
A.J. Puk.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Sports Illustrated
1 day agoAccording to MLB.com, left-handed pitcher
Raymond Burgos is returning to San Francisco on a minor league contract. Burgos spent most of the 2024 season in the minor leagues but did make one appearance in the majors. Across his lone inning, Burgos allowed one run and three hits. However, across 26 2/3 innings at the Triple-A level, Burgos performed very well boasting a stellar 1.69 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP. He struck out 27 batters and served up just five free passes. In a similar 21 1/3 innings of work at Triple-A in 2023, Burgos held a much higher 5.48 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. Given his excellent production at Triple-A last season, Burgos could find himself in a permanent role in the big leagues next summer if he has a successful Spring Training.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 day agoAccording to MLB.com, right-handed pitcher
Enyel De Los Santos has signed a minor-league deal with the Atlanta Braves. De Los Santos spent the 2024 campaign with the San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, and Chicago White Sox. Across 64 innings, the 29-year-old held a 5.20 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Under the hood, he generated a strong 29.3% whiff rate but allowed hard contact at a hefty 42.3% hard-hit rate. In 2023, De Los Santos posted a 3.29 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. Fantasy managers should expect De Los Santos to serve as a low-leverage relief option in the Atlanta bullpen if he can make the Opening Day roster.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 day agoAccording to Chris Cotillo of MassLive, the Boston Red Sox have acquired left-handed pitcher
Jovani Moran from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for catcher
Mickey Gasper. The 27-year-old missed the entire 2024 campaign due to Tommy John surgery. Across 42 1/3 innings in 2023, the southpaw held a 5.31 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. He struck out 48 batters. During this stint he generated a strong 3.69 xERA and a .211 xBA. In 2022, Moran posted a stellar 2.21 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP in a similar 40 1/3 inning sample size. Fantasy managers in deeper formats should monitor his progress during Spring Training as he may earn a spot in the Boston bullpen when healthy.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Chris Cotillo
1 day agoAccording to Chris Cotillo of MassLive, the Boston Red Sox have traded catcher
Mickey Gasper to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for left-handed pitcher
Jovani Moran. Gasper made his major league debut in Boston last summer. Across a small 14-game stint, the backstop went 0-for-18 at the plate with a 4:8 BB:K ratio. Across 48 games at the Triple-A level, the 29-year-old held a strong .367/.471/.592 line with 14 doubles, eight home runs and a 30:20 BB:K ratio. Earlier in the summer at Double-A, Gasper posted a .282/.403/.458 line with four home runs. With
Ryan Jeffers and
Christian Vazquez currently on the major league roster, Gasper will likely open the 2025 campaign at the Triple-A level but would be the first name called if one of them were to miss time.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Chris Cotillo
2 days agoThe Philadelphia Phillies designated right-hander
Jose Cuas for assignment on Monday to make room for recently-signed right-hander
Joe Ross on the 40-man roster. Cuas, a 30-year-old Dominican hurler, had an ugly 7.71 ERA (7.02 FIP) and 1.78 WHIP with 17 strikeouts and 10 walks in only 16 1/3 relief innings thrown in 2024 with the Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays. He was claimed off waivers by the Phillies in September but may soon be looking for another organization unless he's claimed off waivers again. Cuas was originally an 11th-round selection by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2015 out of the University of Maryland. He made his major-league debut in 2022 with the Kansas City Royals and holds a career 4.37 ERA, a 1.59 WHIP and two saves in three seasons in the majors over 119 1/3 innings pitched.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Todd Zolecki
2 days agoThe Philadelphia Phillies signed free-agent right-handed reliever
Guillo Zuniga to a minor-league deal earlier this month. Zuniga will head to the Phillies for the 2025 campaign after appearing in 15 games out of the Los Angeles Angels' bullpen in 2025. In his 17 2/3 innings pitched this past season at the major-league level, Zuniga allowed 10 earned runs on 16 hits (five home runs) while walking eight and striking out 12 in 17 2/3 innings. He debuted with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2023 but only tossed two innings in relief. The 26-year-old hasn't been very healthy the last two seasons, either, and he'll be a long shot to have a significant role out of the Phillies' bullpen at the big-league level next year. Zuniga is most likely to open the 2025 regular season pitching back on the farm for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He's nowhere near the fantasy radar.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 days agoThe Texas Rangers signed right-handed relief pitcher
Shawn Armstrong to an undisclosed one-year deal on Monday and designated pitcher
Sam Huff for assignment in a corresponding move. Armstrong pitched for the Tampa Bay Rays, St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs in 2024 and went a combined 3-3 with a 4.86 ERA (3.57 FIP), a 1.53 WHIP, one save, 66 strikeouts and 25 walks in 66 2/3 innings over a career-high 57 appearances (seven starts). The 34-year-old former 18th-round pick by the Cleveland Guardians in 2011 out of East Carolina University debuted in the big leagues with Cleveland in 2015 and holds a career 4.15 ERA and 1.32 WHIP with eight saves in 347 1/3 total innings pitched. With Texas in 2025, he should operate in a middle-relief role, where he won't have any real fantasy value to speak of.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
2 days agoThe Philadelphia Phillies signed free-agent right-handed reliever
Nabil Crismatt to a minor-league deal earlier this month. Crismatt will head to the National League East after spending the 2024 campaign pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He only made five appearances out of the bullpen for the eventual World Series champions, though, and allowed three runs (two earned) while walking none and striking out six in seven innings of work. The 30-year-old also had an unsavory 5.81 ERA with 75 strikeouts and 28 walks in 79 innings at three different minor-league levels. Crismatt will most likely open the 2025 season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley and will serve as relief depth for the Phillies. He has a career 3.71 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 177 innings in his five big-league seasons dating back to 2020.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com
2 days agoThe New York Yankees agreed to a minor-league deal with free-agent outfielder
Brennen Davis on Tuesday, according to sources. The 25-year-old was regarded as one of baseball's best outfield prospects before he went through a tough rash of injuries that have slowed him down over the last few years. In 47 games at Triple-A Iowa in the Chicago Cubs organization in 2024, Davis slashed just .214/.359/.469 but with an .828 OPS, 11 home runs, 28 RBI and 30 runs scored in 181 plate appearances. He has not played more than 71 games in a single season in any of the last three years, but the Yankees felt it was worth taking a chance on him in case he can stay healthy in 2025 and figure everything out. Davis was originally a second-rounder in 2018. He dealt with both a fractured back and fractured ankle in 2024. Davis is likely to open up at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre next year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Aram Leighton
2 days agoAccording to Jon Morosi of the MLB Network, right-handed relief pitcher
Ken Giles is drawing interest from several clubs on a potential minor league contract. Giles spent last summer pitching at the Triple-A level in the Braves organization and held a 6.28 ERA and 1.37 WHIP across 38 2/3 innings of work. He made his last major league appearance in 2022. During that season, the right-hander pitched only four 1/3 innings to a perfect 0.00 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. Giles has battled numerous injuries throughout his career and has not participated in a full campaign since the 2019 season where he tallied 23 saves with a 1.87 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP with the Toronto Blue Jays. Fantasy managers should monitor his progress during Spring Training as he may be able to contend for a spot on an Opening Day roster.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jon Morosi
2 days agoAccording to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Seattle Mariners offered free-agent first baseman
Carlos Santana a higher salary and a player option for 2026, but the veteran first baseman decided to sign with the Cleveland Guardians instead. The Mariners have been in the first base market all offseason and have been linked to other top options such as
Christian Walker. However, with Walker signing in Houston, the Mariners were willing to place a higher bid on Santana but were unable to agree to a deal. Instead, Santana choose to return to his old club on a one-year contract. Santana will now be the everyday first baseman in Cleveland with
Josh Naylor being traded to Arizona. Last season, the 38-year-old held a .238/.328/.420 slash line with 23 home runs. Outside of
Pete Alonso, other options at first base for Seattle are
Justin Turner,
Josh Bell, and
Anthony Rizzo.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Ken Rosenthal
2 days agoAccording to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, free-agent relief pitcher
Kirby Yates remains a priority during free agency for the Texas Rangers. Yates operated as the top ninth-inning option in Texas last season and performed quite well, boasting a 1.17 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP. He tallied 33 saves across his 61 2/3 innings of work. Under the hood, the 33-year-old generated a 1.86 xERA and .145 xBA, which were both among the top marks compared to qualified pitchers. In addition, Yates struck out batters at an elite 35.9% rate and allowed hard-contact at a low 33.1% rate and barrels at a 4.1% rate. However, he did struggle with his command, as he posted a high 11.8% walk rate. Yates will likely operate as a ninth-inning reliever wherever he calls home in 2025, but he would be the clear top option if he returns to Texas.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Ken Rosenthal
2 days agoAccording to Chandler Rome of The Athletic, the Houston Astros have designated third baseman
Grae Kessinger for assignment. This was done in a corresponding move to add free agent first baseman
Christian Walker to the active roster. Kessinger only appeared in 49 games at the major league level over the past two seasons and held a poor .131/.243/.213 with just two doubles and one home run. However, across 121 games at the Triple-A level, Kessinger carried a solid .271/.363/.407 slash line with 23 doubles, 12 home runs, and nine swiped bags. Fantasy managers should expect the former second round selection out of Ole Miss to find a new home on a minor league deal and contend for a spot on an Opening Day roster if he has a successful Spring Training.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Chandler Rome
2 days agoThe Texas Rangers have signed right right-handed pitcher
Patrick Murphy to a minor-league deal that has an invite to spring training. The 29-year-old spent the entire 2024 campaign pitching overseas in Japan and held a 3.62 ERA across 59 2/3 innings of work. During the 2023 season, he only appeared in Triple-A and held a similar 3.69 ERA and 1.56 WHIP across 85 1/3 innings of work. During this stint, he struck out 97 batters. He last appeared in the major leagues in 2022. Across three big-league seasons (2020-2022), he logged 39 2/3 innings and pitched to the tune of a 4.76 ERA and 1.64 WHIP. Murphy will likely open the 2025 season at the minor-league level given his lack of major-league success.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Texas Rangers
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