Minnesota Twins Shake Up 40-Man Roster

The Minnesota Twins made a number of changes to their 40-man roster Friday, outrighting pitcher Devin Smeltzer and outfielder Kyle Garlick off the roster and designating utility man Willians Astudillo and pitcher Charlie Barnes for assignment. In a corresponding move, they selected pitchers Blayne Enlow, Cole Sands, Chris Vallimont, and Josh Winder, and infielders Royce […]

Mets Add Four to 40-Man Roster

The New York Mets added four players to the 40-man roster Friday, protecting shortstop Ronny Mauricio, third baseman Mark Vientos, and pitchers Jose Butto and Adam Oller from the Rule 5 draft. Mauricio and Vientos are each notable prospects, but Mauricio's future with the club is in question with Francisco Lindor entrenched at shortstop for […]

Kyle Zimmer Designated For Assignment Amid Flurry Of Moves

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Kyle Zimmer was designated for assignment Friday as the team made room for seven players on the 40-man roster. The club added pitchers Jonathan Bowlan, Collin Snider, and Nathan Webb, catcher MJ Melendez, and infielders Maikel Garcia and Nick Pratto from their own system and claimed infielder Lucius Fox from […]

Yankees Made Offer To Justin Verlander

Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander had at least one major contract on the table other than the one he accepted from the Astros, in the form of a one-year $25 million dollar offer from the New York Yankees. It's easy to see why Verlander stuck with his former team, as his new deal is […]

Kody Clemens Protected By Tigers

The Detroit Tigers added infielder Kody Clemens, the son of seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens, to their 40-man roster. The Tigers also added right-hander Angel De Jesus to their roster on Friday while outrighting right-hander Nivaldo Rodriguez and outfielder Jacob Robson to Triple-A Toledo after they cleared waivers. Klemens, 25, hit .247 with 18 […]

Phillies Acquire Nick Nelson From Yankees

The Philadelphia Phillies acquired right-handed relief pitcher Nick Nelson and minor league catcher Donny Sands from the New York Yankees on Friday in exchange for minor league infielder T.J. Rumfield and left-hander Joel Valdez. Nelson, 25, was 0-2 with an 8.79 ERA in two starts and nine relief appearances with the Yankees last season, striking […]

A's Acquire Brent Honeywell Jr. From Rays

The Oakland Athletics acquired right-hander Brent Honeywell Jr. from the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday in exchange for cash considerations. Honeywell was recently one of the top-rated pitching prospects, but multiple elbow injuries have derailed his progression. The 26-year-old was a second-rounder for the Rays in 2014, but since 2017, he has had four elbow […]

Tigers Considering Javier Baez, Marcus Semien

With free-agent shortstop Carlos Correa's price tag potentially too steep for the Detroit Tigers, they are "considering" Javier Baez and Marcus Semien for the position. The Tigers have multiple needs this year and won't spend $300 million on any one player like Correa. Detroit is transitioning from a rebuild to a team ready to contend, […]

Carlos Correa Too Expensive For Tigers?

According to a tweet from MLB Network's Jon Heyman, the Tigers love Carlos Correa. However, Heyman also states that he's "heard from Tigers people who insist they will not spend $300M on any one player due to multiple needs." The insider also mentions that Detroit is reportedly "considering" both Marcus Semien and Javier Baez. Correa […]

Tyler Wade Designated For Assignment

Infielder/outfielder Tyler Wade was designated for assignment on Friday by the New York Yankees as part of a series of transactions that saw a number of prospects added to the team's 40-man roster. Wade hit .268 in 145 plate appearances for New York last season, and while he didn't hit for much power with a […]

Yankees Designate Rougned Odor For Assignment

Infielder Rougned Odor was designated for assignment by the New York Yankees on Friday. Acquired prior to the season from the Texas Rangers, the 27-year-old split time between second base, his usual position, and third base while with the Yankees. Odor hit .202 with a .286 on-base percentage in 361 plate appearances. He didn't record […]

Jeter Downs Added To Red Sox's 40-Man Roster

The Boston Red Sox reportedly added infield prospect Jeter Downs to the team's 40-man roster on Friday, per The Athletic's Chad Jennings. Acquired in the Mookie Betts trade along with outfielder Alex Verdugo and catcher Connor Wong, Downs hit .190 with a .272 on-base percentage, 14 home runs and 18 stolen bases in 405 plate […]

Clint Frazier Designated For Assignment

The New York Yankees designated outfielder Clint Frazier for assignment on Friday. Crazier hit .186 with a .317 on-base percentage, five home runs, and two stolen bases in 218 plate appearances for New York last season. The 27-year-old registered a 105 wRC+ and a .324 on-base percentage in 807 career plate appearances with the Yankees […]

Hunter Greene Among Five Added To Reds 40-Man Roster

The Cincinnati Reds have made several roster moves ahead of Friday's deadline to protect players from the Rule 5 draft, adding top prospect Hunter Greene and four others to the 40-man roster. Greene, the top pitching prospect in the Cincinnati system, was originally selected as a two-way player at shortstop and pitcher with the second […]

Phillies Making Closer A Priority

The Philadelphia Phillies have made finding a closer a priority this offseason, and Jon Heyman of MLB Network is reporting that the club is aiming high, with Josh Hader, Kenley Jansen, and Craig Kimbrel at the top of their wish list. Of those three, only Jansen is a free agent, but the White Sox are […]

Blue Jays Hope To Retain Robbie Ray And Steven Matz

The Toronto Blue Jays have already locked up right-hander Jose Berrios to a seven-year extension, and they are now setting their sights on bringing back two other members of their 2021 rotation, left-handers Robbie Ray and Steven Matz. Each had a breakout season in Toronto, with Ray winning the Cy Young Award and Matz posting […]

Rangers Extend Manager Chris Woodward

The Texas Rangers have agreed to an extension with manager Chris Woodward. The deal will cover the 2023 season and contains a club option for 2024. In his first three seasons as skipper, Woodward has struggled to attain much on-field success. After a third place finish in 2019, his Rangers have brought up the rear […]

Diamondbacks Hire Brent Strom As Pitching Coach

The Arizona Diamondbacks have officially hired Brent Strom to be their pitching coach for the 2022 season. Strom spent the past eight years with Houston, and while it was suspected that he would retire, he has instead chosen to take on a new challenge with an underwhelming Arizona pitching staff. Strom was credited with helping […]

Niko Goodrum Elects Free Agency

Detroit Tigers utility man Niko Goodrum is now a free agent. The versatile Goodrum was placed on waivers by the club, and elected to hit the open market rather than accept a minor-league assignment. Goodrum has been relevant for fantasy managers on a sporadic basis over the past three seasons, mostly for his multiple positional […]

Early Fantasy Baseball Draft Talk with John Fish - Benched with Bubba EP 416

Bubba (@bdentrek) is joined by NFBC Veteran John Fish (@PileOfDial). With NFBC Draft Champions draft season blowing and going the guys sit down and talk about early draft thoughts, go over ADP, some ADP debates, and much more. Be sure to subscribe to the Benched With Bubba Podcast, part of RotoBaller Radio's Podcast Network. Like and Subscribe […]

Red Sox An Option For Chris Taylor?

The Boston Red Sox could be a player for free-agent infielder/outfielder Chris Taylor after they had success with the signing of another versatile ex-Los Angeles Dodger in Enrique Hernandez. The Red Sox covet versatility in their position players, and Taylor certainly fits that bill, as he's able to play any outfield spot as well as […]

Giants Interested In Starling Marte

The San Francisco Giants are another team that is interested in free-agent outfielder Starling Marte. The Philadelphia Phillies, Houston Astros, New York Yankees, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, Miami Marlins and others are interested as well. Marte lives in Miami, but it sounds like the Marlins are behind other teams after trading him to the […]

Mets Have Interest In Reunion With Steven Matz

The New York Mets have interest in bringing back free-agent left-hander Steven Matz following his breakout season with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2021. Matz is from Long Island, New York, and enjoyed his time with the Mets from 2015 to 2020. The Mets traded Matz to Toronto in January after he had an ugly […]

Byron Buxton 2021 Year-in-Review

Flashback to May 7, 2021. Major League Baseball had five full weeks in the books, and no player was looking like a better late-round draft pick than Twins centerfielder Byron Buxton. The former highly-touted prospect had registered 98 plate appearances, hitting for a .370 batting average while swatting nine homers to tie for second in […]

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Finishes Second In AL MVP Race

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. finished second in the voting for American League Most Valuable Player, as MLB announced on Thursday. Shohei Ohtani won the award in a unanimous vote. While Guerrero Jr. did not receive a first-place vote, he did receive 29 of 30 available second-place selections, with the only remaining […]

Juan Soto Finishes Second In National League MVP Voting

Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto finished second in the NL MVP voting, as MLB announced Thursday. Soto received six first-place votes, and former teammate Bryce Harper took home the award. Soto slashed .313/.465/.534 with 29 homers, nine steals, 111 runs scored, and 95 RBI in 647 plate appearances this season. He led the major leagues […]

Shohei Ohtani Named American League MVP

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani was unanimously named the 2021 Most Valuable Player of the American League Thursday after a historic season in which he made 23 starts on the mound, compiling a 9-2 record with a 3.18 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, and 156 strikeouts in 130 1/3 innings as well as […]

Bryce Harper Wins National League MVP

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper was named the Most Valuable Player of the National League Thursday. Harper received 17 first-place votes, finishing ahead of Juan Soto and Fernando Tatis Jr. in second and third, respectively. Harper slashed .309/.429/.615 with 35 homers, 13 steals, 101 runs, and 84 RBI in 588 plate appearances this season, almost […]

Trevor Story Meets With Rangers

Free agent shortstop Trevor Story met with the Texas Rangers Tueday, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. Story is a Dallas-area native, which could make for a strong fit. While incumbent shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa remains with the club, there are plenty of question marks around the infield which Story would certainly help […]

Mariners Add Julio Rodriguez And Others To 40-Man Roster

The Seattle Mariners have made several roster moves Thursday, adding minor league outfielders Julio Rodriguez and Alberto Rodriguez and left-handed pitcher Ray Kerr to their 40-man roster. They now have filled 39 spots. Julio Rodriguez is by far the biggest name of the three, and the move is intended to protect him and both other […]