1 month agoFree-agent catcher Willians Astudillo has reportedly signed with Nippon Professional Baseball's Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, per a tweet from The New York Post's Jon Heyman on Wednesday morning. The MAS Agency client receives a $1.35M million guarantee with a chance to double that with incentives. Astudillo has appeared in 190 games at the Major-League level since 2018, hitting .267 with a .291 on-base percentage, 16 home runs and a stolen base in 588 plate appearances. He's seen playing time at every position except shortstop and pitcher in his big-league career. Most recently, the 31-year-old hit .241 with a .255 on-base percentage, a home run and a stolen base in 55 plate appearances for the Miami Marlins during the 2022 season. He previously appeared in parts of four seasons for the Minnesota Twins from 2018 through the 2021 season.--Ben Rosener - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman

1 month agoThe Oakland Athletics and free-agent right-hander Drew Rucinski agreed to a deal on Tuesday, according to a source. The New York Post's Jon Heyman later reported the deal is worth $3 million guaranteed on a one-year deal that includes a team option for $5 million in 2024. Rucinski will turn 34 years old on Dec. 30 and spent the last four years playing professionally in Korea, posting a strong 3.06 ERA over 121 starts. In four seasons with the Angels, Twins and Marlins, Rucinski had a 5.33 ERA (4.34 FIP), 1.59 WHIP and 17.9 percent strikeout rate in 54 innings across 41 outings (one start). The 33-year-old will be competing for a chance to stick at the back of the starting rotation next season for the rebuilding A's.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal

1 month agoShortstop Carlos Correa signed a 12-year, $315 million contract with the New York Mets after his previous deal with the Giants fell through. According to Jon Heyman of the MLB Network, the deal with the Giants hit a snag due to an unspecified issue that arose during his physical. He initially agreed to a 13-year, $350 million contract with the Giants on December 13th. San Francisco postponed Correa's press conference, and the Mets swooped in and signed the All-Star shortstop to a deal. The 28-year-old slashed .291/.366/.467 with 22 home runs, 47 extra-base hits, 64 RBI, and 70 runs across 136 games for the Twins in 2022. He will be the Mets' everyday third baseman in a loaded lineup that includes Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor. Correa’s move to New York shouldn't limit his fantasy value, and he will be a top-10 shortstop with third-base eligibility heading into drafts in 2023.--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman of the MLB Network

1 month agoMLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi reported Tuesday that the Miami Marlins would be interested in free-agent starting pitcher Johnny Cueto if they traded away starting pitcher Pablo Lopez. Per Morosi, the Marlins interest is "somewhat contingent on finding a spot for Pablo Lopez." Cueto had a solid age-36 season with the Chicago White Sox, going 8-10 with a 3.35 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 15.7% strikeout rate over 24 starts and 158 1/3 innings pitched. He posted a career-low strikeout rate but pitched very effectively, averaging over 6 1/3 innings per start. Cueto is not nearly the fantasy asset he once was, but his ability to pitch deep into games gives him some fantasy value in points leagues.--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: Jon Paul Morosi - MLB.com

1 month agoMLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi reported Tuesday that there is "pretty good confidence on the part of a lot of people in baseball" that free-agent starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi will ultimately re-sign with the Boston Red Sox. Per Morosi, the relative lull in the market for Eovaldi is due to the fact that he is tied to draft compensation after turning down a qualifying offer from the Red Sox. However, the Red Sox would not have to forfeit any draft capital to sign him because they were the team that made the qualifying offer. The 32-year-old had a decent 2022 season, going 6-3 with a 3.87 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 22.4% strikeout rate over 20 starts and 109 1/3 innings pitched. Injuries have been an issue for Eovaldi, but his consistency should make him a useful back-of-the-rotation starter for fantasy, regardless of where he lands, assuming he can stay relatively healthy.--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: Jon Paul Morosi - MLB.com

1 month agoThe Los Angeles Angels and free-agent second/third baseman Brandon Drury agreed to a two-year, $17 million contract Tuesday, per MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger. The 30-year-old had a breakout 2022 season with the Reds and Padres, slashing .263/.320/.492 with 28 home runs and 87 RBI, although he did taper off after joining the Padres. He particularly hit well against left-handed pitching, batting .299 with 12 home runs in 155 plate appearances. Drury's role in a bolstered Angels infield remains to be seen, but he could be at least a useful later-round fantasy pick as long as he can continue to hit for power.--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: Rhett Bollinger - MLB.com

1 month agoThe San Francisco Giants postponed a Tuesday press conference to introduce shortstop Carlos Correa after a medical concern arose during the All-Star's physical, according to two people with direct knowledge of the situation. The Giants haven't publicly announced any details regarding Correa's 13-year, $350 million deal. The two sides agreed on Dec. 13, subject to a successful physical. It's possible that this turns into a non-story quickly, as one person confirmed Tuesday's press conference was put on hold because the sides were awaiting the results of Correa's physical. The 28-year-old has been on the injured list seven times in his eight-year career, so there's also the possibility the Giants have found something that concerns them. If the deal goes through, Correa will push long-time shortstop Brandon Crawford to either second or third base.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Associated Press - Ronald Blum

1 month agoThe Chicago Cubs signed free-agent infielder Sergio Alcantara to a minor-league deal on Tuesday. Alcantara spent his third major-league season in 2022 with the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres, slashing a combined .220/.261/.356 with a .617 OPS, six home runs, 29 RBI, 26 runs scored and one stolen base in just 224 plate appearances and 93 total games. In 192 games over three big-league seasons, he has hit .209/.281/.343 with 12 homers, 47 RBI, 58 runs scored and four stolen bases. The 26-year-old switch-hitter has hit .258/.344/.323 with a .667 OPS in eight minor-league seasons. Alcantara will serve as infield depth for the Cubs entering the 2023 season and has a pretty good shot at seeing more time in the big leagues at some point next year.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MiLB Transactions

1 month agoThe Kansas City Royals remain interested in rotation help and re-signing Zack Greinke. The Royals added right-hander Jordan Lyles to a two-year, $17 million deal on Tuesday, but apparently they are not done adding to their rotation this offseason. Unlike Lyles, Greinke has actually been pretty good in his career, winning a Cy Young award in 2009 and making the All-Star team six times. The 39-year-old is nearing the end, but he was still decent in 2022 with the Royals, going 4-9 with a 3.68 ERA (4.03 FIP), a 1.34 WHIP and a 12.5 percent strikeout rate in 137 innings and 26 starts. The soft-tossing Greinke has been pretty durable and would be another nice innings-eater for the rebuilding Royals. For fantasy purposes, Greinke has become a low-strikeout, low-upside streamer in deeper leagues.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman

1 month agoThe Chicago Cubs are among the possibilities for free-agent outfielder/designated hitter Trey Mancini. The Cubs would be a nice spot for the Notre Dame alumni, but other teams are interested in him as well. Mancini became a free agent when the Houston Astros declined their $10 million mutual option for the 2023 season. The 30-year-old right-handed slugger really fell off a cliff after being traded from the Baltimore Orioles to Houston on Aug. 1. He hit just .176 with eight home runs and 22 RBI in his 51 regular season games for the Astros and had one hit and eight strikeouts in 21 postseason at-bats on the way to a World Series title. Mancini wasn't an everyday player in Houston, but that probably wouldn't be the case in Chicago, offering him a chance to rebound at the plate.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman

1 month agoThe New York Mets are among the teams showing interest in Chicago White Sox All-Star closer Liam Hendriks, according to a source. If the Mets were able to land Hendriks, they'd have the best back end of a bullpen in baseball with Hendriks and Edwin Diaz. Hendriks has posted a 2.66 ERA, 75 saves, a 0.87 WHIP and a 13.8 K/9 in his two seasons for the White Sox and is one of the best all-around relievers in the game. If he were traded to New York, Hendriks would likely be the one losing a ton of fantasy value, with Diaz staying in the closer's role. And back in Chicago, a departure of Hendriks would open up save opportunities for Kendall Graveman and Aaron Bummer.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: USA TODAY - Michael Mayer

1 month agoThe Kansas City Royals and free-agent right-hander Jordan Lyles agreed to a two-year, $17 million deal on Tuesday. Lyles makes a lot of sense for a rebuilding team looking to eat up rotation innings. The 32-year-old had a 4.42 ERA (4.40 FIP), a 1.38 WHIP and an 18.6 percent strikeout rate while going 12-11 in 179 innings over 32 starts for the Baltimore Orioles. He was a little bit better than his career marks of a 5.10 ERA (4.68 FIP), a 1.43 WHIP and a 17.6 percent strikeout rate in 12 major-league seasons with seven different organizations. Lyles will move to a better division for pitchers in the American League Central, but he'll also be nothing more than a deep-league innings eater in fantasy.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman

1 month agoAccording to a tweet from The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal on Tuesday, relief pitcher Adam Ottavino and the New York Mets have reportedly agreed to a two-year deal. Per Rosenthal, the deal includes an opt-out after the first season, and he'll receive $14.5 million. Ottavino made 66 appearances for the Mets last season, logging 65 2/3 innings while pitching to a 2.06 ERA and a 2.85 FIP in the process. He also added 79 strikeouts compared to just 16 walks while registering 18 holds and three saves. The National League East club's current high-leverage setup relievers include David Robertson, Brooks Raley and Drew Smith in front of closer Edwin Diaz.--Ben Rosener - RotoBallerSource: Ken Rosenthal

1 month agoAccording to a tweet from MLB.com's AJ Cassavell on Tuesday, the San Diego Padres have reportedly agreed to a deal with free-agent infielder Matt Carpenter. The deal guarantees him $12 million, with $6 million coming in 2023 and a $6 million player option in 2024. Carpenter will play something of a utility role in San Diego -- some first base, left field, right field, designated hitter and potentially as a backup at second and third base. Carpenter enjoyed a productive stint with the New York Yankees in 2022, hitting .305 with a .412 on-base percentage and 15 home runs in 154 plate appearances before breaking his foot. He saw most of his playing time for the American League East club at designated hitter and in right field while also logging innings at first base, third base and in left field.--Ben Rosener - RotoBallerSource: AJ Cassavell

1 month agoThe Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported Monday that the Baltimore Orioles have been receiving inquiries on shortstop Jorge Mateo. The big four free-agent shortstops have all been signed, but there are a number of teams still looking to fill the position. Mateo offers strong defense and speed, and he slashed .221/.267/.379 with 13 home runs, 50 RBI, and 35 stolen bases in 533 plate appearances in 2022. While he is an elite fantasy option for steals, Mateo's career .225 average and .344 slugging percentage limit his overall fantasy value, particularly in points leagues.--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: Ken Rosenthal - The Athletic