1 month agoThe Minnesota Twins re-signed left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe to a minor-league deal on Friday that includes an invitation to spring training next year. Coulombe became a free agent in October when he refused an outright assignment to the minor leagues, but he'll return to Minnesota for the 2023 campaign. The 33-year-old southpaw had a lost season in 2022, undergoing surgery to fix the labrum in his left hip during the summer, so he ended up making just 10 relief appearances in the first half of the season. In his 12 1/3 innings, he allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits while walking nine and striking out nine. Over eight seasons in the big leagues, Coulombe has a 3.92 ERA (4.02 FIP), a 1.31 WHIP, 80 walks and 179 strikeouts in 192 2/3 innings over 194 appearances (one start).--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: St. Paul Pioneer Press - Betsy Helfand

1 month agoThe San Diego Padres have publicly downplayed the possibility of trading infielder Ha-Seong Kim or center fielder Trent Grisham this offseason in order to acquire more starting pitching. However, industry sources have indicated that the Padres are open to discussing either player -- Grisham, in particular. The Miami Marlins are a team that could make sense as a trade partner, and San Diego has expressed interest in right-hander Pablo Lopez. He's not eligible for free agency until after 2024. Yu Darvish, Blake Snell, Nick Martinez and Seth Lugo can all test free agency after 2023. Grisham's value plunged in 2022 after he hit .184, including .199 against fastballs. Kim showed improvement from his first MLB season, but he's always likely to be known as a glove-first player.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Dennis Lin

1 month agoThe Los Angeles Dodgers designated right-hander Jake Reed for assignment on Thursday in order to make room on the 40-man roster for the recently signed J.D. Martinez. It's the second time that Reed has been cut from a roster this offseason. The 30-year-old was DFA'd the first time by the Boston Red Sox in November before the Dodgers claimed him. He pitched for the New York Mets, Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles last year, posting a rough 7.02 ERA (5.09 FIP), a 1.50 WHIP, 13 strikeouts and eight walks in just 16 2/3 innings pitched over 18 relief outings. It was just his second major-league season after making his MLB debut for the Dodgers and Mets in 2021. Reed will hope to latch on elsewhere as relief depth.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya

1 month agoThe Miami Marlins plan to use newly signed infielder Jean Segura at third base next season, according to manager Skip Schumaker. The Marlins signed the 32-year-old veteran to a two-year, $17 million deal on Wednesday night. Segura played exclusively at second base for the Philadelphia Phillies last year and he can also play shortstop, but the Marlins plan on using him as their primary third baseman next year with Miguel Rojas at shortstop and Jazz Chisholm at the keystone. Segura is hard to strike out and makes a lot of contact, leading to a career average of .285, but he lacks prototypical pop (only 10 homers in 2022) for the third base position. He's a very good defender, but Segura's fantasy appeal takes a hit with the move to Miami.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Jim Bowden

1 month agoThe Toronto Blue Jays signed hard-throwing right-hander Julian Fernandez to a minor-league deal on Thursday, according to a source. The 27-year-old relief pitcher spent the 2022 season at Triple-A Albuquerque and was prone to giving up the long ball. He spent the 2021 season with the Colorado Rockies and averaged 99 mph with his fastball while topping out at 103 mph. Fernandez recently pitched in the Dominican Winter League. Fernandez finished with a 6.63 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 32 walks and 65 strikeouts while allowing 15 home runs in 57 innings over 58 relief appearances at Albuquerque last season. If he can somehow figure out his control and limit the long balls, Fernandez could find his way back to the majors with Toronto in 2023.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Sportsnet.ca - Ben Nicholson-Smith

1 month agoThe Chicago Cubs designated catcher/infielder P.J. Higgins for assignment on Thursday to open up a spot on the 40-man roster for recently signed catcher Tucker Barnhart. Higgins is the odd man out at the catcher position for the Cubs after they signed Barnhart to a two-year deal this offseason. The 29-year-old backstop spent his first two major-league seasons with the Cubs the last two years, hitting a combined .210/.291/.348 with a .639 OPS, six home runs, 30 RBI, 24 runs scored and 66 strikeouts in 254 plate appearances over 83 games played. Most of Higgins' playing time (74 games) came last year in Chicago. He'll be hoping to latch on with another team as catching depth before the 2023 season.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chicago Tribune - Meghan Montemurro

1 month agoThe New York Yankees signed free-agent right-hander Tyler Danish to a minor-league deal on Thursday that includes an invite to major-league spring training. Danish spent last season with the Boston Red Sox, appearing in 32 games out of the bullpen while compiling a 5.13 ERA (4.97 FIP), 1.28 WHIP and 18.5 percent strikeout rate in a career-high 40 1/3 innings pitched. He made his MLB debut back in 2016 with the Chicago White Sox and spent the first three seasons of his career with the Pale Hose. The 28-year-old will be hoping to win a spot on the Opening Day roster as relief depth for the Yankees, but he won't have any fantasy value.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman

1 month agoThe New York Yankees acquired right-hander Indigo Diaz and infielder Caleb Durbin from the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night in exchange for left-handed reliever Lucas Luetge. Diaz, who stands at 6-foot-5, went 3-4 with four saves and a 3.08 ERA in 49 games for Double-A Mississippi last season. The 24-year-old has gone 10-6 in three minor-league seasons in Atlanta's organization since being taken in the 2019 draft out of Michigan State. Durbin is 22 years old and hit .241/.352/.372 in 105 games for Single-A Augusta and High-A Rome in 2022, which was his first full year in pro ball. Both Diaz and Durbin will serve as minor-league depth for the Yankees in 2023.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

1 month agoThe Atlanta Braves designated infielder Lewin Diaz for assignment on Wednesday to make room on the 40-man roster for left-hander Lucas Luetge, who was acquired in a trade from the New York Yankees. The Braves sent right-hander Indigo Diaz and infielder Caleb Durbin to the Yanks. It's been a tumultuous offseason for Diaz, who has been with four teams already. The 26-year-old left-handed hitter played in 58 games for the Miami Marlins in 2022 and hit just .169/.224/.288 with five home runs, 11 RBI, 12 runs scored, a stolen base and 54 strikeouts in 174 plate appearances. He could be claimed off waivers yet again, but wherever he ends up, he's likely to begin next season on the farm as infield depth.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Braves Twitter

1 month agoThe Pittsburgh Pirates designated right-hander Bryse Wilson for assignment on Wednesday to make room on the 40-man roster for the recently signed Jarlin Garcia. Wilson appeared in 25 games (20 starts) for the Bucs last season and went 3-9 with a 5.52 ERA (5.06 FIP), 1.42 WHIP and 15.5 percent strikeout rate over a career-high 115 2/3 innings pitched. In five big-league seasons, he has a 5.54 ERA (5.26 FIP), a 1.49 WHIP and a weak 15.7 percent strikeout rate in 232 1/3 innings over 56 appearances (43 starts) for the Pirates and Atlanta Braves. Wherever he lands next, the 25-year-old will likely begin the 2023 season in the minors.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Justice delos Santos

1 month agoThe Atlanta Braves designated infielder Hoy Park for assignment on Wednesday to make room on the 40-man roster for outfielder Eli White, who was acquired in a trade from the Texas Rangers. Park has been designated for assignment three times this offseason, so there's no telling where he'll land next. The 26-year-old spent most of his time at Triple-A Indianapolis in 2022, but he did play in 23 games for the Pirates, hitting .216/.276/.373 with two home runs, six RBI, seven runs scored and a stolen base in 60 plate appearances. On the farm, he didn't hit much better, slashing .225/.332/.354 with 10 home runs, 37 RBI and 14 stolen bases. Wherever he lands, he'll serve as organizational infield depth.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Braves Twitter

1 month agoThe Atlanta Braves acquired left-hander Lucas Luetge from the New York Yankees on Wednesday in exchange for minor-league right-hander Indigo Diaz and infielder Caleb Durbin. To make room on their 40-man roster, the Braves designated infielder Lewin Diaz for assignment. Luetge finds a new home after he was designated for assignment by the Yanks last week. The 35-year-old southpaw reliever was sharp in 57 1/3 relief innings in the Bronx last season, posting a 2.67 ERA (3.02 FIP), 1.39 WHIP, two saves and a 23.9 percent strikeout rate in his 50 appearances out of the bullpen. He also had a sub-3.00 ERA for the Yanks in 2021, but before that he hadn't pitched in the big leagues since 2015 for the Seattle Mariners. Luetge will have a shot to give Atlanta some left-handed relief depth in 2023.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Braves Twitter

1 month agoThe Atlanta Braves acquired outfielder Eli White from the Texas Rangers on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations. To make room for White on the 40-man roster, the Braves designated infielder Hoy Park for assignment. The Rangers found a trade partner for White after they designated him for assignment last week. The 28-year-old played in 47 games for Texas in 2022, slashing just .200/.274/.305 with a .578 OPS, three home runs, 10 RBI, 16 runs scored and 12 stolen bases in 117 plate appearances. His season was ended early in June due to knee and wrist injuries, but he should be healthy for spring training in 2023. If he can stay healthy and productive at the plate, White could compete for part-time playing time in left field for the Braves next year.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Braves Twitter

1 month agoThe Miami Marlins and free-agent shortstop Jean Segura agreed to a two-year, $17 million deal on Wednesday. Segura will remain in the National League East after spending the last four seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, the last of which led to a World Series appearance in his first postseason experience. The 32-year-old veteran infielder makes plenty of contact but lacks any kind of power upside. He hit .277/.336/.387 with a .723 OPS, 10 home runs, 33 RBI, 45 runs scored and 13 stolen bases in 387 plate appearances and 98 regular season games for the Phils in 2022. With Jazz Chisholm cemented at the hot corner in Miami, expect Segura to move back to shortstop in 2023. The move to the Marlins will be a downgrade in both lineup and ballpark from a fantasy standpoint.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Hector Gomez

1 month agoToronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Hyun Jin Ryu (elbow) said he is right on schedule in his rehab from Tommy John surgery that he had in June and is targeting a return in July. He spent the last month in Korea with his family and will now continue his rehab back in the United States. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect the 35-year-old southpaw back until the second half of the 2023 season. Ryu gave up 17 earned runs on 32 hits while walking four and striking out 16 in six starts (27 innings) before needing season-ending surgery on his left elbow in 2022. He had an ERA below 3.00 in his first year in Toronto but has regressed in the last two years before ultimately succumbing to Tommy John surgery. The aging left-hander will be a shaky fantasy bet in the second half next season.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Yonhap News - Jeeho Yoo