2 days agoThe St. Louis Cardinals signed free-agent left-hander Andrew Suarez to a minor-league deal on Friday that includes a non-roster invitation to major-league spring training. The 30-year-old southpaw pitched in 56 games for the San Francisco Giants from 2018 to 2020 and was an All-Star in the Korean Baseball Organization in 2021. In his three seasons with the Giants, Suarez went 7-15 with a 4.66 ERA (4.60 FIP), 1.36 WHIP and 18.7 percent strikeout rate in 202 2/3 innings over 56 appearances (31 starts). He spent the 2022 season in Japan. Suarez will give the Cardinals both starting and relief depth, but there's a good chance he won't make the Opening Day roster out of spring training.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Cardinals Twitter

2 days agoThe Kansas City Royals signed free-agent infielder Matt Duffy to a minor-league deal on Friday that includes an invite to major-league spring training. Duffy will give the Royals some more infield depth after they just traded infielder Adalberto Mondesi to the Boston Red Sox this week. The 32-year-old veteran hit .250/.308/.311 with a .619 OPS, two home runs, 16 RBI and 14 runs scored in 247 plate appearances over 77 games for the Los Angeles Angels in 2022. He was much better for the Chicago Cubs the year prior, and there could be some decent playing time available for Duffy with the rebuilding Royals. Duffy has a .279 career batting average in seven big-league seasons, but the power is lacking (29 homers in 626 games).--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Royals Twitter

2 days agoThe New York Mets re-signed catcher Michael Perez to a minor-league deal on Thursday. Perez came to the Mets in a midseason trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2022 and played in only six games for New York, going 2-for-14 with no homers, three RBI and two runs scored. In total, he slashed just .149/.214/.298 with a .511 OPS, six home runs, 14 RBI, 10 runs scored and a stolen base in 132 plate appearances over 45 games. The 30-year-old will give the Mets additional catching depth for the 2023 season behind catchers Omar Narvaez, Francisco Alvarez and Tomas Nido. Perez is far from the fantasy radar and has a career slash line of .174/.244/.301 with a .545 OPS and 15 home runs in five major-league seasons.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Mike Puma

2 days agoFree-agent right-hander Ian Kennedy announced in his official Instagram page on Friday that he has agreed to an undisclosed deal with the Texas Rangers. Kennedy hit the open market this offseason when the Arizona Diamondbacks declined his $4 million option for the 2023 season. The 38-year-old reliever struggled in the desert last year with a 5.36 ERA (5.58 FIP), 1.57 WHIP, 10 saves and weak 19.0 percent strikeout rate in 50 1/3 relief innings over 57 appearances out of the bullpen. The 16-year veteran was with the Rangers for 32 appearances in 2021 and pitched well with a 2.51 ERA (3.66 FIP), 1.05 WHIP and 16 saves, but it would be a surprise if he gets many save chances this year with Texas with Jose Leclerc locked in as the primary closer.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Ian Kennedy on Instagram

2 days agoSan Diego Padres shortstop/outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (shoulder, wrist) took swings in the batting cages on Thursday. Tatis was cleared to resume baseball activities on Jan. 6 and is expected to be ready for the start of spring training after missing all of the 2022 season due to a fractured wrist and a suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. The 24-year-old superstar will miss the first 20 games of the 2023 season to close out his suspension, but he's expected to be ready to go late in the first month of the season and will once again have high expectations despite missing all of 2022. Tatis is expected to move to the outfield this year due to the addition of Xander Bogaerts, so he will gain outfield eligibility for fantasy managers. Despite a lost season, he will be a top-five fantasy middle infielder in upcoming drafts.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Z101 Digital - Hector Gomez

2 days agoThe Milwaukee Brewers announced on Thursday that outfielder Sal Frelick, catcher Brian Navarreto, outfielder Joey Wiemer and left-hander Robert Gasser have received non-roster invites to major-league spring training. Frelick (No. 2), Wiemer (No. 3) and Gasser (No. 10) are among the team's top prospects, per MLB Pipeline. Frelick, 22, hit an impressive .331/.403/.480 with 11 homers and 24 steals in 119 games at three minor-league levels in 2022 and should make his MLB debut in 2023. Wiemer, 23, hit .256 with 21 homers, 71 RBI and 31 stolen bases in 127 games at Double-A and Triple-A in 2022. Gasser, 23, began the year with the San Diego Padres before joining Milwaukee and making it up to Triple-A. He finished with a combined 7-12 record, 3.94 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 27 starts over three levels.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy

2 days agoChicago White Sox infielder Colson Montgomery was among 26 players invited to major-league spring training in Glendale, Ariz. Montgomery was a first-round selection out of high school by Chicago in the 2021 draft, and he spent last season with Single-A Kannapolis, High-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham. Montgomery finished the year with a .274/.381/.429 slash line with an .810 OPS, 11 home runs, 47 RBI, 58 runs scored and a stolen base in 96 games in his first full season as a professional. The 20-year-old is already listed as the team's top prospect, per MLB Pipeline. The left-handed hitting shortstop/third baseman has a nice frame with plenty of raw power at the plate, and he's drawn comparisons already to Corey Seager. Montgomery may eventually move to third base as he matures, but he should move quickly through the White Sox's system in the coming years.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: White Sox Twitter

2 days agoThe Baltimore Orioles designated left-hander Darwinzon Hernandez for assignment on Thursday to make room on the 40-man roster for left-hander Cole Irvin, who was acquired in a trade with the Oakland Athletics. Baltimore landed Hernandez in a trade with the Boston Red Sox earlier this offseason, but the 26-year-old southpaw could be on the move yet again. He only tossed 6 2/3 relief innings for Boston in 2022 and was beat up to the tune of 17 runs (16 earned) on 14 hits (four home runs allowed) while walking eight and striking out nine. The Venezuelan reliever has interesting stuff but has yet to put it all together at the big-league level in four years with the Red Sox. If Hernandez clears waivers, he could return to Baltimore.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MASN Sports - Roch Kubatko

2 days agoThe Houston Astros announced on Thursday that they have hired Atlanta Braves scouting executive Dana Brown as their new general manager. Despite winning the World Series last year, the Astros let go of previous GM James Click. The 55-year-old Brown was the vice president of scouting for the Braves over the last four years and hit on a number of draft picks, including outfielder Michael Harris II in the third round, starting pitcher Spencer Strider in the fourth round and infielder Vaughn Grissom in the 11th round. Brown will now be the only black GM in Major League Baseball. His scouting background aligns with the direction the Astros' executives want to take the team moving forward.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman

2 days agoThe Milwaukee Brewers signed free-agent right-hander Robert Stock to a minor-league deal on Thursday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training. Stock pitched in South Korea in 2022 after previously appearing in the big leagues for the San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs and New York Mets from 2018 to 2021. The 33-year-old had a decent 3.60 ERA, 138 strikeouts and 83 walks over 29 starts and 165 innings for the Doosan Bears last year. In four years in the majors he wasn't nearly as good, going 2-4 with a 4.71 ERA (3.97 FIP), 1.61 WHIP and 23.1 percent strikeout rate in 55 appearances (three starts) covering 72 2/3 innings. Stock throws hard, but he'll have to show better control with Milwaukee as bullpen depth if he wants to make it back to the big leagues in 2023.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy

2 days agoThe Oakland Athletics acquired infield prospect Darell Hernaiz from the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday in exchange for left-hander Cole Irvin and minor-league right-hander Kyle Virbitsky, according to sources. Hernaiz, who is only 21 years old, spent the 2022 season with Single-A Delmarva, High-A Aberdeen and Double-A Bowie, slashing a combined .273/.341/.438 with a .779 OPS, 12 home runs, 62 RBI, 72 runs scored and 32 stolen bases in 452 plate appearances over 105 games. He spent the majority of the year at Aberdeen (60 games), hitting .305 with five homers, 29 RBI and 22 steals. The A's will continue to develop the young speedy middle infielder, but he's unlikely to make it to the Show in 2023.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan

2 days agoThe Baltimore Orioles acquired left-hander Cole Irvin and minor-league right-hander Kyle Virbitsky from the Oakland Athletics on Thursday in exchange for infield prospect Darell Hernaiz, according to sources. Irvin, a 28-year-old southpaw, had a career-best 3.98 ERA (4.21 FIP), 1.16 WHIP and 17.3 percent strikeout rate in 30 starts covering 181 innings in his second full season as a starter for the A's in 2022. He doesn't strike out a ton of batters, though, keeping his fantasy upside low, and the move to a much more hitter-friendly home ballpark and the tough American League East division are downgrades for Irvin heading into his fifth MLB season in 2023. Virbitsky, 24, had a 4.63 ERA and 1.31 WHIP with a career-high 140 strikeouts and 30 walks in 126 1/3 innings over 23 outings (22 starts) for Single-A Stockton and High-A Lansing last year.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan

3 days agoBoston Red Sox outfielder Adam Duvall (wrist) said he is "full-go" entering spring training after suffering a wrist injury last year. The Red Sox just signed Duvall to a one-year, $7 million deal. The 34-year-old had a career-high 38 home runs and league-leading 113 RBI for the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves in 2021, but he disappointed in 2022 because of his wrist injury that required season-ending surgery. He is expected to serve as Boston's regular center fielder, and with better health, we could see a nice bounce-back in the power department in a hitter-friendly ballpark. Duvall does strike out frequently, though, so fantasy managers will mostly be chasing a power bounce-back if they take a chance on Duvall in drafts this spring.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr

3 days agoFree-agent catcher Luis Torrens signed a minor-league deal with the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday that includes an invite to major-league spring training. Torrens spent the 2022 season with the Seattle Mariners and hit .225/.283/.298 with a .581 OPS, three home runs, 15 RBI and 13 runs scored in 166 plate appearances and 55 games. The 26-year-old will provide catching depth in Chicago behind Yan Gomes and Tucker Barnhart, but he won't be much of a fantasy option if he's on the big-league roster at any point. In his five-year big-league career, Torrens has a .226/.288/.354 slash line with a .642 OPS, 19 home runs, 75 RBI and 66 runs scored in 251 games played.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com

3 days agoThe Tampa Bay Rays signed right-hander Jaime Schultz and catcher Gavin Collins to minor-league deals on Wednesday that include invitations to major-league spring training. Schultz didn't pitch at all last year while dealing with an oblique injury, but the former Rays prospect will return to Tampa as pitching depth in 2023. In 26 major-league outings (one start) with the Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers in two seasons, he has a 5.86 ERA (5.55 FIP) and 1.24 WHIP over 35 1/3 innings. Collins has yet to play in the big leagues. The 27-year-old backstop spent the 2022 campaign at Triple-A Columbus in the Cleveland Guardians organization and slashed .235/.326/.370 with a .696 OPS, four home runs, 16 RBI and 15 runs in 41 games.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin