1 day agoVeteran first baseman/outfielder
Trey Mancini and the Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to a minor-league deal on Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, a source told ESPN's Jeff Passan. The 32-year-old right-handed slugger didn't play at all in 2024 but has remained in shape and will now get his chance to resurface in the big leagues. Mancini last played in 2023 for the Chicago Cubs, slashing .234/.299/.336 with a career-low .635 OPS, four home runs and 28 RBI in only 79 games. He had a .276/.335/.485 slash line with an .819 OPS and 86 homers in his first four years with Baltimore before a cancer diagnosis that caused him to miss all of 2020. Since then, he's slashed .245/.318/.398 with a .717 OPS and 43 homers in three seasons with Baltimore, Houston and the Cubs. If Mancini makes the big-league roster, it will likely be as a bench bat for the Snakes.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
1 day agoThe Minnesota Twins designated right-hander
Ronny Henriquez for assignment on Friday to make room on the 40-man roster for left-hander
Danny Coulombe and outfielder
Harrison Bader, who were both signed this week in free agency. Henriquez made his major-league debut with the Twins in 2022 but didn't appear in the big leagues again until last year, posting a 3.26 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP with 15 strikeouts and five walks in only 19 1/3 innings pitched over 16 outings (one start). In his 19 appearances in Minnesota, the 25-year-old Dominican hurler has a solid 2.90 ERA with 24 punchouts and eight walks in 31 innings. Henriquez doesn't have minor-league options remaining, so he could end up clearing waivers and returning to Minnesota as minor-league relief depth.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Dan Hayes
1 day agoThe Detroit Tigers designated right-hander
Mason Englert for assignment on Friday in order to make room on the 40-man roster for recently-signed right-handed starter
Jack Flaherty. Englert will now be subject to waivers after going 5-3 with a 5.45 ERA (5.41 FIP), a 1.44 WHIP and a 57:22 K:BB in 77 2/3 inning over 43 appearances (two starts) for Detroit in his first two major-league seasons. The 25-year-old was originally a fourth-round selection by the Texas Rangers back in 2018 out of a high school in Texas. He could attract some interest around the league on waivers, but wherever he lands, he'll most likely be ticketed for a spot at Triple-A to begin the 2025 season because of the fact that he has minor-league options remaining. President Scott Harris said he'd love to find a way to keep Englert around, but with interest around the league expected, a trade is a strong possibility.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLive - Evan Woodbery
1 day agoThe Chicago White Sox claimed left-hander
Brandon Eisert off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday and designated right-hander
Steven Wilson for assignment in a corresponding move to make room for Eisert on the 40-man roster. The White Sox will be the third team for Eisert since the beginning of the year after also briefly being with the Toronto Blue Jays. The 27-year-old southpaw will have a better shot to make the big-league roster in Chicago, but nevertheless he won't be on the fantasy radar by any means. The former 18th-round pick by the Blue Jays in 2019 out of Oregon State University made his major-league debut in Toronto in 2024 but only threw 6 2/3 relief innings, allowing three earned runs while walking four and striking out only two. Eisert represents left-handed relief depth for the rebuilding White Sox.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chicago White Sox
1 day agoThe St. Louis Cardinals announced on Friday that they signed free-agent right-hander
Nick Anderson to a minor-league contract with a non-roster invite to major-league spring training. The 34-year-old veteran reliever has appeared in 165 games over five MLB seasons since debuting with the Miami Marlins in 2019. In his time in the majors, he has put up a nice 3.18 ERA with a 31.6 percent strikeout rate in 158 1/3 relief innings. Anderson pitched for the Kansas City Royals in 2024, going 3-1 with a 4.04 ERA (5.07 FIP), a 1.40 WHIP, one save, 29 strikeouts and 15 walks in 35 2/3 innings. He hasn't been a big strikeout guy since his first full season with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2020, when he struck out 44.8% of the hitters he faced. In comparison, he had a weak 19% strikeout rate for KC last year. Anderson could provide veteran relief depth for the Red Birds, but he should remain off the fantasy radar for now.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Cardinals Player Development
1 day agoMiami Marlins shortstop
Xavier Edwards said on Friday that his goal in 2025 is to "swipe 60 bags." In only 70 games for the Marlins last year, Edwards went 31-for-35 in stolen bases, so it's certainly possible for him to reach the 60-steal mark if he can stay healthy over the course of a full 162-game season. Overall in his second year in the big leagues in 2024, the 25-year-old infielder hit .328/.397/.423 with an .820 OPS, only one home run, 26 RBI and 39 runs scored to go with his 31 steals. The lack of power from the premium position certainly hurts in fantasy, but Edwards can be useful in category leagues for his contact skills and speed. RotoBaller has him listed in the fifth tier among shortstops at No. 17, just ahead of Boston's
Trevor Story. Edwards can also be an asset in on-base-percentage leagues if he continues to take his walks.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Fish On First - Isaac Azout
1 day agoThe Washington Nationals agreed on a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training with free-agent left-hander
Colin Poche on Friday. Poche heads to the National League East after spending the last three years with the Tampa Bay Rays, where he went 17-7 with a 3.27 ERA (4.16 FIP), 1.13 WHIP, 10 saves, 158 strikeouts and 59 walks in 156 2/3 innings over 174 relief appearances. The 31-year-old southpaw appeared in 43 games out of the bullpen last year and sported a 3.86 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, two saves, 33 strikeouts and 13 walks in 37 1/3 frames. The veteran reliever also had 65 holds over the last three seasons and certainly has enough experience to win an Opening Day spot in Washington's bullpen, especially when considering the lack of proven options they have. Poche could be a sleeper for holds in deeper fantasy formats in D.C.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MASN Sports - Bobby Blanco
1 day agoToronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins acknowledged that talks with first baseman
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. remain ongoing on a potential contract extension with the start of spring training coming next week. Guerrero has reportedly set a self-imposed deadline for contract talks for the start of spring training, and it's been widely reported that he is looking for at least $100 million more than the $340 million deal the Blue Jays reportedly offered earlier this offseason. The implication is that if Toronto doesn't make progress with Guerrero soon, he will leave in free agency after the 2025 season. Contract issues aside, Vladdy Jr. is in his prime offensively and is ranked as RotoBaller's top fantasy first baseman after the four-time All-Star slashed .323/.396/.544 with a .940 OPS, 30 homers and 103 RBI in 159 games last year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Toronto Sun - Rob Longley
1 day agoThe San Francisco Giants have invited first base prospect
Bryce Eldridge to major-league spring training this year. Eldridge is the Giants' top prospect and also checks in as the No. 24 overall prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline. The 20-year-old left-handed-hitting first baseman, the 16th overall pick in 2023, went from Single-A San Jose to Triple-A Sacramento last year and hit a combined .292/.374/.516 with an .890 OPS, 23 home runs, 92 RBI, six stolen bases and 76 runs scored in 116 total games. Eldridge may not begin the 2025 campaign in the big leagues, but he's considered San Fran's first baseman of the future and should debut in the majors in 2025 sooner than later. More likely than not, he'll return to Double-A Richmond to begin the year but could get the bump back to Triple-A quickly if he picks up where he left off in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: San Francisco Chronicle - Shayna Rubin
1 day agoThe San Diego Padres announced on Friday that infielder
Leodalis De Vries and catcher
Ethan Salas will be non-roster invites to major-league spring training this year. Per MLB Pipeline, De Vries is the No. 18 prospect in all of baseball in 2025, with Salas checking in at No. 33. Both prospects are only 18 years old, though, so nobody should be expecting them to win an Opening Day roster spot out of spring training. De Vries is a switch-hitting infielder that has a mature approach at the dish, but he needs more seasoning on the farm. He's a plus athlete and could stick at the 6 long term despite average arm strength. Salas's defensive skills are ahead of his bat heading into the 2025 season, but if he makes improvements offensively this year, he could rise quickly through San Diego's minor-league system. Both prospects are watch candidates in dynasty/keeper leagues for now.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: San Diego Padres
1
day
agoToronto
Blue
Jays
general
manager
Ross
Atkins
said
that
right-hander
Yariel
Rodriguez
will
be
stretched
out
for
a
starting
role
in
spring
training
and
will
compete
for
the
fifth
spot
in
the
Opening
Day
starting
rotation.
Sportsnet's
Arden
Zwelling
says
to
expect
read more...
1 day agoMiami Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said that left-hander
Andrew Nardi (undisclosed) will be a little behind heading into spring training after something flared up on him this offseason. Nardi was forced to miss the last five weeks of the regular season in 2024 due to a left-elbow injury, so it's most likely related to that injury, but we'll provide a more concrete update on the specific nature of his setback when more news comes out. The 26-year-old southpaw made 59 relief appearances for the Fish last year in his third big-league season, posting a 5.07 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 70 strikeouts and 18 walks in 49 2/3 innings pitched. Nardi should have a better shot at some save chances this year at the back end of the bullpen, although
Calvin Faucher and
Jesus Tinoco should be considered the favorites right now. His 33.3% strikeout rate from last year makes him at least worth watching in holds leagues if he's healthy.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
1 day agoMiami Marlins right-hander
Sandy Alcantara (elbow) told the media that he will let the team handle his innings in the first two months of the 2025 season. But after that, Alcantara said, "I think they gotta let me compete." Alcantara did not pitch at all in 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, so the expectation all along is that he'd be limited from a workload perspective early on this year as Miami eased him back into the starting rotation. It's unclear exactly what the Marlins' plan for Alcantara is, but the good news for fantasy managers is that the 29-year-old is expected to be ready for Opening Day at the end of March. The two-time All-Star won the National League Cy Young in 2022, so we already know the kind of upside he possesses, but fantasy managers should temper expectations in his first season back. RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 46 fantasy starting pitcher in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Fish On First - Kevin Barral
1 day agoInfielder
Luis Rengifo won his salary arbitration case against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday, according to a source. Rengifo will earn $5.95 million in 2025 after the Angels had filed at $5.8 million. Rengifo earned at least a super-utility role for the Halos this year after he hit .300 in his sixth season with the team, although he played in only 78 games in 2024 due to a right-wrist injury that required surgery in August. The 27-year-old's best path to playing time might come at third base with the Angels not guaranteeing regular playing time to the struggling
Anthony Rendon. Rengifo's best qualities for fantasy managers are his positional versatility, his speed, and his ability to put the ball in play regularly. He had a career-best 24 stolen bases and is eligible at both second and third base in most fantasy leagues. There's an outside chance he'll see some time at shortstop with
Zach Neto (shoulder) potentially missing Opening Day.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand
1 day agoThe Athletic's Jen McCaffrey writes that Boston Red Sox outfield prospect
Jhostynxon Garcia isn't expected to make his major-league debut until 2026 and will likely start the 2025 season back at Double-A Portland. Per The Athletic's Keith Law, Garcia was ranked as the team's No. 8 prospect last year, and he was added to the 40-man roster this offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. The 21-year-old led all Red Sox minor-leaguers in 2024 with 23 home runs while also posting a .286 batting average, 17 steals and an .892 OPS at Low-A, High-A and Double-A. Another strong season from the Venezuelan outfielder this year will surely push him up MLB's prospect rankings. In 30 games for Portland last year, Garcia slashed .263/.320/.386 with two home runs and 10 RBI over 126 plate appearances.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Jen McCaffrey
RADIO
