20 hours agoThe Chicago Cubs and second baseman Nico Hoerner agreed on a three-year, $35 million contract extension on Monday night, according to sources. The deal buys out one year of free agency, but Hoerner will still hit the open market at 29 years old. Hoerner served as the team's primary shortstop in 2022, but he'll move back to the keystone this year after the Cubs added Dansby Swanson in free agency. The 25-year-old impressed the team by hitting .281/.327/.410 with a .736 OPS, career-high 10 home runs, 55 RBI, 60 runs scored and 20 stolen bases in 517 plate appearances and 135 games in 2022 in his fourth MLB season. After last season and now with eligibility at shortstop and second base, Hoerner is attractive as a middle infield option in deep-mixed fantasy leagues.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan

22 hours agoSan Diego Padres starting pitcher Joe Musgrove (toe) tossed four innings in a B game in spring training on Monday and threw 65 pitches in the outing. It was a big step for the 30-year-old right-hander, who will open the 2023 regular season on the injured list for the Friars after breaking his big toe in a weight-room accident earlier in camp. He'll throw in another minor-league game this weekend in Arizona, and he's only expected to miss a couple of starts to begin the season. Musgrove was a first-time All-Star in 2022 in his second year with the Friars, going 10-7 with a career-best 2.93 ERA (3.59 FIP), 1.08 WHIP and 24.9 percent strikeout rate in 30 starts. He's a solid fantasy starter that should rack up plenty of wins and quality starts in 2023.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The San Diego Union-Tribune - Kevin Acee

22 hours agoHouston Astros general manager Dana Brown said that outfielder Michael Conforto (shoulder) is not expected to make his 2023 season debut until mid-to-late April. Brantley had surgery on his shoulder last September and didn't take part in spring training at all while also missing time with a personal issue. The 35-year-old veteran has been hitting in camp, but he's a week behind schedule and the team doesn't want to rush him back at all. Before he makes his season debut with the Astros, he'll also likely need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment. Brantley will be a lineup regular for Houston between left field and designated hitter when he's healthy, but he doesn't offer much for fantasy managers at this point in his career outside of a high batting average.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Sports Talk 790 - Michael Connor

22 hours agoHouston Astros general manager Dana Brown said on Monday that the team could put second baseman Jose Altuve (thumb) on the 60-day injured list to begin the 2023 season. Altuve suffered a fractured right thumb in the World Baseball Classic, needed surgery and won't be ready to make his season debut for at least two months, so it shouldn't be a big surprise that he might land on the 60-day IL. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect the 32-year-old second baseman to make his return until around June at the earliest.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Sport Talk 790 - Michael Connor

22 hours agoThe Chicago Cubs optioned outfielder Christopher Morel to Triple-A Iowa on Monday. Pitcher Rowan Wick cleared waivers and was sent outright to Iowa as well. The Cubs felt that Morel would benefit from regular playing time in the minors to open the year instead of being stuck in a bench role. The 23-year-old Dominican hit .269 (14-for-52) with four doubles, four home runs, eight RBI, one stolen base and 11 runs scored in 22 Cactus League games this spring, and he'll certainly see time in the big leagues in 2023, but for now he'll begin on the farm. He had 24 strikeouts in 57 plate appearances as well, so the Cubs would like to see him work on making more contact before he's called up to the big-league roster.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Jordan Bastian

23 hours agoSan Diego Padres shortstop/outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. could serve as the team's leadoff hitter after he serves the final 20 games of his suspension to begin the 2023 regular season. "Man, it just feels like there's a special kind of impact that he has leading off," manager Bob Melvin said. If Tatis were to lead off, he'd be followed in the batting order by outfielder Juan Soto, third baseman Manny Machado and shortstop Xander Bogaerts. That's a murderer's row at the top of the lineup for San Diego. Tatis looks completely healthy this spring after having wrist and shoulder surgeries last fall. He got off to a slow start at the plate this spring, but he finished by hitting a strong .300 (12-for-40) with a double, two home runs, seven RBI, 11 runs and three steals in 15 Cactus League games. Tatis is a must-stash in all leagues.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - AJ Cassavell

23 hours agoLos Angeles Angels catching prospect Logan O'Hoppe and infielder Jake Lamb have both made the team's Opening Day roster. O'Hoppe gets the nod with Max Stassi (hip) opening the year on the injured list. He'll share playing time with Matt Thaiss early on. The 23-year-old hit .281 (9-for-32) with two doubles, a homer, six RBI and four runs scored in 12 Cactus League games and will be more attractive than Thaiss in AL-only leagues as the club's No. 1 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. Jared Walsh's headache issues have opened up a spot for Lamb on the Opening Day roster. The 32-year-old left-handed slugger will hope to see some playing time at first base when Brandon Drury needs a day off.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Times - Sarah Valenzuela

23 hours agoLos Angeles Angels first baseman Jared Walsh (head) and catcher Max Stassi (hip) will open the 2023 regular season on the injured list. Walsh is dealing with headaches and there is no timetable for him to make his season debut for the Halos. With Walsh on the shelf to begin the year, Brandon Drury is likely to see most of the playing time at the cold corner in his first year in Anaheim. With Stassi starting on the injured list, it paves the way for prospect Logan O'Hoppe to make the team's Opening Day roster. Stassi injured his hip during a minor-league game on Sunday, and he also doesn't have a specific timetable for a return to the Angels lineup. Matt Thaiss is the team's other backstop on the roster.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Times - Sarah Valenzuela

23 hours agoOakland Athletics relief pitchers Trevor May, Jeurys Familia and Dany Jimenez could all be used in save situations this year, according to manager Mark Kotsay. "I think we'll start out with the mindset that they're all options," Kotsay said. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too interested in the A's closing picture unless you're scrounging for save opportunities in AL-only leagues. May has 12 career saves in eight big-league seasons, Familia has 125 career saves in 11 major-league campaigns and Jimenez picked up his first 11 saves for the A's in 2022 in his second MLB season. This could be a straight committee approach, which makes speculating on any of these relievers dicey in fantasy. Jimenez has the most upside.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: San Francisco Chronicle - Matt Kawahara

24 hours agoCleveland Guardians starting pitcher Triston McKenzie (triceps, shoulder) said he felt normal tightness in his tricep/back shoulder while he was warming up on Sunday in spring training. McKenzie was pulled early from his Cactus League outing as a result and underwent an MRI exam on Monday. The team is awaiting the results, so we should know more about McKenzie's injury on Tuesday. Even if the 25-year-old's injury isn't that serious, he'll almost certainly begin the regular season on the injured list. McKenzie's offspeed stuff has proved nearly unhittable, which has made him attractive going into this season as a No.2/3 fantasy starter.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mandy Bell

24 hours agoThe Atlanta Braves placed right-hander Kyle Wright (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list on Monday with right shoulder inflammation and recalled right-hander Nick Anderson from the minors in a corresponding move. Wright entered spring training with shoulder issues after getting a cortisone shot back in January. The 27-year-old is only expected to miss a couple turns through the starting rotation to open the 2023 regular season, though, so fantasy managers shouldn't have to wait long to use him. However, Wright will be extra risky as he continues to get ramped up and probably won't be an option for quality starts in the early going. One of Jared Shuster or Dylan Dodd will be sent back to the minors when Wright is ready to make his 2023 debut.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Braves Twitter

24 hours agoMilwaukee Brewers shortstop Brice Turang, the team's No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline, has made the team's Opening Day roster. Turang convinced the club he's ready for the big leagues by hitting .282 (11-for-39) with a double, home run, four RBI, five runs scored and three stolen bases in 15 Cactus League games in camp. The 23-year-old shortstop is expected to see most of his playing time at the keystone in Milwaukee against right-handed pitchers. In 131 games for Triple-A Nashville in 2022, Turang hit .286/.360/.412 with a .772 OPS, 13 home runs, 78 RBI, 89 runs scored and 34 stolen bases in 603 plate appearances. While he could struggle offensively in his first taste of big-league pitching, he should be useful in deep-mixed leagues for his speed.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Brewers Twitter

24 hours agoFree-agent utilityman Chad Pinder signed a minor-league deal with the Washington Nationals on Monday, according to a source. Pinder was recently released by the Cincinnati Reds and quickly finds a new landing spot. He really struggled in Cactus League action with the Reds, going 4-for-39 (.103) with two doubles, one RBI, four runs scored and nine strikeouts in 15 games played. The 30-year-old could have a decent shot to make the big-league roster at some point in 2023 with the rebuilding Nats, but he should be expected to open the season in the minors. In 111 games with the Oakland Athletics last year, Pinder hit .235/.263/.385 with a .648 OPS, 12 home runs, 42 RBI and 38 runs scored in 379 plate appearances. Ignore him in fantasy.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: FanSided - Robert Murray

1 day agoMilwaukee Brewers infielder Keston Hiura was designated for assignment on Monday, while outfield prospect Sal Frelick was reassigned to minor-league camp. The Brewers also optioned infielder Abraham Toro to Triple-A Nashville. Hiura was informed last Friday that he wouldn't be making the Opening Day roster after going just 5-for-32 (.156) with two doubles, no homers, three RBI and 15 strikeouts in 12 spring games. Once a top prospect for the organization, Hiura has decent pop, but it hasn't translated at the highest level due to too many strikeouts. Frelick is the team's No. 2 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and he impressed this spring by hitting .385 with a double and three stolen bases in 10 Cactus League contests. He'll likely make his major-league debut in 2023.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy

1 day agoThe Milwaukee Brewers signed first baseman Luke Voit to a new one year-deal on Monday that includes a team option for the 2024 season. Voit will now return to Milwaukee after opting out of his minor-league deal with the club over the weekend. The 32-year-old power hitter will at least see regular action for the Brew Crew at first base when the team faces left-handed pitching. After leading all of baseball in home runs in the shortened 2020 season with the New York Yankees, Voit continued to disappoint last year with a .226/.308/.402 slash line with 22 home runs, 69 RBI and 55 runs scored in 135 games with the San Diego Padres and Washington Nationals. He struck out over 30% of the time in 2022, and it's hard to make a case for rostering him in mixed leagues.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy