RADIO
Angels Settle With Andrew Heaney
1/11:The Los Angeles Angels avoided salary arbitration with starting pitcher Andrew Heaney by signing him to a one-year, $3.4 million deal on Friday. Heaney had his best year in the big leagues in 2018, going 9-10 with a 4.15 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 9.0 K/9 in 30 starts, but the left-hander has yet to surpass the 200-inning mark in his career and remains an injury risk. He's still only 27 years old, though, and he has plenty of strikeout upside in a pitcher's park. Buy him.Source: USA TODAY Sports - Bob Nightengale
Arodys Vizcaino Avoids Arbitration
1/11:Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Arodys Vizcaino avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $4.8 million deal, according to sources. Injuries limited Vizcaino to just 38 1/3 innings last season, but he was solid when on the field, posting a 2.11 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, career-high 16 saves and a 9.4 K/9. The right-hander will be in the mix for saves on a contending Braves squad once again, but he faces competition in A.J. Minter, Brad Brach and Dan Winkler. He'll have value as a low-end fantasy closer if he starts the year in the ninth-inning role, but his leash will be short if he falters.Source: The Athletic - Robert Murray
Braves Settle With Mike Foltynewicz
1/11:The Atlanta Braves avoided salary arbitration with starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz on Friday by signing him to a one-year, $5.475 million deal, according to sources. The 27-year-old had a breakout in 2018 by going 13-10 with a 2.85 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 202 strikeouts in 183 innings over 31 starts for Atlanta. His fantasy owners were more than pleased with his production, but don't expect him to be quite as good in 2019 unless he gets his walks under control. Folty's xFIP of 3.77 last year shows that he was incredibly lucky, as he also had a fortunate 77 percent left-on-base percentage. Don't overspend on him.Source: The Athletic - Robert Murray
Kyle Hendricks Avoids Salary Arbitration
1/11:Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $7.405 million deal, according to a source. Hendricks went 14-11 with a 3.44 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 7.3 K/9 over 33 starts in 2018. He doesn't strike out many batters (career 7.6 K/9), but he's never had an ERA over 4.00 in his five seasons and has won 10-plus games in two of the last three seasons. He's a stable middle-of-the-rotation arm for your fantasy rotation.Source: The Athletic - Patrick Mooney
Red Sox Settle With Steven Wright
1/10:The Boston Red Sox avoided salary arbitration with pitcher Steven Wright by signing him to a one-year, $1.375 million deal. Knee issues limited the knuckleballer to only 53 2/3 innings (four starts) for the BoSox in 2018, but he was great when on the mound (2.68 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 7.0 K/9). He doesn't strike many out but can be a deep league streamer if he's in the rotation. Wright's role will be up in the air entering spring training, and his health will probably determine his role. He has no fantasy relevance as a swingman out of the bullpen.Source: USA TODAY Sports - Bob Nightengale
Shane Greene Avoids Salary Arbitration
1/10:Detroit Tigers closer Shane Greene avoided salary arbitration on Thursday by agreeing to a one-year, $4 million deal, according to sources. Although Greene managed to close out 32 games for the rebuilding Tigers in 2018, he was one of the worst fantasy closers due to his bloated 5.12 ERA and 1.37 WHIP despite his 65 K's in 63 1/3 innings. He should enter the year as the ninth-inning guy again, but he's also a candidate to be traded during the summer. Greene should be at the bottom of your list of fantasy closers to target in drafts.Source: The Athletic - Robert Murray
Angels Avoid Arbitration With Nick Tropeano
1/10:The Los Angeles Angels avoided salary arbitration with starting pitcher Nick Tropeano on Thursday by signing him to a one-year, $1.075 million deal, according to sources. Tropeano ended the year on the disabled list and went 5-6 with a 4.74 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 7.6 K/9 in 14 starts (76 innings) for the Halos. He should be guaranteed of a starting rotation spot out of spring training and should be in play in the late rounds in deep mixed leagues.Source: The Athletic - Robert Murray
Joe Ross Settles With Nationals
1/10:Washington Nationals starting pitcher Joe Ross avoided salary arbitration on Thursday by agreeing to a one-year, $1 million deal, according to sources. The younger brother of Tyson Ross, the right-hander made just three starts in 2018 due to injury. However, he'll turn 26 in May and has strikeout upside and should have a spot at the back of Washington's rotation if he can stay healthy. Ross can be a streamer in mixed leagues in 2019.Source: The Athletic - Robert Murray
Yankees Avoid Arbitration With Greg Bird
1/10:The New York Yankees avoided salary arbitration with first baseman Greg Bird on Thursday by agreeing to a one-year, $1.2 million deal with him. Bird was expected to become the team's primary first baseman in 2018, but he flopped and lost the job to Luke Voit in the second half. Bird hit an embarrassing .199/.286/.386 with 11 home runs and 38 RBI in 272 at-bats. He's still only 26 years old, though, and he has time to win the job back if he produces in 2019. Bird is worth a late-round flier in deep mixed and AL-only leagues for his power upside.Source: USA TODAY Sports - Bob Nightengale
Domingo Santana Avoids Arbitration
1/10:Seattle Mariners outfielder Domingo Santana avoided salary arbitration on Thursday by agreeing to a one-year, $1.95 million deal, according to sources. Santana blew up for a career-high 30 homers and 85 RBI in 2017, but he was the odd-man out in a crowded outfield picture in 2018 and wound up being a bust for fantasy owners. Now in Seattle and guaranteed everyday playing time, Santana is a candidate to bounce back in a big way and could be a great value pick in fantasy drafts. His combination of power and speed -- he stole 15 bases in 2017 -- can't be overlooked.Source: The Athletic - Robert Murray
Mets Plan To Use Jeff McNeil In The Outfield
1/10:With the acquisition of second baseman Jed Lowrie on Thursday, the New York Mets plan to play infielder Jeff McNeil more in the outfield in 2019 than previously thought. McNeil was a pleasant surprise in his rookie season, hitting .329/.381/.471 with three home runs, 19 RBI, 35 runs scored and seven steals in his first 63 games in the big leagues. His average will likely come down over a full season, but McNeil's value takes a big hit after the acquisitions of both Lowrie and Robinson Cano this offseason. Gaining outfield eligibility would be nice, but his playing-time concerns likely make him an NL-only commodity for now. The Mets could also look to trade him.Source: New York Post - Mike Puma
Jed Lowrie Agrees With Mets
1/10:The New York Mets agreed to a two-year, $20 million deal with free-agent second baseman Jed Lowrie on Thursday, according to league sources. The 34-year-old had a career year in Oakland in 2018, setting career highs in homers (23), RBI (99) and walks (78) for a surprising A's team that made the playoffs. It's a bit of an odd fit since the Mets already traded for Robinson Cano and have Jeff McNeil on roster, but Lowrie will likely fill some sort of utility role. Lowrie's former agent, Brodie Van Wagenen, is now the general manager in New York. Given Lowrie's age, we may have just seen his high-water mark, so don't overspend on him in spring drafts. He should play every day, but the crowded Mets roster is a concern for Lowrie's owners if he struggles to begin the season. The biggest loser is obviously McNeil, but he could gain outfield eligibility.Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Jimmy Nelson Expects To Be Ready For Spring Training
1/10:Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson (shoulder), who missed all of 2018, said he will be ready to go for spring training. "That's the goal 100 percent. I'm on track right now to throw my bullpens like normal," Nelson said. The right-hander is worth a late-round flier in mixed leagues in case he bounces back with full health. He had a fine 3.49 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and career-high 10.2 K/9 in 29 starts (175 1/3 innings) for the Brew Crew in 2017 before suffering his shoulder injury late in the season.Source: MLB Network Radio
Twins, Byron Buxton Progressing Towards Deal
1/10:The Minnesota Twins and outfielder Byron Buxton are progressing towards a one-year, $1.75 million deal on Thursday to avoid salary arbitration, according to sources. Buxton signed a one-year deal last year worth $570,000. The former second overall pick in 2012 teased with his potential at the end of the 2017 season, but 2018 was a disaster, mainly because of injuries. The 25-year-old hit just .156/.183/.200 in 90 at-bats with the Twins and spent most of his time in the minors. Buxton is still young, though, and he should see most of his playing time in the big leagues if he's healthy. He's worth a late-round flier as a post-hype prospect in deep mixed leagues, mainly for his speed.Source: 1500 ESPN - Darren Wolfson
Mariners Sign Tim Beckham
1/10:The Seattle Mariners signed free-agent shortstop Tim Beckham to a one-year, $1.75 million deal with $250,000 in incentives on Thursday. The former first overall pick in 2008 was a disappointment in 2018 after a career year in 2017. He hit .230/.287/.374 with 12 home runs and 35 RBI in just 96 games with the Orioles. He will be competing for the starting job at shortstop with J.P. Crawford in Seattle and will primarily be an AL-only commodity that also receives a downgrade going from Camden Yards to the more pitcher-friendly environment in Seattle.Source: USA TODAY Sports - Bob Nightengale
