22 hours agoTexas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said that if the team makes any more significant additions this offseason that it would likely be via a trade, but a deal for Colorado Rockies third baseman
Nolan Arenado is unlikely. It also means that signing outfielder
Nicholas Castellanos is probably off the table after the Rangers had been linked to him for much of the offseason. Texas whiffed on landing
Josh Donaldson in free agency but did sign
Todd Frazier, who will be an option for the hot corner in 2020. Arenado would obviously be a huge score, but it remains to be seen if Texas has the prospect talent to pull a trade of that magnitude off. Arenado also has a full no-trade clause and would have to sign off on a trade.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Jeff Wilson
23 hours agoChicago White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said that starting pitcher
Carlos Rodon (elbow) is three-quarters of the way through his rehab for Tommy John surgery. Rodon's estimated return is between mid-July and August. The White Sox will have a better idea of Rodon's timeline when he's cleared to begin a rehab assignment. The 27-year-old left-hander made just seven starts in 2019 before he underwent Tommy John surgery, posting a weak 5.19 ERA and 1.44 WHIP while striking out 46 and walking 17 in his 34 2/3 innings. Rodon has appealing strikeout upside, but his career 3.9 BB/9 has made him a frustrating and volatile fantasy commodity. You can ignore him in redraft leagues to start the year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - James Fegan
23 hours agoMilwaukee Brewers shortstop
Luis Urias (wrist) is heading back to the U.S. to have his wrist injury checked out after developing soreness at the end of the winter ball season in Mexico, according to general manager David Stearns. The team expects to know more by the middle of next week. The Brewers are hoping for good news, as they traded for Urias with the idea of him taking over at the 6 in 2020 and beyond. A top prospect with the Padres before the trade, the 22-year-old Urias underwhelmed in his 83 games at the major league level, hitting just .221/.318/.331 with six home runs and 29 RBI. He's expected to enter next season as Milwaukee's starting shortstop, but the jury is still out as to whether Urias can be an effective full-time starter in the major leagues. He'll have a great opportunity with everyday playing time in a nice hitting environment in Milwaukee, though.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
23 hours agoAtlanta Braves first baseman
Freddie Freeman (elbow) said he's been working out "full bore" since last month without pain for the first time in nine years after having two bone spurs and three fragments removed from his elbow. The doctor that operated on Freeman told him his joint was completely closed, and he was surprised he was able to play through the injury. You wouldn't have been able to tell based on what Freeman was able to do with the bat in 2019, as he hit .295/.389/.549 with 38 home runs, 113 runs, 121 RBI and six stolen bases in 597 at-bats. With better health, it's scary to think what Freeman could do in 2020 and beyond as one of the most consistent fantasy first baseman across the board.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - David O'Brien
23 hours agoMinnesota Twins starting pitcher
Rich Hill (elbow) said that he is scheduled to start baseball activities next week, and he's aiming to return in early June. The 39-year-old southpaw is a shaky fantasy commodity because of his risk for injury, and he'll turn 40 years old in March. Hill threw just 58 2/3 innings over 13 starts for the Dodgers in 2019, but when he was healthy he was very effective, posting a 2.45 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with 72 strikeouts and 18 walks. His new digs in Minnesota should be good for his chances of posting solid numbers, and his price will be down because he won't start the season on time. Hill may not be drafted in shallow mixed leagues, but he'll be one to pluck off the waiver wire when he joins the Twins rotation in June.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Do-Hyoung Park
23 hours agoTexas Rangers starting pitcher
Mike Minor said that he is interested in a contract extension. Minor is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2020 season. The southpaw has become a rotation leader for Texas the last two seasons, culminating in a 14-10 record, 3.59 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 32 starts over 208 1/3 innings in 2019. He managed to strike out 200 hitters (8.6 K.9) while walking 68 (2.9 BB/9) in his 208 1/3 frames last season. The home run ball can be a problem (30 homers allowed) at the hitter-friendly park in Texas, but Minor has proven that he can be a successful streaming option for fantasy owners in the right matchups.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Jeff Wilson
23 hours agoOakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin said that pitchers
A.J. Puk and
Jesus Luzardo will both go into the season as starters. The two left-handers are ranked as the club's No. 1 and 2 prospects, with Luzardo being No. 1 and Puk No. 2. They're both ranked in the top 10 left-handed prospects in the game. Luzardo, 22, saw action in six games in relief (12 innings) and had a 1.50 ERA with 16 strikeouts and three walks. Puk missed all of 2018 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He made 10 relief appearances in 2019 and had a 3.18 ERA with 13 strikeouts and five walks in 11 1/3 innings. Both starters will likely have their innings limited in 2020, which will limit their fantasy ceilings, but the sky is the limit for both of them in the long run.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: San Francisco Chronicle - Susan Slusser
23 hours agoOakland Athletics third baseman
Matt Chapman would like to see the team sign himself, shortstop
Marcus Semien and first baseman
Matt Olson to long-term contract extensions. Chapman has won Gold Gloves each of the last two seasons and made his first All-Star team in 2019 after hitting .249/.342/.506 with a career-high 36 long balls and 91 RBI in 156 games for the Athletics. Not only is Chapman one of the best defensive third baseman in the game, but his offensive game is also coming around, making him one of the best all-around third baseman in baseball. Playing his home games in pitcher-friendly Oakland is a setback, but he has the skills to overcome his home park.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: San Francisco Chronicle - Susan Slusser
23 hours agoAtlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker said he will not move outfielder
Ronald Acuna out of the leadoff spot in 2020. Snitker had Acuna in the cleanup spot to start the 2019 season but moved him back to leadoff. The 22-year-old superstar will be an elite fantasy asset no matter where he's hitting, but he really took to the leadoff spot last season, hitting .280/.364/.528 with 34 home runs, 78 RBI and 35 stolen bases in 492 at-bats. Hitting leadoff will depress Acuna's RBI opportunities in a potent lineup, but it won't be enough not to consider him with a first-round selection in fantasy drafts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - David O'Brien
23 hours agoThe Chicago Cubs agreed to a one-year deal with outfielder
Steven Souza Jr. on Saturday, according to a source. Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed. Souza missed all of the 2019 season with a knee injury and played in just 72 games for the Diamondbacks in 2018 due to injury. However, he showed his potential by hitting 30 home runs, driving in 78 and stealing 16 bases in 148 games for the Rays in 2017. He won't do his fantasy owners any favors with his batting average, but Souza could be a steal in the later rounds in deeper mixed leagues if he earns significant playing time in Chicago's outfield.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand
23 hours agoThe Washington Nationals agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal to bring first baseman
Ryan Zimmerman back on Friday night, according to two people with knowledge of the situation. The contract could max out at $5 million based on incentives for games played and plate appearances. The 35-year-old has been the face of the franchise since he was taken fourth overall in 2005, but he'll likely serve in a platoon role at first base with
Eric Thames in 2020, mainly playing against left-handed pitchers. Injuries have limited him to an average of 92 games of the last six seasons, and he played in just 52 games last year while fighting through a chronic foot issue. His fantasy value will be limited to NL-only leagues, and he could be used as a low-priced DFS streamer in the right matchups.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Washington Post - Barry Svrluga
23 hours agoThe Colorado Rockies and All-Star shortstop
Trevor Story agreed to a two-year, $27.5 million contract on Friday night, according to a source. The deal will cover the final two years of Story's arbitration eligibility. The two-time All-Star has hit .276/.341/.537 over four seasons in the big leagues, and he set career highs in runs scored (111), batting average (.294) and on-base percentage (.363) in 2019 while also hitting 35 homes runs as the first shortstop in history to hit at least 20 homers in each of his first four seasons. The 27-year-old has 123 home runs, 347 RBI and 65 stolen bases in his four seasons with the Rockies and will once again be an elite fantasy shortstop while hitting in Colorado.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Denver Post - Patrick Saunders
2 days agoThe Washington Nationals agreed to a minor league deal with catcher
Welington Castillo on Friday. Castillo will receive a non-roster invite to spring training. The 32-year-old (33 in April) hit a disappointing .209/.267/.417 with 12 home runs and 41 RBI in just 72 games for the White Sox in 2019. There won't be much fantasy value to be had here in D.C., however, as he's third on the catching depth chart behind
Kurt Suzuki and
Yan Gomes. Castillo can be avoided unless you're in a deep NL-only league in which you start two backstops.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Washington Post - Jesse Dougherty
2 days agoThe Chicago Cubs are close to a deal with outfielder
Steven Souza Jr., according to a source. Souza tore multiple ligaments in his knee and missed all of the 2019 season and only played in 72 games in 2018 with the Diamondbacks because of injury. He's said to be healthy right now, however, and his combination of power and speed could play well in Chicago if he sees enough playing time. Souza managed to hit 30 home runs, drive in 78 and steal 16 bases in 148 games with the Rays back in 2017, so there is value potential in deeper leagues if he can stay on the field and receive his fair share of at-bats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
2 days agoNew York Yankees third baseman
Miguel Andujar has been told to prepare to get work at first base and left field in addition to third base this spring, according to general manager Brian Cashman. The emergence of
Giovanny Urshela and the injury to Andujar last season will cause the Yankees to get creative in order to get both of their bats in the lineup in 2020. Andujar played in just 12 games last season but managed to hit .297/.328/.527 with 27 home runs and 92 RBI in 149 games in his rookie season in 2018. He finished second in American League Rookie of the Year voting to
Shohei Ohtani. Questions surrounding Andujar's playing time will drop his fantasy value, but he could be more of a steal in the later rounds if he gains eligibility at other positions.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
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