6 hours agoFree-agent catcher
Carson Kelly and the Chicago Cubs are making progress toward a deal, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman. The Cubs currently have
Miguel Amaya as their primary catcher while being backed up by former Angels backstop Matt Thais. If Chicago were to add Kelly, he'd be Amaya's primary backup in 2025. The 30-year-old was a former second-rounder by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2012 and has nine years of MLB experience with four different teams. He's bounced around a lot the last two years and spent 2024 with the Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers, slashing a combined .238/.313/.374 with nine home runs and 37 RBI in 91 games. Most of his production came back in Arizona, particularly in 2019, when he hit .245 with a career-high 18 homers. Kelly has decent pop and is a decent defender but won't have much fantasy appeal in a backup role to Amaya.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
7
hours
agoThe
Detroit
Tigers
have
kicked
the
tires
on
free-agent
first
baseman
Christian
Walker
this
offseason
as
they
search
for
a
right-handed
bat.
However,
the
Tigers
may
not
be
willing
to
get
aggressive
enough
for
Walker
if
big-market
teams
get
involved
in
the
bidding.
Walker
read more...
7 hours agoThe Detroit Tigers are interested in signing free-agent infielder
Ha-Seong Kim (shoulder) as they look to add a right-handed bat this offseason. Kim hits from the right side and has the ability to play shortstop, third base or second base, although he's also recovering from surgery on his right shoulder to fix a torn labrum. Because of the surgery, the 29-year-old Korean infielder won't be ready for the start of the 2025 season, although he should make his season debut in the first half. Kim could opt to settle for a one-year deal this offseason and then look to reset his market and re-enter free agency at age 30. In his last three seasons with the San Diego Padres, Kim hit .250 with a .336 on-base percentage, 11% walk rate and 17.9% strikeout rate. Kim's best asset is his speed, but his middling power and injury will drive hi price down in fantasy drafts this upcoming spring.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Detroit Free Press - Evan Petzold
7 hours agoThe Detroit Tigers would love to add a right-handed bat this offseason, but they don't want to pay $200 million for free-agent third baseman
Alex Bregman. However, if Bregman's market crashes this winter, the Tigers would be enticed to swoop in and sign him before spring training in mid-February. The Houston Astros' offer to re-sign Bregman has been reported to be for six years and around $156 million, but Bregman is looking for at least $200 million on the open market. It's unlikely that Detroit will get into a bidding war with Houston or any other team for Bregman's services, especially since they already have concerns about his long-term productivity. The 30-year-old also rejected a qualifying offer from Houston, so if Detroit wanted to sign him, they'd have to give up draft picks. Bregman missed some time late in 2024 due to a bone spur in his right elbow but should be ready for 2025 after having surgery.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Detroit Free Press - Evan Petzold
7 hours agoThe Detroit Tigers have interest in starting pitchers who are candidates for one-year deals this offseason, which includes left-hander
Andrew Heaney and right-hander
Kyle Gibson. President of baseball operations Scott Harris tried to sign Heaney in November of 2021 when he was the general managers of the San Francisco Giants. In the last two seasons with the Texas Rangers, Heaney has posted a 4.22 ERA with 310 strikeouts over 307 1/3 frames. Another player Detroit could be watching is right-hander
Michael Soroka, who had a 4.74 ERA with 84 K's and 44 walks over 79 2/3 innings in 25 games (nine starts) for the Chicago White Sox in 2024. In his final 11 games in relief, Soroka was stellar with a 1.84 ERA, 41 K's and only nine walks in 24 1/3 frames. Because free-agent right-hander
Nick Pivetta would require forfeiting draft picks, the Tigers are unlikely to pursue him.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Detroit Free Press - Evan Petzold
7 hours agoThe Detroit Tigers have interest in signing free-agent right-hander
Walker Buehler this offseason. However, Buehler has the potential to command a two-year deal with an opt-out clause after the first year, which isn't really what the Tigers are looking for. Starting pitching isn't cheap this offseason, and although Buehler struggled in his return from Tommy John surgery in 2024 during the regular season, he's a two-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion. The 30-year-old had a rough 5.38 ERA with 28 walks and 64 strikeouts in 75 1/3 innings (16 starts) for LA in his return from his second Tommy John surgery of his career. Most of his issues came from his fastball velocity being down, but if Buehler can find his fastball again, he could easily be one of the best values on the starting pitching market this offseason. Buehler did toss 10 scoreless innings in his final three games in October.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Detroit Free Press - Evan Petzold
7 hours agoFree-agent outfielder
Teoscar Hernandez has told people that he prefers to re-sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to a few sources, but he also has long been intrigued by the idea of playing at Fenway Park for the Boston Red Sox. Hernandez is also a fan of Boston manager Alex Cora. The Toronto Blue Jays have also been mentioned as a potential suitor for Hernandez, but it could come down to the Dodgers and Red Sox for his services this winter. It was reported in early December that the 32-year-old and the Dodgers were working on a new deal, but nothing has been finalized, and LA has since signed left-handed-hitting outfielder
Michael Conforto. The Conforto signing shouldn't close the door on a Hernandez reunion with the Dodgers after he helped them win the World Series in his first season in Hollywood. Despite a high strikeout rate, Hernandez was one of the better sluggers in baseball in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Boston Globe - Pete Abraham
7 hours agoFree-agent right-hander
Jordan Romano (elbow) agreed to a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday for above his projected salary arbitration number of $7.75 million, according to a source. The deal is pending a physical, which is more important after he was limited to only 15 appearances in 2024 with the Toronto Blue Jays due to a right-elbow injury that required surgery. The 31-year-old right-hander became a free agent when Toronto non-tendered him in November, but Romano quickly finds a new landing spot in the National League and could certainly bounce-back as a high-leverage fantasy arm with one of the best teams in baseball next season if he's past his elbow issues. From 2021 to 2023 with the Jays, Romano was one of the most dominant closers in baseball with a 2.37 ERA, 30.3% strikeout rate and 95 saves. If healthy, he should be Philly's primary ninth-inning guy in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
10 hours agoFree-agent outfielder
Anthony Santander is drawing strong interest from the Blue Jays, Red Sox, and Yankees -- all teams who missed out on the
Juan Soto sweepstakes. Santander is a switch-hitting power hitter who has hit 105 home runs over the last three seasons combined, including a career-high 44 last season. The 30-year-old also set career-best marks for RBI (102), runs scored (91), contact rate (82.2%), and barrel rate (11.7%), with a .345 wOBA and 129 wRC+. The veteran has spent his entire career with Baltimore, so moving to any of those teams would keep him with some familiar company. With no signs of slowing down, he figures to be a strong offensive fantasy option in 2025 drafts, regardless of landing spot.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Jon Morosi
10
hours
agoThe
Milwaukee
Brewers
are
"engaged
with
the
White
Sox"
for
the
services
of
pitcher
Garrett
Crochet.
While
other
teams
like
the
Red
Sox,
Cubs,
and
others
have
been
viewed
as
the
likeliest
landing
spots
for
the
lefty,
the
Brewers
could
use
another
strong
starter
read more...
10 hours agoThe Los Angeles Dodgers are bringing back reliever
Blake Treinen on a two-year, $22 million contract. The 36-year-old had a fantastic season coming out of the 'pen for the Dodgers, recording 16 holds and a save on the back of a 1.93 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and an 11:56 BB:K over 46 2/3 IP. It was a superb bounce-back performance after missing all of 2023 and most of 2022 with a shoulder injury. The 2024 campaign culminated with two-and-a-third innings of one-hit ball in Game 5 of the World Series where he allowed one hit and one walk while striking out three, going down as the winning pitcher in the series finale. For his career, the righty owns a 2.78 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and a 24.8% strikeout rate. For fantasy in 2025, he'll be relevant in any league that rewards holds and could be considered in other leagues were he pressed into a closer role.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Passan
11 hours agoJapanese pitcher Roki Sasaki has officially been posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan, opening a 45-day window that will allow teams on Tuesday to begin negotiations for the right-hander's services. The 23-year-old, who is considered one of the most talented young pitchers in the world, will have many suitors, although the Dodgers and Padres appear to be the most likely landing spots. Sasaki is coming off a season in which he recorded a 10-5 record with a 2.35 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 129 strikeouts in 111 innings pitched. His talent will make him very fantasy-relevant in 2025, although it will surely drive up his ADP as well. Teams have until January 23, 2025 to court him.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman
23 hours agoAccording to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the New York Mets have signed free-agent outfielder
Juan Soto to a massive 15-year contract worth $765 million. This is the largest deal in professional sports history and will likely keep Soto as a New York Met for the remainder of his professional career. Last season with the New York Yankees, Soto posted a stellar .285/.419/.569 slash line with 41 home runs. He boasted a .462 xwOBA, 19.7% barrel rate, and .646 xSLG, which were among the highest marks in the sport. Throughout his seven-year MLB career, Soto carries a .285/.421/.532 line. Given his incredible hitting skills, he should be viewed as a consensus first-round selection next season and a top pick in points leagues given his incredible eye at the plate.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman
24 hours agoAccording to Mark Feinsand of the MLB Network, the Los Angeles Dodgers have signed free-agent outfielder
Michael Conforto to a one-year, $17 million contract. The veteran outfielder enjoyed a solid campaign with the Giants last season from a power perspective, holding a .237/.309/.450 slash line with 20 home runs. This was his highest home run total since the 2019 season. Under the hood, the 31-year-old generated a strong .479 xSLG, 11.8% barrel rate, and 46.0% hard-hit rate, all well above the average marks. However, Conforto did carry a hefty 24.2% strikeout rate and a modest 8.6% walk rate. Moving to the Dodgers, fantasy managers should expect Conforto to see an uptick in his counting stats, especially in RBI. Fantasy managers should monitor his status during spring training, as he could be given an everyday role in the starting nine.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Mark Feinsand
1 day agoAccording to Jon Morosi of the MLB Network, the New York Mets have signed right-handed pitcher
Oliver Ortega to a minor-league contract. Ortega missed the entire 2024 campaign due to an elbow operation. Before this, Ortega spent the 2023 campaign with the Twins and the 2021 and 2022 campaigns with the Angels. In Minnesota, the 28-year-old logged only 14 2/3 innings at the big league level and held a 4.30 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. During the 2022 campaign, Ortega posted a career-high 34 innings and held a 3.71 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. Through 72 1/3 career innings at Triple-A, Ortega carried a 3.61 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. Fantasy managers should expect Ortega to operate as a low-leverage relief option if he can make the Opening Day Roster.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jon Morosi
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