1 hour agoFree-agent veteran right-hander
Lance Lynn said that he has lost 20 pounds already since the end of last season, dropping from 280 to 260 pounds. Lynn battled knee issues in 2024 and was limited to 117 1/3 innings, his lowest total over a full season since missing all of 2016 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The 37-year-old became a free agent when the St. Louis Cardinals declined his $12 million club option for 2025. He's nearing the end of his career, but Lynn ranks sixth in the majors with 2,006 1/3 innings pitched since debuting in 2011. The last time Lynn reached 30 starts and 200 innings was back in 2019, so fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting a sudden breakout for the veteran hurler. Knee issues dating back to 2021 and a lack of strikeout stuff will make Lynn an easy pitcher to avoid in shallow mixed fantasy leagues, regardless of where he's pitching.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon
2 hours agoThe Kansas City Royals signed free-agent infielder
Jordan Groshans to a minor-league deal on Tuesday, according to sources. Groshans, once a top prospect with the Toronto Blue Jays after they took him 12th overall in 2018 made his big-league debut with the Miami Marlins in 2022 and went 16-for-61 (.262) with a homer, two RBI and nine runs scored in just 17 games played. He spent all of 2024 toiling in the minors with the New York Yankees and Athletics, combining for a .235/.311/.318 slash line with a weak .628 OPS, four home runs, 34 RBI and 46 runs scored in 101 games with Double-A Midland, Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. At this point in his career, it's going to be an uphill battle for Groshans to return to the major-league level and have any kind of significant impact for the Royals.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: FanSided - Robert Murray
2 hours agoThe San Diego Padres are in a strong position to land Japanese ace Roki Sasaki on the open market this offseason, according to several industry sources. The division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers and reigning World Series champions have also been mentioned as favorites for Sasaki, but he may prefer to go to a smaller market in San Diego and stay out of the shadow of both Japanese stars
Shohei Ohtani and
Yoshinobu Yamamoto in LA. The Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan are expected to post the 23-year-old Sasaki this offseason, and he has the ability to develop into a high-end starter at the big-league level in time. In addition to the Padres and Dodgers, the Cubs, Rangers, Blue Jays, Rays, Yankees and Mets are potential landing spots for Sasaki. In four pro seasons in Japan, Sasaki has posted a sharp 2.02 ERA.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Francys Romero
2 hours agoBaltimore Orioles left-hander
Trevor Rogers, who as acquired in a trade from the Miami Marlins last year, was sent to Triple-A Norfolk after four mostly ineffective starts with his new club. It was a big fall for Rogers, who had a 3.17 ERA in his final nine starts with the Marlins. He had a 7.11 ERA in his four starts for the O's. Rogers was an All-Star as a rookie in 2021 but admits he was overwhelmed in his move to Baltimore in 2024. The veteran lefty did have a 2.96 ERA with 28 K's and six walks in 24 1/3 innings in his final four starts for Norfolk, though, and he is going to a player performance data-driven center this offseason for further evaluation to try and regain some velocity. Rogers averaged 94.5 mph on his fastball in 2021, but it was down to 91.9 mph in 2024. The 27-year-old is focusing on getting his lower half stronger as he looks to bounce back in 2025 with the O's.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MASN Sports - Steve Melewski
2 hours agoKorean infielder Hyeseong Kim has officially been posted the Kiwoom Heroes of the Korean Baseball Organization on Wednesday. Starting on Thursday, any major-league team willing to pay the Heroes' release fee and any supplemental fees can negotiate a contract with Kim. The deadline to sign him to an MLB deal will be 5 pm ET on Jan. 3 of 2025. The soon-to-be 26-year-old middle infielder isn't going to break the bank like right-hander
Yoshinobu Yamamoto did with the Los Angeles Dodgers last offseason, but he should receive plenty of interest for teams looking for middle-infield help. He is a slick defender on the infield and makes plenty of contact at the plate, although his power is lacking. In 127 games in the KBO with the Heroes in 2024, Kim slashed a strong .326/.383/.458 with 11 home runs and 30 stolen bases.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand
4 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks infield prospect
Jordan Lawlar missed most of the 2024 regular season due to injury, collecting only 67 plate appearances between Double-A and Triple-A. In order to make up for lost time and hopefully make a push for a 2025 roster spot, the club's top prospect (MLB No. 9) is spending time in the Dominican Winter League, getting much-needed at-bats to knock off the rust. While the 22-year-old started off hot, slashing .407/.481/.773 in his first 27 plate appearances, that line now stands at .237/.315/.355 in 108 PA. Importantly, however, he's still shown the pop and speed combination we've been accustomed to seeing from the healthy version of him, with three home runs and eight stolen bases thus far. It's not clear where exactly he would play on the infield at this point, but if he can make the roster next spring, the former sixth-overall draft pick could be an overlooked multi-category fantasy contributor after an unremarkable 2023 debut and lost 2024 season.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
4 hours agoThe Toronto Blue Jays have signed infielder
Michael Stefanic and pitcher
Kevin Gowdy to minor-league deals with invitations to spring training. Stefanic has played his entire professional career in the Angels' organization, having a successful minor league career that has yet to translate to the big league level. The 28-year-old has a career .331/.416/.445 slashline in the minors (1749 ABs), however, that line drops to .232/.317/.275 in the majors (233 ABs). Gowdy has yet to make his major league debut despite being drafted in 2016 after Tommy John surgery and the COVID season delayed his advancement. Over his minor league career, the righty owns a 5.18 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, and 270 strikeouts over 305 2/3 IP. Stefanic and Gowdy both figure to provide the Jays organizational depth for now.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 hours agoOn Tuesday, the St. Louis Cardinals signed outfielder
Ryan Vilade to a minor league contract that also includes a non-roster invitation to spring training. The former second-round pick was drafted by the Rockies back in 2017, briefly debuting with the club in 2021. Since then, the 25-year-old spent time at Triple-A in Pittsburgh and Detroit's farm systems, while making 17 major league appearances for the Tigers in 2024. In 442 Triple-A plate appearances last season, the right-handed hitter slashed .278/.346/.449 with 13 home runs and 20 stolen bases. Without a starting role for the Cardinals though, Vilade is off the fantasy radar for now.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 hours agoThe Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds are said to be possible trade partners that are interested in acquiring the services of White Sox left-hander
Garrett Crochet. Talks of the lefty leaving Chicago swirled around the trade deadline last season, but nothing ever came to fruition. The 25-year-old was an All-Star in 2024, posting a 3.02 ERA and 0.95 WHIP prior to the break (107 1/3 IP), but slowed considerably and had his innings limited in the second half, posting a 5.12 ERA and 1.40 WHIP after the break (38 2/3 IP). The strikeout rate remained elite throughout the season, finishing with a 29.6% K-BB% in 32 starts. Both teams have already made attempts to bolster their rotation this offseason, with the Cubs landing LHP
Matthew Boyd from the Guardians and the Reds acquiring RHP
Brady Singer from the Royals. Provided he can stay healthy and somewhat dependent on his landing spot, Crochet should be one of the top pitchers for fantasy in 2025.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Jon Morosi
16 hours agoKorean infielder Hyeseong Kim is expected to be posted by the Kiwoom Heroes of the Korean Baseball Organization around noon ET on Wednesday. After Kim is posted, it will begin a 30-day window for the infielder to work out a contract with a major-league team this offseason. He will turn 26 years old in January. If he's unable to reach a deal with an MLB team in 30 days, he'll return to the Heroes for the 2025 season. Kim is not expected to sign a deal like
Yoshinobu Yamamoto signed with the Dodgers last offseason, but he should attract interest and is already being connected to the Seattle Mariners. His profile is similar to fellow countryman
Ha-Seong Kim as an excellent defender that can play multiple spots in the infield. Hyeseong doesn't have as much power, but he did slash .304/.364/.403 in his eight seasons in Korea.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB Network - Jon Morosi
16
hours
agoMost
teams
interested
in
free-agent
right-hander
Michael
Soroka
prefer
him
as
a
back-end
starting
pitcher
with
front-line
potential
and
not
as
a
reliever
despite
his
better
numbers
in
a
relief
role
with
the
Chicago
White
Sox
in
2024,
according
to
league
sources.
The
read more...
16 hours agoThe Chicago White Sox have a very high price tag on outfielder
Luis Robert Jr. in trade discussions this offseason and don't think they are overreaching, according to a source briefed on their thinking. "I don't think they understand what his value is," an MLB executive said. Chicago isn't asking for multiple prospects but do want a "meaningful piece" in return. The 27-year-old is no doubt physically gifted, but he's played in over 100 games just once in the past four seasons back in 2023, when he clubbed 38 long balls, had an .857 OPS and finished 12th in the American League in MVP voting. But outside of that season, he has struggled to stay healthy and was out from April 6 to June 4 with a hip-flexor strain in 2024. He's guaranteed $15 million in 2025 and has $20 million club options for 2025 and 2026. The shortage of center field options and quality bats has kept interest in Robert high.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Will Sammon, Katie Woo and Ken Rosenthal
16
hours
agoThe
Kansas
City
Royals
plan
to
use
left-hander
Kris
Bubic
as
a
starting
pitcher
next
season,
although
he'll
most
likely
be
on
an
innings
limit
of
around
140
to
150
in
his
first
full
season
back
from
Tommy
John
surgery.
At
the
read more...
16 hours agoThe bidding for free-agent superstar outfielder
Juan Soto has reached $600 million, according to two people briefed on the negotiations who were not authorized to speak publicly. Soto's agent, Scott Boras, said on Tuesday that his client has also started the process of eliminating potential teams. The Mets, Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays and Dodgers are reportedly the most serious about Soto, and all the remaining contenders have made offers above $600 million. The MLB winter meetings begin on Sunday in Dallas, and the expectation is that Soto will make his decision by the end of the meetings. The 26-year-old generational talent is expected to sign for at least 12 years, with the present-day value of his new contract almost certainly beating the record
Shohei Ohtani set last offseason with a deferred 10-year, $700 million contract. Wherever Soto is playing, he should continue to be an offensive beast.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal, Evan Drellich and Brendan Kuty
17 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said that right-handed reliever
Evan Phillips (shoulder) is "fine" and should be good to go for spring training in February. Phillips missed the World Series in October due to a right-shoulder injury but didn't require surgery. He has yet to start a throwing program, but as a reliever, he still has plenty of time to do so and still be ready for the start of spring training. The 30-year-old was officially shut down in the postseason with arm fatigue. Phillips wasn't quite as good in his third year in LA in 2024, posting a 3.62 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, 18 saves and 63:17 K:BB in 54 2/3 regular-season innings out of the bullpen. Despite the disappointing numbers, Evans saved a career-high 24 games for the Blue in 2023 and should have a high-leverage bullpen role yet again in 2025 for the best team in baseball.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Times - Mike DiGiovanna
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