40 mins agoFree-agent outfielder
Nick Senzel signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night. The deal includes $1 million in performance bonuses. Senzel became a free agent when the Cincinnati Reds non-tendered him in November. The 28-year-old second overall pick in 2016 struggled through injuries in his five years with the Reds and never came close to reaching his ceiling. He hit .239/.302/.369 with 33 home runs, 125 RBI and 32 stolen bases in 377 games over his five years in Cincy, never playing in more than 110 games in a single year. Senzel will now have a chance at a platoon role in the rebuilding Nats' outfield as he looks to stay healthy and deliver on his power/speed combination. He'll only be worth a late-round flier for outfield depth in deep fantasy leagues in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
47 mins agoThe Cincinnati Reds agreed to an undisclosed deal with free-agent infielder
Jeimer Candelario on Wednesday night, according to a source. The deal is pending a physical. The Reds were not one of the teams expected to land Candelario, as they already have plenty of third base options at the big-league level in
Christian Encarnacion-Strand,
Noelvi Marte and
Spencer Steer. Cincy has been rumored to be interested in some high-level starting pitchers on the trade market, though, so perhaps their plan is to flip several of their young players for a rotation arm. The 30-year-old Candelario is a switch-hitter and can also play first base. He'll be a bit more interesting with the Reds from a fantasy perspective after hitting .251/.336/.471 with an .807 OPS, career-high 22 home runs, 70 RBI and eight stolen bases in 140 total games with the Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs in 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand
12 hours agoKorean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee is said to be high on the San Diego Padres' offseason wish list, according to a source that says a deal could come together quickly now that
Juan Soto's $30 million-plus contract is off the books. The Padres traded Soto to the New York Yankees on Wednesday night in a blockbuster deal that landed them four right-handed pitchers and a backup catcher.
Fernando Tatis Jr. is the only starting outfielder left on the Padres' roster after Soto and
Trent Grisham were dealt to the Yanks. The 25-year-old Lee was officially posted by his KBO team, the Kiwoom Heroes, on Monday and is expected to be a hot commodity among MLB teams given the fact he hit .340/.407/.491 in seven seasons in Korea. Lee is flexible defensively and can play all three outfield position.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand
12 hours agoFree-agent left-handed starter
Eduardo Rodriguez and the Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to a four-year contract for around $20 million per year on Wednesday night, pending a physical, according to sources familiar with the agreement. E-Rod became a free agent this winter after opting out of the final three years of his contract with the Detroit Tigers. In need of more pitching help for their rotation next to
Zac Gallen and
Merrill Kelly, the 30-year-old Rodriguez will be a big upgrade after he posted a career-best 3.30 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with a 23% strikeout rate and 7.7% walk rate in 26 starts in 2023. E-Rod comes with durability concerns -- he's reached the 200-inning mark just once in eight big-league seasons -- but when he's healthy, he should be solid mid-rotation fantasy starter in his new home in the desert.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
12 hours agoThe San Diego Padres officially sent outfielders
Juan Soto and
Trent Grisham to the New York Yankees in a blockbuster trade on Wednesday in exchange for right-handers
Michael King,
Drew Thorpe,
read more...
12 hours agoThe New York Yankees have completed a blockbuster trade on Wednesday night to acquire outfielders
Juan Soto and
Trent Grisham from the San Diego Padres in exchange for right-handed pitchers
Michael King,
read more...
13 hours agoFree-agent left-hander
Eduardo Rodriguez and the Arizona Diamondbacks have had advanced discussions about a multi-year contract, according to a source. No deal is finalized, but the reigning National League champions are among the finalists to sign him this week. It was reported earlier on Wednesday that E-Rod was down to two teams and that he was expected to make a decision by Thursday. As the D-backs try to upgrade their starting rotation, they've been linked to Rodriguez,
Lucas Giolito,
Seth Lugo and
Michael Wacha in free agency. Rodriguez, general manager Mike Hazen and Arizona manager Torey Lovullo all spent two years together with the Boston Red Sox. The 30-year-old Rodriguez opted out of the final three years of his five-year deal with the Detroit Tigers and is one of the most attractive left-handed starters on the open market this winter.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB Network - Jon Morosi
14 hours agoThe Atlanta Braves signed free-agent infielder
Leury Garcia to a minor-league deal on Tuesday. Garcia joins the Braves after getting their attention with a strong showing in the Dominican Winter League. The 32-year-old switch-hitter was cut by the Chicago White Sox last spring and didn't play at all the rest of the season. In 2022, he hit .210/.233/.267 with three home runs and 20 RBI in 97 games played for the White Sox. Garcia has served as a super-utility man in his 10-year big-league career in which he's hit a combined .253 with only 34 home runs, 201 RBI, 64 stolen bases and 290 runs scored in 701 total games for the White Sox and Texas Rangers. He will give Atlanta depth all over the diamond heading into the 2024 campaign.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com
14 hours agoThe Pittsburgh Pirates announced on Wednesday that right-hander
Johan Oviedo (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. The surgery was performed by Dr. Keith Meister. The 25-year-old Cuban hurler will now be forced to sit out all of the 2024 season. Oviedo was a part of Pittsburgh's starting rotation all year for the first time in his MLB career this past season. He made 32 starts and went 9-14 with a 4.31 ERA (4.49 FIP), 1.373 WHIP, 83 walks and 158 strikeouts in 177 2/3 total innings. Oviedo will hope to come back stronger in 2025, but there will most likely be better late-round fantasy targets for starting pitching. The small-market Pirates are certainly on the lookout for rotation help this offseason.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Pittsburgh PG - Jason Mackey
14 hours agoRival teams are suggesting that the Chicago White Sox are now "pulling back" on right-hander
Dylan Cease trade talks this offseason. The White Sox are likely waiting to see who misses out on coveted Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Despite trade talks stalling for Cease, he's still a good bet to be traded this winter. The Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles and Cincinnati Reds have been the teams most linked to Cease, who has two years remaining of club control. Because of that, Chicago is asking for a lot for Cease, who is just a year removed from finishing as the runner-up in the American League Cy Young voting. A drop in velocity and strikeout rate led to a disappointing year in 2023, but Cease is a prime bounce-back candidate with three straight 200-strikeout seasons.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
14 hours agoFree-agent right-handed reliever
Adam Cimber and the Los Angeles Angels agreed to a one-year, $1.65 million deal on Wednesday, according to sources. The 33-year-old was non-tendered by the Toronto Blue Jays and will now join the recently signed
Luis Garcia and closer
Carlos Estevez in the back end of the Angels' bullpen for the 2024 season. This past year was a lost one for Cimber, as he didn't pitch at all in the second half due to a shoulder injury and posted an ugly 7.40 ERA in only 20 2/3 innings pitched before his injury. He had a nice 2.80 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, four saves and 58 strikeouts in 70 2/3 relief innings over a career-high 77 relief appearances the year prior in Toronto, though. The soft-tossing submariner doesn't miss many bats, but he could be valuable in deep holds leagues if he's healthy in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
17 hours agoFree-agent first baseman
Juan Yepez agreed to a minor-league deal with the Washington Nationals on Wednesday. Yepez will head for D.C. after appearing in the big leagues in each of the last two seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. He was more impressive in 76 games in his rookie year in 2022, hitting .253 (64-for-253) with 12 home runs and 30 RBI in 274 plate appearances. The 25-year-old Venezuelan only appeared in 28 games for the Cards in 2023 and hit just .183 (11-for-60) with two home runs and 20 strikeouts. Yepez has a decent power stroke and will have more of an opportunity for a regular role in the big leagues for the rebuilding Nationals.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
17 hours agoThe Los Angeles Angels signed outfielder
Willie Calhoun and right-hander
Travis MacGregor to minor-league deals with spring training invites on Wednesday. Calhoun had a .712 OPS with the New York Yankees in 2023 and has played parts of seven years in the majors with the Yankees, Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants. MacGregor has never pitched in the majors and had a 3.82 ERA at Double-A and Triple-A with the Pittsburgh Pirates this past season as a swing man. The 29-year-old left-handed-hitting Calhoun was a high-end prospect when he initially came up with the Rangers, but he never panned out, with his best season coming with Texas in 2019 when he hit .269 with 21 home runs and 48 RBI in 83 games.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Orange County Register - Jeff Fletcher
19 hours agoThe Tampa Bay Rays re-signed right-hander
Erasmo Ramirez to a minor-league deal earlier this week. Ramirez will return to Tampa after he was outrighted off the 40-man roster following the conclusion of the 2023 season. The 33-year-old veteran swing man from Nicaragua appeared in 38 games (two starts) for the Rays and Washington Nationals last season, going 3-3 with a bloated 6.41 ERA (5.05 FIP) and 1.57 WHIP with 13 walks and 43 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings pitched. The 12-year veteran hurler will give the Rays some extra pitching depth entering spring training and the regular season next year, but he won't be anywhere near the fantasy radar.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com
19 hours agoThe New York Yankees intend to keep recently acquired outfielder
Alex Verdugo as a corner outfielder after acquiring him from the division-rival Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night.
Aaron Judge being the team's everyday center fielder is "in play," according to manager Aaron Boone. The Yankees are on the verge of landing superstar outfielder
Juan Soto in a blockbuster deal with the San Diego Padres, and Soto isn't an option to play center field in the Bronx. The 31-year-old Judge has some experience playing in center but has mostly started in right for the Yankees. He missed a good chunk of the 2023 campaign with a toe injury, and having the 6-foot-7, 282-pounder patrolling center field regularly wouldn't be ideal for the Yankees' team defense.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
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