18 hours agoAccording to Jesse Rogers of ESPN, Chicago Cubs outfielder
Seiya Suzuki will be the team's primary designated hitter during the 2025 season. Earlier in the offseason, the Chicago Cubs acquired star outfielder
Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros, creating a logjam in the team's outfield. However, Suzuki and manager Craig Counsell have agreed that he will spend most of the summer at the DH spot. As a result, fantasy managers should expect
Ian Happ,
Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Kyle Tucker to operate as the team's starting outfielder throughout most of the season. While Suzuki boasts a potent bat, his defense has been quite underwhelming. Last season, he posted a poor -3 OAA. However, in the batter's box, he held a. 283/.366/.482 line with 21 home runs and 16 stolen bases. Suzuki should have prime RBI opportunities batting behind Tucker and Happ.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jesse Rogers
18 hours agoAccording to the team, the Kansas City Royals have signed second baseman
Harold Castro to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training. Castro spent the 2024 season in the Mexican Baseball League. During the 2023 campaign, Castro posted a .252/.275/.314 line across 99 games with the Colorado Rockies. He hit just one home run and had 13 doubles. However, from 2019 through 2022, Castro was productive with the Detroit Tigers, posting a cumulative .284/.309/.378. The 31-year-old will compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster but should be expected to open the season at the Triple-A level given his lack of major league success over the past few seasons.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Kansas City Royals
19 hours agoAccording to Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals remain focused on finding a trade partner for third baseman
Nolan Arenado. Worthy noted that moving the gold glover is priority "1, 2, and 3" for president of baseball operations John Mozeliak. Arenado's name has been around several trade discussions throughout the offseason. The Astros reportedly sent the Cardinals a package, but Arenado vetoed the deal. The New York Yankees have also had discussions about acquiring the third baseman. The Cardinals are trying to clear salaries off their payroll to open opportunities for their younger players to have roles in the 2025 season. Starting pitchers
Erick Fedde and
Steven Matz have also been on the trade block, according to sources. Last season, Arenado posted a .272/.325/.394 line with 16 home runs but remains an elite defender despite his declining bat.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Lynn Worthy
19 hours agoAccording to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Toronto Blue Jays are continuing their pursuit of free-agent outfielder
Anthony Santander. Heyman noted that the team has made progress with their conversations. However, the Blue Jays have had positive discussions with free agents but have fallen short in several bids for the other top options, such as
Juan Soto and Roki Sasaki. Heyman also reported that the Blue Jays are also eyeing
Pete Alonso and potentially another pitcher. Last season, Santander launched a career-best 44 home runs with a .235/.308/.506 line. Under the hood, he boasted an 11.7% barrel rate and .445 xSLG, which were both significantly above the average marks. If Santander were to sign in Toronto, he would likely see most of his starts as a designated hitter.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman
19 hours agoAccording to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com, Texas Rangers starting pitcher
Jacob deGrom (elbow) "feels really good" after having a typical offseason. deGrom missed most of the 2024 campaign after recovering from his second Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in April of 2023. deGrom returned to the major leagues in September and struck out 14 batters across a short 10-inning stint. The two-time Cy Young winner expressed, "The goal is to go out there and make as many starts as I can to help contribute. Things have been feeling really good," when asked about his current health status. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor the 36-year-old's status during spring training, but it appears that the hard-throwing right-hander will be a full-go for the start of the 2025 campaign. Given his career 2.52 ERA and 0.99 WHIP, deGrom carries elite upside despite his injury risk.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Kennedi Landry
19 hours agoAccording to Josh Frydman of WGN News, Chicago Cubs shortstop
Dansby Swanson (core) feels healthy and is expected to be ready for spring training. Swanson underwent surgery for a core injury over the offseason. Swanson noted that it is "Nice to feel like yourself. Feels like a re-set" when asked how he felt. Swanson appeared in 149 games with the Cubs last season and held a .242/.312/.390 and hit 16 home runs, and swiped 19 bags. Under the hood, he generated a .321 xwOBA, .416 xSLG, and a 42.7% hard-hit rate, all of which were slightly above the average marks. During his first season with the Cubs in 2023, Swanson went deep 22 times with a .244 AVG. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status leading up to Opening Day. If healthy, he should be penciled in as the starting shortstop on the Northside all season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Josh Frydman
22 hours agoAccording to Kiley McDaniel of ESPN, the Los Angeles Dodgers have traded outfielder
Dylan Campbell to the Philadelphia Phillies. Campbell was selected out of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Texas. He made his professional debut in 2023 and held a .205/.225/.231 line across ten games at Single-A. In 2024, Campbell spent the entire season at High-A. Through 115 games, Campbell posted a .251/.331/.372 line with 21 doubles, ten home runs, and a 50:110 BB:K ratio. However, Campbell flashed elite speed as he swiped 42 bases. MLB Pipeline currently ranks Campbell as the No. 27 in the Philadelphia system. Dynasty managers should expect the 22-year-old to spend most of the 2025 season at the Double-A level.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Kiley McDaniel
22 hours agoAccording to Aram Leighton of Just BB Media, the Atlanta Braves have signed catcher
Curt Casali to a minor-league contract. Casali appeared in 41 games with the San Francisco Giants last summer and held a .194/.293/.250 line with three doubles, one home run, and a 13:22 BB:K ratio. He also spent time with Triple-A Iowa and posted a strong .362/.489/.551 line with seven doubles, two home runs, and a 15:16 BB:K ratio. Across his 11-year major league career, the backstop has held a .218/.313/.369 line, Casali will compete for the No.2 catching job with
Chadwick Tromp and prospect
Drake Baldwin during spring training.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Aram Leighton
22 hours agoAccording to Andrew Golden of the Washington Post, the Washington Nationals have signed catcher
Andrew Knizner to a minor-league contract. He will also be invited to spring training. The 29-year-old made 37 appearances with the Texas Rangers. Through this stint, he held a .167/.182/.211 with just one double, one home run, and a 1:22 BB:K ratio. He then spent the end of the season with Triple-A Reno in the Diamondbacks system and posted a .263/.355/.388 line. Throughout his big league career, the backstop has posted a .210/.279/.317 line across 293 games. Knizer will compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster but will likely open the campaign in the minor leagues, given his struggles in the majors.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Andrew Golden
22
hours
agoAccording
to
Bob
Nightengale
of
USA
Today,
the
Chicago
Cubs
are
expected
to
look
internally
for
a
third
baseman.
Earlier
this
offseason,
the
Cubs
shipped
their
starting
third
baseman
Isaac
Paredes,
prospect
Cam
Smith,
and
right-handed
pitcher
Haydenread more...
22 hours agoAccording to Jon Morosi of the MLB Network, the Chicago Cubs are among the favorites to land free-agent relief pitcher
Tanner Scott. Scott is one of the top remaining players on the open market. In addition to the Cubs, the Diamondbacks, Blue Jays, and Red Sox have been linked to the southpaw throughout the offseason. Last summer, Scott opened the campaign with the Miami Marlins and tallied 18 saves across 45 2/3 innings. He was then shipped to San Diego at the deadline and was deployed in the set-up role behind
Robert Suarez. Overall, the 30-year-old posted a strong 1.75 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP across 72 frames of work. Currently,
Porter Hodge is slated to be the ninth-inning option in Chicago. Last summer, he tallied nine saves with a 1.88 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP through 43 innings of work. Scott would be the top ninth-inning option if he were to join the Cubs.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jon Morosi
2 days agoAccording to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, the Seattle Mariners have signed right-handed pitcher
Shintaro Fujinami to a minor-league contract with an invite to spring training. Fujinami made his big league debut with the Oakland Athletics in 2023. In his first season, the right-hander had a 7.18 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP in 79 innings. He struck out 83 batters but struggled with his command, posting a hefty 12.3% walk rate. Last summer, Fujinami spent the entire season in the Mets system. He logged 32 1/3 innings with Triple-A Syracuse and posted a poor 6.68 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP and missed time due to a shoulder injury. Given his struggles in the majors, Fujinami will compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster but will likely open the season in the minor league.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jon Morosi
2 days agoAccording to Mike Puma of the New York Post, the New York Mets are no longer targeting free-agent relief pitcher
Tanner Scott. Puma noted that with the Mets signing
A.J. Minter earlier on Friday, the team is no longer pursuing other options for their bullpen. The Mets met with Scott earlier in free agency, and he is still one of the top available options on the open market. Last season, Scott held a 1.75 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP across 72 innings of work. He tallied 22 saves and struck out 84 batters. He generated a stellar 27.5% hard-hit and 4.7% barrel rates, placing him in the 99th and 92nd percentile among qualified pitchers, respectively. He also generated ground balls at a strong 52.0% rate. The 30-year-old will likely be deployed as a ninth-inning option with his new club.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Mike Puma
2 days agoAccording to MLB.com, the Athletics have invited first base prospect Nick Kurtz to spring training. Kurtz was selected with the fourth-overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Wake Forest. Entering the draft, Kurt was viewed as one of the top prospects and was widely considered to be the top available prospect, especially after posting a stellar .344/.498/.695 line with 39 home runs during his first two college seasons. However, Kurtz battled a shoulder injury during the 2024 collegiate season, which slightly lowered his draft stock. The 21-year-old was given a brief taste of Single-A ball last summer as he posted a .400/.571/.960 line across seven games. He then moved up to Double-A Midland, where he tallied four hits across five games. Fantasy managers in redraft formats should not be targeting him in drafts, but he could push for a late-season big league debut if he continues this trajectory in the upper levels of the minor leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 days agoAccording to the team, the Athletics have designated right-handed pitcher
Will Klein for assignment. This transaction opened the roster spot for right-handed pitcher
Jose Leclerc, who the team signed earlier on Friday. Klein was considered the No.16 best prospect on the team before being designated for assignment. The 25-year-old made his big league debut last summer but struggled as he allowed nine earned runs across his first seven 1/3 frames of work. However, he did strike out seven batters. Across 43 innings at the Triple-A level last summer, Klein posted a 3.77 ERA and a 1.43 WHI. He struck out 43 batters but struggled with his command as he served up 32 walks. If Klein finds a suitor, he will likely open the campaign at the Triple-A level.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: A' Communications
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