Free-agent relief pitcher Trevor Rosenthal (lat) said he is healthy and is looking for an opportunity to pitch in 2023. Rosenthal last pitched in the big leagues in the shortened 2020 season with the Kansas City Royals and San Diego Padres, posting a legitimate 1.90 ERA (2.22 FIP), a 0.84 WHIP, 11 saves and 38 strikeouts in 23 2/3 relief innings. He then signed a one-year deal with the Oakland Athletics for the 2021 season but never pitched after having thoracic outlet surgery on his shoulder and then surgery to fix a torn labrum in his hip that summer. Rosenthal signed with the San Francisco Giants late this season, but hamstring and lat injuries kept him from pitching with the team. It remains to be seen if a team will take a chance on the hard-throwing, injury-prone right-hander for the 2023 season.
The Seattle Mariners and super utilityman Dylan Moore avoided salary arbitration on Wednesday by agreeing to a three-year, $8.875 million extension, according to sources. The deal contains no options and escalators to $9 million-plus while buying out one free-agent year. Moore posted a strong .368 on-base percentage in 2022 and played seven different positions. The 30-year-old had offseason surgery on his abdomen but is expected to be ready for Opening Day, where he should continue to get plenty of playing time against left-handed pitchers all over the field. In his fourth MLB season for the M's last year, Moore slashed .224/.368/.385 with a .753 OPS, six home runs, 24 RBI, 41 runs scored and 21 stolen bases in 104 games. He is valuable in deeper leagues for his positional versatility and speed.
Free-agent right-hander Gray Fenter signed a minor-league deal with the New York Yankees on Wednesday. Fenter was formerly with the Baltimore Orioles and San Francisco Giants and had a nice 2.95 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings for the Lancaster Barnstormers of the independent Atlantic League in 2022. The 27-year-old was previously drafted by the Orioles in the seventh round in 2015. He has never made it to the major-league level and sports a 3.93 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 183 walks and 402 strikeouts in 347 2/3 innings over 113 appearances (69 starts) in six seasons in the minors. There's a very good chance that Fenter will open the 2023 season in the minor leagues for the Yankees as pitching depth.
Seattle Mariners closer Paul Sewald (elbow, heel) has resumed throwing and should be ready to pitch in spring training games. Sewald had surgeries on his right elbow and his heel in the offseason. The 32-year-old could be eased into spring training action, but relievers typically don't need a ton of work before the regular season. He had a team-high 20 saves last season and will enter Opening Day as Seattle's primary closer yet again, giving him plenty of value in fantasy leagues on an improved Mariners team. Sewald could have a short leash if he falters, though, and Andres Munoz and Diego Castillo are plenty capable of handling ninth-inning duties as well. Sewald had a career-best 2.67 ERA (3.88 FIP), 0.77 WHIP, 20 saves and 72 strikeouts in 64 relief innings last year.
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (thumb) underwent offseason surgery on his left thumb. Raleigh was able to catch left-hander Marco Gonzales' bullpen session on Tuesday in Arizona without any issues, though, so he should be ready for the start of the 2023 season. The 26-year-old still hasn't been cleared for full baseball activities, so he could be slightly behind the other catchers in camp. His surgery took place last fall and addressed a broken left thumb and a torn ligament in his hand. Raleigh clubbed 27 home runs and drove in 63 runs in 119 games in just his second MLB season for Seattle in 2022, so he'll be pretty attractive as a low-end starting catcher in fantasy drafts this spring, assuming he has no setbacks with his thumb in spring training.
Seattle Mariners first baseman Evan White (hip) is as healthy as he's ever been with spring training approaching. Meanwhile, infielder/outfielder Sam Haggerty (groin) should also be good to go for spring training. Reliever Andres Munoz (foot) is out of a walking boot and has started his throwing program after having foot surgery. White had sports-hernia surgery in 2022 and also deal with a hip injury, limiting him to just 107 plate appearances at Triple-A Tacoma. The 26-year-old will need to stay healthy and produce in order to find regular at-bats at the major-league level in 2023. Haggerty will serve in a utility role yet again after hitting .256 with five homers, 23 RBI and 13 steals in 83 games. He's worth rostering in AL-only leagues for his speed. Munoz had a breakout season in 2022 and should serve as a top setup man ahead of closer Paul Sewald when he's healthy.
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo will not be pitching for the Dominican Republic in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, according to president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto. "It's a choice that we made together," Dipoto said. The 30-year-old right-hander was a huge asset for the Mariners in the second half of last season after they acquired him from the Cincinnati Reds at the trade deadline. The two-time All-Star was 4-2 with a 3.17 ERA (2.91 FIP), 1.10 WHIP and 29 percent strikeout rate in 11 regular season starts for the Mariners. With a full and normal spring training heading into his first full season with the M's, fantasy managers should feel confident that he will produce strong numbers yet again. RotoBaller currently has Castillo ranked as the No. 18 fantasy starter.
Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Diego Castillo lost his salary arbitration case against the team on Wednesday, according to a source. Castillo will make $2.95 million in 2023, instead of the $3.225 million he filed for. In his first full season with the Mariners in 2022, Castillo went 7-3 with a 3.64 ERA (3.68 FIP), 1.14 WHIP, seven saves, 22 walks and 53 strikeouts in 54 1/3 relief innings over 59 appearances out of the bullpen. The 29-year-old right-hander could see a handful of save chances again in 2023, but he'll mostly be serving as a late-inning setup man in Seattle's bullpen alongside Andres Munoz. Paul Sewald is coming off injury, but he's projected to begin the year as the M's primary closer.
The ex-girlfriend of New York Mets outfielder Khalil Lee is alleging that Lee physically and verbally abused her in Syracuse last year. The 24-year-old Lee is named in a warrant issued for criminal obstruction of breath, a charge often associated with domestic incidents. Keriwyn Hill alleges that Lee assaulted her on May 7, 2022, by pulling her hair and choking her during an argument. She said the assault left multiple bruises and marks on her body. It remains to be seen if this incident will lead to a suspension for Lee, but Major League Baseball will surely investigate the matter. Lee played in only two games for the Mets last season and has played in just 13 big-league games in the last two years, going 2-for-20 with a homer, four RBI and 13 strikeouts.
The Cincinnati Reds signed infielder/outfielder Jason Vosler to a minor-league deal on Wednesday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training. Vosler signed with the Seattle Mariners late last month but was granted his release last weekend in order to join the Reds. The 29-year-old played in 36 games for the San Francisco Giants in his second MLB season last year, going 26-for-98 (.265) with four home runs, 12 RBI, 14 runs scored and a stolen base in 111 plate appearances. Vosler has little major-league experience, but he stands a much better chance of making and sticking on Cincinnati's big-league roster in 2023 than he did in Seattle.
The Los Angeles Dodgers avoided arbitration with starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin on Tuesday by agreeing to a two-year, $6.65 million deal. Per the agreement, Gonsolin will be paid $3.25 million in 2023 and $3.4 million in 2024, with built-in incentives around how many starts he makes in 2024. The 28-year-old had an All-Star 2022 season, going 16-1 with a 2.14 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and 23.9% strikeout rate in 24 starts and 130 1/3 innings pitched. However, Gonsolin did miss almost two months with a right forearm injury, and he dealt with right shoulder injuries in 2021. Given his career numbers and the strong offense supporting him, Gonsolin should be a solid fantasy contributor in all formats as long as he is healthy.
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