MLB News

According to Ben Nicholson-Smith of SportsNet, the Toronto Blue Jays have signed left-handed pitcher Josh Walker to a one-year contract worth $760,000. In a corresponding move the Blue Jays released right-handed pitcher Hagen Danner. Walker has spent his entire professional career with the New York Mets after being selected in the 2017 MLB Draft out of New Haven. Across 22 1/3 major league innings of relief, the southpaw has held a 6.45 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP. He struck out 23 batters and allowed 12 free passes. In 37 2/3 innings at the Triple-A level last summer, he posted a 4.06 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. Fantasy managers should expect Walker to have a low-leverage role in the Toronto bullpen if he is able to earn a spot on the Opening Day Roster.

According to Daniel Alvarez-Montes of the Miami Chapter Chair, the Miami Marlins have released infielder Vidal Brujan to make room for third baseman Eric Wagaman. Brujan began his major league career in the Tampa Bay system. Across 227 games at Triple-A, Brujan posted a solid .272/.357/.451 line with 29 home runs and 89 stolen bases. However, he struggled when he was given the call to the big leagues. In 2022, the infielder carried an underwhelming .163/.228/.259 line across a 52-game stint. Last season he played 102 games with the Miami Marlins and struggled as well posting a .222/.303/.319 line with just two home runs and five swiped bags. While he flashed great contact skills and speed in the minor leagues, he has yet to put it together in the majors. If he does find a suitor, he will likely compete for a spot on an Opening Day Roster during Spring Training.

According to Daniel Alvarez-Montes of the Miami Chapter Chair, the Miami Marlins are signing third baseman Eric Wagaman to a one-year contract. Wagaman made his major league debut last season with the Angles and posted a .250/.270/.403 line with five doubles and two home runs across a small 18-game stint. Across 27 games at Triple-A last season, Wagaman held an impressive .320/.355/.500 slash line with five doubles, three home runs, and a 6:14 BB:K ratio. Across 146 games at the Double-A level the 27-year-old held a solid .282/.352/.468 line. Fantasy managers should monitor his progress during Spring Training as he may contend for a spot on the Opening Day Roster especially with Jake Burger departing for Texas earlier this offseason.

The Texas Rangers announced that they have DFA'd right-handed pitching prospect Owen White to make room for free agent left-handed pitcher Hoby Milner. The Rangers agreed to a one-year contract with Milner on Thursday evening. White was drafted by the Rangers in the second round of the 2018 MLB Draft out of Jesse Carson HS. White made his major league debut in 2023 and posted a 11.25 ERA across four innings of work. Then, last summer, White held a hefty 24.00 ERA across three innings of work. Across 154 1/3 innings at Triple-A, the right-hander held a 5.41 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP with a 80:119 BB:K ratio. Given his struggles not only in the big leagues but at the top level of the minor leagues, White will likely operate primarily in the minor leagues if he finds a new home in 2025.

The Atlanta Braves acquired right-hander Davis Daniel from the Los Angeles Angels on Friday in exchange for minor-league left-hander Mitch Farris. Daniel will head to the National League after the Angels designated him for assignment this offseason. The 27-year-old former seventh-rounder in 2019 out of Auburn made his big-league debut in Anaheim in 2023 and went 1-for-4 in his second season in 2024 with a rough 6.23 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 28 strikeouts in just 30 1/3 innings pitched over his six starts. The Braves have some opportunities in their starting rotation in 2025, but Daniel will most likely begin the 2025 campaign at Triple-A Gwinnett. Farris, 23, was taken in the 14th round in 2023 out of Wingate. He held a 3.08 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 131:43 K:BB in 108 innings over 25 outings (19 starts) at three minor-league levels in 2024.

The Baltimore Orioles signed free-agent outfielder Jordyn Adams to a minor-league deal on Friday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, according to a source. The 25-year-old was a first-round pick by the Los Angeles Angels in 2018. He made his big-league debut with the Angels in 2023 and played in only 17 games. In 2024, Adams played in only 11 games in the majors and went 8-for-35 (.229) with his first home run, four RBI, two steals and four runs scored in 38 plate appearances. In his 28 combined games at the big-league level, Adams has hit only .176/.205/.216 with a homer, five RBI and 28 strikeouts in 78 plate appearances, so he'll be a long shot to become fantasy relevant suddenly in 2025, especially on a stacked Orioles roster. Adams, who hits from the right side, has a .252/.333/.377 career slash line with 42 homers in 561 games in the minors over six seasons.

Free-agent right-hander Matt Bowman signed a minor-league deal that includes an invitation to major-league spring training on Friday with the Baltimore Orioles. Bowman will make $1.1 million if he's in the majors plus $400,000 in incentives. The 33-year-old veteran was originally a 13th-round pick out of Princeton in 2012 by the New York Mets. He bounced around in 2024 with four different teams at the major-league level -- the Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks, Seattle Mariners and Orioles -- and finished with a 4.40 ERA (5.19 FIP), a 1.27 WHIP and a 24:13 K:BB in only 30 2/3 combined innings over 25 appearances (one start). Bowman has a 4.17 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP, two saves and a 176:77 K:BB in 216 career innings at the big-league level since debuting with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2016. He'll represent relief depth for Baltimore in 2025.

Free-agent left-hander Patrick Sandoval (elbow) and the Boston Red Sox agreed on a two-year, $18.25 million deal on Friday, according to sources. The 28-year-old left-hander is coming off an internal-brace procedure on his left elbow but expects to return at some point in the second half of the 2025 season. He became a free agent after the Los Angeles Angels non-tendered him in November. Sandoval won't be on the fantasy radar to begin the season and will probably be too risky to roster in the majority of formats once he returns in the second half in his debut with Boston. He's the second left-handed starter the BoSox have added this offseason after the traded for Garrett Crochet. Sandoval leans more on his secondary pitches than he does an average fastball, which limits his fantasy upside with a career 22.7% strikeout rate. He has a 4.01 career ERA with a 1.39 WHIP in six MLB seasons to date.

Free-agent first baseman Christian Walker agreed to a three-year, $60 million deal with the Houston Astros on Friday. It's yet another sign that the Astros won't be re-signing All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman this winter. The Astros acquired infielder Isaac Paredes from the Chicago Cubs in the trade that sent outfielder Kyle Tucker to Chicago, so Paredes should replace Bregman at the hot corner. Walker will end up taking over first-base duties from Jon Singletary, who had struggled against left-handed pitching. Walker, who is entering his age-34 season, is a three-time Gold Glover and also has been a stable source of power production for fantasy managers, averaging just under 32 home runs in each of the last three seasons. Only Pete Alonso and Matt Olson have more homers at the first-base position than Walker since the start of 2022. Walker should see a slight fantasy boost with the move to Houston.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Toronto Blue Jays are "not as interested" in re-signing infielder Bo Bichette in comparison to first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Rosenthal noted that the Blue Jays will likely have to make a decision on who to resign this upcoming offseason, as both players will likely seek a massive pay increase. Rosenthal also said that circumstances around Bichette have changed since the Blue Jays dismissed any trade talks regarding the shortstop. In addition, the Blue Jays also brought in star defender Andres Gimenez, who could eventually be Bichette's replacement. Bichette is coming off the worst season of his career, where he posted a .225/.277/.322 slash line, a stark drop from the .306/.339/.475 line he held in 2023. Rosenthal also noted that even though Toronto would likely be "selling low" on the 26-year-old, a trade would make sense. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor this situation. However, Bichette remains a popular buy-low investment heading into the 2025 season and should be in line to bounce back.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Blue Jays are continuing to pursue a contract extension for their first baseman, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Rosenthal noted that the Blue Jays have several contracts to take care of including Guerrero's extension, Bo Bichette's potential extension, and even the possibility of signing free agent Alex Bregman. While it will be difficult to accomplish all three of these tasks, Rosenthal noted that all three objectives remain "in play." Guerrero is projected to earn near $30 million in his final year of arbitration and will hit free agency at age 27. Given the massive contract Juan Soto earned this offseason, Guerrero could be store for a massive payday. The first baseman finished second in AL MVP in 2021 and is coming off another excellent campaign where he posted a .323/.396/.544 line with 30 home runs and 103 RBI.

According to Daniel Kramer of MLB.com, the Seattle Mariners have claimed free agent catcher Nick Raposo off of waivers. Raposo was released by the Toronto Blue Jays earlier this week. Last summer across 78 games at the Triple-A level, the 26-year-old held a .206/.280/.340 line with ten doubles, eight home runs and a 25:59 BB:K ratio. In 2023, Raposo held a .260/.315/.420 line across Double-A. Raposo may contend for a spot on the Opening Day Roster but will likely open the campaign at Triple-A as he has yet to master that level. Fantasy managers in dynasty formats should not consider stashing him anytime soon as he will likely need more time to develop and has yet to flash any true offensive upside.

According to Ken Rosenthal of MLB on FOX, the Athletics have signed free agent infielder Gio Urshela to a one-year contract. Urshela spent the 2024 campaign playing in Detroit and Atlanta. Across 128 games, the infielder held a .250/.286/.361 line with 19 doubles, nine home runs and no stolen bases. Urshela showed a great eye at the plate with a 15.6% K rate and 20.3% whiff rate which were both significantly above the average marks. In addition, he also generated a .264 xBA which suggest he could be due for some positive regression in 2025. In 2022 and 2023 he posted a .285 AVG and .299 AVG respectively. Fantasy managers should expect him to have an everyday role at the hot corner with the Athletics and could be worth a look in deeper AL-only formats given his low strikeout rate and solid batting average.

According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Texas Rangers have signed free agent relief pitcher Hoby Milner to a one-year contract. Milner has spent the past four season working in the Milwaukee bullpen. Across 64 2/3 innings last summer, the southpaw posted a 4.73 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP. However, under the hood he generated a strong 3.24 xERA which suggests he should be in store for some positive regression in 2025. He also allowed hard contract at a low 36.2% rate and barrels at stellar 2.7% rate. In addition, he showed great command with a 5.2% walk rate. Last season he was typically deployed in the seven and eighth innings as a set-up man. Fantasy managers should monitor who else the Rangers sign as Milner could contend for save opportunities or be an elite contributor in leagues that score holds.

According to the Texas Rangers PR, right-handed pitcher Roansy Contreras has been claimed by the Cincinnati Reds. The Rangers designated Contreras for assignment earlier this offseason after acquiring him in late October. The 25-year-old spent the 2024 campaign with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Los Angeles Angels. Across 68 1/3 innings, the right-hander held a 4.35 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. Contreras operated primarily out of the bullpen but did receive three starts. Under the hood, the right-hander generated a poor 4.94 xERA, 9.7% barrel rate and a 43.5% hard-hit rate. In addition he struggled to generate strikeouts at a poor 18.8% mark and had poor command with a high 10.4% walk rate. Fantasy managers should monitor his progress during Spring Training as he could contend for the final spot in the Cincinnati rotation and may enter low-enter streaming territory for NL-only formats.

According to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com, the Arizona Diamondbacks have signed outfielder Cristian Pache to a non-roster invite. Pache spent the 2024 campaign playing in Philadelphia, Baltimore and Miami. Across 88 games, Pache posted a .200/.273/.279 slash line with eight doubles, one home run, and one stolen base. Across 48 games in 2023, he held a slightly higher .238/.319/.417 line. Through 169 games at the Triple-A level, the 26-year-old posted a .260/.325/.401 line with 33 doubles and 13 stolen bases. Pache will likely compete for a roster spot during Spring Training. Pache should not be on your fantasy radar heading into the 2025 season given his lack of consistent production in the big leagues.

According to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, the Philadelphia Phillies have signed free-agent outfielder Max Kepler to a one-year contract. Kepler has spent his entire 10-year MLB career playing with the Minnesota Twins. Last season, he saw his campaign cut short due to left-knee tendinitis he suffered in early September. Across 105 games in 2024, the veteran outfielder posted a .253/.302/.380 slash line with 21 doubles, eight home runs, 42 RBI and one swiped bag. Under the hood, he generated a below-average 36.8% hard-hit rate and 6.2% barrel rate. In addition, he posted a low .301 xwOBA, which was his lowest mark since the 2019 season. Fantasy managers should expect Kepler to operate as a depth outfielder in Philadelphia who will contend for a starting role in spring training.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Washington Nationals have signed right-handed pitcher Michael Soroka. Soroka spent last season pitching for the Chicago White Sox and operated as both a reliever and a starter. Across 79 2/3 innings of work, the right-hander held a 4.74 ERA and 1.38 WHIP with an 0-10 record. However across 7 1/3 innings of relief in September, he held a perfect 0.00 ERA with a stellar 0.55 WHIP. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to how the Nationals plan to deploy Soroka as he flashed decent upside when operating out of the bullpen. If he does find a permanent spot in the bullpen, he could eventually earn a high-leverage role given the lack of proven options in the Nationals bullpen with Kyle Finnegan currently testing free agency.

The Philadelphia Phillies signed free-agent reliever Nick Vespi to a minor-league deal on Thursday that includes an invitation to big-league spring training. The 29-year-old left-hander had a 3.88 ERA (4.23 FIP), 1.27 WHIP, 46:13 K:BB and one save in 53 1/3 innings over 45 relief appearances for the Baltimore Orioles the last three seasons and will provide potential depth to Philadelphia's bullpen for the 2025 campaign. Vespi had his best season with the O's last year, allowing four earned runs on 10 hits (one homer) while walking three and striking out nine in 12 2/3 relief innings. However, Vespi was hit around in the minors at Triple-A Norfolk, posting a 7.23 ERA and 2.03 WHIP with 51 strikeouts and 31 walks in 42 1/3 innings. Vespi will not be on the fantasy radar heading into next season.

Ryan Hamill, the agent for free-agent right-hander Michael Lorenzen, is talking with teams that are interested in signing his client about his two-way abilities. Lorenzen, who turns 33 on Jan. 4, has not hit in a big-league game since 2021 and hasn't had more than one plate appearance in a season since 2019. Hamill is discussing with teams the possibility of getting Lorenzen the necessary plate appearances to qualify for two-way status and then flipping him to a contender that would carry him as a 14th pitcher. A player with two-way designation (only Shohei Ohtani right now) doesn't count against a team's 13-pitcher limit on the 26-man roster. Lorenzen was an All-Star in 2023 and also threw a no-hitter, and he finished with a 3.31 ERA in 130 1/3 innings in 2024 with the Rangers and Royals. The White Sox, Marlins and Rockies could be idea fits for what Hamill is proposing, but it remains to be seen if it will happen.