MLB News
Ha-Seong Kim Viewed As "Fallback" Option For Detroit
According to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, free-agent infielder Ha-Seong Kim is viewed as a "fallback" option if the Tigers are unable to sign either third baseman Alex Bregman or outfielder Anthony Santander. While the Tigers are reportedly "all-in" on Bregman and have expressed strong interest in Santander, Kim would be a fine "Plan C." Last summer in San Diego, Kim held a .233/.330/.370 slash line with 11 home runs and 22 stolen bases across 121 games. He showed a stellar eye at the plate with a 16.4% strikeout rate and a 12.3% walk rate. Kim underwent shoulder surgery in October and is only expected to miss the first month of the 2025 season. If he were to sign with Detroit, he would likely be given most of starts at shortstop and see occasional opportunities at the hot corner. His signing would limit Trey Sweeney's plate appearances and potentially Jace Jung's as well.
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Tigers "All-In" On Alex Bregman
According to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press the Detroit Tigers are "all-in" on free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman. Earlier this offseason, is was reported that the Tigers had interest, but this recent report suggests Bregman may be on the top of their list. This past week, the Tigers brought in second baseman Gleyber Torres on a one-year deal. This moved Colt Keith to first base, opening up third base for either Matt Vierling, Jace Jung (wrist) or potentially Bregman. If the Tigers were to come to an agreement with Bregman, Vierling would likely see most of his starts in the outfield in 2025, and it would significantly impact Jung's opportunities. Jung underwent wrist surgery in October but is expected to be a full-go during spring training. Last summer, Bregman hit for a .260/.315/.453 slash line with 26 home runs and would bring much-needed playoff experience to a young roster.
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Blue Jays, Angels Considered "Front-Runners" For Anthony Santander
According to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Angels are considered the "frontrunners" for free agent outfielder Anthony Santander. While Petzold mentions the Detroit Tigers are in the running, they are far from the favorites to land him. Last summer the 33 year-old switch-hitter posted a .235/.308/.506 line with 44 home runs and 102 RBI, which were both career-highs. Santander has hit at least 33 home runs in two of his past three seasons and held a SLG percentage of at least .450 in all three of them. In 2024, he generated a strong 11.7% barrel rate and .445 xSLG. With Toronto missing out on many top free agents, Santander would bring a much-needed boost to their lineup. In Los Angeles, Santander would bring another high-power bat to their lineup that also brought in Jorge Soler earlier this offseason.
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Wade Miley Hopes To Pitch In Spring Training
According to Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, free agent starting pitcher Wade Miley (elbow) is hoping to pitch in Spring Training and return to the regular season sometime in May. Miley underwent a UCL operation after making just two starts last season. Earlier this offseason, the Milwaukee Brewers declined his club option but the southpaw is hoping to return with the club before Spring Training. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during his recovery process as he may find a potential suitor for the 2025 campaign if he is able to pitch well during Spring Training. In 2023, Miley logged 120 1/3 innings to the tune of a 3.14 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. If he does agree to a major league deal, he should only be reserved for NL/AL-only formats, given his very low strikeout upside.
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Trevor Williams Returning To Washington On Two-Year Deal
According to Stephen J. Nesbitt of The Athletic, the Washington Nationals are signing starting pitcher Trevor Williams to a two-year contract worth $14 million. The 32-year-old was limited to just 66 2/3 innings (13 starts) last summer due to a flex strain but performed very well with a 2.03 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. He generated a strong 3.17 xERA and a .216 xBA which were both well above the average marks. However, he generated a modest 22.7% K rate and held a poor 22.5% whiff rate. Williams generated hard contact at an excellent 6.6% barrel rate and ground balls at a solid 44.8% rate. In 2023 across 144 1/3 frames he held a 5.55 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. While injuries limited him last summer, he showed a significant improvement and should be slated to have a spot in the rotation all summer. He is worth a look in deeper NL-only formats.
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Josh Bell Returning To Washington
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Washington Nationals are signing free agent first baseman Josh Bell to a one-year contract worth $6 million. Bell opened the 2024 campaign with the Miami Marlins before being acquired by the Arizona Diamondbacks later in the season. Across 145 total games, the switch-hitter held a .249/.319/.405 line with 19 home runs, 23 doubles, and a 51:210 BB:K ratio. Under the hood, the veteran generated a below-average .310 xwOBA and modest 40.1% hard-hit rate. Bell spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons in D.C. and held an impressive .301/.384/.493 line in 2022. While the Nationals acquired first baseman Nate Lowe earlier this week from Texas, Bell should be penciled into the DH spot on a daily basis. If he can see his power numbers climb, he could be worth a look in deeper NL-only formats.
13 hours ago
Toronto Showed Interest In Gleyber Torres
According to Sports Illustrated, the Toronto Blue Jays expressed interest in second baseman Gleyber Torres before he signed a contract with the Detroit Tigers. Earlier this offseason, the Blue Jays acquired second baseman Andres Gimenez from the Cleveland Guardians but were also interested in adding further depth to their infield. Instead, Torres ended up signing a one-year deal with the Tigers. While the source did not confirm, it can be expected that the Blue Jays were interested in targeting Torres before trading for Gimenez as they both are primary second baseman. The Blue Jays have been linked to several free agents all offseason including the top players on the market such as Max Fried and Juan Soto but have fallen short in the bidding. Torres is expected to start at the keystone every day in Detroit in 2025 while the Toronto infield currently consists of Ernie Clement, Bo Bichette, Gimenez, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
14 hours ago
Freddy Tarnok Agrees To Contract With Miami
According to Aram Leighton of Just Baseball Media, the Miami Marlins have signed right-handed pitcher Freddy Tarnok to a contract that includes an invite to Spring Training. The 26-year-old has logged only 15 1/3 career inning in the major leagues. Across this small stint, he has held a 4.70 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. Through 92 1/3 innings at the Triple-A level, the right-hander held a 4.68 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP with a 48:94 BB:K ratio. The former third-round pick split time with the bullpen and the rotation through the minor leagues but was deployed primarily as a reliever in the majors. Tarnok will compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster but will face an uphill battle given his lack of experience and success in the major leagues.
14 hours ago
Giants Have Pete Alonso "On Their Radar"
According to a source, the San Francisco Giants have free-agent first baseman Pete Alonso "on their radar." Earlier this offseason, the Giants made a big splash by signing shortstop Willy Adames to the largest contract in their franchise history. The team was also heavily linked to starting pitcher Corbin Burnes but fell short in the bidding to their division foe in the Arizona Diamondbacks. After losing out on Burnes, the Giants may pivot that money to acquire another elite bat for their lineup. Last season, Alonso had a down year to his standards, hitting 34 home runs. During the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Alonso went deep at least 40 times in each campaign. In addition, he held a .270/.329/.459 slash line with a strong .343 xwOBA. If the Giants are unable to acquire Alonso, LaMonte Wade Jr. would be penciled in as the Opening Day starter at first base.
14 hours ago
Vidal Brujan Acquired By Chicago
According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Chicago Cubs are acquiring infielder Vidal Brujan from the Miami Marlins in exchange for first baseman Matt Mervis. Brujan began his big league career with the Tampa Bay Rays before moving to Miami last summer. Across a hefty 227 games at the Triple-A level, the infielder held a strong .272/.357/.451 line with 243 total hits and 89 stolen bases. However, the 26-year-old was never able to see that production translate to the major leagues as he posted a poor .189/.261/.270 slash line across 201 games at the major leagues. He swiped only 14 bags and hit five long balls. Brujan could compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster but will likely spend most of the summer at Triple-A, given his struggles in the majors.
14 hours ago
Matt Mervis Traded To Miami
According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Miami Marlins are acquiring first baseman Matt Mervis from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for infielder Vidal Brujan. The 26-year-old was a former top prospect in the Chicago system but was never able to put it together in the majors. However, in the minor leagues, the first baseman showcased high upside at times. Across 241 games at the Triple-A level, Mervis posted a .269/.371/.511 slash line with 52 home runs, 54 doubles, and a 130:244 BB:K. However, in the majors, the infielder held an underwhelming .155/.222/.259 line. He tallied just three hits across 36 contests. Mervis should contend for a spot on the Marlins Opening Day roster but will likely open the 2025 campaign at the Triple-A level.
14 hours ago
Nolan Hoffman Inks Minor-League Contract With Texas
The Texas Rangers have signed right-handed pitcher Nolan Hoffman to a minor-league contract that has an invite to Spring Training. After being drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 2018 MLB Draft, Hoffman has gone on to spend the past three seasons in the Baltimore Orioles system. Last summer, Hoffman logged a career-high 58.0 innings at Triple-A and held a 3.88 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP. Despite the high ratios, he flashes strong strikeout upside, tallying 77 across these 58 frames. He was deployed exclusively as a reliever last summer and did earn two saves. Hoffman will compete for a spot in the Texas bullpen but should expected to open the 2025 campaign at Triple-A.
Yesterday
Alan Trejo Heading To Texas On Minor-League Contract
The Texas Rangers have signed second baseman/shortstop Alan Trejo to a minor-league contract that contains an invite to Spring Training. Trejo has spent the first four seasons of his major league career with the Colorado Rockies. Last summer, Trejo held a .143/.182/.143 line with no extra-base hits across 28 games in the major leagues. He sits with a cumulative .228/.276/.334 line through 174 games in the majors. Trejo would also post a .265/.346/.408 line across 59 games at Triple-A last summer. While the infielder has yet to put it together in the majors, he has shown solid upside in the minor leagues. He is worth monitoring in deeper AL-only formats as he could contend for a spot on the Opening Day roster.
Yesterday
Jax Biggers Signs Minor-League Deal With Texas
Second baseman Jax Biggers has signed a minor-league contract with the Texas Rangers that includes an invite to Spring Training. The 27-year-old has spent his entire career playing in the Rangers organization. Last summer he spent the entire season at the Triple-A level and held a solid .275/.390/.382 line with 22 doubles, three home runs, 12 stolen bases, and a 71:87 BB:K ratio. This was a nice improvement compared to the .269/.380/.359 line he posted across 253 career games at the Double-A level. Even though he has not reached the major league level, given his strong contact skills at Triple-A, he could contend for a spot on the Opening Day Roster if he has a successful Spring Training.
Yesterday
Chris Martin Linked To Texas
According to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, the Texas Rangers have interest in free-agent relief pitcher Chris Martin. Last season in Boston, the 38-year-old held a 3.45 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP across 44 1/3 innings of relief. He struck out batters a solid 27.8% rate and showed elite command with a near-perfect 1.7% walk rate. He also generated an above-average 3.41 xERA and 35.0% hard-hit rate. Martin spent time with Texas earlier in his career during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. If Martin were to sign with Texas, he would likely be deployed as a late-inning reliever. Currently, the Rangers do not have a top ninth-inning option but have expressed interest in re-signing Kirby Yates. If they do not, Martin could mix in for save opportunities if they come to a contract agreement.
Yesterday
Detroit Continuing To Show Interest In Alex Bregman
According to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit Tigers remain active in pursuing free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman. However, Petzold noted that both sides still have mutual interest despite a "gap in perceived value." Earlier this week, the Tigers signed second baseman Gleyber Torres to a one-year contract. However, even after that deal, the Tigers remain active in improving their lineup. If Bregman were to come to an agreement with Detroit, he would have an everyday role at the hot corner, which would likely move Matt Vierling to either the outfield or to the designated-hitter spot. Last summer, Bregman held a .260/.315/.453 slash line with 26 home runs and three stolen bases. Bregman will remain a popular target in points leagues in 2025 given his stellar 13.6% strikeout rate and a low-end top-12 option in category leagues.
Yesterday
Jordan Montgomery Could Still Be Traded
According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery could still be traded. Feinsand reported this following their signing of Corbin Burnes to a massive six-year contract. Montgomery's name has been on the trade throughout the offseason but has yet to find a suitor. The 32-year-old southpaw exercised his team option earlier this offseason but could still be moved. Last summer in the desert, the left-handed arm held a poor 6.23 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP. With Corbin Burnes joining the rotation, Montgomery will face an uphill battle to earn a spot as a permanent starter as Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Brandon Pfaadt, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Ryne Nelson are all vying for the final four spots. As a result, the Diamondbacks may look to move Montgomery to improve elsewhere. Montgomery carries high-risk heading into the 2025 season given the poor 5.18 xERA he generated last season.
Yesterday
Corbin Burnes Had Sizeable Contracts From Other Suitors
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, right-handed pitcher Corbin Burnes turned down more money per year from other suitors when he signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks earlier on Saturday. Heyman mentions that the San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays offered Burnes larger contracts than Arizona. However, Burnes opted to sign with the Diamondbacks due to a lower state tax and family arrangements. The 30-year-old pitcher ended up agreeing to a six-year deal worth $210 million with the Diamondbacks that includes an opt out after two seasons. Last summer in Baltimore, Burnes posted a strong 2.92 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP across 194 1/3 innings of work. Despite seeing his strikeout production drop, Burnes remains a high-end starting pitcher heading into 2025 given his stable ratios and ability to make over 30 starts each season.
Yesterday
Mets Made Offer To Teoscar Hernandez
Before outfielder Teoscar Hernandez re-signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers for three years and $66 million this week, the New York Mets offered him a two-year contract, according to a source. The move would have been a big addition for the Mets after they already landed superstar outfielder Juan Soto, and it likely would have meant a move back to center field for Brandon Nimmo. For fantasy purposes, the 32-year-old Hernandez staying in Hollywood in the middle of a stacked Dodgers lineup is probably for the best. It was pretty much expected all along for Hernandez to stay in LA after helping the team win the World Series in his first year with the organization. Hernandez hit .272/.339/.501 with a career-high 33 home runs, 99 RBI, 12 steals and 84 runs scored in 2024. His strong batted-ball metrics suggest he should have another strong season in 2025 in one of the best situations in baseball.
Yesterday
Padres Re-Sign Logan Gillaspie To Minor-League Deal
The San Diego Padres have signed right-hander Logan Gillaspie to a minor-league deal. Gillaspie will return to the Friars after appearing nine times in relief for the team in 2024, allowing nine earned runs on 15 hits (two home runs) while walking none and striking out seven in only 11 1/3 innings pitched. The 27-year-old also appeared in 44 games out of the bullpen for Triple-A El Paso and went 4-2 with a 3.77 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, seven saves, 42 strikeouts and 19 walks in 45 1/3 innings pitched. Gillaspie made his major-league debut with the Baltimore Orioles in 2022 and also pitched for them in 2023. He has a 5.02 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 25:8 K:BB in his 37 2/3 relief innings in his three years in the majors. Gillaspie will most likely start the 2025 season back at El Paso and serve as additional relief depth. He's nowhere near the fantasy radar.
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