MLB News
Twins Re-Sign Daniel Duarte
The Minnesota Twins have re-signed right-handed reliever Daniel Duarte (elbow) to a minor-league deal. The Twins re-signed the 27-year-old reliever after removing him from the 40-man roster this offseason. Duarte is currently recovering from revision surgery on his right UCL and is expected to miss most, if not all of the 2025 season. The Mexican hurler only threw four innings of relief in 2024 with Minnesota before being shut down with his elbow injury, and he allowed one earned run while walking one and striking out three. Duarte made his major-league debut in 2022 with the Cincinnati Reds and had a 4.19 ERA (6.16 FIP), a 1.46 WHIP and a 25:23 K:BB in 34 1/3 relief innings in his two seasons with the club. Obviously, Duarte isn't anywhere near the fantasy radar heading into next year.
6 hours ago
Astros Add Steven Okert On Minor-League Deal
The Houston Astros have signed free-agent left-hander Steven Okert to a minor-league deal. Okert wasn't very good in 2024 with the Minnesota Twins, but he'll get another opportunity in spring training in 2025 with the Astros. In his 44 appearances (one start) over 35 1/3 innings with the Twins this past season, Okert posted a bloated 5.09 ERA (5.12 FIP), a career-worst 1.50 WHIP, 33 strikeouts and 16 walks while going 3-2. The 33-year-old southpaw will most likely open the campaign at Triple-A Sugar Land but should eventually see some time in the big leagues in Houston. He was originally drafted in the fourth round in 2012 out of Oklahoma by the San Francisco Giants. Okert has a career 4.34 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with only one save, which came last year with the Twins. He's not at all on the fantasy radar heading into 2025.
6 hours ago
Rangers Sign Luis Curvelo To Major-League Deal
The Texas Rangers signed right-hander Luis Curvelo to an undisclosed major-league contract on Wednesday. It's a bit of a surprise that Curvelo landed a big-league deal since he has not played beyond Double-A in the minors. The 24-year-old Venezuelan hurler pitched in the Seattle Mariners' system in 2024 and went 4-0 with a 2.57 ERA, a 0.85 WHIP, 78 strikeouts and only 18 walks in 66 2/3 relief innings over 49 appearances out of the bullpen for Double-A Arkansas. Curvelo will be competing for a spot in the Opening Day bullpen at spring training in 2025, and he could end up being a high-leverage arm for Texas if he can keep the momentum going that he established on the farm last season. In his six seasons in the minor leagues, Curvelo has a 3.51 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 334:92 K:BB in 294 2/3 innings pitched.
6 hours ago
Twins Considering Moving Griffin Jax Into Starting Rotation
Minnesota Twins bench coach Jayce Tingler said that the team is leaving open the possibility of moving right-handed reliever Griffin Jax into the starting rotation next season. The Twins already have a pretty deep rotation, but Jax could join that list next year. The 29-year-old former third-round pick in 2016 out of Air Force was outstanding in his 72 appearances out of the Twins' bullpen in 2024 in his fourth year in the big leagues. Jax had a career-best 2.03 ERA (1.94 FIP), a career-high 10 saves, a 0.87 WHIP, a career-high 95 strikeouts and only 15 walks in 71 innings pitched. He's been a workhorse for Minnesota the last three years, combining for a 3.06 ERA and 1.03 WHIP with 15 saves and a 241:54 K:BB in 208 2/3 frames. Jax was an excellent source of holds and ratios as a reliever, and while he'd have plenty of value as a starter, too, his innings would also certainly be capped.
6 hours ago
Josue Briceno Collects Five Hits On Tuesday
A day after hitting his AFL-leading ninth home run, Detroit Tigers first base/catching prospect Josue Briceno stayed hot, going 5-for-5 with a pair of doubles, four RBI, and three runs scored for the Scottsdale Scorpions. You might be looking at the eventual Arizona Fall League MVP as the 20-year-old now leads the circuit -- by a wide margin in some cases -- in hits (36), home runs (9), RBI (26), AVG (.439), SLG (.866), and OPS (1.371). Winning AFL MVP honors could put him in some pretty good company, including the likes of Nolan Arenado (2011), Kris Bryant (2013), Ronald Acuna Jr. (2017), Royce Lewis (2019), and Heston Kjerstad (2022). He's just 20 years old and likely a couple of years away from the majors, but his AFL performance could put him on the fast track.
6 hours ago
Moises Ballesteros Collects Two More Hits In The AFL
Chicago Cubs catching prospect Moises Ballesteros kept hitting on Tuesday, going 2-for-3 with a walk for the Mesa Solar Sox. The performance raised his average to .320 in the fall season with a .946 OPS. The successful fall campaign comes on the heels of a breakout 2024 regular season in which the backstop hit his way to a promotion to Triple-A, then continued to hit once he got there. Across both levels, the lefty hitter posted a .289-19-57-78-1 line over 124 games (508 PA). He did so at only the age of 20 and it was the third consecutive season in which he hit double-digit homers against pitching that was much more advanced in age. The Cubs have just Miguel Amaya on the major league roster at the moment after Christian Bethancourt became a free agent this offseason, so Ballesteros figures to at least get a shot to crack the roster next spring. Regardless, he shows no signs of being overmatched at any level so far, so if he can improve his defense then he'll be in a Cubs uniform sooner rather than later, very likely at some point in 2025.
7 hours ago
Caleb Durbin Homers, Swipes Two More Bases On Tuesday
New York Yankees infield prospect Caleb Durbin is scorching hot right now, at the plate and on the basepaths, going 3-for-4 with a home run, a walk, four RBI, three runs scored, and two more stolen bases in his latest Arizona Fall League game for the Salt River Rafters on Tuesday. The 24-year-old has his fall batting average up to .318 with a 1.006 OPS, but that's not the most impressive thing; a day after swiping four bags in a game, Durbin stole two more, bringing his stolen base count to an astounding 29 in just 23 games played. After leading the AFL in 2023 in steals with 21, edging out speedy St. Louis Cardinals prospect Victor Scott II who had 18, Durbin will easily earn the stolen base crown in the 2024 AFL campaign with a 17-steal lead over the next closest player. The former 14th-round draft pick has opened eyes, including that of Yankees skipper Aaron Boone, and with an exclamation point on this season, the right-handed hitter looks more and more likely to be on the big league roster come Opening Day.
7 hours ago
Thayron Liranzo Homers, Drives In Three In Four-Hit Day
Fresh off winning the Arizona Fall League (AFL) Fall Stars game MVP, Detroit Tigers catching prospect Thayron Liranzo continued that momentum in his first game back with the Scottsdale Scorpions on Tuesday, going 4-for-5 with a solo home run, three RBI, and a run scored. The Tigers acquired Liranzo earlier this season in the Jack Flaherty trade and has impressed with his new club. After a strong showing at High-A West Michigan, the young backstop now owns a .375/.492/.667 slashline over 15 games in the AFL and has shown a patient eye, walking more than he is striking out (11:9 BB:K). With just a couple of games left in the AFL regular season, it appears the 21-year-old has made a strong case to begin next season at Double-A and perhaps make a push toward Triple-A with some continued success. He likely won't be in a Tigers uniform until 2026 or beyond, but a switch-hitting offensive catcher is something dynasty managers would be wise to keep an eye on.
8 hours ago
Andrew Painter Strikes Out Six In Latest AFL Start
Philadelphia Phillies pitching prospect Andrew Painter had another strong start in the Arizona Fall League (AFL) on Tuesday, striking out six batters in 2 2/3 innings while allowing just one earned run on two hits and two walks. It brings his AFL ERA to 2.30 with a 0.89 WHIP, .189 average against, and a 4:18 BB:K over 15 2/3 innings. The 21-year-old is the Phillies' top pitching prospect but hasn't pitched during the regular season since finishing the 2022 season at Double-A, missing all of 2023 and 2024 while recovering from elbow problems and ultimately Tommy John surgery. The former first-round draft pick looks good so far and will likely have a shot to make the big-league rotation come spring. However, there would almost certainly be some type of innings limit implemented, which of course would be unfortunate for fantasy. MLB.com's top-prospects list ranks the 6-foot-7 righty as No. 32 overall, offering strong strikeout potential combined with excellent command. He should already be stashed in dynasty formats despite missing so much time.
8 hours ago
Shohei Ohtani Among NL Silver Slugger Winners
Major League Baseball announced the 2024 National League Silver Slugger winners on Tuesday on MLB Network. The winners in the NL were Phillies 1B Bryce Harper, Diamondbacks 2B Ketel Marte, Mets SS Francisco Lindor, Padres 3B Manny Machado, Padres OF Jackson Merrill, Dodgers OF Teoscar Hernandez, Padres OF Jurickson Profar, Brewers C William Contreras, Dodgers DH Shohei Ohtani, and Dodgers UTIL Mookie Betts. This is the third time Ohtani has won a Silver Slugger award in his career. The two-way superstar became the first player in MLB history to hit at least 50 homers (54) and steal at least 50 bases (59) in the same season. The tremendous feat will likely also earn the Japanese sensation his third career MVP award (and first in the NL). In addition to all the hardware, Ohtani won his first World Series championship with the Dodgers in October.
21 hours ago
Aaron Judge Headlines AL Silver Slugger Winners
Major League Baseball announced the 2024 American League Silver Slugger winners on Tuesday on MLB Network. The winners in the AL were Blue Jays 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Astros 2B Jose Altuve, Royals SS Bobby Witt Jr., Guardians 3B Jose Ramirez, Yankees OF Aaron Judge, Yankees OF Juan Soto, Orioles OF Anthony Santander, Royals catcher Salvador Perez, A's DH Brent Rooker and Rangers UTIL Josh Smith. It's the fourth time that Judge has won an AL Silver Slugger award in his career, this time coming two years after he set a new AL record with 62 home runs. He only had 58 long balls in 2024 but also posted career-highs in on-base percentage (.458) and slugging percentage (.701). The 32-year-old superstar's 1.159 OPS was the best from a qualified AL hitter since Mark McGwire back in 1996 when he was with the A's.
21 hours ago
Giants Not Currently Scheduled To Meet With Juan Soto
The San Francisco Giants don't currently have a meeting scheduled with free-agent outfielder Juan Soto, according to team sources. The New York Yankees and New York Mets are considered the favorites to land the generational talent on the open market this year, but they won't be the only clubs in the mix. It was reported earlier on Tuesday that the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox also plan to meet with Soto's team soon, while the Giants could eventually get involved, too. The Los Angeles Dodgers could also be in the mix, but they'd likely need Soto's price to come down. ESPN's Kiley McDaniels projects Soto to land a contract for around 14 years and north of $600 million. The Yankees might have the most incentive to re-sign him after the 26-year-old Dominican led them to the World Series with a .288/.419/.569 slash line with a league-leading 128 runs and a career-high 41 home runs.
21 hours ago
Nicky Lopez Elects Free Agency
The Chicago White Sox announced on Tuesday that infielder Nicky Lopez and left-hander Sammy Peralta both cleared waivers and elected free agency instead of accepting their outright assignments to the minor leagues. In his first season with the last-place White Sox in 2024, Lopez was the team's primary second baseman and finished with a .241/.312/.294 slash line, weak .606 OPS, only one home run, 21 RBI, five stolen bases and 40 runs scored in 445 trips to the plate over 124 games played. The 29-year-old will most likely be searching for a minor-league deal on the open market as a utility infielder. In his six big-league seasons since debuting in 2019 with the Kansas City Royals, Lopez has a .248/.312/.314 slash line with only seven homers, 152 RBI and 47 stolen bases in 668 games. Lopez isn't going to be on the fantasy radar in 2025.
Yesterday
Wander Franco Now Facing Weapons Charges
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco will now face charges of illegal use and possession of a firearm after he was arrested in the Dominican Republic countryside during an armed altercation on Sunday, according to public prosecutors. Franco had been held for questioning by police but is expected to be granted his release on Tuesday. A Glock with its magazines and 15 rounds of ammunition but no registration papers were found in Franco's Mercedes-Benz at the time of the altercation. There were no injuries, and the involved parties won't be pressing charges. The use and possession of illegal firearms carries a maximum sentence of three to five years. Franco is currently on indefinite administrative leave from MLB and will stand trial in the DR on Dec. 12 in a separate case involving charges of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation against a minor. He's unlikely to play baseball in the big leagues again.
Yesterday
Travis d'Arnaud Agrees On Two-Year Deal With Angels
Free-agent catcher Travis d'Arnaud and the Los Angeles Angels agreed on a two-year, $12 million deal on Tuesday, according to sources. d'Arnaud hit the free-agent market after the World Series after the Atlanta Braves declined his $8 million team option for the 2025 season. Despite splitting playing time behind the plate the last two years in Atlanta with Sean Murphy, the 35-year-old veteran was serviceable on offense, slashing .232/.295/.418 with a .714 OPS, 26 home runs, 87 RBI and 71 runs scored in 173 games played and 633 plate appearances. d'Arnaud will be returning home to LA and should be expected to serve as the team's backup catcher behind Logan O'Hoppe. He could still be attractive in two-catcher leagues, but the move to Anaheim from Atlanta no doubt is a downgrade fantasy-wise in a much less potent offense.
Yesterday
Enoli Paredes Signs Minors Deal With Braves
Free-agent right-hander Enoli Paredes signed a minor-league deal with the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday that includes an invitation to spring training, according to a source. Paredes pitched well with the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs this past season, posting a 1.66 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with his first career save, 16 strikeouts and 10 walks in 21 2/3 innings over 18 appearances out of the bullpen. It was a nice showing for the 29-year-old reliever after he spent the entire 2023 toiling in the minors. He didn't have a large sample size in 2024, but if Paredes pitches as well as he did in spring training with Atlanta, he'll have a good shot to make the team's Opening Day bullpen. Paredes made his big-league debut in 2020 with the Houston Astros and has a career 4.01 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 53:41 K:BB in 55 appearances in relief covering 54 innings.
Yesterday
Ryan Helsley Won't Move Into Starting Rotation
The St. Louis Cardinals are not considering moving closer Ryan Helsley into their starting rotation for the 2025 season. Helsley was a starting pitcher as a prospect in the minor leagues, but he has yet to make a start at the major-league with the Cardinals in his six years with the team. He made his second All-Star team in 2024 and was outstanding in the ninth-inning role, posting a league-high 49 saves, a 2.04 ERA (2.41 FIP), 1.10 WHIP, 79 strikeouts and 23 walks in 66 1/3 relief innings. The 30-year-old veteran is entering his final year for salary arbitration, so the Cardinals are reportedly considering dealing him this winter. If Helsley sticks with the Red Birds for the 2025 campaign and in the closer's role, the right-handed reliever will be a high-end fantasy closing option yet again.
Yesterday
Tanner Houck Open To Extension With Red Sox
Boston Red Sox right-hander Tanner Houck said he's "always" open to talking a contract extension with the team after setting career-highs of 30 starts, 178 2/3 innings and 154 strikeouts in 2024 while posting a 3.12 ERA -- the best by a Red Sox pitcher with at least 30 starts since Chris Sale in 2018. Houck made his first All-Star appearance and finished on a high note to close out the year. "I'm always open to (extension) conversations. I love Boston. And in the fall, leaves changing, this is what I want. This is right up my alley," Houck said. While the 28-year-old might be open to an extension, the Red Sox might not be prioritizing that with Houck eligible for salary arbitration one final time this offseason while being under team control through 2027. However, it's possible they'll reward him for his strong 2024 campaign sooner than later.
Yesterday
Blue Jays, Red Sox To Meet With Juan Soto
The Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox have free-agent outfielder Juan Soto at the top of their offseason wish lists and are planning to meet with him soon, according to major-league sources. The Blue Jays are serious about adding a star alongside first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. after losing out on Shohei Ohtani last winter. In addition to Soto, the Red Sox figure to be aggressive in the starting pitching market. The two favorites to land Soto are the New York Yankees and New York Mets, who also have meetings scheduled with him. Because of his age (26), Soto is expected to warrant the longest contract in baseball history with an expected guarantee in excess of $600 million. The Los Angeles Dodgers won't chase after Soto, but they could get involved in the unlikely event that his market softens later this offseason.
Yesterday
Caleb Durbin Steals Four More Bases On Monday
Fresh off of a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League (AFL) Fall Stars game, New York Yankees infield prospect Caleb Durbin continued his push to be in pinstripes to start next season, going 1-for-2 and was hit by a pitch twice in Salt River's victory on Monday. Getting on base three times afforded him the opportunity to once again show off his wheels, stealing four bases in the contest and giving him 27 stolen bases in 22 games. Milan Tolentino has the second-most steals in the AFL with 11. On Monday, before Durbin's latest performance, Yankees manager Aaron Boone indicated that he expected Durbin "to play a big, big role for us this upcoming season." That should get fantasy managers' ears perked up, and should Gleyber Torres leave in free agency, there could be an even clearer path to playing time to begin the year.
Yesterday
Daniel Duarte
• RP
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Twins
