MLB News
Yankees Sign Jordany Ventura To Minor-League Deal
The New York Yankees signed free-agent right-hander Jordany Ventura to a minor-league deal on Thursday and assigned him to Double-A Somerset to begin the 2025 season. The 24-year-old New York Mets prospect pitched for Single-A St. Lucie, High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton in 2024 in the Mets organization and held a strong 2.96 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 55 strikeouts and 20 walks in 48 2/3 innings over 22 appearances (four starts). The Dominican hurler debuted in the minors with the Mets in 2018 and has posted a 3.98 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 231:131 K:BB in 219 1/3 innings over his 69 appearances (45 starts) over his five seasons on the farm. Ventura will now pitch for the crosstown Yankees and will hope to make it to Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes/Barre before the end of 2025.
3 hours ago
Jack O'Loughlin Signs Minors Deal With Rockies
Free-agent left-hander Jack O'Loughlin signed a minor-league deal with the Colorado Rockies on Thursday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training. The Australian native made his major-league debut in 2024 with the Athletics but only made four appearances out of the bullpen, giving up five earned runs on 13 hits (one homer) while walking five and striking out six in 9 2/3 innings pitched. The 24-year-old southpaw went 3-5 at Triple-A Las Vegas with a 6.04 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, 80 strikeouts and 34 walks in 73 innings over 32 outings (10 starts) in the minors. The Rockies can always use pitching, so O'Loughlin has a good shot to see time in the big leagues again in 2025, potentially in a swing role between the bullpen and starting rotation. However, O'Loughlin isn't on the fantasy radar and could begin the year at Triple-A Albuquerque.
3 hours ago
Jett Williams Suffers Sprained Ankle In AFL
New York Mets shortstop prospect Jett Williams (ankle) left Thursday's regular-season Arizona Fall League contest after crashing into the outfield fence and is dealing with a right-ankle sprain. Although there is no word on severe it is, team officials are optimistic it won't be a big issue for Williams the rest of the offseason. The club's No. 2 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, hit .225 (18-for-80) with two homers, nine RBI, seven steals and 15 runs scored in the AFL for Scottsdale and should be ready to go for the start of next season in the minors. The 21-year-old had right-wrist surgery in early June and played in only 33 games across three minor-league levels, ultimately reaching Triple-A Syracuse, in 2024. The 5-foot-6 infielder is currently blocked at SS by Francisco Lindor at the MLB level, but the Mets could move him to the outfield in order to make his big-league debut late next season.
3 hours ago
Angels Designate Matt Thaiss For Assignment
Los Angles Angels catcher Matt Thaiss was designated for assignment after the club added veteran catcher Travis d'Arnaud on a one-year deal in free agency earlier this week. If Thaiss isn't picked up off waivers by another club, he'll have the option of returning to the Angels or choosing free agency. The 29-year-old was the 16th overall pick in 2016 out of the University of Virginia, but he never lived up to his draft stock. Thaiss hit only .204/.323/.299 with two home runs, 16 RBI and three stolen bases in 57 games played in 2024 while serving in a backup role behind Logan O'Hoppe. In his six seasons with the Halos, O'Hoppe had a .208/.313/.342 slash line with a weak .655 OPS, 22 homers, 79 RBI and six stolen bases. He'll likely latch on with another team, potentially on a minor-league deal, but Thaiss' ceiling these days is probably as a second-string catcher.
3 hours ago
Scott Kingery Agrees To One-Year Deal With Angels
Infielder Scott Kingery agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, avoiding salary arbitration, according to a source. Kingery was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies on Nov. 1 and will head to spring training in February with the Angels hoping to win an Opening Day roster spot as infield depth with Zach Neto (shoulder) questionable to be ready for the start of the year after undergoing shoulder surgery. The 30-year-old former second-round pick of the Phillies in 2015 out of the University of Arizona will be a long shot to return any fantasy value in 2025, especially with the Angels. He didn't play at all in the big leagues in 2024 and was active for only 16 combined games in Philly in 2021 and 2022.
3 hours ago
Alexander Albertus Undergoes Surgery On His Tibia
The Chicago White Sox announced that infield prospect Alexander Albertus (leg) recently had surgery to reset a fracture in his left tibia. It was announced back in late July that Albertus wouldn't play again after suffering a stress reaction in his left tibia. The injury wasn't considered all that serious, though, and the White Sox are still expecting him to be ready for spring training in February. The 20-year-was acquired in a three-team trade earlier this year that involved the Dodgers and Cardinals. MLB Pipeline has Albertus listed as Chicago's No. 14 prospect. In 51 games with the Dodgers in the Arizona Complex League and at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga before his injury, Albertus hit .298/.420/.409 with an .828 OPS, three homers, 42 RBI and six steals. Because of his injury setback this year, Albertus is unlikely to make his MBL debut in Chicago until 2027.
11 hours ago
Yohel Pozo Signs Minor-League Deal With Braves
The Atlanta Braves signed free-agent catcher Yohel Pozo to a minor-league deal on Wednesday. Pozo will give the Braves additional catching depth entering the 2025 season after they saw Travis d'Arnaud leave for the Los Angeles Angels in free agency earlier this week. Pozo made his major-league debut back in 2021 with the Texas Rangers and hasn't resurfaced in the Show since. In his 21 games played in the big leagues, he's gone 21-for-74 (.284) with a homer, nine RBI and eight runs scored. The 27-year-old Venezuelan backstop has been swinging a hot bat in the minor leagues ever since, including a .324/.335/.538 slash line with an .873 OPS, 15 home runs and 54 RBI at Las Vegas, the Triple-A affiliate for the A's, in 2024. Sean Murphy will be Atlanta's primary catcher in 2025 with Chadwick Tromp likely backing him up.
11 hours ago
Braves Add Charles Leblanc On Minor-League Deal
The Atlanta Braves signed free-agent third baseman Charles Leblanc to a minor-league deal on Wednesday. Leblanc will give the Braves additional infield depth entering spring training in February. The 28-year-old Canadian infielder has experience at second base, third base and first base. The former fourth-round selection by the Texas Rangers in 2016 out of the University of Pittsburgh made his major-league debut in 2022 with the Miami Marlins and also saw action in 11 games with the Los Angeles Angels this past season. In his 59 career games at the MLB level, he has hit .254/.330/.412 with a .742 OPS, six home runs, 17 RBI, four stolen bases and 24 runs scored in 197 trips to the plate. Leblanc hit .254 (86-for-339) with 12 long balls, 52 RBI, four steals and 56 runs scored in 98 games with Triple-A Salt Lake in 2024.
11 hours ago
Justin Wilson Agrees With Red Sox
Free-agent left-handed reliever Justin Wilson agreed to an undisclosed deal one-year deal with the Boston Red Sox on Thursday, according to sources familiar with the deal. Wilson missed all of 2023 while recovering from Tommy John surgery and returned this past season to make 60 relief appearances for the Cincinnati Reds, posting a career-worst 5.59 ERA (4.73 FIP), two saves, a 1.46 WHIP, 51 strikeouts and 13 walks in 46 2/3 innings pitched. The 37-year-old veteran southpaw will be hoping for better results in 2025 with Boston as another left-handed option out of the bullpen for the BoSox alongside Brennan Bernardino. In Wilson's last full season with the Reds and New York Yankees, he held a 5.29 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in 34 relief innings. He will not be on the fantasy radar at all next spring.
12 hours ago
Kevin Newman Reaches One-Year Deal With Angels
The Los Angeles Angels stayed busy early this offseason and agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal with free-agent infielder Kevin Newman on Thursday. The deal includes a club option for the 2026 season. Zach Neto is the Angels' starting shortstop, but Newman will provide insurance for the team at the position for the start of next season after Neto underwent offseason shoulder surgery. The 31-year-old veteran won't have much fantasy appeal outside of AL-only leagues, though, even if he's the team's starter at the 6 on Opening Day. In 111 games with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2024, Newman hit .278/.311/.375 with a below-average .686 OPS, only three home runs, 28 RBI, eight stolen bases and 41 runs scored in 311 plate appearances. He has only had double-digit home runs once in his seven MLB seasons, and that came way back in 2019 with the Pirates in his second year in the league.
12 hours ago
Adam Oller Heading To Korea
Free-agent pitcher Adam Oller has signed a deal with the KIA Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organization. The details on the contract are unknown, but Oller figures to move straight into the starting rotation for next season. The right-hander has struggled with a 6.54 ERA across 36 games (23 starts) between the Oakland Athletics and Miami Marlins in three MLB seasons. He most recently pitched with the Marlins, but was crushed to the tune of a 5.31 ERA in eight starts. The 30-year-old will get a chance to rebuild his value in Korea.
Yesterday
Yoan Moncada Getting Interest From Multiple Teams
Free-agent infielder Yoan Moncada is reportedly drawing interest from around the league. The former top prospect is a free agent after the Chicago White Sox declined his $25 million option for next season. The oft-injured infielder has been decent with the bat, but Moncada has struggled to stay on the field. Last season, Moncada only managed to play in 12 games with the White Sox. Despite that, Moncada is reportedly drawing interest from the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, and Seattle Mariners. The 29-year-old is able to play both second and third base, which is always nice to have. He'll likely need to take a short prove-it type of deal after struggling to stay on the field over the last few seasons.
Yesterday
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.
Yesterday
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.
Yesterday
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.
Yesterday
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.
Yesterday
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.
Yesterday
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.
Yesterday
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.
Yesterday
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.
Yesterday
Jordany Ventura
• SP
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Yankees
