MLB News

According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Angels have expressed in free agent second baseman Gleyber Torres. However, if he were to sign in Washington, Torres would have to move to another spot in the infield as Luis Garcia Jr. is expected to operate as the starting second baseman. Last season, the Angels lacked consistent offensive production at the keystone. With the Yankees, Torres held a .257/.330/.378 slash line with 15 home runs and four stolen bases last season. Under the hood, he generated a weak 35.4% hard-hit rate and 6.3% barrel rate, both of which were a sharp decline from his 2023 production. Torres has been a reliable second baseman from a fantasy perspective throughout his career, as he has been able to contribute to all five standard categories and could be worth a look at low ADP investment this offseason.

According to Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pittsburgh Pirates have made starting pitchers Jared Jones and Mitch Keller available for trade at the Winter Meetings. Destin noted Jones is "very available." The Pirates have expressed interest in acquiring some offensive pieces, and moving one of these starting pitchers would put them in a good position to acquire a potent bat. Keller has typically operated as the workhorse in the Pittsburgh rotation, logging over 175 innings in each of the past two seasons. Last summer, Keller posted a 4.25 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. Jared Jones made his major league debut last summer and showed great potential. In his first 121 2/3 big league innings, the young right-hander held a 4.14 ERA and 1.19 WHIP while generating a strong 26.2% K rate. With Paul Skenes looking like a clear ace and Bubba Chandler nearing his major league debut, moving one of these starters could provide Pittsburgh a much-needed spark to their lineup.

According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Cincinnati Reds have checked in on free agent starting pitcher Nick Pivetta. Sherman also noted that the Reds tried to acquire Garrett Crochet, who was eventually traded to the Boston Red Sox earlier on Wednesday. Last season, Pivetta posted a 4.14 ERA and 1.13 WHIP across 145 2/3 innings of work. He generated an excellent 28.9% K rate and showed great command with a 6.1% walk rate. However, he generated ground balls at a weak 33.4% rate and allowed hard contact at a high 38.9% mark. The Reds have already been active this offseason, acquiring starting pitching as they traded for Brady Singer and re-signed Nick Martinez, and adding a high-upside strikeout option in Pivetta would further strengthen this relatively weak rotation.

The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired pitching prospect Mike Vasil from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for cash considerations. Vasil was selected by the Phillies earlier on Wednesday during the Rule 5 draft from the New York Mets but will now take his talents to Tampa Bay. Vasil has spent his entire professional career with the New York Mets. He spent the past two summers pitching at the Triple-A level. Last season, the right-hander posted a 6.04 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP across 134 innings of work. The previous season, he held a slightly better 5.30 ERA and 1.48 WHIP at Triple-A. Before moving to a new club, Vasil was considered the No.18 prospect in the Mets system on MLB Pipeline. Fantasy managers should expect the 24-year-old to open the season at the Triple-A level once again.

According to Tom Withers of the Associated Press, Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber (elbow) is throwing from 90 feet three times per week. Withers noted that Bieber expressed that he is confident but still has "a long way to go." Bieber underwent Tommy John surgery last April and was only able to make two starts last season. Across these 12 frames, the former Cy Young winner held a perfect 0.00 ERA with a stellar 0.92 WHIP. During the 2023 campaign, the right-hander posted a 3.80 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. While this is a great sign to see him progress in his throwing program, fantasy managers should not expect him to return to the major league mound at least a few months into the 2025 campaign. However, if he continues to progress without facing any setbacks, he could be worth targeting in deeper formats as a high-upside stash candidate.

According to Scott Merkin of MLB.com, Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Drew Thorpe is expected to be ready for Spring Training. Thorpe underwent a shoulder operation late in the season to remove a bone spur but is progressing at the typical rate and should be a full-go for Spring Training. This is a great sign for the young starting pitcher, who likely has a good chance to make the Opening Day Roster. Thorpe opened the campaign by getting his second look at Double-A and performed quite well, boasting a 1.35 ERA and 0.87 WHIP across 60 innings of work. Thorpe then got a small taste of the big leagues and held a 5.48 ERA and 1.26 WHIP across 44 1/3 frames. Fantasy managers in deeper formats should monitor his progress during Spring Training, as he could be worth a look as a late flier in drafts this offseason.

According to Jorge Castillo of ESPN, the New York Yankees have signed relief pitcher Jonathan Loaisiga to a one-year contract. This deal includes a team option in 2026. The 30-year-old was only able to log four innings of relief before suffering a torn UCL, which cut his season short. The right-hander held a modest 3.06 ERA and 4.17 ERA during 2023 and 2022, which was a stark drop compared to the stellar 2.17 ERA he posted during his 2021 breakout campaign. During this season, Loaisiga held a strong 1.02 WHIP with a 16:69 BB:K ratio across 70 2/3 innings of work. While he has battled the injury bug over the past few seasons he could be worth a look in deeper formats that score holds as he will likely operate as a high-leverage relief option during the 2025 campaign. However, given his recovery window, he may not be ready in time for Spring Training.

Free-agent relief pitcher Jacob Webb and the Texas Rangers agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal on Wednesday, according to a source familiar with the deal. Webb will head to the American League West in 2025 after going 2-5 with a 3.02 ERA (3.52 FIP), a 1.18 WHIP, two saves, a career-high 58 strikeouts and 27 walks in 56 2/3 relief innings out of the Baltimore Orioles' bullpen in 2024. He became a free agent this offseason after the O's non-tendered him in November. The 25-year-old was originally an 18th-round selection by the Atlanta Braves in the 2014 MLB draft. Webb made his major-league debut in 2019 with the Braves and spent three seasons in Atlanta before playing for the O's and Los Angeles Angels in 2023. In five big-league seasons, he has a decent 2.98 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with six saves and a 23.5% strikeout rate.

The Chicago White Sox acquired infield prospect Chase Meidroth and pitching prospect Wikelman Gonzalez from the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday as part of the package for left-hander Garrett Crochet, according to sources. Catcher Kyle Teel and outfielder Braden Montgomery are also heading to Chicago. Meidroth (No. 11) and Gonzalez (No. 14) weren't the headliners in this trade for the White Sox but could still end up with significant roles with the big-league team in due time. Meidroth has experience at shortstop, second and third base and hit an impressive .293/.437/.401 with seven homers and 13 steals in 122 games for Triple-A Worcester in 2024. The 23-year-old is close to major-league ready, and his most immediate path to playing time might be at second. Gonzalez, a 22-year-old right-hander, needs more seasoning after posting a 4.73 ERA with 92 K's and 46 walks in 83 2/3 innings for Double-A Portland this past season.

The Chicago White Sox acquired catching prospect Kyle Teel from the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday as part of a package for left-hander Garrett Crochet, according to sources. The White Sox also landed outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth and right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez. Teel, ranked by MLB Pipeline as Boston's No. 4 prospect, was a first-round pick in 2023 out of Virginia. In his first professional season, the 22-year-old backstop hit a combined .288/.386/.433 with 13 home runs and 12 stolen bases in 112 games for Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester, rising quickly through Boston's farm system. The White Sox also have prospect Edgar Quero at the position, but Teel has more upside from the left side in his bat and could force his way onto the major-league roster as early as 2025. Teel should already be rostered in dynasty/keeper leagues.

The Boston Red Sox are acquiring left-hander Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday in exchange for catcher Kyle Teel, outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth and right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez, according to sources. Crochet is an excellent consolation prize for the Red Sox after they saw the division-rival New York Yankees sign lefty Max Fried on Tuesday. The 25-year-old Crochet is not only an ascending young arm, but he's projected to make around $3 million next season and is under team control for 2026 also. Crochet was one of the best starters in baseball in the first half of 2024 in his move to a starting role in 2024, although he stumbled down the stretch and had his innings limited. He finished with a 3.58 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 209:33 K:BB in 32 starts. Although moving to the AL East won't be easy, Crochet's fantasy value improves with the move out of Chicago.

In addition to the New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs, the New York Post's Joel Sherman lists the San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies as teams interested in trading for Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker this offseason. The soon-to-be 28-year-old left-handed slugger will be a free agent after the 2025 season and could command a contract worth up to $500 million on the open market, so the Astros are willing to see if they can get something in return before potentially losing him next offseason. Houston is prioritizing major-league-ready corner infielders and starting pitchers if they were to trade Tucker away. Keep in mind the Astros are bracing to also lose free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman. After the signing of lefty Max Fried, the Yankees could be more motivated to trade starters Marcus Stroman, Nestor Cortes or even Luis Gil.

The Houston Astros are targeting Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki and infielder Isaac Paredes in a possible trade for outfielder Kyle Tucker, according to sources briefed on the team's talks. The two teams have exchanged a variety of names in discussions, and any package for Tucker would also likely included prospects. Houston is also interested in third baseman Cam Smith, who was a first-rounder earlier this year. A source says the Cubs are highly unlikely to trade Suzuki and would prefer to unload Cody Bellinger's contract this offseason in a separate trade. Tucker is eligible for free agency after the 2025 season, so the Astros could be wanting to get something in return if they feel they won't be able to re-sign him. After Juan Soto's huge deal, Tucker, one of the best hitters in baseball, could command a deal of at least $400 to $500 million. The Yankees are another team pursuing a trade for Tucker.

The Baltimore Orioles are in the market for pitching help as it seems less and less likely that free-agent right-hander Corbin Burnes will be returning to the team in 2025, so the O's are reportedly interested in acquiring the Padres' Dylan Cease. The 28-year-old is set to become a free agent in 2026 and the Padres may be willing to trade him if they think they won't be able to re-sign him after next season. The righty finished fourth in NL Cy Young voting last season and was the AL runner-up in 2022. The former sixth-round draft pick threw a no-hitter for San Diego last season and remarkably allowed just one hit on five other occasions where he pitched at least six innings. The six-year veteran will be a strong fantasy option in 2025 drafts regardless of where he ends up.

The Cincinnati Reds have "checked in on" outfielder Luis Robert Jr. of the Chicago White Sox in an effort to upgrade their outfield, both on defense and on offense. The Reds have already shored up their rotation by trading for right-hander Brady Singer last month but would like to fill the void left on offense with the departure of Jonathan India. The team has Matt McLain set to return from injury, so they are looking to the outfield, and Robert fits the bill. It would be costly, as the Reds would have to pay his $15 million salary, but the 27-year-old is a former All-Star and Gold Glove award winner. The right-handed hitter has played more than 100 games in a season just once since debuting in 2020. In 2024, the Cuban played 100 games on the nose after a hip-flexor strain caused him to miss about two months. He finished with a .224/.278/.379 slash line with 14 home runs but was able to set a new career high in stolen bases with 23 despite the lengthy absence. If he's able to stay healthy for a full season, he could be a strong multi-category contributor for fantasy in 2025.

The Rule 5 Draft will take place Wednesday at 2 p.m. EST, and the Chicago White Sox have the first pick after finishing last season with the worst record in baseball. The team is reportedly set to pick pitcher Shane Smith from the Brewers' organization. The 24-year-old spent most of his time last season at Double-A, pitching to a 3.08 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and a strong 22.6% K-BB% over 87 2/3 innings (27 appearances, 16 starts). The righty tossed six-and-two-thirds innings of relief at Triple-A as well, allowing two earned runs with a 3:7 BB:K. With the selection, Smith will be put on Chicago's 40-man roster. Last season, 10 players were selected in the Rule 5 Draft, with six of those players sticking on the roster for the entire season.

St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak recently acknowledged that the team was interested in trading third baseman Nolan Arenado, but with Arenado's full no-trade clause in his contract, the 10-tim Gold Glover would have to approve of any trade. The 33-year-old already has said he would be willing to switch to first base if needed, but now the veteran has reportedly whittled down the list of teams he would rubber-stamp a trade to down to six -- the Dodgers, Padres, Angels, Phillies, Mets, and Red Sox. Perhaps the Phillies and Red Sox make the most sense on that list, but only time will tell. The eight-time All-Star can still play terrific defense, but his offensive numbers have been heading south in St. Louis over the last couple of years. Last season, he hit just 16 home runs and posted a 102 wRC+, both the lowest outputs since his rookie season in 2013 (excluding 2020). If there is some optimism on the offensive side of things, the likely future Hall of Famer's contact rate was near a career-high (84.4%), and his strikeout rate fell two percentage points over the prior season to a well-below-average 14.5%, so he can still put the bat on the ball.

The Cleveland Guardians acquired pitchers Luis L. Ortiz, Josh Hartle and Michael Kennedy from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night in exchange for infielder Spencer Horwitz, according to sources. Ortiz is the biggest name in the swap for the Guardians as they look to add pitching depth to their system. The 25-year-old Dominican right-hander had his best year in the big leagues in his third year with Pittsburgh in 2024, going 7-6 with a 3.32 ERA (4.25 FIP), 1.11 WHIP, a career-high 107 strikeouts and 42 walks in 135 2/3 innings over 37 appearances (15 starts). Even though the Guardians re-signed Shane Bieber already this offseason, Ortiz could be primed for a spot near the back end of Cleveland's starting rotation to open the 2025 regular season. Ortiz was slightly better as a starter in 2024 but had a strikeout rate under 20%, limiting his overall upside as a matchup-based streamer in deeper leagues.

The Miami Marlins are acquiring shortstop/second base prospect Echedry Vargas, shortstop Max Acosta and left-hander Brayan Mendoza from the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night in exchange for third baseman/first baseman Jake Burger, according to a source. The Marlins continue their full-on rebuild this offseason. The top name in the deal coming back to Miami is Vargas, who was ranked as the Rangers' No. 17 prospect on MLB Pipeline. Vargas is only 19 years old, so he's unlikely to be a realistic option for a big-league promotion for at least a couple years. The Dominican infielder spent all of 2024 at Single-A Down East, slashing .276/.321/.454 with a .775 OPS, 14 homers, 48 RBI, 29 steals and 65 runs in 97 games. Vargas has surprising power for a 5-foot-11, 170-pounder but may need to cut his swing down as he advances up the minors. For now, he's just one to watch in dynasty/keeper formats.

The Texas Rangers are acquiring third baseman/first baseman Jake Burger from the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night in exchange for third baseman Echedry Vargas, shortstop Max Acosta and left-hander Brayan Mendoza, according to a source. The move to add Burger adds thump to Texas' lineup after he hit 29 home runs and drove in 76 for the Marlins in 2024. He hit a career-high 34 long balls with the Chicago White Sox and Marlins in 2023 while also posting a nice .828 OPS. The former first-round selection by the White Sox in 2017 out of Missouri State University will move to a much better situation for his fantasy prospects in Texas and will be surrounded by much better hitters. Between third base, first base and designated hitter, Burger should play regularly and give fantasy managers a solid power floor with around a .250 average.