MLB News
Padres Have "Entertained" Trade Talks For Robert Suarez
According to Dennis Lin of The Athletic, the San Diego Padres have "entertained" trade discussions for several key players, including closer Robert Suarez. The other players mentioned have already been circulating around trade discussions, such as second baseman Luis Arraez and starting pitcher Dylan Cease. The 33-year-old enjoyed a career season in 2024, posting a 2.77 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP with 36 saves. Over his first two major league seasons, Suarez tallied just one save. In 2024, he logged a career-high 65 innings and generated a strong 3.05 xERA and .291 xBA, which were both significantly above the average marks. He also showed solid command with a 6.2% walk rate, which placed him in the 78th percentile among qualified pitchers. For now, fantasy managers should view Suarez as the top option for saves in San Diego entering the 2025 season.
3 hours ago
Cardinals Claim Bailey Horn Off Waivers
According to John Denton of MLB.com, the St. Louis Cardinals claimed left-handed pitcher Bailey Horn off waivers. Horn was designated for assignment earlier this offseason by the Detroit Tigers when they signed second baseman Gleyber Torres. The Auburn product made his major league debut last season with the Boston Red Sox and posted a 6.50 ERA and a 1.78 WHIP across 18 innings of work. During this stretch, he struck out 13 batters and severed up ten free passes. Across 39 2/3 innings at the Triple-A level last season, Horn held a 4.54 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. He struck out 50 batters and tallied three saves. Fantasy managers should expect Horn to open the 2025 campaign at the Triple-A level, given his lack of proven success in the major leagues.
4 hours ago
Amos Willingham Designated For Assignment
According to Bobby Blanco of MASN Sports, the Washington Nationals have designated right-handed pitcher Amos Willingham for assignment. This transaction opened a roster spot for Jorge Lopez, who signed a contract with the Nationals earlier this weekend. Willingham logged just one inning of work in the majors last season and allowed two runs. In 2023, Willingham logged 24 1/3 innings and held a 6.66 ERA and a 1.81 WHIP. Across 68 1/3 innings with Triple-A Rochester last summer, Willingham posted a 3.69 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. He struck out 71 batters and served up 31 free passes. Fantasy managers should expect Lopez to have a high-leverage role in the Washington bullpen. Willingham will likely spend most of the 2025 campaign in the minor leagues, given his struggles in the majors.
4 hours ago
Miguel Diaz Signs Minor-League Deal With San Francisco
According to Jeff Young of FanSided, the San Francisco Giants have signed right-handed pitcher Miguel Diaz to a minor-league contract. Diaz logged just one inning in the major leagues last summer with the Houston Astros. He then spent the remainder of the season with Triple-A Toledo and posted a 4.30 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP across 46 innings. Diaz has spent the majority of his major league career with the San Diego Padres. Across 127 1/3 big league frames, the right-hander had held a 4.81 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Through 204 2/3 innings at Triple-A, the 30-year-old has posted a 4.93 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. Given his lack of proven success in the majors, Diaz will likely open the 2025 campaign at the Triple-A level.
4 hours ago
Armando Alvarez Inks Minor-League Deal With Minnesota
According to MiLB Central, the Minnesota Twins have signed third baseman Armando Alvarez to a minor-league contract. Alvarez made his major league debut last season with the Oakland Athletics. Across 16 games in the bigs, the 30-year-old posted a .242/.282/.270 slash line with one double and one stolen base. Across 75 games with Triple-A Las Vegas last summer, Alvarez held a .315/.407/.560 line with 20 doubles, 15 home runs, and five stolen bases. Through 412 career games at the Triple-A level, the Eastern Kentucky product has posted a .280/.345/.492 line. Fantasy managers should expect Alvarez to compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster during spring training, given his productive play at Triple-A last season.
4 hours ago
Yankees Interested In Brendan Rodgers
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the New York Yankees have been in discussions with free agent second baseman Brendan Rodgers. Earlier this offseason, Rodgers was non-tendered by the Rockies. The Yankees did not choose to resign Gleyber Torres, leaving a hole in their starting nine. While there have been reports of the Yankees looking to fill this gap with internal options such as DJ LeMahieu, Oswald Peraza, and Oswaldo Cabrera, they have also expressed interest in acquiring a hitter from another club. They have shown interest in trading for Luis Arraez and Nolan Arenado. Rodgers enjoyed a solid campaign in 2024 as he posted a .267/.314/.407 line with 13 home runs. He generated a strong 44.1% hard-hit rate. If Rodgers were to sign a contract with the Yankees, he would likely be deployed as the everyday second baseman.
23 hours ago
Bo Bichette Has "No Real Interest" In Re-Signing With Toronto
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette has "no real interest" in re-signing with Toronto, according to a source. Bichette is currently in the final year of his contract, and it looks like the infielder will test free agency after the 2025 season. Bichette was very productive over the first five seasons of his big-league career but struggled last summer, as he posted a career-low .225/.277/.322 slash line. He hit just four home runs and stole five bases. He generated a poor .303 xwOBA and .375 xSLG, both well below the average marks. In 2023, Bichette posted a strong .306/.339/.475 line with 20 home runs and 20 doubles. With Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also set to enter free agency after this season, it appears the Blue Jays will focus on re-signing him over Bichette. However, fantasy managers should expect Bichette to continue to operate as the starting shortstop in Toronto in 2025, and he could be worth drafting, as he should be expected to bounce back in a contract year.
23 hours ago
Yandy Diaz Not Expected To Be Traded
According to Andy Martino of SNY, the Tampa Bay Rays are not expected to trade first baseman Yandy Diaz. According to Martino, the Rays plan to hold onto Diaz for the time being as he is one of the top options for offensive production. The 33-year-old enjoyed another strong season in 2024 as he posted a .281/.341/.414 line with 14 home runs and 31 doubles. He showed a great eye at the plate with a 15.3% K rate and a 14.2% whiff rate, which were among the top marks in the sport. He also generated a strong 48.7% hard-hit rate, suggesting his power production could see some positive regression in 2025. This was a slight drop in production compared to the stellar .330/.410/.522 line he posted in 2023. Fantasy managers should expect Diaz to have a consistent spot in the Rays lineup, and he is an excellent target for points leagues, given his elite contact and low strikeout rate.
Yesterday
Brett de Geus Designated For Assignment
According to Ben Nicholson-Smith of SportsNet, the Toronto Blue Jays have designated right-handed pitcher Brett de Geus for assignment. This transaction opened a roster spot for right-handed pitcher Jeff Hoffman. De Geus logged 11 1/3 innings at the major league level last season. Across this small stint, he posted a hefty 7.15 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. De Geus spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons in the minor leagues after making his major league debut in 2021. During his debut season, the right-hander held a similar 7.56 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP. Across 50 career frames at the Triple-A level, the 27-year-old has held a 6.66 ERA and a 1.78 WHIP. Fantasy managers should expect him to spend most of the 2025 campaign in Triple-A, given his lack of proven success in the major leagues.
Yesterday
Garrett Cooper Inks Minor-League Deal With Atlanta
According to Robert Murray of FanSided.com, the Atlanta Braves signed first baseman/outfielder Garrett Cooper to a minor-league contract that includes an invite to spring training. Cooper spent time with the Cubs, Red Sox, and the Orioles during the 2024 campaign. Across 36 in the bigs, the 34-year-old posted a .206/.267/.299 line with one home run, five doubles, and a 7:35 BB:K ratio. Across 20 games with Triple-A Norfolk, Cooper posted a .310/.393/.521 line with four home runs. During the 2023 season, Cooper logged 123 games at the major league level and posted a .251/.304/.419 line with 17 long balls and 18 doubles. Fantasy managers should monitor his status during spring training as he could contend for a spot on the Opening Day roster if he performs well.
Yesterday
David Hamilton Could See Time In The Outfield
According to Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald, infielder David Hamilton could play outfield during the 2025 season. Manager Alex Cora noted that they want him to be as "versatile as possible." Hamilton got his first extended look at the major leagues last season but was deployed extensively at the keystone and shortstop. Through 98 games, the 27-year-old posted a .248/.303/.395 line with eight home runs and 17 doubles. Hamilton provided much of his fantasy value thanks to his speed as he swiped an impressive 33 bags. He was only caught stealing four times. Fantasy managers should expect Hamilton to compete with Vaughn Grissom for starts at the keystone but could eventually carve out a role in the outfield. For now, he should only be targeted in deeper 15+ team formats for his speed alone, as he is not currently guaranteed an everyday spot in the lineup.
Yesterday
Marcelo Mayer Could See Time At Second And Third Base
According to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com, Boston Red Sox prospect Marcelo Mayer could see time at second and third base this season. Mayer has been typically deployed at shortstop while in the Boston system, but manager Alex Cora hopes to add to Mayer's versatility this season. The 22-year-old made just 77 starts at Double-A last season before suffering hip and back injuries. Across the stint, the No.2 ranked prospect in the Boston system posted a strong .307/.370/.480 line with 28 doubles, eight home runs, and 13 stolen bases. Fantasy managers should expect the top prospect to open the campaign at Triple-A Worcester but could earn a promotion to Boston early in the season, especially if he can play multiple positions in the infield.
Yesterday
Giants Designate Blake Sabol For Assignment
According to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay, the San Francisco Giants are designating catcher Blake Sabol for assignment. This transaction opens a roster spot for staring pitcher Justin Verlander, who recently agreed to a one-year deal with the Giants. Sabol appeared in just 11 games with the Giants last season but performed well as he posted a .313/.421/.375. Sabol spent most of the season (97 games) at Triple-A Sacramento, where he posted a .246/.340/.388 slash line with 14 doubles, 11 home runs, and 11 stolen bases. The Giants now have three catchers on their major league roster with Patrick Bailey expected to operate as the clear No.1 option. Fantasy managers should expect Sabol to compete for a spot on an Opening Day roster if he were to be claimed by another club.
Yesterday
Sean Sullivan Invited To Spring Training
According to MLB Pipeline, Colorado Rockies starting pitching prospect Sean Sullivan is being invited to spring training. The 2023 second-round selection performed very well in his first professional season last summer. The left-handed pitcher opened the campaign at High-A and held a strong 2.16 ERA and a 0.84 WHIP across 83 1/3 innings of work. Across this stint, he struck out 101 batters and showed elite command, serving up just eight free passes. The No.10 ranked prospect in the Colorado system was then promoted to Double-A later in the summer. Through his first 32 innings with Double-A Hartford, Sullivan continued to dominate as he posted a 1.97 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. He struck out 24 batters and allowed just seven walks. Sullivan could have a path to making his major league debut in 2025 if he carries this momentum into the early part of the season.
Yesterday
Jorge Lopez Signs One-Year Deal With Washington
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, free agent relief pitcher Jorge Lopez has signed a one-year deal worth $3 million with the Washington Nationals. Lopez began his 2024 campaign with the New York Mets but was eventually cut after 26 innings. He then finished his campaign with the Chicago Cubs, where he logged a strong 2.03 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP across 26 2/3 innings of work. He struck out 31 batters during this stint and only allowed eight free passes. The right-hander generated a solid .220 xBA and a .3.59 xERA, placing him in the 76th and 68th percentile, respectively. With Kyle Finnegan still on the free agent market, the Nationals lack a proven ninth-inning option. If Lopez performs well early on, he could eventually earn a high-leverage role in this bullpen.
Yesterday
Pirates Sign Caleb Ferguson To One-Year Deal
According to Alex Stumpf of MLB.com, the Pittsburgh Pirates have signed left-handed pitcher Caleb Ferguson to a one-year contract worth $3 million. Ferguson spent the entire 2024 season in the bullpen but has been stretched out as a starter in the past. Last season, across 54 1/3 innings of relief with the Astros and Yankees, the southpaw posted a 4.64 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. He tallied one save. He generated a solid 26.9% K rate and 46.4% ground-ball rate, which placed him in the 78th and 72nd percentile, respectively. In 2023, Ferguson posted a 3.43 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP across 60 1/3 innings of work. Fantasy managers should monitor his production during spring training as he could have an outside chance to be deployed as a starter in the Steel City.
Yesterday
Teams Have Checked In On Oswaldo Cabrera
According to Brendan Kuty of The Athletic, several teams have checked in on the availability of Oswaldo Cabrera. Kuty noted that the 25-year-old switch-hitter is on an affordable contract and still has another year before salary arbitration, which makes him an intriguing target. He also has experience playing multiple positions in the infield and outfield, which adds to his flexibility. The Yankees are still in the market for an infielder and could potentially use Cabrera as a trade chip to acquire a more experienced bat. With Gleyber Torres now in Detroit, the Yankees have an open spot in their starting lineup. While internal options like Cabrera, DJ LeMahieu, or Oswald Peraza could eventually earn that role, the Yankees have expressed interest in several free agents and trade targets. Last season, Cabrera posted a .247/.296/.365 line with eight home runs and four stolen bases.
Yesterday
Omar Narvaez Signs Minor-League Deal With White Sox
According to the team, the Chicago White Sox have signed veteran backstop Omar Narvaez to a minor-league deal that contains an invite to spring training. The 32-year-old opened the 2024 season with the New York Mets before being released in June. In his limited stint in Queens, Narvaez posted a .154/.191/.185 line with just two extra-base hits. He then finished the season in the Astros minor league system. Through 42 games with Triple-A Sugar Land, the backstop posted a .196/.325/.304 slash line. Narvaez began his major league career on the Southside in 2016 before spending time with the Milwaukee Brewers. He made the National League All-Star roster in 2021, where he posted a .266/.342/.402 line. Given his struggles in the majors last season, he will likely open the 2025 team at Triple-A.
Yesterday
Garrett Whitlock Returning To Bullpen In 2025
According to Julian McWilliams of the Boston Globe, right-handed pitcher Garrett Whitlock is returning to the bullpen in 2025. Whitlock opened the 2024 season in the rotation but was only able to make four starts before undergoing season-ending elbow surgery in May. Across these four starts, the 28-year-old posted a 1.96 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. He struck out 17 batters (across 18 1/3 innings) and generated a 36.0% hard-hit rate and 6.0% barrel rate. In 2023, Whitlock spent time in both the bullpen and rotation and held a 5.15 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP across 71 2/3 total innings. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during spring training as he may be able to return to the mound before Opening Day if he does not face a setback in his recovery. Whitlock will likely see time as a long relief option but could eventually earn a high-leverage role later in the summer.
Yesterday
Tommy Kahnle Drawing Interest From Eight Clubs
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, free agent relief pitcher Tommy Kahnle is drawing interest from eight clubs. Kahnle enjoyed a strong 2024 season with the New York Yankees, posting a 2.11 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP across 42 2/3 innings of work. He struck out batters at a modest 25.7% clip and generated a strong .203 xBA. He also generated an excellent 59.8% ground ball rate and a 32.1% hard-hit rate which were both among the top marks among pitchers last season. Kahnle tallied 16 holds as he was typically deployed in a set-up role for the Yankees. Given the reported interest, many clubs may view the 35-year-old as a potential closer. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor where he signs, as he could be a valuable target in leagues that score holds if he joins a competing club.
Yesterday
Robert Suarez
• RP
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Padres
