MLB News
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 resigning Kirby Yates. If they do not, Martin could mix in for save opportunities if they come to a contract agreement.
3 hours ago
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 DH spot. Last summer, the 30-year-held a .260/.315/.453 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% K rate and a low-end top-12 option in category leagues.
3 hours ago
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.
4 hours ago
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.
4 hours ago
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.
9 hours ago
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.
9 hours ago
Corbin Burnes Inks Six-Year Deal With Arizona
According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, right-handed pitcher Corbin Burnes has signed a six-year $210 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks have recently begun to make some noise on the market, trading for first baseman Josh Naylor a week ago and are now signing the top pitcher on the market. Last summer in Baltimore, the 30-year-old posted a 2.92 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP across 194 1/3 innings of work en route to finishing fifth in AL Cy Young voting. Under the hood he generated a stellar 31.6% hard-hit rate and a 48.8% ground-ball rate. Before going to Baltimore, Burnes spent the first six seasons of his career in Milwaukee where he won the 2021 NL Cy Young. Even though he strikeout production has slowly declined over his career, Burnes has remained a workhorse as he has logged over 190 innings in each of the past three seasons. The right-hander will now sit as the ace of the Arizona rotation and will be one of the first starting pitchers taken in fantasy drafts this offseason.
15 hours ago
Coco Montes Signs Minor League Deal With Tampa Bay
According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, infielder Coco Montes has signed a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. Montes logged 64 games at the Triple-A level in the Rockies organization and held an impressive .335/.414/.551 line with 16 doubles, nine home runs, and a 37:54 BB:K ratio. Montes also spent some time last season playing in Japan. He made his major league debut during the 2023 season where he appeared in just 18 games with the Rockies and posted a .184/.244/.316 line. Even though he has never been given a full look in the majors, he sits with an overall .305/.388/.532 line across 282 games at the Triple-A level. If Montes has a successful Spring Training he could contend for a spot on the Opening Day Roster.
Yesterday
Tim Hill Linked To The Yankees
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Yankees are looking to add left-handed pitchers to their bullpen and have been linked to Tim Hill,among others. Hill finished the 2024 campaign in the Bronx after starting the season with the Chicago White Sox. Across 67 innings of relief last summer, the southpaw held a 3.36 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. However, he was very effective across his 44-inning stint in the Bronx, where he posted a 2.05 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. The 34-year-old has struggled to generate strikeouts and posted a poor 12.9% strikeout rate and 10.7% walk rate over the past two summers. However, he generated a 1.7% barrel rate and a 68.1% ground-ball rate, which placed him in the 100th percentile in both statistics last season. If Hill were to reunite with the Yankees, he would likely operate as a middle-relief option and see minimal save situations, if any at all.
Yesterday
Teoscar Hernandez Returning To Los Angeles On Three-Year Deal
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, free-agent outfielder Teoscar Hernandez is returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers on a three-year contract worth $66 million. Throughout the offseason, the 32-year-old expressed interest in a reunion, and now both sides have agreed to a deal. In his first season as a Dodger, Hernandez spent most of his time in left field and posted a strong .272/.339/.501 slash line with 33 home runs and 12 stolen bases. He tallied an impressive 99 RBI batting in a deep lineup. Under the hood, the slugger boasted a .486 xSLG and 14.9% barrel rate, which were among the top marks in the sport. During their World Series run, Hernandez held a .250/.352/.417 line across 16 playoff games. Fantasy managers should expect Hernandez to continue to bat in the top half of an elite lineup, which should provide him ample RBI opportunities throughout the 2025 season.
Yesterday
Masataka Yoshida On The Trade Market
According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Boston Red Sox attempted to move designated hitter Masataka Yoshida in a deal that would have brought right-handed pitcher Luis Castillo to Boston. Feinsand reported that the Mariners were looking to acquire first baseman Triston Casas in exchange for Castillo, but rejected the deal as the Red Sox attempted to put Yoshida in the package as well. The 31-year-old carries a hefty contract worth $55.8 million but Seattle was unwilling to take on the payroll. Feinsand noted that once this deal fell through, Boston pivoted to Walker Buehler. Yoshida has been deployed as a pure DH given his defensive struggles and held a .280/.349/.415 line with ten home runs and two stolen bases last summer. If Yoshida remains on the Red Sox, fantasy managers should expect him to see most starts at the DH spot.
Yesterday
Bailey Horn Designated For Assignment
The Detroit Tigers have designated left-handed pitcher Bailey Horn for assignment earlier on Friday. This opened up a roster spot for second baseman Gleyber Torres who agreed to a one-year contract with Detroit. Horn made his major league debut last summer and held a 6.50 ERA and a 1.78 WHIP across 18 innings of work. He struck out 13 batters and posted a 10.8% walk rate. Across 39 2/3 innings at the Triple-A level last season Horn held a 4.54 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP while tallying 35 punchouts. Horn was claimed off of waivers by Detroit earlier this offseason but will now look for a new suitor ahead of Spring Training. If Horn is able to sign a new contract, he will likely open the 2025 campaign at the Triple-A level given his struggles in the big leagues.
Yesterday
Reds Release Peyton Burdick
The Cincinnati Reds have released outfielder Peyton Burdick this offseason. It's expected that Burdick will take his talents overseas to either Japan or Korea in 2025. The 27-year-old did not see any action in the big leagues in 2024. In 63 games for Triple-A Norfolk (Baltimore Orioles organization) and Triple-A Louisville, Burdick slashed just .187/.302/.370 with 11 home runs, 25 RBI, five steals, 36 runs scored and 108 strikeouts in 258 plate appearances. Burdick was originally drafted in the third round by the Miami Marlins in 2019 out of Wright State University. He made his major-league debut with the Fish in 2022 and he has hit a combined .200/.281/.368 with a weak .649 OPS, five home runs, 13 RBI and 12 runs scored in 46 games played over two seasons in Miami.
Yesterday
Phillies Sign Joel Kuhnel To Minors Deal
The Philadelphia Phillies have signed free-agent right-hander Joel Kuhnel to a minor-league deal. Kuhnel will join the Phillies after allowing five earned runs on eight hits (one homer) while walking none and striking out five in only 10 relief innings with the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays in 2024. The 29-year-old reliever was originally drafted in the 11th round in 2016 by the Cincinnati Reds out of the University of Texas at Arlington. He made his big-league debut in 2019 with the Reds and has posted a 5.86 ERA (4.46 FIP), a 1.36 WHIP, one save and a 76:24 K:BB in 93 2/3 innings over 82 relief appearances in his five seasons in the majors. Kuhnel will bring experienced relief depth to the Phils after pitching at four different Triple-A levels in 2024 with the Rays, Astros, Toronto Blue Jays and Milwaukee Brewers.
Yesterday
Pirates Sign Darick Hall To Minor-League Deal
The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed free-agent first baseman Darick Hall to a minor-league deal. Hall will give the Pirates an extra left-handed bat that can fill in at first base or as a designated hitter. The 29-year-old former 14th-round pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2016 out of Dallas Baptist University did not see action at all in the big leagues in 2024. Instead, he hit .236/.320/.387 with 16 home runs in 114 games at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He debuted in the majors with the Phillies in 2022 and has hit .226/.258/.442 with a .700 OPS, 10 home runs, 19 RBI and 21 runs scored in 198 plate appearances in Philly in 59 games in two seasons. Hall will most likely begin the 2025 campaign with Triple-A Indianapolis, but he'll have a much better shot to reach the big leagues again in Pittsburgh than he did in Philadelphia.
Yesterday
Spencer Torkelson's 2025 Role Not Defined
Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson's role for the 2025 season has yet to be defined, according to general manager Scott Harris. The Tigers signed infielder Gleyber Torres on Friday in free agency to be their everyday second baseman next year. Colt Keith, who was the starter at the keystone as a rookie in 2024, will shift over to first base next year. With the 25-year-old Torkelson's role up in the air, the Tigers will most likely look to shop him on the trade market. But if he stays in Detroit, the former top overall pick from Arizona State could end up being on the short side of a platoon at either first base or designated hitter. Torkelson hit 31 homers and drove in 94 in 2023 but took a big step backwards in 2024, was demoted to the minors for a bit and had a .219/.295/.374 slash line with just 10 homers and 37 RBI in 92 games. His stock is way down heading into fantasy drafts next spring.
Yesterday
Colt Keith To Move To First Base In 2025
The Detroit Tigers will move infielder Colt Keith to first base next year after signing second baseman Gleyber Torres in free agency, according to general manager Scott Harris. Torres will be Detroit's everyday second baseman. The 23-year-old Keith will be playing first base for the first time in his professional career next year and will have eligibility in fantasy at both second and first, giving him a bit more value. With Keith now at first base, it's unclear what role former first-rounder Spencer Torkelson will fill, but it's possible he could be more of a full-time designated hitter. Keith, who hits from the left side, had flashes in his first big-league season in 2024 and finished with a .260/.309/.380 slash line with a below-average .689 OPS, 13 home runs, 61 RBI, seven steals and 54 runs in 516 at-bats. He will need to improve his batted-ball metrics in order to take a step forward in his sophomore season in 2025.
Yesterday
Gleyber Torres Headed To Detroit On One-Year Deal
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, free-agent second baseman Gleyber Torres has agreed to a one-year contract worth $15 million with the Detroit Tigers. Last season with the Yankees, Torres posted a career-low .257/.33/.378 slash line with just 15 home runs and four stolen bases. He tallied 26 doubles and 63 RBI. Under the hood, he generated a poor .307 xwOBA, 2.40 xBA, and a .368 xSLG, which were all below the 40th percentile among qualified hitters. However, he showed a solid eye at the plate with a 9.8% walk rate and a 20.5% strikeout rate, both of which were above the average marks. Fantasy managers should expect Torres to spend most of his time at the keystone in Detroit, which will move Colt Keith to the hot corner or even first base. This may make it difficult for young infielders Jace Jung or Trey Sweeney to find consistent playing time as well.
Yesterday
Drew VerHagen Headed To Japan
Free-agent relief pitcher Drew VerHagen has re-signed with the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan. The 34-year-old posted a 3.09 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 82/22 K/BB ratio across 20 appearances with the Ham Fighters last season. After testing the market, VerHagen has decided to head back to Japan for at least one more season. He last pitched in the MLB with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2023. VerHagen posted a 3.98 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 60/26 K/BB ratio in 60 appearances with the Cards that season. It's uncertain if he plans to return to the big leagues after another year overseas.
Yesterday
Diego Castillo Signs Deal With Rockies
The Colorado Rockies have signed relief pitcher Diego Castillo to a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training. This isn't a blockbuster move, but Castillo has been an under-the-radar pitcher throughout his career. He didn't see much action in the MLB last season as he posted a 2.70 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, and 6/8 K/BB ratio in seven appearances with the Minnesota Twins. The 30-year-old has a 3.20 ERA across seven big league seasons and has 35 saves across his career. He has a decent shot at making the big league bullpen considering the Rockies don't have many lock-down options in their pen right now.
Yesterday
