MLB News
Ben Joyce To Get Another Year To Grow Into Closer Role
The Los Angeles Angels signed veteran closer Kenley Jansen on a one-year, $10 million deal on Tuesday, which will give 24-year-old right-hander Ben Joyce another year to grow into the closer role for the Angels. While Jansen will most likely be L.A.'s primary ninth-inning arm, he's also 37 years old and an injury risk, so Joyce's fantasy value could shoot back up quickly if Jansen ends up missing significant time due to an injury in 2025. But there's also no denying the fact that the signing of Jansen puts a huge damper on Joyce's fantasy prospects for the Halos this year. Joyce should still see the occasional save on days where Jansen is being rested, but one of the hardest throwers in the game will now be relegated to a high-leverage setup for the Angels this year.
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Zach Neto Ahead Of Schedule
Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto (shoulder) said he got "good news" from doctors on Tuesday and is ahead of schedule after having right-shoulder surgery. However, Neto is still unsure if he will be ready for Opening Day in late March. He has yet to be cleared to throw but has been hitting off a tee. The expectation is still that Neto will require a stint on the injured list to begin the 2025 regular season, but it sounds as though he could be ready sooner rather than later. In the meantime, the Angels have a handful of options to hold down the fort at the 6, including Tim Anderson, Luis Rengifo, Scott Kingery and Kyren Paris. Despite Neto potentially opening the season on the IL, fantasy managers should still consider him a nice middle-infield target in the later rounds of drafts after his breakout 2024 campaign in his first full year in the big leagues. RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 25 fantasy shortstop.
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Austin Riley Takes Batting Practice On Wednesday
Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (hand) was seen taking batting practice at Braves camp on Wednesday. It's a nice sight for the Braves after Riley's 2024 season was cut short last year due to a fractured hand that he suffered on Aug. 18. The 27-year-old avoided surgery, though, and appears to be full go for spring training this year. If he avoids injuries in 2025, fantasy managers should be getting an elite power hitter that is a good bet to return to the 30-homer mark. The former first-rounder and two-time All-Star hit a combined 75 long balls in 2022 and 2023 but fell to 19 home runs and 56 RBI in just 110 games played last season because of his hand injury. Fantasy managers shouldn't hold his 2024 injury against him in drafts this spring. RotoBaller currently has Riley ranked as the No. 4 fantasy third baseman.
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Brandon Woodruff A Full Participant At Spring Training, To Face Hitters On Friday
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) said he's a full participant as spring training gets underway this week and hasn't had any setbacks after missing all of last season. Woodruff's next big milestone will be this Friday when he faces hitters for the first time since having surgery to fix the anterior capsule in his right shoulder in October of 2023. Given all the time Woodruff missed in 2024, the Brewers will slowly build up the 32-year-old veteran this spring, and the expectation is that he'll begin the 2025 regular season on the injured list as a precaution. Before his shoulder injury, Woodruff was one of the best pitchers in baseball on a yearly basis, but his shoulder injury and the possibility that he faces workload restrictions this year make him much more risky in fantasy. However, the fact that he's feeling good this spring should be music to the Brewers' ears.
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Ke'Bryan Hayes Feeling Good
The word at Pittsburgh Pirates camp is that third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes (back) is feeling good entering spring training. PittsburghPG's Noah Hiles writes that he couldn't help but notice Hayes walking around on Wednesday with a big smile on his face. The 28-year-old fell apart in 2024 and played in only 96 games, slashing .233/.283/.290 with a career-worst .573 OPS, four home runs, 25 RBI, 11 stolen bases and 75 strikeouts in 396 plate appearances. However, his back injury was most likely to blame, and he didn't play for the Pirates past Aug. 17. Hayes has an elite glove at third base, so as long as he's healthy, he should see regular playing time. But for fantasy purposes, managers shouldn't be expecting much from a power standpoint given the injuries that he dealt with last year. Hayes' speed and regular playing time will make him useful in NL-only formats, but those in mixed leagues will be avoiding him.
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Jared Triolo, DJ Stewart, Darick Hall All Options At First Base
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington mentions Jared Triolo, DJ Stewart and Darick Hall as options that the Pirates will consider at first base now that Spencer Horwitz is expected to miss six to eight weeks with a wrist injury that required surgery. Those three players should see the most reps at first base in spring training with Horwitz sidelined, but Cherington also mentioned the possibility that there could be others that get work at first that aren't as familiar with the position. Cherington also said the team's focus right now is to keep left fielder Bryan Reynolds in the outfield. Triolo won a Gold Glove as a utility player in 2024 and is the most likely option to benefit the most from Horwitz's injury early in the season. However, he hit just .216/.296/.315 with nine homers and eight steals in 125 games in 2024 and probably won't move the needle much fantasy-wise, especially if he's in a platoon at first.
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Cardinals Talking To Five Teams About Nolan Arenado
St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said he's been limited to talking to five teams that fit third baseman Nolan Arenado's wishes, and that group of teams hasn't grown as the official start of spring training nears. Mozeliak did not name the specific teams, but the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold lists the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and San Diego Padres. Arenado, who has a full no-trade clause, already nixed a trade to the Houston Astros earlier this offseason. The Padres are a new team that we haven't heard yet, and they'd be an interesting fit with Manny Machado already entrenched at third base, but Arenado has also said he'd be willing to shift across the diamond to first base to accommodate a trade to his liking. Fantasy-wise, Arenado's offensive numbers have been declining in recent seasons, and RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 19 third baseman.
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Spencer Horwitz To Miss 6-8 Weeks
According to Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz (wrist) is expected to miss six to eight weeks. Hiles noted that Horwitz underwent a procedure on his right wrist last week to address "chronic symptoms" and is expected to make a full recovery. As a result, the 27-year-old will likely miss time during the start of the regular season and could open the 2025 campaign on the injured list. While he will be sidelined, fantasy managers should expect Jared Triolo to see most of the opportunities at first base, with Billy Cook or Bryan Reynolds potentially operating as the backup option. The Pirates acquired Horwitz earlier in the offseason via a trade from the Cleveland Guardians. Last season with Toronto, the 27-year-old posted a .265/.357/.433 slash line with 19 doubles and 12 home runs. He should see most of the starting opportunities at first base when he returns.
4 hours ago
Alex Cobb Will Not Be Ready For Opening Day
According to Evan Woodbery of the MLive Media Group, Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Alex Cobb (hip) will not be ready to make the Opening Day roster. Manager AJ Hinch noted that his ramp-up will start "about a month late." The team said that Cobb received a PNP injection last week to address right hip inflammation that gradually occurred while he was building up. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during spring training. Earlier in the offseason, the Tigers signed the 37-year-old to a one-year contract worth $15 million. He was penciled in to have a spot in the starting rotation, but this injury will now provide Casey Mize, Kenta Maeda, Matt Manning, and Keider Montero an opportunity to earn starts early in the season. In addition, top prospect Jackson Jobe was already viewed as a "front runner" to start the season in the rotation, and given this injury, he should be in a great position to do so. Cobb was only able to log 13 1/3 innings last season but held a 3.87 ERA with a 1.32 WHIP across 151 1/3 innings in 2023.
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Gavin Lux To Move Around The Infield During Spring Training
According to C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic, Cincinnati Reds infielder Gavin Lux is expected to move around the infield during spring training. Manager Terry Francona noted that the 27-year-old is expected to see time at first, second, and third base, shortstop, and potentially the outfield as well. Last season, Lux spent most of his time at second base for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Earlier in the offseason, the Reds acquired Lux from the Dodgers in exchange for outfielder Mike Sirota. Across 139 games last season, Lux posted a .251/.320/.383 line with 10 home runs and 24 doubles. He also swiped five bases. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor where Lux plays in spring training, as it could impact the playing time for other Cincinnati infielders, such as Noelvi Marte and Santiago Espinal.
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Christian Encarnacion-Strand Expected To See Time At Third Base
According to C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic, Cincinnati Reds infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand is expected to see time at third base during spring training. Last season, the 25-year-old was only able to appear in 29 contests due to hand and wrist injuries. During this limited stint, he was unproductive and posted an underwhelming .190/.220/.292 slash line with just two home runs. During the 2023 season, Encarnacion-Strand posted a .270/.328/.477 line with 13 long balls during his first 63 games of MLB action. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Encarnacion-Strand's progression during spring training, as the team will explore other ways to keep him in the lineup. However, he has primarily played first base during his time in the major leagues. Given the power upside he showed as a rookie, he could be worth a look as a high-upside pick late in fantasy drafts if he performs well in spring training.
5 hours ago
Matt Vierling Expected To See Time At Third Base And Outfield
According to Jason Beck of MLB.com, Detroit Tigers third baseman/outfielder Matt Vierling is expected to see time at both third base and outfield during the 2025 campaign. Beck noted that the team has been linked to free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman, but given their current roster, Vierling and Jace Jung will share time at the hot corner. When Vierling is not in the infield, he will likely see time in the outfield, both in center and right. However, if Bregman agrees to terms with Detroit, Vierling will become a full-time outfielder. Last season, the 28-year-old posted a .257/.312/.423 slash line with 16 home runs and six stolen bases. Under the hood, he generated a .256 xBA with a modest 40.9 percent hard-hit rate and a 7.5 percent barrel rate, which were both slightly below the average marks. Given Detroit's current roster, Vierling should see close to everyday at-bats and is a viable depth outfielder in deeper fantasy formats.
5 hours ago
Gavin Stone Placed On 60-Day Injured List
According to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed pitcher Gavin Stone (shoulder) was placed on the 60-day injured list. Stone was already expected to miss the entire 2025 campaign after undergoing shoulder surgery in October. However, this transaction opened a roster spot for Kike Hernandez, who the team signed to a one-year contract on Tuesday. Across 140 1/3 innings of work last season, Stone posted a 3.53 ERA with a 1.21 WHIP. He tallied strikeouts at a below-average 20.0 percent rate but showed strong command of his pitches with a 6.4 percent walk rate. He also limited hard contact with a solid 36.2 percent hard-hit rate, which placed him in the 72nd percentile. With Stone sidelined, fantasy managers should expect Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Shohei Ohtani (shoulder) to see most of the starts, with Clayton Kershaw (toe) and Tony Gonsolin mixing in as well.
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Spencer Horwitz To Miss Time In Spring Training With Wrist Injury
Sources tell Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Andrew Destin that Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz (wrist) will miss time in spring training with a right-wrist injury. The severity of Horwitz's wrist injury is unclear, but it will certainly put his status up in the air for Opening Day in late March. The 27-year-old was dealt from the Toronto Blue Jays to the Cleveland Guardians and then to the Pirates this offseason. If healthy, he's expected to serve as the Bucs' primary first baseman in 2025 after hitting .265/.357/.433 with a .790 OPS, 12 home runs, 40 RBI and 46 runs scored in 381 plate appearances over 97 games in Toronto in 2024. If Horwitz's wrist injury is serious enough to keep him out for the start of the regular season, it's possible that Jared Triolo will slide across the diamond and start at first base for Pittsburgh. Stay tuned for more information on the severity of Horwitz's injury.
15 hours ago
Alex Bregman Likely To Land With Red Sox, Cubs, Or Tigers
ESPN's Buster Olney writes that free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman is likely to sign with either the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs or Detroit Tigers soon. Sources with the Houston Astros are skeptical he'll re-sign. If Bregman chooses the Red Sox, he could be moved to second base. The 30-year-old is the last big remaining free agent still on the open market with teams reporting to spring training later this week. For fantasy purposes, the aging veteran would fit best at either Fenway Park or Wrigley Field, and a signing in Detroit would indicate that the Tigers are going all-in after surprisingly making the postseason last year. If he signs with the Cubs or Tigers, he'll likely remain at the hot corner. Without knowing yet where Bregman will be playing in 2025, RotoBaller has Bregman ranked just inside the top-15 fantasy third basemen.
16 hours ago
Dodgers Won't Place Any Restrictions On Roki Sasaki
ESPN's Alden Gonzalez writes that while the Los Angeles Dodgers will closely monitor Japanese rookie right-hander Roki Sasaki in his first year in the big leagues in 2025, they won't put any restrictions on him. Gonzalez is eager to see how one of the most lauded pitching development programs goes about extracting greatness from Sasaki. With a nasty splitter, Sasaki should immediately have plenty of fantasy appeal with the World Champion Dodgers, and RotoBaller has the 23-year-old ranked as the No. 21 fantasy starting pitcher before ever throwing a pitch in the majors. Durability could be an issue, though, as Sasaki dealt with arm and oblique injuries the last two years in Japan and topped out at 129 1/3 innings in 2022. He's healthy entering spring training, but it's hard to believe that the Dodgers won't monitor his workload eventually in 2025.
16 hours ago
Drew Thorpe Feeling Good, To Throw Off A Mound Soon
Chicago White Sox general manager Chris Getz said that right-hander Drew Thorpe (elbow) is feeling good and should start throwing off a mound soon. "Playing catch right now. He'll be on a mound here shortly. We do expect him to be a little behind some of these other starters, but with that being said, we feel like he's going to be active throughout spring training," Getz said. Thorpe had surgery last September to remove a bone spur from his right elbow and has had multiple setbacks since, but it sounds as though the 24-year-old could still be ready for Opening Day in late March. If he's able to get past his elbow injuries, he'll have a good shot to open the year in the starting rotation. The former second-rounder by the New York Yankees in 2022 out of Cal Poly had a 5.48 ERA (5.87 FIP) and 1.26 WHIP with 25 K's and 21 walks in his first nine big-league starts in 2024. Fantasy managers in shallow mixed leagues can ignore Thorpe.
16 hours ago
Ky Bush To Have Tommy John Surgery On Wednesday
Chicago White Sox left-hander Ky Bush (elbow) is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery on Wednesday, according to general manager Chris Getz. Bush ended the 2024 season on the injured list with a left-triceps strain and will now have surgery that will keep him out for the entire 2025 campaign and potentially the start of the 2026 season as well. The former second-round pick by the Los Angeles Angels in 2021 out of Saint Mary's College made his major-league debut with the White Sox in 2024 and went 0-3 with a 5.60 ERA, 2.04 WHIP, 11 strikeouts and 16 walks in 17 2/3 frames over four starts. The 6-foot-6 southpaw also struggled at Triple-A before his first big-league call-up. Lack of control has been Bush's biggest issue as a professional, so he could struggle immensely when he returns from Tommy John season next year.
16 hours ago
Hayden Birdsong Could Be Ticketed To Start At Triple-A
MLB.com's Maria Guardado projects San Francisco Giants right-hander Hayden Birdsong to be on the outside looking in for a starting rotation spot to begin the 2025 season. Entering spring training, Guardado lists Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, Justin Verlander, Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison as the team's five starters, with Birdsong, Landen Roupp and Keaton Winn as other possibilities. In his big-league debut in 2024, Birdsong went 5-6 with a 4.75 ERA (4.67 FIP), a 1.39 WHIP and 88:43 K:BB in 72 innings over 16 starts. The 23-year-old showed some nice strikeout upside and plenty of stuff that plays at the big-league level, but he would probably benefit from more seasoning with his control on the farm to open 2025. If he improves his command and gets another shot in the rotation at some point in 2025, fantasy managers should be running to the waiver wire to take a chance on him.
16 hours ago
Brett Wisely Could Have Inside Track On Bench Job
San Francisco Giants infielder Brett Wisely could have the inside track on a bench job in spring training due to the fact that the team already has a plethora of right-handed infield bats, MLB.com's Maria Guardado writes. Wisely has that going for him, but Casey Schmitt and Osleivis Basabe both offer just as much defensive versatility and could force their way onto the Opening Day roster if they impress during spring training. The 25-year-old Wisely has showed very little offensively in the Bay Area in his first two big-league seasons, slashing .218/.263/.320 with a weak .582 OPS, six home runs, 39 RBI, four stolen bases and 35 runs scored in 403 plate appearances over 142 games played. At best, Wisely should be considered a decent middle-infield glove option for the Giants off the bench, and he can also fill in at center field in a pinch.
16 hours ago