MLB News
Brewers Sign Tyler Alexander To One-Year Deal
The Milwaukee Brewers announced on Wednesday that they signed free-agent left-hander Tyler Alexander to an undisclosed one-year deal. In a corresponding move, left-hander Robert Gasser (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list. Alexander became a free agent when the Tampa Bay Rays non-tendered him early in the offseason. The 30-year-old veteran southpaw made 23 appearances (nine starts) for the Rays in 2024 and went 6-5 with a career-worst 5.10 ERA (5.08 FIP), a 1.24 WHIP, a career-high 90 strikeouts and 24 walks in a career-high 107 2/3 total innings. Home runs have been an issue for Alexander in his career, and that's not likely to change with a move to Milwaukee. He's also unlikely to have much fantasy appeal with the Brew Crew in what will likely be a relief role.
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DL Hall To Be Shut Down For A Few More Weeks With Lat Injury
Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy said on Wednesday during his first media session of spring training that left-hander DL Hall (lat) is dealing with a lat injury and will be shut down from throwing for several more weeks. The Brewers were hoping that Hall would come to spring training to compete for a starting rotation spot in 2025, but the 26-year-old southpaw's lat injury could force him back to a relief role after he finished the 2024 campaign in the bullpen. This doesn't mean that Hall won't make starts for the Brewers in 2025, but his most likely path to an Opening Day roster spot will now most likely be as a reliever. The former first-rounder struggled as a starter early last year before injuring his knee and finished with a 5.02 ERA and 1.60 WHIP with a career-high 44 K's and 21 walks in 43 innings over 13 outings (seven starts). Hall needs to get healthy before being considered a fantasy asset again in deeper leagues.
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Robert Garcia Dealing With Nerve Irritation In His Forearm
New Texas Rangers left-handed reliever Robert Garcia (forearm) is being held out of bullpens in camp for the next few days due to nerve irritation in his left forearm. Garcia will play catch on Thursday and go from there. "Nothing we're concerned about, but going to play cautiously here at the beginning of spring training," president of baseball operations Chris Young said. The Rangers acquired Garcia from the Washington Nationals this offseason in the deal that involved first baseman Nathaniel Lowe. The 28-year-old should be in line for high-leverage bullpen duties for the Rangers in 2025 after they lost both Kirby Yates and Jose Leclerc to free agency, although Chris Martin is expected to be the primary option for saves in the ninth inning. In a career-high 72 outings for the Nats in 2024, Garcia had 13 holds with above-average strikeout and walk rates. Don't ignore him in holds leagues if he's healthy.
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Lou Trivino Fully Healthy
San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser reports that San Francisco Giants right-handed reliever Lou Trivino (elbow) is fully healthy after having Tommy John surgery and was able to throw live batting practice at camp on Wednesday. Trivino said his new UCL "was like changing the transmission." The 33-year-old veteran pitcher had TJ surgery in May of 2023 and was only able to make a handful of minor-league rehab outings last year. If he doesn't have any setbacks with his right elbow in spring training this year, Trivino could win an Opening Day bullpen role in San Francisco as a middle reliever, but he probably won't be on the fantasy radar at all. The former 11th-round pick by the Athletics back in 2013 out of Slippery Rock University does have 37 career saves in five MLB seasons, but he last pitched in the big leagues in 2022.
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Jordan Hicks Gains 14 Pounds
San Francisco Giants right-hander Jordan Hicks said he gained around 14 pounds in the offseason to prepare for a full season as a starter in 2025. Hicks said he feels that he can "take the training wheels off." The 28-year-old hurler moved to a starting role last year in his first season with the Giants and got off to a fantastic start before eventually tiring out late in the year and being moved to the bullpen. He went 4-7 with a 4.10 ERA (4.37 FIP), 1.45 WHIP, a career-high 96 strikeouts and 47 walks in a career-high 109 2/3 innings over 29 appearances (20 starts). He should be better equipped to handle an elevated workload in 2025 in his second year as a starter, but there remains plenty of risk for fantasy managers. Hicks did have two stints on the injured list due to shoulder inflammation. Fantasy managers in mixed leagues should have better options.
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Tom Murphy A Full-Go For Spring Training
San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin said that catcher Tom Murphy (knee) is a full-go for the start of spring training. Murphy signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Giants last offseason but ended up playing in just 13 games in 2024 after spraining his left MCL in early May. The good news is that the 33-year-old veteran backstop didn't require surgery, which is why he's a full-go this spring. Now that he appears to be fully healthy in 2025, Murphy is expected to be the team's primary backup to starter Patrick Bailey. Bailey struggled against lefties last season, so don't be surprised if Murphy sees regular playing time against southpaws in 2025. At best, Murphy will be an option for fantasy managers in two-catcher leagues because of his power. He has never played in more than 97 games in a season since debuting in 2015 with the Colorado Rockies, but he did slug 18 homers in 75 games in 2019 with the Mariners.
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Kyle Harrison To Compete For Rotation Spot
San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin said that left-hander Kyle Harrison will compete with right-hander Hayden Birdsong for the fifth starting rotation spot in spring training. The San Francisco Chronicle's Shayna Rubin reports that Harrison, who had a noticeable dip in velocity in 2024, said his velocity is back where he wants it and has corrected issues with his delivery that occurred after he suffered ankle and shoulder injuries. The 23-year-old was shut down early last year due to left-shoulder inflammation, which was probably the primary cause of his drop in velocity. With good health, he should have a leg up on the final rotation spot over Birdsong and could be due for a bounce-back campaign after posting a 4.56 ERA and 1.34 WHIP with a 118:42 K:BB in 24 starts (124 1/3 innings) in his first full MLB season in 2024. RotoBaller has Harrison outside of its top-100 starting pitching rankings.
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Jung Hoo Lee A Full-Go For Spring Training
San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin said on Wednesday that outfielder Jung Hoo Lee (shoulder) is a full-go for spring training. Lee played in just 37 games in 2024 in his first year in the big leagues after injuring his left shoulder and undergoing season-ending labrum surgery in June. Before injuring his shoulder in a collision with the outfield wall, the 26-year-old Japanese outfielder hit .262/.310/.331 with a below-average .641 OPS, two home runs, eight RBI, two steals and 15 runs scored in 145 at-bats. He figures to once again be San Fran's primary leadoff hitter in 2025, which will give him plenty of opportunities to score runs for fantasy managers. Lee is an elite contact hitter, but his .310 on-base percentage was a disappointment, albeit in a small sample size. His 41.8% hard-hit rate from 2024 should translate to more power in 2025, but fantasy managers should be targeting Lee as a No. 4 or 5 outfielder going into his sophomore season.
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Ryan Walker To Be Giants Closer
San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin said on Wednesday that right-handed reliever Ryan Walker will open the season as the team's closer. Walker took over as the Giants' closer in the second half last year and never looked back after Camilo Doval was removed from the ninth-inning role. All in all, the 29-year-old was excellent with a 1.91 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 99 strikeouts, 18 walks, 10 wins, 10 saves and 21 holds in 80 innings pitched for San Fran. Walker's 26.9 K-BB percentage ranked 10th in the league as well. The former 31st-round pick has been rewarded for his breakout 2024 campaign and should now be considered a top-10 fantasy closer now that he's officially been named the team's primary closer entering the 2025 season. Walker's biggest threat to closing duties if he struggles will probably be Doval if he's able to bounce back.
3 hours ago
James McArthur To Be Delayed In Camp After Elbow Surgery
MLB.com's Anne Rogers reports that Kansas City Royals right-handed reliever James McArthur (elbow) had right-elbow surgery in the offseason, specifically having two screws put in his arm to stabilize an olecranon fracture. McArthur has just resumed his throwing program/progression and will be delayed at the start of spring training as a result. The 28-year-old could still be ready for the start of the 2025 regular season at the end of March, but he's not on the fantasy radar after blowing seven saves in 2024 and being demoted from the closer role. At best, he'll be a middle reliever for the Royals after they added Carlos Estevez this offseason and Lucas Erceg late last year. McArthur had a brutal 6.87 ERA in the second half of 2024, but that could have been mainly due to a Grade 1 UCL sprain in his elbow.
3 hours ago
Alec Marsh Might Be Delayed Due To Shoulder Tightness
MLB.com's Anne Rogers reports the Kansas City Royals right-hander Alec Marsh (shoulder) experienced right-shoulder tightness this offseason. Marsh is back on track and is throwing every day, but he might be delayed in spring training slightly in regards to facing hitters, according to manager Matt Quatraro. The Royals are taking it day-to-day with the 26-year-old in camp. It's not too much of a concern for Marsh right now, but if his shoulder issues return, it could cost him a chance at the No. 5 starting rotation spot in spring training as he competes primarily with Kris Bubic. Marsh opened up 2024 solid with a 3.63 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 67 innings over his first 12 starts, but he posted a 5.52 ERA the rest of the season and was eventually demoted to a bullpen role. His strikeout rate dropped to a below-average 22.5% and he had trouble limited hard contact and homers. Marsh can be ignored in mixed fantasy leagues, even if he wins a rotation spot.
3 hours ago
Shane McClanahan 100% With No Restrictions
Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan (elbow) told Bally Sports Florida's Ryan Bass on Wednesday morning that he is "100%" ready to go for spring training with zero restrictions. McClanahan was seen on Wednesday throwing warm-up tosses before his first bullpen session of spring training. The 27-year-old southpaw starter had Tommy John surgery in August of 2023 and missed all of 2024 as a result. The former first-rounder and two-time All-Star has already exhibited ace potential for fantasy managers, but his draft stock will be down in 2025 since he's expected to be limited to around 150 innings this year. In his three years in the big leagues with the Rays, McClanahan has gone 33-16 with a 3.02 ERA (3.36 FIP), a 1.10 WHIP and 456:116 K:BB in 404 2/3 frames over 74 starts. Fantasy managers should treat him as a low-end No. 3 starter/high-end No. 4 starter in upcoming drafts.
3 hours ago
Drew Smith Re-Signs With Mets
Right-handed reliever Drew Smith (elbow) agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal to re-sign with the New York Mets on Wednesday, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. The deal includes a club option for the 2026 season. Smith continues to rehab from a hybrid internal-brace/Tommy John surgery last July. There is a chance the 31-year-old reliever could return later this year, but it's more likely the Mets are envisioning him returning to full strength in 2026. The TJ surgery he had last summer was the second such procedure of his career. The former third-round selection by the Detroit Tigers in 2015 out of Dallas Baptist University had a nice 3.06 ERA (3.56 FIP), 1.53 WHIP, two saves, 23 strikeouts and nine walks in 17 2/3 relief innings for the Mets last year before injuring his elbow. Smith can obviously be ignored in all fantasy formats in 2025.
3 hours ago
Marlins Agree To One-Year Deal With Cal Quantrill
The Miami Marlins agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million deal with free-agent right-hander Cal Quantrill on Wednesday, a source told ESPN's Alden Gonzalez. Quantrill will give the Marlins a young and durable rotation arm who has a propensity for generating ground balls and who isn't far removed from a nice stretch with the Cleveland Guardians from 2021-22, when he went 23-8 with a combined 3.16 ERA (4.10 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP while striking out 249 and walking 94 in 336 innings over 72 appearances (54 starts). The 30-year-old was cut by the Colorado Rockies in the offseason after going 8-11 with a 4.98 ERA and 1.52 WHIP with 110 K's and a league-high 69 walks in 148 1/3 innings over 29 starts in 2024. Because of the lack of starting options in Miami, Quantrill should be part of their Opening Day rotation, giving him some appeal in NL-only fantasy formats.
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Sandy Alcantara Throws Live Batting Practice On Wednesday
Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara (elbow) was seen throwing live batting practice in camp on Wednesday. It was Alcantara's first live BP session of spring training as he finishes the final steps of his recovery from Tommy John surgery that he had in early October of 2023. The 29-year-old missed all of the 2024 campaign as a result, but he's making good progress already this spring and should be able to eventually pitch in Grapefruit League games. However, this is a reminder that the Marlins will be extremely cautious with the former National League Cy Young winner. But barring a setback in spring training, Alcantara has a good shot to be ready for Opening Day in late March. There is the allure of Alcantara returning to his pre-surgery ace form, but fantasy managers may want to temper expectations. RotoBaller has him listed as the No. 46 fantasy starting pitcher in 2025.
4 hours ago
Brewers Name Freddy Peralta As Opening Day Starter
Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy said on Wednesday that right-hander Freddy Peralta will be the team's Opening Day starter in 2025 on March 27 against the New York Yankees. It shouldn't come as much of a surprise for the Brew Crew with right-hander Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) likely to open the year on the injured list. It will be the second straight Opening Day start for the 28-year-old Peralta, and it won't be a great matchup for fantasy purposes against the Bronx Bombers. Peralta went 11-9 with a 3.68 ERA (4.16 FIP) and 1.21 WHIP with 200 strikeouts and 68 walks in a career-high 173 2/3 innings over 32 starts in 2024. It was the second straight year he reached the 200-strikeout mark, but that type of production is probably the ceiling at this point in his career as he heads into his eighth year in Milwaukee. Target Peralta as a safe No. 3 fantasy starter in drafts this spring.
4 hours ago
Michael Kopech Behind Schedule, Could Open Season On Injured List
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that right-handed reliever Michael Kopech (forearm) is behind schedule in his ramp-up to open spring training, and the skipper is unsure if Kopech will have to start the 2025 regular season on the injured list. Kopech dealt with right-forearm inflammation this winter, although some in the Dodgers organization were saying that his injury was being overblown. The 28-year-old hasn't been shut down from throwing, though, so if he does start the year on the IL, hopefully it won't be a lengthy stay before he makes his season debut. The hard-throwing reliever was great for the Dodgers in 24 regular-season appearances last year after being acquired from the White Sox, posting a 1.13 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and six saves. However, the additions of relievers Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates this offseason make it unlikely Kopech sees many save chances in 2025.
4 hours ago
Dodgers Plan To Use Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki In Tokyo Series
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on MLB Network that the team's plan is to use both Japanese right-handers Yoshinobu Yamamoto and rookie Roki Sasaki in the season-opening series from March 18-19 in Tokyo, Japan, against the Chicago Cubs. "The expectation is for both those guys to pitch," Roberts said. It's likely that Yamamoto will take the hill in the first game and matchup against Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga, with Sasaki going in Game 2. Yamamoto, who looked really good in his first year in the big leagues in 2024, should be considered a low-end No. 1 fantasy starter going into his sophomore season, with Sasaki being more of a low-end No. 2 starter given question marks about his durability as he makes the transition to the States. While the Dodgers are saying they won't have any restrictions on the 23-year-old to begin the year, you have to imagine at some point they'll be monitoring Sasaki's innings.
4 hours ago
Shohei Ohtani Won't Pitch In Cactus League Games
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts doesn't have a start date yet for two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (elbow, shoulder) to starting throwing full bullpen sessions this spring. Roberts says that Ohtani will be pitching "sooner rather than later," but he won't pitch in any Cactus League games. The 30-year-old Japanese hurler is recovering from surgeries on his right elbow and his left (non-throwing) shoulder and isn't expected to join the Dodgers' starting rotation until sometime in May, which obviously makes him much more attractive as a hitter than a pitcher again in 2025. Ohtani didn't pitch at all in 2024 after having Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in September of 2023. In addition to his elbow surgery, Ohtani tore the labrum in his left shoulder during the World Series, but it shouldn't affect his timetable to return as a pitcher. UPDATE: Ohtani said he's expecting to throw his first bullpen session this weekend. He has been throwing all of his pitches on flat ground and also hit on the field at camp on Wednesday.
4 hours ago
Robert Stephenson To Throw Off Mound On Wednesday
Los Angeles Angels right-handed reliever Robert Stephenson (elbow) said that he's throwing off a mound on Wednesday for the first time since having Tommy John surgery and an internal-brace procedure back in May of last year. Stephenson hopes to be back with the Angels by early July or right around the All-Star break. The 31-year-old veteran signed a three-year, $33 million deal with the Halos last offseason but injured his elbow and didn't pitch at all for the team in 2024. Whenever he returns this year, Stephenson will merely be a late-inning setup man in front of hard-throwing Ben Joyce and veteran closer Kenley Jansen, who was signed to a one-year, $10 million contract on Tuesday. Now that he's pretty much blocked for save chances in the Angels' bullpen whenever he returns, fantasy managers can avoid Stephenson.
4 hours ago