MLB News
Garrett Hampson Exercises Opt-Out Clause With Arizona
Infielder Garrett Hampson exercised the opt-out clause in his minor-league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday to become a free agent, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman. Hampson should draw some interest on the open market before Opening Day next Thursday after he hit .289 (11-for-38) with a double, triple, seven RBI, three steals and 10 runs scored in 16 Cactus League games this spring. The 30-year-old veteran spent the first five years of his MLB career with the Colorado Rockies before playing for the Miami Marlins in 2023 and the Kansas City Royals last year. He hit .230/.275/.300 with a career-low .576 OPS, no home runs, 16 RBI, seven steals and 16 runs scored in 113 games for the Royals last season. Hampson is a career .240/.301/.362 hitter with only 29 homers, 129 RBI and 64 steals in 630 games played.
9 hours ago
Hunter Bigge To Start The Year In The Minors
Bally Sports' Ryan Bass reports that the Tampa Bay Rays optioned right-handed relievers Hunter Bigg and Eric Orze to Triple-A Durham on Friday, even with Alex Faedo (shoulder) opening the year on the injured list. Both Bigge and Orze have experience pitching multiple innings in relief in the minors. Right-hander Nathan Wiles was also traded to the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations. Bigge, 26, gave up only two runs in seven Grapefruit League innings while striking out six and walking only one. Orze, 27, was even better in spring training with 10 strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings while showcasing a nasty splitter. Both pitchers should eventually be up in Tampa's big-league bullpen at some point in 2025. The hard-throwing Bigge had a save and two holds in 19 appearances with the Cubs and Rays last year and could be a deep sleeper for saves for the Rays later in the season.
9 hours ago
Alex Faedo Expected To Open The Year On The Injured List
Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Alex Faedo (shoulder) is expected to start the season on the injured list due to a right-shoulder injury, according to MLB.com's Adam Berry. Manager Kevin Cash said Faedo had an MRI exam that didn't show anything "too alarming," but he will be shut down from throwing for a short period. Before his injury, the 29-year-old looked to be a favorite for the final spot in the bullpen because of his ability to pitch multiple innings, his track record in the big leagues, and the fact he has no minor-league options remaining. The former first-round pick out of Florida struggled with injuries with the Detroit Tigers before posting a 3.61 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings over 39 appearances as a reliever last year. If he can move past a shoulder injury that he also dealt with late last year, Faedo could be a valuable multi-inning reliever for the Rays. However, there's very little fantasy appeal.
9 hours ago
Tobias Myers Throws Pain-Free On Friday
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Tobias Myers (oblique) played catch in camp on Friday and didn't have any discomfort in his oblique, making a late-April return a possibility, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. Myers was pulled from his Cactus League start last Saturday due to a left-oblique strain and will be forced to open the 2025 regular season on the injured list. However, the 26-year-old's MRI results delivered good news, and he might not have to wait long before making his season debut before the calendar flips to May. Expect him to begin ramping up his workload before eventually going on a short minor-league rehab assignment in April. The former sixth-round pick by the Baltimore Orioles in 2016 was a stabilizing force in Milwaukee's rotation in his rookie year in 2024, going 9-6 with a strong 3.00 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 127 K's and 36 walks in 138 innings. A below-average strikeout rate limits his fantasy upside, and regression could be coming.
9 hours ago
Brandon Woodruff Throws Two Innings In Minor-League Game
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) threw two innings in a minor-league game on Friday and was up to 95 mph on the radar gun, according to manager Pat Murphy. Woodruff will go with the team to New York to face the Yankees on Opening Day next Thursday and will throw an extended bullpen session in the Bronx before returning to Milwaukee for a long simulated game. After that, the 32-year-old veteran will begin a minor-league rehab assignment before eventually making his 2025 debut. There's still no timetable for Woodruff to make his first major-league start since 2023 after having shoulder surgery, and fantasy managers shouldn't expect that to happen until at least some point in March. His extended absence means he'll have limited fantasy upside in 2025 due to an innings limit, but the former ace is still worth stashing in most fantasy leagues.
10 hours ago
Trevor Story Will Play On Saturday
Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story (back), who was scratched from Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Pittsburgh Pirates due to lower-back tightness, will return to the lineup on Saturday against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays, according to manager Alex Cora. Story had a already previously missed a week of spring training action due to a back injury, but this time around it's clearly not as serious. Barring another setback to close out Grapefruit League action, the 32-year-old veteran should be good to go for Opening Day next Thursday. The two-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger winner has played in just 163 games in three seasons since joining Boston in 2022, though, which is why fantasy managers can't trust him as anything more than middle infield depth in deeper leagues because of his propensity for injury.
10 hours ago
Orioles Add Kyle Gibson, Put Kyle Bradish On 60-Day Injured List
The Baltimore Orioles agreed to terms on a one-year major-league deal with free-agent right-hander Kyle Gibson on Friday and placed right-hander Kyle Bradish (elbow) on the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move to make room for Gibson on the 40-man roster. Gibson's deal is for $5.25 million and will give Baltimore some more starting depth entering the 2025 season with Grayson Rodriguez, Tyler Wells and Bradish all opening the year on the injured list with elbow issues. The 37-year-old veteran could get some decent run in the team's rotation eventually, which could make him worth pursuing in AL-only formats. Gibson spent the 2023 season in Baltimore before going 8-8 with a 4.24 ERA and 1.35 WHIP with 151 K's and 68 walks in 30 starts for the Cardinals in 2024. There's not much upside, but Gibson could have some streaming appeal in DFS back in Baltimore.
10 hours ago
Royals Acquire Mark Canha From The Brewers
The Kansas City Royals acquired outfielder Mark Canha from the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations, sources tell MLB.com's Anne Rogers. Milwaukee ships the veteran outfielder to the American League Central after he was unlikely to make their Opening Day roster out of spring training. The 36-year-old veteran went just 2-for-23 with two RBI and four runs scored in nine Cactus League games. Canha will be off the fantasy radar in all mixed leagues, but he'll provide the Royals with some outfield depth to open the regular season. The former seventh-round pick by the Florida Marlins back in 2010 out of the University of California -- Berkeley has 10 years of major-league experience. He hit .242/.344/.346 with seven homers, 42 RBI and seven steals in 125 games with the Tigers and Giants in 2024.
10 hours ago
Joey Loperfido Optioned To Triple-A
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Joey Loperfido has been optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on Friday. Loperfido had a real shot at making the Opening Day roster, but really struggled with the bat in camp. He went 6-for-29 with two RBI, so he'll head to the minors to work on his game. The 25-year-old was traded to Toronto last season from Houston in part of the Yusei Kikuchi trade. Loperfido does have the potential to be an everyday player in the MLB, but might need a little more work in the minor leagues.
11 hours ago
Matt Strahm To Pitch On Saturday
Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Matt Strahm (shoulder) is scheduled to throw in a minor-league game on Saturday. If that goes well, Strahm would hopefully be cleared to pitch during Monday's spring training contest. The organization is hopeful that Strahm will be ready to go in time for Opening Day. The veteran southpaw is coming off an excellent season with the Phillies last season. He registered a 1.87 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and 79/11 K/BB ratio across 66 games with Philly. The 33-year-old is expected to immediately slide into high-leverage spots in the Phillies bullpen.
11 hours ago
DJ Herz Heading To Minors
Washington Nationals starting pitcher DJ Herz has been optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Friday. An interesting development as the Nats have decided to roll with Mitchell Parker as their fifth starter to begin the season. Herz wasn't great last season, but he did have some solid moments with the Nats. Herz posted a 4.16 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 106/36 K/BB ratio across 19 starts with the Nats in 2024. Obviously, Herz won't offer fantasy value in the minors, but dynasty managers should continue to hold the southpaw. He does have decent potential and should get another chance in the Nats rotation at some point this upcoming season.
12 hours ago
Will Wagner Heating Up At The Plate
Toronto Blue Jays infield prospect Will Wagner has begun to heat up at the plate. During Thursday's spring training contest, Wagner went 2-for-2 in the batter's box with two walks. Through 14 games this spring, Wagner has held a solid .265/.359/.412 line with five doubles and a 4:6 BB:K. The 26-year-old is currently competing for a depth role in the Toronto infield. Last summer, Wagner made his MLB debut and held a promising .305/.337/.451 slash line with six doubles and two long balls across 24 games. During this brief stint, Wagner generated an elite .317 xBA with a .360 xwOBA. Through 83 career games at the Triple-A level, the Liberty University product has posted a strong .337/.445/.465 line with 18 doubles. Given his solid play this spring, fantasy managers should expect Wagner to open the season as the No. 2 option at several positions in the infield. However, if he continues to impress, he could carve out a role as the designated hitter if Anthony Santander sees most of his time in left field.
12 hours ago
Shinnosuke Ogasawara Optioned To Minors
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Shinnosuke Ogasawara has been optioned to Triple-A Rochester. The left-hander signed a two-year, $3.5 million deal with the Nats this offseason. Before that, Ogasawara was posting solid numbers in Japan. This past season, Ogasawara 3.12 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 82/22 K/BB ratio across 24 appearances with the Chunichi Dragons. The expectation is that the 27-year-old will contribute to the Nats pitching staff at some point. For now, the Nats want him to continue getting in more work at the minor league level.
12 hours ago
Richard Fitts Expected To Be No. 4 Starter In Rotation
According to Ian Browne of MLB.com, Boston Red Sox pitching prospect Richard Fitts is expected to open the 2025 campaign as the No. 4 starter in the rotation. The Red Sox have numerous injuries in their rotation, which paved the way for Fitts to not only earn a starting role but to be the fourth option. Currently, Brayan Bello (shoulder), Lucas Giolito (hamstring), and Kutter Crawford (knee) are all slated to open the season on the injured list. Fitts has performed well during camp, holding a 2.45 ERA with a 1.30 WHIP across 14 2/3 innings. During this stretch, he has tallied 14 strikeouts and served up six free passes. Last summer, the 25-year-old made his MLB debut and held an impressive 1.74 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP across 20 2/3 innings of work. Fantasy managers in deeper formats should consider targeting the Auburn product late in their drafts, as he should provide stable ratios with decent strikeout upside. UPDATE: Fitts will start the fourth game of the year against the Texas Rangers, according to manager Alex Cora.
12 hours ago
Justin Martinez Gets Five-Year Extension
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Justin Martinez will be sticking around with the organization for a few more seasons. The two sides have agreed on a five-year, $18 million extension on Friday. The deal also includes two player options for $7 and $9 million for 2030 and 2031. This deal will lock up Martinez through his pre-arbitration and arbitration years. The expectation is that Martinez is going to be the primary closer in Arizona. He registered a 2.48 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 91/36 K/BB ratio across 64 appearances with the D-Backs last season. Fantasy managers can safely assume that Martinez should be getting plenty of save chances in Arizona to start the season.
12 hours ago
Johnathan Rodriguez Sent To Triple-A
The Cleveland Guardians have optioned outfield prospect Johnathan Rodriguez to Triple-A Columbus. Rodriguez was competing for a starting role in the outfield but fell short, given his struggles during camp. Across 13 contests, Rodriguez held a modest .217/.375/.391 slash line with just one home run and one double. Last summer, Rodriguez made his MLB debut and posted a .129/.325/.161 slash line across 13 MLB contests. He tallied just one extra-base hit but held a solid 5:9 BB:K. At the Triple-A level, Rodriguez flashed his upside as he hit for a strong .301/.390/.540 line. Across 118 games, Rodriguez went deep 29 times and added 18 doubles. He swiped eight bags and held a 64:128 BB:K. With Rodriguez opening the season at Triple-A, fantasy managers should expect Will Brennan and Jhonkensy Noel to see most of the starts in right field.
12 hours ago
Jerar Encarnacion Exits Early On Friday
San Francisco Giants outfielder Jerar Encarnacion (head) exited Friday's contest early after diving for a ball. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, as the team did not provide an update. Encarnacion has enjoyed a strong spring training as he has posted a .302/.309/.547 slash line with seven doubles and two home runs. Last season, he logged a career-high 35 contests at the MLB level. During this stint, Encarnacion posted a .248/.277/.425 slash line with five doubles and three home runs. However, he generated an elite .275 xBA with a .501 xSLG, which suggests that he should see significant positive regression during the 2025 campaign. He is currently competing for the designated hitter role. If he were to miss the remainder of camp, the Giants may opt for him to begin his campaign at the Triple-A level.
12 hours ago
Michael McGreevy Shines On Friday
St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect Michael McGreevy tossed five shutout frames on Friday afternoon against the New York Mets. McGreevy allowed just one hit and tallied four punchouts. This outing continued McGreevy's impressive camp. Through 16 2/3 innings, the right-hander has posted a stellar 1.08 ERA with a 0.60 WHIP. McGreevy has tallied 12 punchouts and has not served up a free pass. The UC Santa Barbara product is competing for a spot in the rotation, and given his production in camp, he continues to improve his chances. Last week, there were reports that the Cardinals were interested in potentially using a six-man rotation at the start of the season, which would almost guarantee McGreevy a starting role. Last season, the 24-year-old made his MLB debut and tossed 23 innings with a strong 1.96 ERA with a 0.78 WHIP. If he were to make the starting rotation, he would have value in deeper formats.
12 hours ago
Adrian Del Castillo Optioned To Triple-A
The Arizona Diamondbacks have optioned catching prospect Adrian Del Castillo to Triple-A Reno. Del Castillo was competing for the No. 2 catching role behind Gabriel Moreno. However, the team will instead have him continue his development at the top level of the minor leagues. Last summer, the 25-year-old made his MLB debut and posted an impressive .313/.368/.525 slash line across 25 games. During this stint, he tallied five doubles and went deep four times. He added 19 RBI and held a 7:28 BB:K. He flashed a similar upside with Triple-A Reno last season as he posted a .312/.399/.603 line with 36 doubles and 26 long balls. With Del Castillo opening the season at Triple-A, fantasy managers should expect Jose Herrera and Rene Pinto to continue to compete for the No. 2 catching job. Del Castillo is monitoring in NL-only leagues as he carries high power upside.
12 hours ago
Eloy Jimenez To Start The Season At Triple-A
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder/designated hitter Eloy Jimenez will start the 2025 regular season at Triple-A Durham. Jimenez started to come on strong of late at the plate in Grapefruit League action, but it wasn't enough for him to beat out Curtis Mead, who has been one of the best overall hitters this spring. The 28-year-old Dominican has hit .235 (8-for-34) with a homer, double, four RBI and a run scored in 12 spring games played. Jimenez continues to fall after slashing a combined .238/.289/.336 with a career-low .626 OPS, six home runs and 23 RBI in 98 games in 2024 with the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles. The oft-injured outfielder continued to deal with injuries last year and made two separate trips to the injured list. Jimenez hits the ball hard when he makes contact, but he hit too many ground balls last year and hasn't displayed an ability to stay healthy long enough to make any real impact.
13 hours ago
Garrett Hampson
• CF
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Diamondbacks
