MLB News
Marlins Acquire Tyler Phillips From Phillies
The Miami Marlins acquired right-hander Tyler Phillips from the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations, the Marlins announced. In a corresponding move, right-hander Seth Martinez was designated for assignment to make room for Phillips on the 40-man roster. Phillips, 27, will open the year in the big leagues with the Fish after making his major-league debut in 2024 in Philadelphia, where he allowed 28 earned runs on 45 hits (nine homers allowed) while walking seven and striking out 28 in eight appearances (seven starts) covering 36 2/3 innings pitched. He will give the Marlins some extra starting depth with Ryan Weathers (forearm) and Edward Cabrera (finger) starting on the injured list, but Phillips will begin the year as a long reliever out of Miami's bullpen. He can be ignored in fantasy for now.
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Brenan Hanifee Makes Tigers Opening Day Roster
Detroit Tigers right-hander Brenan Hanifee has made the team's Opening Day roster, a source told the Detroit Free Press' Evan Petzold. Hanifee essentially takes the roster spot of right-handed reliever Jason Foley, who will surprisingly start the year at Triple-A Toledo after struggling in spring training. The 26-year-old Hanifee impressed in his 10 2/3 scoreless Grapefruit League innings while striking out nine and walking three. The former fourth-rounder of the Baltimore Orioles in 2016 appeared in 21 games (three starts) for the Tigers a season ago and excelled with a 1.84 ERA (3.10 FIP) and 1.12 WHIP with 23 strikeouts and six walks in 29 1/3 innings pitched. Hanifee will likely serve in a middle-relief role for the Tigers to open the 2025 season and won't really be on the fantasy radar anywhere.
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Jake Bauers, Isaac Collins Make Opening Day Roster
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder/first baseman Jake Bauers and outfielder Isaac Collins have made the team's Opening Day roster, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. Bauers, 29, hit .263 (10-for-38) with four doubles, three home runs, nine RBI and two stolen bases in 15 Cactus League games to earn a spot as a bench bat for the Brew Crew to open the 2025 season. The left-handed hitter does provide a little pop -- he has 51 long balls and 183 RBI in five major-league seasons -- but he swings and misses too much to provide a useful average, and he will need some injuries to occur to see regular playing time. Bauers will provide depth at first, in the outfield and at designated hitter. Collins, 27, will be another utility player for Milwaukee with the ability to play outfield, second and third base. He had an .861 OPS with 14 homers and 24 steals in 2024 for Triple-A Nashville.
1 hour ago
Jose Quintana Starting The Year In The Minors
Milwaukee Brewers veteran left-handed pitcher Jose Quintana agreed to be optioned to the minors to start the 2025 season in order to complete his build-up. Quintana didn't sign with the Brewers until early this month, so he was a bit behind the other pitchers in spring training. While there is no official timetable for when the 36-year-old southpaw might be ready for a big-league call-up, it's likely that he'll rejoin the major-league squad at some point in April. The Colombian hurler made only two appearances (one start) in the Cactus League this spring and allowed two earned runs while walking none and striking out two in five innings. He went 10-10 and provided the New York Mets with 31 starts in 2024, pitching to a 3.75 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 135 K's in 170 1/3 innings. Quinana's numbers under the hood show that he was pretty fortunate, so fantasy managers should expect regression and certainly not as much volume.
1 hour ago
Shelby Miller Makes Opening Day Roster
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Shelby Miller has earned a spot on the Opening Day roster. This is a nice feel-good story as the veteran right-hander was brought in as a non-roster invitee. Miller looked impressive during spring training and has earned himself a spot on the 26-man roster. Miller posted an average season with the Detroit Tigers last season, but was an elite option for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023. Miller didn't post good numbers during his first stint with the organization earlier in his career. He figures to pitch in middle relief, so regardless he probably won't offer much fantasy value.
1 hour ago
Frankie Montas Gets Encouraging MRI Results
New York Mets starting pitcher Frankie Montas (lat) underwent an MRI earlier this week that showed good healing, according to president of baseball operations David Stearns. The right-hander remains a week or two away from beginning a throwing program. The 32-year-old suffered a high-grade lat strain early in camp. The expectation is that Montas is going to be sidelined for the first month of the season. The organization is hopeful Montas can return to the starting rotation at some point in May. Montas is coming off a fairly average season in 2024, so he's not someone that must be stashed in fantasy formats.
2 hours ago
Josh Jung Should Be Fine For Opening Day
Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (neck) is expected to be ready to go for Thursday's season opener against the Boston Red Sox. Jung made a precautionary exit from Monday's contest due to neck stiffness. He was back in the lineup a day later, so this appears to be a minor issue. That being said, Jung should be in the Opening Day lineup, barring any setbacks. Jung only played in 46 games last season due to injuries, but smacked 23 home runs and made the All-Star team in 2023. The 27-year-old has legit power, but the injury history could be a concern for some fantasy managers.
2 hours ago
Jared Jones Diagnosed With UCL Sprain
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones (elbow) received an official confirmation on his injury on Wednesday. It has been announced that Jones has been diagnosed with a UCL sprain in his right elbow. That means, Jones avoided any ligament damage and won't require surgery. The plan remains for Jones to be shut down from throwing for the next six weeks. After that, Jones is going to require a few weeks to build up his arm strength and stamina. Fantasy managers should prepare to be without Jones until sometime in June. Carmen Mlodzinski will open the season in the starting rotation, but prospects Bubba Chandler and Thomas Harrington are waiting in the wings if called upon as reinforcements.
2 hours ago
Cade Cavalli To Open Season On Injured List
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Cade Cavalli (elbow) will begin the regular season on the 15-day injured list. The right-hander continues to ramp up his activities while he recovers from Tommy John surgery. Cavalli missed all of 2023 and only pitched in three games last season. Despite that, the Nationals still have high hopes for the former first-round pick. The hope is that Cavalli can contribute to the Nats roster at some point during the first half of the season. For now, Cavalli will ramp up in the minor leagues, so he'll be off the fantasy radar.
2 hours ago
Yankees Place DJ LeMahieu On 10-Day Injured List
The New York Yankees announced on Wednesday that they placed infielder DJ LeMahieu (calf) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to March 24) with a left-calf strain. LeMahieu's fantasy stock has fallen off a cliff the last few years. He was injured earlier this month and will not be ready for the start of the 2025 regular season. The good news is that the 36-year-old veteran has been eased into baseball activities, but he's without a timetable for a return. With LeMahieu on the shelf, Oswaldo Cabrera will open the year as the team's starting third baseman. Depending on how Cabrera is playing when LeMahieu is ready to return, it's possible that LeMahieu will be relegated to a bench role as a corner-infield option for the Yanks. The former three-time All-Star and two-time batting champion played in just 67 games in 2024 due to injuries and slashed a lowly .204/.269/.259 with a career-worst .527 OPS.
4 hours ago
Kameron Misner Will Make Opening Day Roster
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kameron Misner has been recalled from Triple-A Durham and will make the Opening Day Roster, according to Bally Sports' Ryan Bass. Misner gets one of the final spots on the MLB roster to begin the year with Richie Palacios (finger) starting the season on the injured list. The 27-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder was the former 35th overall pick of the Miami Marlins in 2019 out of the University of Missouri. He made his big-league debut last year with the Rays but had just one hit and struck out 10 times in 15 plate appearances over eight games. Misner will get another shot at a major-league roster spot for Tampa in 2025, but he'll merely be serving as a bench option behind Christopher Morel, Jonny DeLuca and Josh Lowe. Misner is athletic and has shown a nice power/speed combination in the minors, but the playing time just isn't going to be there.
4 hours ago
Danny Jansen To Play In Simulated Game
Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that catcher Danny Jansen (rib) is doing better and will test his injured rib in a five- to six-inning simulated game on Wednesday. Jansen has been out the last few days due to a pulled rib muscle, but if he responds well to Wednesday's simulated game, he will be included on the team's Opening Day roster. If Jansen doesn't do so well on Wednesday, Kenny Piper will open the year as Tampa's backup catcher behind Ben Rortvedt. The good news is that even if Jansen isn't ready for Friday's season opener, it sounds like he won't have a lengthy absence to begin the regular season. The 29-year-old Jansen had a solid spring training, batting .320 (8-for-25) with two doubles, two home runs and four RBI in 11 Grapefruit League games. He has decent pop for a catcher, but Jansen's injury history makes him a No. 2 fantasy catcher.
4 hours ago
Yoan Moncada Will Be Ready For Opening Day
Los Angeles Angels third baseman Yoan Moncada (thumb) will be with the team on Opening Day on Thursday against the Chicago White Sox after recovering from a right-thumb injury, sources tell MLB.com's Francys Romero. Despite the fact that Moncada hasn't played in a game in two weeks due to his thumb injury, the 29-year-old Cuban is expected to be in the Opening Day lineup on Thursday versus White Sox right-hander Sean Burke. After yet another injury to Anthony Rendon (hip), Moncada will open the 2025 season as the Halos' primary third baseman, giving him some fantasy appeal in AL-only leagues. Moncada had 25 home runs and 79 RBI back in 2019 with the White Sox, but he hasn't had more than 14 home runs in a season since then and only played in 12 games in 2024 in his final season in Chicago.
4 hours ago
Luisangel Acuna Makes Mets Opening Day Roster
New York Mets infielder Luisangel Acuna has made the team's Opening Day roster, sources tell ElExtraBase's Daniel Alvarez-Montes. Acuna's chances of making the roster out of camp increased dramatically when Jeff McNeil went down with an oblique injury. The 23-year-old Venezuelan middle infielder, who is the younger brother of Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuna Jr., made his major-league debut last year and went 12-for-39 (.308) with three home runs and six RBI in just 14 regular-season games played. He hit .250 (13-fo-52) with a double, five RBI, three stolen bases and seven runs scored in 21 Grapefruit League games this spring. To begin the 2025 regular season, Acuna, who bats right-handed, figures to be on the short side of a platoon at second base with Brett Baty. When McNeil returns from his injury, Acuna could be ticketed for a trip back to the minors.
4 hours ago
Jack Leiter To Make First Start On Friday Versus Red Sox
Texas Rangers right-hander Jack Leiter is listed as the team's probable starter for Friday's game against the Boston Red Sox. Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi gets the Opening Day nod on Thursday, while right-hander Tyler Mahle is scheduled to go on Saturday. Right-hander Jacob deGrom will close out the four-game series against Boston on Sunday. Injuries to lefty Cody Bradford (elbow) and righty Jon Gray (wrist) opened spots in Texas' Opening Day starting rotation for both Leiter and former Vanderbilt teammate Kumar Rocker. Leiter, 24, did not fare well in his first nine big-league outings (six starts) in 2024 -- 8.83 ERA and 1.71 WHIP -- but he showed improved velocity this spring and fanned 21 hitters in 20 2/3 Cactus League innings. If he can make improvements from a year ago, Leiter will be a nice sleeper play in deep-mixed fantasy leagues.
4 hours ago
Max Kranick, Hayden Senger Make Opening Day Roster
New York Mets pitchers Max Kranick and Huascar Brazoban and catcher Hayden Senger have made the team's Opening Day roster, according to the New York Daily News' Abbey Mastracco. Kranick, a 27-year-old former 11th-round pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2016, earned a spot in the bullpen by giving up only two earned runs while walking one and striking out 15 in 12 1/3 innings over eight Grapefruit League appearances (one start). When he appears in a game for the Mets in the regular season, it will be his first major-league action since 2022 with the Pirates. In 11 outings (nine starts) for the Bucs in 2021-22, Kranick had a 5.56 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 36:220 K:BB in 43 2/3 innings pitched. If he continues to be dominant like he was in spring training, he could get some looks in a high-leverage setup role for the Mets in 2025. Senger, 27, will serve as the backup to Luis Torrens with Francisco Alvarez (hand) on the shelf.
4 hours ago
Paul Blackburn Starting The Year On 15-Day Injured List
New York Mets right-hander Paul Blackburn (knee) will start the 2025 season on the 15-day injured list with right-knee inflammation, according to New York Daily News' Abbey Mastracco. The Mets acquired Blackburn from the Athletics in a trade last year, but he made only five starts in New York before being shut down with a back injury that required surgery. The 31-year-old veteran's back is fine, but now he's dealing with a knee injury and isn't ready for Opening Day. The good news is that he's expected to be back before the end of April, but Blackburn will likely be relegated to a long-relief role out of the bullpen, leaving him virtually zero fantasy appeal. Blackburn also dealt with foot and hand injuries in 2024 and made just 14 starts combined, going 5-4 with a 4.66 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with 59 strikeouts and 21 walks in 75 1/3 innings. He's off the fantasy radar in most leagues.
5 hours ago
Brett Baty Makes Opening Day Roster For Mets
New York Mets infielder Brett Baty has made the team's Opening Day roster, according to the New York Daily News' Abbey Mastracco. The 25-year-old former top prospect made it a no-brainer move for the Mets to carry him on the big-league roster to open the year after he hit .353 (18-for-51) with four home runs, six doubles, a triple, 11 RBI and a stolen base in 20 Grapefruit League games. Mark Vientos is locked in at third base after his breakout season in 2024, but with Jeff McNeil (oblique) opening the season on the injured list, Baty is in line to be in the strong side of a platoon at second base with Luisangel Acuna. If Baty continues to hit well in the early going, the Mets could have a decision on their hands when McNeil is ready to return. So far, Baty has struggled offensively in 169 big-league games, slashing .215/.282/.325 with a .607 OPS, 15 homers and 55 RBI.
5 hours ago
Francisco Alvarez's Stiches Come Out
New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (hand) had the stitches removed from his surgically-repaired left hand on Monday, and he will begin working on strength and ramping up baseball activities, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. When Alvarez initially suffered his hand injury, he was given a timetable of six to eight weeks. It means that barring any setbacks once he begins swinging the bat full speed, the 23-year-old backstop has a chance to come off the injured list to make his 2025 debut before the end of April. Until that comes to pass, Luis Torrens will serve as the Mets' starting catcher, with Hayden Senger winning the backup job out of spring training. Alvarez's hand injury limited him to 100 regular-season games in 2024, but he deserves to be stashed in all fantasy leagues after he hit 25 home runs in his first full big-league season in 2023.
5 hours ago
Vinnie Pasquantino To Go Through Full Workout On Wednesday
Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro said that first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (hamstring) is feeling good and will go through a full workout on Wednesday. The Royals will then re-evaluate him on Thursday morning to determine if he'll be in the starting lineup on Opening Day on Thursday versus the visiting Cleveland Guardians and right-hander Tanner Bibee. Pasquantino suffered a Grade 1-plus hamstring strain in spring training last weekend and is up in the air to be ready for Opening Day. In a worst-case scenario, the 27-year-old left-handed slugger will begin on the injured list and miss the first six games of the season. In that case, some combination of Salvador Perez, Mark Canha and Cavan Biggio would fill in at first base. If Pasquantino is in Thursday's lineup, he should be started in fantasy, as he's hit two homers off Bibee in just eight career at-bats.
5 hours ago
Tyler Phillips
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Marlins
