Brooks Baldwin, Travis Jankowski, Nick Maton Make Opening Day Roster
Chicago White Sox middle infielder Brooks Baldwin, outfielder Travis Jankowski and second baseman Nick Maton have all made the Opening Day roster. Prospect Colson Montgomery and Chase Meidroth will start in the minors, so the White Sox plan on mixing and matching at shortstop to begin the season. Jacob Amaya is probably the favorite for most of the playing time at the 6, but the 24-year-old Baldwin should serve in a utility infield role. He hit just .211 with two homers, eight RBI and four steals in 33 games in his major-league debut in 2024. Jankowski, 33, latched on with the Pale Hose after being cut by the Cubs in spring training. With Mike Tauchman (hamstring) starting on the injured list, he could see some starts in the outfield against right-handers, but Jankowski has little fantasy upside. Maton, 28, had a strong spring and will serve as middle-infield depth to begin the 2025 campaign.
Nick Maton Agrees To Minor-League Deal With White Sox
Free-agent infielder Nick Maton agreed to a minor-league deal with the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training. Maton is a versatile defender and has recorded a .659 OPS in parts of five big-league seasons. The 27-year-old former seventh-round pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2017 was hitless with two strikeouts in five at-bats with the Baltimore Orioles in 2024 and slashed .258/.366/.470 with an .836 OPS, 16 home runs, 57 RBI and 44 runs scored in 91 games with High-A Aberdeen and Triple-A Norfolk in the minors. In 184 games at the big-league level since debuting with Philly in 2021, Maton has hit just .205/.303/.357 with 15 homers and 63 RBI in 514 plate appearances. His greatest asset is his infield versatility, and he could see time in the majors for the rebuilding Pale Hose in 2025.
The Baltimore Orioles designated Nick Maton for assignment ahead of Monday's series opener against the Cleveland Guardians. Maton was just called up by the Orioles on June 19 after appearing in 41 Triple-A games this season. But to make way for Heston Kjerstad's promotion, the utility specialist was designated for assignment. The 27-year-old only appeared in one game since he was up with the major league club, which happened to be in Baltimore's blowout 17-5 win over the New York Yankees on June 20. Maton will now go on waivers, where he could find a new team or wind up back in the Orioles' minor league system.
The Detroit Tigers designated infielder Nick Maton for assignment on Monday after claiming left-hander Kolton Ingram off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels. Maton began the 2023 season as Detroit's primary option at third base, but that didn't last long and now he's no longer on the team's 40-man roster entering spring training. The 26-year-old hit an abysmal .173/.288/.305 with a career-high eight home runs, nine doubles, 32 RBI and 29 runs scored in 293 plate appearances over a career-high 93 games in his first year in Detroit in 2023. Maton also had offseason surgery on his knee, although he's expected to be healthy for the start of the 2024 regular season. In addition to third base, Maton also saw time at second base and shortstop. If he sticks with the Tigers, he'll be ticketed for a utility role.
Detroit Tigers infielder Nick Maton (knee) underwent arthroscopic surgery to fix discomfort in his left knee this offseason, according to the team's medical update. He is progressing through his post-operation rehab protocol. Maton is expected to be fully recovered from the somewhat minor knee procedure for the start of spring training in 2024. The 26-year-old doesn't really move the needle in fantasy baseball, but he's valuable in real life for the Tigers for his ability to play third base, second base and shortstop. In his first year in Detroit in 2023, he hit just .173/.288/.305 with a career-high eight home runs, nine doubles, 32 RBI and 29 runs scored over 93 games played.
Nick Maton, Matt Vierling, Donny Sands Head To Detroit
The Detroit Tigers acquired infielder Nick Maton, outfielder Matt Vierling and catcher Donny Sands from the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday in exchange for reliever Gregory Soto and infielder Kody Clemens. With Soto now in Philly, it will likely be Alex Lange taking over Detroit's primary closing duties in 2023. Maton, a utility infielder who has hit .254/.330/434 in his two seasons with the Phillies, could see more playing time in his new home, but he's unlikely to make much of a fantasy impact. Vierling, a right-handed hitting outfielder, will give the Tigers some outfield depth against southpaws. Sands, the Phillies' No. 21 prospect per MLB Pipeline, made his big-league debut in 2022 but played in just two games. He's a contact-first hitter that has added some more loft to his swing recently. The 26-year-old projects as a backup catcher for Detroit.
The Philadelphia Phillies added shortstop Nick Maton and right-hander Nick Nelson to their World Series roster against the Houston Astros this week. In corresponding moves, left-hander Bailey Falter and infielder/outfielder Dalton Guthrie were removed from the World Series roster. Maton will give the Phils another left-handed bat off the bench. In 72 regular season at-bats, he hit .250 (18-for-72) with five home runs, 17 RBI and 13 runs scored in his second big-league season. Nelson has pitched in two playoff games back in 2020 with the New York Yankees. He'll likely operate in middle relief after posting a 4.85 ERA (3.04 FIP), a 1.48 WHIP, one save and 69 strikeouts in 68 2/3 innings over 47 outings (two starts) during the regular season.
Philadelphia Phillies infielder Nick Maton (finger) was scratched from the lineup for Game 1 of Friday's doubleheader with the Marlins due to a right middle finger laceration, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Gelb adds that Maton attempted to take batting practice, but apparently was not able to perform well enough to remain in the lineup. With Maton out, Ronald Torreyes is getting the start at third base and is batting seventh in the lineup against Miami. Consider Maton day-to-day for now, and don't be surprised if he misses a game or two.
Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Nick Maton went 1-for-3 with two RBI in a loss to the Mets on Saturday. Maton singled off of Jacob deGrom in the second inning to score Andrew McCutchen and snap deGrom's scoreless-inning streak at 31 frames. He also drove in the go-ahead run with a sac-fly in the ninth inning, before the Phillies bullpen blew yet another save. Maton had no hits in his last 24 at-bats before today and has been splitting time at the middle-infield positions with Ronald Torreyes and Luke Williams. Maton's days with Philadelphia may be numbered anyway, as starting shortstop Didi Gregorius (elbow) is playing rehab games and Maton is the logical choice to send to Triple-A when Sir Didi is ready. Maton shouldn't be rostered in fantasy.
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Matt Moore (back) has been activated off the 10-day injured list on Wednesday. He missed a month of action after going down with back spasms in late May. He has been horrendous during his nine outings with Philly this season. Moore is expected to continue pitching out of the bullpen with occasional spot starts. Fantasy managers can go ahead and leave him on the waiver wire. Nick Maton has been optioned to the minors in a corresponding move. He has been a decent bench bat for Philly, so he'll likely return again before the season is over. Maton doesn't have enough upside worth stashing him.
Travis Jankowski
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White Sox
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