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Rotoworld

  • INT Relief Pitcher #36
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    A.J. Cole has elected free agency.
    Cole was limited to just six relief appearances with the Blue Jays this season due to injury. The 29-year-old righty should be able to land a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training this offseason.

  • FA Relief Pitcher #58
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    MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported that Ken Giles is drawing interest from teams on a minor league contract.
    Giles posted a 6.28 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and 58/22 K/BB ratio in 38 2/3 innings for Atlanta’s Triple-A affiliate in 2024, so it’s unlikely anybody will give him an MLB contract. However, the 34-year-old has a career 2.71 ERA and a 33 percent strikeout rate in 355 1/3 MLB innings; however, injuries have limited him to eight total MLB innings since 2019, so he may never get back close to the level we have previously seen from him.
  • FA Left Fielder #3
    The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported that the Rangers signed Joc Pederson to a two-year, $37 million contract.
    The deal is still pending a physical, but the 32-year-old had been receiving plenty of interest around the league after hitting .275/.393/.515 with 23 home runs and a career-high .908 OPS with the Diamondbacks last year. Pederson has historically dominated right-handed pitching and saw only 32 total at-bats against left-handed pitching last season, so Texas will almost assuredly lock him in as their everyday DH against right-handed pitching, more than replacing the offensive production they were getting from Nathaniel Lowe. Of course, that means the Rangers are also back to only three outfield spots for Adolis Garcia, Wyatt Langford, Evan Carter, and Leody Taveras, so somebody is going to be left out of regular playing time in 2025.
  • FA Starting Pitcher #59
    ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports the Mets and Sean Manaea are in agreement on a three-year, $75 million contract.
    Manaea is returning to the Big Apple following the strongest season of his career last year when he finished with a sparkling 3.47 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 184/63 K/BB ratio across 181 2/3 innings (32 starts). The 32-year-old southpaw, who rejected a $21.05 million qualifying offer last month from the Mets, ends up securing the multi-year commitment he was seeking on the open market. He benefitted greatly from New York’s pitching development engine last year as they got him to lean heavily on his sinker, which led to his strongest results from a run-prevention standpoint, and a top 30 finish for fantasy purposes at starting pitcher. He won’t go that high in drafts next spring, but he’s a surefire top 50 range starting pitcher (SP4 territory) now that he’s back with the Mets.
  • ATL Relief Pitcher #87
    Braves signed LHP Brian Moran to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
    The 36-year-old left-hander hasn’t appeared in the big leagues since his one appearance with the Angels back in 2022. Moran spent the entire 2024 season at Triple-A Gwinnett where he registered a 5.91 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and a 48/16 K/BB ratio across 45 2/3 innings of work. He’ll continue to function as excess bullpen depth for the Braves.
  • TEX Relief Pitcher #61
    Rangers acquired LHP Robert Garcia from the Nationals for 1B Nathaniel Lowe.
    The 28-year-old southpaw was a key cog in the Nationals’ bullpen during the 2024 campaign, registering a 4.22 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and a 75/16 K/BB ratio across 59 2/3 innings in his 72 appearances. He’ll provide Rangers’ skipper Bruce Bochy with another strong weapon to deploy from the left side of the bullpen.
  • WAS First Baseman #30
    Nationals acquired 1B Nathaniel Lowe from the Rangers for LHP Robert Garcia.
    The 29-year-old slugger should represent a massive upgrade to the middle of the Nationals’ lineup, though his arrival is likely to eat into the playing time of both Juan Yepez and Andres Chapparo. Lowe is arbitration-eligible for the second time this winter and remains under team control through the 2026 season.
  • TEX First Baseman #30
    Jeff Passan of ESPN reports that the Nationals are finalizing a deal to acquire first baseman Nathaniel Lowe from the Rangers.
    The Rangers will receive left-handed reliever Robert Garcia in the return package. Lowe, 29, should represent a major upgrade in production for the Nationals after slashing .265/.361/.401 with 16 homers and 69 RBI for the Rangers during the 2024 campaign. The Rangers seem likely to let new acquisition Jake Burger function as their regular first baseman now that room has been cleared for him.
  • DET Starting Pitcher #81
    Tigers signed RHP Jordan Balazovic to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
    The 26-year-old hurler made 18 appearances with the Twins during the 2023 season then spent the 2024 campaign with the Doosan Bears in the Korea Baseball Organization. There, he registered a 4.26 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and a 69/28 K/BB ratio over 57 innings in his 12 appearances (11 starts). It’s unclear if the Tigers view him as depth for their rotation or bullpen — or someplace in between.
  • BOS Relief Pitcher #29
    Red Sox signed RHP Austin Adams to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
    Adams, 33, spent the 2024 campaign in the Athletics’ organization where he registered a 3.92 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and a 53/23 K/BB ratio across 41 1/3 innings at the big league level before elbow tightness ended his season prematurely in mid-August. As long as he’s healthy, Adams should function as a nice depth addition for the Red Sox’ bullpen.
  • CHC Catcher #44
    Cubs signed C Carlos Pérez to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
    The 34-year-old backstop will add quality veteran depth in spring camp for the Cubs. Pérez didn’t see any big league action during the 2024 season, but he was terrific for the Athletics at Triple-A Las Vegas where he slashed .260/.344/.544 with 27 homers and 77 RBI in 468 plate appearances. It’s unlikely that he does enough to earn a reserve role on the Opening Day roster, but his consistent power in the minor leagues would at least make him an intriguing deep league option if he did.