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Rotoworld

  • CHC Third Baseman #13
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    David Bote blasted his third home run of the Cactus League season on Sunday, propelling the Cubs to a 5-3 victory over the Guardians.
    The 30-year-old slugger didn’t enter the game until the seventh inning, but that didn’t stop him from making his presence felt. Bote blasted a go-ahead solo homer off of left-hander Anthony Gose in the seventh that put the Cubs ahead to stay. Three of his four total hits on the spring have now left the yard, as he’s hitting .286 (4-for-14) with seven RBI and a 4/2 K/BB ratio through his first eight contests.
  • SF Center Fielder #51
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    Giants manager Bob Melvin told reporters during the Winter Meetings that Jung Hoo Lee (shoulder) is “good to go” for spring training.
    Melvin added that Lee, who underwent season-ending shoulder surgery back in June, will not have any restrictions during spring training. The 26-year-old outfielder was limited to just 37 contests last season, batting .263/.310/.331 with two homers and two steals across 158 plate appearances in his San Francisco debut. He’s a logical rebound candidate for fantasy managers heading into next season, especially if he’s going to lead off for the Giants, but he doesn’t offer a huge over-the-fence power ceiling.
  • NYM Starting Pitcher #58
    Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns told reporters Paul Blackburn (back) is on track to be ready for Opening Day.
    It was a bit of a surprise that New York opted to keep Blackburn around at last month’s non-tender deadline, but all indications are that he’ll be on track for a normal spring training. The 31-year-old underwent back surgery in mid-October, but it sounds like he’ll be ready in time for Opening Day. He’s unlikely to make an impact for fantasy purposes outside of extremely deep mixed leagues, but he’s a solid innings-eater for a New York rotation that still has a lot of question marks.
  • LAD Right Fielder #50
    Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes told reporters at the Winter Meetings that Mookie Betts is preparing to play shortstop next season.
    Gomes, who added that recently-extended Tommy Edman will play center field next year, told reporters last month that plan was for Betts to move back to the infield next season and we now have confirmation that he’ll be Los Angeles’ starting shortstop heading into the 2025 campaign. It’s a significant development for fantasy purposes as it means there’s a chance he won’t pick up second-base eligibility. The 32-year-old fantasy superstar figures to continue bouncing around the diamond, if needed, in a multi-position role, but it appears he’ll have a more permanent defensive home to open next year.
  • INT Starting Pitcher
    Padres manager Mike Shildt said in an interview with MLB Network Radio that they “fully expect to be right in the mix” for Roki Sasaki.
    “We should be very legitimate contenders,” Shildt added before expressing confidence that Sasaki will ultimately wind up being a Padre. The 23-year-old prodigy was officially posted at the outset of the Winter Meetings and has until January 23 to reach an agreement with a major-league club. He’s universally-regarded as one of the most promising international pitching prospects in recent decades with both the Padres and Dodgers seen as the favorites to sign him. He’s limited to signing as an international free agent due to his age, so it’s likely going to come down to long-term organizational fit more than financial reasons. Regardless of where he winds up, he projects to make some serious noise for fantasy managers as early as next year.
  • PIT Relief Pitcher #63
    Pirates re-signed RHP Hunter Stratton to a minor league contract.
    Stratton returns to Pittsburgh as extra organizational relief depth just a few weeks after being non-tendered. The 28-year-old righty, who missed the final month of last year after suffering a ruptured left patella tendon, posted a solid 3.26 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 43/10 K/BB ratio across 49 2/3 innings (44 appearances) over the past two seasons for Pittsburgh.
  • SEA Starting Pitcher #36
    Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said in an interview with MLB Network Radio that they’ve been “resistant to even engaging in discussions” on trade talks that include Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryce Miller or Bryan Woo.
    Seattle’s overabundance of young starting pitching has led to them being at the epicenter of trade rumors in recent weeks. According to multiple reports, the Phillies reached out last month to gauge their interest in third baseman Alec Bohm. We’re unwilling to rule anything out, but it certainly sounds like the Mariners have zero interest in moving any of their established young starters at the moment.
  • BOS Third Baseman #11
    Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters at the Winter Meetings that he hasn’t had any conversations with Rafael Devers regarding moving off third base.
    There’s been rampant speculation throughout the offseason that Devers would shift across the diamond in the event that the Red Sox include first baseman Tristan Casas in a potential trade package or swing a trade for Cardinals defensive wizard Nolan Arenado. The 28-year-old franchise cornerstone has graded out as a subpar defender at the hot corner in three of the last four years, but has consistently told reporters that he has no interest in moving to another position. For the moment, it sounds like the Red Sox are holding off on considering moving Devers off third base, likely to first base or DH, until they make a significant move.
  • FA Starting Pitcher #35
    The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported that the Tigers have signed RHP Alex Cobb to a one-year contract.
    The deal is pending a physical, which is important since Cobb struggled with injuries (again) in 2024, pitching just 16 1/3 innings for the Guardians after they acquired him from the Giants at the trade deadline. The 37-year-old does have a 3.84 career ERA in 233 MLB starts, so he will provide a reliable veteran presence for this young Tigers’ rotation and will likely be a useful fantasy starter when he’s healthy. However, it would be irresponsible for fantasy managers to expect a fully healthy season from Cobb in 2025.
    Where will Juan Soto, Pete Alonso, and Corbin Burnes sign this offseason?
  • SF Shortstop #49
    Giants’ president of baseball operations Buster Posey said that Tyler Fitzgerald is “the Giants’ second baseman as things stand now.”
    The “as things stand right now” implies that the Giants could still be in the market for another option, but Posey has already talked to Fitzgerald about playing second base after signing Willy Adames to play shortstop. The 27-year-old Fitzgerald was a huge surprise for the Giants in 2024, finishing with a .831 OPS, 15 homers, and 17 steals across 341 plate appearances. With 2B/SS/OF eligibility, he could be a valuable pick in the latter stages of fantasy drafts due to his ability to contribute a little bit in all five categories.
  • FA Relief Pitcher #67
    ESPN’s Jesse Rogers reported that the Cubs have “spoken to Kyle Finnegan.”
    The 33-year-old right-hander was non-tendered by the Nationals last month in a surprising move since he had pitched to a 3.68 ERA with 38 saves in 63 2/3 innings in 2024. Instead of trading him at the deadline, the Nationals held onto him and then let Finnegan go rather than pay him $8 million a year. The Cubs do have some questions at the back of their bullpen, so it’s possible that Finnegan could compete for saves alongside Porter Hodge, Tyson Miller, and Nate Pearson if the Cubs were to sign him.