MLB Player News

Bote, entering the final year of a five-year contract that’s paying him $5.5 million in 2024, is off the 40-man roster and probably won’t make the Cubs even if he has a legitimate case. He’s batting .273/.333/.758 in 36 plate appearances.

Rodriguez has broken accurate news in the past, and there’s no reason to think he’s making something up here. Still, as always with reported offers, it’s worth considering whether the source he’s relying on has ulterior motives. Soto is believed to be deciding between the Mets, Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays and Dodgers. MassLive.com’s Sean McAdam said it’s unlikely Soto will make his pick today, but that Sunday is a possibility.

MLB.com’s Thomas Harding reported Friday that the Rockies are also looking at Estrada as a second base option alongside Kyle Farmer. He’d presumably be more of a utilityman on a Yankees team that can do better for starters. Estrada hit .217/.247/.343 in 96 games for the Giants last season, and while he was much better the previous two years, his poor exit velocity numbers never really backed it up.

Boyd will join the Cubs rotation after an impressive stint with the Guardians last season. Returning from Tommy John surgery, he had a 2.72 ERA in eight regular-season starts and then allowed just one run in 11 2/3 innings during the postseason. He’s not a great bet to make 30 starts next year — he hasn’t made more than 15 in a season since 2019 — but he should offer some mixed-league value while healthy.

2025 is an odd year, so Houser is due to be serviceable, as he was for the Brewers in 2019 (3.72 ERA in 111 IP), 2021 (3.22 ERA in 142 1/3 IP) and 2023 (4.12 ERA in 111 IP). The even years, on the other hand, have been a mess, which is why he wasn’t able to land a major league contract this winter. The Mets released him after he posted a 5.84 ERA in seven starts and 16 relief appearances last season, and though he later pitched in the Cubs and Orioles organizations, he didn’t return to the majors.

That won’t help their return at all, but it’s not like they gave up much to get him in the first place. The Red Sox and Dodgers have been mentioned as possibilities for Arenado, but it’s hard to see how the Dodgers would be a fit. Houston, with its short porch in left, would make a ton of sense if Alex Bregman departs in free agency, though the Astros are doing their best to keep Bregman. The Yankees, Mariners and Blue Jays are some other teams that could use help at third base.

Sasaki’s 45-day posting window has been delayed because of the plan to have him sign after Jan. 15, when the new year’s international signing period starts. That way he’ll be able to maximize the greatly reduced contract MLB will force him to take as an international player under the age of 25. The Dodgers and Padres are being talked up as the favorites to sign the right-hander.

Walker Buehler is one pitcher mentioned by Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic. Another addition would seemingly drop Javier Assad from the projected rotation, even though he was quite effective in amassing a 3.73 ERA in 29 starts last season. Perhaps the Cubs could sign a starter and trade Jameson Taillon, who received interest at the trade deadline, but that doesn’t seem to be the current plan.

The Cubs said he wouldn’t miss any time next season. Considering the surgery happened two months ago, he should be about fully recovered by now. Swanson played in 149 games last season and hit .242/.312/.390. He’s taken part in a 678 of a possible 707 games over the last five years.

Every couple of days the number seems to climb significantly higher as the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Blue Jays and Dodgers are all preparing their best offers as the 26-year-old slugger creeps closer to his final decision. What’s helping to make his decision difficult is that none of the teams have reportedly separated themselves financially, at least as of yet, so all things being equal he’s just choosing his most preferred destination. The expectation is still that he’ll sign before the Winter Meetings start on Monday, so fans in every major market should continue refreshing their social media feeds constantly until then for any updates.

The Mets were one of the teams that had been talking to Holmes about a role in their starting rotation, and that’s exactly where he’ll fit in for the 2025 season. The deal, which is still pending a physical, includes an opt-out after the second season. The Mets had tremendous success in their reclamation projects of Luis Severino and Sean Manaea last winter and now it appears they will try to do the same with Frankie Montas and Holmes for the 2025 campaign. Like most starters transitioning from the bullpen, fantasy managers should be aware that Holmes’ innings are likely to be limited in 2025 as he thew just 63 innings in 2024 with the Yankees.