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MLB Player News

Rotoworld

  • CHC Third Baseman #13
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    Cubs designated INF David Bote for assignment.
    The 31-year-old infielder has seen extremely limited action with the Cubs this season, slashing .304/.333/.391 with zero homers, six RBI and a 13/2 K/BB ratio across 48 plate appearances. There’s a chance that a team looking for bench depth could come calling on waivers.
  • NYM Relief Pitcher #69
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    Mets signed RHP Oliver Ortega to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
    The Mets are doing well with their minor league deals thus far, snagging Genesis Cabrera, Edward Olivares and now Ortega. The 28-year-old Ortega required two surgeries to remove debris from his elbow and missed all of 2024, but he had a 4.03 ERA and a 51/27 K/BB ratio in 58 innings for the Angels and Twins from 2021-23. He might be something close to an average reliever for the Mets, and that he has an option year left could prove helpful.
  • FA Left Fielder #37
    Teoscar Hernández has told people he’d prefer to remain with the Dodgers in free agency, sources told the Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham.
    No surprise there. The Red Sox are also after Hernández (for the second offseason in a row), though they’re surely waiting to see what Juan Soto does before making a final offer. According to Abraham’s sources, Hernández does see Boston as a viable alternative to L.A.
  • INT Starting Pitcher #54
    Spencer Howard has signed with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan.
    A strikeout machine in the minors for the Phillies, Howard looked like a future third or fourth starter as a prospect, but he proved too homer-prone to contribute. He heads to Japan with a 4-13 record and a 7.00 ERA over 32 starts and 15 relief appearances for the Phillies, Rangers, Giants and Guardians.
  • FA Center Fielder #15
    The Orioles were talking to Randal Grichuk before signing Tyler O’Neill, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.
    Grichuk presumably would have been more of a platoon guy for the Orioles, leaving the door open for Heston Kjerstad to start in the outfield against righties. Now, though, Kjerstad seems Triple-A bound unless someone gets hurt. Coming off an .875 OPS as a platoon outfielder in Arizona, Grichuk should be in quite a bit of demand as a lefty masher for a contender and a possible full-timer for lesser teams.
  • FA Left Fielder #37
    The Red Sox are still in the market for Teoscar Hernández, who is not expected to sign until after Juan Soto makes his decision.
    Hernández and Anthony Santander are the top fallbacks to Soto for teams looking to add a power-hitting corner outfielder. The Dodgers are likely to bid to retain Hernández if they miss out on Soto, and the Yankees and Blue Jays could also be involved. The Mets, on the other hand, might focus more on Pete Alonso if they fail to land Soto.
  • FA Relief Pitcher #21
    The Pirates are signing Tanner Rainey to a minor league deal, says Aram Leighton of Just Baseball.
    Rainey was non-tendered by the Nationals last month even though he posted a 2.48 ERA in his final 29 appearances of the season. Overall, he had a 4.76 ERA over 51 innings in his first full season back from Tommy John surgery. He’ll stand a decent chance of winning a spot in Pittsburgh’s pen.
  • FA Catcher #99
    Gary Sánchez is signing a one-year deal with the Orioles, the New York Post’s Jon Heyman reports.
    Heyman says the deal is worth $8.5 million, which is pretty stunning. The Orioles wanted to upgrade from free agent James McCann as their backup catcher, particularly since Adley Rutschman has been so much more productive as a DH than he has been while behind the plate. Rutschman will still do the bulk of the catching, of course, but Sánchez will add some more offense and can hold down the fort as a starting catcher if Rutschman ever goes down.
  • FA Left Fielder #22
    The Yankees have joined the Mets in offering Juan Soto in excess of $700 million, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman.
    Heyman believes that the Mets’ offer, reported earlier at $730 million, is still the higher of the two offers, suggesting that the Yankees are at $710 million-$720 million. There’s also nothing yet to indicate the Blue Jays, Red Sox or Dodgers are out of the race. It sounds like things could be decided within the next couple of days.
  • BAL Right Fielder #17
    The Orioles have signed a three-year, $49.5 million contract with Tyler O’Neill, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
    The deal includes an opt-out for the 29-year-old outfielder after 2025. Baltimore gets some much-needed right-handed pop in its lineup by acquiring O’Neill, who will be on his third team in three years. His 2021 season appears to be an outlier as he hit .286 with a 141 wRC+ and hasn’t hit above .241 in the three years since. That doesn’t mean O’Neill can’t still be productive as he was in 2024 with Boston when he slugged 31 home runs and posted a 131 wRC+. Even though the Orioles are moving the fences in from left field this offseason, the move represents a downgrade in home ballpark for O’Neill, who should still be a solid fantasy option. Baltimore is getting a steal at this price if he’s able to stay healthy as his contract was likely depressed by the fact he’s only played over 100 twice due to injury. O’Neill is certainly an upgrade on Austin Hays, who entered last season as the starting left fielder.
  • FA Shortstop #27
    Jeff Passan of ESPN reports that the Giants have signed Willy Adames to a seven-year, $182 million contract.
    Passan notes that Adames will get a $22 million signing bonus as part of the deal, and it’s the largest contract the Giants have ever signed. Adames was sensational in 2024 with 32 homers and 114 RBI while helping Milwaukee win the NL Central. and he’s been productive throughout his career. He’ll hit in the middle of the San Francisco order, and should be a solid fantasy option for 2025 and beyond. The Brewers will receive a compensation pick after the first round with Adames leaving the club and having received the qualifying offer.