MLB Player News

Adell laced a two-run double off Chris Bassitt in the second inning of what looked like it would be a rare strong day for the Angels’ offense. However, those two runs would be the last two they’d score in a game that would eventually be blown in the ninth innings. Nevertheless, Adell may finally be turning a corner. Before you hurl your tomatoes, he has a .272/.348/.427 slash line over his last 30 games that has come with a shrinking strikeout rate and more contact in the strike zone. Overall, he’s up to 18 homers and 14 stolen bases on the season, albeit with an ugly .214 batting average.

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com adds that it’s a one-year contract worth $15.5 million. The Jays have been linked to the 40-year-old hurler throughout the offseason and it looks like they were finally able to come to an accord. Scherzer made just nine starts for the Rangers during an injury-plagued 2024 campaign, compiling a 3.95 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and a 40/10 K/BB ratio across 43 1/3 innings. If healthy, there’s no reason that Scherzer can’t be a viable mid-round starter for fantasy purposes.

The 37-year-old has pitched nearly exclusively as a starter in his 13-year big league career, but he could be an interesting option in short spurts out of the bullpen. Rosenthal notes that Lynn is “intrigued” by the idea, but it’s unclear which teams may have been inquiring about the role. Lynn registered a 3.84 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and a 109/44 K/BB ratio over 117 1/3 innings in 23 starts with the Cardinals in 2024. If he did find a job at the back end of the bullpen, it would make him relevant from a fantasy perspective once again.

La Sorsa was removed from the Nationals last Friday and it didn’t take him long to find work elsewhere. The 26-year-old southpaw registered a 4.58 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and a 14/5 K/BB ratio over 17 2/3 innings in 16 appearances at the big league level in 2024. With a strong showing in spring training, he could fight for inclusion in the Reds’ Opening Day bullpen.

Maldonado was claimed off waivers from the Marlins in November after registering a 5.68 ERA and 1.47 WHIP across 19 MLB innings and a 4.66 ERA in Triple-A with a 53/22 K/BB ratio in 46 1/3 innings. He was designated for assignment to clear room on the 40-man roster for Elvis Alvarado, who was claimed off waivers from the Pirates.

Santos appeared in 33 games for Triple-A Memphis last season, pitching to a 5.61 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, and 60/33 K/BB ratio in 77 innings. Santos was released earlier in January once it was revealed that he expected to miss the 2025 season while rehabilitating from an injury, but the Cardinals will now have him for two more seasons and can help him with the rehab. Santos and Nick Robertson came to the Cardinals last off-season in a trade with the Red Sox for Tyler O’Neill. Robertson is no longer on the Cardinals.

The Twins claimed Weiss off waivers from the Red Sox last season after he posted a 3.21 ERA in 14 innings in 2023. Weiss missed the first three months of the 2024 season with a shoulder strain and then registered a 5.40 ERA, 1.88 WHIP, and 32/11 K/BB ratio in 25 innings at Triple-A

As Matheson noted, “This is a bit of a ‘prove it’ spring for Martinez, coming off his suspension.” However, Martinez is one of the few players who can play the infield and DH who actually hits for power. Other options like Will Wagner, Leo Jimenez, and Addison Barger are most contact-oriented hitters; however, “Martinez needs to prove he’s competent in the field, which has been a challenge at times.” While Matheson admitted that there is a chance Martinez could play it way into a starting opportunity, it seems like a longshot for now.

The Pirates signed Alvarado to a one-year deal but chose to designate him for assignment earlier this week to make room for Adam Frazier. Now Alvarado will get a chance to latch on with the Athletics. The 25-year-old has yet to make his MLB debut but did register a 2.79 ERA and a 71/38 K/BB in 48 1/3 innings for the Marlins’ Triple-A affiliate last season.

The 28-year-old Hernández was tremendous out of the bullpen for Texas in 2020 and 2022 and looked to be a potential closer of the future. However, he struggled in 2023 and then again last season, pitching to a 5.05 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, and 36/26 K/BB ratio in 41 innings before Texas put him on waivers. Given how much success Tampa Bay has had in the past with getting veteran relievers to put forth career-best efforts, it wouldn’t surprise us if Hernández becomes another name they can add to the list.

Castillo mentions that the Yankees still want to acquire a third baseman or second baseman and have Jazz Chisolm Jr. play the other position, but they are not looking at either of the high-profile veterans. Bregman is looking for a five-year contract or longer and still asking for nearly $30 million in AAV, and Nolan Arenado would require a trade and the Yankees to take on his salary. For now, the expectation is for the Yankees to look to fill the position internally or will a lower-cost option.